Problems · by component

2002 Volkswagen Jetta service brakes, hydraulic problems

46 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta cite service brakes, hydraulic, 6% of all 711 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
46
6% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the service brakes, hydraulic

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, SHE HEARD A LOUD NOISE THEN SUDDENLY ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS THE ABS SENSOR. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID (02V031000) SERVICE BRAKES: HYDRAULIC: ANTI-LOCK. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 3, 2010Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10369064
“I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA AND I HAVE A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ISSUE (BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON AND A DCT(P0571) IS SET) THAT WAS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL/REPLACEMENT, BUT THE VIN GROUP THAT THIS APPLIES TO IS 3VW---9M-YM000089 TO 3VW---9M-2M053565, AS YOU CAN SEE, MINE IS JUST OUT SIDE THE HIGH VIN. THE VIN RANGE SHOULD BE READDRESSED TO INCLUDE ALL 2002 MODEL JETTAS WITH CRUISE CONTROL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 30, 2010Service brakes, hydraulic, Exterior lightingODI 10322862
“WHEN GENTLY APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THE BRAKES WOULD SUDDENLY FULLY ENGAGE FOR A MOMENT AND THEN RETURN TO NORMAL. THIS OCCURRED EVERY TIME THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THERE WERE NO CONSEQUENCES IN MY CASE, BUT IT IS NOT HARD TO IMAGINE THIS CAUSING A CAR TO BE HIT FROM THE REAR OR CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. TO CORRECT THE SITUATION THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 24, 2008Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10232182
“I PURCHASED THE 2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA IN AUGUST OF 2006. THE FIRST SET OF REPAIRS WAS ON 3/2007 AT 64,332 MI CHECK ENGINE LIGHT MULITPLE MISFIRES: P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0304 REPLACED IGNITION COILS COST: $200.11 SECOND REPAIR TOOK PLACE IN APRIL OF 2007 TOOK CAR IN FOR RECALL - REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH CHECK ENGLINE LIGHT WAS BACK ON - REPLACED TEMP. SENSOR COST: $199.33 CAR WAS JERKING INTO GEAR, DOWNSHIFTING HARD AND SLUGGISH. BROUGHT CAR INTO DEALSERHSIP IN APRIL 2008 WORN STRUT BRUSHINGS NEEDS REAR PADS NEEDS ROTORS CHECK ENGLINE LIGHT ON AGAIN NEEDS NEW COILS AGAIN SPARK PLUGS TEMP SENSOR AGAIN NEW T-STAT FANS NOT WORKING HOSES UNDER INTAKE BROKEN NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSIS COST: $149.21 ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR: $6,500.00. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 19, 2008Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Power trainODI 10228140
“I OWN A 2002 VW JETTA 1.8T. OVER THE WINTER MY ABS SYSTEM DID NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY AT ALL! SOMETIMES IT WOULD WORK AND SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T. NOW THAT IT IS WARMER OUT IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL! ABS LIGHT, TRACTION LIGHT, AND BLINKING BRAKE LIGHT NOW ILLUMINATE MY DASHBOARD. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS A FAULTY ABS CONTROL UNIT WHICH MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH. I SIMPLY DON'T HAVE 1,500 DOLLARS TO FIX SOMETHING LIKE THIS BUT IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE IN CONTROL OF MY CAR ON SNOWY WISCONSIN ROADS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 1, 2008Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10226350
“BRAKE BOOSTER IS FAILING AFTER USE IN TRAFFIC. THE BRAKE PEDAL SLOWLY SINKS AND WHEN LIGHTLY TAPPED, IT SLAMS TO THE FLOOR. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, A LOUD SUCTION CAN BE HEARD INSIDE THE CAR, AND THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED FULLY. THIS USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER BRAKES ARE USED SOME TIME, SAY IN A TRAFFIC JAM. THERE IS A SITE, TDICLUB.COM, WHICH HAS FORUMS WHERE MANY PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON THEIR 2002 MODEL YEAR VW JETTA. THE DANGER IS THAT THE BRAKES COME ON FULLY, WHICH STARTLES NOT ONLY THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER(S), BUT THE VEHICLES THAT ARE FOLLOWING. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM (BRAKE BOOSTER FAILURE) BUT CAN BE REPLICATED IF THE BRAKES ARE USED HEAVILY. WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTS TO HAPPEN, IT WILL CONTINUE UNTIL THE BRAKES ARE NOT USED FOR QUITE SOME TIME. ONCE THIS STARTED HAPPENING TODAY, VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES CAUSED THE SYMPTOMS ABOVE. THIS OCCURRED ABOUT SEVEN TIMES THIS DAY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY FOR A FEW YEARS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 6, 2007Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10205146

Showing 6 of 46 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

2 recalls on this component

Service brakes

Free remedy

CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Mar 29, 2007NHTSA 07E023000

Service brakes

Free remedy

ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).

Service brakes, hydraulicReported Jan 31, 2002NHTSA 02V031000
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.