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2003 Volkswagen Jetta Suspension Problems

6 owner-reported suspension complaints from NHTSA data

6
Complaints
Jan 2007Dec 2014
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (6)

mediumSUSPENSION
Filed: Dec 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED THAT THE NOISE BARRIER WAS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA #: 10668278
mediumSUSPENSION
Filed: Apr 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN SWAYING INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT, WHO WAS A LICENSED MECHANIC, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE AXLE BRACKET WAS RUSTED AND BECAME FRACTURED. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DECLINED TO PROVIDE THE CONTACT AN ALTERNATIVE REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 06/10/14*LJ UPDATED 06/13/2014 *JS

NHTSA #: 10583330
mediumSUSPENSION
Filed: Aug 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER CONTINUED TO TRAVEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER COIL SPRING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 17,643. BL UPDATED 9/17/09 *CN UPDATED 09/18/09.*JB

NHTSA #: 10281847
mediumSUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,WHEELS,INTERIOR LIGHTING,EQUIPMENT
Filed: Nov 2008

I HAVE HAD 27 THINGS BREAK OR FAIL ON MY 03VW JETTA 1.8T. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 01/06 WITH 32,000 MILES. AFTER BUYING THE CAR THE FIRST FIVE MINS THE WINDOW SHATTERED. FIRST TWO MONTHS 2 TIRES BLEW OUT, FRONT RIM CRACKED, BACK TIRES OUT OF ALIGNMENT. DEALER PAID TO FIX RIM BROKE 2 WEEKS LATER THE DEALER PAID FO USED SET OF SIMILAR RIMS. EVERY LIGHT INSIDE AND OUT WENT OUT BY 05/06 DRIVER SEAT WONT RAISE UP CARGO NET IN TRUNK FALLS APART DEALER WONT COVER. GAS AND TRUNK RELEASE BUTTONS FELL DOWN INSIDE OF DOOR. RADIO STOPPED WORKING FRONT DOOR SPEAKERS ARE SHORTING OUT. DRIVER WINDOW SWITCH GOES UP WHEN YOU PUSH DOWN AND DOWN WHEN YOU PUSH DOWN HAVE TO FIDDLE WITH IT FOR IT TO GO UP. EXHAUST HANGER BROKE CAUSING CHATTER. SWAYBAR BUSHING FELL OUT CAUSING GRINDING AND SHAKING WHEN EVER MOVING. NOT COVER BY WARRANTY ALL THESE HAPPENED BY 05/07. NOW ITS 10/08 AND I HAVE 84,000 MILES. CURRENT PROBLEMS ARE REAR SPOILER BRAKE LIGHT HANGS DOWN(DEALER JUST GLUED IT IN PLACE LASTED ABOUT 4 MONTHS) CAM AND CRANK SEALS LEAKING OIL CAUSE ODOR INSIDE OF CABIN. IF I DRIVE FOR MORE THEN AN HOUR I GET SICK AND LIGHT-HEADED. SEAT, CARGO NET IN TRUNK, IS STILL BROKEN. RADIO STILL ISN'T FIXED SO I JUST WENT AND BOUGHT AN AFTER MARKET. SPEAKERS STILL SHORTENING OUT ONLY WHEN ITS COLD OUT. KEYLESS ENTRY ONLY WORKS WITHIN 4FT OF THE CAR. IN THE WINTER THE CAR ONLY GETS 18MPG ON THE HIGHWAY AND ABOUT 14 IN THE CITY AND THE CAR IS PARKED IN A HEATED UNDERGROUND GARAGE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10248367
mediumSUSPENSION
Filed: Jan 2007

WHILE PULLING TO A STOP AT THE END OF MY STREET I HEARD A LOUD BANG. AFTER GETTING OUT AND INSPECTING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED THE RIGHT FRONT SPRING HAD BROKEN. I HAVE NOT HIT ANYTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THE SPRING TO BREAK. I AM PUZZLED AS TO WHY THIS HAPPENED ON A CAR WITH ONLY 78,000 MILES. THE REPAIR SHOP SAYS THIS IS THE 6TH JETTA OR GOLF THEY HAVE SEEN WITH THIS PROBLEM IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS. THE CAR IS A 2003 VW JETTA TDI. I AM NOW OUT $450 TO REPLACE THE SPRINGS? *JB

NHTSA #: 10179000
mediumSUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Filed: Aug 2006

BOUGHT A VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS IN 2003. SEVERAL THINGS HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. FOR EXAMPLE THE GLOVE BOX COVER, WHEEL BEARING. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT ON MOST NEWER VEHICLES THAT WHEEL BEARINGS DO NOT REQUIRE MAINTENANCE. MY CAR HAS 74,000 MILES. LAST WEEK I WAS DRIVING AND MY MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE CAR IF GOING OVER 30 MPH CUT OUT. THERE WAS A ROTTEN EGG SMELL. IT IMMEDIATELY WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND 2 COILS WERE FAULTY. THEY REPLACED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND IGNITION COILS FOR CYLINDERS 1&3 AND CLEARED FAULT CODES. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. BUT SAID VOLKSWAGEN FEELS THE IGNITION COILS ARE A REGULAR MAINTENANCE ISSUE. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND AM FINDING THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE COILS. IN MY RESEARCH I FOUND THAT VW HAD A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION LETTER THAT WAS SENT OUT TO VW OWNERS TO BRING CAR INTO DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE COILS. VW REPRESENTATIVE IN MICHIGAN TOLD ME THAT THEY STOPPED DOING THAT IN 2005. I BELIEVE THAT I SHOULD HAVE NOT HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE THE IGNITION COILS. VW KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I LOVE MY VW BUT I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS THIS CAR THAT I HAVE NEVER HAD IN ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I TRADE VEHICLES EVERY 3-4 YEARS BUT WILL NOT PURCHASE ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN. NOT BECAUSE I HAVE HAD SO MANY THINGS GO WRONG BECAUSE THE STRANGE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THE CAR AND VOLKSWAGEN DOESN'T TAKE CARE OF THEIR DRIVERS. *JB

NHTSA #: 10164623

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