RoadVitals

2002 Volkswagen Golf Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Jan 11, 2009
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 73 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Volkswagen Golf submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming brake

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Brakes
Filed Jan 11, 2009

THERE WAS A BRAKE SWITCH SHORT THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO BE STUCK IN PARK. SO IT HAD TO BE DRAGGED OUT AND WAS SENT TO VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10254650
Incident
Dec 18, 2008
Mileage
101,345 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 16, 2007

2002 VW GOLF WITH CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE CAR ACCELERATED INTO FIFTH GEAR WHEN SHE TOOK HER FOOT OFF THE BRAKE**CC THE CONSUMER DETERMINED THAT STEPPING ON THE BRAKE DID NOT DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHEN HE BACKED HIS VEHICLE UP TO THE GARAGE DOOR, HE NOTICED THE BRAKE LIGHT/ STOP LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATED WHEN HE STEPPED ON THE BRAKE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS THE ROOT CAUSE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL'S FAILURE TO DISENGAGE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REPLACEMENT BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH THAT HAD BEEN INSTALLED PREVIOUSLY UNDER RECALL WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10200297
Incident
Jul 21, 2007
Brakes
Filed Dec 27, 2006

BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF ALL FAILED TO OPERATE. VW DEALER (CLASSIC VOLKSWAGEN IN ESCONDIDO, CA) DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. VW DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *JB

NHTSA ID
10177163
Incident
Dec 19, 2006
Mileage
103,100 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 27, 2006

TL* - THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD A FAULTY BRAKE SWITCH WHICH KEPT THE CAR IN PARK. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL O FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK UPDATED 02/16/07.*JB

NHTSA ID
10177065
Incident
Dec 24, 2006
Mileage
77,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 30, 2006
1 injury reported

ALL BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERABLE. BULBS ARE FINE. THIS WILL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE CAR IS REAR ENDED. THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V096000 HOWEVER, IT APPLIES TO THE 1999 TO 2002 VW JETTA ONLY. I DRIVE A GOLF, WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, HOWEVER USES THE SAME PARTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10174758
Incident
Nov 30, 2006
Mileage
146,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 16, 2006

I HAVE A 2002 VW GOLF, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON MY CAR HAS BROKEN 4 TIMES IN THE 4 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. THE LAST TIME IT HS HAPPENED MY CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED. EACH TIME THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY AND IT WAS REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY FRUSTRATING PROBLEM AND ITS VERY TIME CONSUMING. I BELIEVE THAT VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *JB

NHTSA ID
10168439
Incident
Sep 16, 2006
Mileage
57,850 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 10, 2006

THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THE GOLF IS THE SAME BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THE JETTA. THEY HAVE THE SAME PART NUMBER AND EVERYTHING. THEY ALSO FAIL AT THE SAME RATE, BUT ONLY THE JETTA BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS RECALLED. WHEN IT FAILS, YOU CANNOT GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK AND YOUR BRAKE LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *JB

NHTSA ID
10161948
Incident
Jul 9, 2002
Mileage
69,998 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 26, 2005
Crash reported2 injuries reported

DT: THE ROD THAT CONNECTS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER BROKE AT THE WELLED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ON 8-20/21-205. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES, AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK UPDATED 11/4/2005 - WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKE BOOSTER WERE REMOVED THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ROD BETWEEN THE PEDAL AND BOOSTER WAS HOLLOW. *NM

NHTSA ID
10134334
Incident
Aug 20, 2005
Mileage
76,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 1, 2005

THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND A SOUND WAS HEARD. THE BRAKES SUDDENLY WENT, AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO APPLY THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO CONTINUE TO THE DEALER. THE ABS MODULE WAS REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10109503
Incident
Jul 12, 2004
Mileage
25,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 7, 2003

BRAKE LIGHT AND AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SAFETY INTERLOCK SWITCH FAILED AND LEFT THE CAR STRANDED. *PH

NHTSA ID
10031011
Incident
Jul 20, 2003
Mileage
6,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 18, 2003

BRAKE WARNING SYSTEM WILL ACTIVATE FOR NO KNOW REASON AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10016150
Incident
May 23, 2002

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Airbags22Engine14Electrical9

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .