Used 2004 Volkswagen Jetta Diesel Consumer Reviews
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Nicknamed my battle tank.
I bought my '04 Jetta TDI as a commuter car and to keep the miles off my F250. Purchased it with 136,000 off Craigslist from original owner who had documentation of all routine maintenance from dealership in Milwaukee. Since purchase I'm currently at 222,000 miles. Since my purchase I've had some minor issues. Heater blower motor. Did the work myself with YouTube. Took a half hour and I believe $30. Front wheel bearing a few thousand miles ago. Awesome local mechanic did the bearing and full brake job and a pesty new thermostat for $400. Approx 500 miles ago I blew an intercooler hose connection putting the car into limp mode. I brought the car to Jim's Bug Center in Waukesha. For $250 he replaced the hose along with a few other worn hoses he located and a pulley bearing that would squeak when turning at slow speeds. The doozy was I opted for the dreaded timing belt replacement which was $750. Car drives almost as good as my wife's 2012 Jetta TDI still. Needless to say I'm a happy TDI owner.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
wagon werks
This vehicle can be summed up in two words- fuel mileage. Nothing in it's class even comes close. If one is looking for rubber burning performance, I suggest a look somewhere else. On the highway, this car delivers with a quiet, communicative ride. Interior room is adequate, but six-footers need not apply for a position in the back seat. Build quality is what we have come to expect from VW. No tinny doors on this one. The leather cleans up nicely after a good day at the beach. Overall, we are very satisfied with this current model and would recommend the experience to those looking for a stylish ride, adequate get up and go, and exceptional fuel economy.
- GLS SedanMSRP: $5,995229 mi away
- GLS WagonMSRP: $4,4981,018 mi away
- GLS SedanMSRP: $6,0001,715 mi away
Pick something else, not VW
I'm a lifelong bug driver. My husband got a TDI Jetta wagon and it has been a nightmare. The engine gummed up, blamed on diesel fuel 1000, the front heated seat burned through the leather, the driver's window fell into the door, the leather wore very poorly, the back window has mysteriously broken 3 times with high deductible has been a fortune. It's like a Christmas tree with a light on all the time. Time to dump it and head to Honda. Truly sad, we like the styling but hey, it has to leave the driveway.
Long Term Happiness
I bought this car new in 2004. In the 9.5 years I have owned this car it has bean, overall, fantastic. I have kept up regular service. The major problems I have had are: a sensor, front wheel bearing, rear wheel bearing, the heater blower motor, and a the heater resistors...replaced a few times. The heater repairs I did myself so cost was just the parts. Considering I have had this car this long and have almost 260k on it, this is small potatoes. Overall this has been the most reliable car I have owned. It was not built in Mexico but rather came out of the Wolfsburg plant and that is why, in my opinion it has been such a great car. I have had no engine or tranny probs at all.
Love the Car but Not perfect
Fun to drive and love the fuel efficiency. Still get about 45 MPG and about 550 to 600 mi range. Suspected potential problems when I bought it so purchased extensive 100k warrantly and was money well spent. Was looking specifically for a high MPG desiel for business travel. Engine died about 40k due to main electrical panel, several O2 sensors, coolant getting into exhaust due to some gasket leaking. Check engine light has been on since 95k but not an issue as far as I know. All covered under warranty. So far no signficant problems after 100k. 125k on it now. Leaks (drips) a little bit of engine oil, armrest console latch broken but otherwise in great shape. Would take it anywhere!
Fun, Thrifty, Reliable
I live in the hilly contryside of the Oregon coast and my TDI Jetta is a pleasure to own and drive. It is reliable and gets 45-48 mpg on my daily 90 mile commute. It has plenty of pick up and low-end torque and handles great through hills and in wet and light snow. I have never had a problem with it in two years and 50,000 miles of ownership.
TDI Torque
This is my 4th VW, 1st Diesel. The Diesel torque is great, it allows me to pass 10MPG SUVs with ease, smiling all the way of course. The car is well built (0 problems so far), responsive, and fun to drive. The fact that it returns greta MPG and low maintenence are pluses. Yes, the oil changes are expensive, but there is little other maintenence required, no Spark Plugs, coils, wires, etc. Would buy/recommend TDI to anyone who wants high low end torque, great MPG and low maintenence. Of course, there is that Diesel clatter at idle, but that is music to my ears. The TDI engine is very quiet at speed, due to the low revs at highway speed.
Our first Diesel
We recently moved out of the city and were looking to reduce our monthly gas bill. We test drove a Jetta TDI and were immedieatly impressed with how solid the car was. The interior was well appointed and the ride comfortable. The mileage was what sold us ulimately!
I'm in Love with my TDI
I've had the car for a little over 2 weeks now and I absolutely love it. The drive is smooth, mileage is great and the turbo gives great performance. Most people think that you need to sit and wait for glow plugs for a couple minutes, that the TDI is loud, and that they stink. ALL NOT TRUE!The interior is great; very comforting. At night the dash glows with the red-blue combination. It looks great! Also, a great resource for TDI information (besides edmunds.com) is tdiclub.com. Check it out and the car. You'll love it!
Nice way to enter the driving world :)
I'm a sixteen year old, and recently got my Volkswagen jetta, tdi, wolfsberg edition. This car is soooo Nice, I love it. The handling, the power, the diesel, the seats, everything! You name it my car, has it. I have loved this cars sense they came out and I'm so glad I got one. Sure, it has it's down falls. One being when I slow down the steering gets harder. But, as I go faster it's sooo easy, which is better :). I love the diesel engine getting about 45-50, I'm pretty happy. I could not ask for a better car, can't wait for 200k :)
Great car... when it works
A very fun car to drive, with great mileage and design--but expensive and time consuming to maintain once it's out of warranty. We made the mistake of buying one at 80,000 miles. In the first 18 months we owned it, it was literally in the shop more often than not. Most of the problems weren't that major, but there were many, many problems and the parts were expensive (and VW sent wrong/broken parts every single time). In 2.5 years it depreciated about $7500 and we spent thousands in repairs, but only got to drive about 20,000 miles. Also, lots of buzzing/creaking inside the car, and exterior cosmetic parts fall off way too easily.
So far, So good
I've had the car for about two months so far, so good. I have to cover Northern California and Northern Nevada with round trips in the 800 mile range. So far averaging 40-42 mpg with the automatic and good driver ride comfort. With the cost of gasoline going over $2.00 per gallon, I glad to have a diesel. The Monsoon audio is the best I've heard from a factory install.
Best Buy!!
My husband and I traded in a 1996 Honda Accord for this car and I cannot think of a single complaint. It has a very smooth ride, gets excellent gas millage, and ours has so many wonderful features. We haven't had to any maintenance besides oil changes. It's braking system can handle the slippery winter roads like a pro. It handles extremely well, I would be completely comfortable racing this car in a NASCAR setting. VW's are worth the money you spend for them, I don't think I will be getting another car until my kids go to college...and I don't even have kids yet!
BEATS THE TOYOTA PRIUS HANDS DOWN
AFTER FINDING OUT THE REPLACEMENT HYBIRD BATTERY FOR THE PRIUS WAS $2900 NOT INCL TAX AND INSTALLATION, I CHECKED ONT THE HONDA CIVIC (JUNK) AND THE VW JETTA TDI. THE TDI GETS BETTER ACTUAL MILEAGE THAN THE PRIUS ON A CROSS COUNTRY RUN ACCORDING TO CONSUMER REPORT. MUCH ROOMER THAN THE HONDA AND SOUNDS SOLID. AIR BAGS WERE AN EXPENSIVE OPTION WITH PRIUS! ALOT QUITER AND SMOTHER THAN MY FIRST DIESEL RABBIT IN 78. QUALITY OF WORKMANSHIP FAR EXCEED TOYOTA AND HONDA! GETTING 45.8 MPG MIXTURE OF CITY AND INTERSTATE DRIVING. DEALER WAS ABLE TO GET LAST GLS IN FLA FOR ME WITHIN 1 WEEK!
EXCELLENT
GREAT FOR THE FUEL MILAGE. WIHT TDI WE ARE UP TO ALMOST 42 MPG
2004 Jetta 1.9L. TDI Diesel
Great value for the selling price. Averaging 35 mpg in city and 45 mpg on the highway. More than enough power,superior handling, build quality, comfortable, recommend the leather seating package. Dealers can be difficult to negotiate with since they are selling everyone they can get. I have this Jetta 645 miles on a single tank (14.5 gallons) of diesel fuel.
Best car nowadays!
Since I bought the Jetta, I have been very happy with it. The drive is fun and fast, the handling is excellent, and the diesel noise is not bad at all.
VW Jetta TDI
The VWs that were built in Germany,rather than in Mexico were much better quality.I have seen a decline in the overall quality & reliability, also the VW dealers like their cars service has declined.The Jetta TDI is a small compact car, it is a very safe car,but service on the engine can be very costly.Fuel Economy is excellent & I would recommend a Turbo Diesel anyday over a Hybrid.Diesels are proven engines that can take 300k-500k miles.The A/C does not cool very well & it takes a long time to heat in the cabin in cold weather.Technology is shared between the German Car Co.,which is good,they are safe,& reliable,but also be prepared they have high service cost.
Excellent
Looks great, drives great, comfortable interior, quiet ride, and very safe. Couldn't be happier.
-tdi - pd jetta
great car. performance and economy in one... and mean performance. tons of torque. great on the hills.
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
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...
jetta tdi
very nice car great milage
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.
Fun to drive
Having gone over the years through Volvo, Mercedes, Oldsmobile, Toyota and many different models VW, from a 56 beetle to a Vanagon camper, I am back having fun driving in my 04 TDI. In spite of having the odd expense that needs fixing (are there any car's that do not??) this car is an absolute joy to be in. The seats (mine is the "Sport" edition)are firm and comfy, and the acceleration and general performance not to mention the excellent fuel economy are yet hard to beat in a combined package as it is. Great headroom too, in spite of the sun/moonroof. I just love it!
Diesel UPDATE
I originally reviewed this car on 1/15/05, and I just wanted to give an update. Now at 35,000 miles, the car is still a delight. Now that fuel prices have surged well past $3.00/gallon we enjoy the great mileage all the more (now averaging 43-44 MPG). The car has been 100% reliable and durable - much more so than our 2001 VR6 was. We obviously love the fuel economy, but the TDI engine is also wonderful for low- down torque. You never have to wind this engine to find the power. It's right on tap and very smooth. With 4 snow tires, it's great in the winter. Factor in the wagon versatility, great comfort, a fun and spunky driving personality, and the car is a winner all-around. I hope the new ones come as wagons.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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
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.
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.
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.
Just a Terrible Car
Don't be fooled by all the wonderful words out there on the world wide web about the VW TDI or the VW Jetta. I have had nothing but problems with my 2004 VW Jetta TDI Wagon. It has been in the shop at least 6 times for a multitude of problems ranging from a malfunctioning fuel pump/fuel gauge/instrument cluster to defective seats. It has multiple rattles and squeaks that the dealership cannot fix for some reason. Amazingly enough, it doesn't meet criteria for the lemon law, yet.
unreliable and overpriced
Except fpr great milage, the car is cramped, especially in the back, very expensive when compared to other makes with gas engine, very expensive to maintain and mechanically unreliable. Had trounle with whell bearing, glow plugs, trunk struts, rear brakes. Oil change and filter are ridiculously expensive. Apholstery is a lint magnet. The saving in gas does not justify the extra costs in breakdown and routine maintenance.
Mexican German Quality
I had been hearing about years how Volkswagens were well built, had incredible fuel mileage, etc, so I decided to try it out myself. After the twins came along, we decided it was time for a little larger car, so we bought a 2004 Jetta GLS TDI. I simply cannot believe how cheap this car is to run, we get over 1100 kilometres on a tank of combined city and highway driving. That alone offsets the high price of the car and the oil changes. Don't let other reviews change your mind about Volkswagens, they truly are made for drivers.
The ultimate
My Jetta wagon is getting 45-50 mpg in mixed driving. From what I hear, the TDI automatic doesn't do nearly as well, so if you want a TDI, I'd suggest the manual. Beyond the fuel economy issue, I also really like the way it drives. The engine has a narrower power band than a gas engine, but has lots of torque in the 1500- 3000 rpm range. The TDI feels surpisingly strong for 100. The car itself is well put together and, so far, has had no problems. (knock on wood) I really like the way the instruments look at night, with the blue LED lighting. The interior is attractive and comfortable for this thin, 5'11" guy.
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
1st VW
Be sure if there is a problem with the vehicle that you get back to the dealer ASAP. The headlights on my car were too low to be safe. I didn't ask for them to be realigned until 8 months and 20,00 miles had passed. They charged me $54, I appealed to VW America and they still refused to reimburse me. Said I had to be in within 4000 miles of purchase.
Awesome TDI
I wanted this car because it was the only one the currently offered a diesel engine. With the cost of fuel going no where but up, it was the right move to make. Even though the horse power rating is only 90, with the torqe of deisel and the turbo to boot, I feel no difference when driving this car. A plus is that it is German made which means a nice tight car.
Great german car
The redesigned exterior though very subtle just adds a classic touch to the car and makes it different enough from previous years that you want to get the 2004 and not take advantage of the 2003 clearance sales. I have driven close to 600 miles with the first tank and was blown away by the smoothness of the engine (it's hard to tell it is a diesel!)and also impressed by the engine's torque... German styling,german drive,german look and feel at a very affordable price.If you want to have the best of both worlds and get a great car with an incredible fuel economy,there is no other choice like it!!!Go get one now!
Jetta tires in snow
Got the Jetta TDI to "help the environment" because of its great fuel economy, and I drive SO much. I loved it the whole eleven days I got to drive it. The stock tires (all season tires) CANNOT handle any snow. There was a light snow and I was travelling on a road that hadn't seen much traffic when the back end whipped out on a slight curve. Ended up in a head-on collision. I give the car a fantastic rating for safety, and I recommend the car hightly, but for heaven's sake, get snow tires immediately!!!!!
First VW
A great experience I will surely buy VW again
VW Diesel Rocks!
Great little car. I run it using Biodiesel, which makes good sense to me. Better for the environment. Only complaint is the seats aren't comfortable and the gaps between the seats are difficult to clean and reach those items that just disappear! Exterior paint scratches easily. Windows are tight when electronically moved up and down. Great performance and holding on curves. Love the mileage anyhwere from 45-55 mpg. All around, would highly recommend this turbodiesel engine. No bad odors and It flys!
great on gas
what a fun car to drive. it certainly helps that it gets on a bad week 50 mpg.. cant beat that ..
Great car to own/drive
The TDI wagon has been a great car - few problem, great mileage, comfortable, and it can carry all of the things you need. I installed a tow hitch on mine to drag a GTX 4TEC Sea Doo and it has no problems getting it out of the water. We do get some funny looks as the PWC is almost as big as the car. Our golden retriever has not offered any complaints about riding in it. It performs well for a diesel - no sluggishness from this car. You step on the gas and go!
Poor fuel milage
We purchased our VW and are very disappointed in the gas milage. The sales sticker on the vehicle stated that it would get 47 mpg highway and 41 city. We only get 34 mpg highway. We have had it to checked three times and they can't seem to find the problem. It seems there are other people that have similiar problems with this make of VW.