2004 Volkswagen Jetta Problems, Recalls & Reliability
295 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta, alongside 5 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 30/100 on the trouble index — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 70,000 miles.
Typical
Where 2004 sits among all Jetta years
What owners report
“Developed large internal coolant leak @ ~47,000 miles. This is probably due to internal failure of the egr cooler. Dealer cannot id problem, but this appears to be widespread with this engine. This could result in engine failure and accident.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Jetta
“Alternator wire melted part of the battery top fuse box. Cable was very hot and may have caught fire if i hadn't smelled it first. Had to replace the alternator cable harness and fuse box panel.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Jetta
“Transmission locked up while driving in excess of 40 mph. Transmission was found to be locked in reverse and had to be replaced by vw of america $6500 under warranty. Injury resulted from incident”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Jetta
“Vehicle under multiple occasions has stalled out at various speeds, locations, and driving styles/roads at or under a quarter of a tank”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 Jetta
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 236 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 70,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 41,075 and 105,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (5)
Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master…
Fix: Beck/Arnley will notify the distributors that sold the master cylinders and will work with the distributors to notify the end users. Affected master cylinders will be exchanged for a new master…
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 through October…
Fix: 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.
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 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED…
Fix: 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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Fix: 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.…
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Technical service bulletins
254 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
The 2004 Volkswagen Jetta drew 295 complaints in federal safety records — a middle-of-the-pack year for this model. Its trouble index is 30/100, scored against the model's worst year (2002).
What are the most common 2004 Volkswagen Jetta problems?
The top reported problems for the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta are engine (50 complaints), electrical (48), and transmission & drivetrain (36).
At what mileage do 2004 Volkswagen Jetta problems show up?
Owners most often report 2004 Volkswagen Jetta problems around 70,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 41,075 and 105,000 miles.
Does the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta have recalls?
5 recall campaigns apply to the 2004 Volkswagen Jetta. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.