2002 Volkswagen Jetta GLS from North America - Comments

First 2 weeks: stereo wouldn't work. Had to replace the fuse. Said it was a common problem, they even knew what it was before I said it. Bad sign number one.

3 months later: Found piece of black plastic on my chair, but didn't realize a piece of the sunroof had fallen off.

2 months later: armrest latch broke off causing it to not close properly.

One month later: Right front window cables broke causing window to fall into door as I was trying to roll it up. Also noted as a common malfunction of the Jetta.

5 months later: Car started, but wouldn't shift into gear. Drive shaft had to be removed and re-installed. Axle inner joint component failed. The car was not even a year old!!

Current: upholstery on left driver's door is peeling off. Understandable if I came into contact with it often, but I never rest my arm there!

Current: Since the drive shaft was re-installed, car makes a winding down noise when the brakes are applied. Doesn't sound normal and is very discomforting. Sound was not there before it went in for the drive shaft.

Bottom line: As much as I love it, I don't feel comfortable driving in a car where things just break off, even if it is just a part of the sunroof. It's a brand new car with only 12,000 miles on it. It is unsettling to know that this car has these "common" and not so common problems. Who's to know that something more important won't just "fall off" or another axle joint will fail while I'm actually driving. All this being said, keep in mind that safety was a number 1 issue when purchasing this car. It's not a good sign that my service guy knows me by name. And what's worse, if you take a look at the 2001 reviews and even back to 2000, the SAME problems occur!! If anyone has had any success in returning your Jetta, please advise!

Every problem you're encountered I have also encountered with 2001 Jetta. The sunroof thing makes me laugh, because I got into my car one morning and found a piece of black plastic on the seat. That same day I drove to work and when I tried to roll my window up and it fell back into the door (cable. And you gotta love the driver's side door handle that peels for no reason! All these problems happened before 20,000 miles. Unreal that they have done nothing to correct this, especially after a year or two of knowing this!

I bought a brand new 2003 Jetta in June and it in now Jan 2004 and there are 9,000 miles on my car. I am having a similar problem with my car shifting into gear, i.e. it doesn't. I thought it was just a cold weather problem, but it's just lovely to hear that others have the same issue.

This to me is nothing, but scary. I came home from the dealer TODAY and the first time I rolled the window down the window fell, scaring me to death. Needless to say my beautiful new car is back at the dealer and they said they would have it fixed. So scary. It is a 2002 Jetta with 18,000 miles on it.

I am in the market for a new vehicle an I was looking at the Jetta TDI; your comments made me really worried... thank you!

I have an additional question for you guys: are your vehicle (s) made in Mexico or in Germany?

Thank you in advance,

Adrian, Canada.

I have a 2002 Jetta with now 41,000 miles on it. My window also fell in, major peeling on the driver and passenger side, armrest latch broke off, wouldn't shift into gear once and I had to call VW service to have them walk me through a troubleshoot or I would have had to have it towed!

Yesterday I got in my car and I have no radio. It won't turn on AT ALL! Any ideas?

I have a 2001 Jetta GLS and have encountered most of the same problems as I have seen posted on this website. My Jetta is also very creaky inside; the leather seems to be holding up beautifully (knock on wood!) ; all four windows suddenly fell down one day upon starting the car! (had to drive 45 minutes home on the highway with all four windows down). My worst problem (also very persistent) is that the car stutters on random occasions, stalls quite often for no reason, and sometimes simply does not even start up. I have had this car into the dealership (who not only knows me by name, but knows my entire family by now) about ten or more times. They have replaced many parts that were not working, but have not yet solved this problem. Selling this car is my best bet. : (

I have been "dealing" with my Jetta problems from the first month I got my brand new 2002 Jetta... I have experience all of the problems listed below and many more. I tried to work with Jetta to replace my lemon or at least get my warranty extended as I am sure I will continue to have problems for the life of the car. Took my Jetta in today as the muffler randomly sounded like a Harley chooper... the tech assistant called to tell us it was the change rattling in the console... your kidding me right? I have been stranded away from home two times, stranded at home two times, had to have the car towed to dealer four times, road the hour and a half in the rain with no window, inside door handle peeling, lose of power upon accelerating on the freeway and much more. VW of America has been no help at all. I plan to get rid of mine in the next week, but will take a major loss... My family has had a VW of some sort in our garage for 30 years, I personnally have owned a bug, rabbit, golf and jetta... we will never buy or recommend a VW again. Not a safe vehicle at all. I just wish I had done more research!

The Jetta is as German as a Burrito; these cars are highly unreliable and over priced. For all of you who still buy these lemons under the pretext that they are "German" think again; these cars are assembled in Mexico and Brazil and have some of the worst electrical problems in the industry. You know a car maker isn't too concerned with quality when they offer a 2 year, 40 000km warranty. Go Asian or North American, your wallet will thank you and you won't see your mechanic half as much and if you do, replacement parts and labour costs are much much cheaper.

If the trunk does not open on a wagon try this:

I have a 2002 manual Jetta wagon with 128,000 miles on it. When I bought it, the trunk would not open so I took off the inside paneling by removing 2 screws and then pulling it off. multiple small plastic pieces broke off but there is no other way to take it off. I realized that the devise used to unlatch the trunk was not connected properly and simply just pushed it back where it clicks into a small plastic piece.

I had to use a small piece of wire to make sure it did not come undone again.

Question:

Also, recently on my way to work I noticed my clock was reset and was freaking out. I also could not unlock any door but the driver's door. when I tried to turn the car on, the clock stopped freaking out but THE CAR WOULD NOT TURN ON nor did it show any signs of attempting to turn on. I'm positive this is an electrical issue.

Does anyone have any suggestions?