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Volkswagen Jetta 1999–2004 problems by year and mileage
Mk4 (A4) · Typ 1J (A4 / PQ34)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20262,851 complaints, 1,681 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 1999 Volkswagen Jetta
Close- Median failure report
- 72,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 349
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
Most reported on the 1999
- Visibility equipment81 reports
- Engine and its cooling system78 reports
- Electrical system44 reports
6 recall campaigns name the 1999: Exterior lighting — brake lights; Equipment — other; Fuel system, gasoline — storage. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2000 Volkswagen Jetta
Close- Median failure report
- 65,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 439
- Recalls naming this year
- 4
Most reported on the 2000
- Engine and its cooling system121 reports · median 62,000 mi
- Visibility equipment77 reports
- Electrical system60 reports · median 50,000 mi
4 recall campaigns name the 2000: Exterior lighting — brake lights; Exterior lighting — hazard flashing warning lights; Equipment — other. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2001 Volkswagen Jetta
Close- Median failure report
- 50,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 668
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
Most reported on the 2001
- Electrical system117 reports · median 44,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system109 reports · median 52,000 mi
- Airbag system97 reports · median 68,000 mi
6 recall campaigns name the 2001: Exterior lighting — brake lights; Exterior lighting — hazard flashing warning lights; Equipment — other. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
Close- Median failure report
- 53,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 704
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 2002
- Electrical system149 reports · median 34,000 mi
- Airbag system108 reports · median 50,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline105 reports · median 71,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 2002: Exterior lighting — brake lights; Exterior lighting — hazard flashing warning lights; Service brakes, hydraulic — antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
Close- Median failure report
- 56,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 458
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2003
- Seats101 reports · median 54,000 mi
- Electrical system97 reports · median 78,000 mi
- Airbag system78 reports · median 38,000 mi
2 recall campaigns name the 2003: Air bags — frontal; Exterior lighting — brake lights. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2004 Volkswagen Jetta
Close- Median failure report
- 69,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 233
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2004
- Engine and its cooling system37 reports · median 60,000 mi
- Electrical system36 reports · median 90,000 mi
- Transmission and driveline35 reports · median 29,000 mi
2 recall campaigns name the 2004: Exterior lighting — brake lights; Fuel system, diesel. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 1999 reports latest and the 2001 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 1999 has had 2 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 1999–2004 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 58,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 130,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 1,681
- Recalls
- 12
Most reported
- Electrical system17.6% of complaints · median 53,000 mi
- Engine and its cooling system17.3% of complaints · median 57,000 mi
- Airbag system13.2% of complaints · median 54,000 mi
Owners filed 2,851 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999–2004 Volkswagen Jetta; the electrical system leads with 17.6% of them, and half of the 1,681 that record an odometer reading came by 58,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 30,000 and 90,000 miles.
Note: in 1999, both this generation and the previous one were sold at the same time, and NHTSA complaints are not separated by body.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 1999–2004 Volkswagen Jetta last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 1999–2004 Volkswagen Jetta, half of the 1,681 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 58,000 miles and 90% by 130,000 miles.
103 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 28 past 200,000 — each one proof that a Jetta reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Volkswagen Jetta 1999–2004 · 1,681 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 86 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 28 complaints (1.7%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 14,166
- 25%
- 30,000
- Median
- 57,850
- 75%
- 90,500
- 90%
- 130,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 70 | 4.2% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 60 | 3.6% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 47 | 2.8% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 65 | 3.9% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 82 | 4.9% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 86 | 5.1% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 79 | 4.7% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 78 | 4.6% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 72 | 4.3% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 84 | 5.0% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 76 | 4.5% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 65 | 3.9% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 84 | 5.0% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 63 | 3.7% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 62 | 3.7% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 58 | 3.5% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 48 | 2.9% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 61 | 3.6% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 50 | 3.0% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 45 | 2.7% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 37 | 2.2% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 22 | 1.3% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 35 | 2.1% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 29 | 1.7% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 32 | 1.9% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 21 | 1.2% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 22 | 1.3% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 13 | 0.8% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 17 | 1.0% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 15 | 0.9% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 16 | 1.0% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 9 | 0.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 12 | 0.7% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 5 | 0.3% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 10 | 0.6% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 3 | 0.2% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 5 | 0.3% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 4 | 0.2% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 5 | 0.3% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 6 | 0.4% |
| 200,000+ | 28 | 1.7% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Jetta problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Volkswagen Jetta 1999–2004
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Transmission and driveline323 reports50,00023,000–87,000Transmission and driveline: 323 reports, median 50,000 miles, middle half 23,000 to 87,000 miles.
- Electrical system503 reports53,00024,000–90,000Electrical system: 503 reports, median 53,000 miles, middle half 24,000 to 90,000 miles.
- Seats275 reports53,00035,000–93,000Seats: 275 reports, median 53,000 miles, middle half 35,000 to 93,000 miles.
- Airbag system375 reports54,00030,000–98,000Airbag system: 375 reports, median 54,000 miles, middle half 30,000 to 98,000 miles.
- Visibility equipment303 reports56,00028,000–86,000Visibility equipment: 303 reports, median 56,000 miles, middle half 28,000 to 86,000 miles.
- Engine and its cooling system494 reports57,00030,000–87,000Engine and its cooling system: 494 reports, median 57,000 miles, middle half 30,000 to 87,000 miles.
- Exterior lighting218 reports70,00045,000–86,000Exterior lighting: 218 reports, median 70,000 miles, middle half 45,000 to 86,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 503 | 17.6% | 53,000 | 24,000–90,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 494 | 17.3% | 57,000 | 30,000–87,000 |
| Airbag system | 375 | 13.2% | 54,000 | 30,000–98,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 323 | 11.3% | 50,000 | 23,000–87,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 303 | 10.6% | 56,000 | 28,000–86,000 |
| Seats | 275 | 9.6% | 53,000 | 35,000–93,000 |
| Exterior lighting | 218 | 7.6% | 70,000 | 45,000–86,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 209 | 7.3% | 44,000 | 23,000–79,000 |
| Body structure | 126 | 4.4% | 56,000 | 30,000–90,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 89 | 3.1% | 74,000 | 39,000–109,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 58,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The electrical system accounts for 17.6% of complaints (503 reports, 346 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 53,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 24,000 and 90,000 miles.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 17.3% of complaints (494 reports, 281 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 57,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,000 and 87,000 miles.
The airbag system accounts for 13.2% of complaints (375 reports, 199 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 54,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 30,000 and 98,000 miles.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 11.3% of complaints (323 reports, 228 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 50,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 23,000 and 87,000 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 10.6% of complaints (303 reports, 107 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 56,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 28,000 and 86,000 miles.
Seats account for 9.6% of complaints (275 reports, 207 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 53,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,000 and 93,000 miles.
Known problems with the 1999–2004 Jetta
Engine 1999–2004
1.8T oil sludging: narrow oil galleries plus conventional oil service intervals let sludge block the turbo oil feed and oil pump pickup, destroying bearings and turbochargers. VW extended coverage on affected 1.8T engines.
Ignition 2001–2005
Ignition coil pack failures causing misfire and stalling; a large field campaign covered the affected coils.
Before you buy a 1999–2004 Jetta: the 3-minute check
Generated from 1,681 mileage-tagged complaints, 12 recall campaigns, 2 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 12 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine on 1999–2004 cars. 1.8T oil sludging: narrow oil galleries plus conventional oil service intervals let sludge block the turbo oil feed and oil pump pickup, destroying bearings and turbochargers. VW extended coverage on affected 1.8T…
- Check ignition on 2001–2005 cars. Ignition coil pack failures causing misfire and stalling; a large field campaign covered the affected coils.
- Complaint reports are not spread evenly across model years here — see the by-model-year table below before you settle on a year.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 30,000 and 90,000 miles, with a median of 58,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the electrical system and the engine and its cooling system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 53,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Jetta problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi51% below | At 90k mi74% below | At 120k mi87% below | At 150k mi94% below | At 200k mi98% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 24,000–90,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Engine and its cooling system | 30,000–87,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Airbag system | 30,000–98,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 23,000–87,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Visibility equipment | 28,000–86,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Seats | 35,000–93,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Exterior lighting | 45,000–86,000 | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Volkswagen Jetta 1999–2004 · 1,681 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 51% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 74% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 87% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 94% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 98% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 98%: the remaining 1.7% of reports (28) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
1999–2004 Volkswagen Jetta recalls (12)
NHTSA records 12 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the exterior lighting (4), equipment (2), body structure (2). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Jun 2018 · 2003 · Air BagsIn the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode…
The defect. 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. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure…
What can happen. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or…
The free fix. 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…
Feb 2007 · 2001–2004 · Exterior LightingThe brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on.
The defect. On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.
What can happen. The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
The free 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. Vehicles…
May 2006 · 1999–2002 · Exterior LightingThe brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on.
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic or manual transmissions and cruise controls, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly during safety recalls 03v-265 or 04v-096.
What can happen. The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
The free fix. Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on november 27, 2006. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population may be involved in…
Dec 2004 · 2000–2002 · Exterior LightingThis may result in intermittent or inoperative turn signal and hazard flasher function.
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles, the hazard switch and flasher system function may degrade over time because of distortion and material transfer of the contacts of certain hazard switch relays which occurs due to substantially increased electrical current load…
What can happen. This may result in intermittent or inoperative turn signal and hazard flasher function.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the hazard flasher switch/relay kit. The recall began on march 31, 2005. Owners should contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Dec 2004 · 2004 · Fuel System, DieselFuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a fire.
The defect. 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.
What can happen. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the diesel pump. The recall began on february 8, 2005. Owners should contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Feb 2004 · 1999–2002 · Exterior LightingIf this happens, the brake lights could become inoperative, or come on and stay on, even though the vehicle…
The defect. On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction.
What can happen. If this happens, the brake lights could become inoperative, or come on and stay on, even though the vehicle is parked.
The free fix. This recall has been superceded by 06v-183. Owners who have had a remedy performed under this recall should return to their dealer for the redesigned remedy. Owners should contact Volkswagen at…
Apr 2003 · 1999 · EquipmentUnder inflated tires can affect vehicle handling, and driving with substantialy under inflated tires puts the…
The defect. Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 2.8L vr6 engines fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "Tire selection and rims." The recommended cold tire inflation pressure published on the label for tires of the…
What can happen. Under inflated tires can affect vehicle handling, and driving with substantialy under inflated tires puts the consumer at a risk for a crash.
The free fix. Owners will be provided with corrected labels, or a dealer can install the label if the owner wishes. Owner notification began september 29, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized…
Sep 2002 · 2000–2001 · EquipmentThese vehicles were not marked or described as required by the standard.
The defect. Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 225, "Child restraint anchorage systems." Child seat anchorages installed in the vehicle's rear seats must be identified by markings, and their location…
What can happen. These vehicles were not marked or described as required by the standard.
The free fix. Owners will be provided with a supplement for the owner's manual and also one set of four guidance fixtures intended to use in conjunction with child seats equipped with rigid or semi-rigid lower…
Jan 2002 · 2001–2002 · Service Brakes, HydraulicThis can result in a fire.
The defect. On some passenger vehicles, short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (ABS).
What can happen. This can result in a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the ABS control unit. Owner notification began march 8, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Jan 2002 · 1999 · Fuel System, GasolineFuel leakage can occur increasing the risk of a fire.
The defect. On some passenger vehicles, the fuel tank filler neck can suffer abrasion damage if the rear tire goes flat and the vehicle is driven until the tire disintegrates.
What can happen. Fuel leakage can occur increasing the risk of a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will fit passat vehicles with a new wheel house liner that will better protect the car's filler neck. Jetta vehicles will be fitted with a different metal shield designed to enhance abrasion…
Sep 1999 · 1999 · StructureThis condition could prevent the clip from breaking on impact and result in less deformation in the impacted…
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Some of these vehicles do not comply with the head injury criterion requirements of fmvss no. 201, "Occupant protection in interior impact." The upper retainer clip near the bp1 impact location is designed to break…
What can happen. This condition could prevent the clip from breaking on impact and result in less deformation in the impacted area and a higher decleration of the head form, increasing the risk of personal injury in…
The free fix. Dealers will remove the trim cover from each of the b pillars and install a new cover.
Feb 1999 · 1999 · StructureThis could result in a fire.
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The sound absorbing mat attached to the inside of the b-pillar side trim panel could have been improperly installed. Surface and edges of the mat could have been damaged during the assembly process. It could ignite…
What can happen. This could result in a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will remove the matting materials from inside the b-pillar on both sides of the vehicle.
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 2,851 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 171 (6.0%)
- Fires
- 197
- Injury reports
- 239
- Fatality reports
- 5
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Jetta problems by model year
The 2002 drew the most complaints of this generation, 704, most of them about the electrical system, and the 2004 the fewest, 233. A typical year drew about 448.
One caveat on the year figures: in 1999, the manufacturer sold both this generation and the previous one at the same time, and NHTSA records do not distinguish between them. Complaints filed under that year may describe either vehicle.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 mixed | 349 | 87 | 72,000 | Visibility equipment (81) | 6 |
| 2000 | 439 | 180 | 65,000 | Engine and its cooling system (121) | 4 |
| 2001 | 668 | 358 | 50,000 | Electrical system (117) | 6 |
| 2002 | 704 | 489 | 53,000 | Electrical system (149) | 5 |
| 2003 | 458 | 374 | 56,000 | Seats (101) | 2 |
| 2004 | 233 | 193 | 69,000 | Engine and its cooling system (37) | 2 |
What Jetta owners reported
The contact owns a 2000 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that while driving with the front driver’s side seat heater activated, the seat became extremely hot. The contact started smelling a burning odor coming from the seat. The contact felt a hole in the seat, which burned the contact's middle finger. The contact…
2000 · 489,000 miles · Electrical system
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…
2004 · 140,000 miles · Visibility/wiper
I purchased this vehicle recently and have noticed a distinct diesel smell when idling or driving at low speeds. Smells strong like leaking diesel fuel. The car idles very rough and sometimes stalls when coming to a stop. There is a very bad odor whenever i enter the vehicle. I am concerned that the car will stall and…
2000 · 260,000 miles · Engine
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").…
2004 · 140,000 miles · Fuel and propulsion system
Built from 1,681 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Jetta generations
- Jetta 1993–1998 112 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system
- Jetta 2005–2010 2,660 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Jetta 2011–2018 1,937 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system
- Jetta 2019–2025 318 reports with mileage, most about the electrical system