15th Jul 2006, 14:24

Like most - I love my 2002 Jetta TDI - Bought it new and have over 130,000 miles on it! I've had many of the same problems you all have had - day 2 of ownership the windows dropped at a bank drive up window in the pouring rain. Jetta replaced it right away- there is now a recall on it so don't pay for this repair. Had a transmission problem so I have that checked regularly because that left me stranded and it was a costly repair. The radio is a constant problem - VW seemed to be clueless when I called to inquire. I changed fuse 41 today because it was blown - no luck so thanks for the fuse 42 advise. It wasn't blown, but I took it out waited 10 seconds, reinstalled and it worked!

My ABS light is on, but my dealer told us, that has something to do with the heater - we live in FL so no worries. He advised against the repair since we don't need the heat. I do have a loud "humming" noise which is associated with the AC; had it checked, but was also told by the dealership that as long as the AC works, I can avoid the service -does anyone else have this? I'm lucky we seem to have a good VW dealership in town - once they suggested I look for a part on ebay rate then pay full price! Also lost power to the front lighter which is a drag for ipod and cell phone charging. Anyone else have this? It's a $400+ repair and they have to pull the dash. I'm not taking a chance on that - could lead to more trouble so I have a long charger cord that I run from the trunk when traveling.

Also have the peeling car, broken armrest cover ($90 repair - forget it!) And whats up with the drink holder being above the radio/lighter - that's probably why the lighter failed... drink condensation. Wonder who dreamed up that design? Regardless like most of you I love the car and just passed it on to my 16 year because it's a solid car. I take any opportunity I can to drive it and am looking for another Jetta (used) for myself!

Good luck!

18th Jul 2006, 12:23

We have a 2002 Jetta Wagon and our radio has died twice in 80,000 miles. Last time the service man at the dealer took the radio out and put it back in and it worked. No charge. He told me this is a common problem with the 2002 radio and that I should get a new one. The second time I tried two dealers, both of which wanted to charge anywhere from $55 to $110 to look at it. I ran out and tried fuse #42 right away after visiting this site and it worked. We still have to replace the oil pan. The plug is known to strip easily, which ours is, because whomever is changing your oil needs to use a torque wrench. Torque specs are only 22 ft.lbs, as posted elsewhere on this great site.

28th Jul 2006, 19:44

I have a 2002 1.8T Jetta, which I love to drive, but has recently been very frustrating.

I did have the driver side window fall into the door, but since the window regulators were recalled, all my regulators were changed, no cost.

I also had the engine coil repaired before it actually went bad. The check engine light was coming on periodically, but when I started coughing up the money for mid-grade gas, it stopped appearing.

The trunk latch stopped latching to keep the trunk down, but my husband was able to jimmy something with a paper clip.

For the past couple of months I have been battling turn signal clicking. Initially when the car would randomly "click", I checked the manual and it said that a light may be out. Sure enough, the headlight was out. The clicking stopped for about a week after the headlight was replaced, but then started again. No lights out... my mechanic determined it was the 4 way flashers, which part was recalled. The dealer said it wasn't recalled for my VIN, so I paid for it to get fixed, and then that shorted the turn signal switch, so I still have clicking. I brought it back to the regular mechanic (the dealer is far from my house), and in order to repair the turn signal, he needed to disconnect the battery, which requires the radio code to reset the computer. Low and behold my dealer didn't give me the code when I bought the car in 2002, and I had to bring it back, and pay $100+, to get the code, because the service manager didn't believe me.

If you're buying this car used, make sure the owners give you the radio code if you want to reset the battery by anyone other than dealer where the car was purchased. Hopefully this will end my problems, but unfortunately I've decided never to buy another VW.

10th Sep 2006, 20:55

Wow. I have just read the biography of my life with my 2002 1.8 Volkswagen Jetta. I have read all the comments and I have encountered almost all the same problems, except for the window (crossing my fingers). I bought this car brand new in 2002,with 5000 demo miles on it and I have been plagued with problems since the day I left the dealership. Now I am out of warranty and I want to get rid of this car, but I also think I have possible cause for a lawsuit to file under lemon law, and compensation.

In 2003, one year after I bought the car, I too had the engine coil problem and my car stalled on the street. Luckly there was the engine coil recall and I got it replaced for free. I also experienced wierd engine sounds, especially when the car was cold, and my engine light turned on repeatedly. When I took my car in to get it checked out, most of the time they said it was a computer electrical problem. After that, about a year and half later, my coolant temperature light turned on everytime I started the car. I had to go back and forth to the dealership 3 times to get this fixed. The first time they said it was faulty fuse and they replaced it. About a month later the light turned on again. The second time they stated it may have been because I did not have enough coolant, however I had checked it before and it always had enough coolant. I went back home and the next day, it turned on again. The third time they said they had to replace the coolant housing and also said that I had "Engine oil sludge", which apparently is a known problem with 1.8 turbo engines (jettas, audi,). The dealership wouldn't admit that the same problem kept occuring causing the light to turn on, they said it was for a different reason everytime. The coolant light hasn't turned on since then, but I still am afraid to see what happens next.

In the last 4 years of ownership, my radio shut off 3 times. And recently before I fixed it, my radio will sometimes not turn on, the volume knob doesn't catch and the bass, treble, fader, balance knobs do not work. The last time this happened after my warranty was over and my dealership wouldn't fix the radio for free even though I have documentation that I had a faulty radio. So I tried pulling different fuses (because the fuse map sucks), put them back and then all of sudden the car wouldn't start. I called the dealership and they told me that if by accident you pull the ignition fuse, the key needs to be reset with the master key. In the manual it explains how to do that.. As soon I as did, the car started and like magic my radio was working properly. I honestly have no idea how that fixed the radio.

Now I am experiencing battery problems.. My car will not start without a jump and I have checked the voltage and alternator and they are both putting out the correct amount of voltage. Does anyone know if I should replace my battery or is it another problem such as a burnt fuse in the battery? What should I do?

My spring underneath the drivers seat has come loose even though it still works. I have the peeling door handles and the peeling around the gear shift knob and lighter.

My back lights go out constantly, and I keep replacing them. Not to mention my bumper kept getting pulled off everytime I parked my car. I also researched that there was a bumper recall, because the jetta bumpers were made so that they latch on to the front of curbs and parking cement slabs ripping it right off the car. Does anyone else have that problem? I had to have the bottom plastic piece taken off because of that.

It seems like many people are experiencing most of the same problems. Now that I am warrenty I don't know if volkswagen will still fix some of these things for free. I know there has been class action lawsuits, but I don't know if you can still apply for them. If anyone has any good advice about what to do, to get in contact with Volkswagen and possibly threaten to file a lawsuit? I am very unsatisfied with their service and this car. My dealership kept giving me different answers for the same problem everytime which made me believe that they did not know what the problem was. I can't believe how many people have the same issues. I'm so glad I found this website!