2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA Complaints

THE TURN SIGNAL ON MY 2002 VW JETTA, VIN [XXX] OPERATES AT RANDOM. THIS CONDITION SOMETIMES OCCURS AFTER GOING OVER BUMPS OR AFTER COMPLETING A LANE CHANGE MANEUVER. THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS IN THE CENTER, OR "OFF" POSITION BUT THE TURN SIGNAL / HAZARD FLASHER STARTS AND/OR STOPS AT RANDOM. VW'S SAFETY RECALL VX DATED MARCH 2005 CLAIMS THAT MY VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE THE RANGE OF AFFECTED VINS BUT CLEARLY THIS IS NOT THE CASE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS CONCERN AND CONSIDER FORCING VW TO DO A MORE EXTENSIVE RECALL AS THIS PROBLEM IS NOT JUST ANNOYING, IT IS POTENTIALLY A SAFETY CONCERN. AN ACCIDENT OR ELECTRICAL FIRE COULD POSSIBLY RESULT FROM THIS CONDITION. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

MY WIFE'S 2002 JETTA STATION WAGON TURBO HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. ONLY 30 K AND TODAY A $2,600 REPAIR. VALVE FOR AIR CONDITIONER PUMP BROKE AND SENT METAL FRAGMENTS THROUGH THE SYSTEM NECESSITATING REPLACEMENT OF AC PUMP. COOLING FAN NOT WORKING- THAT'S $800.00. LAST REPAIR WAS AUTO WINDOWS- IDIOT DESIGNERS PUT IN PLASTIC COMPONENTS. MY WIFE TAKES EXCELLENT CARE OF HER VEHICLE (OIL CHANGE, ETC.) AND THIS INFERIOR BIT OF WORKMANSHIP JUST COSTS HER MORE MONEY. SHE WILL SHORTLY BE DUMPING THIS PIECE OF CRAP FOR TOYOTA COROLLA. *NM

2002 JETTA GLS AUTOMATIC CARS. THE SIDE BUTTON YOU PUSH ON THE SHIFT HANDLE GETS STUCK IN AND DOESN'T POP OUT. THIS CAUSES ME TO NOT BE ABLE TO REMOVE THE KEY OR CAN ACCIDENTALLY SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR IF IT DOESN'T POP OUT. *JB

THE CAR WOULD NOT START, MADE A CLICKING SOUND WITH EACH ATTEMPT, AND THE RADIO AND AUTOMATIC WINDOWS WOULD NOT TURN ON/RESPOND TO CONTROL. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND THE STARTER WAS FOUND TO BE THE PROBLEM ON A RELATIVELY NEW CAR (3YRS. OLD), 40000K. HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY READ ANECDOTAL COMPLAINTS THAT VW'S HAVE STARTER PROBLEMS. *JB

2002 JETTA REAR LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *TS THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE LIGHT PROBLEMS. *JB

THE FRONT, SIDE AND SIDE-IMPACT AIRBAGS IN MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA ALL FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN I WAS STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY A TRUCK TRAVELING AT 40-50 MILES PER HOUR. THE PARAMEDICS AND RESPONDING OFFICER ENCOURAGED ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT, SAYING THAT I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE RIDING ALONE BECAUSE A PASSENGER WOULD NOT HAVE SURVIVED THE ACCIDENT WITHOUT AIRBAG PROTECTION. I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED VW AND SUBMITTED THE FORMS AND PHOTOGRAPHS THEY REQUESTED FOR VALIDATION OF MY CLAIM, BUT - AS EXPECTED - THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED. I HAVE NO INTENTION OF SUING, BUT I AM DISTURBED BY VOLKSWAGENS' RECENT CAMPAIGN TO MARKET THE JETTA BASED ON ITS SAFETY. IN THE 3 1/2 YEARS I OWNED THE CAR, I HAD TO RETURN IT FOR RECALLS/REPAIRS 14 TIMES, SO I BELIEVE THE AIRBAG FAILURE TO BE YET ANOTHER SYMPTOM OF THE JETTA'S POOR MANUFACTURING. I WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE YOUR INVESTIGATION INTO THIS MATTER AND WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION AND PHOTOGRAPHS. *NM

A 2002 JETTA VOLKSWAGEN, 2.0 LTR ENGINE, CATALYTIC CONVERTER GONE BAD. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN OCTOBER, RIGHT AROUND 78,000 MILES. HAD IT CHECKED IN DECEMBER AND FOUND FAULTY O2 SENSORS. CHANGED THOSE. ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON. HAD TECHNICIAN DO A THOROUGH CAR CHECK, FOUND ORIGINAL FUEL FILTER (AT 80,000 MI.), NEW SPARK PLUGS, CHECKED ELECTRICAL TO MAKE SURE NOT SHORTING OUT, CHANGED WIRES, MADE SURE O2 SENSORS OPERATING CORRECTLY, CHECKED WITH OTHER TECHNICIANS ON INTERNET TO DO ALL POSSIBLE CHECKS, CHANGES, AND FIXES. NOTHING ELSE CAN BE DONE. TECHNICIAN CHECKED WITH HIS DEALER AND FOUND CATALYTIC CONVERTERS ARE ON BACKORDER UNTIL CHRISTMAS 2006 FOR THE EXACT SAME PART, CAR, AND TYPE. *JB

THE '02 JETTA 1.8T 4-DOOR WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE JETTA PROCEEDED INTO INTERSECTION. JETTA WAS HIT (T-BONED) ON DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR BY 1995 GRAND MARQUIS, MERCURY IN EXCESS OF 45 MPH. TICKET WAS ISSUED FOR FAILING TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT, NO BRAKING ON PART OF THE MERCURY. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE JETTA - THE FRONT DOOR WAS DRIVEN INTO THE DRIVERS CAGE WHICH MOVED THE FRONT SEAT AND BENT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE FRONT WINDSHIELD FORMED A LARGE CRACK, PROBABLY FROM A SIDE STRESS POINT AND DID NOT SHATTER, THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOWS IN BOTH DOOR SHATTERED. SEVERE FRAME DAMAGE COULD BE SEEN AND NONE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE DOORS COULD OPEN, NOR THE PASSENGER SIDE EITHER AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAGS (2), LOCATED BETWEEN THE TWO DAMAGED DOORS AND ALSO THE AIRBAG BETWEEN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND WINDSHIELD FAILED TO DEPLOY. VW CLAIMS THAT THE CAR DECIDED BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT WAS IN USE, THE CAR MADE AN INTELLIGENT DECISION NOT TO DEPLOY THE AIRBAGS. THIS IS EITHER FALSE OR AN ERROR IN HOW THE CAR IS DESIGNED. AIRBAGS SHOULD DEPLOY AND NOT DECIDE THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS SUFFICIENT - IT WAS NOT SUFFICIENT, AS THERE WERE MEDICAL INJURIES. JETTA IS TOTALED, BUT BEING HELD BY USAA, PENDING ANYONE WHO WILL INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE ON MY BEHALF. OTHERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO SUFFER IF A PROBLEM CAN BE IDENTIFIED HERE AND RESOLVED. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE POLICE DETERMINED THERE WAS NO DEBRIS IN THE ROAD AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED A DENT IN THE METAL IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE PREMATURE DEPLOYMENT.

OCCASIONALLY WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, IT DOES NOT FULLY RETURN TO IT NORMAL POSITION. THIS OFTEN OCCURS WHEN SITTING AT A LONG RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND I ATTEMPT TO RELEASE THE CLUTCH IT REMAINS DEPRESSED, RESULTING IN ENGINE STALL. THIS POSSES A DANGER BECAUSE STALLS WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE CAN LEAD TO ACCIDENTS, BY PREVENTING THE DRIVER FROM ACCELERATING TO AVOID COLLISION. I HAVE TAKEN THE MY AUTO IN FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR ON 4 OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED, THE SECOND TIME THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER WAS RE-BLED, AND THE 3RD & 4TH TIMES I WAS TOLD THAT THE CLUTCH WAS PERFORMING WITHIN VW SPECIFICATIONS BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM. *NM