general problems of the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta

12 problems related to air bag have been reported for the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta based on all problems reported for the 2003 Jetta.

1 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 05/03/2014

The contact owns a 2003 vw Jetta. The contact stated that while driving over a pothole, the vehicle emitted smoke and stalled. The air bags also inadvertently deployed and there was smoke inside and outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was declared destroyed. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

2 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 01/27/2014

Passenger side curtain airbag deployed after going into the shoulder. There was no damage to tires, wheels, or body of car. Insurance company declared a total loss.

3 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 03/24/2013

While driving on interstate the passenger side overhead and seat airbag deployed for no reason.

4 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 07/27/2009

The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Jetta. The front driver's side of the contact's vehicle was struck by another vehicle traveling 45 mph. None of the air bags deployed and the driver sustained back injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle has not been diagnosed by the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 118,000.

5 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 05/03/2009

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.

6 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 11/02/2007

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.

7 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 11/22/2006

I purchased a 2003 vw Jetta this past April. On November 22, 2006 at 6:00 am on interstate 395 CT, my side driver airbags, back seat airbag and driver seat airbag deployed. I did not hit anything on the highway nor was my car struck by any object. I brought the car to the service department that day to have it looked at assuming that they would find a defect and fix the problem. Instead of being helped by the service manager I was accused of hitting something. They said there was damage underneath the car. I brought the car to my insurance branch and they found no damage. Vw again refused my claim. I then had the insurance company come to the dealership to look at the car. Later that week the insurance company hired an investigator to examine the car and he found no damage to deploy the airbags. My insurance will not pay the $3,000 to fix the car and vw will not pay. I have 3 deployed airbags and one broken driver side seat belt.

8 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 07/07/2005

No accident has occurred. However, who or what company do I email to get information on why Volkswagen will not put forth a recall on the sunroof of the Jetta model 2001 and 2002? I am waiting to hear back from this company. However, from the consumer reports I see that they have not recalled this part on these cars. Can you please direct me to the email address that I might get an answer? it is a serious issue with the airbags that are located in the colulms of this vehicle. If they get wet they will not work. Therefore it is a hazard that Volkswagen should address. Thank you.

9 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 06/04/2005

I was driving my 2003 vw Jetta under normal road conditions. I stopped at a red light in an intersection, continued when it turned green. I hit a small sized pothole at the other end of the intersection at speeds below 15mph, which caused the wrongful deployment of the side curtain and seat airbags as well as locking the seatbelt tensioner making it inoperable. I inspected the vehicle after the incident and found no damage whatsoever to all body panels and wheels/tires. The following morning I had a mechanic inspect the car for any suspension or steering problems and none were found. I took the vehicle to the dealer where I purchased it to have it fixed under warranty and the dealer and vw of America have denied warranty repairs and have not yet done anything to fix the problem. I did research on the internet for similar incidents with this make and model and have found that there have been 500 similar incidents of spontaneous airbag deployment in 2002-2004 vw Jettas, golfs, gti and new beetles around the country.

10 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 04/08/2005

Motor vehicle accident in residential area with moving 2003 vw Jetta and parked Honda/Toyota? driver of Jetta came around the corner, looked down & away from the road momentarilly while driving apx. 30 mph when she hit the other vehicle without any breaking. This full frontal impact and the entire front end of this Jetta was taken out and the other vehicle was totaled. None of the 4 airbags deployed. We are currently being told "no changes or alterations will be made with regard to the airbags".

11 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 10/01/2004

Re Ford windstar (my) 2001-2003, 2nd & 3rd row seat recall. Recall number 03v459000.

12 Air Bag problem

Failure Date: 05/08/2003

While driving, the air bags deployed without any impact.


Other Air Bag related problems of the 2003 Volkswagen Jetta


Safety Ratings of Jetta Cars
Fuel Economy of Jetta Vehicles
Jetta Service Bulletins
Jetta Safety Recalls
Jetta Defect Investigations