Used 2004 Volkswagen Jetta Consumer Reviews
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jetta tdi
very nice car great milage
Great car
My mom bought this car new and it had a lot of problems although she never put oil in it or did any maintenance. Always the thermostat or catalyst converter and the transmission went out twice. She got a new car gave it to my dad who drove it for a year and a half then gave it to me when I got my license. I drove that thing like hell redlined once when it was making a tik tik tik noise because it literally had no oil and nothing happend. I put like 15k on it maybe idk but it never gave me a problem. I gave it to my dad and it lasted around 300k miles interior door trim started to get loose loose headliner sagged since it was mine the electricals were going out. His transmission only worked in 3rd gear and it lasted about 305,000 miles. U could still drive it the only problem was the transmission and it still moved just couldn’t drive over 60 mph and it was a dog accelerating. Aside from that the car was comfy heated seats worked great had 5 levels of heating which most cars don’t. Also had a nice interior great AC great visibility. Handling was fine power sucked ass very slow but it was super good on gas $40 to fill up lasted a really long time. Also stock sound system was the loudest I’ve heard in any car turning it on max volume while in the car will actually hurt you. Key transmitter stopped working in the car so both key fobs didn’t work. Also glove box handle didn’t work it fell of same with armrest. Very cramped interior but great trunk space and extremely good brakes. Maybe it’s because it was one of our family cars that was passed around like a blunt but I miss this car I wish my dad didn’t get rid of it but he had to. He got a new 2019 car and the dealership was offering $2000 on top of your trade in and the car was only worth $250 so he couldn’t pass that up. Car Proabbly would’ve broke anyway we drove 30 mins home on the freeway in 3rd gear since that was the only one that worked doing 60 revving at 5k rpm the whole time and it burned all the oil in it but still drove back to the dealership
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- Performance
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- Reliability
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Love ❤️ the Jetta
It is a stylish car, perfectly sized: large enough to have comfy front and back seats, generous cargo space (more, with rear seats folded), yet compact enough to fit in smaller parking spots. Drives great. 16 years and counting
Good Car
I purchased my Jetta with 6,000 miles. It now has 170,000. I did have to replace the water pump at 80,000. I replaced the Catalytic Coverter (warranty) at 100,000. Coolant temp sensor at 130,000. I have had some driver side tail light issues too. Overall, when I add up all I've spent on repairs, this is one of the most dependable cars I have ever owned. The only complaint is the seats are too hard. Reading some of the reviews makes me think I am lucky. Sorry to those of you who were disappointed.
great deal, practical car
I love this car! I thought it would be too small for my 6'-5" husband, along with our 2 year old twin toddlers, but we actually do fit just fine - for it to be a second car. The car is a great deal because of the diesel engine, once we saw it we were hooked - we will be saving over $150 a month with the incredible gas mileage. The safety of the 6 air bags is unbeatable - and not even offered in other sedans of comparable price. The interior is sleek and well-made. We looked at everything - but Volkswagen won mainly for crash test ratings, retaining its value (60% after 5 years!), and gas mileage, making it a practical car.
Great for farfegnugen
Last wagon to own before the "cheater" diesels. The wagon drives like it is new. Great interior and moonroof.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great car so far
I think this car has been very reliable so far. Sure a few things have needed to be replaced but I think you can expect that. At 65K miles, my water pump went, unfortunately the impeller is made of plastic and I couldn't find anyone that made a non plastic impeller pump. I had the CV joints replaced around 70K mostly due to me taking curves like I was a nascar driver. My car is 7 years old and the battery, alternator, exhaust, are still original so I'm really impressed...so I will not be shocked when any of those need replacing soon. At 76K miles, I had a coolant leak that was coming form the cooling hose flange...it's a $20 part, if you have the time I would just replace that myself.
Fun Car
The pros of my 2007 Jetta GLS TDI include excellent fuel mileage, reliability, and excellent handling for its size. The cons are VW's terrible dealer service and a few rattles here and there.
An Audi in hiding
For those of you looking for a "drivers" small car, look no further. We bought our Jetta Wagon used with 39k on the odometer. It has been trouble free with about 56k miles as I write this. This car is fun to drive, whether around town or on the highway. Not a sports car, the handling is more then adequate for fun and the ride is firm, but not harsh. This car is basically an Audi (shares a lot with the Audi A4), not an Old Beetle. Parts and service can be pricey,especially if you don't do some things yourself. German cars are fussy about being maintained. If you don't MAINTAIN, you will have to FIX. True of all cars, very true of German makes. Keep that in mind and enjoy your Jetta!
OH NO!!!
My Jetta only has 368 miles on it and (already) the power windows, the map lights and the power locks stopped working! I read the reviews about the 2002 models and the horror stories about the windows falling into the doors never to return. I figured by now the manufacturer would have its &^%$ together. Come on VW...Stop drinking on the assembly line!!!
The best way to buy one
The Volkswagen Jetta is one of the best they make, it has great handling,fuel economy, power/tourque. Even a base model GL is great.
Great Car if you don't mind rattles
This is a wonderful commuter car if you can get past the interior rattles. When I took delivery, the car was very quiet, now with 12,400 miles since May 04, there are now 5 to 6 areas that rattle in the interior and occasionally the right rear door does not unlock completely when using the electronic system. Other than, that we love it!
Almost perfectly reliable for 93K miles
Total repairs include one throttle body (under warranty), broken clips on power window during a winter freeze (fixed for free by a dealer), and brake pads/rotors. Rear brakes were at 92K miles, fronts at 80k. That's it. Another example of buying at the end of a model run for best reliability? This has been a perfect 'extra' family car in terms of reliability, economy (27-30 mpg) and practicality. With good snows and stability control, it handles New England snow very well. Performance is modest with the 2.0 liter and automatic, but fine on the hiwy. Handling is serious understeer, but it is a predictable car to drive and I don't dread switching from my A4 quattro when the occasion arises.
I Miss the Good Ol' Days
Alright 2004 Jetta drivers... I see quite a bit of discrepancies in the reviews of this vehicle (or junker, lemon, superb car). Hmmm. Perhaps those of us who (ahem) drive the 2004 V-Dead/V-Dud received a similar factory model. Those rated this Jetta at 9 or 10; consider yourselves "the lucky ones." I owned a 1998 VW Wolfsburg Jetta prior to this 2004 lemon. I loved that 1998 with my heart and soul. Unfortunately I was rear ended and the car deemed "totaled." Now I am stuck with this. Wrought with problems between breaks, stalling, adjusters, recalls; heck I am getting a migraine thinking about it.
Jetta wagon 1.8T GLS 5M
I love my Jetta. It's a blast to drive, it gets good mileage, and its cargo area is pretty big. So far (knock on wood) in about 7300 miles, I haven't had any problems with the car at all. I would highly recommend this wagon to anyone who needs a wagon, but still likes to drive.
I miss my jetta already = (
Just sold my jetta after 5 great years in it. bought the car w/7k miles on it. No issues until about 35k miles and the chrome strip on the right panel start to peel and had it replaced along with the catalytic converter (warranty). Around 70k the car would stall for a second and kick in under 1/4 tank gas. Never replaced the fuel pump, but I'm guessing thats the problem. The remote worked half the time around 50k miles as well. Other than that, I drove this car in all weather conditions and loved every moment of it through college. Sold it at 80k to another college student Great car! Drove it hard at times and it kept up with the abuse. Never paid a dime in repairs! LOVED IT
Great Substiute for BMW 3 Series
Being a former BMW 3 series Driver when it came to buying another one costs on BMW's have just skyrocketed. So being a german car owner I turned to Volkswagon for a hopefully good escape of paying over 30,000 for a comfortable and powerful sedan. So I test drove the Jetta GLI. I was very impressed by the performance and comfort. The only complant I have is that it dosent have the Multi- Funtional Computer.
-tdi - pd jetta
great car. performance and economy in one... and mean performance. tons of torque. great on the hills.
Jetta: so far, so good
Fuel economy (mostly smaller town and highway) averages mid to high 40s in winter, to 49-53 mpg in summer. Fuel economy appears to be 5-10% higher this year than last year, when car was new. Recent trip from Tulsa, OK to mid-KY used 13.3 gallons of fuel for the whole trip of 750 miles (= 57 mpg) at 70-75 mph, with air conditioning. Back seat needs a little more foot room (has about 5 inches less than our Corolla); it's my understanding that new Jetta has a little more foot room due to slightly longer wheelbase. No sign yet of reported problems with power accessories. So far, would recommend this car (2003 model) highly.
Disgruntled In Denver
This was my dream car. I bought it used,(certified pre-owned), but it came with no warranty. The car drove great for a year and a half and around the summer of '09 I noticed several little changes in the performance of the vehicle. I brought the car to a VW garage and explained that I was having issues with the acceleration, as well as a ticking noise that came from under the hood while idling. The car was also making a loud whining noise as I accelerated and the engine thermostat light kept coming on. $6500 later and a new transmission, timing belt, water pump and tensioners, the car runs great. My only thought was, $6500, really? This is not a car for young people in college. Expensive!
second time around
My first vehicle was a VW Jetta 4 door and the problem list was endless. I just purchased a 2004 Jetta Wagon after doing a little reseach and I must say what a difference. The engine is better, the convenience package is better and wow is it fast!
Excellent
Looks great, drives great, comfortable interior, quiet ride, and very safe. Couldn't be happier.
Fun to drive, great interior.
I should mention that the reliability rating is only based a month's worth of driving. I love the interior of this car and the feel of the car when driving. It's actually fun to drive in the snow, and the ABS is most useful. The sound system is great, I just wish it had a little more leg room in the back. O'well, I'll always have all the room I want. A good choice for any one that's looking for quality, comfort, and safety.
Fun and Reliable
I did some research before buying this car. I've heard about Volkswagen having problems with Quality issues and reliablity in the past years, but after having read up on the car and speaking to other Volkswagen Jetta owners, I was ready to take a test drive. Needless to say, I bought the car and have no regrets to this day. In my oppinion its a "poor mans" BMW.(lol) You get a lot of performance for the money, and the German craftsmanship is evident in this GLI model.Keep up the good work VW!
The car of the future
Peppy in town. Fast, good at highway speeds. Comfortable ride. Responsive steering and brakes. The 5sp manual is a joy--as smooth as an automatic.
Wouldn't get another VW if you paid me
I have had nothing but problems since I got this car. The trunck released at will on the highway, the car wouldnt come out of park if the a/c was on, the windows fell inside the door twice, the paint peeled off, and the transmission has had problems twice. In addition to this all of the plastic parts inside have either broken or fallen off.
Noisy Sunroof
Have had nothing but headaches with the sunroof. When it is very cold or there is a strong sun on it for an hour or so, the sunroof rattles so much you can't even hear the radio. They have tried to fix it five times and it still makes a racket.
Ugh! Headache within 2 months!
Truthfully do not waste your time with this car... I got this car used at 64k miles... Exterior and Interior was BEAUTIFUL. 2 weeks after I have the car my check engine light come on. Take it back to the dealership they check it... it's the AC temp gauge. They replace it... 2 days later the check engine light come on again. Take back to the dealership and they ask me to bring it back when I can use give up some time... later that day my dies. every dashboard light comes on and my ac and radio stops working... its been almost 2 weeks and the dealership can figure out what wrong with this car. I had a friend with a year older model and the same occurred with his car...
VW Money Pit
VW was the vehicle that Hilter Commissioned to the designer of Posche to build. The original bugs were great reliable cars. VW has lost it's way in quality & dealer service.If you buy one,get ready to open your wallet & let the money fly at the service dept. The Corporate attitude is the same as the dealer of where customer service is beyond poor.All the VWs today are build in MEXICO & the lack of quality shows it.Yes,it will last as long as you keep replacing parts.The turn-over rate of the service dept. is high compared to other dealers,Ford & GM service & quality has went through the roof in improvement & GM now has Dodge/Chrysler where quality has improved.This will be my last VW.
Never buy a VW
This is by far the worst car I have ever owned. I bought it used w 100K miles 18 months ago. One month after purchasing, the turbo diesel failed, with significant power loss. I have replaced the waterpump ($500), radiator ($500), brake switch ($180), alternator ($250), and now the transmission is badly going out. The interior is falling apart, the ceiling is hanging, the fabric on the doors is falling off, the glove compartment no longer latches, there are creeks and rattles all over the place. I am so disgusted by the poor quality and poor craftsmaship in vw's product. I used to have a toyota b4 this, it ran for 300K miles with out engine or transmission problems. Forget about buying a VW!
VW's are lemons--just junk
This car was a nightmare from Day One. Transmission problems have been the biggest single issue, and still having problems after spending thousands to fix. But many other problems too numerous to list, from replacing power steering pump and alternator to paint defects and low-profile plastic bumpers that pull off after barely touching a curb. This car only had 45K on it when tranny and alternator went out and we started having one mechanical breakdown after another. Seventy-five percent of my "ownership experience" has been watching this car bake in the sun broken down again in my driveway. Do not -- even if it sounds like the deal of a lifetime -- buy a VW!!!
Piece of crap
This car is nickel and dimeing me. If its not a wheel bearing, its a sensor, or its a headlight, or its a taillight, or its the headliner, or its the interior chipping and falling apart, or its the igntion coil failing. Yeah, as you can tell, I have been very disappointed in the VW Jetta. Do yourself a favor and DO NOT BUY VOLKSWAGEN! And as far as EVERY ignition coil failing, and having repalced two out of pocket before they issued a recall for the last two...do not rely on VW of America making you whole. After spending over $250 in new plugs, coils and labor, they would only reimburse for $125. I will never buy VW again.
Love my Jetta (First car)
This is my first car, I love it! It's a great way to enter. The brakes, the engine, the steering, everything! It's perfect. The fuel efficiency is amazing, I can go 500 miles on one single tank. I've read lots of problems with this cars. Mine happens to be the Wolfsburg edition and it's great! You will not be disappointed, especially with the rising fuel prices, you can't beat it. My car out performs most hybrids, with fuel and power :). The 100 horse power feels like 1000! It's the best, I plan to drive the wheels off
TDI Performance
This car gets excellent fuel millage. It gets anywhere between 33 and 35 mpg around town and 45 to 53 mpg on the highway. The best millage comes when driving 55 - 60 mph. This car is fun to drive. It has plenty of power.
Jetta Review
I enjoy driving my Jetta. The gas mileage is great, and the car is fun. The downside is the very small backseat and the super slow pickup.
Don't
I bought this car brand new with less than 50 miles. I have had nothing but problems and it's been in the shop more than I've been able to drive it. Don't count on Volkswagon to help you out either as they have been nothing but rude with me whenever I've called to complain of all of the problems. If I were you, I'd look elsewhere for a car.
Why buy a Honda Hybrid?
It is truly amazing to me why Americans would buy a Honda Hybrid, which contains a very complicated system (Battery powered/gas powered) engine, has no power on the highway, and hardly reaches 70 mph. The VW diesel engine is known to run 200,000 miles, is very duriable, and has power to maintain highway speeds exceeding 80 mph. My TDI set at 80 mph on the highway, has a tach of a mere 2,500 rpm. It is not even sweating. America, you are missing the boat here. A VW TDI is built both engine- and body-wise to run circles around the hallowed Honda that every one seems to think is God's gift to fuel ecomony. Oh just one more thing, my VW can run on vegetable oil.
Manchester NH Dealer Sucks
Ours arrived w/windshield scratches. The dealer placed a warranty claim. The dealer sublet to Glass America (GA) who installed their own glass. The glass did not fit & installed it anyway causing a safety issue. GA severely scratched the hood. Our car was no longer a new car. We contacted VW of American. VW of American stated it was not their issue. After a week Manchester VW replaced the glass again & a hood from a new car. They scratched the front bumper & chipped the paint in the driver door. Our VW is now for sale. We will NOT do business w/ Manchester VW or buy another VW. VW of America did not support us w/making the dealer provide a new Jetta.
Don't get a VW
This was my graduation gift. They replaced the whole brake system, the front end, and the door jam. I hate this car. The seats are stiff. Now the dash cluster is going. What is up? Thought VW was a good car. WRONG. Next one will be a Honda
I will never get a VW again
Bought 2004 Jetta 1.8T, it has been nothing, but a financial burden, almost driving me to the edge of bankruptcy, this car BREAKS ALL THE TIME and VW does nothing for you, I've spent over $5000.00 in repairs, have receipts to prove, one thing after another, it's very depressing!
greatest car my son went nuts over
awsome acceleration, love the new lights great automatic transmition nice fabric,great radio, perfect.
Love The VDUB Jetta
Haven t had this car too long but long enough to grow so accustomed to it... I have a friend whose a VW enthusiast and he told me how fun the little 1.8t is. Man was he right. Its a quick car with all the luxuries you'll ever need. Near flawless interior and of course the exterior is gorgeous.. Beautiful all around. I'm loving this car.
DA GREATEST
I LOVE THIS CAR..ITS THE GREATEST AND MOST RELIABLE CAR IN THE WORLD!
Almost 50 miles per Gallon WOW
Sporty and comfortable, this handy little car is not compromising on room. It handles like a Porsche, yet has the luxory of a caddy. The blue interior lights are pleasant to the eye, so easy to see in the dark. I took my TDI all the way from Santa Maria, CA to Medford, Oregon on ONE TANK OF FUEL, averaging 48 to 50 miles per gallon. You never have to smog the TDI, and the exaust is cleaner than a gasoline engine. AND SO QUIET for a deisel engine! It handles like a dream. There is no Glow Plug to wait on when you warm it up. TDI has come a long way
Should have completed more research!
Very disappointed in this purchase. Thought that it would be more reliable. Someone warned us that a Jetta was like a Christmas tree--- always a light on and we should have listened! From Day 1, we had problems. The brakes and roters never were quite right, the armrest broke, center piece of wheel came off never to be found again, transmission problems, trunk problems, remote on the keychain only worked when it wanted to, .....you name it! Definitely went with American made for our next purchase!
Jetta #6
Just traded in my '02 Jetta for an '04 leftover...first with 1.8T 5-speed. What a difference in performance! Having seen the new design that came out last week, I decided that I wanted another of the current design, which is far superior in looks. While Jettas have had some reliability issues, there is no car on the market that offers so much for so little and is so fun to drive. If you are in the market for a car and can find an '04 leftover turbo, grab it...it was the last year for this engine.
Love My Jetta
This is my third Volkswagon Jetta and my first turbo. The Jetta is fun to drive with great performance and humph when you jump on the gas. I have been tracking MPG for the last 30k miles most of which is city miles commuting 55 miles round trip each day and I am averaging about 28 MPG. Some of the interior components are a little loose and rattle slightly sometimes. However, the leather interior is comfortable for the short trips or the long drives. Recommended the Jetta to my brother-in- law and he loves it as well. You will not find another car with the features, horsepower, and style without spending 10-15k more.
The car for fun or reliability
This is a great car for travel or for just a quick run to the store. It is fun to drive and a lot cheaper than most cars.
Nice, but underpowered
I bought this Jetta as a second vehicle, it is a 5-speed which I like, but the 2.0 engine is severly underpowered for this 3,000 lb. car. It takes a lot to get this car moving. Also, the first time it rained, I had a puddle in the back seat, apparantly they had installed the molding on the window incorectly. I would buy another Jetta, but i would have to opt for the 1.8T engine, or the VR6.
It's awsome
this one of the best car i ever had