2003 Volkswagen Jetta Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 77about this part
- Share
- 17%of 456 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 38,711miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 77 complaints about the air bags of the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta, 17% of the 456 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 38,711 miles. 14 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My husband was driving on route 87 in new york when without warning the driverside airbags in our 2003 Jetta deployed without warning. No lights where on or any impact or crash.”
NHTSA complaint #10349045, filed 2010-08, 155,000 miles“Driving home from work when the passenger seat air bag and the passenger window air bag just went off for now reason while I was driving. I did not hit anything and nothing hit my car.”
NHTSA complaint #10264067, filed 2009-04, 92,788 miles“Ford pickup truck was stopped to make left turn. My attention was diverted and I failed to stop. Hit truck in rear. Passenger air bag deployed. Driver air bag or side air bags did not. Seat belt prevented personal injury.”
NHTSA complaint #10149621, filed 2006-02, 31,000 miles“I was in a rear end incident in which my 2003vw Jetta was struck almost dead-on in the rear by a 2009 bmw sedan. Both my wife, seated in the front passenger seat, and I, driving, were wearing three point seat belts. The airbags in our vehicle did not deploy. Both the drivers seat and the front passenger's seat were reclined almost completely as a result of the impact, to the point that any rear seat passengers we might have had in the car would have been pinned by the reclined front seats. Updated 05/20/09 updated ivoq 05/27/09.”
NHTSA complaint #10267946, filed 2009-05, 89,000 miles“Was driving to a movie theater and a was doing about 25 MPH and I hit a small pot hole in the road and my passenger side seat and curtain airbags deployed there no dents no crash nothing at all.”
NHTSA complaint #10207863, filed 2007-11, 47,112 milesRelated recalls
- 18V406000Jun 13, 2018Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2003 Volkswagen Passat sedan, Jetta, Jetta wagon, Golf, EuroVan, EuroVan Camper Van and…Covers: Volkswagen Jetta 2003, Passat 2003, Eurovan 2003 +1 more
Related service bulletins
- 10213836Jan 22, 2016Airbag Issues.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 4% |
| 2023 | 1 | 2% |
| 2022 | 1 | 2% |
| 2021 | 5 | 7% |
| 2020 | 2 | 4% |
| 2019 | 16 | 3% |
| 2018 | 6 | 19% |
| 2017 | 21 | 13% |
| 2016 | 7 | 4% |
| 2015 | 17 | 9% |
| 2014 | 37 | 10% |
| 2013 | 31 | 6% |
| 2012 | 34 | 7% |
| 2011 | 37 | 6% |
| 2010 | 31 | 4% |
| 2009 | 35 | 4% |
| 2008 | 20 | 11% |
| 2007 | 35 | 17% |
| 2006 | 65 | 11% |
| 2005 | 26 | 10% |
| 2004 | 21 | 9% |
| 2003 | 77 | 17% |
| 2002 | 108 | 15% |
| 2001 | 97 | 15% |
| 2000 | 41 | 9% |
| 1999 | 30 | 9% |
| 1998 | 9 | 5% |
| 1997 | 5 | 9% |
| 1995 | 22 | 10% |
| 1994 | 4 | 3% |
| 1986 | 1 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
100 complaintsElectrical system
97 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
54 complaintsEngine cooling
45 complaintsExterior lighting
28 complaintsBrakes
22 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
21 complaintsFuel system
17 complaintsEngine
16 complaintsBody and structure
11 complaintsEquipment
9 complaintsOther or unknown
9 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology