2002 Volkswagen Jetta GLS wagon from North America - Comments

I have a 2001 Jetta and recently started having water problems. As mentioned in other comments the dealer suggested cleaning the water drains... of course for a charge of $45. I used to be a huge VW fan, but I am souring quickly on VW's. I bough a 2003 golf to replace a 97 golf that I had. I offed that car after a year of headaches. The car felt cheap and nothing seemed to work correctly. I have since switched to buying Toyota's and unless VW fixes the water issue at no charge I will be getting rid of this Jetta soon too. Sounds like a recall is in order, but getting big businesses to cough up $ is never easy. Good luck to all with this issue.

I have a 2003 VW Jetta, at first it was a little water on the floor of my front passenger side floor mat. However, since the last major rain storm I had quite abit of water. Havn't checked my sunroof, but will attempt to. I have a 1990 toyota truck with a sunroof that has never leaked. Whats up with VW.

My '99 Passat flooded 2 years ago, causing complete electrical system meltdown. Dealership told me sunroof drains had to be "modified", which makes me think they were improperly designed in the first place. I got nowhere with VW of America, ended up spending thousands on new everything. Now I'm getting water on the passenger side again! How do we file??? loutoby@hotmail.com.

I have a 2000 Jetta - same problem. I found a class action suit petition at this site:

http://www.myvwlemon.com/ubb/Forum2/HTML/000487.html.

You may be able to join.

Just wanted to let everyone know that I found the class action website listed above and emailed the man who is leading the action giving him my statement about my 2002 Jetta with water issues and I also gave him the address to this website so that he can read everyone's comments and hopefully make some progress, we may all be in for some good news soon!!

Wow! Glad I found site. I have just picked up my 99 Beetle from an auto body place here in downtown Seattle. The floorboards behind driver seat have been flooded for a couple of weeks now no matter how much I used a shop-vac. I finally took it in figuring it had to be a leak in the door since my usual auto place couldn't find a leak at all (took of the back wheel, took out the carpets, went over it with a hose). Well, they 'fixed' my door since the window wouldn't roll all the way down (power windows stopped working after a heavy rain) as well as my sudden loss of brake lights and the electrical. Here I am 5 hours later and the mats are wet again! It hasn't even rained in the last 5 hours! I am going to trade this car in, it's not worth the expense! $500.00 this month and counting!

My leak problems were fixed after the third trip to the dealer...

The pollen filter in the air intake was cracked and routing water to the passenger's side floor. Filter was replaced, and no leaks!

I really feel for those still struggling with water problems, because it really sucked. But, I love my jetta again.

Signed,

jetta wagon 02 owner.

I too am having water problems with my 02 Jetta. The water is coming in my front passenger side in the crack of the door nearest the front end. This last rain has been the worst & I'm in the process of drying it out - what a pain. My question is: What sort of long-term damage can result from not getting it bone dry? I live in Texas and it doesn't rain hard enough to flood my car often. I didn't catch the problem right away because at first the rugs just saturated, but no water pooled and no one ever sits in the passenger side so it stayed wet for a while.

The post before about it being oddly reassuring that others are having the same problem is true. I've been yelled at (by friends) for not fixing the leak, so it's weirdly good to know that others have a hard time resolving this problem too.

Can someone help?

I have a 2000 Jetta that leaks too. Catch is that I don't have a sunroof! Water builds up in the driver's footwell. Seems to be coming from the left side under the dash (judging by the saturation of the insulation) but I have no clue where to look...

Any suggestions?

My Jetta wagon 2002 had the same problem with leaky sunroof. The problem was not only in the pool of water under driver side after each rain, but the worst part was that engine would start malfunctioning, "Check Engine" light would come on. I used diagnostic tool to read trouble code, trouble code indicated that one of the cylinders was misfiring. Replaced all spark plugs, did not help. Replaced all ignition wires, did not help. Finally noticed that problem comes only after rain, otherwise runs OK. After some investigation found out that sunroof drains are clogged and water comes down by driver side curtain airbag right into the fuse box and some other electronics modules which may causes all kinds of troubles.

Here is the main part how to fix the sunroof drainage problem. I used regular kitchen sink wire snake, the same way as you would use it in your kitchen. The only difference you would have to cut off the head of the snake so that the wire would be of the same diameter through all it length (approx. 5mm). The drains are located on both sides of the sunroof next to the front corners. Sounds simple, but it works.

I just wanted to agree with whoever said earlier that this much maintenance is ridiculous!!! I can understand checking on a few odds and ends routinely, but I've never heard of having to habitually clean out drains and clogs, and I think it's VERY fishy that when you purchase a VW no one mentions these procedures that you'll have to do, I mean if I had known about all of this I honestly would NOT have purchased my Jetta. I'm not a handyman by any means and I feel like you have to know how to work on cars in order to own a vehicle like this.

I have a 2002 Jetta and just 2 weeks ago I noticed a smell of mildew & my windows fogging inside for no reason. After having the car cleaned I found that the passenger side floorboard was saturated after a rain. I called the dealership and they said that the sunroof drains were probably clogged. He said it would cost $95 just to look into the issue. He then said that when the rugs get wet, it usually means that the pad underneath has to be replaced. He stated this would cost around $800- $900. I then said I will research and get back with him. I appreciate all of you posting because I now will check into the issues on my own. Both the sunroof blockage and pollen filter will be checked immediately by a friend. I love my Jetta, but hope they do a recall because I will get rid of it and go to the BBB to express my extreme disatisfaction with VW. I'm just glad that I don't live in Seatle like other folks. Good luck to all of you!

I own a 2002 Jetta GLS, and experienced my first puddle a couple of weeks ago, in the back passenger floorboard. Just yesterday I took the time to clean it as best I could, and noticed some mold. Spent the rest of the night wondering if there's a way to eliminate the mold problem, or if I'll need to replace the carpet. Woke up this morning to another couple of inches of water in the same place. Thanks to all the comments above, at least I have some direction as to possible causes. Wish me luck, as I will all of you.

Update: Might be getting closer...

So, I have the jetta with the wet driver's side (no sunroof). Water is coming in from the upper left corner under the dash.

I've pulled the underside of the dash, the fascia pieces near the console, loosened the console, removed both front seats, and have pulled up the carpet from the driver doors and folded it toward the center. Here is what I have learned/gained...

I can now dry the car. Under the carpet is a padding layer that is hard on top, soft on the bottom. I put car in the garage for a week with a fan blowing through it (no seats remember) and the pad was still soaked. So I cut it out. Near the "tranny hump" I cut the padding under the carpet and pulled it out. This way I can dry it thoroughly and in the future.

So, I can now say the car is dry. now on to finding the leak. I believe it's either the windshield, of something on the firewall. Driver's side.

Let me know if any of this sounds familiar.

So I think my saga with my leaky Jetta may finally be coming to a close. I had two trusted mechanics examine my Jetta today and both told me that this water problem is like chasing a ghost, both advised me to let the car go. Despite my extreme aggravation with this water problem, I must admit it breaks my heart to have to get rid of Jetta once and for all, I will miss her, but not the water problems...