2004 Volkswagen Jetta — Known Issues & Recalls

The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed while it was raining, the windshield wipers were activated; however, the wipers failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the wipers failed to operate. In addition, the contact stated the brake lights failed to function as intended. The contact was informed that the brake lights failed to activate while the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the front driver's side window was closed; however, the driver's front side window was independently lowered. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with an electrical system failure. The contact stated that the battery, the alternator, the fuses, and the windshield wiper motor were all replaced; however, the failure reoccurred. The failure became a persistent failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

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.

THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING OF THE LEFT HEADLIGHT IS DETERIORATED AND FALLING OFF LEAVING THE WIRES BARE AND AT RISK OF SHORTING OUT.

PASSENGER SEAT (FRONT SEAT) HEATING ELEMENT IS BURNING THE UPHOLSTERY. THE SEAT HEATER WON'T SHUT OFF. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE; EACH TIME THE CAR WAS OPERATING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS STARTED TO FLASH ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DOOR CHIME SOUNDED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE JUMP STARTED AND DROVE TO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWO OTHER TIMES AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FUSE BOX MELTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

ON 12/18/2016 I WAS DRIVING THIS CAR BACK FROM THE MOVIES AT 2:30 A.M. ONCE THE MOVIE HAD ENDED IT WAS STORMING AND SLEETING. I STARTED TO NOTICE SYSTEMS SHUTTING DOWN AS INDICATED BY VARIOUS DASH LIGHTS SUCH AS ABS, AIRBAG, AMONG OTHERS. EVENTUALLY THE RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS SHUT OFF. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS SLOWED AND THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMED, AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR DIED GOING 50 MILES AN HOUR IN SLEETING CONDITIONS LEAVING ME WITH NO ABS, NO AIRBAG SYSTEM (AT LEAST PER WHAT THE DASH LIGHTS INDICATED) AND, OF COURSE, NO POWER STEERING. I INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THIS MORNING AND FOUND THE ALTERNATOR WIRE COMING INTO THE HIGH AMPERAGE FUSE BOX THAT SITS ON TOP OF THE BATTERY HAD MELTED AND DISCONNECTED THE CIRCUIT, DISABLING THE ALTERNATOR FROM CHARGING THE BATTERY, AND LETTING THE BATTERY DIE. THE INCIDENT DID NOT CAUSE A CRASH, BUT IT COULD HAVE IF THERE WAS ANYONE ELSE AROUND ME AS I HAD TO CUT ACROSS A COUPLE LANES WITH NO ENGINE POWER AND NO POWER STEERING TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. *TR

STARTING AT AROUND 130,000 MILES, WHEN GAS TANK IS AT A QUARTER OR SLIGHTLY LESS, THE CAR LOOSES POWER AND ACTS AS IF IT IS NOT GETTING FUEL TO THE ENGINE. WHEN THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY AT TYPICAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS, POWER IS LOST FOR 10-15 SECONDS, RPM DROPS TO AROUND 2000 OR LESS (WHILE IN "DRIVE"). THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ENGINE JERKS TO LIFE, AND I CAN DRIVE THE CAR NORMALLY, UP UNTIL I HAVE TO REFILL THE TANK. THE STALLING DOESN'T REPEAT ITSELF UNTIL THE NEXT QUARTER TANK. WHEN THE QUARTER OF A TANK ISSUE HAPPENS IN THE CITY AT SLOWER SPEEDS, THE CAR DIES, DASHBOARD ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON, AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER, AND CRANK THE STARTER 3 OR 4 TIMES, AND EVENTUALLY, IT STARTS BACK UP AGAIN WITH NORMAL DRIVING RESUMED. ONE TIME I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL, LOST POWER, AND HAD TO PULL OVER QUICK. WHEN THE QUARTER OF A TANK ISSUE HAPPENS WHILE PARKED, ENGINE AT AN IDLE, THE CAR DIES, AND I HAVE TO CRANK THE STARTER A FEW TIMES TO RESTART THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM ONLY HAPPENS ONCE PER TANK CYCLE, ONLY AT THE (APPROXIMATE) QUARTER OF A TANK POSITION, AND DOESN'T HAPPEN BETWEEN THE FULL TO 1/4, OR THE 1/4 TO EMPTY PHASE. I KNOW I AM NOT OUT OF GAS, AS I'M FILLING UP THE TANK TO NORMAL LEVELS. THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, AND THE FUEL FILTER ONCE. MY MECHANIC CHARGED $80 TO DIAGNOSE THE CAR, ONLY TO FIND A CODE ABOUT A SPARK PLUG THAT MISFIRED - WHICH OF COURSE WILL HAPPEN DURING FUEL STARVATION. SPART PLUGS REPLACED, BUT THE PROBLEM HAPPEND AGAIN. I'VE CALLED 3 OR 4 VW REPAIR SHOPS, AND NOBODY HAS A CLUE HOW TO FIX THIS, ESPECIALLY WHEN I BRING UP THE QUARTER OF A TANK ISSUE. THE ONLY WAY TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IS TO FILL UP BEFORE HITTING 1/4 TANK. IRRITATING !!!! ISSUE GOING FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW.

THE CAR RANDOMLY STALLS WHILE DRIVING WHETHER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR IN TOWN. THIS CAUSES A LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES WHICH IS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS REGULARLY WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER FOR THE LAST 3 OR 4 YEARS AND HAS DONE IT 4 TIMES WHILE UNDER MY OWNERSHIP SINCE SEPTEMBER 2017 IT USUALLY HAPPENS WHILE THERE IS LESS THAN 1/4 TANK OF FUEL. WHEN IT HAPPENS THERE IS NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOR DOES THE ECU STORE ANY CODES FROM THE PROBLEM. PREVIOUS OWNER MADE SEVERAL REPAIRS INCLUDING A FUEL PUMP AND FILTER, ENGINE SPEED SENSOR AND ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIX THE ISSUES WITH NO SUCCESS. THIS ISSUES ALSO COMES UP REGULARLY ON SEVERAL VW FORUMS AND NO ONE SEEMS TO HAVE AN ANSWER. THIS IS A KNOWN AND REGULAR ISSUE WITH NO CONSISTENT REPAIR AND NEEDS TO BE REMEDIED.

RANDOMLY STALLS ON THE FREEWAY WHEN DOWN TO 1/4 TANK OF GAS. AFTER PULLING OVER AND TURNING OFF THE KEY AND TURNING THE KEY BACK ON, IT WILL START AND RUN GREAT. THIS HAPPENS ABOUT EVERY OTHER TIME THE CAR GETS DOWN TO ABOUT 1/4 TANK. NO SHOP CAN DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM OR CORRECT IT. I HAVE TRIED THE IGNITION COIL, GROUNDS, FUEL PUMP... NO FIX. THERE ARE COUNTLESS THREADS ON VARIOUS VW FORUMS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO STALL ON THE FREEWAY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE TO CORRECT THIS.

SEATS ARE GETTING EXCESSIVELY HOT AND STARTING TO BURN THROUGH THE VISION AND FABRIC. SMOKE IN COMPARTMENT.

I TURNED ON THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER AND IT CAUGHT FIRE BURNING A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND BURNING ME. I WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME IN THE CITY. I PORED WATER ALL OVER ME AND THE SEAT AND TURNED THE HEATER OFF.

Unknown, very complex. Multiple issues. Have been addressed as well as parts been replaced however other issues arised that are definitely safety concerns between electrical issues engine motor etc

A4 VW BEW TDI BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM HOSE updated part# 1J0 612 041 FD VW part numbers 1J0 612 041 N and 1J0 612 041 FD. These hose are known for cracking at the plastic tube causing low vacuum; poor / inconsistant braking performance. This could lead to crashes, injuries, and loss of life. These hoses were recalled in the UK, but not in USA for unknown reasons. Vaico is the oem supplier of these hoses, and were most likely fitted to all bew TDI m/t mk4 VW vehicles sold world wide.

THE FRONT WINDOWS DETACH AND DROP DOWN INSIDE THE DOOR DURING COLD WEATHER, EVEN WHEN THE WINDOW HAS NOT BEEN OPERATED. THIS HAS CAUSED A LOSS OF VISIBILITY AS WELL AS A LOSS OF PROTECTION DURING A BLIZZARD, AND AGAIN DURING A TORRENTIAL RAIN STORM WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE REATTACHED THE WINDOWS MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAVE CONTINUED TO HAVE THIS FAILURE OF THE CLAMPS THAT HOLDS THEM IN PLACE. THIS HAS HAPPENED BOTH AT LOW SPEEDS AND AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ISSUE CONTINUES TO BE A HAZARDOUS PROBLEM. IN LOOKING ONLINE FOR HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM, I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON IN THESE CARS AND HAS BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR MANY DRIVERS.

MY CAR IS CURRENTLY STAGED AT MY HOME IT'S STILL DRIVABLE BUT I DON'T KNOW GOR HOW LONG! I RECENTLY BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM A DEALER IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO, NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH MY TRANSMISSION I CAUGHT THE ISSUE FAST AND TOOK IT TO A MULTISTATE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO REBUILD MY TRANSMISSION WITH THE AMOUNT OF MONEY I ALREADY SPENT ON FIXING UP THIS CAR I AM EXTREMELY UPSET, I CANNOT AFFORD SUCH A INSANE AMOUNT EVERYTHING WITH THE CAR BESIDES THAT IS PERFECT THOUGH.

LOOSE STEERING CHANCE OF LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO INCORRECT TIE ROD END FROM KIT SPECIFIC TO VEHICLE. RESULTING IN RUINED TIRES AND ALIGNMENT. HTTPS://WWW.AUTOPARTSWAREHOUSE.COM/SKU/VOLKSWAGEN/JETTA/REPLACEMENT/CONTROL_ARM_KIT/2004/TDI/4_CYL_1-DOT-9L/REPV281502.HTML . THE KIT I BELIEVE HAS A TIE ROD END MEANT FOR A PREIOUS GENERATION VOLKSWAGON AS IT IS SMALLER IN DIAMETER AND CANNOT TAPER LOCK. IT TOOK ABOUT A MONTH OF DRIVING FOR IT TO LOOSEN UP. THE PHYSICAL PROBLEM IS THE OUTER TIR ROD BUT THE INNER TIE ROD IS OF A SMALLER DIAMETER AND ADJUSTMENTS WERE MADE INSTALLING SO THE DUST BOOT WOULD PROPERLY SEAL BUT IT WAS MECHANICALLY COMPATABLE.

VEHICLE UNDER MULTIPLE OCCASIONS HAS STALLED OUT AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, LOCATIONS, AND DRIVING STYLES/ROADS AT OR UNDER A QUARTER OF A TANK

WHILE DRIVING DOWN ROAD EARLY IN MORNING APPROX 2 MILES FROM HOUSE I JUST LEFT FROM MY 2004 JETTA SHUTS DOWN TOTAL LOSS OF ALL POWER I PULLED CAR OVER IN A CHURCH PARKING LOT I SMELLED SMOKE AND COULD SEE SMOKE COMING FROM FIRE WALL I RAISED HOOD AND PULLED BATTERY CABLE OFF I COULD SEE SMPOKE FILLING INSIDE OF MY CAR WALKED AROUND TO DRIVER DOOR TO GET MY PHONE AND I SEEN FUSE BOX ON FIRE.ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED TO HELP ME AND HE APPROACHED MY CAR AND THEN CALLED POLICE ,FULL FLAMES WERE COMING FROM MY CAR WITHIN 5 MIN SO I STOOD BACK AND WATCHED MY CAR BURN .FIRE DEPT SHOWED UP AND PUT FIRE OUT MY CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS. IVE HAD ISSUES WITH ALTERNATOR,FUEL PUMP,AIR BAG LIGHT, HEADLIGHTS ARE REALLY DIM EVEN ON BRIGHT.NOTHING BUT ISSUES WITH THIS CAR SINCE I GOT IT. 115.000 MILES ONLY ON THIS CAR .SO MANY ISUES I CAN SEE WHY ITS LOW MILAGE

HEATED SEAT MODULE MELTED A HOLE THROUGH MY LEATHER.

TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE APROXIMATLEY 70 MPH, THE LEFT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. THIS RESULTED IN A LOSS OF CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE IMPACTED THE GUARD RAIL. AT THIS POINT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SEPARATED FROM THE CAR AS THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPIN DOWN THE ROAD. THE CAR CAME TO A REST AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3 SPINS, AND THE ENGINE CAME TO REST ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE 3 LANE INTERSTATE.