2002 Volkswagen Jetta
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Electrical system is the leading concern among 711 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 26 Jetta model years with reports.
Of the 2002 reports, 32 involved a crash and 71 involved a fire. 75 people were injured and 10 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Engine and engine cooling, engineMar 7, 2014
The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.
A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.
Campaign 14E007000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, master cylinderMar 29, 2007
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.
LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
Campaign 07E023000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchFeb 20, 2007
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 07V063000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchMay 24, 2006
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.
THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 06V183000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, hazard flashing warning lights, switchDec 16, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF DISTORTION AND MATERIAL TRANSFER OF THE CONTACTS OF CERTAIN HAZARD SWITCH RELAYS WHICH OCCURS DUE TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM HIGHER WATTAGE TURN SIGNAL BULBS.
THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 04V584000 on NHTSA.gov
Exterior lighting, brake lights, switchFeb 20, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION.
IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.
THIS RECALL HAS BEEN SUPERCEDED BY 06V-183. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD A REMEDY PERFORMED UNDER THIS RECALL SHOULD RETURN TO THEIR DEALER FOR THE REDESIGNED REMEDY. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 04V096000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slipJan 31, 2002
ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).
THIS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Campaign 02V031000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
108 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Aug 12, 2002
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER SWERVED TO THE RIGHT TO AVOID HITTING AN OBJECT IN THE ROAD, WHEN DOING SO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CLAIM 59-Y129-766. *SLC
Air bags, Aug 12, 2002
WHILE DRIVING AND FOR NO REASON, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED SOME ACHES AND BURNS, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE COMPUTER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN A COLLISION, HOWEVER AFTER INSPECTION IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO SIGNS OF DAMAGE ANYWHERE, IT IS UNCERTAIN AS TO IF THE AIR BAGS WERE FRONT OR SIDE. *SLC
Air bags, Jul 19, 2002
PASSENGER'S AIRBAG COVER POPPED OFF WHILE DRIVING.*AK
Air bags, Vehicle speed control, 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
Air bags, Jun 25, 2002, crash
CONSUMER HAD A MINOR ACCIDENT WHICH CAUSED MINOR DAMAGE TO THE FRONT SPOILER ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. SIX(6) HOURS LATER, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG EXPLODED. VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEPT. COUOLD NOT EXPLAIN WHY IT HAPPENED. *JG
Air bags, Jun 11, 2002
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW CURTAIN AND PASSENGER SEAT AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT CAUSE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT THAT CAUSED THE AIR BAGS TO BEPLOY, THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURY TO ARM WHEN AIR BAG DEPLOYED *AK *NLM
Air bags, May 31, 2002
DRIVING ON THE TURNPIKE, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY SORT OF IMPACT. THERE IS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS ONLY 2 MONTHS OLD AT THE TIME. FORTUNATELY THE ONLY INJURY WAS A BURN FROM THE AIRBAG ON THE SIDE OF MY ARM. MY BIGGEST FEAR IS KNOWING RELATIVES AND FRIENDS WHO DRIVE JETTAS AND WHO HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN IN THEIR CAR. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN FATAL. HOPEFULLY YOUR ESTABLISHMENT CAN ENCOURAGE VW, WHERE I HAVE FAILED, TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS DEFECT.*AK
Air bags, Feb 14, 2002
DRIVING @ A BELOW AVG. SPEED 3 SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED W/O ANY SORT OF IMPACT. THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE (I HAVE PICS) TO THE BODY OF MY BRAND NEW CAR (W/LESS THAN 2500 MLS) THE UTTERLY RANDOM DEPLOYMENT OF THESE AIRBAGS IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON ITS OWN. FORTUNATLY, THAT WASN'T THE CASE HERE- BUT IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEBODY DIES. HOPEFULLY YOUR ESTABLISHMENT CAN PERSUADE VW TO GIVE THIS 'MAJOR DEFECT' THE ATTENTION THAT IT NEEDS! THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.*AK IE04-078*PO