2001 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2001 Volkswagen Jetta | 2003 Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 668 | 455 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 240 | 233 |
| Investigations | 5 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 40 | 25 |
| Fire reports | 12 | 70 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–38 | 22–39 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 50,000 mi | 56,861 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Volkswagen Jetta | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 117 | 97 |
| Air Bags | 97 | 76 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 109 | 45 |
| Seats | 27 | 100 |
| Power Train | 62 | 54 |
| Exterior Lighting | 80 | 27 |
| Visibility | 69 | 21 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 67 | 18 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 52 | 22 |
| Check engine light | 46 | 6 |
| Loss of power | 18 | 15 |
| Hesitation / surging | 15 | 9 |
| Brake problems | 14 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 6 |
| Oil consumption | 11 | 0 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 11 | 0 |
2001 Volkswagen Jetta
2003 Volkswagen Jetta
Compare all Volkswagen Jetta vs Volkswagen Jetta years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.