The vehicle dossier US · 2003
2003 Volkswagen
GTIProblems & recalls
53 distinct owner reports in the NHTSA snapshot. Air bags appears in 18 of them. Explore what was reported—and which official actions are on file.
01 / Owner-reported evidence
What owners reported.
Categories attached to 53 distinct reports. A report can mention more than one component, so category totals can overlap.
See original component labels
These are reports made to NHTSA, not verified diagnoses. More reports can reflect more vehicles, more time on the road, or greater reporting activity.
The reporting timeline
When reports arrived.
Reports by year filed, not by the year a problem occurred. Showing the latest 12 years with reports.
39,750 miles is the median among 43 reports with usable mileage. The middle half spans 17,367–61,000 miles.
This describes the submitted reports. It does not predict when a vehicle will fail.
02 / Official safety campaigns
1 recall campaign on file.
A campaign can cover only certain production dates or configurations. The count does not tell you whether an individual car has an open recall.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCHCampaign 07V063000
Reported concern
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Manufacturer’s stated response
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Manufacturer campaign: N4
Read campaign 07V063000 at NHTSA03 / The manufacturer’s record
Instructions. Updates. Responses.
113 distinct communications list this model-year. Showing the latest 12. A matching model-year does not establish that every engine, trim or reported symptom is covered.
V171901201285565Update to Volkswagen engine oil standardsNHTSA ID 10241177
Update to Volkswagen engine oil standards
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 10241177 at NHTSAV171901201285562Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.NHTSA ID 10237427
Volkswagen Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 10237427 at NHTSAV171901201285560Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.NHTSA ID 10235138
Engine oil quality standards, update to attachments.
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OIL/LUBRICATION. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 10235138 at NHTSAV941901201152119Update model year applicability to include 2023.NHTSA ID 10228180
Update model year applicability to include 2023.
Components: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 10228180 at NHTSAV271901201189422Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability.NHTSA ID 10228178
Battery testing and charging using special tools VAS6161 & GRX3000VAS Charger. Updated to include additional model year applicability.
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 10228178 at NHTSAA002155201173212This bulletin contains general instructions for software updates.NHTSA ID 10204722
This bulletin contains general instructions for software updates.
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 10204722 at NHTSAV171901201285534Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments)NHTSA ID 10193577
Update engine oil quality standard lists (attachments)
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 10193577 at NHTSAV871806201994714Tool number added to table. Removal of Behr Flush Kit. VAS 6337/1ANHTSA ID 10175799
Tool number added to table. Removal of Behr Flush Kit. VAS 6337/1A
Components: EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 10175799 at NHTSAV941901201152115Updated to include additional models and model year applicability.NHTSA ID 10174476
Updated to include additional models and model year applicability.
Components: EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 10174476 at NHTSAV011812_2014603Update vehicle metadata to include pull ahead models. Also includes R32 2002-2007 and 2002-2006 Jetta Wagon.NHTSA ID 10163542
Update vehicle metadata to include pull ahead models. Also includes R32 2002-2007 and 2002-2006 Jetta Wagon.
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 10163542 at NHTSAV871812-2005566Update vehicle metadata.NHTSA ID 10161215
Update vehicle metadata.
Components: EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY · EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 10161215 at NHTSASM 33-2019The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided.NHTSA ID 10159010
The part number listed in the document is to be returned if it meets the criteria provided.
Components: EQUIPMENT. Confirm detailed applicability in the original document.
Source record 10159010 at NHTSARecords below contain the NHTSA bulk summary unless a document-reviewed explainer is linked. A service bulletin is not a safety recall or a promise of a free repair. Records may be revised or superseded; verify the current document with the manufacturer.
04 / Agency investigations
Official inquiries.
An investigation is an inquiry into a potential concern. Its presence does not establish a defect, and a closed case does not certify a car’s condition.
INADVERTENT SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTPE04081
THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE-THORAX AND SIDE-HEAD CURTAIN AIRBAGS TO PROTECT THE FRONT AND REAR OUTBOARD OCCUPANTS IN A SIDE-IMPACT CRASH.THIS INVESTIGATION IDENTIFIED A TOTAL OF 499 REPORTS (482 OWNERS REPORTS AND 17 WARRANTY CLAIMS).THE CRASH SENSING SYSTEM?S ALGORITHM MAY RECOGNIZE CERTAIN NON-CRASH IMPACTS (WHEEL, TIRE AND UNDERCARRIAGE IMPACTS) AS DEPLOYABLE EVENTS.THE 97 ALLEGED INJURIES WERE MINOR IN NATURE AND CONSIST OF ABRASIONS, BRUISES, EAR RINGING AND HEADACHES.THERE WAS NO ALLEGED LOSS OF CONTROL CRASH AS A RESULT OF SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT.ODI ALSO OBTAINED COUNTS OF ALLEGED INADVERTENT SIDE-AIRBAG DEPLOYMENTS FROM PEER MANUFACTURERS.THE DATA SHOWS THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE NOT UNIQUE IN BEING SUBJECT TO SUCH ALLEGATIONS.THE COMPLAINT RATE FOR NON-SUBJECT INDIVIDUAL MODEL VEHICLES VARIES WIDELY.THE RATE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IS COMPARABLE TO THREE PEER MODELS, EACH WITH COMPACT CHASSIS/WHEELBASES.ODI HAS NOT IDENTIFIED ANY COMPONENT FAILURE OR MANUFACTURING TREND THAT MAY RELATE TO A COMPONENT OR MANUFACTURING ISSUE.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TREND HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME.FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
Recorded closure: Apr 1, 2005
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