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2004 Volkswagen Jetta Lights Problems

8 owner-reported lights complaints from NHTSA data

8
Complaints
1
Recalls
1
Crashes
Feb 2006Oct 2006
Date Range

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

Lights Recalls (1)

RECALLCampaign #07V063000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

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. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Owner Complaints (8)

mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: May 2011

WE HAVE A 2004 VW JETTA, BUT THIS CONCERN IS WITH MOST 7 YEAR OLD AND OLDER VEHICLES. THE HEADLIGHT CONSTRUCTION IS INFERIOR TO VEHICLES EARLIER IN THE 1900S ' NEVER WITH CARS I HAVE OWNED FROM 1954 UNTIL THE LAST FEW HAVE I SEE HEADLIGHTS FOG- TURN OPAQUE OR YELLOW. THE PLASTIC USED IS INFERIOR TO THE GLASS USED ON OLDER VEHICLES AND AS SUCH IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD TO ALL DRIVERS. SINCE IT IS THE USE OF AN INFERIOR MATERIAL IT IS A DEFECT AND SHOULD BECOME SAFETY RECALLS BY THE MANUFACTURER RATHER THEN A BAND-AID BUFF OUT KIT THAT THE VEHICLE OWNER, MUST BEAR THE EXPENSE, AND TRY TO USE OR HAVE A REPAIR SHOP DO AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. HEADLIGHT SURFACES SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF A VEHICLES, BARRING DAMAGE IN ACCIDENTS THEY SHOULD PERFORM SAFELY THROUGHOUT A ONE'S OWNERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA #: 10399504
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
Filed: Jun 2010

2004 JETTA TDI 4 DOOR SEDAN, IT'S A TURBO DIESEL. THE STALK HAVE TO GOES TO HIGH BEAM IN ORDER FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL TO WORK. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PART, IT HAVE BEEN WITH THIS CAR FOR MANY YEARS BUT WE DO NOT HAVE TIME TO FIX THIS AND IT'S COST LOST OF MONEY TO REPLACE. WHEN CLICK ON THE TURN SIGNAL THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN OFF, IT'S VERY DANGEROUS ON THE FREEWAY. I BELIEVE THIS PARTS OF THE CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED, IT'S DANGEROUS. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. *TR

NHTSA #: 10340339
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: May 2010

MY CAR'S SIGNAL LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONS PERIODICALLY LEADING TO THE SIGNAL LIGHT BECOMING STUCK IN A LEFT OR RIGHT HAND TURN POSITION BLINKING AT A FAST SPEED. THIS IS OCCURRING ABOUT 25% OF THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. AS A CONSEQUENCE I HAVE TO MAKE UNSAFE LANE CHANGES (EG. WHEN CHANGING INTO R LANE THE SIGNAL LIGHT BE STUCK IN THE LEFT HAND BLINKING SEQUENCES FROM THE PREVIOUS LEFT TURN). TO CORRECT THE FAILURE THE SIGNAL LIGHT ARM HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA #: 10329213
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Apr 2009

REAR LIGHTS GO OUT- TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, ETC... HAVE REPLACED THE BULBS NUMEROUS TIMES. WAS TOLD BY PEOPLE FOLLOWING ME THAT THEY TEND TO FLICKER ON AND OFF AND THEN JUST OFF. ALSO WAS PULLED OVER BY POLICE OFFICER IN SEPT. BOUGHT THIS USED @ VW DEALERSHIP IN JUNE, IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 52,000 AT THAT TIME. *TR

NHTSA #: 10266028
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
CrashFiled: Aug 2008

I OWN A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WAGON TDI. THE ORIGINAL OWNER SOLD THE CAR TO ME AND COMPLAINED OF POOR LIGHTING. I HAVE REPEATEDLY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THERE IS NO PERIPHERAL LIGHTING AND THE LIGHTS DO NOT PROJECT FAR ENOUGH TO SEE AND HAVE DARK SPOTS. I HIT A BEAR 6 WKS. AGO AND DIRECTLY BLAME THE LIGHTS FOR AN IMPAIRED ABILITY TO REACT. THE PLASTIC LENS ARE ALSO A PROBLEM AS THEY YELLOW AND SCRATCH OVER TIME DIMINISHING VISIBILITY BY APPROX 50%. A PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT OCCUR WITH GLASS LENS AND IS PARTICULARLY BAD IN PLACES LIKE COLORADO WHERE MAGNESIUM CHLORIDE IS APPLIED TO THE ROADS IN WINTER. *TR

NHTSA #: 10237267
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY
Filed: Oct 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 06V183000, REGARDING THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. ADDITIONALLY, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW GLASS STUCK WITHIN THE WINDOW RETAINER, AND WOULD NOT ROLL UP. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE WINDOW GLASS NEEDED RETAINER CLIPS INSTALLED. AFTERWARDS, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED.

NHTSA #: 10170026
mediumEXTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Feb 2006

BRAKE LIGHT KEPT ON GOING ON INTERMITTENTLY CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL. *JB

NHTSA #: 10149180
mediumINTERIOR LIGHTING
Filed: Jul 2005

IHAVE A 2004 VW JETTA WAGON. THE INSTRUMENTS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN SOME LIGHTING CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY THE SPEEDOMETER. THE NEDDLE IS A DARK, NON REFLECTIVE RED AGAINST A BLACK BACKGROUND. WITH A BRIGHT FOREGROUND OUTSIDE, THE SPEEDOMETER CANNOT BE SEEN, EVEN WITH THE LIGHTS TURNED BRIGHT. I E-MAILED VW, BUT NEVER RECEIVED AN ANSWER.

NHTSA #: 10128972

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