Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Volkswagen Jetta owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I got my 2003 vw Jetta in February of '03. Now not even a year and a half later I have huge problems with my car. My brake lights will randomly stay on even when the car is turned off. My windows do not always work properly. Finally the worst was that I was parked in my drive way, it is steep but the same place I have parked dozens of times, when the emergency brake let go in the middle of the night and my car rolled down the drive way eventually crashing into trees. I read on other complaints that there was one other person who had experienced the failure of the emergency brake and many others who had similar electrical problems. Well I called Volkswagen about my brake lights and they said that indeed there was a recall on my car as a result of a failing brake light switch. Turns out they had failed to inform me. I wonder what other recalls they have failed to inform people about.
I have owned a Volkswagen Jetta (turbo - 2003) and have had one horrible problem after another. Without fail, I have taken my vehicle in for random mechanical repairs every few months since purchasing the vehicle. I found out the car was manufactured in Mexico and that vw was aware of how bad their car's manufactured in Mexico were. If that is the case, how can so many car owners with so many mechanical issues continue to sell in this country? I would like to report vw for lackluster performance and for continuing manufacture in an area well known for its below average standards and for continuing to bleed the consumer when it is fully aware of the issue.
Driving hello all state route after dark at 55 mi./h the headlights went out completely and then came back on in a short matter of seconds. Had the road not been straight at that section I could have very easily collided with trees or guardrails. The 1st time this happened was 2012-08-01. I had the local Volkswagen expert garage replaced the headlights stock. The next time that occurred was July 2018. This is a severe safety hazard I have not sought any repairs yet.
My car got hacked my charlie miller and chris valasek was seen over at my neighbors house on 4/29/2017 and my ex boss chris stutz jr is in charge of all the break in of my house and cars edwardsville police will not do anything because the police are friend of them I hope I don't get killed over these hacks but if that's what it will take to do anything about it
I purchased a 2003 vw Jetta tdi wagon about a year ago, used. This car has been really great to me thus far, until my glow plug light started flashing at me the other day. After checking the manual, which basically said there was an internal error, and not much more, I decided to check the internet for more information. The search results mentioned that it is most likely a brake light switch problem and either the brake lights stay on, or shut off completely. So, after my wife checked the back of the car while I pressed on the brakes, sure enough, my brake lights no longer work! I checked the web some more, and it looks as if there was a recall for 98-02 jettas for the very same problem. Being that mine is a 2003, my car does not fall under the recall! I did some more searches, and http://forums.vwvortex.com I found this thread, which details a diy method of replacing this $10 part. …
Driving on the highway at night I noticed that my cruise control was inoperative. I researched the problem when I got home on a vw related website and found out that this was most likely due to a brake light switch located under the driver near the brake pedal. When the brake light switch is not working it causes the cruise control to also stop working. What I also found out is that since this switch was broken all my brake lights were not functioning. There would have been no way for me to become aware that my brake lights were not functioning unless I had connected the problem by researching it online. This poses a serious safety risk for those who would not associate a cruise control problem with the brake switch and therefore be driving around unknowingly without brake lights and could cause an accident by not having the proper brake lights operational. …
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. …
Dt*: the contact stated while driving at 35 MPH on normal road condition problems were notice with the traction button for the ESP system. The vehicle was taken to the dealership who determined the black brake switch failed. The brake light switch has been replaced for the purple brake light switch twice. The black brake light switch had a recall for 2002 model but does not cover the 2003 models. Additional problems are associated with the brake switch, which includes the traction button for the ESP system and the park position lever which locks often. Also the contact once became stranded on a highway when the vehicle stalled and could not be restarted. The vehicle was towed to the dealership who replaced the ignition coil. All repairs made by the dealership has been covered by the vehicle warranty. …
I own a 2003 vw Jetta tdi. On 10/17/2006 I was driving down the interstate at 72 MPH when my glow plug light began flashing. I had recently replaced the glow plugs so I contacted the dealership. They stated that it was most likely the brake light switch. I was not told that this problem causes the brake lights not to work. I later found out that other vw Jetta model years have the same defect and a recall has been issued for 99-02 models. Apparently 03 models have the same problem but dealers are not informing their customers of the safety issues related to a malfunction in the brake light switch.
Jetta brake light switch (on our invoice it is part no. 1jo-945-511-e") according to the service dept at commonwealth vw, this switch has been recalled as defective in other vw's, but not the Jetta. When it fails, the brake lights go out and the car will not shift. I bought this car new for my daughter, m. B., the registered owner, and I do not like the idea that she is driving a defective vehicle to and from our home in villa park, ca. To school in riverside, ca. (about 60 miles round trip) daily, and at night! This part should be recalled from all vehicles.
Related recalls
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.
Remedy: 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.
Headlight complaints in other Jetta years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA has 29 complaints about the lights of the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta, 6% of the model year's 458 complaints. The component named most often is brake lights › switch (20 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Volkswagen Jetta headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 07V-063 (switch, Feb 20, 2007). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2003 Volkswagen Jetta headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 63,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to lights problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.