While driving on the freeway at approximately 70mph with a quarter tank of gas, my 2002 jetta glx displayed the battery light and then stalled at full speed. The car slowed, the steering and gas pedal were stiff and I had to pull to the shoulder and call for a tow truck. I had the crank position sensor replaced, new spark plugs put in and the throttle body cleaned. I test drove the car and once again, the engine started to stall at around 70mph on the freeway. This time I was able to floor the accelerator and the car did not completely stall. This defect seems is incredibly dangerous and seems to be unacceptably prevalent on vw jettas. My next part to replace is the fuel pump but it appears that does not always remedy the problem. This should be a recall.
2002 Volkswagen Jetta electrical complaints
Page 2 of 6: complaints 11 to 40 of 148, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The car takes 15 minutes to heat up to 190, otherwise the car won't drive forward in proper gear without jerking. It drives like it is a stick shift instead of an automatic changing gear on it's own. The car stops without me pressing the brakes and sometimes just turns off unexpectedly. It smells like gasoline in the car. The cd player, clock and vehicle electrical malfunctions on and off. The engine light stays on. Autonation performed a multi point inspection and says the car needs a timing belt, coolant flange and after run pump, and rollers.
Engine abruptly lost all power and turned off while driving down the street. No warning lights came on, and the car restarted and ran normally for 6 months. The same thing happened about 6 months later. 10 minutes after the second episode, mechanic wasn't able to find a fault code and drove it without the stall recurring.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the illumination of the battery warning light. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to restart the vehicle however, the failure recurred intermittently. Additionally, the contact noticed that the front and rear passenger's side doors would not unlock when the master door lock switch on the front driver's side door was engaged. The contact also stated that the brake warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 116,000.
My 2002 vw jetta tdi has many electrical problems. The one that might be a safety factor is the micro switches in the door latches. The doors with faulty switches don't know if there open or closed. When open the safety light on the door does not come on to alert oncoming vehicles that a door is open. If the switch stays on when the door is closed, the dome lights stay on until the battery is dead. The car dies in the freeway when running, it might be affecting the computer now. This has to be recall its a safety issue.
When backing out of my driveway my drivers side airbag deployed for no reason. I didn't hit anything. Now the engine starts then stalls. All dash lights are now out.
Driver side lock switch, unable to lock my 02 jetta with remote key. Interior light on the driver door constantly stays on.
While driving home at night, my son and I smelled smoke. We exited the vehicle, checked under the hood, but found nothing. We continued home and parked in the garage. Still smelling smoke, we re-inspected the vehicle, but were unable to determine an origin or any visible evidence. Both seat heaters were on during the drive home, but the seats showed no visual signs of damage after parking. Next morning we opened the vehicle to discover the cabin was filled with smoke with an approximate 1?hole burned up thru the passenger seat on the lower right bolster. Apparently the seat heater initiated a thermal event which erupted in a seat fire after we turned off the ignition and parked the car in the garage. Fortunately, the fire did not engulf the vehicle or it could have caught our home on fire, resulting in possible injury or death to my family. I believe we dodged a bullet because the seat fire did not sustain itself and engulf the vehicle. Vw has agreed to repair the burned seat at their expense and make a mitigation repair. However, vw has declined my request to cover any similar mitigation repair to the other seat. In october 2004, the federal safety agency odi concluded that ?driver-side seat heater may fail or malfunction due to normal vehicle use? But ?such failures do not pose a significant risk of injury or fire.? The odi stated the investigation did not conclude that a safety-related defect does not exist and the agency will take further action if warranted by the circumstances. (ea04010) evidence and reports indicate that seat heater caused thermal events in both driver and passenger seats in the vw jetta have been an issue for nearly 10 years now. Near misses continue to occur. I believe that a seat fire is a significant safety concern. I would encourage the federal safety agency to re-examine the circumstances to determine if further action is warranted.
2002 volkswagen jetta. Consumer writes to express discontent regarding repairs at local dealer *tgw the consumer stated three days after retrieving the vehicle from the dealer, for maintenance work, the vehicle broke down on the highway. The problem was determined to be the alternator. *jb the consumer stated he was involved in a hit-and run accident in which the rear end impact caused damage to the transmission. The consumer stated even though the vehicle was repaired, he continued to experience problems with the transmission. Updated 12/08/11
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that when trying to use the turn signal they would not turn on; nor does the hazard warning lights function properly. The vehicle was inspected by an independent mechanic who advised her that there was an electrical failure because no fuses had blown out. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current miles were approximately 150,000.
Vehicle shut down while driving twice, could result in car being disabled while driving at any speed any where becoming a very dangerous situation for the driver and an obstacle on the road for other drivers to try to avoid. Volkswagen dealership isolated this to a faulty harness connecting the alternator tothe fuse located on top of the battery. The harness and the fuse box had to be replaced. The dealership said this problem is only common to vw beatles and vw jetta, because they said the car was 2002 it was out of warranty not covered. I was more concerned of the safety of life and property this problem would cause. I filed a complaint with the attorney general john krogers office in oregon, they sent me a letter stating they had forwarded this complaint to the national highway traffic safety admin in washington dc . I tried to contact them by phone, they asked if I had a confirmation # . I haven't as of yet received a letter or phone call.
Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen jetta. While driving 55 MPH the vehicle lost power and decreased speed to 10 MPH. He was able to avoid a crash and drive onto the emergency lane. He was also able to drive the vehicle to his residence. The dealer stated that the ignition coil caused the vehicle to lose power. The manufacturer stated there were no related recalls. The failure and the current mileages were 52,000. Updated 03/01/10 *bf the consumers daughter hit the front seat and sustained a bloddy nose. Updated 09/16/10
Battery continues to drain over night. Changing batteries did not solve the problem. Online forum points to radio draining the battery. Pulling fuse and resetting radio tends to stop the process, but then it returns after a couple of days.
1. 2002 vw jetta wagon electrical system failure on expressway caused vehicle to stop & unable to start 9/6/09. Vehicle towed to dealer. 2. Vw dealer failure description, wire harness corrosion caused restriction in power flow in line which caused alternator to overwork and overheat wire harness and fuse panel. This extensive enough to cause melting of both wire harness and fuse panel over top of battery. 3. Vw dealer repair and replace wire harness and fuse body. 4. Vw customer care took information on my complaint about defect and potential safety issue but would do nothing referring me back to the dealer. My question was why did vw have such a defect where there was no fusible link that would fail first preventing the extensive damage that occurred.
The bottom seat heater on my 2002 vw jetta either doesn't work at all or if it turns on, it overheats the extreme right side of the seat. A small hole is burned in the upholstery, and the foam underneath is melted, deforming the appearance of fabric above. This could result in a burn to the skin on the right side of the leg if it goes undetected. I see this as a huge safety issue.
While driving the vehicle, smoke and a burning smell started to emerge from the cabin instrument cluster. I pulled to the side of the road and now noticed that the fuel level display and the coolant temperature display are not working even though engine was a normal operating temp and the fuel tank was just filled up.
Car will suddenly stop working. Vw corporate will not address as the car has hand many issues and is no longer in warranty. Spent $2k with vw dealer to diagnose. Appears to be electrical in nature. While driving the car suddenly stop running and all electrical stops bring car to a halt. Issue began 9/07 and dealer has had car in shop about 2 months in total.
I have 2002 jetta having the same electrical problem. The door / latch switch has a malfunction and won't come on when the door is open. The dome light does not come on and the light on the door does not come on. Which can cause an accident if the vehicle coming from the rear of the vehicle and can't see the door is open at night. The dealership won't replace it even though it was still under warranty at the time. There are plenty of people having the same problems and pays the dealership a lot of money to have it fixed. Obviously it is a problem with all jetta that year. The dealership should have a recall the defective switch be replace. Could potentially cause a fire.
Ignition coil!!! Was entering interstate and accelerated and engine lost a lot of power and started running roughly. Was lucky enough to be only a few miles away from a vw dealership (not my own, we were out of town). They said #1 coil failed, be careful because the rest will probably follow shortly, but recommended I wait for another one to fail and then replace the rest. $230 and 16 days later, another failed. Was not accelerating hard, just normal hwy driving. Started doing some research, found out this is a major problem and has been known for 5 yrs!!! Will complain to high heaven to get these replaced free of charge. I understand normal wear and tear and a random part here and there failing, but a 5yr old problem is a little bit harder to understand. Dealership and vw need to practice better business practices and I don't know why this hasn't been an official recall yet. Losing power at 65mph on an interstate is very dangerous, no matter what vw or the federal safety agency says. What is it going to take? Deaths? I hope I can get this resolved to my satisfaction by the dealers and vw.
My 2002 vw jetta tdi has many electrical problems. The one that might be a safety factor is the micro switches in the door latches. The doors with faulty switches don't know if there open or closed. When open the safety light on the door does not come on to alert oncoming vehicles that a door is open. If the switch stays on when the door is closed, the dome lights stay on until the battery is dead. The vw dealer just "jerked" me around until the warranty had expired. (fredericton vw). Since the part(s) for this repair are expensive, I feel that vw should recall all vehicles to replace the switches and door latches. Mel moir
Manufacturer refuses to reimburse me for work done for a manufacturer recall not performed at a dealership,even though car could not be driven there due to recall defect and mechanic came to my house to repair the defect with an authorized manufacturers part
Check engine light continuously comes on, completed recall for brake switch, epc light continues to come on, car stalls while waiting for a light to change very dangerous. After a night of rain, leak in passenger side floor mold growing car will have a very hard start or no start at all in the morning, replaced battery 3 times. Changed o2 sensor 2x, car burns oil continuously, interior lights go out when they feel like it, brake lights die out fast, changed brake lights and signal lights at least 5x.
In regards to investigation dp05004, I also experienced this same problem about 2 1/2 years ago. My 2002 volkswagen jetta engine lost power, and stalled. When the dealer checked my car they said it was my ignition coil and didn't inform me that there was an investigation. I was told I had to pay for the coils, which I did. I have a copy of my paperwork for the repairs. Is there anything I can do?
No events lead to this problem. The original battery in the vehicle was changed out due its age. Over the past 4 months I have changed out the battery twice. On more than at least 20 different times, I would go to my vehicle in the morning to start it up and the battery would be completely dead. No lights, radio or any other devices were left on in the vehicle, to drain the entire battery to nothing within the span of 10-12 hours. I have taken it the auto shop on several occasions to have a voltage test done on the battery, alternator and starter with negative results every time for a parasitic drain of the battery. The alternator is in perfect working order and does not need replacing. So far the has been nothing that can be done other than jump start the vehicle. During the 10 or so hours I am work and leave for the day, I have had absolutely no issues. If the vehicle is not driven over the weekend, come monday morning it is dead. I have just recently changed out the battery and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it but yet its dead if left for more than 12 hours.
Purchased used 2002 vw jetta 1.8 turbo (5 speed) with 34,000 miles still under warranty. Taken to dealership for blown fuses (cigarette lighter), trunk latch, center console, and transmission repairs. Fuse problem was ongoing. Within a few months, a local mechanic installed a small boost gauge on the dash, which was wired into a 10 amp fuse. Within five days, the car was being backed out of the driveway when smoke began pouring from all the dash vents. The wire harness, fuse block, and controller components located behind the dash were destroyed by fire. Vw of america prepared to send investigators to nm, but when they discovered gauge wiring may have contributed, they did not investigate. Have read of other electrical fires behind instrument panel, dash, since this time. Our son was driving the car at the time of the fire, but was able to get out.
2002 jetta with a safety recall- replaced brake light switch customer states that the dealership refused to fixed the recall**cc the vw service center and customer care informed the consumer the vehicle was out of warranty and they had no obligations to pay for towing or any other cost associated with the vehicle, including the last recall regarding the brake light switch that the consumer has replaced on 3 separate occasions. The consumers daughter had experienced the vehicle locking up as a result of the defective brake switch. The instrument panel failed and the consumers daughter was unable to read the panel. The consumer stated in the past, the trunk latch failed as well as a broken bolt on the transmission, the drivers side seat belt and the egr all had to be replaced. The door latch failed because the lock signal was not working. *jb the consumer stated that he received a recall for his daughter's vehicle, this is the 3rd brake switch not to mention over $800 in unwarranted charges from the dealership. The consumer stated he was hoping that this classifies the vehicle as a lemon. The consumer stated would like dealership to review the over charges or buying the vehicle back.
Engine harness wiring problems - check engine, glow plug and air bag indicators turn on power intermittent - wipers stopped functioning.
(1) many electrical anomalies. Loss of air condition. Dealership advises it is coolant migration causing electrical/power problems. Coolant migrating from coolant bottle into the electrical harness and into all electrical systems. (2)coolant migration has caused severe electrical problems and the vehicle must be re-wired. Cost to me $310.-to be determined(probably 6-10,000$) (3)dealership refused to assist with getting vw of america to correct the problem at their cost. Vw of america refused to correct the problem at my request. Vw has known since 2001 (see technical bulletin 97-01-01) that the coolant bottle is defective and has not recalled it, or provided technical bulletins as to how to prevent it. Dealer advises the car is not safe to drive in its present condition.
Failure of ignition coil pack as described in the federal safety agency action number dp05004. Coil pack failure was diagnosed by dealership service department (where we had the car towed after it died on an interstate highway). The dealership intends to bill me about $700 to replace the coil pack. When I mentioned the customer satisfaction campaign cited in the action summary on your website, both the dealership and the vw customer care center said they had no information about it and would not honor it.
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