RoadVitals

2002 Volkswagen Jetta Other / unspecified Problems

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

Data refreshed

Other / unspecified 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.
15
Latest Jun 2, 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.
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.
1

What this page shows

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. 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. 15 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 other

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

Fuel systemOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Jun 2, 2016

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
AirbagsOther / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Jan 4, 2014
Crash reported

I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT THAT HAD A SLIGHT CURVE AND I HIT SOME BLACK ICE. THE CAR WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE CURB AND WITH THE IMPACT, WHICH IN MY OPINION, WAS NOT A GREAT AMOUNT, CAUSED THE SIDE CURTAIN AND PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. WITH HOW THE WHEEL HIT THE CURB, IT ALSO DAMAGED THE ALIGNMENT OF THE WHEELS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10558509
Incident
Jan 4, 2014
Mileage
158,000 mi
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 21, 2009

I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS, ONE WITH TEMPERATURE COOLANT SIGN. MANY JETTA'S HAVE THIS PROBLEM, IT OCCURS EVERY TIME I TURN ON THE CAR, SIGN ALWAYS COMES ON. THIS CAUSES SIGNALS AND COMPUTER PROGRAMS IN THE CAR TO BE CONFUSED, AND IS ALWAYS A DANGEROUS LIGHT BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY CAR'S COOLANT OR RADIATOR. I HAVE REPLACED THIS PART ABOUT TWO TIMES THROUGH A MECHANIC SHOP WITH A VW PART TWICE. STILL IS A FAILURE, AND I READ MOST JETTAS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT VW CAN NOT FIX THIS EXPENSIVE PART FOR ITS CUSTOMERS. ALSO I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY ALTERNATOR ONE DAY AGO. MY VEHICLE WAS FORCED TO STALL ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY CAUSING ME ALMOST TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. FOR SOME REASON MY CAR LOST ALL ITS POWER, BATTERY WAS ONLY ONE OR TWO WEEKS OLD, AND NOW MY ALTERNATOR DIED. MY CAR HAS ONLY 71,400 MILES ON IT, IT IS NOT VERY OLD, IT IS A MAJOR CONCERN TO SEE AN ALTERNATOR DIE THAT EARLY IN THE CAR, MAKES ME WONDER WHAT OTHER MAJOR PROBLEMS I HAVE IN THE FUTURE, LET ALONE WHAT I HAD IN THE PAST. NOW I HAVE TO FIX THIS CAR, AND WILL TAKE ONE WEEK TO FIX AND GET THE PART READY, COSTING ME ALMOST $600 IN REPAIR. NOT ONLY DID MY CAR BREAK DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY BUT THE CAR SMELT LIKE IT WAS BURNING, VERY DANGEROUS!!THIS A VW DEFECT, AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED TO ALL VW OWNERS ABOUT THEIR ALTERNATORS, IT DOESN'T FEEL SAFE IF THIS CAR KEEPS BREAKING DOWN, TIRED OF THIS CAR.OTHER RECALLS ABOUT THIS VEHICLE MAKE ME WANT TO QUESTION WHETHER TO DRIVE IT NOT, IF IT HAS A COUNTRY WIDE BRAKE PROBLEM IN THIS CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10262641
Incident
Mar 20, 2009
Mileage
71,400 mi
Other / unspecifiedSuspensionTransmission
Filed Feb 19, 2009
Crash reported

I PURCHASED A 2002 VW IN 2005. I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT IN DEC '08. SHORTLY AFTER THE COLLISION PLACE REPAIRED MY CAR. THE VEHICHLE STARTED MISFIRING AND ESSENTIALLY WASN'T DRIVABLE. THE CONTROL ARM BUSHING WERE REPLACED $800 (AT THE VW PLACE) AND THE SERVICE DEPT SAID THAT THEY WOULD CHECK FLUIDS IN PARTICULAR THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION DIDN'T HAVE THE UPDATED TRANMISSION CONTROL MODULE (TCM) AND HAD TO REPLACED ( $700 PART AND 300 LABOR) THE SERVICE TECHNICAN DID STATE THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST STEP IN DIAGNOSING AND CORRECTING THE PROBLEM AND THAT THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT NOT A RECALL. WELL $1000 SPENT ON THIS STILL DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND NOW THEY SAY THE NEXT STEP IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON A CAR THAT HAS 87K MILES ANOTHER 4K. WELL, I CAN HONESTLY SAY THAT VW IS UNRELIABLE AND DOES NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR NAME, PRODUCT OR REPUTATION. THIS IS SHAMEFUL. I AM VERY DISSAFIED AND LEARNED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB RELATED TO TRANSMISSIION, TCM ON THE VW 2002 - 2006 MODEL. VW SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE AND COMPENSATE FOR THIS A DEFECTIVE/INFERIOR PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10259364
Incident
Dec 6, 2008
Mileage
87,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Jul 26, 2008

I OWN A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T AT 56000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT OF IT AND AT 56000 THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN I HAVE IT AT A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY FOUND METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN HAS THEIR BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND IF NOT CAN I GET SOME ASSISTANCE GETTING THIS PROBLEM FIXED BECAUSE AT 56000 MILES THIS SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED SENSE I'VE OWNED THIS CAR IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE WAY THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER BYERS IN COLUMBUS OHIO AND THE VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERCIA IS HANDLING THIS PROBLEM THE CODE WE GET IS PO730 I WOULD TRULY APPRECIATE SOME HELP WITH GETTING THIS FIXED THANK YOU TOM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10235857
Incident
Jul 14, 2008
Mileage
56,325 mi
Other / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Jun 17, 2008

2002 VW JETTA VR6 2.8 EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN SEPT. 07 WE HAVE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE CAR COMPLETELY DYING IN INTERSECTION OR IDLING WITH A/C ON OR JUST WHEN RUNNING. WHEN THIS OCCURS THE DASH RESETS AND CAR SHUTS OFF AND LOCKS UP. YOU HAVE TO TURN TO CAR OFF AND PUT IN PARK TO RESTART. VERY DANGEROUS FOR MY CHILDREN AND I TO TRAVEL ANYWHERE WHEN I DRIVE A HOUR TO WORK EACH DAY. I ALSO KNOW A PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE SAME YEAR CAR THE HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS AND HAD TO SELL BECAUSE AFTER THOUSANDS OF $ IT WAS NEVER ABLE TO BE REPAIRED. ALSO THE CAR FEELS LIKE TO TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. THIS CAR WAS PROMISED TO BE SAFE DEPENDABLE AND HAD BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. WE LUCKILY HAVE NOT HAD A ACCIDENT YET BUT SEVERAL VERY CLOSE CALLS. THE VW DEAL CANT SEEM TO FIND THE PROBLEM THEY INSIST THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT. THEY REPLACE THINGS AND NOTHING WORKS. INCIDENT STILL OCCURRING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10231405
Incident
Oct 9, 2007
Mileage
68,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed May 24, 2008

2002 VW JETTA WITH WHAT IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING THE A/C UNIT STOPPED WORKING. ALL ITEMS WERE CHECKED AND NO OBVIOUS SIGN OF LEAK, ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OR OTHER WAS FOUND. DEALER WANTED TO REPLACE ALL ITEMS IN THE A/C SYSTEM. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH IT WAS FOUND THAT THE AC CLUTCH IS HELD ON BY A NYLON NUT AND THESE ARE NOT ABLE TO FUNCTION WITHOUT THIS FLAWED DESIGN. A SEARCH ON ANY VW DISCUSSION BOARD WILL PROVIDE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINT ABOUT THIS SUBSTANDARD DESIGN. THIS WAS A DESIGN/MANUFACTURING FLAW AND NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY VW. HOW MANY OTHER CONSUMERS PAID FOR A NEW A/C SYSTEM (FAN, COMPRESSOR, CLUTCH ECT.) WHEN ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS A PROPERLY MANUFACTURED CLUTCH. I BELIEVE THAT THIS DESIGN WAS ONLY IN EXISTENCE FOR 2 YEARS AND WAS REPLACED BY VW. SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE TO ANSWER TO ALL OF THE CONSUMERS ABOUT THIS DESIGN. THIS PART IS ALSO FOUND A LOT OF TIME BY VW TECHNICIANS WHEN THEY REMOVE THE PROTECTIVE BELLY PAN. THIS IS A SIMILAR PROBLEM TO WINDOW REGULATOR RECALL WHERE THE USED A PLASTIC CLIP INSTEAD OF METAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10228817
Incident
Jun 10, 2006
Mileage
98,900 mi
Other / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Aug 31, 2006

I OWN A 2002 VW JETTA GLI, AND IT HAS MERELY 54,000 MILES ON IT. IT HAS COME IN STANDARD TRANSMISSION, AND WE BOUGHT IT WHEN IT WAS ISSUED AS NEW. AS I WAS ON MY WAY HOME HEADING TOWARDS NEW JERSEY, FROM NEW YORK. MY CLUTCH PEDAL BEGAN TO LOOSEN UP. I TRIED SWITCHING FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4TH, AND THE CLUTCH LOOSELY WENT TO THE FLOOR, AND IT WOULD NOT POP BACK UP. AS MY CAR ROLLED ON THE BRIDGE, IT STAYED IN NEUTRAL. HENCE, I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. NOW I HAVE BEEN READING OTHER FORUMS AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN THE SAME ISSUE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10167127
Incident
Aug 26, 2006
Mileage
53,400 mi
EngineOther / unspecifiedTires & wheels+1 more
Filed Jul 28, 2004

PURCHASED CAR IN JANUARY 2002 NEW FROM DEALER, IN SHOP 2 DAYS LATER TIRE NOT INSTALLED, CAUSING IT TO GO FLAT, HAPPENED AGAIN 2 DAYS AFTER THAT, AND AGAIN THE NEXT WEEK, FINALLY RIMS AND TIRES WERE REPLACED PROBLEM SOLVED. THEN HAND BRAKE FAILED, IN SHOP TO FIX, 2 WEEKS AFTER IT WAS RETURNED FAILED AGAIN, FIXED, THEN 3 WEEKS AFTER THAT IF FAILED AGAIN, THEN THE WINDOW BRACKETS BROKE, THEN ENGINE FAILED THAT WAS SUPPOSEDLY ON A RECALL PART, WAS FIXED, THEN IT FAILED A FEW MONTHS LATER AGAIN, SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, THEN IT FAILED AGAIN ONLY THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, THEN IT FAILED AGAIN THIS TIME THEY SAID IT WAS THE OIL PUMP AND HOSE AND BLAMED THAT ON US, THEN IT FAILED AGAIN, WAS FIXED, AND NOW IT IS COMPLETELY DOWN AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10082842
Incident
Jul 24, 2004
AirbagsOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 22, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WAS IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT AND WAS HIT SQUARE IN THE SIDE OF THE CAR AT 45 MPH. DAMAGE WAS DONE TO ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. I HAVE FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS. CALLED VOLKSWAGEN TO DETERMINE WHERE SENSORS ARE, AND THE SENSOR ON THE SIDE IS WHERE I WAS HIT. I DID SOME RESEARCH THROUGH NHTSA REPORTS ON VOLKSWAGEN, SEEMS THERE ARE A SUFFICIENT AMOUNT OF CONSUMER COMPLAINTS WITH THE AIRBAGS, MANY OF WHICH STATE VOLKSWAGEN DIDN'T WANT TO DISCUSS OR TAKE CARE OF. I AM CONCERNED WITH FOR MY OWN SAFETY WHILE DRIVING THIS VOLKSWAGEN. *JB

NHTSA ID
10082451
Incident
Jul 13, 2004
Mileage
52,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 15, 2004

TWICE IN THE PAST FOUR MONTHS I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THE CAR AND UNFORTUNATELY HIT A POTHOLE. NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY, A SIMPLE POTHOLE ON THE ROAD. IN BOTH INSTANCES THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE WHEEL (RIM) HAS BENT AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT. I HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE THE WHEEL AT AN OUTRAGEOUS PRICE. I FIND IT RIDICULOUS THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE IN SUCH A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS AT NIGHT AND IN THE RAIN. I DO NOT KNOW HOW TO CHANGE A TIRE, AND NO ONE STOPPED TO HELP ME. I HAD TO PAY $25 TO A TOWING COMPANY TO HAVE SOMEONE COME OUT AND CHANGE THE TIRE. *LA

NHTSA ID
10081127
Incident
Jul 3, 2004
Mileage
46,543 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 14, 2004

WHILE ON THE FREEWAY WE HAD A BLOWN TIRE IN OUR 2002 VW JETTA GLS VR6 VEHICLE. WE COULD NOT OPEN THE WHEEL BOLTS SINCE THEY WERE GLUED FROM THE FACTORY, INTO THE WHEEL. IT TOOK A 4' PIECE OF PIPE TO OPERATE THE BOLTS WRENCH TO OPEN THEM. FURTHERMORE, THE JACK SUPPLIED WITH THE VEHICLE IS UNDERSIZED AND UNSAFE TO OPERATE. IT SHIFTED WITH THE VEHICLE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A STEADY SUPPORT FOR RAISING THE VEHICLE FOR THE WHEEL CHANGE. AFTER A FEW TRIES, WE RESORTED TO USING A HYDRAULIC JACK SUPPLIED BY THE LOCAL SHERIFF DEPUTY WHO WAS PASSING BY THE LOCATION WE WERE STOPPED AT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10075396
Incident
Jun 14, 2004
Body & structureElectricalOther / unspecified+2 more
Filed Feb 13, 2003

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
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Feb 10, 2003

I STARTED MY CAR TO LEAVE WORK AND WHEN I PUT IT IN REVERSE THE CAR WOULD NOT BACK UP. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION? I HAD VEHICLE TOWED IN FOR REPAIR TO LOCAL DEALER, THEY REPLACED A SWITCH IN THE ABS SYSTEM THAT WAS CAUSING THE BRAKES TO STICK. AS OF TODAY THE CAR IS BACK AT THE DEALER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IN AUGUST OF 2002 THE SWITCH IN THE BRAKE PEDAL THAT ALLOWS YOU TO PUT THE CAR INTO GEAR HAD WENT OUT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SWITCH AND WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR THE BRAKES WERE GRABING AS I LEFT THE DEALER, I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT BACK AND TOLD THEM IT WAS NOT RIGHT. A MECHANIC AND I ROAD TESTED THE CAR AND HE STOPPED AND PHYSICALLY PULLED UP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE THE BRAKES RELEASE. HE STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. THAT EVENING THE CAR DID THE SAME THING WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTAE AND CAUSED SUCH A DRAG ON THE WHEELS THAT YOU COULD NOT GO OVER 40MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF AT AN EXIT AND PULLED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO MAKE IT RELEASE. THE NEXT DAY ON MY WAY TO WORK I HAD THE CAR IN CRUISE CONTROL AND WHEN I TAPPED THE BRAKE FOR CRUISE TO RELEASE, THE BRAKES LOCKED ON THE CAR AGAIN AND I HAD TO PULL UP ON THE BRAKE WITH MY FOOT TO TRY TO GET THEM TO TURN LOOSE. THE CRUISE DID NOT RELEASE, IT GOT STUCK, I HAD TO TURN IT OFF WITH THE SWITCH ON THE STEERING MECHANISIM. I TOLD THE DEALER THAT I WOULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE I FELT THIS PROBLEM WAS DANGEROUS AND THEY HAD IT TOWED FOR SERVICE. THEY STATED THE SWITCH THEY HAD JUST REPLACED THE DAY BEFORE WAS FAULTY. I ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE BEARINGS AND ROTARS FOR POSSIBLE DAMAGE DUE TO THE BRAKES STICKING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I FEEL ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED TO EACH OTHER AND ONE MAY HAVE BEEN PRECLUDED THE OTHERS. AS I STATED PREVIOUSLY THE CAR IS BACK AT THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND I JUST HAPPEN TO BE 2,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CAR HAS HAD A WARRANTY RECALL FOR A PART IN THE ABS SYSTEM WHICH WAS DONE AT THE DEALER. THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED AFTER THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10005593
Incident
Jan 30, 2003
Other / unspecified
Filed Aug 8, 2002

OWNERS MANUAL INDICATES THAT SEAT BELT WARNING ON DASHBOARD WILL ILLUMINATE IF SEAT BELTS ARE NOT WORN. HOWEVER, IF SEAT BELTS AREN'T WORN NOTHING WILL FLASH AS A REMINDER. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8015892
Incident
Aug 8, 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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .