2002 Volkswagen Jetta from North America - Comments

I purchased a 2003 Jetta GLS with 48,000 miles on it on November 21, 2008. Within 30 days of purchasing the car, I have had to take it to the shop on 4 different occasions (ignition switch, starter, coolant system, temperature gauge) in which the car stayed overnight.

Now it's due for another stint in the car ER. Not only am I having radio issues (lights and display comes on, but no buttons work except for volume, but no sound comes out) in which fuse 42 did not work, but I must be having the brake light switch issue too because it took me 5 minutes to get my car out of park this morning.

I wish I never bought this car, which sux because I love Jettas, but will never again purchase a VW. I bought an aftermarket warranty for my car, but not one that covers the radio and I am soooooo angry about my car. The dealership has been nice, but sold me such a horrible car that I am still angry with them.

If anybody has any ideas for at least the radio that doesn't involve fuse 42, please post, I'm about to drive this car off a cliff.

Fascinating, reading all these comments from years past- when the driver's side window fell into the door this evening on our used 2002 Jetta wagon, I thought, "How random..." Not so random- rather, a documented problem for many. It seems the internet conversation around the issue is dying out- so what's become of this problem?

I've only ever owned used cars without bells and whistles, like automatic windows. And I've never had an auto warranty, so I don't know how this works.

Since I own a used 2002 Jetta not under warranty, is there any reason to think that VW will cover the cost of at least the parts to correct this problem? Or am I on my own with this problem? I searched online for info regarding a recall for well-known window problem, but found no evidence of its terms, or even of its existence.

Can anyone offer information?

I bought a used 2002 Jetta GLS.

1. Driver side window fell into door (no cost).

2. A/C stopped working ($1300).

3. Temp. sensor ($150).

4. Rear break cable ($150).

5. Mass air flow sensor & spark plugs replaced just yesterday ($400), I drove only 50 km and check engine is light back on (I think it is the Temp. sensor again).

24 months left to pay on this lemon. I HATE THIS CAR.

I wish I would have found this site before I bought this car.

Own a 2002 VW 1.8l turbo bought new. Have had all problems listed here (except the window falling issue, recall fixed it before anything happened).

The trunk latch issue comes from a small plastic piece that holds the spring for the auto latch. Took it all apart and reattached it, but it only lasted a couple of days. Not to difficult to take apart, just time consuming. Am gonna order a replacement part and do work myself. Just have to use the keyhole in the back symbol for now.

I only saw two mentions of my on going issue. When the car shifts from second to third, if accelerating at all it waits, catches at the last moment and jerks roughly. The dealer could not find anything wrong with it (though their attitude led me to believe they experienced the same issue).

Anyone have any answers for this one?

Thanks.

1) Door handle area peeling - I had same problem, I used a little lacquer thinner to wipe off the top layer. It makes it look brand new almost. I found it a quick and easy solution.

2) Tail lights going out 3x already within months.. salt laden atmosphere here in Florida seems to be corroding electrical components inside of taillight. It needs to be sealed correctly.

3) Fuse for cigarette lighter goes out constantly, cup holders above electricity = not good...

3) CIGARETTE Lighter right next to change holder, and it's at the perfect angle to never get the ONE PENNY that strayed inside of it somehow OUT, which always shorts fuse number 41!!!

4) Boots on suspension cracked - $600 repair.

5) TURN SIGNAL will not stop clicking (bad turn signal stalk)!!! Dealer said they had no clue what is was.. BS.. I found out the problem after 1 minute on the Internet, they just don't want to take the time to replace it under my warranty.. BUT THE SOUND IS DRIVING ME NUTS!!!

6) Window fell.

7) Odd paint crackling on the bumper.

8) Multiple vacuum lines cracked, not covered under warranty, $80 for one, $54 for the other.

9) Coolant light flashing when full, covered under my warranty.

10) Transmission sticking in first gear. Would not shift, diagnosis was mass air flow meter inoperative.. "diagnosis which may apply to problem", covered under warranty!

11) $104 an hour for labor..

Hello forum.

How educational it was to read your comments. I own a 2002 1.8l Jetta Wagon with 140,000 miles on it and have encountered none of the problems listed in your comments...

!!!EXCEPT!!!

...my check engine light just went on and I was told my catalytic converter is busted!!!

What do I do? Pep Boys is asking for $250 for the converter, $108/hour labor, $250 premium tune up, $133 in wires??? and I apparently need new spark plugs...

I never got the notice about the catalytic converter recall... will VW still replace it?

Please advise... Thank you.

March 2002 – bought new 2002 Jetta 1.8t in Va Beach.

Delivered with defective paint – repainted rails

Heated mirrors didn’t work – replaced mirrors

Speakers had a crackling sound – replaced speakers

Door handles peeled off layers – replaced door handles

Spring popped loose under drivers seat – replaced frame

Loud popping noise when putting car into reverse – they have no idea what it is and can't replicate it

Trunk latch stuck - replaced

Heated mirrors stopped working again – replaced mirrors

Window slips inside the door - replaced actuator

Gear stuck in park – replaced break light switch

Recalled for ignition coil – replaced ignition coil

Loud popping noise when putting car into reverse again – they have no idea what it is and can't replicate it

Brake light switch goes out again – replaced

brake light switch

Car over heats – replaced cooling fan fuse in battery terminal.

Warranty ended

Brake light switch goes out again – replaced brake light at my own expense

Potential oil sludge problem – although I got the oil changed at the dealer every time.

Those are the only ones I remember off the top of my head.

October 2005 sold the car at 52k miles for pennies on the dollar to Carmax. I owned 4 VWs before this, and have not bought another one since (bought 4 cars since). I hope someone here didn’t buy my Jetta.

To whoever thought of the fuse 42 trick...

YOU ROCK MY SOCKS!!! My radio went out on my 02 VW Jetta and I wanted to cry. I had the people at Best Buy look at my radio and tell me it was shot. I had some sub woofers installed in the back of my car and I was afraid that my warranty would have been voided. You saved me about $400. THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!!!

Wow. Thanks for google. I am about to check fuse 42, my radio stopped working in my 02 VW Jetta 1.8T when I left work today. I bought the car used two months ago... please keep your fingers crossed for me and thanks for the info.

2002 GTI 1.8T, 65000 miles.

- "Drive by wire" throttle valve died (warranty)

- Both window regulators with two weeks interval (warranty)

- Coolant temperature sensor (warranty)

- Two ignition coils (warranty) + the rest recalled later

- Hatch latch/lock replaced - causes alarm randomly (warranty)

- Blinker relay switch recalled

- Overlay wiring harness (wires for the ignition coils) lost insulation (warranty)

- Mid muffler bracket broken (paid to weld back)

- It turns out the loose muffler broke the down pipe at the turbo. Got the catalytic converter with the down pipe replaced under the emissions warranty (stuck it to VW)

- Now the power steering hose is leaking and the radiator is leaking... will probably dump the VW for good...

I was wondering if anyone had any tips on how to deal with the thermostat dials not lighting up. They function, however at night it is impossible to see. All of the fuses are fine.

Also, the mirror on the passenger side used to move to face the curb when reversing, however this too does not work anymore.

I have a 2002 Jetta VR6.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

My radio went out in my '02 Jetta 1.8T. I tried the fuse 42 trick, and it still doesn't work. Any other suggestions? I'm going on a 5 1/2 hour road trip in 30 minutes and it's going to be kind of lame if I have no music. I left the car on when I did the fuse thing and I tried it when it was off. No luck. The only other time my radio went out was when the battery was going dead. My battery is a full power.

I have recently purchased an 02 VW Jetta 1.8T. After reading this site I was petrified and thought OMG what I have I done. After driving this car around for a week, I love it, it has great power and awesome mileage.

Besides when I shut it off and it won't start right away.

My dash clock resets itself and flashes along with a constant clicking noise. 90% of the time I get in and the car will start. The other times I just sit outside of a store like I am waiting for someone and keep trying to turn it over.

The symptoms when I turn the key to ACC (before the engine cranks) no lights will light up on the dash. When I turn the key back and remove it, the clock begins to flash and the clicking noise starts. It will flash all night and click ALL NIGHT UNTIL THE KEY IS INSERTED.

For only owning the car a short time, I have a list of all the warranty repairs made, and since this an electrical question, I'll let you know the wiring has been replaced twice in the past. So I get my oil changed at VW, they realize the car has been there before and bring up its local service history along with the national service warranty. The quoted the last owner 2000.00$ plus to fix it. They THINK it's coolant running down the wiring harness and shorting the wires out and corroding them. They said battery has full load under the hood, but inside the car when the clock is flashing and is clicking it reads 2v in the car.

Not sure if I should fix something that will eventually happen again. I don't know why coolant leaks under the hood? There is nothing wrong with the block or engine. The mechanics tell me it normal for the coolant to release.

There are a ton of other things I could go on about, but they don't effect the performance of the car, I want to be able to start the car and drive it! The best advice I have seen on here except FUSE 42 is that MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE!!!

I bought a used 02 Jetta last July, and the only problem I had so far was the seat spring and the brake light switch switch and check engine light. The seat worked fine still, so I just dumped the spring in the garbage, end of that.

To fix the brake switch is simple; right behind the brake pedal is the switch, unplug it twist it to the right and pop it out, done.

The check engine light (LOL), I just ignore it.

I've owned 4 Jettas; 91-95-99-02. On the 99 I replaced the mass air sensor, it went out for 22 miles then came back on, that was at around 40k miles, and I ran it all the way past 100k without any problems. Got over 420 miles on a tank of gas and never replaced the O2 sensors.

On my 02 I'm at 126k and due for a timing belt replacement, on my 99 I ran it up to 115 k and never changed the timing belt, even though I bought the belt and had it in my trunk for a year.

That's all the problems I've had so far, and I would definitely buy another Jetta. I'm looking at an 06-07 in the very near future.

If your check engine light is on and you do not want to shell out big bucks, do what I do; disconnect the battery negative for about ten minutes, then reconnect it and head straight to get your emission sticker (LOL).