2002 Volkswagen Jetta

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  DRIVER SIDE LOCK SWITCH, UNABLE TO LOCK MY 02 JETTA WITH REMOTE KEY. INTERIOR LIGHT ON THE DRIVER DOOR CONSTANTLY STAYS ON. *KB

• 12/31/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED THE ENGINE LOOSES POWER. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER STATES' THE EMISSIONS COIL IS DEFECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

• 12/30/2011· POWER TRAIN

  THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND SHIFTING HARD BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. THIS OCCURRENCE IS DUE TO A FAULTY TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT AND TRANSMISSION SOLENOID. IF NOT PROPERLY TAKEN CARE OF THIS MIGHT CAUSE A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AND ULTIMATELY A TRANSMISSION CRASH. THIS MEANS A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THE COST CAN RANGE FROM 3000-7000 DOLLARS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY VW OWNERS. ESPECIALLY VOLKSWAGENS BETWEEN 2001-2003. *KB

• 12/30/2005· VISIBILITY

  I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN JUNE AS A LEFT OVER, HAD IT A MONTH AND THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FELL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY REPLACED IT WITH METAL CLIPS AND IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. 5 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN, SAME WINDOW. *JB

• 12/29/2010· POWER TRAIN

  ACCORDING TO CARFAX REPORT, MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN REGULAR. I MAINTAINED CAR APPROPRIATELY. ALL OF SUDDEN MAJOR SPORADIC SHIFTING ISSUES BEGAN OCCURRING AROUND 140,000K WITH 3RD GEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK AND LOSE POWER EACH TIME IT ATTEMPTS 3RD GEAR. THIS HAS OCCURRED WITH ME AT NUMEROUS STOP LIGHTS IN CITY CAUSING TRAFFIC BEHIND ME TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO AVOID A COLLISION. *TR

• 12/29/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  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

• 12/29/2004· AIR BAGS

  I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT AROUND 2:00P.M. IN THE AFTERNOON AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIR BAG,SIDE SEAT AIR BAG AND THE REAR AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY COLLISION. MY CAR WAS NOT DAMAGED AT ALL. THE SUPERVISOR TECHNICIAN AT TRANS OCEAN VW REFUSED TO COVER THE COST TO REPAIR THREE OF THE AIRBAGS EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THEY CLAIMED THAT THE COMPUTER SENSOR DETECTED AN IMPACT WHICH TRIGGERED THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS. IT WAS LUCKY THAT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS WASN'T ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, OTHERWISE, I WOULD HAVE LOST MY CONTROL ON THE STEERING WHEEL LEADING TO MORE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. I WAS JUST IN SHOCK AT THAT TIME BUT THE HIGHWAY PATROL WAS MANAGED TO GUIDE ME OFF THE FREEWAY. AT LAST I CLAIMED MY INSURANCE AND PAID $500 DEDUCTIBLE FROM MY POCKET TO FIX THE AIRBAGS. THE INSURANCE PREMIUM INCREASED A LOT AFTER THIS SO-CALLED "ACCIDENT". I HEREBY ASK VW OF AMERICA TO RECALL ALL DEFECTIVE VEHICLES TO PREVENT FUTURE ACCIDENTS FROM HAPPENING. *NM

• 12/29/2004· STEERING,SUSPENSION,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  THE TORQUE ARM SHEARED OFF. AS A RESULT, AXLE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT BOLTED TO THE FRAME. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS PUT IN REVERSE AND IT STARTED BUCKING AND MAKING A LOT OF NOISE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT FROM GEAR TO GEAR WITHOUT BUCKING. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT STEERING CORRECTLY. EXHAUST BECAME LOUD. *TC

• 12/29/2003· SEATS

  I TURNED MY HEATED SEAT ON AND 5-7 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND REALIZED MY SEAT WAS REALY HOT. I TURNED THE HEATED SEAT OFF AND BURNING STOPPED. UPON VISUAL INSPECTION I NOTICED A HOLE BURNT INTO SEAT AND A SINGED DIME SIZED MARK ON MY COAT. I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR NOW FOR 24 DAYS AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE PART TO GET IN THE COUNTRY. *AK

• 12/28/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  COIL PACK FAILURE (2ND IN LESS THAN 3000 MILES)

• 12/28/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  2002 JETTA GLX (V6). CAR HAS 10,000 MILES ON IT AND THE SECOND IGNITION COIL PACK JUST FAILED. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 3 WEEKS WAITING FOR PARTS THIS TIME AROUND. DEALER INDICATED THAT SEVERAL OTHER JETTAS HAVE BEEN BROUGHT IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. OTHER VW OWNERS (PASSAT) INDICATED SIMILAR PROBLEMS. OTHER DEALERS INDICATE SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND LONG WAIT TIMES. I SEE FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS EPIDEMIC IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY AS WELL. THE REPEATED AND UNEXPECTED FAILURE OF THE IGNITION COILS IS AN INCREDIBLY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE DRIVERS OF THESE VEHICLES AS WELL AS ANYONE ELSE ON THE HIGHWAY. THESE COILS FAIL WITHOUT WARNING - THE SECOND ONE FAILED WHILE I WAS HUNDREDS OF MILES FROM HOME ON A VERY LONELY STRETCH OF THE WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE (NO CELL PHONE SERVICE OF COURSE) EARLY IN THE MORNING IN A SNOWSTORM!

• 12/27/2008· POWER TRAIN

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

• 12/27/2004· SEATSFire

  THE DRIVER'S SEAT IN MY 2002 VW JETTA GLS 1.8T BEGAN SMOLDERING THIS MORNING. I STARTED MY CAR TO WARM IT UP AND BEGAN TO CLEAN THE SNOW FROM THE WINDSHIELD. WHEN I ENTERED THE CAR I NOTICED A STRONG "BURNING" SMELL. I QUICKLY GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND NOTICED THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS SMOKING. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE BURNING BY TURNING OFF THE HEATED SEAT AND PUTTING SNOW ON THE AREA. I WAS SURE IT WAS THE HEATED SEAT WHICH CAUSED THE SEAT TO BURN BECAUSE A PORTION OF THE HEATING ELEMENT IS EXPOSED AND IT WAS SPARKING. I NOW HAVE A HOLE THE SIZE OF A PENNY ON THE SEAT.*AK

• 12/26/2007· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  MY 2002 VW JETTA EXPERIENCED A RECALL PROBLEM (N4, BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH) AND I FIXED IT THROUGH A NEAREST MECHANIC BECAUSE 1) THE CLOSEST VW DEALER IS 100 MILE AWAY 2) I WAS SCARE TO DRIVE 100 MILE ON HIGHWAY WITHOUT A PROPER BRAKE LIGHT. HOWEVER, VW REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE I FIXED IT THROUGH AN INDEPENDENT FACILITY. I AM SO SAD AND DISAPPOINTED THAT VW IS NOT CONSIDERING DIVERS LIFE AND SAFETY SERIOUSLY AND IS WILLING TO PUSH US TO DRIVE HUNDRED MILES WITH A RECALLED CAR WITHOUT A BRAKE LIGHT. *TR

• 12/25/2008· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  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

• 12/25/2007· AIR BAGSCrash

  THE 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CAR CONTAINS A LOT OF AIR BAGS. FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVER AND SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN THE CRASH EVEN THOUGH THE CAR WAS TOTALED. THE CAR HAD BEEN HIT FROM THE SIDE AND THEN THE CAR HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER FROM THE FRONT AFTER THE CAR HAD SPUN. *TR

• 12/25/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I'VE TAKEN MY 2002 JETTA 1.8T IN ON 3 OCCASIONS TO HAVE AN IGNITION COIL REPLACED, AND I'M STILL RUNNING THE CAR WITH THE FOURTH ORIGINAL IGNITION COIL. THE SERVICE MANAGER EVEN STATED, "IT'S PROBABLY ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE FOURTH GOES BAD, BUT WE AREN'T AUTHORIZED TO REPLACE IT IF IT'S NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS."

• 12/24/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL. TS

• 12/24/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 VW JETTA (1.8T) INTO TRAFFIC A COIL PACK FAILED AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. IT WAS QUITE POSSIBLE THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN HIT BY TRAFFIC TURNING INTO MY LANE BECAUSE THE CAR LOSES ALL POWER WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS IS THE 3RD COIL PACK TO HAVE FAILED ON ME IN THE LAST 5 MONTHS, AND I AM A BIT AFRAID TO TAKE THE CAR ON LONG TRIPS DUE TO THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE CONDITIONS. I AM EVEN SOMEWHAT AFRAID TO PROCEED INTO TRAFFIC IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS BECAUSE IF A COIL PACK FAILS I WILL BE PUT AT THE MERCY OF OTHER DRIVERS REACTIONS AND ABILITY TO STOP.

• 12/23/2003· POWER TRAIN

  MY VEHICLE WAS REPURCHASED BY VWOA (VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA) FROM THE FIRST OWNER FOR A RECALL PROBLEM. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IT CAME WITH AN ALL INCLUSIVE 12 MONTH/12,000 MILE WARRANTY AND THEN THE REST OF THE 4 YEAR/50,000 MILE WARRANTY. AT 11,700 MILES THE CLUTCH STARTING STICKING AND WOULDN'T SHIFT, THE CAR ALSO WOULD GO TO HIGH RPMS WHEN ACCELERATING, EVEN IF ONLY A LITTLE. THE NEXT DAY, I GOT OUT TO GET GAS AND I SMELLED BURNING. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND I COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS BURNT. I CALLED VW FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING AND HAD IT TOWED TO THEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR "MAY BE" UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE A DOCUMENT THAT CLEARLY STATES THAT IT IS. THEY CONTACTED THEIR SERVICE REP, FRED HINGLE, AND WAS TOLD THAT IF IT WAS NOT "WEAR AND TEAR" THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED. WELL VW TORE THE CAR APART, AND AFFIRMED THAT IT MUST BE WEAR AND TEAR, DO TO THE BURNT CLUTCH AND FLYWHEEL. AFTER THIS I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE AT MYVWLEMON.COM HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE CLUTCH GOING OUT AT 9,000 TO 26,000 MILES, INCLUDING CAR AND DRIVER GUIDE, WHO TEST DROVE THE JETTA AND HAD THE CLUTCH GO OUT AT 26,000 MILES, AND THESE ARE PROFESSIONAL DRIVERS! THEY TOLD ME THE REPAIRS WOULD TOTAL 1551.00 DOLLARS ALMOST 10% OF WHAT I PAID FOR THE CAR. MR. HINGLE THE CORPORATE REP REFUSES TO SPEAK WITH ME. I BELIEVE THE CLUTCH USED IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR IS INDEED DEFECTIVE AND VWOA REFUSES TO DISCLOSE IT.

• 12/21/2010· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG FAULT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY, FOLLOWED BY A BEEPING NOISE. BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE TO THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,500. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,400.

• 12/21/2004· SEATSFire

  WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS BURNED. ALSO, DRIVER'S COAT WAS BURNED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. *AK ......*AK

• 12/21/2003· AIR BAGS

  WHILE DRIVING ON I 75 S FROM CHATTANOOGA, I HEARD A LOUD POP AND SAW SMOKE. THINKING A TIRE HAD BLOWN, I PULLED OVER. I REALIZED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS HAD DEPLOYED. TRIPLE A TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AS I WAS TERRIFIED TO DRIVE IT. IT HAS BEEN TWO WEEKS AND I STILL HAVE NOT GOT MY CAR BACK OR EVEN BEEN TOLD IF THEY WILL FIX IT. THE DEALER IS HAVING TO E MAIL PICTURES TO VW TO SHOW THAT NO DAMAGE WAS DONE. THEY ARE SAYING A SENSOR WENT OFF. NO DOUBT! IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME AND MY WITNESSES THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE COVERED. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THIS HAS HAPPENED TOO. I PLAN TO INVESTIGATE IT FURTHER TO FIND OUT WHAT CAN BE DONE, BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED IN A JETTA. *AK

• 12/20/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  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

• 12/20/2004· SEATSFire

  I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI. MY BOY FRIEND WAS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT FOR A MAXIMUM OF 5 MINUTES WHEN THE SEAT HEATER BURNT A HOLE THROUGH THE SEAT, HIS JEANS, AND LEFT A SMOKING BLACK RING IN HIS LEATHER WALLET. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS FAILURE, IT JUST HAPPENED. SO, NOW I HAVE AN EXPENSIVE CAR SEAT, JEANS, AND A WALLET THAT ARE RUINED. THE SEAT WILL COST MORE THAN SIX HUNDRED DOLLARS TO FIX AND THE JEANS AND WALLET ANOTHER COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO REPLACE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED TWO DEALERS, ONE WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND ANOTHER WHERE I CURRENTLY RESIDE, AND BOTH ARE SAYING THAT IT WILL NOT BE FIXED BECAUSE MY CAR IS 2,000 MILES OVER ITS WARRANTY. I HAVE SPOKEN TO VOLKSWAGEN'S CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AND THEY HAVE OFFERED REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE JEANS AND WALLET, BUT NOTHING FOR THE SEAT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL "WEAR AND TEAR" PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE FULLY COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

• 12/19/2016· SEATSFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKWAGEN JETTA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE WITH THE FRONT SEAT WARMERS ACTIVATED, THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS BURNED WHEN THE SEAT WARMER MALFUNCTIONED. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT NEEDED. THE FAILURE BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

• 12/19/2012· SEATSFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT OVERHEATED AND BURNED THROUGH THE SEAT, CAUSING BURNS TO THE CONTACT'S LEGS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED BEFORE, BUT WAS NEVER SO SEVER THAT IT CAUSED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 70,000.

• 12/19/2003· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. AS A RESULT, DRIVER SUSTAINED A CERVICAL STRAIN INJURY. *AK

• 12/19/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. THE DRIVER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO INDICATED THAT THE SPARK COIL HAD SHORTED OUT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM PER DEALERSHIP. TS

• 12/18/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  COIL PACKS WHICH CONTROL SPARK TO THE ENGINE FAILED ON CYLINDERS #2 AND #4. REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY. FIVE DAYS LATER COIL PACK ON CYLINDER #3 FAILED. ALSO REPLACED BY DEALER. THE COIL PACK FAILURES RESULTED IN A CONSIDERABLE LOSS OF POWER AND A FOUL ODOR FROM THE EXHAUST. IN ADDITION, THE COIL PACK BROKE APART ALLOWING THE ELECTRICAL PARTS TO BE EXPOSED.

• 12/18/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  VEHICLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES AT ANY SPEED DUE TO A FAULTY IGNITION COIL. DEALER INSPECTED AND REPLACED JUST ONE OUT THE FIVE COIL. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS *TR

• 12/17/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SEATSFire

  WHILE DRIVING HOME AT NIGHT, MY SON AND I SMELLED SMOKE. WE EXITED THE VEHICLE, CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD, BUT FOUND NOTHING. WE CONTINUED HOME AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. STILL SMELLING SMOKE, WE RE-INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE AN ORIGIN OR ANY VISIBLE EVIDENCE. BOTH SEAT HEATERS WERE ON DURING THE DRIVE HOME, BUT THE SEATS SHOWED NO VISUAL SIGNS OF DAMAGE AFTER PARKING. NEXT MORNING WE OPENED THE VEHICLE TO DISCOVER THE CABIN WAS FILLED WITH SMOKE WITH AN APPROXIMATE 1?HOLE BURNED UP THRU THE PASSENGER SEAT ON THE LOWER RIGHT BOLSTER. APPARENTLY THE SEAT HEATER INITIATED A THERMAL EVENT WHICH ERUPTED IN A SEAT FIRE AFTER WE TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. FORTUNATELY, THE FIRE DID NOT ENGULF THE VEHICLE OR IT COULD HAVE CAUGHT OUR HOME ON FIRE, RESULTING IN POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH TO MY FAMILY. I BELIEVE WE DODGED A BULLET BECAUSE THE SEAT FIRE DID NOT SUSTAIN ITSELF AND ENGULF THE VEHICLE. VW HAS AGREED TO REPAIR THE BURNED SEAT AT THEIR EXPENSE AND MAKE A MITIGATION REPAIR. HOWEVER, VW HAS DECLINED MY REQUEST TO COVER ANY SIMILAR MITIGATION REPAIR TO THE OTHER SEAT. IN OCTOBER 2004, THE NHTSA ODI CONCLUDED THAT ?DRIVER-SIDE SEAT HEATER MAY FAIL OR MALFUNCTION DUE TO NORMAL VEHICLE USE? BUT ?SUCH FAILURES DO NOT POSE A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF INJURY OR FIRE.? THE ODI STATED THE INVESTIGATION DID NOT CONCLUDE THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST AND THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. (EA04010) EVIDENCE AND REPORTS INDICATE THAT SEAT HEATER CAUSED THERMAL EVENTS IN BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS IN THE VW JETTA HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE FOR NEARLY 10 YEARS NOW. NEAR MISSES CONTINUE TO OCCUR. I BELIEVE THAT A SEAT FIRE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN. I WOULD ENCOURAGE THE NHTSA TO RE-EXAMINE THE CIRCUMSTANCES TO DETERMINE IF FURTHER ACTION IS WARRANTED. *TR

• 12/17/2008· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  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

• 12/16/2003· SEATS

  I WAS DRIVING AND NOTICED MY HIP HAD AN ITCH. I ITCHED IT AND IT SORT OF WENT AWAY. THE NEXT DAY THE SAME THING HAPPENED, BUT I TOUCHED THE SEAT IN MY CAR, AND THAT IT WAS REALLY, REALLY HOT. I STOPPED AND LOOKED, AND THE LEATHER WAS A BIT DEFROMED, AND I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. THE HEATING ELEMENTS IN MY 2002 VW JETTA TDI WERE OVERHEATING, AND COULD HAVE CAUGHT ME OR THE CAR ON FIRE. I AM GONG TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT IN 2 DAYS. *AK

• 12/16/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CYLINDER COIL PACKS ARE THE PROBLEM. DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/2002 CUT-OVER-TO ARTEMIS......770758. *AK *JB

• 12/16/2002· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I HAVE A 2002 JETTA 1.8T AND HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES NOW IN THE PAST MONTH AND 1/2 FOR COIL PACK FAILURE. HAD CAR IN SHOP 1 DAY FOR FIRST COIL, ONE WEEK FOR 2ND COIL, AND 1 1/2 WEEK FOR THIRD COIL. JUST HAVE 10,000 MILES ON CAR.

• 12/15/2006· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL #06V183000 REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. UPDATED 01/19/07. *JB

• 12/14/2009· POWER TRAIN

  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

• 12/14/2004· SEATSFire

  THE HEATER ELEMENT IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT OF MY 2002 VW JETTA VR6 BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER AND LEFT A QUARTER SIZE BURN HOLE IN THE SEAT OF MY CAR AND THE SEAT OF MY PANTS. FORTUNATELY MY WALLET FORMED A BARRIER BETWEEN ME AND THE HEAT SOURCE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO A VW DEALER IN MASSACHUSETTS AND I AM CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A NEW SEAT CUSHION AND HEATER ELEMENT. IF ANYONE SHOULD ASK WHAT REALLY "BURNS ME UP", I TELL THEM THE SEAT OF MY VW JETTA. *AK

• 12/13/2010· POWER TRAIN

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THEN HE NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTS WOULD CHANGE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE MANUFACTURER. THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID VALVE WAS REPLACED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,722. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

• 12/13/2009· POWER TRAIN

  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

• 12/13/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  NO EVENTS LEAD TO THIS PROBLEM. THE ORIGINAL BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE WAS CHANGED OUT DUE ITS AGE. OVER THE PAST 4 MONTHS I HAVE CHANGED OUT THE BATTERY TWICE. ON MORE THAN AT LEAST 20 DIFFERENT TIMES, I WOULD GO TO MY VEHICLE IN THE MORNING TO START IT UP AND THE BATTERY WOULD BE COMPLETELY DEAD. NO LIGHTS, RADIO OR ANY OTHER DEVICES WERE LEFT ON IN THE VEHICLE, TO DRAIN THE ENTIRE BATTERY TO NOTHING WITHIN THE SPAN OF 10-12 HOURS. I HAVE TAKEN IT THE AUTO SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO HAVE A VOLTAGE TEST DONE ON THE BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS EVERY TIME FOR A PARASITIC DRAIN OF THE BATTERY. THE ALTERNATOR IS IN PERFECT WORKING ORDER AND DOES NOT NEED REPLACING. SO FAR THE HAS BEEN NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE OTHER THAN JUMP START THE VEHICLE. DURING THE 10 OR SO HOURS I AM WORK AND LEAVE FOR THE DAY, I HAVE HAD ABSOLUTELY NO ISSUES. IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVEN OVER THE WEEKEND, COME MONDAY MORNING IT IS DEAD. I HAVE JUST RECENTLY CHANGED OUT THE BATTERY AND THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH IT BUT YET ITS DEAD IF LEFT FOR MORE THAN 12 HOURS. *TR

• 12/13/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  VW JETTA 2002. CAR IS 21/2 YRS OLD AND HAS BEEN TO DEALER 4 TIMES. THE IGNITION COIL HAS FAILED 2 TIMES. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE SELONIOD ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALL WERE UNDER WARRANTY. VW NEEDS TO GET THE QUALITY OF THEIR CARS UP TO PAR. ONCE MY LEASE IS DONE I AM TURNING THE CAR IN AND WILL NOT GET ANOTHER VW. *AK

• 12/13/2002· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ON SEPTEMBER 30TH, I TOOK MY JETTA IN TO VALENTI VOLKSWAGEN TO HAVE A NEW AND UPDATED ECU INSTALLED. THE UNIT WAS IN STOCK, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM RICK IN PARTS AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO COME IN THAT DAY TO HAVE IT PUT IT. WHEN I ARRIVED, I WAS TOLD BY THE TECHNICIAN THE ECU IN MY CAR HAD TO BE SENT TO VOLKSWAGEN TO BE REPROGRAMMED AND THAT I HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR WHILE THE ECU WAS OUT. I GOT A CALL FROM SERVICE ON OCTOBER 12TH LETTING ME KNOW MY CAR WAS READY TO BE PICKED UP. WHEN I ARRIVED, I WAS TOLD MY ECU WAS STILL AT VOLKSWAGEN BEING REPROGRAMMED. THE SERVICE MANAGER WAS ABLE TO GET A NEW AND UPDATED ECU IN THE MEAN TIME. I DON''T KNOW WHY THEY JUST DIDN''T INSTALL THE ECU THEY HAD IN STOCK ON SEPTEMBER 30TH. I HAD TO PAY A TOTAL OF 119.88 TO ENTERPRISE FOR THE RENTAL VEHICLE. I''VE CALLED IN TO VOLKSWAGEN CARE NUMEROUS TIMES REGARDING THIS COMPLAINT AND NOTHING WAS RESOLVED. I TOLD THE REPS I SPOKE TO I WANTED AN EXPLANATION AS TO WHY MY CAR WAS NOT REPAIRED ON THE 30TH WHEN I BROUGHT IT IN. IT TOOK ALMOST TWO WEEKS TO FIX IT AND I HAD TO PAY FOR THE RENTAL CAR, WHICH WAS UNNECESSARY. A COPY OF THIS HAS BEEN SENT TO J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES FOR THEIR REVIEW. SINCERELY, ROBERT TAYLOR

• 12/12/2009· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  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

• 12/12/2004· VISIBILITY,SEATS

  SEAT HEATER MALFUNCTIONED, BURNED THROUGH THE LEATHER SEAT AND BURNED ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I SAFELY PULLED THE CAR TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE REPLACEMENT COMPONENTS ALSO MALFUNCTIONED, BURNING THE LEATHER SEAT AND ONCE AGAIN, BURNED ME. ALSO, THE SUNROOF HAS PLASTIC GUIDES THAT KEEP BREAKING, I HAVE HAD THESE PLASTIC COMPONENTS REPLACED THREE TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR IN 2002, AND I DON'T USE MY SUNROOF THAT OFTEN, PROBABLY LESS THAN 30 TIMES/YEAR. *JB

• 12/12/2004· SEATS

  I USED THE HEATED SEAT FEATURE ON MY 2002 VW JETTA. 12-11-04, I NOTICED A BURN HOLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SEAT. I PLACED MY FINGER OVER IT AND BURNT MY FINGER. I ALSO HAVE A GOOD JACKET THAT HAS A BURN MARK ON IT. I WILL BE CONTACTING MY VW DEALERSHIP ON 12-13-04 TO LET THEM KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE THEM REPLACE MY SEAT AND COAT! I THINK THE FACT THAT THE NHTSA IS WAITING FOR A FATALITY OR TWO BEFORE MAKING THIS A RECALL IS JUST RIDICULOUS. *JB

• 12/12/2001· STRUCTURE

  FRONT BUMPER COVER FIBER GOT CAUGHT ON TREE AND SNATCHED IT OFF. CONSUMER'S CONCERN IS THAT BUMPER COULD CATCH UNDER FRONT WHEELS AND CAUSE VEHICLE TO FLIP OVER. VOLKSWAGEN SHOWED NO CONCERN TO CONSUMERS ISSUES.*AK

• 12/10/2009· SEATSFire

  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

• 12/10/2004· VISIBILITY

  THE LEASE ON MY VW IT IS END IN ONE NEXT MONTH JANUARY 2005. THEY SEND A PERSON TO INSPECT THE CAR, HE FOUND EVERYTHING OK, HIS REPORT SAY THAT I NEED TO DO A WINDSHIELD REPAIR. THE WINDSHIELD DON'T HAVE NOTHING THAT YOU CAN CLEARLY SEE, HE USED A SPECIAL PEN, AND FOUND LIKE 60 CHIPS LIKE SAND CHIPS. NOW THEY WANT ME TO REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD, WHEN THERE IS NOTHIG WRONG WITH IT. PLEASE HELP ME I AM NOT WILLING TO PAY $350.00 IT IS UNFAIR. WHEN THIS CAR HAS GIVING US ONLY PORBLEMS AND SPEND HALF OF THE TIME ON HT E DEALERSHIP. THANK YOU.*AK