The 2003 Volkswagen Jetta has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 1,004,564 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 552 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the seats. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
AIR BAGS18V4060002018-06-132,564 affected
Defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2003 Volkswagen Passat sedan, Jetta, Jetta wagon, Golf, EuroVan, EuroVan Camper Van and EuroVan Chassis vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Consequence
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began May 2, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69X3.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Consequence
THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT…
Complaints by component
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
69
41fires33injuries1deaths
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
65
1crashes9fires5injuries
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
45
2crashes17injuries
SEATS
34
2crashes15fires12injuries
AIR BAGS
22
7crashes1fires7injuries
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
21
2crashes
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
20
1crashes
ENGINE
16
1fires
POWER TRAIN
15
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
14
Total complaints552
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Right passenger side window is blocked inside door”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that the brake light was inoperable intermittently without warning. The dealer dick hannah dealerships 10808 ne coxley dr, vancouver, wa 98662 [REDACTED] was contacted about the failure and informed the contact that the vin was not…”
“I closed my trunk one day and now it will not open with fob or inside door latch or the key.”
“My jetta stalls without warning when the gas gauge is at a quarter of a tank or less. No engine check light or any other any other device comes on to warn me it is going to stall. My speed does not matter. It happens at freeway speeds or around town. It does not occur if the gas gauge shows more…”
“My jetta stalls without warning when the gas gauge is at a quarter of a tank or less. No engine check light or any other any other device comes on to warn me it is going to stall. My speed does not matter. It happens at freeway speeds or around town. It does not occur if the gas gauge shows more…”
“My jetta stalls without warning when the gas gauge is at a quarter of a tank or less. No engine check light or any other any other device comes on to warn me it is going to stall. My speed does not matter. It happens at freeway speeds or around town. It does not occur if the gas gauge shows more…”
“The car stalls while driving at any speed or while idling when the fuel gauge is around or under 1/4 of a tank. I have read up on this and people are dumping a lot of money onto trying to figure out what the issue is and there is no answer. Stalling on a highway without a median or pull-off is not…”
“Driving hello all state route after dark at 55 mi./h the headlights went out completely and then came back on in a short matter of seconds. Had the road not been straight at that section I could have very easily collided with trees or guardrails. The 1st time this happened was 2012-08-01. I had…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationDP05004 Opened 2005-08-11 · closed 2005-12-08
ENGINE STALLING
BY LETTER RECEIVED ON JUNE 24, 2005, MR. RONALD M. STRICKLAND OF RALEIGH, NC, SUBMITTED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE IGNITION COIL PLUGS ON MODEL YEAR (MY) 2000-2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, GOLF AND PASSAT SEDANS.THE PETITIONER ALLEGES THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE STALLING…
InvestigationEA04010 Opened 2004-03-30 · closed 2004-10-21
DRIVER SIDE FRONT SEAT OVERHEATS
THIS INVESTIGATION CONCERNS THE ELECTRIC SEAT HEATER INSTALLED IN SOME MY 2002-2003 VOLKSWAGEN (VW) JETTA VEHICLES.CONSUMERS ALLEGE THAT THE SEAT HEATER MAY OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN BURN DAMAGE TO THE SEAT COVER AND TO THE DRIVER'S CLOTHING AND/OR SKIN.THIS EA ADDRESSES WHETHER SUCH FAILURES MAY POSE A RISK TO MOTOR…
InvestigationPE03052 Opened 2003-11-19 · closed 2004-03-30
DRIVER SEAT OVERHEATS/BURNS
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL ELECTRICALLY HEATED DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS.INFORMATION RECEIVED DURING PE03-052 DISCLOSED A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF MALFUNCTIONING/OVERHEATING OF THE DRIVER SEAT HEATER IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ADDITIONAL INCIDENTS MAY OCCUR DURING THE FINAL MONTHS…
InvestigationPE04081 Opened 2004-12-16 · closed 2005-04-01
INADVERTENT SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE-THORAX AND SIDE-HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAGS TO PROTECT THE FRONT AND REAR OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A SIDE-IMPACT CRASH.THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 499 REPORTS (482 OWNERS REPORTS AND 17 WARRANTY CLAIMS).THE CRASH SENSING SYSTEM?S ALGORITHM MAY RECOGNIZE CERTAIN NON-CRASH…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.