NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
I was driving on the freeway and the airbags deployed. No one hit me and I don't hit anyone.
WHILE GOING 55 CAR DROPPED TORQUE AND GEARED DOWN FORCING CAR REV VERY HIGH RPMS, NOSE DIP. JERK ME INTO ON COMING LANE. LUCKILY NOTHING WAS COMING.
ONE DAY WAS RUNNING 75 TODAY WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 2ND GEAR TRANSMISSION HOLDBACK FEELS LIKE
WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT "JERKS" OR MAKES A SHAKING MOVEMENT. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT STAYS ON ALTHOUGH ALL DOORS HAVE BEEN OPENED AND CLOSED. WHILE STATIONARY, THE VEHICLE BRAKE LIGHT IS NOT WORKING. WHILE STATIONARY AND IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. THE REAR MIDDLE PASSENGER SEATBELT IS NOT USEABLE. THE DRIVER'S DOOR REMAINS UNLOCKED AFTER PRESSING THE "LOCK DOORS" BUTTON.
SIMPLY WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT MY DAUGHTER REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR AT 40MPH AND COMPLETELY CRUNCHED IN HER FRONT END (CAR IS TOTALED), BUT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WE DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT UNTIL THE STATE FARM AGENT MENTIONED THAT SHE HAD AIRBAGS ON THE CAR.
KNOWN MELTING FUSE BOX ON TOP OF BATTERY. FROM SCHEMATICS, APPEARS S180 FUSE (COOLANT FAN) AS PREDOMINANT POINT OF FAILURE. ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED (VIA WEB) ACROSS NUMEROUS MODELS AND YEARS. CALLED VW FOR FIX; AS TECHS APPEAR VOID OF A GENERAL CONSENSUS TO PROBLEM/FIX. UNFORTUNATELY, VW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND/OR PROVIDE SOLUTION TO CUSTOMER(S). REFERS ME TO DEALER, WHICH IS OVER AN HOUR AWAY. JUST NEED INFO TO ORDER REPAIR KIT AND RESTORE VEHICLE INTEGRITY/SAFETY. CONCERNED AS THIS MAY BE A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD; DUE TO THE VOLUME OF HEAT GENERATED BY WIRING WITHIN INTERNAL COMPARTMENT. IN TURN, I UNDERSTAND THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE NORMAL WARRANTY PERIOD. AS STATED, JUST WANT AN ANSWER TO REPAIR; HOWEVER, VW CUSTOMER CARE REP COMMENTED I SHOULD REPORTING THIS ISSUE IN HOPES TO DRAW ADDITIONAL ATTENTION OF OTHER OWNERS AND, EVENTUALLY, THE NHTSA TO GET VW TO RESPOND TO CUSTOMERS QUESTIONS.
THE SHIFTER FIRST LOCKED UP IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THEN LATER CAME COMPLETELY LOOSE IN TRAFFIC. THE VW PARTS DEPARTMENTS SAID THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SO MUCH THAT NO ONE WITHIN 200 MILES HAD THE PARTS IN STOCK AS THEY WERE SOLD OUT. VW REFUSED TO COOPERATE WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU IN RESOLUTION. THE BBB TOLD ME TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA>
WHILE MAINTAINING SPEED AT OR ABOVE 40 MPH AND WITH 1/4 TANK OR LESS OF FUEL REMAINING, MY JETTA WILL CONSISTENTLY STALL OUT AND TURN OFF FROM FUEL STARVATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME BETWEEN 40 AND 80 MPH SEVERAL TIMES, BOTH IN THE CITY AND ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE REPLACED THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR, THE FUEL SENDER, AND THE FUEL PUMP WITH NO SUCCESS. ADDITIONALLY, THE JETTA WILL DIE THE FIRST TIME I TRY TO START IT AS MY FUEL LEVEL APPROACHES 1/4, ESPECIALLY IF I AM PARKED ON AN INCLINE. HOWEVER, IT NEVER FAILS TO START ON THE SECOND TRY ONCE SOME FUEL HAS BEGUN MOVING THROUGH THE SYSTEM. FULLY REFUELING ALLEVIATES ALL PROBLEMS.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR CENTER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE INDEPENDENT DEALER WHO SOLD THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE DID NOT VERIFY IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E007000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,677. .. UPDATED 12/22/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ONE HOSE WAS REPLACED AND THERE IS A HOLE IN ANOTHER HOSE, AND ALSO MISSING BRACKETS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS GETTING AN ALLERGIC REACTION FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED THE REACTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,706. UPDATED 08/22/16*LJ *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE WINDOWS WERE STEAMING. IN ADDITION, THE DASHBOARD WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT AND A POLICE REPORT WERE FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BURNED HAND INJURY, BUT DID NOT NEED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 172,000.
THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN WHILE DECELERATING(EX..COMING TO A STOP SIGN OR LIGHT)THE ENGINE JUST STOPS AND THE GENERATOR LIGHT COMES ON.I CAN START IT UP AGAIN RIGHT AWAY.IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND I FEEL LIKE I MAY GET REAR-ENDED I HAVE READ ONLINE THREADS THAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS FINDING A SOLUTION.I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE NEW AND NOW IT ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 115,000 MILES ON IT.
OIL LIGHT IS BLINKING, I WAS TOLD BY SEVERAL MECHANICS THAT JETTAS AS WELL AS VOLKSWAGENS IN GENERAL ARE KNOWN FOR HAVING TERRIBLE SLUDGE ISSUES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CHARGED ME OVER $150 TO DIAGNOSE MY CAR, AFTER DIAGNOSING IT THEY SAID THAT THE ENGINE NEEDS NEW OIL BEARINGS DUE TO SLUDGE ISSUES, THEY SAID THAT THE OILS PRESSURE IS FLUCTUATING AND THAT SOON MY ENGINE WILL BLOW UP, THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER SIMILAR RECALLS THAT THEY'VE HAD ON OTHER MODELS OF THEIRS AND THAT TO FIX MY PROBLEM I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE WHICH WOULD COST ME OVER SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOWN PROBLEM FOR VW, THEY'VE KNOWN ABOUT IT FOR YEARS BUT JUST LIKE THE PROBLEM THEY'RE HAVING RIGHT NOW WITH THE SOFTWARE, THEY'VE KEPT THIS QUIET.
WHILE DRIVING OUR JETTA AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE DRIVERS SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG AND SIDE SEAT AIRBAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO IMPACT. THERE WAS NO POTHOLE. IT WAS THE ONLY CAR ON THE ROAD. GOING STRAIGHT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THERE WAS SMOKE AND FIRE UNDERNEATH THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT BOX. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE WITH THE CHILD BEFORE THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A FIRE REPORT AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS AT OR BELOW A 1/4 TANK OF FUEL WHILE DRIVING... THERE IS A LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKING RENDERING IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HERE IS A ONLINE DISCUSSION OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM... HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?4971876-CAR-STALLING-WHILE-AT-SPEED-IS-LOW-FUEL-THE-PROBLEM.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 217,000.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND WAS FLASHING AND MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABOUT TO SWITCH LANES TO PULL OVER AND I LOST POWER, BRAKES, AND STEERING. I JUST MADE IT INTO A PARKING LOT ABOUT FIVE FEET FROM A BUILDING WHEN MY CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED SMOKING. I POPPED MY HOOD BUT IT WOULDN'T COME OPEN. WITHIN ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF MY HOOD STARTED MELTING SPARKS WERE FALLING FROM THE UNDERNEATH OF MY CAR AND THROUGH THE GRILL I COULD SEE A SMALL FIRE. WITHIN TWO MINUTES MY CAR WAS ON FIRE! I HAD TO CALL TO FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MY CAR IS COMPLETELY TOTALED AND BURNT TO A CRISP ! BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME A VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTER JUST HAPPENED TO DRIVE BY AND FIRE EXTINGUISHED IT BUT IT DIDN'T DO A THING. NOW I AM OUT MY CAR...MY LIVELY HOOD..AND THE $4500 I SPENT 1 YEAR AGO. *TR
FAULTY FUSE PANEL IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT (THE ONE SITUATED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY, NOT THE PANEL IN THE CABIN). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHERS WERE INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,500.
THIS IS A FOLLOWUP ON MY NHTSA COMPLAINT WITH ODI 10660489. I WOULD LIKE TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V584000 WHICH PRECISELY DESCRIBES THE SAME PROBLEM I HAVE ENCOUNTERED WITH MY JETTA. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY JETTA IS ALSO A 2002 MODEL AS NOTED IN THE ABOVE CAMPAIGN. *TR
FIRST INTERMITTENT AND THEN INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.. *TR
JUST CHECKING MY VIN TO COMPARE MY OWN RESEARCH WITH MY IMMOBILIZED VEHICLE TO THE RESULTS I RECEIVE FROM THIS SITE BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE WHO CAN OR IS WILLING TO HELP ME ANSWER MY QUESTIONS OTHER THAN THE ACTUAL PERSON IN CHARGE AT THE SPECIFIC DEPARTMENT OF A COMPANY THAT I HAVE QUESTIONS WITH. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH WITH A QUARTER TANK OF GAS, MY 2002 JETTA GLX DISPLAYED THE BATTERY LIGHT AND THEN STALLED AT FULL SPEED. THE CAR SLOWED, THE STEERING AND GAS PEDAL WERE STIFF AND I HAD TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER AND CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. I HAD THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR REPLACED, NEW SPARK PLUGS PUT IN AND THE THROTTLE BODY CLEANED. I TEST DROVE THE CAR AND ONCE AGAIN, THE ENGINE STARTED TO STALL AT AROUND 70MPH ON THE FREEWAY. THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO FLOOR THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR DID NOT COMPLETELY STALL. THIS DEFECT SEEMS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS AND SEEMS TO BE UNACCEPTABLY PREVALENT ON VW JETTAS. MY NEXT PART TO REPLACE IS THE FUEL PUMP BUT IT APPEARS THAT DOES NOT ALWAYS REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
STOPPED AT A LIGHT, WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYED. SUBSEQUENTLY PUT ON FLASHERS, AND PULLED OVER TO A CURB. PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIRBAG THEN DEPLOYED (APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE LATER AFTER THE FIRST). SEAT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT RESULTED IN ABRASIONS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER. CHECKED THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR, BUT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE. APPROXIMATELY AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER, THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS ON BOTH SIDES SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WHILE AGAIN STOPPED AT ANOTHER RED LIGHT. THIRD PASSENGER IN REAR WAS UNINJURED DURING INCIDENTS. *TR
PAX FRONT WINDOW FELL INTO THE DOOR. DUE TO CHEAP, PLASTIC WINDOW CLIPS THAT FAILED. REPLACEMENT CLIPS ARE NOW CHEAP POT METAL WINDOW CLIPS. *TR
WATER PUMP REPLACED, TIRES ALWAYS HAVE ISSUES BECAUSE OF THE RIM DESIGN, CODE ERRORS, REAR RODS REPLACED, MUFFLER, MISFIRING, RADIATOR ECT.
WHILE REACHING HOME, I SAW SMOKE COMING OUT OF ENGINE, SMELL OF HEATED PLASTIC, AND THE ALTERNATOR WARNING LITE ON. SWITCHED OFF THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD. NOTED THAT THE SMOKE AND SMELL WAS COMING FROM THE PLASTIC FUSE BOX THAT IS ON THE TOP OF THE BATTERY AND THAT THE FUSE BOX COVER HAD BURNT HOLE. THE WIRE FROM THE ALTERNATOR TO ONE OF THE FUSES IN THE FUSE BOX HAD MELTED THE PLASTIC. I REPLACED THE FUSE BOX, CLEANED THE WIRE AND ATTACHED IT BACK. ON 6/23/15, I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR. THE BATTERY WAS WEAK AND NOTED THAT ONE OF THE FUSES IN THE BOX HAD MELTED THE PLASTIC.
THE CAR TAKES 15 MINUTES TO HEAT UP TO 190, OTHERWISE THE CAR WON'T DRIVE FORWARD IN PROPER GEAR WITHOUT JERKING. IT DRIVES LIKE IT IS A STICK SHIFT INSTEAD OF AN AUTOMATIC CHANGING GEAR ON IT'S OWN. THE CAR STOPS WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE BRAKES AND SOMETIMES JUST TURNS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. IT SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE IN THE CAR. THE CD PLAYER, CLOCK AND VEHICLE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS ON AND OFF. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. AUTONATION PERFORMED A MULTI POINT INSPECTION AND SAYS THE CAR NEEDS A TIMING BELT, COOLANT FLANGE AND AFTER RUN PUMP, AND ROLLERS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ENGULFED INTO FLAMES WHILE PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED. IN ADDITION, ONE OR TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE ABS WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND ADVISED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED NEAR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V031000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.
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
WHILE DRIVING WITH SEAT HEATER ON SEAT BURNED THRU FOAM AND SEAT COVER ALSO BURNED PANTS LEG AND WIFE'S FINGER TRYING TO PUT OUT THE EMBERS. *TR
ENGINE ABRUPTLY LOST ALL POWER AND TURNED OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE CAR RESTARTED AND RAN NORMALLY FOR 6 MONTHS. THE SAME THING HAPPENED ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER. 10 MINUTES AFTER THE SECOND EPISODE, MECHANIC WASN'T ABLE TO FIND A FAULT CODE AND DROVE IT WITHOUT THE STALL RECURRING. *TR
I PULLED THE SEAT BELT OUT TO PUT IT ON AND I HEARD A NOISE AND THE BELT WENT COMPLETELY SLACK. THERE IS NO TENSION ON THE BELT. *TR
FAULTY FUSE PANEL IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT (THE ONE SITUATED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY, NOT THE PANEL IN THE CABIN). *TR
TRAVELING DOWN PET SITES ROAD ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN I NOTICE MY CAR SUDDENLY RUNNING HOT. I PULLED OVER AT THE NEAREST SAFEST PLACE TO DO SO AND PROCEEDED TO CHECK MY FLUID LEVELS. AS I WAS UNSCREWING THE WATER RESERVOIR CAP I NOTICE WHAT SHOULD BE ANTI-FREEZE AND WATER MIX, IS A MUDDY BROWN COLOR. I FELT THE SUBSTANCE AND THEN REALIZED IT WAS OIL IN MY RESERVOIR, AND ALMOST ALL MY OIL HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM MY ENGINE AND IM GUESSING WAS DISPLACED TO MY RESERVOIR. MY CAR NEVER ONCE HAS ACTED LIKE IT WANTED TO RUN HOT, NOR HAD IT UNTIL 6-19-2013. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
TRAVELING AT 70MPH UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON INTERSTATE THE ROOF AND SEAT AIRBAGS AND SEATBELT LOCKDOWN ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED CAUSING TEMPORARY LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND NECK STRAIN. REPAIRS TO FIX AIRBAGS COST OVER $4,000. VOLKSWAGON INVESTIGATED AND WERE NO HELP. GAVE NO REASON FOR SPONTANEOUS AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. VERY UNSAFE EXPERIENCE! *TR
AFTER SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS THE CAR SUDDENLY WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THE ENGINE RACES AND I AM STUCK IN FIRST. I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE AT HIGH RPMS IN 1ST JUST TO GET HOME. IT HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY AT FIRST, BUT NOW IT HAPPENS DAILY IN TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY SAY THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REBUILT FOR $6000. IF I TURN THE CAR OFF AND IT COOLS DOWN, I CAN SOMETIMES GET IT TO STAY IN GEAR. IT HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WHILE ACCELERATING ONTO A FREEWAY NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I HAD TO QUICKLY PULL OFF THE ROADWAY. UNREAL THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS "UNAWARE" OF THIS ISSUE AND CAN'T SEEM TO REPAIR IT. PLEASE RECALL! *TR
I PARKED MY CAR AT THE BWI AIRPORT AND THERE WAS A CONCRETE STOP APPROXIMATELY 10" TALL AND THE FRONT BUMPER WAS CAUGHT ON IT AND WHEN I REVERSED IT TORE THE BUMPER FROM THE CAR. THIS HAPPENED 8 YEARS AGO AND I REPLACED THE FENDER FOR ABOUT $400,NOW VW WANTS $1188.50. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TURNED THE DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT WARMER ON TO 2. RANGE BEING 0-5. I SMELLED SMOKE AND TURNED IT OFF AFTER ONLY 10-15MIN OF BEING ON. I NOTICED WHEN I GOT OUT OF THE CAR, THAT I HAD A HUGE QUARTER SIZE HOLE IN MY SEAT AND MY DOWN COAT WAS BURNED THROUGH IN 2 LARGE SPOTS. THIS IS UNSAFE. IT COULD HAVE BEEN A HUGE FIRE IF I HAD NOT TURNED OFF THE WARMER AS SOON AS I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK WHEN THE MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WAS ENGAGED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
BOTH FRONT SEAT HEATERS ON ANY SETTING ARC AND HAVE BURNED MULTIPLE HOLES ON THE OUTER LOWER SEAT UPHOLSTERY. *TR
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.
SEAT BELT MADE NOISE WHEN PUTTING ON AND SUDDENLY HAD NO TENSION. SINCE SEAT BELT WILL NO LONGER RETRACT. *TR
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED IT IS DO WITH MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. IT TURNS OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VWS THAT THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE AS A MASS RECALL ISSUE. I AM DUMBFOUNDED THAT THIS CAN BECOME AN ISSUE WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE ON THE CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 35 MPH AND CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE AND WAS NOT INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 91,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,074. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026