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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system150
- Power train108
- Air bags107
- Engine and engine cooling106
- Seats101
- Exterior lighting50
- Service brakes, hydraulic46
- Visibility45
- Equipment22
- Structure19
- Vehicle speed control18
- Tires16
- Fuel system, gasoline12
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
77
152
115
78
54
49
38
36
25
24
16
8
16
7
6
4
2
0
0
2
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 77 |
| 2003 | 152 |
| 2004 | 115 |
| 2005 | 78 |
| 2006 | 54 |
| 2007 | 49 |
| 2008 | 38 |
| 2009 | 36 |
| 2010 | 25 |
| 2011 | 24 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 16 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 6 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
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.
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.”
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>”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.