2002 Volkswagen Jetta Heating & air conditioning Problems
Owner-reported complaints naming the heating or air-conditioning system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Heating & air conditioning 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.
89
Latest Dec 19, 2016
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.
13%
of 702 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.
50
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
34
What this page shows
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 89 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 heating or air-conditioning
The 25 most recent of 89, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKWAGEN JETTA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT SEAT WARMERS ACTIVATED, THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS BURNED WHEN THE SEAT WARMER MALFUNCTIONED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT NEEDED. THE FAILURE BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA ID
10936295
Incident
Dec 18, 2016
Mileage
160,000 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jul 13, 2009
Fire reported1 injury reported
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT HEATER BURNED HIS BODY THROUGH HIS PANTS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND AN AGENT TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND CALL HIM BACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
NHTSA ID
10276549
Incident
Jul 8, 2009
Mileage
73,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningInterior & seats
Filed Jul 24, 2008
1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING WITH THE SEAT HEATER ON IN 2002 VW JETTA THE SEAT HEATER OVERHEATED AND BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT AND BURNED THE DRIVER. SMOKE WAS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ID
10235665
Incident
Jul 23, 2008
Mileage
184,000 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Mar 27, 2008
Fire reported
ON MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT HEATER HAS BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT PADDING, SEAT COVER AND THE JACKET I WAS WEARING. I HAVE SEEN REPORTS OF SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE JETTAS ON VARIOUS WEBSITE FORUMS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10222478
Incident
Mar 21, 2008
Mileage
102,681 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Nov 1, 2007
Fire reported1 injury reported
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT WARMER CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVER AND DRIVERS COAT WAS BURNED. *TR
NHTSA ID
10207608
Incident
Feb 15, 2005
Mileage
40,000 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Nov 28, 2006
1 injury reported
THE SEAT HEATER IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 2002 JETTA BURNT THROUGH THE SEAT AND MY PANTS. I WAS STILL IN THE PARKING LOT, SO NO OTHER DAMAGE OCCURRED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF MY WIFE OR I WAS DRIVING, OR IF THE SEAT HEATER WAS ON WHILE THE CAR WARMED UP WITHOUT US IN IT. I'M PURSUING MY OPTIONS WITH VOLKWAGEN AT THE MOMENT...THIS IS THE LAST STRAW, NEVER BUY A VW, ESPECIALLY A JETTA. IT HAS GIVEN US PROBLEMS FROM THE MOMENT WE BOUGHT IT NEW. *NM
NHTSA ID
10174609
Incident
Nov 25, 2006
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Nov 22, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SEAT HEATER BURNED A COUPLE OF HOLES ON THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER ON 11/29/06. UPDATED 12/15/06 *JB
NHTSA ID
10174042
Incident
Nov 20, 2006
Mileage
50,000 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Oct 25, 2006
1 injury reported
TURNED ON THE SEAT HEATER. SEAT STARTED TO FEEL QUITE WARM, THEN I SMELLED SMOKE. PROMPTLY TURNED OFF SEAT HEATER AND LOOKED AT THE SEAT. WHEN I LOOKED DOWN I SAW A SMALL BURN HOLE IN THE SEAT. RECEIVED A MINOR BURN ON MY BUTT. GLAD I WAS NOT YET ON THE HIGHWAY. *NM
NHTSA ID
10171863
Incident
Oct 25, 2006
Mileage
39,620 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Oct 16, 2006
2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA - FRONT SEAT HEATERS MUCH MUCH TOO HOT ...WITHIN 2 MINUTES OF TURNING THEM ON I COULD FEEL A DIME SIZE BURN ON MY SKIN. *NM
NHTSA ID
10170923
Incident
Oct 16, 2006
Mileage
65,000 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Sep 20, 2006
2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS - DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT BEGAN TO BURN AND SMOLDER. VOLKSWAGEN STATED THERE IS AN 'OPEN CAMPAIGN' ON THIS ISSUE AND THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD CORRECT. *NM
NHTSA ID
10168740
Incident
Sep 20, 2006
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jun 3, 2006
1 injury reported
2002 VW JETTA WITH LEATHER SEATS - SEAT HEATER BURNED DAUGHTER'S LEG AND MADE BURN MARK ON THE SEAT, SMOKE, BUT NO FIRE. IS THIS A RECALL? *NM
NHTSA ID
10158901
Incident
Jun 2, 2006
Mileage
20,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningEngineVisibility
Filed May 18, 2006
MY WIFE'S 2002 JETTA STATION WAGON TURBO HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. ONLY 30 K AND TODAY A $2,600 REPAIR. VALVE FOR AIR CONDITIONER PUMP BROKE AND SENT METAL FRAGMENTS THROUGH THE SYSTEM NECESSITATING REPLACEMENT OF AC PUMP. COOLING FAN NOT WORKING- THAT'S $800.00. LAST REPAIR WAS AUTO WINDOWS- IDIOT DESIGNERS PUT IN PLASTIC COMPONENTS. MY WIFE TAKES EXCELLENT CARE OF HER VEHICLE (OIL CHANGE, ETC.) AND THIS INFERIOR BIT OF WORKMANSHIP JUST COSTS HER MORE MONEY. SHE WILL SHORTLY BE DUMPING THIS PIECE OF CRAP FOR TOYOTA COROLLA. *NM
NHTSA ID
10157841
Incident
May 17, 2006
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Oct 26, 2005
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING TO WORK ONE MORNING IN OUR 2002 VW JETTA, WITH THE SEAT WARMERS ON. WHEN SUDDENLY HE FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON HIS BOTTOM. TURNED OFF THE SEAT WARMER ONLY TO FIND OUT THERE WAS A BURN HOLE IN THE SEAT FROM THE SEAT WARMERS. SINCE THEN WE HAVE REFUSED TO TURN IT BACK ON AGAIN. *NM
NHTSA ID
10140889
Incident
Oct 14, 2005
Mileage
40,500 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Oct 9, 2005
Fire reported1 injury reported
WITHIN TWO BLOCKS OF LEAVING MY HOME AND TURNING ON MY CAR SEAT WARMER TO A LEVEL 2 (OF 5) MY CAR SEAT WAS ON FIRE AND BURNED MY REAR. I HAD TO JUMP OUT OF MY CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON. THIS HAPPENED OVER A WEEKEND AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMMUNICATION BACK FROM VW. *NM
NHTSA ID
10139133
Incident
Oct 9, 2005
Mileage
63,000 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Jun 13, 2005
1 injury reported
DT: DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WARMER BURNED THROUGH LEATHER AND TO CONSUMER'S JEANS. AND FELT A BURN MARK WHICH WAS ABOUT A QUARTER OF AN INCH WIDE IN A CIRCLE SHAPE. *AK
NHTSA ID
10125101
Incident
Jun 12, 2005
Mileage
50,300 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed May 1, 2005
Fire reported1 injury reported
1. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK LATE ON MARCH 2, 2005, I TURNED MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT HEATER ON. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE COMPLETELY THROUGH MY SEAT, BURNING A CIGGERETTE-BURN SIZE HOLE THROUGH MY PANTS AND SCALDING MY BUTTOCK. 2. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH AT THE TIME, AND AM LUCKY THAT THE FIRE IN MY SEAT DID NOT CAUSE ME TO CRASH, AND INJURE MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE. 3. I HAVE WAITED TO GET IT REPAIRED BY VW IN CASE THE INVESTIGATORS / LAWYERS NEED TO SEE THE DAMAGE.*AK
NHTSA ID
10118773
Incident
Mar 2, 2005
Mileage
47,210 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Apr 25, 2005
Fire reported
THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT HEATER BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT. . THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. *AK *JB *NM
NHTSA ID
10099683
Incident
Oct 8, 2004
Mileage
30,000 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Apr 1, 2005
SEAT WARMER HAD BURNED A 2" HOLE THROUGH THE DRIVERS SEAT ON THE LEFT SIDE. WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND SEAT WAS REPLACED.*AK
NHTSA ID
10116204
Incident
Mar 2, 2005
Mileage
33,600 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Mar 12, 2005
Fire reported1 injury reported
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE FREEWAY IN OUR 2002 JETTA WAGON. SHE SUDDENLY FELT HER LEFT LEG BECOMING HOT AND THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING HOT IN HER POCKET. SHE REACHED DOWN TO FIND THAT THE SEAT WAS ON FIRE. DUE TO THE SHOCK OF HER HAND AND LEG BEING BURNED SHE SWERVED ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER. SHE JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR AND SAW FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE SEAT BOTTOM. THERE WAS A WATER BOTTLE NEARBY IN THE CAR WHICH SHE THREW ON THE SEAT AND DOUSED THE FLAMES. AT THIS POINT SHE CALLED ME FRANTIC OVER THE SITUATION BECAUSE THE SEAT WAS STILL SMOKING. I TOLD HER TO TURN THE SEAT HEATER OFF WHICH STOPPED THE SMOKE. THE ONLY REASON I KNEW ABOUT THE SEAT FIRE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE OF WEBSITES LIKE "WWW.VWVORTEX.COM" AND "WWW.PASSATWORLD.COM/FORUMS". ON THOSE TWO WEBSITES YOU CAN FIND NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF VW SEAT FIRES DUE TO HEATED SEATS. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING FROM THE NHTSA OR VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. MY WIFE NOW HAS A BURN ON HER HAND AND LEG DUE TO THIS ISSUE, NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THIS SEAT FIRE COULD HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE CAR ACCIDENT DUE TO DISTRACTION. *AK
NHTSA ID
10113994
Incident
Mar 12, 2005
Mileage
67,000 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Feb 10, 2005
I HAVE HEATED SEATS IN MY 2002 JETTA. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING LAST WEEK AND NOTICED A PAIN IN HER LEFT LEG. SHE REALIZED THAT IT WAS A BURNING SENSATION. SHE QUICKLY TURNED OFF THE SEAT HEATER AND PULLED OVER AND GOT OUT OF THE CAR. THE SEAT HAD MELTED AND THE COVER WAS MELTING AND BEGINNING TO BURN. FORTUNATELY SHE TURNED OFF THE HEATER RIGHT AWAY AND GOT OFF THE SEAT. I READ OTHER COMPLAINTS OF FIRE AND BURN INJURIES. NOW I HAVE A DEFORMED SEAT CUSHION (DUE TO MELTING) AND A HOLE IN THE COVER. I AM IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING VW TO SEE IF THEY WILL REPLACE THIS SEAT AND HEATER. I JUST EXCEEDED THE MILEAGE ON MY WARRANTY.*AK
NHTSA ID
10110267
Incident
Jan 4, 2005
Mileage
65,200 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Feb 7, 2005
Fire reported1 injury reported
I WAS DRIVING HOME IN MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THEN I FELT A BURNING SENSATION ON MY THIGH. I STOPPED THE CAR AND LOOKED AT MY SEAT TO FIND OUT THAT MY HEATED SEATS HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I POURED WATER IN THE BURNING HOLE AND IT SIZZLED OUT. IT BURNT A HOLE IN MY SEAT, MY SKIRT AND LEFT A RED MARK IN MY LEG. FORTUNATELY, I PULLED OVER AND PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE ANY SERIOUS DAMAGES WERE INCURRED. I CALLED THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND TOLD HIM ABOUT THE INCIDENT. THE PERSON I SPOKE TO ACTED AS IF IT WAS NO BIG DEAL. HE TOLD ME TO BRING MY CAR IN AND IF IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, THE WARMER AND SEATS WOULD BE REPLACED AT MY 2 DAY INCONVENIENCE. TO DATE, I HAVEN'T TAKEN IT IN BECAUSE I AM DETERMINING WHAT/IF ANY LEGAL ACTION, I SHOULD TAKE. *JB
NHTSA ID
10110026
Incident
Jan 20, 2005
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Feb 3, 2005
Fire reported
SEAT WARMER BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND MY PANTS. THE HOLE WAS SMOKING AND I HAD TO POUR POP IN THE HOLE TO PUT IT OUT. *JB
NHTSA ID
10108496
Incident
Dec 22, 2004
Mileage
51,821 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Feb 1, 2005
Fire reported1 injury reported
THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT ON MY 2002 JETTA 1.8T STARTED SMOLDERING AND BURNT A HOLE THROUGH THE FARBIC AND BURNED MY LEG. *AK
NHTSA ID
10108376
Incident
Sep 17, 2004
Mileage
47,000 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Feb 1, 2005
Fire reported1 injury reported
WHILE DRIVING, NOTICED THE SEAT HEATER WAS UNUSUALLY HOT AND FELT BURNING ON MY LEG. I TURNED THE SEAT HEATER OFF, AND WHEN I EXITED THE VEHICLE, NOTICED TWO QUARTER-SIZED BURN HOLES IN THE SEAT AND A BURN HOLE IN MY WOOL COAT. VW DEALER WILL BE REPLACING THE SEAT, AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY WILL COMPENSATE ME FOR MY COAT. *AK
NHTSA ID
10108375
Incident
Jan 28, 2005
Mileage
37,900 mi
Heating & air conditioning
Filed Feb 1, 2005
Fire reported
THE HEATED SEAT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF MY 2002 VW JETTA BEGAN TO SMOLDER AT THE "3" SETTING WHILE I WAS WARMING THE CAR UP. IT EVENTUALLY BURNT A HOLE IN THE LEFT SEAT BOLSTER APPROXIMATELY" BY " IN SIZE. USUALLY I TURN THE SEAT HEATER ON WHILE I AM DEFROSTING THE WINDSHIELD IN THE DRIVEWAY. WITHOUT SOMEONE IN THE CAR IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EITHER DESTROYED THE CAR OR CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR.*AK
NHTSA ID
10108359
Incident
Jan 30, 2005
Mileage
65,800 mi
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