This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, the entire electrical system including the lighting and instrument panel failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic. The private mechanic confirmed that the ignition switch needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 90,000.
I have a 2004 VW Jetta. It has about 48,000 miles on it. A little over a year ago, it developed an electrical problem. It progresses from the dashboard lights flickering initially & the trip mileage going away, to beeping 3 times, and eventually to stalling when I stop. It's progressive, the longer it happens the more frequently it happens. This makes the car unreliable and dangerous. I've taken the car to the dealership 4 times. The first 2 times, they said it was a short. I was charged for the service. The next time they said it was the ignition switch. I paid for the part but not the labor. The last time, they said it was the fuel pump relay switch. I wasn't charged. I got the car back Thursday. The problem reoccurred Saturday. I spoke to VW Corp. Prior to the third & fourth times I took it to the dealer. The fourth time, I asked for other options, but all they would do is tell me to take it in for repairs. I spoke to them again today. They said to take it in to the dealer once more. I pointed out that I had just done that last week. They still insisted I return it to the dealer. They said eventually, they might give me credit for the car towards a new car. They wouldn't specify how many more times I'll have to take it in to be considered for the credit. They didn't say how much credit they would offer. I don't want another VW. I asked that, as the car was unreliable & they couldn't fix it, that they buy it back from me at the blue book price. They said that would never happen. Do you have reports of similar problems with 2004 VW Jettas" do you have any suggestions as to what my rights are relative to this situation"
Bought new in 2004. Starting at 60K miles the check engine light would come-on saying miss fire on #1 cyl when its wet outside; raining or snow. Spark plug and wire replaced regularly and checked within specs. The acceleration started to deteriorate and flat spot in the acceleration can be dangerous in driving conditions. 86K the original VW coil was replaced; #1 terminal was corroded.
My 2004 VW Jetta 1.8 turbo which I purchased new is having transmission problems. My cat has only 66,000 miles in it and has been well maintained. In the past two years I have replaced the fuel pump, battery, catalytic converter, numerous vacuum leaks ect...but a transmission"??" Volkswagen needs to issue a recall as this is way to common!! please help!
- Chicago Heights , IL, USA
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Electrical fire in ignition harness melted harness (including coils) which resulted in stall-out. Ignition fuse to computer was disabled preventing re-start of automobile.
The latest incident with this 2004 VW Jetta is one in which everything electric stops working. No A/C, not lights, no blinkers, no windows, no horn - and there is a smell of smoke in the car. This first happened in January/08 and the dealership said it was wiring. Now it happened again! occurs just while driving along. Car smells like smoke and everything stops working. I get the runaround from the dealer, vista VW in pompano beach, fl. They always seem to find something wrong with the car now that is not under warranty. Please investigate this - there is something wrong with these Jetta's! I have found 100's of complaints on consumer sites about this car. I am tired of paying my hard earned dollars to the dealer when this is an issue with the manufacturer of this car. I advised the dealer of this when I took it in in January; his response was, too bad, you do not qualify for the car lemon law since the car is out of warrant and purchased it in Dec/05. Please do something for us consumers that are tired of being manipulated and overcharged for issues that should be the responsibility of the auto manufacturer. Please let me know if there is anyone other Agency I can contact. I will not give up on this and hope you can assist me. Thank you.
Our 2004 VW Jetta 1.8T has had numerous problems from a clicking/popping noise in the front end at approxmiately 10,000 miles, to the transmission locking up while operating vehicle. The clutch/disc went completely out at 15,000 miles. All the interior and exterior lights went out as my wife was driving in the dark on a non lit back road to work, transmission locked up between 3rd and 4th gears, transmission still slipping, back door locks do not un-lock when remote is activated, service department has re-torqued everything on vehicle but this has not made problems go away. Since May 2005, the service department at local VW dealership has had my car fora total of 62 days for service and it is still not fixed. Problems continue to mount and the dealership for the most part states "that they cannot replicate the problem." The dealership replaced all the wheel bearings in the front of the vehicle and this did not stop the clicking/popping noise, they replaced the clutch disc this did not clear up the problem, the electrical problem could not be replicated per dealership, the engine continues to have a whistling noise, transmission continues to slip. The driver's side leather seat has the seams pooping loose and a part of the frame is pushing through the leather. Trunk latch has been replaced 2 times. Dealership states car is safe to operate, I beg to differ!
The caller had the vehicle's electrical system replaced 5 times. The windows/the alarm system/the lights/the gauges, and the dashboard lights failed. As the caller indicated everything electrical malfunctioned. The caller was able to drive vehicle to the dealer, and a few times he had to have it towed. Dealer could never give him an answer why the vehicle was having these problems. The manufacturer said they could not help him for free, and since the problem included different components it did not fall under the lemon law. Manufacturer said that if the caller got a loan on the vehicle it would be a different situation.
Engine control computer failed resulting in very hard to start or no start conditions. Vehicle has been out of service for 2 weeks waiting on parts. Vehicle only has 1600 miles on it. Was suggested to by the dealer to drive the vehicle while waiting for parts.
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- North Charleston, SC, USA