2002 Volkswagen JETTA: complaints, problems and recalls

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 BEI…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000041 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000134 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 18,544 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000212 at NHTSA ↗

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 A…

Owner-reported narrative. 28,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000350 at NHTSA ↗

FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 4,523 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000357 at NHTSA ↗

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."

Owner-reported narrative. 14,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000359 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 9,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000619 at NHTSA ↗

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 IGNITIO…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000620 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2002-01-31 (January 31, 2002)

ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2004-02-20 (February 20, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION.

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2004-12-16 (December 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.

Consequence: THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2006-05-24 (May 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.

Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2007-02-20 (February 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.

Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: 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.