2002 Volkswagen Jetta Body & structure Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE WINDOWS WERE STEAMING. IN ADDITION, THE DASHBOARD WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT AND A POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BURNED HAND INJURY, BUT DID NOT NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.

NHTSA ID

10853472

Incident

Apr 1, 2016

Mileage

172,000 mi

I PARKED MY CAR AT THE BWI AIRPORT AND THERE WAS A CONCRETE STOP APPROXIMATELY 10" TALL AND THE FRONT BUMPER WAS CAUGHT ON IT AND WHEN I REVERSED IT TORE THE BUMPER FROM THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED 8 YEARS AGO AND I REPLACED THE FENDER FOR ABOUT $400,NOW VW WANTS $1188.50. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10520057

Incident

Mar 12, 2013

Mileage

145,000 mi

MY 2002 VW JETTA 4 DOOR HAS THIS SUBSTANCE WHICH THEY USED TO BLOCK HEAT AND DEADEN THE NOISE FROM OUTSIDE, HOWEVER WHEN IT GETS HOT IT RUNS OUT OF THE HOLES IN THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND HAS AN AWFUL SMELL SOMETHING LIKE THAT OF MELTED CRAYONS, AND THE ODOR ATTACHES TO THE OCCUPANTS IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10232196

Incident

Jun 1, 2007

VOLKSWAGENS USE OF CHEAP PLASTICS ON THE OIL STICK OF MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA CAUSED PLASTIC FROM THE OIL STICK TO FALL INTO MY MOTOR AND CAUSE MOTOR DAMAGE INCLUDING AN OIL LEAK AND EURASIAN AUTO SERVICE IN PANAMA CITY ALREADY HAS A VW PRODUCT THAT IS BROKEN DOWN IN THEIR SHOP, AND EVEN VOLKSWAGENS OWN SERVICE MANAGER IN PANAMA CITY, MIKE BOATWRIGHT, TOLD VW THEY SHOULD AUTHORIZE HIM TO MAKE THE REPAIRS BUT THEY REFUSED, THE OSTENSIBLY LOWEST BID PLASTICS USED FOR THE 2002 VW'S ALSO CAUSED MIKE BOATWRIGHT TO ASK THAT VW REPLACE MY HEADLIGHT LENSES AS THEY ARE CREATING A TRAFFIC HAZARD, AND NOT ONLY IS THIS NATIONWIDE, BUT MALLORY HORNE OF THE FLORIDA DMV WHO REFERRED ME TO YOU WROTE TO ME THAT " YOUR COMPLAINT HAS NOT FALLEN ON DEAF EARS, I JUST GOT RID OF MY VOLKSWAGEN JETTA FOR THE SAME HEADLIGHT PROBLEM" AND I WILL BE HAPPY TO MAIL YOU A COPY IN SUPPORT OF MY COMPLAINT, ALSO WALMART'S SERVICE MANAGER IN CALLAWAY FLORIDA IS THE PERSON WHO FOUND THAT MY CAR IS NOW LEAKING OIL DUE TO VOLKSWAGEN FAILING TO REPAIR THE MOTOR AND HE SAYS THAT HE SAW THE SAME VOLKSWAGEN PROBLEM IN NEW ENGLAND AT HIS PREVIOUS JOB (SCOTT). ALSO THE CHEAP PLASTICS USED ON MY CAR THAT CAUSED THESE SAFETY TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS, WERE USED ON THE GLOVE BOX LOCK WHICH IS BROKEN AND THE RADIO AERIAL WHICH IS BROKEN. THE FIRST 2002 VW I WAS GIVEN BROKE DOWN IN TRAFFIC IN THE DARK AND WAS EXCHANGED THE FOLLOWING DAY. SO THERE ARE MORE THAN ENOUGH WITNESSES THAT THE 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTAS SHOULD BE RECALLED, ME, JERRY P CARROLL, MIKE BOATWRIGHT, REGGIE AT EURASIAN, MALLORY HORNE, AND SCOTT AT WALMART, IN ADDITION THERE ARE MANY STUDENTS AT MY COLLEGE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHO ARE IN HOPE THAT YOU WILL HELP THEM ALSO. BREAKING DOWN IN TRAFFIC WITH LIMITED HEADLIGHTS IS A NATIONAL SAFETY CRISIS, AS FAR AS DEATHS AND INJURIES, ENTERING ZERO ONLY MEANS THAT VW HAS MANAGED SO FAR TO CONCEAL ANY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10211227

Incident

Aug 15, 2007

Mileage

88,100 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE VEHICLE DOOR, THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT SMELLED LIKE MELTED CRAYONS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE SMELL ORIGINATED FROM THE CARPETING AND THE SOUNDPROOFING MATERIAL IN THE DOOR AND THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ODOR. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THAT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER AND THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK AND WASHED THE COILS; HOWEVER, THEY TOO COULD NOT LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE SMELL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ID

10208432

Incident

Feb 1, 2007

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CAME LOOSE WHILE DRIVING AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SEEMINGLY SHUT PROPERLY WHEN AT A STOP. ASIDE FROM THE LOUD ROAD NOISE, THE "DOOR'S AJAR" DING WOULD STARTLE ME, PARTICULARLY WHEN AT HIGH SPEED ON THE (RELATIVELY SMOOTH) HIGHWAYS. I HAVE TO SLAM THE DOOR SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER TO GET THE DINGING TO STOP. WHENEVER THE DOOR RATTLED LOOSE ON THE HIGHWAY (WHICH WAS UNPREDICTABLE), I WAS WORRIED THAT IT WAS GOING TO FLY OPEN. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO ATTEMPT TO CLOSE IT. I PAID $550 TO HAVE THE DOOR LOCK REPLACED (IT WAS THE HARDWARE, NOT THE ELECTRONIC LOCKS, WHICH FUNCTIONED NORMALLY THROUGHOUT THE ORDEAL). NOW, ONLY 2 YEARS LATER, I'M HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT NEITHER THEIR REPAIRS NOR THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10208067

Incident

Jul 7, 2005

Mileage

75,000 mi

THERE IS A LEAK IN THE FRAME OF MY VEHICLE, YET EVERY TIME I BRING IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP IN HONOLULU, THEY FAIL TO LOCATE THIS LEAK. WHEN IT RAINS, THE FRONT RIGHT FLOOR OF MY JETTA FILLS WITH WATER THAT SEEPS DOWN INTO THE FRAME FROM THE ROOF. IF I PARK THE VEHICLE FACING UPHILL, THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN, NOR IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED ON A LEVEL SURFACE, ONLY WHEN FACING A DOWNHILL SLOPE. I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS ISSUE CANNOT BE RESOLVED BY VW, BUT THE PAST 10 TIMES I'VE HAD MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE, IT HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199767

Incident

Dec 10, 2003

Mileage

20,000 mi

2002 JETTA ROOF LEAKS WATER WHEN HEAVY RAIN. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT MAY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10196416

Incident

Jul 15, 2007

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE BONDO IS RIPPING OF THE BACK PANELOF THE RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR. THERE IS ALSO A CRACK BETWEEN THE BONDO AND THE DOOR. IF THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH NEAR THE DOOR, THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE RIGHT BACK PASSENGER SEAT A SERIOUS INJURY COULD OCCUR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 64,500.

NHTSA ID

10190840

Incident

Nov 1, 2006

Mileage

64,500 mi

2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA LEAKS DURING THE RAIN, CONSOLE VENT BROKE, CENTER AC VENT BROKEN, SUNROOF COVER JAMMED, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT.*MR THE LEAK HAS CAUSED THE CARPERT TO BECOME MOLDED. THE DEALER REFUSE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE TOE ORIGIN OF THE LEAK. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ABOUT REPLACING THE VEHICE BUT THE REFUSED.

NHTSA ID

10124757

Incident

May 7, 2005

WAS CURRENTLY DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM FOR MORE THAN A YEAR, MY CAR WAS AT MY PARENTS, BEING DRIVEN ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK TO KEEP ENGINE IN GOOD SHAPE. SOME OF THESE THINGS HAVE BEEN SINCE RETURNING IN APRIL 2004, OTHERS HAPPENED PRIOR TO LEAVING IN FEBRUARY 2003. IT'S A 2002 JETTA GLS. I SHOULDN'T BE HAVING THESE TYPE OF PROBLEMS THIS SOON. 1. OIL PLUG ON OIL PAN IS ALMOST STRIPPED FROM GETTING OIL CHANGES (ADVISED BY 3 DIFFERENT GARAGES). CURRENTLY ATTEMPTING TO GET A NEW PLUG, AN OVERSIZED ONE PER 2 GARAGES. 2. PATCHES OF PAINT SEEM TO BE ALMOST CHIPPING AWAY (ON SEVERAL SPOTS ALL OVER THE CAR). TOOK IT TO THE DEALER & THEY SAID IT WAS DUE TO BIRD POOP. MY CAR STAYS IN A GARAGE & GETS WASHED BI-WEEKLY. 3. THE COATING ON BOTH INSIDE DOOR HANDLES IS PEELING. 4. THE WINDOW MECHANISM NEEDED FIXED. DEALER FIXED. 5. RECALL ABOUT BRAKE LIGHT FIXED BY DEALER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10086615

Incident

Aug 10, 2004

Mileage

30,000 mi

VEHICLE HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING OUT OF PARK. DEALERSHIP SAID IT HAD TO DO WITH A BRAKE SWITCH RECALL AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED. WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AFTER REPAIR, BRAKES FELT DIFFERENTLY, BUT WORKED. A WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE BRAKE PEDAL STUCK AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 50MPH. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS BAD AND WILL REPLACE IT. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE ARM REST BREAKING THREE TIMES, WINDOW MECHANICS NEEDED REPLACED, DOOR LEAKS, AND COVER ON PLASTIC INTERIOR PEELING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10073030

Incident

May 20, 2004

Mileage

28,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO FOUND THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS WERE BROKEN AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FALL TO THE GROUND. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE, ENGINE BLOCK, TIMING BELT AND THE LOWER SHIELD. ALSO AT 59,000 THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10059310

Incident

Feb 2, 2004

Mileage

89,918 mi

I HAVE A 2002 1.8T VOLKSWAGEN JETTA - I HAVE EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS FAILURES. 1)RADIO HAS FAILED TWICE - IN EACH INSTANCE FAULT WAS TRACED TO A FUSE - FOLLOWING RADIO FAILURE I EXPERIENCED REPEATED DEAD BATTERIES UNTIL THE RADIO WAS REPAIRED. 2) ABS FAILURE DETECTED WHEN I WAS GETTING MY RADIO FIXED THE SECOND TIME 3)VEHICLE HAS FAILED TO START ON TWO OCCASIONS - I WAIT A MINUTE AND TRY AGAIN - IT WORKED 4)MY WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR 5)I EXPERIENCED AN ACTIVATION OF NUMEROUS ENGINE FAULT LIGHTS THAT RESET FOLLOWING ENGINE RESTART 6)THE COATING ON INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE SURFACES PEELS OFF EASILY 7)THE CHROME RING AROUND THE SHIFT KNOW IS PEELING. *AK

NHTSA ID

10048808

Incident

Nov 15, 2003

I PURCHASED THE 2002 1.8T VOLKSWAGEN JETTA ON 1/09/02. MY SERVICE RECORD BEGINS ON 1/23/02. FROM DAY ONE, I HAVE POINTED OUT THAT THIS CAR LEAKS/HAS WIND NOISE FROM DOORS/WINDOWS. SEALS WERE REPLACED ON DRIVERS SIDE DOORS ON 6/27/02. LEAKAGE/MOISTURE TO DATE, IS AN ISSUE. NOW THERE IS VISIBLE WATER DAMAGE AND MOLD GROWING ALONG DRIVERS SIDE. ISSUE- POOR QUALITY PRODUCT. DANGEROUS MOLD GROWING-HEALTH FACTOR! IGNITION COIL FAILURE TWICE! RADIO HAS BLOWN TWICE- FAULTY WIRING! CAR LUNGES WHEN STARTED OR HARD TO STOP ONCE RUNNING. MY SITUATION IS NOT "SPECIAL". THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE PURCHASED THIS PRODUCT AND HAVE THEIR SAFETY COMPROMISED. IGNITION COIL IS A SUPPOSE TO BE A RECALL, BUT ONLY WHEN THEY FAIL. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA WILL NOT REPLACE UNTIL YOU ARE STRANDED! THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. MOLD GROWING IN MY CAR IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10025882

Incident

Jan 23, 2002

Mileage

3,922 mi

THE COILS ON MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS 1.8T ARE BURNING OUT. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA HAS INFORMED ME THAT RATHER THAN REPLACE ALL 4 COILS, I MUST WAIT UNTIL EACH COIL BURNS OUT BEFORE THEY WILL REPLACE IT. I HAVE A LETTER FROM THEM AS WELL STATING THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT CAN NOT DO ANYTHING MORE ABOUT IT DUE TO A LACK OF COILS IN STOCK. I GUESS THE LETTER IS A WAY TO SHUT THE CUSTOMERS UP. APPARENTLY THIS IS HAPPENING TO OVER 500,000 PEOPLE LAST I HEARD. I WANT THIS COMPLAINT LOGGED AND A PERSONAL NOTE ADDED AND DIRECTED TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA (IF POSSIBLE), "I WILL NOT RENEW MY LEASE ON THIS LEMON AND I WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN." THE COIL ISSUE IS JUST ONE OF THE ISSUES I'M HAVING WITH THIS VEHICLE. THE DATE BELOW IS THE LAST TIME I WENT IN FOR COIL REPLACEMENT AND GOT TO WORK LATE.

NHTSA ID

10005789

Incident

Jan 29, 2003

Mileage

9,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY 2001 JETTA IN NOVEMBER OF 2001 IN GOOD FAITH WITH THE EXCITEMENT OF BUYING MY FIRST VW AND THE ARMREST BROKE THE FIRST WEEK I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. IN MARCH, THE BACK ASHTRAY WAS REPLACED (WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN USED) BUT HAD SPRINGS POP OUT OF IT AND THE ARMREST WAS REPLACED AGAIN. ON AUGUST 26TH MY VEHICLES RADIO STOPPED WORKING AND WOULD NOT WORK. I CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP, RUSSEL VW, AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT. I WAS TOLD BY MR. SCOTT MILLS THAT THE RADIO WAS PROBABLY DEFECTIVE AND I WOULD HAVE TO GET A NEW ONE. MAJOR INCONVENIENCE BUT I SET UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR AUGUST 30TH. ON AUGUST 29TH WHILE DRIVING MY CHILDREN TO SCHOOL THE VEHICLES EMERGENCY LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING AND SMOKING. RUSSEL VW HAD MY VEHICLE TOWED TO THEIR SHOP, TOLD ME I HAD DEFECTIVE COILS AND REPLACED THEM AND THE RADIO/STEREO AND I RECEIVED MY VEHICLE BACK ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 2002. THE VEHICLE RAN GOOD FOR 30 MINUTES ALTHOUGH ONE SPEAKER WAS NOW BLOWN AND THE CAR STARTED TO DRIVE WITH LOTS OF HESITATION AND ON TUESDAY, THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD STOPPED WORKING AND THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2002. I WAS CONTACTED BY THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH REPLACED THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE AND ANOTHER COIL (I THINK), AND TOLD ME THEIR MECHANIC WANTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME BECAUSE HE COULDNT LOCATE THE PROBLEM BUT COULD FEEL THE ENGINE HESITATION. ON FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH, MR. MILLS CONTACTED ME TOLD ME THAT RUSSEL VW FELT I HAD A FAULTY TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. NOW THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM  I WAS HOPING VW WOULD WORK WITH ME BY EITHER EXTENDING THE WARRANTY OR LETTING ME TRADE THIS JETTA FOR ANOTHER ONE.*AK

NHTSA ID

767068

Incident

Aug 29, 2002

DRIVER'S DOOR IS BENT. WHEN CLOSING THERE IS A GAP. DEALER FIRST REPLACED SEAL, AND CURRENTLY DOOR WILL BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8014318

Incident

Jun 28, 2002

FRONT BUMPER COVER FIBER GOT CAUGHT ON TREE AND SNATCHED IT OFF. CONSUMER'S CONCERN IS THAT BUMPER COULD CATCH UNDER FRONT WHEELS AND CAUSE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER. VOLKSWAGEN SHOWED NO CONCERN TO CONSUMERS ISSUES.*AK

NHTSA ID

8000640

Incident

Nov 1, 2001