2002 Volkswagen Jetta GLS from North America - Comments

I have also had problems with my 2002 jetta 1.8T. At about 66,000 miles my clutch is pretty much shot. Instead of going to the dealer I just purchased a stage 1 race clutch. I think it was about 200 dollars cheaper than the stock one. Also, I am not taking it to the dealer to get fixed, because they wanted over $1500 to do it. I am taking it to a regular place and they only want about $500. I have other problems with the car such as the armrest latch breaking, drivers side window fell, tail lights going out, and my engine light comes on frequently...

Well, there's a pretty good chance that you had the same problem as my 2003 Jetta GLS. Clutch gone at 46,000 miles. Never seen such a thing? The funny thing is that your clutch probably, was not burned out. The transmission seal was faulty. It probably leaked transmission fluid into on to the clutch housing causing the clutch to slip at high speeds or when it got hot.

I can show you pictures of my $1,200 problem. Volkswagen refused to pay for repairs. Because I did not have it towed to their shop.

I'd say buy another BMW. And stay clear of the VW brands including Audi and Porche.

I purchased a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta TDI with a standard tranmsission. Our clutch burned out at 27,000 miles, and I have been told the same story from the dealer about the repair not being covered by warranty. This was our first Volkswagen, and up until this occurence, we have been very happy with the vehicle. I am waiting to hear back from Volkswagen about the issue. We have owned 2 standard transmission vehicles in the past, and both clutches performed for a minimum of 140,000 miles. I don't think the issue is with our driving style. My hope is that Volkswagen will be helpful to us, but based on what I have read, I am not real hopeful.

I, too, own a 2002 Jetta GLS, and my automatic transmission is stuck in 4th gear. It did this once before several months ago, and once I turned off the engine and restarted it, it worked fine. Till yesterday! Now it's stuck in 4th gear again, and the emission control light came on. It's at the dealer as we speak- we shall see what the verdict is!

I am the owner of a 2004 Jetta 1.8t with only 37,000. It is currently in the shop being investigated. Prior to working on it the Service Manager felt compelled to tell me that it was most likely my fault and that it would probably cost 2200 dollars to fix.

I mostly drive on the highway and I don't race or stress the clutch. My previous Jetta (a 97) went up to 70,000 miles without a peep from the clutch before it was totaled in an accident. If Volkswagen doesn't cover my clutch repair under warranty I am going to sue them for the cost of the repair. If anyone posting on here has experience with this please contact me by reposting on here.

Thanks and good luck.

I am the owner of a 2006 VW Jetta TDI and have experienced clutch trouble at 30,000 miles. Like others, I was told that the warranty only covers 12 months or 12,000 miles. I have owned the car 13 months, and mostly have only driven highway miles to work and back. I was told by the dealership that the clutch problem was due to driver error, and that I would be responsible for the $2,063.00 repair. The whole reason I bought the VW was because I was sick of the junk the Big 3 were putting out that would barely last 100,000 miles. What was I thinking?

I have the 2002 Jetta 1.8 Turbo, ohhhhh if I could give you the list of the problems I have had with my car! I don't think this page would allow me to put that much stuff on it. I have had fan issues, I have had coils, I have had motor mount issues, ohhh yeah I put a timing belt that they recommended at 70,000, and two weeks later I was in the shop for something else, and they recommended the timing belt again. Hmmmmm! I am getting rid of this car so quickly! Hopefully my buyer won't read this web page! I will never ever by a volkswagon again, and neither will my children, and my children's children! I suggest that no one ever buy a volkswagon ever!

I have had my 2002 Jetta for approximately 10 months - unfortunately it has been the worst 10 months I've ever had with a single car.

The first week I had it, the driver's side door was catching - in other words when I went to open the door, I would have to lift the handle approx. two to three times.

About a month into having it, my key go stuck in the ignition switch. It took me 45 minutes and a lot of crying in my driveway before it came out.

A few months later I had multiple lights go out.

My armrest latch broke entirely off!

This morning I woke up to go run errands and lo and behold my car got STUCK IN PARK! I jostled the shifter, pumped the brakes, rocked the car, let the car sit for a few minutes, prayed to every god and it still didn't move. I finally got on the internet and found the solution:

1. Slam the brake 5 times

2. Turn on the car for 5 seconds

3. Continue holding the brake in and turn off the car

4. Turn the key in ignition 1/4 of the way

5. Slide the shifter in between N & D

6. Start the car.

This does work... I got it home, but will most likely have to get it towed to my mechanic now. A little tip: Don't put the car all the way into D... otherwise the car will not start and you will have to start the process all over.

Good luck!

Anyone know of a really good car that I could trade this in for?

I purchased a new 2006 VW Jetta TDI in Aug. 2006. All of my experience has been routine service according to manual. However, on 5/15/2008 I was down shifting from 4th to 3rd while on an exit ramp and with only 12,164 miles the pressure plate shattered. VW will have to replace the plate with a new and improved version, replace the transaxle, the transmission, the clutch and motor mounts.

Service department reports that they have heard of this kind of problem but have never seen this problem before.

The experience was scary and leaves this owner with a little lack of confidence going forward.

Fellow Jetta owners.

It is indeed saddening to hear your stories of ill experiences with the Jetta. I suppose I was one of the lucky ones...

I bought my 2000 Jetta 1.8T manual in September of that year. I loved the car on first drive... (compared to the Japanese or American cars in the same category)... so I went ahead and got it.

I reckon that it's because I have had no major problems with the Jetta that I love this car just as much now as I did when I first drove it (the sunroof and San Diego sun help too)... I even think about getting a second one and making it a convertible (I dislike the new 2006/7 body style, and the EOS is not that exciting either... the mkIV was awesome in design... to me anyway).

I don't think I'll do that due to body integrity issues... but even so, the only thing that keeps me from a new ride is that I really like this car, and want to keep it running as long as it does!... Otherwise I do think about a roadster of some sort ;)

But now, the clutch is starting to slip... but at 85,000 miles, probably normal...

I own a 2002 Jetta 1.8T, and looking at the reviews I'm really concerned to trade it with a Japanese car. My Jetta only has 137kms, never had any serious issue. But I been encountering MIL sign. I took it to VW dealership a couple of times, and they would just clear it from the memory. I guess the car itself is not a hassle, but service at the dealership is. Although VW in North America is nothing like the one in Europe. It's mostly got the cheap material from Mexico, but there is no Japanese car of its class which is this smooth and luxurious.

I know all VWs with 1.8T engines, in North America, had recall on ignition coils, brake light switch and seat heater. If anyone never received a recall on these items, your best bit would be to call VW customer service or North America.

After all would say it's a fun car, but VW must improve their dealership services and reduce their sky touching service rates.

I have owned my 2002 Jetta GLS turbo for 2 months, and it has been nothing but a nightmare.

1) I have to warm the car up for 10 to 15 minutes before it will shift into 2nd gear. I have to repeat this process every time the car has been turned off for about an hour or two.

2) The brakes are fading.

3) The CD player doesn't work.

4) The car has to be turned off and restarted because sometimes it does not want to go into 2nd gear after slowing down at a stop light or stop sign.

What is sad about this whole scenario is that the dealer knew of these problems and still sold it to me. Every time I came to test drive the car, he would have it running so there would be no problems when I test drove it. I signed an "As Is" contract when I bought it, which turned out to be a great learning experience because I will never do that again.

The dealer is lucky that I value my life and time, because eventually he is going to rip off a person who does not value his life and the dealer is going to suffer the repercussions of ripping off hard earned money from folks.

Don't buy a Jetta, and be careful of who you are dealing with. There are some serious shady people out there who will do anything for a buck.

Good luck.

Wow! I totally agree about the "as is" contract, but stupidly I bought a 2002 Jetta this week without a warranty. I will owe on this car for two years exactly, but I doubt it will make it that long from the reviews I have read.

I have already noticed the driver's side window is broken, the glove box latch is broken so it will not open, the passenger front seat has a hole in it that looks weird because it was burnt (not a cigarette burn either, at least a quarter-half dollar size burn hole), and when I turn the car, I hear a loud scraping noise, which I found out to be black stuff hanging down and hitting the tire when I turn.

Honestly, most of the problems can be fixed pretty easy. The window is going to be fixed for free as well as being cleaned up and detailed. The CD player screen also is messed up; it is readable but kind of blurry. The left brake light is also out.

Many problems on this car, but I did not pay very much for it honestly. Not even the blue book value.

I am a student, and I graduate next year and go in to law school. I plan on trading this car in or paying it off (if it lasts that long) then selling it and buying a brand new car, which will probably be a Toyota like my last car, which was a 08 Yaris that got totaled.

I like my Jetta, even with the problems, but I dread what's probably in the car's future. Maybe someone will steal it and my insurance will pay it off... LOL.

I really want it to last, because I do enjoy driving it, and the heated seats, leather, sunroof and all are very nice.

Good luck to everyone here.

After 8 yrs of ownership I finally threw in the towel and purchased a Hyundai. I don't believe I'll ever buy another car with some much built in "technology". The straw that broke this Jetta was paying $1100 for software/electrical problem with the tranny, mechanic said "there is nothing mechanically wrong with it, it's just 2 of the nine sensors that are bad".

Now I'm all about driving a car that goes from point A to point B. If you're looking at buying a 1.8T, take a SERIOUS look at the posts on this site. So many users can't be wrong, or can't all be exaggerating their experiences.