Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | |||
| 11/07/2012 | 34813 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 05/20/2012 | 140000 | ||
| After starting the car and letting it warm up. i drove out of my driveway to the stop sign. made a right turn and then a quick left. after turning the car could not go into gear,the rpms kept racing up .but the gear would not engage. pulled into a store parking lot and drove around in circles at this low speed .until finally the car jumped into gear and i took off. car was diagnosed as having a bad mother board to the cars computer.it drove fine for a few days then at a stop light it jumped off again.(car was warm because i had driven a distance).today i had the transmission flushed and changed.no improvement again. usually the car will drive straight after it's real warm. but if i make a sharp turn the car jerks and revs up the rpms just as if it was cold.the vw folks kept misdiagnosing and giving me the wrong parts (these must be the same people that made the transmission. they've been a nightmare for assistance very unknowledgeable. i have been buying volkswagens since1974. i have never had such a crappy piece of a car(also my first time owning a car with a automatic transmission and my last). it drives beautifully (when it's working) but has all plastic crap for parts.(while still under warranty i had most of that replaced). but to find that the transmission is faulty i demand a recall on this 2002 vw jetta 1.8t. i promise i'lll never buy another vw or will i let any one i know or contact through social media purchase a vw. i can actually say we have been ripped off by vw with their low standards for a car.these cars used to last forever what a way to rip off the public form for money! just like toyoto had a recall volkswagen you need to recall this unrepairable car no and save your advertisement fees,because bad news travel faster.. | |||
| 12/03/2011 | 139110 | ||
| My 2002 vw jetta glx (automatic) has severe transmission problems. when accelerating, it hesitates and then pops into gear jerking the car. this is very alarming and dangerous, especially when i am on the road with other vehicles around me. i almost had several accidents due to trying to pull out in traffic but the transmission is so unreliable and slips thereby causing me to stall in oncoming traffic. then, today the car would not go into reverse or neutral at all. i've seen so many transmission complaints about this year's model and it is so unfair for the consumer to be responsible for this expensive repair. | |||
| 10/14/2011 | 70 | ||
| We were traveling 70 mph on a highway in our 2002 volkswagen jetta wagon (gls 1.8t) when, without warning, an loud poof sound was heard, the car lost all power, and we smelled burning plastic. the car regained power, then a second poof sound was heard, and the power flickered in the car, at which point the car began filling with smoke. we rolled down the windows, pulled over to the shoulder, and evacuated the vehicle. we pulled out what belongings we could, but retreated from the car once flames appeared on the driver's side interior. approximately 1 minute later, the entire car was engulfed in flames and was a total loss. we are thankful to have escaped with our lives. here are the specifics of our vehicle: model:jetta trim:gls body style:4 door wagon engine:1.8l i4 20v mpfi dohc turbo transmission:automatic | |||
| 04/01/2007 | 65000 | ||
| Headlight lens oxidizing(yellowing). causing dimmed headlight intensity, lowering night time visibility. will need to replace lenses this year. | |||
| 11/20/2010 | |||
| Was driving while it was raining when all of a sudden my car started jerking and wouldnt let me go faster than 15mph. the asr and check engine lights went on. i was lucky enough to be driving at 6am with no one on the streets. i have had problems with this happeningg in the past but i read online you just turn off the car and restart it. i tried it this morning and the lights were still on. this was at 6 am it is now 9:49 pm and still no luck. i also heard it might be due to engine coils but i had mine replaced less than a month ago. | |||
| 07/24/2002 | 4 | ||
| My 2002 vw jetta has smelled of melted crayons since the day that i bought it. i am not alone...just doing a google search brings up a lot of posts. vw of america is aware of the problem and is not doing anything to help those of us with this problem. the smell is so bad that it gives me a headache if i can't have the windows down. turning on the heat makes the smell even worse, so i am dreading the cold winter. i don't know what breathing in these fumes is doing to my health. | |||
| 12/20/2008 | 84041 | 1 | |
| 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 | |||