Problems · by component

2002 Volkswagen Jetta engine and engine cooling problems

106 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta cite engine and engine cooling, 15% of all 711 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
106
15% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine and engine cooling

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR CENTER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE INDEPENDENT DEALER WHO SOLD THE CONTACT THE VEHICLE DID NOT VERIFY IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E007000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,677. .. UPDATED 12/22/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ONE HOSE WAS REPLACED AND THERE IS A HOLE IN ANOTHER HOSE, AND ALSO MISSING BRACKETS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 21, 2016Engine and engine cooling, EngineODI 10908385
“THE CAR TAKES 15 MINUTES TO HEAT UP TO 190, OTHERWISE THE CAR WON'T DRIVE FORWARD IN PROPER GEAR WITHOUT JERKING. IT DRIVES LIKE IT IS A STICK SHIFT INSTEAD OF AN AUTOMATIC CHANGING GEAR ON IT'S OWN. THE CAR STOPS WITHOUT ME PRESSING THE BRAKES AND SOMETIMES JUST TURNS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. IT SMELLS LIKE GASOLINE IN THE CAR. THE CD PLAYER, CLOCK AND VEHICLE ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS ON AND OFF. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON. AUTONATION PERFORMED A MULTI POINT INSPECTION AND SAYS THE CAR NEEDS A TIMING BELT, COOLANT FLANGE AND AFTER RUN PUMP, AND ROLLERS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 18, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 10614461
“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. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 15, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10484857
“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. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 17, 2011Engine and engine coolingFire reportedODI 10430536
“FIRST ISSUE, THE ENGINE IS BURNING OIL. I'VE NOTICED THAT MY CAR ENGINE STARTED BURNING OIL WHEN IT HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON IT. IT TOOK ME ALMOST TWO YEARS TO PROVE TO THE VW DEALERSHIP MECHANICS THAT THE ENGINE IS BURNING OIL. AT 73,000 MILES THE VW DEALERSHIP MECHANICS REBUILT THE ENGINE. MY OIL CONSUMPTION NORMALIZED. NOW, AT AROUND 115,000 MILES, I'VE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED BURNING OIL AGAIN. 1,800 MILES AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, JIFFY LUBE MECHANIC HAD TO ADD 2.5QT OF OIL. SHOULDN'T THE ENGINE LAST AT LEAST 100,000 MILES AFTER REBUILD? IT SEEMS THAT THIS ENGINE ONLY LASTS 45,000 MILES. THIS FEELS LIKE A MAJOR DEFECT AND VW HAS TO RECALL THE ENGINE. SECOND ISSUE, MY CAR IS ONLY 8 YEARS OLD BUT IT'S ON ITS THIRD TRANSMISSION. I HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT 32,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 73,000 MILES. I'M AT 115,000 AND I'M GETTING VERY WORRIED BECAUSE I'M STARTING TO FEEL LITTLE JERKS. THIS LOOKS TO BE A 40,000 MILES TRANSMISSION. HOW CAN VW DO THIS TO CONSUMERS? IT WOULD SEEM REASONABLE TO ME IF THIS TRANSMISSION GETS RECALLED. I'M NOT EVEN MENTIONING MANY OTHER MALFUNCTIONS. ONE OF WHICH INCLUDES GETTING FLOODED DURING RAINY SEASON. I CAN'T BELIEVE MY…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 5, 2011Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10374710

Showing 6 of 106 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Free remedy

The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.

Engine and engine coolingReported Mar 7, 2014NHTSA 14E007000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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