Problems · NHTSA complaints

2002 Volkswagen Jetta problems

Owners filed 711 complaints about the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta with NHTSA between Dec 2001 and Jan 2023. The most-cited component is electrical system (150).

Complaints
711
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
32
Reported by owners
Fires
71
Reported by owners
Injuries
74
People reported injured
Deaths
10
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system150
  2. Power train108
  3. Air bags107
  4. Engine and engine cooling106
  5. Seats101
  6. Exterior lighting50
  7. Service brakes, hydraulic46
  8. Visibility45
  9. Equipment22
  10. Structure19
  11. Vehicle speed control18
  12. Tires16
  13. Fuel system, gasoline12
  14. Suspension10

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20011
200277
2003152
2004115
200578
200654
200749
200838
200936
201025
201124
201216
20138
201416
20157
20166
20174
20182
20190
20200
20212
20220
20231

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

150 reports2 crashes10 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2018Power train, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11131795

Power train

108 reports4 crashes1 fire
“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>”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 9, 2017Power trainODI 10984494

Air bags

107 reports22 crashes
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2017Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11023507

Engine and engine cooling

106 reports1 fire1 related recall
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 17, 2017Engine and engine cooling, Unknown or other, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10955330

Seats

101 reports1 crash57 fires
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 19, 2016SeatsFire reportedODI 10936295

Exterior lighting

50 reports1 crash1 fire4 related recalls
“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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 24, 2014Exterior lightingODI 10660494
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.