Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
21 -33 City / 29 -44 HWY
Horsepower
100 -180
Seats
5
Front angle view.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle Charles
Not forgeting its a diesl
The car got the best mileage...
accountCircle Josie I
It's old and still runs well
I love that it's a manual transmission. It has 180,000 miles and still runs wonderfully. I dislike that when something does go wrong it's expensive to fix. Foreign car problems
accountCircle Steven R
My little amazing Volkswagen Jetta gli.
The Volkswagen Jetta gli 6 cylinder 6 speed is an amazing car. The get up and go in this little family sedan is insane! Great handling and suspension make for a race car-like feeling car. It's a rad machine! I suggest that everyone should own a VW auto.
accountCircle Jason N
Great fuel mileage with diesel. Also can put a lot of miles on the engine because diesels last longer.
Love the fuel mileage I get because it is a Tzu diesel. Handles great. Fun to drive.
accountCircle Jasmine S
It is just the little things.
My car is black, the trunk need a little work, the left back door shuts but from the outside it looks opened still, there is a dent on the passenger side the car, needs a wheel alignment, the bumper needs replaced, the passenger window -it is messed up to the point the driver can roll that window down but the passenger would have to roll it up.
accountCircle Lupe L
My car is great although it is not ideal for a family.
It is great on gas and it is small so fits everywhere. Although I have two kids and the back seat isn't great for car seats also I live how big the trunk is and the sporty look it has. The interior is very luxurious and I always get compliments on the space gray color.
accountCircle Diana R
It is a good car. Reliable car.
It is fast. It is a good driving car. Never really gave me a real problem. It is good on gas. Compact as well.
accountCircle Amy C
The get up and go. It is git a lot of speed for a cheaper car.
Love the speed the get up and go. Style. Heated seats and mirrors. Been really reliable. Not to roomy but enough space for what I need. Like the manual transmission. I like only having to the oil change every 6 months. However oil change prices are higher.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Karen A
Considering it is a turbo-diesel there is more maintenance to this type.
The transmission on 1999-04 model seems to have many issues after putting 100, 000+ miles on engine. Gas mileage is my main reasoning for purchasing this vehicle. However, my ac just stopped working and my brake cylinder needs to be replaced. It's a good car for one that travels often, but the more wear and tear does affect the vehicles performance dramatically.
accountCircle Dana T
Goods and bads of Volkswagen Jetta
It has issues with not wanting to go sometimes and sometimes it doesn't but is really good on gas as far as mileage the inside of the interior seems to fall off very easily. The seats are pretty comfortable for long rides and doesn't hurt your back while riding has adjustable hardness on your lumbar
accountCircle Jessie K
An old volkswagen is risky because some are very reliable and some are not.
It has a lot of issues and I need to take it to the shop every few months to be fixed. My check engine light is almost always on because it constantly has some type of problem.
accountCircle Jamey S
Manual vehicle with no emergency break.
I am the third owner and it has over 150,00 miles. It performs well but is starting to need a lot of fixes. Catalytic converter. Emergency brake. Things of that sort. It also has a few spots of rust that only are getting worse due to Illinois weather(salt from winter).
accountCircle Sam D
It is compact, and you have to watch your speed.
I am still not used to how it drives. The Jetta is a little smaller than I wanted. I am not a fan of the color.
accountCircle Skyler A
It has a lot of miles and is clean
I like the look of the car and the feel of it but it just has a lot of miles.
accountCircle Scott P
I really like the blue dashboard lights.
It's expensive to repair and the parts can be hard to find. Also it has a lot of electrical problems. I do appreciate the gas mileage it gets and is very comfortable to ride. If you're thinking of buying one make sure to do your research on the vehicle.
accountCircle Charles H
It is mine, I do not let everyone drive my car, and it is mine.
I really do not have any complaints about my car, it gets the job done. I mean no breakdowns or anything, but who does not want a new and better car, truck, or SUV.

Volkswagen Jetta Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
GL Sedan
115 HP 27-27 MPG 5 Seats
car
GLS Sedan
115 HP 27-27 MPG 5 Seats
car
GL Wagon
100 HP 39-39 MPG 5 Seats
car
GLS Wagon
180 HP 26-26 MPG 5 Seats
car
GLI Sedan
180 HP 25-25 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2004 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Reviews

4.00
65 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 34%
4 stars 37%
3 stars 25%
2 stars 5%
1 star 0%
accountCircle Wendy N on March 31, 2021
The gas mileage is the biggest thing and it's incredible especially compared to other cars out there.
I love the gas mileage I get. The back seats fold down enough I can haul things or give my dogs room to stretch out during travel.
accountCircle Max R on March 20, 2021
It's a small car but gets good gas mileage and is very reliable.
It gets good gas mileage so is very economical to drive. It handles well at all speeds.

Ranks #10 Small Cars by Owners

The 2004 Volkswagen Jetta has an average owner rating of 4.01 out of 5 which ranks it #10 of 22 other Small Cars.

1
car
5
2
car
4.4
10
Tie
car
4

Ranks #9 Small Cars by Fuel Economy

The 2004 Volkswagen Jetta has a combined MPG of 33 which ranks it #9 of 22 other Small Cars.

1
car
48 MPG
2
car
43 MPG
9
Tie
car
44 MPG

Related Articles for 2004 Volkswagen Jetta

From the Vehicle History blog

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2007 Volkswagen Jetta Review: Hands-Down the Best Luxury You’re Getting for the Money in a 2007 Sedan
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2006 Volkswagen Jetta Review: The Most Luxurious Ride You’ll Find Under $4,000
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2020 Volkswagen Jetta Review: Reliable Compact Sedan With Low Ownership Costs

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the 2004 VW Jetta starter relay location?

Answer: The 2004 VW Jetta starter relay is located in the fuse panele underneath the driver's side of the dashboard. You will need to remove the lower dashboard panel to gain access. The cost for a replacement starter...

What's the 2004 VW Jetta headlight bulb size?

Answer: The 2004 VW Jetta headlight bulb size iS9007. The light bulbs will burn out eventually. If it becomes dim, You will have to replace them. They aren't too expensive, so they won't hurt Your wallet. Being able to...

What's the 2004 vw jetta lug pattern?

Answer: The 2004 Volkswagen Jetta has a lug pattern of 5x112 mm. The custom offset range is between 0 and 48 mm. The thread size for the bolts is M14 X1.5, and they fit on a stock rim size range of 15 X5.5 mm to 20 x...

2004 Volkswagen Jetta: What is the size of the trunk and cargo space?

Answer: The 2004 Volkswagen Jetta's trunk is smaller than the newer ones by a whole cubic foot: It only has 13 cubic feet, compared to the 14.1 that You'd find on a 2021. You have an approximately 68.3 inch opening at...

2004 Volkswagen Jetta: What is the oil type and capacity?

Answer: The 2004 Volkswagen Jetta uses SAE 5w-30 viscosity, fully synthetic motor oil that meet specific requirements. It has an oil capacity of 4.75 quarts. You can find these oils at any maSSRetail location. You can...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Not Rated

Roof Strength

Not Rated

Driver-side Overlap Front

Not Rated
*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety