2002 Volkswagen Jetta complaints

WAS DRIVING ALONG A GRADED DIRT ROAD WHEN PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED SUDDENLY. THERE WAS NO SIDE IMPACT WHATSOEVER, AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE ANY CAUSE OF AIRBAG DEPLOYING. TWO PASSENGERS IN THE CAR SUFFERED TEMPORARY RINGING IN THEIR EARS AND HEADACHES, BUT NO SIGNIFICANT INJURIES OCCURRED, THANK GOODNESS. HAVE CONTACTED DEALER FOR INFORMATION ABOUT REPAIRS, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO FIX IT YET. *TR

I HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE RECOMMENDED SERVICE SCHEDULE FOR MY CAR. THE OWNER MANUAL DOESN'T MENTION REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAS 69500 MILES. THREE DAYS AGO WHILE DRIVING UPHILL I ACCELERATED BUT THE CAR DID NOT PICK UP SPEED WHILE THE RPM WENT CONSIDERABLY HIGHER (6000 RPM). I WENT TO SEE MY MECHANIC (A CERTIFIED VW MECHANIC) WHO SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING AND NOT DOWNGRADING AS IT SHOULD AND I SHOULD CONSIDER CHANGING THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AS A POSSIBLE REMEDY. HE EXPLAINED THAT A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL COULD BE THE CAUSE. HE ALSO SAID THAT SINCE THE TRANSMISSION IS "SEALED" IT WAS ALL HE COULD DO TO TRY TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. HOW CAN A "SEALED" TRANSMISSION THAT REQUIRES NO MAINTENANCE BE LOW IN FLUID ? HE DID CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND TOLD ME THAT THE FLUID WAS ALMOST AS DARK AS COFFEE, AN INDICATION THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER CHANGING THE FLUID THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY AND GRADUALLY GOT WORSE. THREE DAYS LATER MY TRANSMISSION IS EXTREMELY NOISY AND I CAN ONLY RUN THE CAR IN "MANUAL"MODE IN ORDER TO CHANGE THE GEARS. I CAN NO LONGER ACCELERATE IN 4TH OR 5TH GEAR AND JUST USE THEM WHILE CRUISING (AT A MAXIMUM SPEED OF 45 MPH. VW HAS A 60000 MILES WARRANTY ON THE POWER TRAIN BUT A QUICK SEARCH ON GOOGLE REVEALED THAT A LOT OF 2002 JETTA OWNERS HAD THEIR TRANSMISSION GO BAD AROUND 70000 TO 85000 MILES. VW USED TO HAVE 100000 MILES WARRANTY AND REDUCED IT TO 60000, JUST BELOW THE

I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND I HAVE A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ISSUE (BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON AND A DCT(P0571) IS SET) THAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL/REPLACEMENT, BUT THE VIN GROUP THAT THIS APPLIES TO IS 3VW---9M-YM000089 TO 3VW---9M-2M053565, AS YOU CAN SEE, MINE IS JUST OUT SIDE THE HIGH VIN. THE VIN RANGE SHOULD BE READDRESSED TO INCLUDE ALL 2002 MODEL JETTAS WITH CRUISE CONTROL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR

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

I TURNED ON MY SEAT WARMER ON THE DRIVER SIDE AND AFTER A WHILE A BURNT SMELL WAS NOTICE. I COULD NOT FIND THE ORIGIN UNTIL I WENT TO A STORE AND TRIED TO PAID. I TOOK MY WALLET OUT AND IT WAS STUCK TO MY PANTS. THE WALLET HAD THE MYSTERIOUS SMELL. I WENT BACK TO THE CAR AND THE SEAT HAD A BIG BURNT HOLE ON THE LEATHER SEAT. IF I HAD NOT HAD MY COAT AND WALLET ON THE LEFT SIDE I COULD HAVE BEEN ELECTROCUTED OR CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

ABS WARNING LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIT UP IN 2002 JETTA. *TR

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING TWICE, COULD RESULT IN CAR BEING DISABLED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED ANY WHERE BECOMING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVER AND AN OBSTACLE ON THE ROAD FOR OTHER DRIVERS TO TRY TO AVOID. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP ISOLATED THIS TO A FAULTY HARNESS CONNECTING THE ALTERNATOR TOTHE FUSE LOCATED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY. THE HARNESS AND THE FUSE BOX HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THIS PROBLEM IS ONLY COMMON TO VW BEATLES AND VW JETTA, BECAUSE THEY SAID THE CAR WAS 2002 IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY NOT COVERED. I WAS MORE CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY OF LIFE AND PROPERTY THIS PROBLEM WOULD CAUSE. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN KROGERS OFFICE IN OREGON, THEY SENT ME A LETTER STATING THEY HAD FORWARDED THIS COMPLAINT TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMIN IN WASHINGTON DC . I TRIED TO CONTACT THEM BY PHONE, THEY ASKED IF I HAD A CONFIRMATION # . I HAVEN'T AS OF YET RECEIVED A LETTER OR PHONE CALL. *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2002 VW JETTA AND JUST FOUND OUT THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDS REPLACEMENT. I WAS VERY SURPRISED WHEN MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME HE HAS SEEN MANY 2002 JETTAS WITH THIS PROBLEM. HE SAID IT WAS RELATED TO A PROBLEM WITH A BAD COIL THAT WAS PART OF A RECALL AND CAUSED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS TO FAIL ABNORMALLY FAST. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT IT APPEARS VW KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND IS IGNORING THE ISSUE. THE REPAIR COSTS MORE THAN $1000 AND I AM UNABLE TO PASS STATE INSPECTION WITHOUT GETTING IT DONE. *TR

TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS ONLY WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WAS A RECALL ISSUED FOR A CERTAIN NUMBER OF 02 JETTAS, BUT APPARENTLY NOT FOR THIS PARTICULAR VIN NUMBER. *TR

THE WASTE GATE AIR FLOW SYSTEM TO THE TDI MALFUNCTIONS CAUSING DECREASE IN ENGINE COMPRESSION. THIS PROBLEM IS PERSISTENT AND OCCURS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 4TH GEAR TO 5TH AT AN RPM OF 3000 TO 3500. THIS COULD LEAD TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN PASSING A VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE COULD LOSE 50% OF ITS POWER AND SHOULD AN ON COMING VEHICLE BE PRESENT IT COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS IS A PERSISTENT PROBLEM AND THE ONLY WAY TO RESET THE WASTE GATE IS TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE ENGINE WHERE THE PROBLEM GOES AWAY UNTIL THE NEXT OCCURRENCE. VW WAS INFORMED OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM BUT SINCE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY CANNOT REPLACE THE WASTE GATE. COST OF REPAIR - $850.00 FOR THE WASTE GATE ONLY. *TR

I HAVE SPENT OVER 9000.00 SINCE 2004 ON REPAIRS ON MY VW JETTA. I COMPLAINED TO THE AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP THAT MY CAR HAD TO WARM UP WHEN IT WAS 90 DEGREES OUTSIDE FOR IT RUN WITHOUT SLOWING DOWN AND ALMOST STOPPING. I TOOK MY CAR IN HAD BUSHINGS REPLACED AND THEY SAID MY TEMPERATURE SENSOR NEEDED REPLACING. WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I TOOK THE CAR BACK NOW THEY ARE SAYING THAT I NEED A VALVE BODY REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1600.00. EVEN THEN THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THE PROBLEM WILL BE FIXED. THE OTHER OPTION IS TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR $3500.00. I HONESTLY THINK ALL OF THESE CARS ARE LEMONS AND I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN PRODUCT IN MY LIFE. *TR

OUR VOLKSWAGEN JETTA DEVELOPED TRANSMISSION ISSUES JUST AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD RAN OUT. THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AT LOW SPEEDS, WHEN YOU HIT THE ACCELERATOR. MECHANICS HAVE SAID THERE IS NO SAYING WHEN THIS WILL CONK OUT. THE WATER PUMP ALSO CONKED OUT RECENTLY. REPLACING THE TRANNY IS ABOUT $6000. REPLACING THE WATER PUMP COST US AROUND $900. I HEAR DEALERSHIPS CHARGE A LOT MORE FOR THIS SERVICE. THE VOLKSWAGEN JETTA IS TOO EXPENSIVE A CAR, FOR IT TO HAVE SUCH POOR QUALITY. HOPE SOMEONE CAN HELP MAKE THEM PAY FOR RIPPING CUSTOMERS OFF IN THIS WAY. THIS OUTRAGEOUS. *TR

PASSENGER LEATHER SEAT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE HEATED SEAT WAS ON. BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND ELECTRICAL SMOKE WAS PLUMING OUT OF THE HOLE. THIS HAS ONLY OCCURRED ONCE BECAUSE IT HAS NOT BEEN USED SINCE. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *TR

SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING AT 35-40 MPH. NO DAMAGE TO THE CAR OTHER THAN THAT CAUSED BY THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. NO POTHOLES IN THE SMOOTH PAVED ROAD NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF FL SR70 AND US301. NO DEBRIS IN THE ROAD OR ANY REASON FOR THE AIRBAGS TO HAVE DEPLOYED. DRIVER RECEIVED WELT AND BRUISES ON THE RIBS FROM THE SEAT AIRBAG. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND DECREASED SPEED TO 10 MPH. HE WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH AND DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. HE WAS ALSO ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION COIL CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 52,000. UPDATED 03/01/10 *BF THE CONSUMERS DAUGHTER HIT THE FRONT SEAT AND SUSTAINED A BLODDY NOSE. UPDATED 09/16/10

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

BATTERY CONTINUES TO DRAIN OVER NIGHT. CHANGING BATTERIES DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. ONLINE FORUM POINTS TO RADIO DRAINING THE BATTERY. PULLING FUSE AND RESETTING RADIO TENDS TO STOP THE PROCESS, BUT THEN IT RETURNS AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS. *TR

2002 VW JETTA 2.0 STOPPED AND SPUTTERED ON MAIN HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF IGNITION COIL FAILURE. THE CAR HAS 7500 MILES AND VW ACKNOWLEDGES THE PROBLEM FOR 1.8 LITER ENGINES BUT NOT FOR 2.0 LITER. THEY ARE RECALLING 90000 1.8 CARS BUT ARE CHARGING $600 FOR THE 2.0 FIXES. SURELY, THEY BOUGHT THEM FROM THE SAME SUPPLIER. *TR

MY SON WAS IN HIS HIGH BACK BOOSTER SEAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. HE WAS IN THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE SITTING WITH HIS SEAT BELT ON. WE CAME HOME AFTER GROCERIES AND I ASKED HIM TO GET INSIDE THE HOUSE WHILE I WAS UNLOADING THE CAR. HE HEARD HIM CRYING, SO I WENT TO HIM TO FIND OUT THAT HE WAS LOCKED IN HIS SEAT BELT AND THE SEAT BELT WAS LOCKED. LUCKILY THE SEAT BELT WAS NEAR HIS WAIST NOT NECK. I CALLED MY HUSBAND AND TRYING TO UNLOCK THE SEAT BELT AND TRIED TO GET HIM OUT. COULD NOT DO ANYTHING, LIFTED HIM A BIT AND REMOVED HIS CARSEAT, THINKING IT WOULD LOOSEN UP, EVEN THAT RETRACTED BACK. AFTER 1 HOUR OF STRUGGLE, WE FINALLY HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT WITH A SCISSORS. HIS WAIST WAS TWISTED IN THE BELTS AND HE HAD BRUISES ON HIS WAIST. SO SAD THAT THIS LOCKING TECHNOLOGY WORKS SO BADLY. THIS HAS CAUSED SO MUCH PAID TO ALL OF US SEEING HIM CRY AND GOT STUCK. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2002 VW JETTATDI IN 2004, DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE I DESCRIBED A HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION. THEY CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND SAID IT WAS "BURNED" AND REPLACED IT. I ASKED HOW IT GOT THAT WAY AND WAS TOLD SOMETHING GOT HOT IN THERE. THAT WAS IT. SEVERAL YEARS LATER AND ONE MORE CHANGING OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BECAUSE IT WAS BURNED, THE CAR WOULDN'T AUTOMATICALLY SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR AND WOULD HESITATE AND SURGE FORWARD. THE MECHANIC REPLACED A SENSOR THAT TELLS THE CAR TO SHIFT INTO 4TH. IT WAS FINE FOR TWO WEEKS THEN, WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CAR JOLTED LIKE I HAD HIT SOMETHING (WHICH I DID NOT BECAUSE I LOOKED)AND DECELERATED QUICKLY. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND FROM THAT POINT ON THE CAR WOULD GO UP TO 20 - 30 MPH THEN BUCK AND DECELERATE TO 5 MPH. IT KEPT REPEATING THIS AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE. 1ST GEAR AND REVERSE DIDN'T WORK AT ALL. WHEN THE CAR WAS BEING LOADED TO BE TOWED THE FRONT WHEELS WOULD NOT ROLL BACKWARDS WITH THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE E BRAKE OFF. THE TRANSMISSION COMPANY SAID THE TRANSMISSION HAD MELTED DOWN INSIDE. AND IT WILL COST $4000.00 TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. THE WAY THIS HAPPENED WAS VERY DANGEROUS; FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT PASSING ANOTHER CAR OR THAT THERE WERE NO CARS DIRECTLY BEHIND ME OR PULLING OUT TO CROSS TRAFFIC. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA GLS FROM A USED CAR DEALER LAST APRIL. I HAVE HAD A COUPLE PROBLEMS THAT I THOUGHT WAS UNIQUE TO MY SPECIFIC CAR, HOWEVER, AFTER HOURS OF RESEARCH I'VE FOUND THAT NUMEROUS OTHER JETTA OWNERS ARE HAVING SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. 1. THE VEHICLE SMELLS LIKE CRAYONS 2. THE HEATER STOPS WORKING AND ONLY BLOWS OUT HOT AIR. 3. THE ENGINE EATS OIL AND HAS A PROBLEM WITH SLUDGE. THIS IS INAPPROPRIATE AND NO ONE IS TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR HAS A REMEDY FOR THESE PROBLEMS. I'M AFRAID THE FUMES FROM THE VEHICLE MAY BE TOXIC AND AM UNABLE TO GET RID OF THE CAR. *TR

1. 2002 VW JETTA WAGON ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE ON EXPRESSWAY CAUSED VEHICLE TO STOP & UNABLE TO START 9/6/09. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER. 2. VW DEALER FAILURE DESCRIPTION, WIRE HARNESS CORROSION CAUSED RESTRICTION IN POWER FLOW IN LINE WHICH CAUSED ALTERNATOR TO OVERWORK AND OVERHEAT WIRE HARNESS AND FUSE PANEL. THIS EXTENSIVE ENOUGH TO CAUSE MELTING OF BOTH WIRE HARNESS AND FUSE PANEL OVER TOP OF BATTERY. 3. VW DEALER REPAIR AND REPLACE WIRE HARNESS AND FUSE BODY. 4. VW CUSTOMER CARE TOOK INFORMATION ON MY COMPLAINT ABOUT DEFECT AND POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE BUT WOULD DO NOTHING REFERRING ME BACK TO THE DEALER. MY QUESTION WAS WHY DID VW HAVE SUCH A DEFECT WHERE THERE WAS NO FUSIBLE LINK THAT WOULD FAIL FIRST PREVENTING THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE THAT OCCURRED. *TR

2000 TO 2002 VOLKSWAGEN TIPTRONIC OWNERS NOT PROVIDED CORRECT INFORMATION REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION SERVICING SCHEDULING. VOLKSWAGEN STATES THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS A "SEALED" UNIT AND THEREFORE SERVICE IS NOT NEED UNLESS LEAKS ARE VISIBLE. KNOWING THIS, I DID NOT TRY TO DO TRANSMISSION SERVICE ON MY CAR WHEN IT REACHED ABOUT 86,000 MILES. - GEARS SLIP FROM 1ST TO 2ND AT COLD STARTS AND JERKS AT 3RD GEAR. I HAVE TO WARM THE VEHICLE IN 10 MINUTES TO GO BACK TO NORMAL OPERATING MODE. - TODAY I WAS TAKING MY WIFE AND MY 1-YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO LAKE GEORGE NY FROM QUEENS NY FOR A HOLIDAY WEEKEND. THE CAR SUDDENLY SLIPPED FROM 5TH TO 4TH GEAR WHILE WE ARE DRIVING 65 MPH. HOWEVER, I DID NOT FIND THE PROBLEM UNTIL I NOTICED THAT OUR SPEED ALMOST FEELS THE SAME EVENTHOUGH I DEPRESS THE PEDAL A LITTLE LOWER. I PLACED IT ON MANUAL MODE AND THE CAR SHIFTED FINE. WE PULLED OVER AT THE REST AREA AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK. WE COULD HAVE HAD AN ACCIDENT IF THE GEAR WOULD HAVE SLIPPED TO 2ND; ALMOST LIKE SLAMMING THE BREAKS WHILE DOING 65 MPH. - TOMORROW, I WILL HAVE VW REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. MOST LIKELY IS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT OR THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOIDS. - SIMILAR ISSUES IN DSG TRANSMISSION WAS REPORTED AT "GOOD MORNING AMERICA" ON AUGUST 28 2009. - PLEASE SEE SIMILAR TIPTRONIC OWNER'S COMPLAINTS ON THIS FORUM: VWVORTEX.COM. THIS IS A PUBLIC WEB FORUM AND NO PERSONAL INFORMATION IS PROVIDED. *TR

2002 VW JETTA VR6 WITH CYLINDER NO. 5 MISFIRING, ROUGH IDLE AND CHECK ENGINE STAYS ON. VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED, THEY REPLACED THE COIL PACK INJECTORS AND THE CAR HAS BEEN TUNED, HOWEVER, THE TECH'S AT THE DEALER CAN NOT PINPOINT THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR WILL NOT PASS THE STATE INSPECTION. *TR

2002 VW SEDAN WA BROAD SIDED BY A MOTORCYCLE. IT HIT THE RIGHT FRONT DOOR AND BUCKLED THE CENTER POST AND BENT THE ROOF AND THE DASH WAS PUSHED IN. THE VW HAS FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAGS. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. MY SON WAS COVERED WITH GLASS AND THE RIGHT HAND MIRROR JUST MISSED HIM. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA THIS MORNING WHILE DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK IN HOUSTON TEXAS ON INTERSTATE 59 SOUTH MY DRIVERSIDE WINDOW AIRBAG DEPLOYED AS WELL AS THE SEAT AIRBAG. AFTER GETTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD MY CAR CRANKED BACK UP AND I GOT OUT TO INSPECT IF THERE WAS ANY DAMAGES. I FOUND NO DAMAGES ON THE CAR AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON. I AM LUCKY I DID NOT SWERVE OR THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE WRECK. I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL OF THESE 2002 JETTA SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY OCCURRENCES OF THIS HAPPENING. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T WITH A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION FROM A PRIVATE SELLER ON 07/18/2009 AT 12:00PM. 12 HOURS LATER, AT 12:00AM ON 07/19/2009 I AM ON MY WAY HOME WHEN I REALIZED MY JETTA WAS NOT DELIVERING POWER TO THE WHEELS. THE ENGINE WAS PRODUCING POWER, BUT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING (TRANSMISSION FLUID, MOST LIKELY) AND PARKED IT IMMEDIATELY. WHEN I GOT HOME, I SEARCHED ONLINE FOR WHAT IT COULD BE AND IT TURNS OUT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO. THERE ARE COUNTESS OTHERS WHO HAVE POSTED THIS SAME PROBLEM ON VARIOUS MESSAGE BOARDS AND FORUMS ALL OVER THE INTERNET. I AM ASSUMING THAT THE REPAIR SHOP IS GOING TO TELL ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND THAT I WILL NEED TO REPLACE IT. HOW CAN MY PREVIOUS CAR, A JUNKER HYUNDAI ACCENT WITH 101,000 MILES AT TIME OF PURCHASE LAST 36,000 MORE MILES WITH A 5-SPEED MANUAL, AND A JETTA CAN'T EVEN LAST ONE DAY? I AM INFURIATED BECAUSE I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR AND HAVE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON IT AS WELL AS REPAIR THE THING. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY VW AS A RECALL. *TR

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.

2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8T TRANSMISSION SHIFTS IRREGULAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

AT ABOUT 65,000 MILES MY CAR WOULD SOMETIMES GET STUCK IN PARK. IT FELT LIKE I WAS TRYING TO DRIVE WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON. THEN IT STOPPED GOING IN REVERSE. THE SHOPS IN MY AREA DON'T WORK ON VW'S DUE TO THEIR COMPLICATED TRANS. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY DON'T REPAIR ANY TRANSMISSIONS, THAT THEY CAN ONLY REPLACE IT AT A COST OF $4500. I TOOK A LOAN FROM MY 401K, PAID IT THINKING IT WOULD LAST, AND SURE ENOUGH THIS ONE IS GOING TOO! IT ONLY HAD A WARRANTY OF 12000 MILES... SEEMS FISHY SINCE IT'S NEW. NEVER WILL I BUY A VW AGAIN. *TR

I OWN VW JETTA 1.8 TURBO 2002, AT 2005 HAD A COOLANT BOTTLE LEAKING INTO CONNECTION,CLUSTER, COOLANT FOUND AT CONNECTOR. SINCE MY CAR WAS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY BY MASTERGUARD THEY JUST DID A PATCH WORK OVERLAYING HORNS TO CLUSTER AND REPLACING THE COOLANT BOTTLE AND CAP LEAVING ALL MAJOR WORK WHICH NEED TO BE DONE AT THIS CASE TO PREVENT FOLLOWING DAMAGE OF ENTIRE WIRING SYSTEM CAUSING COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE CAR. SO I WOULD PAY FROM MY WALLET $ 6000 OR MORE WHEN WARRANTY EXPIRES. MY CAR NOW STARTED HAVING ALL THIS PROBLEM DUE TO THAT COOLANT MIGRATION LEFT THERE. IT'S A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BY MANUFACTURE. SO,WHO IS GOING TO PAY NOW FOR THAT? CLASS ACTION NEED TO BE TAKING AGAINST VW!!! *TR

VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 2002 COOLING FAN FAILURE/ INOPERATIVE I'VE BEEN TRYING TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 2 MONTHS WITH NO LUCK AND I ALSO DID RESEARCH ON THE WEB AND THERE ARE QUITE A FEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE SOMEONE PLEASE HELP. *TR

MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC SAID THAT PIECE THAT HOLDS THE WINDOW IN PLACE WAS STRETCHED AND ABOUT TO BREAK. WHEN I SPOKE WITH A FRIEND WHO USED TO OWN A JETTA OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL AS MINE, HE SAID THAT THE SAME THING HAD HAPPENED TO HIS VEHICLE. HE SAID THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THIS PART. WHEN I CHECKED THE NHTSA'S WEB SITE, HOWEVER, I COULD NOT FIND THIS RECALL. *TR THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND THE STERRING COLUMN WAS DEFECTIVE. THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED RIGHT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. UPDATED 06/01/09.*JB

THE BOTTOM SEAT HEATER ON MY 2002 VW JETTA EITHER DOESN'T WORK AT ALL OR IF IT TURNS ON, IT OVERHEATS THE EXTREME RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT. A SMALL HOLE IS BURNED IN THE UPHOLSTERY, AND THE FOAM UNDERNEATH IS MELTED, DEFORMING THE APPEARANCE OF FABRIC ABOVE. THIS COULD RESULT IN A BURN TO THE SKIN ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LEG IF IT GOES UNDETECTED. I SEE THIS AS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA 1.8TURBO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR. NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION. $4500. *TR

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 DRIV

I BOUGHT MY 2002 JETTA 1.8T WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN AUGUST OF 2006. THE DAY I PICKED IT UP, THE TRANSMISSION BLEW WHILE I WAS DRIVING. AFTER ABOUT 2 MONTHS, I FINALLY GOT IT BACK BUT THE CAR WAS STILL SHIFTING HARD AND HAD TO BRING IT BACK. THE CAR DIES RANDOMLY, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE A/C UNIT AS WELL AS NUMEROUS OTHER REPAIRS. THIS MORNING THE CAR STARTED SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN STOPPED AND WHEN ACCELERATING UP TO 60 MPH. I HAVE NOTICED THERE ARE OVER 35 OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSIONS ON JETTA AND FROM WHAT I HAVE LEARNED INFORMALLY ONLINE, I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THESE PROBLEMS. APPARENTLY THE 2002'S WERE BUILT IN MEXICO AND HAVE HAD A LARGE AMOUNT OF PROBLEMS. I AM ONLY A COLLEGE STUDENT AND WOULD APPRECIATE HELP RESOLVING THE ISSUE OF OWNING A FAULTY CAR. I CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP UP A CAR THAT WAS NOT MADE PROPERLY IN THE FIRST PLACE. THANK YOU! *TR

I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD COMING FROM WORK WHEN I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I DIDN'T SEE ANY SMOKE,SO I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE COMING FROM OUTSIDE. AFTER A WHILE, THE SMELL GOT STRONGER. THAT'S WHEN I LOOKED OVER AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SEAT. I PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND SMOTHERED IT. IT TURNED OUT THAT THE HEATED SEAT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD BEEN ON FROM WHERE MY MOTHER WAS RIDING THE NIGHT BEFORE. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST ISSUE THAT I'VE HAD WITH MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA,BUT IT'S THE FIRST THAT MADE ME FEEL THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE A FOUR YEAR OLD SON AND I AM NOW IN FEAR THAT SOMETHING COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN AGAIN. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS MODEL. I'VE REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO VWOA, BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED. BUT SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT NOT BE SO LUCKY. I HOPE THIS ISSUE CAN BE RESOLVED. THANK YOU. *TR

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

I OWN A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. ON FEBRUARY 15TH I WAS DRIVING JUST OUTSIDE OF MADISON, WI ON 1-94 HEADING EAST AND HIT A DISK SIZE PIECE (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A HOCKEY PUCK) OF DEBRIS WHICH FLEW UP INTO THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF MY CAR. AT THE SAME TIME, MY SIDE CURTAIN AND PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THERE IS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE EXTERIOR OF MY CAR AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. UPON INSPECTION THERE IS NO APPARENT DAMAGE OR MARKINGS TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE, BODY - BOTH METAL AND PLASTIC. IN RESEARCHING AIRBAG RECALLS, I CAME ACROSS THE NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE04081. THIS DESCRIPTION MOST ACCURATELY DESCRIBES THIS INCIDENT. OF THE 499 VEHICLES WHO EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING NOW - NO NOTICE OF RECALL OR NOTICE OF POTENTIAL DEFECT WERE PROVIDED. I FEEL THIS MATTER SHOULD BE REOPENED FOR THOSE VEHICLES WHO CONTINUE TO HAVE UNINTENTIONAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. MOST NOTABLE IS THE BODY STYLE FOR THIS VEHICLE HAS REMAINED UNCHANGED FROM MODEL YEARS 1999.5 - 2005. YET ONLY 2001 - 2003 VEHICLES SEEM TO BE AFFECTED. THIS WOULD INDICATE THAT SOME MANUFACTURING TREND IS THE CAUSATIVE FACTOR IN THESE UNINTENTIONAL DEPLOYMENTS. *TR

THE TURN SIGNAL CONTINUES TO MAKE NOISE AS IF IT WERE ON AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE I AM DRIVING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED IN A RECALL BY VOLKSWAGEN (ID # 04V584000) BUT MY VIN NUMBER ISN'T COVERED AND THEREFORE VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT ABOUT 30 MPH THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS AND THE SEAT AIRBAGS WRONGFULLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO REASON WHATSOEVER FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. INTERMITTENTLY, AFTER THE HAZARD LIGHTS WERE ACTIVATED, THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD BECOME INOPERATIVE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V584000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH); HOWEVER, A TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, BUT NOT THE HAZARD LIGHTS. THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

2002 JETTA TDI WAGON; I HAVE HAD 6 GLOW PLUGS REPLACED THEN TOLD THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS FOR A BAD GLOW PLUG HARNESS. DEALER IN BUFFALO TOLD ME THAT THE OEM HARNESS WAS MADE FROM INFERIOR MATERIALS AND MANY FAIL, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED; NOW FACED WITH $150 PARTS AND LABOR TO REPLACE THIS DEFECTIVE HARNESS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, SMOKE AND A BURNING SMELL STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE CABIN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOW NOTICED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL DISPLAY AND THE COOLANT TEMPERATURE DISPLAY ARE NOT WORKING EVEN THOUGH ENGINE WAS A NORMAL OPERATING TEMP AND THE FUEL TANK WAS JUST FILLED UP. *TR

CAR WILL SUDDENLY STOP WORKING. VW CORPORATE WILL NOT ADDRESS AS THE CAR HAS HAND MANY ISSUES AND IS NO LONGER IN WARRANTY. SPENT $2K WITH VW DEALER TO DIAGNOSE. APPEARS TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR SUDDENLY STOP RUNNING AND ALL ELECTRICAL STOPS BRING CAR TO A HALT. ISSUE BEGAN 9/07 AND DEALER HAS HAD CAR IN SHOP ABOUT 2 MONTHS IN TOTAL. *TR

4TH CLUTCH REPAIR. DEALER BLAMES BAD DRIVING HABITS WHEN CLEARLY A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. MANY OTHERS WITH SAME PROBLEM. *TR

WATER INGRESS TO INTERIOR OF VEHICLE DURING RAIN. FRONT AND REAR FOOTWELLS FLOODED, SEEMS TO BE A COMMON COMPLAINT. VIEW INTERNET SEARCH UNDER JETTA WATER LEAKS. *TR

I HAVE 2002 JETTA HAVING THE SAME ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE DOOR / LATCH SWITCH HAS A MALFUNCTION AND WON'T COME ON WHEN THE DOOR IS OPEN. THE DOME LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON AND THE LIGHT ON THE DOOR DOES NOT COME ON. WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THE VEHICLE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND CAN'T SEE THE DOOR IS OPEN AT NIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP WON'T REPLACE IT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME. THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND PAYS THE DEALERSHIP A LOT OF MONEY TO HAVE IT FIXED. OBVIOUSLY IT IS A PROBLEM WITH ALL JETTA THAT YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE A RECALL THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH BE REPLACE. COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A FIRE. *TR

IGNITION COIL!!! WAS ENTERING INTERSTATE AND ACCELERATED AND ENGINE LOST A LOT OF POWER AND STARTED RUNNING ROUGHLY. WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ONLY A FEW MILES AWAY FROM A VW DEALERSHIP (NOT MY OWN, WE WERE OUT OF TOWN). THEY SAID #1 COIL FAILED, BE CAREFUL BECAUSE THE REST WILL PROBABLY FOLLOW SHORTLY, BUT RECOMMENDED I WAIT FOR ANOTHER ONE TO FAIL AND THEN REPLACE THE REST. $230 AND 16 DAYS LATER, ANOTHER FAILED. WAS NOT ACCELERATING HARD, JUST NORMAL HWY DRIVING. STARTED DOING SOME RESEARCH, FOUND OUT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR 5 YRS!!! WILL COMPLAIN TO HIGH HEAVEN TO GET THESE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. I UNDERSTAND NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR AND A RANDOM PART HERE AND THERE FAILING, BUT A 5YR OLD PROBLEM IS A LITTLE BIT HARDER TO UNDERSTAND. DEALERSHIP AND VW NEED TO PRACTICE BETTER BUSINESS PRACTICES AND I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS HASN'T BEEN AN OFFICIAL RECALL YET. LOSING POWER AT 65MPH ON AN INTERSTATE IS VERY DANGEROUS, NO MATTER WHAT VW OR NHTSA SAYS. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE? DEATHS? I HOPE I CAN GET THIS RESOLVED TO MY SATISFACTION BY THE DEALERS AND VW. *TR