Page 12 of 15 · complaints 551–600 of 702

2002 Volkswagen Jetta complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2002 record →

Electrical System
Filed Mar 18, 2003CT

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER STATED THE IGNITION COIL WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED, AND THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A RUPTURED COOLANT PUMP. *TS *JB

Seats › Front Assembly › Seat Heater/CoolerFire
Filed Mar 10, 200327,000 milesME

THE HEATER SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE.*JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 6, 2003NY

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STALLING. *AK *JB

Tires › Sidewall
Filed Feb 28, 20038,190 milesAL

SIDEWALL FAILURE OF TUBELESS RADIAL RIGHT FRONT TIRE. MICHELIN "PILOT" XSE HX MXM4 225/45 R17 TREADWEAR: 300 TEMPERATURE: A TRACTION: A TIRE WAS PROPERLY INFLATED AND HAD ONLY 8,190 MILES (OEM). MOUNTED ON A 2002 VW JETTA GLS. DOT #: B98AH5BX3801 TREAD DEPTH UPON REMOVAL WAS 8/32" NO PRIOR DAMAGE TO VEHICLE, I.E., STEERING LINKAGE, STRUCK POT HOLES, CRASHES, ETC...NO PERCEIVABLE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS OTHER THAN WORKMANSHIP/MATERIAL DEFECT. I COVET SIMILAR INFORMATION, I.E., CONSUMER PROBLEMS/COMPLAINTS. I AM A PUBLIC SAFETY EMPLOYEE (STATE TROOPER) AND I HAVE EXTENSIVE TRAINING IN TRAFFIC HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION/TRAFFIC CRASH RECONSTRUCTION. IF YOU READ THIS AND FEEL THAT YOU EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT: [email protected]. *JB

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Feb 28, 20035,600 milesCA

I PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER. THE MAJOR PROBLEMS ARE COMPLAINTS OF HAVING TROUBLE STOPPING. I WAS CONCERNED SO I DROVE IT AND IMMEDIATELY I HEARD A GRINDING NOISE AND FELT A VIBRATION WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL FIRESTONE TIRE AND THEY FELT THE VIBRATION AND HEARD THE GRINDING NOISE BUT THE BRAKE PADS LOOKED GOOD SO THEY ADVISED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, AS IT WAS PROBABLY A WARRANTY ISSUE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHARGED ME $37.00 TO TELL ME THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AND IT'S NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. I WAS ADVISED VW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. (WHY CHARGE ME $37.00 FOR A PROBLEM THAT (THEY KNOW) THEY HAVE?). HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN ON A BRAND NEW CAR THAT DOESN'T EVEN NEED IT'S FIRST SET OF BRAKE PADS? I AM STILL NOT SURE WHAT TO MAKE OF THE BRAKING PROBLEM. THE ROTORS WERE JUST DISCOVERED BECAUSE I WAS COMPLAINING OF A BRAKING PROBLEM. *JB SECONDLY,WHILE DRIVING, THE CAR JERKS BACK AND FORTH AND SOMETIMES JOLTS. I AM CONCERNED AS TO WHAT THIS COULD BE. THE DEALER HAS NO IDEA. *JB I PAID $27,000 FOR THIS CAR TO INSURE MY CHILD'S SAFETY. I AM NOW WONDERING JUST HOW SAFE IT IS.*JB

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Feb 27, 2003400 milesCT

HELLO. MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE 2002 JETTA 1.8T. I PURCHASED MINE IN MAY 2002 FROM CURRAN VW IN STRATFORD, CT. WITH JUST 400 MILES ON THE CAR, AN IGNITION COIL MALFUNCTIONED, AND THE SHIFTING PERFORMANCE WAS VERY POOR. IN NOVEMBER, THE SECOND IGNITION COIL MALFUNCTIONED. I WAS PLACED IN A RENTAL FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS. MADE THE TRIP BACK TO MA TO PICK UP THE CAR, GOT BACK TO CT JUST TO HAVE THE THIRD IGNITION COIL MALFUNCTION, LESS THAN ONE WEEK LATER. THEN, TWO WEEKS AGO THE CAR BEGAN, ONCE AGAIN, TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND LOSE POWER ON I-95 AT 6:30AM ON MY WAY TO WORK. I WAS FORCED TO TAKE THE CAR DOWN TO 20MPH. I DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT VW FOR INSPECTION AND WAS TOLD IT WAS FINE AND THAT IT WAS NOT THE IGNITION COIL, BUT THAT THEY RESET THE COMPUTER FOR MY PEACE OF MIND. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT DESPITE WHAT I'VE READ ABOUT THE RECENT RECALL RE: THE IGNITION COILS THAT I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL THEY FAILED BEFORE HAVING ANY REPLACED. (THE ONE REPLACED LAST MAY WAS REPLACED WITH THE SAME POOR QUALITY COIL.) IT'S ABOUT A WEEK LATER AND THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED FOR THE 4TH IGNITION COIL FAILURE. I CAN'T TAKE IT. I FEEL TOTALLY UNSAFE IN THIS CAR. I DRIVE IN THE SLOW LANE SO AS TO BE CLOSE TO THE BREAK DOWN LANE. HOW ANYONE CAN SAY THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE IS BEYOND ME, WHEN THE CAR SIGNIFICANTLY LOSES POWER WITH NO WARNING - AND ON A HIGHWAY WHERE CARS ARE TRAVELING AT 60-80 MPH! THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED. THIS CAR WAS A TOTAL WASTE OF $25K+. WHAT A TERRIBLE FIRS

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 20, 200312,970 milesFL

WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED MOMENTARILY AND THEN ACCELERATED. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY A 3-5 SECOND DELAY IN ACCELERATION. DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM.*JB *TS

Electrical System
Filed Feb 13, 20039,000 milesNJ

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.

Parking Brake › Conventional › Mechanical
Filed Feb 10, 2003MS

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 WA

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Other Fuel Types › Turbo/Supercharger
Filed Feb 7, 20032,800 milesMD

VW JETTA & AUDI TURBO ENGINES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO HAVE DEFECTIVE COILS. PH

Electrical System
Filed Feb 5, 2003TX

MY 2002 JETTA HAS HAD THREE IGNITION COILS REPLACED IN THREE SEPERATE INCIDENTS. EACH TIME THE CAR COMPLETELY STOPPED LEAVING ME STRANDED. VW HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAVE A COIL PROBLEM BUT HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE THE REMAINING COIL STATING THAT THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT UNTIL IT FAILS. WITH THE HIGH LIKELIHOOD THAT THIS COIL WILL FAIL JUST LIKE THE OTHERS WHICH WERE INSTALLED AT THE SAME TIME, VW'S ATTITUDE SHOWS A COMPLETE LACK OF REGARD FOR THEIR CUSTOMER'S SAFETY. FORTUNATELY, UP TO NOW THE FAILURES HAVE ONLY COST ME TIME AND FRUSTRATION. UNTIL VW CAN DO THE RIGHT THING, I FEEL LIKE I'M DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB.

Electrical System › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control Module
Filed Feb 4, 2003PA

VEHICLE WOULD LOSS POWER DUE TO A COIL PACK FAILURE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed Feb 3, 200314,300 milesMD

I OWN A VW JETTA 1.8T. IT HAS JUST OVER 14,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY TO WORK, THE CAR STARTED SHUDDERING VIOLENTLY AND THEN THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP CAME ON. I WAS AMOST RUN DOWN BY A TRUCK BEHIND ME, AS THE CAR BEGAN TO LOSE POWER QUICKLY. VW REFUSED TO REVEAL ANY INFORMATION AND THE DEALER TOOK THREE DAYS TO ATTEND TO THE CAR AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE A LOANER CAR. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN OK IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, EXCEPT THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION COIL AND I FELT EXTREMELY CHEATED TO FIND OUT THAT VW AND THEIR DEALERS WERE AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS IN 1.8T MODELS ALL ALONG, BUT HAVE REFUSED TO RECALL THESE CARS OR PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE TO THEIR CONSUMERS. VW WILL NOT REPLACE ALL THE IGNITION COILS, JUST THE ONES THAT FAILED. NOW I AM VERY WORRIED THAT I WILL BE RUN OVER THE NEXT TIME ANOTHER IGNITION COIL HAPPENS TO FAIL WHILE I AM DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. SHOULDNT VW BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR FAULTS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY FOR TRYING TO DECIEVE THEIR CUSTOMERS?

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 3, 200315,600 milesMA

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE WELL KNOWN VW 1.8T IGNITION COIL PROBLEM

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Feb 3, 200322,300 milesCA

I HAD MY FIRST IGNITION COIL PACK FAIL A FEW DAYS AGO. THE DEALER WAS GREAT AND VERY PREPARED TO HANDLE THIS PROBLEM THE BEST THEY COULD, HOWEVER VW CANNOT MAKE THE PARTS FAST ENOUGH TO SATISFY THE DEMAND AND I WILL HAVE A LOANER CAR FOR AT LEAST 3 WEEKS. I KNOW THAT VW WILL ONLY REPLACE THE COIL THAT FAILED SO I GUESS I CAN LOOK FORWARD TO THIS HAPPENING SEVERAL TIMES IN THE FUTURE. GREAT. I AM DISAPPOINTED AND MAD THAT VW KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND IS UNWILLING TO REPLACE ALL 4 LEAVING ME TO BREAK DOWN AGAIN.

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Feb 3, 200321,000 milesCA

CLUTCH. IT WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY DIFICULT TO SHIFT INTO 1ST AND REVERSE SO I TOOK MY CAR TO A DEALERSHIP WHO SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. A FEW DAYS LATER IT WAS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT INTO 1ST AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY THEN TOLD ME THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH 1ST GEAR. AFTER TAKING THE TRANMISSION APART AND FIXING 1ST GEAR THEY TEST DROVE IT THEY SAID THE PROBLEM WAS AGAIN NOT FIXED AND THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS NOW IN ESSENCE EATING ITSELF UP. I THEN HAD MY ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BECAUSE EACH TOOTH IN THE GEARS AND RODS WERE BENT OR DAMAGED IN SOME WAY. IN THE END, THEY SAID MY TRANSMISSION MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES IN THE TRANSMISSIONS AND MY REPLACMENT IS THE SAME AS ALL THE OTHER JETTAS.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Feb 3, 200323,500 milesMA

TWO OF MY IGNITION COILS FAILED AND I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 2002 JETTA 1.8T. I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO HAVE ALL THE DEFECTIVE COILS REPLACED BUT I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINS THAT VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT REPLACE THESE BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH PARTS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE A CAR THAT IS ONLY ONE YEAR OLD TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY VOLKSWAGEN WOULDN'T DO A VOLUNTARY RECALL ON THESE AS THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE WIDESPREAD. I AM HAPPY WITH THE SERVICE I RECEIVED (COLONICAL VOLKSWAGEN, WESTOBOROUGH MA) BUT DISAPPOINTED IN THE MANUFACTUER FOR NOT STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE AND NOTIFYING OWNERS BEFORE THEIR CAR LEAVES THEM STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Feb 3, 200315,000 milesMA

THIS IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT MY 2002 VOLKSWAGON JETTA 1.8T THAT HAS BEEN TOWED TWICE TO REPAIR FAULTY ENGINE COILS. VOLKSWAGON REFUSED TO REPLACE ALL FOR COILS AND SAYS THE ONLY WAY THEY WILL REPLACE THEM IS IF THEY FAIL.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Feb 3, 2003NY

THE DEFECT IS A FAULTY ENGINE COIL PACK. DEALER CHANGE THE FAULTY COIL PACK. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Feb 3, 2003MA

I PURCHASED A 2002 VW JETTA 1.8T DURING THE SUMMER, 2002. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN MADE AWARE OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT WITH THE IGNITION COILS THAT VW IS FAILING TO DO A RECALL TO REPAIR. WHILE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT VW CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, I AM AWARE OF PUBLICIZED AUTO OCCURRENCES THAT POINT TO A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF THIS IS NOT REPAIRED. A RECALL IS ESSENTIAL IN ORDER TO REPAIR THIS AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ASAP.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Feb 3, 2003MA

I PURCHASED A 2002 VW JETTA 1.8T DURING THE SUMMER, 2002. I HAVE RECENTLY BEEN MADE AWARE OF A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT WITH THE IGNITION COILS THAT VW IS FAILING TO DO A RECALL TO REPAIR. WHILE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT VW CLAIMS THAT THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, I AM AWARE OF PUBLICIZED AUTO OCCURRENCES THAT POINT TO A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF THIS IS NOT REPAIRED. A RECALL IS ESSENTIAL IN ORDER TO REPAIR THIS AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ASAP.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Feb 2, 20039,270 milesMA

IGNITION COIL PACK FAILED, RESULTING IN GREATLY REDUCED POWER. WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS HAD I BEEN IN TRAFFIC. I UNDERSTAND THAT FREQUENTLY THEY FAIL IN MULTIPLES ON THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE, DISABLING THE CAR COMPLETELY. *JB

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed Feb 1, 20037,800 milesMA

IGNITION COIL FAILURE ON 2002 VW JETTA. CAR MUST BE TOWED IF IT IS ANY DISTANCE FROM DEALERSHIP. HAS NO POWER WHEN FAILURE OCCURS...SAFETY ISSUE ON A HIGHWAY, WITH A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. SAFETY ISSUE FOR A WOMAN WAITING ALONE ON THE ROAD SIDE FOR A TOW. CAN NOT DRIVE A CAR WITH 9000 MILES WITH ANY CONFIDENCE THAT IT WILL NOT PUT ME IN DANGER THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO CONTROL. TS

Electrical System
Filed Jan 30, 20035,000 milesNJ

COIL PACK FAILED ON VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2002, LUCKILY IT DIED ON START UP AND NOT WHILE TRAVELING. CAR HAS 4 COIL PACKS, DEALER ONLY REPACED ONE. VW HAS NUMEROUS CARS WITH SAME FAILURE, NUMEROUS TIMES. REQUESTED THEY REPLACE ALL COIL PACKS, THEY SAID NO. THEY AGREED WITH ME THAT THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE CAR WILL FAIL AGAIN. WHAT HAPPENS IF IT FAILS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ? !

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Filler Pipe and Cap
Filed Jan 30, 2003NY

THE GASKET RIPPED IN HALF WHILE DRIVING DO TO A PIECE OF DEBREE IN THE ROAD. TS

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 30, 2003MA

I OWN A 2002 JETTA 1.8T AND TWO OF MY FOUR IGNITION COILS HAVE FAILED. VW HAS TOLD ME THAT THEY CAN ONLY REPLACE ONES THAT ARE BROKEN AND REFUSE TO REPLACE THE REMAINING TWO COILS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE BECAUSE I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THE OTHER TWO WILL FAIL AND THE MOST LIKELY WILL (AS I AM TOLD BY MY VW SERVICE ADVISOR)!!!

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › Radiator Assembly
Filed Jan 29, 200300

VEHICLE IGNITION COIL IS FAULTY AND DEALER REFUSES TO REPAIR THE COIL. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 29, 2003VA

DEALER CHANGE THE FAULTY COIL PACK BUT HAPPEN AGAIN AND DEALER REFUSED TO CHANGE THE OTHER TWO COIL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 29, 200310,256 milesTX

COIL PACK FAILURE, 2COIL PACKS HAVE MALFUNCTIONED ON MY 02 JETTA 1.8T. DEALER SAYS 4-6 WEEKS FOR PARTS. RECALL??????????????????????????????

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System
Filed Jan 28, 200332,000 milesNJ

VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSS ENGINE POWER AND CAN NOT BE DRIVEN. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 28, 200329,000 milesMD

I HAVE EXPERIENCED 3 SEPARATE INCIDENTS IN THE LAST 4 MONTHS WHERE AN ENGINE COILPACK IN MY 2002 VW JETTA 1.8L TURBO FAILED WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE CAR. IN EACH CASE, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN, DRAMATIC LOSS OF POWER AND THE CAR BEGINS TO SHUDDER. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED (1/25/2003), I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT ~45 MPH AND WAS NEARLY HIT BY ANOTHER CAR DUE TO MY SUDDEN ENGINE TROUBLE. VW CONTINUES TO REPLACE THE COILPACKS BUT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THEY ARE PRONE TO FAILING SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THE LAST TIME ONE FAILED, IT WAS REPLACED WITH THE NEWLY DESIGNED COILPACK WHICH WASN'T SUPPOSED TO BE FAILURE-PRONE. I ASKED THAT EACH OF THE INDIVIDUAL COILPACKS (4 TOTAL) BE REPLACED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE OLDER ONES WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE BUT WAS TOLD THAT VW WOULD ONLY REPLACE THEM AS THEY FAILED. THIS TIME, THE NEWLY DESIGNED COILPACK FAILED, AS WELL AS ONE OF THE OTHER, OLDER ONES. I AM AWAITING 2 REPLACEMENT COILPACKS; HOWEVER, THEY ARE THE SAME DESIGN AS THE 2 WHICH JUST FAILED. FRANKLY, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AS THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO GUARANTEE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN WITHOUT WARNING.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 28, 200313,400 milesID

THIS WAS THE 2ND FAILURE OF ONE OR MORE IGNITION COILS ON MY 2002 JETTA 1.8T CAUSING A DRAMATIC LOSS OF POWER. THE FIRST TIME WAS NOVEMBER WHEN 2 COILS FAILED CAUSING CAR TO BE ALMOST UNDRIVABLE, NO ACCELARATION AND VERY HARD TO MAINTAIN SPEED. SECOND FAILURE, LUCKILY, ONLY HAPPENED A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. SAME PROBLEM WITH NO POWER, ETC. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IT COULD LEAD TO A RATHER BAD ACCIDENT. THIS PROBEM SEEMS VERY PREVELANT ON THE 2001 AND 2002 VW AND AUDI MODELS WITH THE 1.8 TURBO ENGINE.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 27, 2003MA

VW JETTA EGNITION COILS - ONE FAILED, DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE THEM ALL EVEN THOUGH ANOTHER WILL LIKELY MALFUNCTION. WHY IS THIS NOT A RECALL, THE SITUATION CAN BE DANGEROUS. DOES THERE HAVE TO BE A FATALITY FOR A RECALL?

Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed Jan 27, 20037,900 milesMA

CAR LOST POWER AND STARTED SHAKING. IT WOULD ONLY GO 10 MPH. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND FOUND TWO OF THE IGNITION COILS WERE BROKEN. DEALER WOULD ONLY FIX THE BROKEN ONES BECAUSE VW WON'T FIX ALL FOUR, EVEN THOUGH HE ADMITTED THE OTHERS WOULD PROBABLY BREAK.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 27, 200341,051 milesMA

COIL PACK FAILURE ON 2002 VW JETTA, CAR FAILED TO MAKE IT THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENED. ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS, CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY ARE ONLY GOING TO REPLACE ONE AND SAID THAT THE OTHERS WILL FAIL ALSO

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 27, 2003MA

THE COILS IN THE 2002 VW JETTA 1.8T ENGINE ARE FAILING. WHEN THEY FAIL, THIS CREATES A SAFTEY ISSUSE WITH THE CAR STALLING. THIS HAPPENS UNEXPECTLY WITHOUT WARNING, AND COULD HAPPEN WHILE TRAVELING IN A HIGH SPEED LANE. OVER A HALF MILLION CARS ARE AFFECTED BY THIS POORLY DESIGNED PART. AN INDEPTH REPORT APPEARED IN THE BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE AUTOMOTIVE SECTION (1-26-03) DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING. VW CHOSES ONLY TO FIX FAILED COMPONENTS, NOT THE ONES THAT HAVE NOT FAILED. THERE ARE FOUR COILS ON THIS ENGINE, AND THE CONSUMER HAS FOUR CHANCES OF BEING IN A ACCIDENT WHEN THE PART FAILS. VW SHOULD REPLACE ALL FOUR PARTS OF THIS KNOWN PROBLEM, AND NOT WAIT FOR THE ACCIDENTS TO HAPPEN.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 27, 2003NJ

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND VERY HEAVY VIBRATIONS ARE FELT COMING FROM THE ENGINE, IT FEELS AS IF THE CAR IS SHAKING APART. AFTER FIRST OCCURRENCE VW REPAIRED CAR AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY COIL PACK. TWO MONTHS LATER THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED, ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND VERY HEAVY VIBRATIONS ARE FELT FROM THE ENGINE. I HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT TO GET IT REPAIRED AGAIN.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 26, 200365,929 milesCA

IGNITION COIL PACK FAILED UPON INITIAL START UP OF ENGINE TODAY. THIS IS MY THIRD FAILURE TO DATE ON A LESS THAN 1 YEAR OLD CAR. THIS FAILURE CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AS YOU IMMEDIATELY LOSE THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AT ANYTHING OTHER THAN A CRAWL. WE WILL SEE FATALITIES AND INJURIES EVENTUALLY. PLEASE MAKE VWOA RECALL ALL APPLICABLE 1.8 LITER TURBOCHARGED VEHICLES WHEN THE PARTS AREN'T ON BACK ORDER

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 24, 2003WA

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT FLASHED SOON AFTER VEHICLE STARTED LOSING POWER AND JERKING. VEHICLE WAS ON ITS FOURTH REPAIR OF IGNITION COIL PACK, SERVICE DONE BY DEALER. TS. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition › Module
Filed Jan 24, 200314,500 milesOH

IGNITION COIL FAILURE IN 2002 VW JETTA 1.8T

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 24, 2003PA

IGNITION-COIL PROBLEM

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jan 23, 200315,600 milesIL

TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING BY ITSELF, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REDLINE AND NEARLY STRANDING OUR VEHICLE IN THE LANE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE TRANSMISSION THEN LOCKED THE WHEELS, RENDERING THE CAR IMMOBILE. THIS OCCURRED ON 01/20/03. ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT I REPORTED TO VW THAT I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION NOT SHIFTING INTO REVERSE FROM PARK-THIS OCCURRED TWICE ON THE SAME DAY. ON 12/19/03 VW INSPECTED MY TRANSMISSION. A WRITTEN REPORT FROM VW SERVICE WAS GIVEN TO ME THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS. CURRENTLY VW IS REPLACING MY TRANSMISSION, THEYRE NOT ADMITTING THE POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE DAMAGE. THE SERVICE MANAGER CAREL TOLD ME,1/21/03,THAT THEY HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF THE NEW REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION MIGHT FAIL LIKE THE FIRST. MY CONCERN IS THAT I MIGHT NOT BE AS LUCKY NEXT TIME. I COULD BE REAR ENDED OR HIT HEAD-ON IF MY WHEELS LOCK UP AGAIN SPONTANEOUSLY.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 23, 20035,800 milesMA

VW JETTA 1.8T ABRUPT ENGINE FAILURE STOPPING CAR DEAD IN HEAVY FREEWAY TRAFFIC. WAS TOLD IT WAS KNOWN IGNITION DEFECT FIXED ONE OF FOUR DEFECTIVE "COILS". VWOA WOULD NOT REPLACE OTHER THREE AND SAID THAY WOULD PROBABLY FAIL ALSO BUT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM UNTIL IT FAILS. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! THIS SEEMS TO BE WIDESPREAD THROUGHOUT AUDI ANDVW.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 23, 200317,000 milesMA

WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT AN IDLE, IT STARTED SHAKING AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS FLASHING. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE CYLINDER COIL GOING BAD. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 23, 200386,065 milesOH

WHILE DRIVING ONE OF VEHICLE'S IGNITION COILS FAILED CAUSING CAR TO STALL. THE DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER 1 MORE COIL OUT OF THE FOUR IS BADLY DAMAGED AND WILL SOON FAIL. DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE UNTIL COIL FAILS. TS

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 23, 2003MA

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 22, 20039,000 milesDE

LOSS OF POWER....ROUGH IDLE....CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON.....COIL PACK FAILURE

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 21, 200324,000 milesMD

ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF 2 IGNITION COILS. CAR DOES NOT GET POWER, OPERATES AT DANGEROUSLY LOW SPEEDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE ON THE HIGHWAY. ACKNOWLEDGED BY DEALER AS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH 2002 1.8TURBO VW/AUDI ENGINES. MANUFACTURER DEFECT BUT WILL ONLY PERMIT REPLACEMENT OF COILS THAT ARE "BAD" EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THE OTHERS MAY GO TOO.

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 21, 200310,220 milesPA

COIL PACK FAILURE - THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH NEWER VW AND AUDI MODELS WITH THE 1.8T ENGINES. WHILE VW SAYS IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE - WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU'RE ON A HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WITH A TRUCK RIGHT BEHIND YOU AND YOU SUDDENLY STALL OR LOSE POWER? WHAT ABOUT TURNING IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC AND LOSING POWER OR STALLING?

Electrical System
Filed Jan 21, 200319,520 milesDC

BAD COILS! IN OCTOBER OF 2002, MY 2002 JETTA 1.8T BROKE DOWN. I WAS TOLD THAT COIL #3 HAD BURNT OUT. WHEN I ASKED THE DEALER WHY THIS OCCURRED, I WAS TOLD IT WAS A FLUKE. I HAD NOT REALIZED THAT I HAD BEEN LIED TO. ON DECEMBER 24, 2002 MY CAR BROKE DOWN AGAIN. NOW COIL #4 HAD BURNT OUT. THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A REOCCURRING PROBLEM IN 2002 JETTAS WITH 1.8T ENGINES. I ASKED IF ALL COILS COULD BE REPLACED BUT WAS TOLD NO. I WAS TOLD THAT I JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR MY CAR TO BREAK DOWN AGAIN AND IT PROBABLY WOULD. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? ACCORDING O VW, THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH PARTS TO HAVE A RECALL. THIS IS ABSURD!

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta → · Every Jetta year → · How the figures are calculated →