MYRModel Year Report

2003 Volkswagen Jetta

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2003 Volkswagen Jetta
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
456
Recalls
4

Campaigns on file for 2003

Investigations
4

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Seats

23% of complaints

Complaints per year

1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 13 complaints 1986: 14 complaints 1987: 18 complaints 1988: 19 complaints 1989: 28 complaints 1990: 22 complaints 1990 1991: 32 complaints 1992: 30 complaints 1993: 17 complaints 1994: 120 complaints 1995: 220 complaints 1996: 173 complaints 1996 1997: 141 complaints 1998: 192 complaints 1999: 349 complaints 2000: 439 complaints 2001: 668 complaints 2002: 702 complaints 2003: 456 complaints 2003 456 2004: 231 complaints 2005: 248 complaints 2006: 580 complaints 2007: 201 complaints 2008: 188 complaints 2008 2009: 888 complaints 2010: 852 complaints 2011: 607 complaints 2012: 500 complaints 2013: 517 complaints 2014: 386 complaints 2014 2015: 194 complaints 2016: 161 complaints 2017: 159 complaints 2018: 31 complaints 2019: 549 complaints 2020: 53 complaints 2020 2021: 69 complaints 2022: 43 complaints 2023: 43 complaints 2024: 44 complaints 2025: 29 complaints 2026: 6 complaints 2026
1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 13 complaints 1986: 14 complaints 1987: 18 complaints 1987 1988: 19 complaints 1989: 28 complaints 1990: 22 complaints 1990 1991: 32 complaints 1992: 30 complaints 1993: 17 complaints 1993 1994: 120 complaints 1995: 220 complaints 1996: 173 complaints 1996 1997: 141 complaints 1998: 192 complaints 1999: 349 complaints 1999 2000: 439 complaints 2001: 668 complaints 2002: 702 complaints 2003: 456 complaints 2003 456 2004: 231 complaints 2005: 248 complaints 2006: 580 complaints 2007: 201 complaints 2008: 188 complaints 2008 2009: 888 complaints 2010: 852 complaints 2011: 607 complaints 2011 2012: 500 complaints 2013: 517 complaints 2014: 386 complaints 2014 2015: 194 complaints 2016: 161 complaints 2017: 159 complaints 2017 2018: 31 complaints 2019: 549 complaints 2020: 53 complaints 2020 2021: 69 complaints 2022: 43 complaints 2023: 43 complaints 2023 2024: 44 complaints 2025: 29 complaints 2026: 6 complaints 2026
1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 13 complaints 1986: 14 complaints 1986 1987: 18 complaints 1988: 19 complaints 1988 1989: 28 complaints 1990: 22 complaints 1990 1991: 32 complaints 1992: 30 complaints 1992 1993: 17 complaints 1994: 120 complaints 1994 1995: 220 complaints 1996: 173 complaints 1996 1997: 141 complaints 1998: 192 complaints 1998 1999: 349 complaints 2000: 439 complaints 2000 2001: 668 complaints 2002: 702 complaints 2003: 456 complaints 2003 456 2004: 231 complaints 2005: 248 complaints 2006: 580 complaints 2006 2007: 201 complaints 2008: 188 complaints 2008 2009: 888 complaints 2010: 852 complaints 2010 2011: 607 complaints 2012: 500 complaints 2012 2013: 517 complaints 2014: 386 complaints 2014 2015: 194 complaints 2016: 161 complaints 2016 2017: 159 complaints 2018: 31 complaints 2018 2019: 549 complaints 2020: 53 complaints 2020 2021: 69 complaints 2022: 43 complaints 2022 2023: 43 complaints 2024: 44 complaints 2024 2025: 29 complaints 2026: 6 complaints 2026

2003: 456 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19810
19820
19830
19841
198513
198614
198718
198819
198928
199022
199132
199230
199317
1994120
1995220
1996173
1997141
1998192
1999349
2000439
2001668
2002702
2003456
2004231
2005248
2006580
2007201
2008188
2009888
2010852
2011607
2012500
2013517
2014386
2015194
2016161
2017159
201831
2019549
202053
202169
202243
202343
202444
202529
20266

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Seats

23% · 103 reports

Most commonly citing seat heater/cooler.

CRASHFIREINJURYDEATH
Show complaint excerpts

Both front seats, the bottom right side bolster burned. The heated front seats will over heat, the failure appears to be confined to the right bolster on the bottom section of the seat.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-03-01

Also filed under Electrical system

After noticing for weeks that my heated seats would only work when turned to 5 (Passenger seat doesn't work at all), my leg began burning while driving.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-12-09

Driver's side heated seat became extremely hot, burning the leather, and burning through the consumers pants, slightly burning consumer's leg. Dealer and the manufacturer have been notified.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-10-08

Electrical system

21% · 97 reports

Most commonly citing ignition and interior/under dash.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Air bags

18% · 82 reports

Most commonly citing side/window and frontal.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

While driving at 45 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a frontal collision and none of the front air bags deployed upon impact. *ak vw suggested that nothing was wrong with the air bags upon inspection.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-07-30

My son was driving his 2003 Volkswagen Jetta when the drivers side airbags deployed for unexplained reasons. The local Volkswagen dealer read the sensors in the car and it registered crash data. There was no impact when the airbags deployed.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-05-18

Airbag delopy

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-09-17

Also filed under Exterior lighting

Power train

12% · 55 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and clutch assembly.

CRASHINJURY

Engine and engine cooling

10% · 45 reports

Most commonly citing engine and cooling system.

CRASHFIRE
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-06-04

Also filed under Engine

Safety timeline

4 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2003Complaint volume 456 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. I
    2003-11-19Preliminary evaluationClosed 2004-03-30 Driver seat overheats/burns
  3. I
    2004-03-30Engineering analysisClosed 2004-10-21 Driver side front seat overheats
  4. I
    2004-12-16Preliminary evaluationClosed 2005-04-01 Inadvertent side-airbag deployment
  5. I
    2005-08-11Defect petitionClosed 2005-12-08 Engine stalling
  6. R
    2007-04-02Service brakes, hydraulic07E023000 Certain cardone master cylinders with part numbers 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, and 11-3156, and with date codes lower than DCA7078…

    Remedy: Cardone will notify owners and offer to repurchase any defective master cylinders. The recall began during April 2007. Owners can contact cardone at 1-800-777-4780.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. R
    2007-04-27Exterior lighting07V063000 On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.

    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.…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2014-05-01Engine and engine cooling14E007000 The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013...

    Remedy: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2019-05-02Air bags18V406000 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.

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2003 Volkswagen Jetta — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Seats: 103 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 97 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 82 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 07E023000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 07V063000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 14E007000 · Engine and engine cooling
  • Recall 18V406000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta?
The most-reported component is seats, accounting for 23% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta have?
4 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.