2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Engine Problems
16 NHTSA complaints on file
Engine Issues in the 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA
16 engine complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. Of these, 0 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, and 0 resulted in injury.
16
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
All Engine Complaints
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 than 1/4 of a tank of fuel. I do not know if it is an electrical problem, a fuel propulsion problem or an engine problem. From reading volkswagon forums, this is a very common problem with volkswagons of different years, including the new Tiguans. I'm sure there have been many fatalities as a result of this defect. I am surprised volkswagon has not been forced to repair this dangerous, life threatening problem before now! Maybe, a class action law suit involving products liability, merchantability, and fitness for a particular...
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ADDED WATER TO THE VEHICLE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,072.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO REV AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HEARD A BANGING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WERE PARTS ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT STATED THEIR WAS ALSO BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE AMB AUTO DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TURBO FAILED AND THE TURBO AND ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 212,000. UPDATED 10/24/17*LJ *TR
THIS IS IN REGARD TO TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 77,000 MILES. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS FULLY PAID OFF AND 17K MILES AFTER WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. WHILE I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STAY IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND GIVE A BIG JOLT WHEN GOING INTO 3RD AND 4TH WHILE STILL COLD, ONLY AFTER ENGINE WOULD HEAT UP WITHOUT ANY STOPS WOULD IT PERFORM SUB PAR. PREVIOUS TO THIS I HAD HAVE NO COMPLAINTS. DEALER QUOTED $5600 TO REBUILD TRANSMISSION AND INDEPENDENT SHOP $2500. I WAS INFORMED I HAD A WORN CLUTCH AND IN 2008 I REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION AND CONTINUED HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS SPENT ON THIS VEHICLE ON APRIL 12 OF 2012 I SENT IT THE JUNKYARD. I WILL FOLLOW UP AND SEND MORE HARD COPIES DOCUMENTS TO NHTSA AS I HAVE MY ENTIRE SERVICE RECORDS FROM 2003 - 2012 TO SUBMIT. THERE ARE 100'S...
TRANSMISSION STRAINED TO SHIFT OUT OF FIRST GEAR. WATER PUMP WENT OUT CAUSE CAR TO RUN HOT.. WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED BUT BLOWER HEAD GASKET.... AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF
THE JETTA IS DEFECTIVE IN THE CAR WILL START BUT NEEDS TO BE ENGAGED IN IGNITION AND THE SIT FOR 12-15 MINUTES BEFORE IT IS ABLE TO GET IN DRIVE GEAR. CURRENTLY IT WILL NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE GEAR. THE TEMPERATURE IS MILD 74-78DEGREES F AND THE CAR NEEDS TO BE CONSTANTLY SERVICED. UPON THE INCIDENT THIS JETTA WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS A VISIBILITY PROBELM THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD . THE WINDSHIELF WAS REPLACED. THE ENGINE LIGHTS ARE ON THE ENGINE WAS SERVICED, IT WAS LEAKING FLUIDS, IT WAS SERVICED BY A REPUTABLE SERVICE CENTER 9 MILE EASTPOINTE A SPECIALIST IS FOREIGN CARS. THEN THE JETTA WHILE DRIVING IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND WAS STIFF , STIFFER STILL AND UNABLE TO ENGAGE THE DRIVING RHYTHM I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER AND ACCUSTOMED TO PRE POWER STEERING AND THIS WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE STEERING, WHEELS??...
FORTUNATELY, MY SON WAS AT A RED LIGHT AND WENT TO TAKE OFF AND IT WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS..HE ROLLED INTO THE PARKING LOT AHEAD OF HIM. HE TOLD THE WRECKER DRIVER THAT IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING FELL - WE OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW THAT THE MOTOR WAS ACTUALLY SITTING CROOKED. THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN, ON ONE SIDE BROKEN OFF ON THE OTHER STRIPPED.THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD OUTCOME. SEVERAL MECHANICS HAVE TRIED TO REPAIR IT (UNREPAIRABLE). WE HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE BLOCK AND/OR ENGINE WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE COST FOR THE PART IS BETWEEN $ 3100-3700 - PLUS LABOR. KEEP IN MIND THAT THE MOTOR RUNS GREAT! I HAVE CONTACTED VW - WITH NO LUCK.. BUT ADMITTING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN OTHERS. I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT ONLY POORLY DESIGNED..MAYBE NOT STRONG ENOUGH MATERIAL, BUT IT IS OR COULD BE DANGEROUS....
CAR STALLS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN AT QUARTER TANK OR LESS. PARTS REPLACED, STILL OCCURS. THERE IS NO KNOWN FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM, IT ALWAYS COMES BACK, AND IS MOST LIKELY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT WITH THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM THAT IS BEING IGNORED BY VW OF AMERICA. THIS IS HAPPENING TO HUNDREDS AND MOST LIKELY THOUSANDS OF VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, GOLF, BEETLE AND GTI OWNERS. WE HAVE BEEN CONNECTING THE DOTS THROUGH ONLINE VW FORUMS AND ARE FRUSTRATED! THERE HAVE BEEN ACCIDENTS REPORTED DUE TO SUDDEN POWER LOSS AND THEREFORE DECELERATION DUE TO THIS ISSUE. JUST THIS MORNING MY JETTA STALLED IN FRONT OF A SEMI TRUCK DOING 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM, IT'S HAPPENING TO A LOT OF OWNERS OF VW'S MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 1999 AND 2005, AND IT NEEDS YOUR ATTENTION BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THANK YOU. *TR
THE PLASTIC DIPSTICK HANDLE ON MY 2003 VW JETTA CRACKED OFF THE DIPSTICK AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE PART NUMBER IS 06J115611E. *TR
ACCORDING TO A VW DEALER, THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON MY 2003 VW JETTA FAILED AT 89,000 MILES. THE VW DEALER STATED THAT IT FAILED BECAUSE THE MIL ILLUMINATED AND THE CAR'S COMPUTER SHOWS CODE P0420. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY. *TR
THE THERMOSTAT ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED AS AT APPROXIMATELY 40,000 MILES IN 2009. *TR
THE TEMP SENDER ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES IN 2007. *TR
ONE OF THE TWO LARGE COOLING FANS IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE FAILED. THE PART MUST BE REPLACED TO PREVENT ENGINE OVERHEATING. THE PART NUMBER IS 6X0-959-445-F. *TR
MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA'S COOLANT PUMP FAILED WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THIS CAUSED A REDUCTION IN POWER AND ENGINE OVERHEATING. REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
ALL WARNING INDICATORS (ABS, CEL, AIRBAG, ECP, BATTERY AND OTHER INSTRUMENT DASH PANEL LIGHTS) WOULD FLICKER REPETITIVELY UNTIL THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. AFTER INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ALTERNATOR CABLE THAT ATTACHES TO THE FUSE BOX LOCATED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY WAS MELTING THE FUSE BOX AND CAUSING POWER DISTRIBUTION PROBLEMS. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THEY BOTH BE REPLACED AS THE CABLE COULD HAVE BECOME HIGH RESISTANCE THEREBY CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEAT AT THE FUSE BOX. I HAD THE ALTERNATOR CABLE REPLACED WITH AN OEM PART AND THE FUSE BOX WITH AN AFTERMARKET PART. ON 10-9-13 WITH 104K MILES WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AT 6AM IN THE MORNING, THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS WERE EXPERIENCED AGAIN. LUCKILY I WAS ON A SIDE ROAD AND WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHICH SAID THAT ALL OEM PARTS SHOULD BE USED AND THAT THIS IS COMMON AS...
THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR TWO DAYS WITHOUT BEING DRIVEN. WHILE IT WAS PARKED, NEIGHBORS RAN OVER TO REPORT IT WAS SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD. WE SAW THAT THERE WERE FLAMES COMING OUT FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT OF THE CAR. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, BUT FIRE HAD ALREADY EXTINGUISHED ITSELF. FIRE DEPARTMENT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY GROUND AND SAID THE WIRES GOING TO THE COOLING FAN HAD SET ON FIRE. ALL OF THIS WAS SPONTANEOUS. ENGINE WAS NOT ON. *TR
Other 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Problem Areas
Seatsfront Assemblyseat Heatercooler
69 complaints
Electrical System
65 complaints
Air Bagssidewindow
45 complaints
Seats
34 complaints
Air Bags
22 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling
21 complaints
Exterior Lightingbrake Lightsswitch
20 complaints
Power Train
15 complaints
Electrical Systemignition
14 complaints
Power Trainautomatic Transmission
13 complaints
Air Bagsfrontal
12 complaints
Power Trainclutch Assembly
12 complaints
Visibilitypower Window Devices And Controls
10 complaints
Unknown Or Other
9 complaints
Power Trainmanual Transmission
8 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingengine
6 complaints
Fuelpropulsion System
6 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulic
6 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slip
6 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingcooling System
5 complaints
Exterior Lighting
5 complaints
Latcheslockslinkages
5 complaints
Structure
5 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control
4 complaints
Electrical System Instrument Clusterpanel
3 complaints
Electrical Systemignitionmodule
3 complaints
Electrical Systemwiringfuses And Circuit Breakers
3 complaints
Electrical Systemwiringinteriorunder Dash
3 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasolineturbosupercharger
3 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlcatalytic Convertor
3 complaints
Fuel System Diesel
3 complaints
Fuel System Gasoline
3 complaints
Interior Lighting
3 complaints
Suspension
3 complaints
Tiressidewall
3 complaints
Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control
3 complaints
Visibility
3 complaints
Visibilityglass Siderear
3 complaints
Visibilitysunmoon Roof Assembly
3 complaints
Wheelsrim
3 complaints
Air Bagsfrontalsensorcontrol Module
2 complaints
Electrical System12v24v48v Battery
2 complaints
Electrical Systemalternatorgeneratorregulator
2 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingcooling Systemfan
2 complaints
Engine And Engine Coolingenginediesel
2 complaints
Equipment
2 complaints
Equipmentapplianceair Conditioner
2 complaints
Equipmentelectricalradiotape Deckcd Etc
2 complaints
Equipmentmechanicalaccessory Scissorscrewbottle Jacklift
2 complaints
Parking Brake
2 complaints
Power Trainautomatic Transmissioncontrol Module Tcmpcmtecm
2 complaints
Service Brakes
2 complaints
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscrotor
2 complaints
Structurebody
2 complaints
Structurebodydoor
2 complaints
Structurebodydoorhinge And Attachments
2 complaints
Suspensionfrontspringscoil Springs
2 complaints
Visibilitydefrosterdefoggerhvac Systemrear Window
2 complaints
Electrical Systemwiring
1 complaint
Electrical Systemwiringfront Underhood
1 complaint
Electronic Stability Control Esc
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Control
1 complaint
Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systememission Controlgas Recirculation Valve Egr Valve
1 complaint
Equipmentelectrical
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingbrake Lights
1 complaint
Exterior Lightingheadlights
1 complaint
Fuel System Dieselstoragetank Assembly
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinedeliveryfuel Pump
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinestorage
1 complaint
Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assembly
1 complaint
Fuel System Otherstoragefuel Gauge System
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkagesdoorslatch
1 complaint
Latcheslockslinkagestrunk Lidlock
1 complaint
Power Trainautomatic Transmissionlever And Linkagecolumn Shift
1 complaint
Power Trainautomatic Transmissionlever And Linkagefloor Shift
1 complaint
Power Trainaxle Assembly
1 complaint
Power Traindrivelinedriveshaft
1 complaint
Power Trainmanual Transmissioncolumn Shift Assembly
1 complaint
Seat Beltsfront
1 complaint
Seat Beltsfrontretractor
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicantilocktraction Controlelectronic Limited Slipcontrol Unitmodule
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsmaster Cylinder
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicpower Assisthydraulichoses Linespiping And Fittings
1 complaint
Service Brakes Hydraulicpower Assistvacuumhoses Linespiping And Fittings
1 complaint
Steering
1 complaint
Structureframe And Members
1 complaint
Suspensionfrontwheel Bearing
1 complaint
Tires
1 complaint
Tirestreadbelt
1 complaint
Visibilitywindshield Wiperwasherswitchwiring
1 complaint
Wheels
1 complaint
Wheelshub
1 complaint