2002 Volkswagen Jetta Owner Complaints

I was driving on the freeway and the airbags deployed. No one hit me and I don't hit anyone.

NHTSA ID

11502341

Incident

Jan 16, 2023

WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT "JERKS" OR MAKES A SHAKING MOVEMENT. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT STAYS ON ALTHOUGH ALL DOORS HAVE BEEN OPENED AND CLOSED. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT WORKING. WHILE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. THE REAR MIDDLE PASSENGER SEATBELT IS NOT USEABLE. THE DRIVER'S DOOR REMAINS UNLOCKED AFTER PRESSING THE "LOCK DOORS" BUTTON.

NHTSA ID

11131795

Incident

Sep 16, 2018

Mileage

230,000 mi

WHILE MAINTAINING SPEED AT OR ABOVE 40 MPH AND WITH 1/4 TANK OR LESS OF FUEL REMAINING, MY JETTA WILL CONSISTENTLY STALL OUT AND TURN OFF FROM FUEL STARVATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME BETWEEN 40 AND 80 MPH SEVERAL TIMES, BOTH IN THE CITY AND ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, THE FUEL SENDER, AND THE FUEL PUMP WITH NO SUCCESS. ADDITIONALLY, THE JETTA WILL DIE THE FIRST TIME I TRY TO START IT AS MY FUEL LEVEL APPROACHES 1/4, ESPECIALLY IF I AM PARKED ON AN INCLINE. HOWEVER, IT NEVER FAILS TO START ON THE SECOND TRY ONCE SOME FUEL HAS BEGUN MOVING THROUGH THE SYSTEM. FULLY REFUELING ALLEVIATES ALL PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

11100021

Incident

Mar 30, 2017

Mileage

145,000 mi

KNOWN MELTING FUSE BOX ON TOP OF BATTERY. FROM SCHEMATICS, APPEARS S180 FUSE (COOLANT FAN) AS PREDOMINANT POINT OF FAILURE. ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED (VIA WEB) ACROSS NUMEROUS MODELS AND YEARS. CALLED VW FOR FIX; AS TECHS APPEAR VOID OF A GENERAL CONSENSUS TO PROBLEM/FIX. UNFORTUNATELY, VW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND/OR PROVIDE SOLUTION TO CUSTOMER(S). REFERS ME TO DEALER, WHICH IS OVER AN HOUR AWAY. JUST NEED INFO TO ORDER REPAIR KIT AND RESTORE VEHICLE INTEGRITY/SAFETY. CONCERNED AS THIS MAY BE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD; DUE TO THE VOLUME OF HEAT GENERATED BY WIRING WITHIN INTERNAL COMPARTMENT. IN TURN, I UNDERSTAND THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE NORMAL WARRANTY PERIOD. AS STATED, JUST WANT AN ANSWER TO REPAIR; HOWEVER, VW CUSTOMER CARE REP COMMENTED I SHOULD REPORTING THIS ISSUE IN HOPES TO DRAW ADDITIONAL ATTENTION OF OTHER OWNERS AND, EVENTUALLY, THE NHTSA TO GET VW TO RESPOND TO CUSTOMERS QUESTIONS.

NHTSA ID

11030653

Incident

Aug 8, 2017

Mileage

76,250 mi

SIMPLY WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT MY DAUGHTER REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR AT 40MPH AND COMPLETELY CRUNCHED IN HER FRONT END (CAR IS TOTALED), BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL THE STATE FARM AGENT MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD AIRBAGS ON THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11023507

Incident

Sep 5, 2017

Mileage

118,000 mi

THE SHIFTER FIRST LOCKED UP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THEN LATER CAME COMPLETELY LOOSE IN TRAFFIC. THE VW PARTS DEPARTMENTS SAID THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SO MUCH THAT NO ONE WITHIN 200 MILES HAD THE PARTS IN STOCK AS THEY WERE SOLD OUT. VW REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IN RESOLUTION. THE BBB TOLD ME TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA>

NHTSA ID

10984494

Incident

Apr 10, 2017

Mileage

166,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS GETTING AN ALLERGIC REACTION FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE REACTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10955330

Incident

Sep 1, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR CENTER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE INDEPENDENT DEALER WHO SOLD THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE DID NOT VERIFY IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E007000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,677. .. UPDATED 12/22/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ONE HOSE WAS REPLACED AND THERE IS A HOLE IN ANOTHER HOSE, AND ALSO MISSING BRACKETS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10908385

Incident

Sep 19, 2016

Mileage

91,677 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,706. UPDATED 08/22/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10873622

Incident

Jun 8, 2016

Mileage

49,706 mi

WATER PUMP REPLACED, TIRES ALWAYS HAVE ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE RIM DESIGN, CODE ERRORS, REAR RODS REPLACED, MUFFLER, MISFIRING, RADIATOR ECT.

NHTSA ID

10872122

Incident

Jun 4, 2014

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

THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE DECELERATING(EX..COMING TO A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT)THE ENGINE JUST STOPS AND THE GENERATOR LIGHT COMES ON.I CAN START IT UP AGAIN RIGHT AWAY.IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I FEEL LIKE I MAY GET REAR-ENDED I HAVE READ ONLINE THREADS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS FINDING A SOLUTION.I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW AND NOW IT ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 115,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

10821597

Incident

Jan 20, 2016

Mileage

115,225 mi

OIL LIGHT IS BLINKING, I WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT JETTAS AS WELL AS VOLKSWAGENS IN GENERAL ARE KNOWN FOR HAVING TERRIBLE SLUDGE ISSUES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CHARGED ME OVER $150 TO DIAGNOSE MY CAR, AFTER DIAGNOSING IT THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS NEW OIL BEARINGS DUE TO SLUDGE ISSUES, THEY SAID THAT THE OILS PRESSURE IS FLUCTUATING AND THAT SOON MY ENGINE WILL BLOW UP, THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER SIMILAR RECALLS THAT THEY'VE HAD ON OTHER MODELS OF THEIRS AND THAT TO FIX MY PROBLEM I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST ME OVER SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM FOR VW, THEY'VE KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR YEARS BUT JUST LIKE THE PROBLEM THEY'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW WITH THE SOFTWARE, THEY'VE KEPT THIS QUIET.

NHTSA ID

10806642

Incident

Nov 24, 2015

Mileage

94,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING OUR JETTA AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE DRIVERS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG AND SIDE SEAT AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THERE WAS NO POTHOLE. IT WAS THE ONLY CAR ON THE ROAD. GOING STRAIGHT.

NHTSA ID

10780504

Incident

Oct 6, 2015

Mileage

230,000 mi

ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS AT OR BELOW A 1/4 TANK OF FUEL WHILE DRIVING... THERE IS A LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING RENDERING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HERE IS A ONLINE DISCUSSION OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM... HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?4971876-CAR-STALLING-WHILE-AT-SPEED-IS-LOW-FUEL-THE-PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10780149

Incident

Apr 7, 2015

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE AND FIRE UNDERNEATH THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT BOX. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE WITH THE CHILD BEFORE THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A FIRE REPORT AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.

NHTSA ID

10761408

Incident

Aug 10, 2015

Mileage

137,000 mi

WHILE REACHING HOME, I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF ENGINE, SMELL OF HEATED PLASTIC, AND THE ALTERNATOR WARNING LITE ON. SWITCHED OFF THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD. NOTED THAT THE SMOKE AND SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE PLASTIC FUSE BOX THAT IS ON THE TOP OF THE BATTERY AND THAT THE FUSE BOX COVER HAD BURNT HOLE. THE WIRE FROM THE ALTERNATOR TO ONE OF THE FUSES IN THE FUSE BOX HAD MELTED THE PLASTIC. I REPLACED THE FUSE BOX, CLEANED THE WIRE AND ATTACHED IT BACK. ON 6/23/15, I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR. THE BATTERY WAS WEAK AND NOTED THAT ONE OF THE FUSES IN THE BOX HAD MELTED THE PLASTIC.

NHTSA ID

10730855

Incident

May 27, 2014

Mileage

156,861 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 217,000.

NHTSA ID

10694574

Incident

Mar 12, 2015

Mileage

217,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS FLASHING AND MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABOUT TO SWITCH LANES TO PULL OVER AND I LOST POWER, BRAKES, AND STEERING. I JUST MADE IT INTO A PARKING LOT ABOUT FIVE FEET FROM A BUILDING WHEN MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED SMOKING. I POPPED MY HOOD BUT IT WOULDN'T COME OPEN. WITHIN ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF MY HOOD STARTED MELTING SPARKS WERE FALLING FROM THE UNDERNEATH OF MY CAR AND THROUGH THE GRILL I COULD SEE A SMALL FIRE. WITHIN TWO MINUTES MY CAR WAS ON FIRE! I HAD TO CALL TO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MY CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALED AND BURNT TO A CRISP ! BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME A VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER JUST HAPPENED TO DRIVE BY AND FIRE EXTINGUISHED IT BUT IT DIDN'T DO A THING. NOW I AM OUT MY CAR...MY LIVELY HOOD..AND THE $4500 I SPENT 1 YEAR AGO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10676178

Incident

Jan 16, 2015

Mileage

146,000 mi

THIS IS A FOLLOWUP ON MY NHTSA COMPLAINT WITH ODI 10660489. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V584000 WHICH PRECISELY DESCRIBES THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE ENCOUNTERED WITH MY JETTA. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY JETTA IS ALSO A 2002 MODEL AS NOTED IN THE ABOVE CAMPAIGN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660504

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

Mileage

86,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHERS WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,500.

NHTSA ID

10660494

Incident

Oct 2, 2014

Mileage

91,500 mi

FIRST INTERMITTENT AND THEN INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10660489

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

Mileage

86,000 mi

FAULTY FUSE PANEL IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT (THE ONE SITUATED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY, NOT THE PANEL IN THE CABIN). *TR

NHTSA ID

10650332

Incident

Oct 25, 2014

Mileage

124,000 mi

FAULTY FUSE PANEL IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT (THE ONE SITUATED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY, NOT THE PANEL IN THE CABIN). *TR

NHTSA ID

10650329

Incident

Jul 4, 2013

Mileage

110,000 mi