RoadVitals

2002 Volkswagen Jetta Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance 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.
17
Latest Aug 15, 2014
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.
2%
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.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. 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. 17 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 driver-assistance

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

Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed Aug 15, 2014

WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH WITH A QUARTER TANK OF GAS, MY 2002 JETTA GLX DISPLAYED THE BATTERY LIGHT AND THEN STALLED AT FULL SPEED. THE CAR SLOWED, THE STEERING AND GAS PEDAL WERE STIFF AND I HAD TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER AND CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. I HAD THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR REPLACED, NEW SPARK PLUGS PUT IN AND THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED. I TEST DROVE THE CAR AND ONCE AGAIN, THE ENGINE STARTED TO STALL AT AROUND 70MPH ON THE FREEWAY. THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO FLOOR THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR DID NOT COMPLETELY STALL. THIS DEFECT SEEMS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND SEEMS TO BE UNACCEPTABLY PREVALENT ON VW JETTAS. MY NEXT PART TO REPLACE IS THE FUEL PUMP BUT IT APPEARS THAT DOES NOT ALWAYS REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10622574
Incident
Aug 6, 2014
Mileage
70,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 18, 2014

THE CAR TAKES 15 MINUTES TO HEAT UP TO 190, OTHERWISE THE CAR WON'T DRIVE FORWARD IN PROPER GEAR WITHOUT JERKING. IT DRIVES LIKE IT IS A STICK SHIFT INSTEAD OF AN AUTOMATIC CHANGING GEAR ON IT'S OWN. THE CAR STOPS WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE BRAKES AND SOMETIMES JUST TURNS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. IT SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE IN THE CAR. THE CD PLAYER, CLOCK AND VEHICLE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS ON AND OFF. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. AUTONATION PERFORMED A MULTI POINT INSPECTION AND SAYS THE CAR NEEDS A TIMING BELT, COOLANT FLANGE AND AFTER RUN PUMP, AND ROLLERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10614461
Incident
May 19, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Nov 19, 2011

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT 35MPH THE TACHOMETER WILL INCREASE AND DECEASE AT 2000RPM'S AND CAR WILL SLIGHTLY INCREASE AND THEN DECREASE IN SPEED. THERE IS A JERKING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. ALSO THERE IS A SLIGHT DELAY OF MOVEMENT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. BOTH ARE SAFETY HAZARDS WHILE ON STREETS WITH TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10436448
Incident
Jun 15, 2011
Mileage
130,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 16, 2011
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED INCIDENTS OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED EACH TIME THEY TRIED USING THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED, BUT THE SECOND TIME THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN IT CRASHED INTO THE GARAGE. THE CONTACT DIDNT MENTION THAT THERE WERE ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000.

NHTSA ID
10401037
Incident
Mar 27, 2011
Driver assistanceEngineFuel system+1 more
Filed Jul 22, 2010

LOSS OF POWER ON FREEWAY, WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE LOST POWER, THEN, WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RESTORE POWER BY 'PUMPING' THE ACCELERATOR, SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR, RESULTING IN A VERY RAPID DECELERATION FROM 70 MPH TO 45 MPH. THIS OCCURRED TWICE IN ONE HOUR, AT BOTH TIMES REQUIRING FOLLOWING MOTORISTS TO SWERVE SEVERELY TO AVOID. *TR

NHTSA ID
10344809
Incident
Jul 22, 2010
Mileage
95,600 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 9, 2010

SITTING AT A LIGHT, FOOT ON CLUTCH PEDAL AND FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL CAR ENGINE BEGAN RACING. PUT IN NEUTRAL AND PUT EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND PUMPED GAS PEDAL, DID NOT GET IT TO STOP. TURNED KEY OFF AND REMOVED KEY, CAR RACED TO FULL AEND STAYED THERE UNTIL ENGINE STOPPED, ABOUT A MINUTE. CAR WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10317960
Incident
Mar 1, 2010
Mileage
134,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 17, 2009

WHEN THE GAS PEDAL ON A JETTA 2002 4 CYL 1.9L DIESEL TURBO IS DEPRESSED QUICKLY VERSUS SLOWLY, THE ENGINE WILL RACE, I.E. RPMS WILL INCREASE, WITH NO CORRESPONDING CHANGE IN THE VEHICLE'S SPEED. IT APPEARS THAT THE SENSOR ATTACHED TO THE PEDAL IS NOT FUNCTIONING AS DESIGNED. I STOPPED AT A NON VW DEALER TO SEE IF I COULD GET THE PROBLEM CORRECTED. THEY COULD NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I WILL BE GOING TO A VW DEALER ON NOV 18. THE PROBLEM CAN BE POTENTIALLY FATAL IF I NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY TO AVOID A DANGEROUS SITUATION OR MERGE SAFELY FROM AN ON RAMP INTO TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT 60 MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10292611
Incident
Nov 17, 2009
Mileage
203,806 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+1 more
Filed Oct 12, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER BY POLICE AND INFORMED THE TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED. THE 3 BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE IN RAPID SUCCESSION AND REQUIRED THAT THE BULBS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN AUGUST. THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED INTERMITTENTLY, AS WELL AS, THE LIGHTING IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BY THE HEAT SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT INFORMED THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 06V183000 FOR THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH DUE TO THE VIN, ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEMS WERE SIMILAR.

NHTSA ID
10170672
Incident
Oct 12, 2006
Mileage
84,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 18, 2006

WHILE DRIVING IN THE AFTERNOON, MY VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND ACCELERATION CAPABILITY WITH THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT COMING ON AND BLINKING. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IMMEDIATELY. I AM INFORMED MY 2002 VW JETTA 1.8T HAS "3 FAULTY COILS." THE FAILURE WAS SUDDEN AND WITHOUT WARNING. I MAINTAIN MY CAR ACCORDING TO VW SPECS. IN 02/2003 VW ACKNOWLEDGED A PROBLEM WITH THIS IN OVER 530,000 2001 TO EARLY 2003 VEHICLES. I FEEL THE FAILURE WAS PREMATURE (AS TO WHAT COULD BE TYPICALLY EXPECTED OF AN ENGINE/VEHICLE FOR RELIABILITY), AND A DANGER. OBVIOUSLY THE FACT THAT IT HAS REMANIFESTED IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME SHOWS THAT IT WAS NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED WITH THE ORIGINAL FIX ONLY 2 YEARS AGO. MY VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO ADEQUATELY MAINTAIN ITSELF WITHIN THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. I WAS LUCKY TO GET TO THE 'SLOW LANE' WITHOUT INCIDENT. VW DISCLAIMS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFECT OR OTHERWISE AND SAYS THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY PERIOD I AM RESPONSIBLE ($454.00). I WILL PAY THIS, BUT HOW CAN I DRIVE KNOWING THAT THESE COILS COULD STOP ALL OR ANY ONE CYLINDER FROM CORRECTLY FIRING? THIS COULD KILL ME AND THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT CARE.. AS THEY QUITE BLUNTLY STATED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10162795
Incident
Jul 14, 2006
Mileage
69,900 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 16, 2005
Crash reported

PLEASE REFER TO MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT SUBMITTED 9/17/2005 REGARDING MY '02 VW JETTA. THE CRASH WAS A RESULT OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE. THE REASON I AM WRITING AGAIN IS TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT MY LOCAL NEWS (DENVER CHANNEL 7 NEWS) DID AN UNDERCOVER FEATURE IN REGARDS TO THE VOLVO'S SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. THE MECHANIC USED IN THE PIECE DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE. THUS, VOLVO IS ANNOUNCING A MAJOR RECALL ON ALL 1999-2002 VOLVO'S. THIS ISSUE IS RAMPANT AMONG THE AUTO INDUSTRY INCLUDING VWOA. PLEASE EXTEND YOUR INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE VW AND HOPEFULLY VWOA WILL DO A MAJOR RECALL ON ALL CARS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC THROTTLES. PLEASE NOTE THAT I WAS REQUIRED TO ATTEND DMV COURT SINCE I WAS ISSUED A TICKET. THE JUDGE RULING OVER MY CASE ENDED UP DISMISSING MY CASE BECAUSE OF THE EVIDENCE I HAD BROUGHT TO COURT. MORE OVER, THE JUDGE WAS A FORMER MECHANIC FOR 8 YEARS AND HE HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY ON VW'S. HE WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH MY SITUATION. I DON'T HAVE MY VIN # HANDY, BUT IT WAS LISTED IN MY COMPLAINT ODI ID #: 10136890. PLEASE REFER TO MY CASE NUMBER FOR FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10142936
Incident
Sep 17, 2005
Mileage
39,000 mi
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 19, 2005
Crash reported

ON 9/17/2005 I WAS PULLING INTO MY ASSIGNED PARKING SPOT AT MY CONDO. I WAS APPROXIMATELY TRAVELING ABOUT 3 MPH AND HAD MY BRAKES APPLIED TO MANEUVER INTO MY PARKING SPOT. UPON REACHING THE CURB, I APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND EXPECTED TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. HOWEVER, MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD AND ENDED UP IN MY NEIGHBOR'S LIVING ROOM. MY CAR ONLY STOPPED AFTER TAKING OUT THE BRICK STRUCTURE AND FRONT WINDOW OF HER CONDO. BEFORE MAKING IMPACT WITH THE OUTSIDE STRUCTURE I ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE TWICE WITH NO RESPONSE. THE IMPACT WAS SUBSTANTIAL AND YET THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY CAR WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE THAT MY INSURANCE APPROVED AND NOT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO HAS SERVICED MY CAR FOR ALL THE CURRENT RECALLS AND VARIOUS PROBLEMS. THE RECALLS AND PROBLEMS INCLUDE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, REPLACEMENT OF THE COIL IGNITION, ARMREST BREAK, ALARM SOUNDING FOR NO REASON, AND THE WINDOW FALLING INTO THE DOOR FRAME. THIS ACCIDENT CAUSED SERIOUS PROPERTY DAMAGE AND THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE POLICE ACKNOWLEDGED MY SKID MARKS AND MY ATTEMPT AT APPLYING THE BRAKES. THE SITUATION WAS TREATED/CITED AS A CAR ACCIDENT SO THAT MY NEIGHBOR AND I COULD GO THROUGH THE PROPER PROCEDURES OF HER DAMAGES BEING REIMBURSED. I PLAN TO PROVE MY CAR IS DEFECTIVE AND A LEMON. I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY FEEDBACK, ADVICE OR SUGGESTIONS REGARDING MY SITUATION. *NM *GEM

NHTSA ID
10136890
Incident
Sep 17, 2005
Mileage
42,995 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 6, 2005

I OWN A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS TDI. THIS CAR HAS A SURGING PROBLEM DURING NORMAL OR CRUISE CONTROL, OCCURRING BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH. THE CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES WITHOUT BEING REPAIRED, DATING BACK TO OCT. 2003. LAST YEAR IT SPENT 31 DAYS AT THE DEALER, MAY 10, 2004 THROUGH JUNE 10, 2004, RETURNED TO ME WORKING BETTER. WITHIN TWO DAYS THE PROBLEM WAS NOW WORSE. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS CAR MAY SURGE AND TAKE OFF LEAVING ME UNABLE TO STOP OR CONTROL. THIS CAR IS A SAFETY HAZARD IN MY OPINION. I HAVE TRIED TO WORK WITH VW BUT THEY REFUSE TO REPLACE IT AND ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR IT. [XXX]. ANYTHING THAT YOU COULD DO WOULD BE MUCH WELCOMED. THANK YOU.*AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10116502
Incident
May 10, 2004
Mileage
15,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 9, 2004

REPEAT INCIDENTS LEADING TO CONSUMER'S LONG TERM DRIVEABILITY CONCERNS. WORRISOME PANEL INDICATOR LIGHTS -- FLASHING: ENGINE WARNING AND GLOW PLUG (DIESEL) LIGHTS WITHIN CURRENT LEASE PERIOD. AFTER FIRST TWO INCIDENTS, THE THIRD (THEN UNDER WARRANTY) WAS FOUND TO BE DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT. AND REPAIRED?...DEC 7 '04, AT ABOUT 55K -- BLINKING LIGHTS AGAIN. DEALER DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED NO ENGINE PROBLEM (THIS WAS THE SAME RESULT OF THE TWO PREVIOUS BEFORE THE THIRD RESULTED IN A MAJOR WARRANTY REPAIR). THIS HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS AN ACCELERATOR SENSOR FAILURE. (THE PART WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR THREE (3) DAYS; WE ARE ADVISED TO DRIVE "CAREFULLY UNTIL THE PART CAN BE REPLACED.) THIS SENSOR FAILURE IS THEN ONE OF SEVERAL OTHERS IN THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE: THE FUEL GUAGE HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE OR TWICE; THE SEAT HEATER SENSOR JUST, AND OUT-OF-WARRANTY, BURNED A HOLE IN THE FRONT SEAT (THREE WEEKS AWAITING FACTORY REPS 'GET-BACK.'). AN AIR CONDITIONING PROBLEM (LEAK) WAS ALSO NOTED AND REPAIRED AT ABOUT 50,000 MILES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10102438
Incident
Dec 7, 2004
Mileage
54,900 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed May 17, 2004

MY 2002 VW JETTA, VIN# [XXX] HAS APPROXIMATELY 22,334 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN AT PACIFIC VW SINCE MARCH 18, 2004. THE CONCERN WITH THE VEHICLE, WHICH THE DEALER/FACTORY REPS HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO REMEDY IS WITH A COMPLETE LOSS OF ACCELERATION. *AK WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WILL SLIGHTLY ACCELERATE TO ABOUT 15-20 MPH AND THEN THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PROPEL FORWARD AT ANY FASTER RATE, EVEN WITH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. ACCELERATION IS RESUMED WHEN THE PEDAL IS BROUGHT UP TO THE TOP AGAIN AND DEPRESSED YET AGAIN TO GET ANY NORMAL TYPE OF ACCELERATION. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS IS NOT POOR ACCELERATION BUT RATHER AN INABILITY FOR THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED TO BE REMEDIED BY MY DEALERSHIP BY REPAIRING/REPLACING THE ECM, TCM, FUEL PUMP, WIRING HARNESS AND A RADIATOR HOSE - THE HOSE WAS DAMAGED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND IS UNRELATED TO THE VEHICLES TRUE CONCERNS. ALL OTHER ITEMS WERE UNSUCCSESSFUL. THE SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT WHEN MERGING OR TURNING ONTO TRAFFIC AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THERE IS A HUGE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT IF THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE, EVEN WITH THE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I FEAR THAT A REAR END ACCIDENT MAY ENSUE IF THIS CONDITION IS NOT FIXED BY VW. I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE DESPITE MULTIPLE PHONE CALLS AND AN EMAIL NOTIFICATION TO VW. KIND REGARDS, [XXX]. *AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10072758
Incident
Mar 18, 2004
Mileage
22,334 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 2, 2002

CONSUMER STATES WHEN SLOWING FOR A STOP IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HAS JUST REAR ENDED CONSUMER, CONSUMER HAS TO HOLD FOOT ON BRAKE TO KEEP CAR FROM TAKING OFF. NLM

NHTSA ID
8020036
Incident
Jan 8, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 26, 2002

VEHICLE HESITATES BEFORE ACCELERATION; COULD CAUSE STALL IN INTERSECTION. *AK

NHTSA ID
764776
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jul 17, 2002

PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. THIS IS THE SECOND SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THIS JETTA, THE FIRST BEING UNINTENTIONAL ACCELLERATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
764350
Incident
Jul 5, 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.

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