2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Complaints

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

ON OCTOBER 19, 2006, WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA, THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASH. ACCORDING TO THE OWNER'S MANUAL THIS INDICATED A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT COULD EFFECT THE BRAKES ON THE CAR. ON OCTOBER 26, 2006 I TOOK THE CAR TO FISCHER'S FOREIGN CARS, INC. FOR REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THE ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE COST OF THE REPAIR WAS $702.93 AND THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM (THEY GAVE ME A COPY OF THE RECALL LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA INC(VOA) DATED MARCH 12, 2002) AND THAT I SHOULD FILE A CLAIM WITH VOA FOR REIMBURSEMENT. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ON FEBRUARY 16, 2002, AND NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. ON NOVEMBER 4, 2006, I SENT A REGISTERED LETTER TO VOA REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. I ALSO ENCLOSED COPIES OF THE RECALL LETTER AND THE REPAIR BILL. ABOUT NOVEMBER 11, 2006, I RECEIVED A TELEPHONE CALL FROM A WOMAN AT VOA AND SHE SAID THAT THE RECALL LETTER DID NOT COVER MY CAR AND THAT BECAUSE THE FACTORY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED IN FEBRUARY 2006, THAT VOA WOULD NOT HONOR MY REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT. SHE SAID THE DECISION WAS FINAL. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE RECALL WOULD NOT COVER MY CAR WHEN THE PROBLEM INDICATED IN THE RECALL LETTER IS THE SAME AS MINE. IT SEEMS THAT THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE INCLUDED MORE CARS WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS FROM MY DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE, MY CAR HAD 38,631 MILES ON IT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE OTHER CARS, LIKE MINE, THAT SHOULD HAVE WHEN COVERED BY THE RECALL OR A SUBSEQUENT RECALL TO CORRECT THE DEFECTIVE ABS MODULE. I BELIEVE SOMEONE SHOULD REVISIT THIS ISSUE TO DETERMINE IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MORE CARS. *JB

THE SEAT HEATER IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY 2002 JETTA BURNT THROUGH THE SEAT AND MY PANTS. I WAS STILL IN THE PARKING LOT, SO NO OTHER DAMAGE OCCURRED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS IF MY WIFE OR I WAS DRIVING, OR IF THE SEAT HEATER WAS ON WHILE THE CAR WARMED UP WITHOUT US IN IT. I'M PURSUING MY OPTIONS WITH VOLKWAGEN AT THE MOMENT...THIS IS THE LAST STRAW, NEVER BUY A VW, ESPECIALLY A JETTA. IT HAS GIVEN US PROBLEMS FROM THE MOMENT WE BOUGHT IT NEW. *NM

FAILURE OF IGNITION COIL PACK AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER DP05004. COIL PACK FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT (WHERE WE HAD THE CAR TOWED AFTER IT DIED ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY). THE DEALERSHIP INTENDS TO BILL ME ABOUT $700 TO REPLACE THE COIL PACK. WHEN I MENTIONED THE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION CAMPAIGN CITED IN THE ACTION SUMMARY ON YOUR WEBSITE, BOTH THE DEALERSHIP AND THE VW CUSTOMER CARE CENTER SAID THEY HAD NO INFORMATION ABOUT IT AND WOULD NOT HONOR IT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SEAT HEATER BURNED A COUPLE OF HOLES ON THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER ON 11/29/06. UPDATED 12/15/06 *JB

THIS IS A REPORT OF THE FAILURE OF THE BOOSTER BRAKE ON A 2002 VW TDI JETTA. THE SYMPTOMS ARE THAT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WILL SUDDENLY BE SUCKED TO THE FLOOR RESULTING IN A SUDDEN STOP. THE DANGER CREATED IS OF BEING REAR-ENDED AND IS A POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. THE PROBLEM IS DIFFICULT TO TROUBLE SHOOT BECAUSE IT IS INTERMITTENT. ONCE THE PEDAL IS SUCKED TO THE FLOOR IT COULD BE DAYS BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I SEE THAT AT LEAST ELEVEN OTHER 2002 JETTA OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE SUDDEN BRAKING PROBLEM TO NHTS, I.E. ODI ID #10103196, 10129643, 10137579, 10100576, 10058106, 10027194, 8011122, 10139134, 10086927, 8023749, 769651. IN EACH CASE, WHERE A SOLUTION IS MENTIONED, THE SOLUTION INVOLVED THE BOOSTER BRAKE. IN MY CASE THE VW DEALER, AFTER TRYING TWICE, DID NOT FIND THE SOLUTION. IT WAS AFTER INTERACTING WITH THE FOLKS AT THE VW TDI CLUB WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I LEARNED THEIR SOLUTION WHICH WAS TO REPLACE THE BOOSTER BRAKE. THE VW DEALER AGREED TO REPLACE MY BOOSTER BRAKE ONLY IF I AGREED TO HOLD NO ONE OTHER THAN MYSELF RESPONSIBLE SHOULD THE REPLACEMENT NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AND IF THEY COULD REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER IN ADDITION TO THE BOOSTER BRAKE. THE REPAIR MADE OVER A YEAR AGO ON 25 OCTOBER 2005, SOLVED MY SUDDEN BRAKING PROBLEM. I SEE THAT OTHERS ON THE TDI WEB SITE ARE STILL HAVING BOOSTER BRAKE PROBLEMS AND THAT THEY HAVE BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN GETTING VOLKSWAGONS ATTENTION. THE HELP OF THE NHTS IS NEEDED TO RAISE THE CORPORATE CONSCIOUSNESS OF THE RIGHT FOLKS IN VW ABOUT THE BOOSTER BRAKE PROBLEM. AT A MINIMUM VW SHOULD ALERT ITS SERVICE REPAIR FOLKS TO THE SYMPTOMS AND THE SOLUTION. A RECALL TO CORRECT THE FAILED BOOSTER BRAKES IS THE DESIRED REDRESS. I STILL HAVE THE FAILED BOOSTER BRAKE AND MASTER CYLINDER AND WILL BE GLAD TO PROVIDE ALL THE PARTS TO THE NHTS FOLKS. *NM

ON 30 OCTOBER 2006, I HAD TO HAVE MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN THAT WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP. MY CAR WOULDN'T START. THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT STILL WOULDN'T START. I HAD TO HAVE THE POWER WIRE TO THE STARTER REPLACED. I'M BEING TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT IS VERY UNCOMMON FOR THIS WIRE TO BE REPLACED. I JUST WOULD LIKE TO KNOW FROM VOLKSWAGEN HAVE THEY RECEIVED IN OTHER COMPLAINTS. I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING OF A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE HIT A SMALL POTHOLE AND BOTH SIDE AIR BAGS ON THE DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED. NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR ONE MONTH. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD SEND A TECHNICIAN FOR INSPECTION HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NEVER KNEW IF SUCH INSPECTION EVER HAPPENED. THE CONTACT WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT AN UNEXPECTED DEPLOYMENT COULD CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. 1/31/2007 - *NM

VOLKSWAGEN STEERING SAFETY: THE STEERING COLUMN ON MY 2002 VW JETTA WILL NOT LOCK IN ANY REACH OR RAKE POSITION. THIS CAUSES THE STEERING COLUMN TO MOVE UP & DOWN, AND BACK & FORTH WHILE DRIVING. THIS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION CAN LEAD TO SEVERAL POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS AND/OR FATAL SITUATIONS: - THE DRIVER MAY BE UNABLE TO SAFELY STEER THE CAR. - UNABLE TO STEER THE CAR PROPERLY, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR MAY ENDANGER HIM/HERSELF & PASSENGERS, OTHER VEHICLES PASSENGERS, PEDESTRIANS, & PROPERTY. - IN AN ACCIDENT THE DRIVER AIR BAG MAY DEPLOY IN THE WRONG POSITION (TOO HIGH, TOO LOW, TOO CLOSE, TOO FAR AWAY) RESULTING IN A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS (OR FATAL) INJURY. THE LOCAL VW PARTS DEPT SAYS NO PART IS AVAILABLE TO FIX THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION; AN ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN IS THE ONLY FIX. SUCH EXPENSE IS UNREASONABLE (SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS); STEERING COLUMNS SHOULD LAST HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF MILES, NOT 93,000 MILES OR FOUR YEARS. I MADE THREE GOODWILL CONTACTS WITH VAG (VOLKSWAGEN AUDI GROUP) PRIOR TO CONTACTING THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. MY INTENT IN CONTACTING VW WAS TO: - SEE THAT OTHER VW OWNERS WITH SIMILAR SITUATIONS MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT THE STEERING COLUMN MAY NOT BE SECURE AND SAFE. - THE ONLY CURRENT REPAIR AVAILABLE FROM VW IS AN EXCESSIVELY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. MANY OWNERS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO EASILY AFFORD THIS REPAIR COSTING SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. SUCH A CONDITION MAY LEAD TO ACCIDENTS, INJURIES AND POTENTIAL FATALITIES. - THE CORRECTION OF THIS CONDITION IS A POTENTIALLY INEXPENSIVE CORRECTION (A PART THAT IS PROBABLY LESS THAN 50-CENTS PER CAR). I FEEL VW SHOULD TAKE THE INITIATIVE AND CAUSE THE STEERING COLUMN SUPPLIER TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND ISSUE A VOLUNTARY CALL-BACK & REPAIR TO VWS HAVING SUCH A STEERING COLUMN, AT NO EXPENSE TO OWNERS, IRRESPECTIVE OF MILEAGE OR TIME SINCE PURCHASE. IN EACH OF THE 3 CASES VW SAID THE REPAIR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO EXCESS MILEAGE. *NM

THE OIL PAN IS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND THE DRAIN PLUG IS METAL. WHEN MY MECHANIC CHANGED IT OUT IT WAS STRIPPED CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW OIL PAN, SCREW AND LABOR OF ABOUT 440.00. I AM REQUESTING A FULL REFUND AND ASKING VW TO REPLACE THE DRAIN PLAIN WITH AN ALUMINUM SCREW OR REPLACE THE OIL PAN. AFTER REVIEWING VW BLOGS OTHER CARS ARE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. THE SECOND THINS IS THE TRANSMISSION SERVICE. I HAD BEEN REQUESTING OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS FROM THE DEALER THAT MY TRANSMISSION BE SERVICED BUT THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT SERVICEABLE. EVEN MY MECHANIC WHO CALLED TO FIX THE OIL THEY ALSO TOLD HIM THAT BECAUSE MY TRANSMISSION WAS NOT CHANGING GEARS PROPERLY. HE PULLED IT ANY AND FOUND THAT THE FLUID WAS BLACK AND THE FILTER WAS CLOGGED NOT ALLOWING IN FLUID TO FLOW THROUGH. HAD I WAITED TWO WEEKS MORE I WOULD HAVE HAD TO REPLACED THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. ANOTHER COAST OF ABOUT 120.00...TOTAL REQUEST FROM VW IS 1000 FOR REPLACEMENT COST AND LABOR. *NM