2003 Volkswagen Jetta Side/Window Problems
- 45
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 45 stored complaint records:
- 2 indicate a crash
- 13 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- passenger side · 22 records
- side curtain · 22 records
- airbags deployed · 15 records
- airbag deployed · 10 records
- side airbag · 9 records
- curtain airbags · 9 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 1–30k mi | 13 |
| 60–100k mi | 7 |
| 30–60k mi | 6 |
| 100–150k mi | 3 |
| 150–400k mi | 2 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Side/Window
I was driving up olney st. In providence, ri when all of a sudden without notice the side airbag curtain and waist side seat air bag deployed without and impact. *tr
ODI 10386613
Side/Window
2003 vw jetta tdi spontaneous/unintended passenger side airbag (seat) and side curtain air bag (window) deployment. While driving on freeway s880 hayward,ca at 65mph on mar 01 2011. Passenger side, side curtain airbags deployed. There was no collision, impact with road debris or rough pavement involved. It will be reported to dealership. Seeking repair ears ringing, smoke, engine shut off coast to side of road air…
ODI 10386133
Side/Window
Driver started from a stopped position, ran over curb between 5-10 mph, side airbags deployed. *tr
ODI 10372026
Side/Window
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. *tr
ODI 10349045
Side/Window
2003 vw jetta: spontaneous/unintended passenger side, side curtain air bag deployment. While driving subject car on may 5, 2010, passenger side, side curtain airbags deployed. There was no collision, impact with road debris or rough pavement involved. Reported to dealership. Seeking repair of same. *tr
ODI 10329240
Side/Window
2003 vw jetta - side and window airbags deployed on passenger side while car was parked overnight. No visible signs of impact to cause airbags to deploy. Will have to have new airbags put back in at approximate cost of $2,500. If deployed while vehichle moving could be a dangerous situation. Vw told us going over a pothole can also cause them to deploy. *cn
ODI 10302603
Side/Window
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. *tr
ODI 10264067
Side/Window
Vehicle passenger side curtain and seat airbags deployed unexpectedly when driver encountered minor pot hole in road. There was no exterior damage to the car or wheels due to the pot hole. Driver paid out of pocket (and via insurance) to replace airbag system. Volkswagen acknowledges no responsibility for faulty system or repairs. Driver suffered potentially permanent hearing damage due to blast of airbag…
1 injury
ODI 10265018
Side/Window
The consumer was driving a 2003 jetta gls traveling at a speed of about 35mph when the driver side airbags "curtains and seat airbags" spontaneously deployed. There was no impact to the vehicle that would have caused the airbags to deploy. After conducting extensive research on 2002-2004 jettas, this seems to be a major issue that is not being recognized by vw of america.
ODI 10232464
Air Bags · Side/Window
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. *jb
ODI 10207863
Side/Window
The 2003 volkswagen jetta station wagon was parked in a parking lot which was landscaped with 3.5-inch high belgian block curbs. From a parked position and at a dead stop the car was driven at almost no speed so that the right front tire climbed one of the belgian block curbs. The driver was alone in the car. As the right front tire climed the belgian block curb the passenger's seatback side-thorax airbag and the…
ODI 10191389
Side/Window
While driving on interstate, driver side airbag deployed for no reason. This was not preceded by a pothole, flat tire, swerve, or any other event. Driver was hit in head by airbag, but managed to control car and bring to halt in breakdown lane. Only damage to car is the airbag. No other vehicles involved. *tr
ODI 10216025
Side/Window
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 30 mph through an intersection, the vehicle was t-boned on the passenger side. The side and curtain air bags did not deploy. Five people sustained minor injuries and a police report was taken. The dealer was not contacted.
Crash reported · 5 injuries
ODI 10175798
Side/Window
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 60 mph the passenger side and curtain airbags both deployed. After the deployment, the steering column locked and the vehicle was maneuvered to the emergency lane. The airbag light was not illuminated prior to deployment. The driver was the only occupant in the vehicle and was wearing a seat belt. The vehicle was towed to the dealership for inspection. It was determined the…
ODI 10157463
Side/Window
I have 126,000 miles on my 2003 jetta. I was driving down the highway on my way home from work and the driver side impact airbags deployed for no reason.*jb
1 injury
ODI 10153561
Side/Window
Dt:the contacts stated while driving the passenger's side/curtain air bag deployed. The vehicle was not in an accident prior to the deployment. There was no warning prior to the incident. The vehicle was towed to the dealership. The manufacture stated the vehicle must have been in a previous accident because the black box contains crash data and there was damage to the undercarriage. The manufacturer will not repair…
ODI 10142653
Side/Window
I was driving my car on a straight section of road that was newly graded gravel at about 35 mph when the passenger side air bags deployed. Both the side air curtain and the seat air bags went off. The seat bag hit my wife on the back of the upper arm leaving some bruising and what looked to be large welts and burns. The swelling and burns went away after we found some ice and pack her arm in it. Vw says that we were…
1 injury
ODI 10137891
Side/Window
Dt: the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen jetta. The driver's side air bag deployed for no reason. The speed at this time was about 60 mph. The contact was unaware of any debris that may have been on the road. The contact did not lose control of the vehicle. The air bag warning light was not on prior to the incident. There were no injuries. The dealership was contacted and the contact was to take the vehicle to the…
ODI 10135005
Air Bags · Front · Seats · Sensor/Control Module · Side/Window
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…
ODI 10125313
Side/Window
I was on my way to florida, driving south on i-95 (going through the town of st. Marys) when i ran over a grey metal grate (the same color as the road) that was in the middle of the left lane (i was driving 70 mph). The grate was approximately 1ft x 1ft and about 1 inch thick. As soon as i ran over it, the side curtain and the side seat airbags (on the driver's side) deployed causing damage to the seat, seat belt,…
1 injury
ODI 10140469
Side/Window
Very simple: i was driving and the passenger side airbag exploded. Something needs to be done!! This car needs to be recalled. The deploying of the airbag scared me so much that i almost crashed over this!*ak
ODI 10110506
Side/Window
Complaint received via e-mail. My brother was driving my 2003 volkswagen jetta on route 17 in new jersey and passed over railroad track at a speed between 20-30 mph (on 50 mph highway). After clearing the tracks the drivers side curtain airbag and side airbag deployed. Luckily, no one was hurt... Immediately he came to my job (i work at a car dealership) for one of the technicians ,for me to look at.vehicle. We…
ODI 10107249
Side/Window
The driver was making a right turn out of the parking lot when all of a sudden the air bag deployed inadvertently. Manufacturer was contacted by the owner. *jb
ODI 10107409
Side/Window
Dt: on july 3, 2004 the passenger's side/curtain airbag deployed without cause. The passenger sustained minor injuries. There was damage to the vehicle. When the vehicle was inspected by the volkswagen field technician he said that there were some small dents that caused the deployment. When someone from transport canada inspected the vehicle he said that there was no reason for the side curtain airbags to have…
1 injury
ODI 10137877
Side/Window
In june 2004, i was driving down joplin rd near quantico, va and driver-side airbag deployed. While its a winding road, i didn't feel any impact. The dealer said that although there was no physical damage to the outside of the car, something hit the inside of the car on the passenger side telling the airbag to deploy. They said my insurance company will have to cover the airbag/seat replacement (about $2500). This…
ODI 10107607