2004 Volkswagen Jetta: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Mar 5, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 115,000 miles · GA · fire

While driving down road early in morning approx 2 miles from house I just left from my 2004 jetta shuts down total loss of all power I pulled car over in a church parking lot I smelled smoke and could see smoke coming from fire wall I raised hood and pulled battery cable off I could see smpoke filling inside of my car walked around to driver door to get my phone and I seen fuse box on fire.another vehicle stopped to help me and he approached my car and then called police ,full flames were coming from my car within 5 min so I stood back and watched my car burn .fire dept showed up and put fire out my car is a total loss. Ive had issues with alternator,fuel pump,air bag light, headlights are really dim even on bright.nothing but issues with this car since I got it. 115.000 miles only on this car .so many isues I can see why its low milage

Filed Feb 6, 2018 · Electrical · 137,000 miles · IL

The insulation on the wiring of the left headlight is deteriorated and falling off leaving the wires bare and at risk of shorting out.

Filed Dec 18, 2016 · Electrical · 228,000 miles · MI

On 12/18/2016 I was driving this car back from the movies at 2:30 a.m. Once the movie had ended it was storming and sleeting. I started to notice systems shutting down as indicated by various dash lights such as ABS, airbag, among others. Eventually the radio, interior lights shut off. The windshield wipers slowed and the headlights dimmed, and eventually the car died going 50 miles an hour in sleeting conditions leaving me with no ABS, no airbag system (at least per what the dash lights indicated) and, of course, no power steering. I inspected the vehicle this morning and found the alternator wire coming into the high amperage fuse box that sits on top of the battery had melted and disconnected the circuit, disabling the alternator from charging the battery, and letting the battery die. The incident did not cause a crash, but it could have if there was anyone else around me as I had to cut across a couple lanes with no engine power and no power steering to get to the shoulder.

Filed Jan 29, 2016 · Electrical, Lights · 122,000 miles · TX

I was driving my vw jetta 2004 tdi on a highway, I was using my high beam and low beam headlights to yield to incoming traffic when all of a sadden my headlights went off, I had to stop it was very dark and dangerous road, I moved and wiggle the lever to see if I could make it come on again, eventually it did, it did that about 4 times,every time it scared the ... Out of me could not see road. Took it to a mechanic, replaced the turn signal high beam low beam and cruse control lever, its all in one lever. I looked on line to see if someone else have the same problem and it seems that is a common problem with this vehicle.

Filed Dec 28, 2012 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 122,642 miles · IL

Headlights dimming- to point where you can not tell they are on. Engine light comes on despite all diagnostics stating all is ok with car. Periodically fails to start-despite diagnostics that state starter, battery, drain altenator all good and functioning properly. Car jumps easily with "boost".

Filed May 9, 2011 · Lights · 72,790 miles · PA

We have a 2004 vw jetta, but this concern is with most 7 year old and older vehicles. The headlight construction is inferior to vehicles earlier in the 1900s ' never with cars I have owned from 1954 until the last few have I see headlights fog- turn opaque or yellow. The plastic used is inferior to the glass used on older vehicles and as such it is a safety hazard to all drivers. Since it is the use of an inferior material it is a defect and should become safety recalls by the manufacturer rather then a band-aid buff out kit that the vehicle owner, must bear the expense, and try to use or have a repair shop do at the owner's expense. Headlight surfaces should last the life of a vehicles, barring damage in accidents they should perform safely throughout a one's ownership.

Filed Jun 28, 2010 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 75,000 miles · CA

2004 jetta tdi 4 door sedan, it's a turbo diesel. The stalk have to goes to high beam in order for the cruise control to work. This is a defective part, it have been with this car for many years but we do not have time to fix this and it's cost lost of money to replace. When click on the turn signal the cruise control when off, it's very dangerous on the freeway. I believe this parts of the car should be recalled, it's dangerous. Thank you for listening.

Filed May 28, 2007 · Electrical · 19,000 miles · NC

Fuses to the headlights melted to the fuse panel,causing the headlights and daytime running lights not to function properly.