2002 Volkswagen Jetta lights problems

51 complaints (7% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 65,000. 1 crash reported.

owner complaints: 51
of this car's complaints: 7%
typical mileage: 65,000
crashes: 1
recalls: 4

Which part fails

Brake lights: switch
28
Brake lights
6
Hazard flashing warning lights: switch
4
Turn signal: switch
2
Tail lights
2
Turn signal: flasher unit
1
Turn signal
1
Tail lights: switch
1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k

25k-50k

50k-75k

75k-100k

100k-125k

125k-150k

150k-175k

175k-200k

200k+

Volkswagen Jetta lights problems in other years

Related recalls

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switchReported February 20, 2007 · 1,002,000 vehicles affected

What is wrong: On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.
Risk: The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
Remedy: Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on april 27, 2007, and will be conducted in several staggered mailings through september 21, 2007. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population may be involved in either this recall or 06v‑183, but not both. The remedy is the same for each recall. Volkswagen dealers will apply the remedy based on the VIN number of the vehicle. Owners may contact vw at 1‑800‑822‑8987.

Recall number 07V063000 · Recall details

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switchReported May 24, 2006 · 646,246 vehicles affected

What is wrong: On certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic or manual transmissions and cruise controls, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly during safety recalls 03v‑265 or 04v‑096.
Risk: The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
Remedy: Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on november 27, 2006. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population may be involved in either this recall or 06v‑183, but not both. The remedy is the same for each recall. Volkswagen dealers will apply the remedy based on the VIN number of the vehicle. Owners may contact vw at 1‑800‑822‑8987.

Recall number 06V183000 · Recall details

Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: switchReported December 16, 2004 · 410,000 vehicles affected

What is wrong: On certain passenger vehicles, the hazard switch and flasher system function may degrade over time because of distortion and material transfer of the contacts of certain hazard switch relays which occurs due to substantially increased electrical current load from higher wattage turn signal bulbs.
Risk: This may result in intermittent or inoperative turn signal and hazard flasher function.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the hazard flasher switch/relay kit. The recall began on march 31, 2005. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1‑800‑822‑8987.

Recall number 04V584000 · Recall details

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switchReported February 20, 2004 · 377,130 vehicles affected

What is wrong: On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction.
Risk: If this happens, the brake lights could become inoperative, or come on and stay on, even though the vehicle is parked.
Remedy: This recall has been superceded by 06v‑183. Owners who have had a remedy performed under this recall should return to their dealer for the redesigned remedy. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1‑800‑822‑8987.

Recall number 04V096000 · Recall details

Related investigations

Brake light switch failureOpened February 28, 2006, closed August 7, 2006

By letters dated may 24, 2006 and august 4, 2006, volkswagen (vw) notified the agency that it is conducting a safety recall (the federal safety agency recall no 06v‑183) involving model year (my) 1998-2002 volkswagen new beetle and 1999-2002 volkswagen jetta vehicles equipped with cruise control.volkswagen?s recall covers 646,246 vehicles.previously, vw recalled these vehicles to replace a defective brake light switch (recalls 03v‑265 and 04v‑096) that was unique to vehicles with cruise control.volkswagen reports that the brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly during recalls 03v‑265 and 04v‑096.volkswagen will install a new design brake light switch.based on volkswagen's safety recall action, this investigation is closed.

RQ06004

Turn signal/hazard flasher failureOpened October 19, 2004, closed December 16, 2004

This investigation was opened on october 19, 2004, based on nine reports on 2000 through 2001 jetta and gti vehicles alleging that the turn signals and or hazard flashers fail to blink, or flash.some of the complainants reported that the lights would blink only a few times and then stop.several of the complainants reported that having the hazard flasher switch replaced repaired their vehicles.by letter of december 13, 2004, volkswagen notified the agency that it will conduct a safety recall of 350,000 model year 2000 through 2002 jetta, golf and gti vehicles to repair the turn signal and hazard flasher system.vw reports 216 owner reports, 4 field reports and 4960 warranty claims on this population of vehicles. Volkswagen dealers will install a new hazard flasher switch/relay kit to remedy the defective vehicles.please see safety recall 04v584 for details.

PE04073

Brake light switchOpened December 17, 2003, closed March 1, 2004

The number of duplicates between odi and manufacturer failure reports cannot be determined due to missing and or inaccurate information.the injury noted above was minor.on february 26, 2004, volkswagen of america, inc. (vw) submitted a defect notification (per 49cfr573) to the federal safety agency advising that certain model year (my) 1999 - 2002 volkswagen jetta vehicles manufacutured with the same brake light switch as recalled under 03v‑265 (my 1998-2002 new beetle) are affected by a safety defect.specifically, if the brake light switch malfunctions, the brake lights could fail to illuminate when the brakes are applied, or could stay illuminated continually even when the brakes are not applied.either condition results in the inability of the brake lights to notify other motorists of vehicle braking, thus increasing the risk of a rear end collision and occupant injury.accordingly, volkswagen is recalling jetta vehicles manufactured from may 1998 to november 2001 to inspect and replace free of charge any affected brake light switches.the recall program, vw code wx, will commence in april 2004.

RQ03010

What 2002 Volkswagen Jetta owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Nov 24, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 86,000 miles · WA

This is a followup on my the federal safety agency complaint with odi 10660489. I would like to bring to your attention the federal safety agency campaign id number 04v584000 which precisely describes the same problem I have encountered with my jetta. Please note that my jetta is also a 2002 model as noted in the above campaign.

Filed Nov 24, 2014 · Lights · 91,500 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated the signal and hazard flashers were inoperable. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 91,500.

Filed Nov 24, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 86,000 miles · WA

First intermittent and then inoperative turn signal and hazard flasher function..

Filed Apr 26, 2012 · Lights · 170,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen jetta. The contact stated that there was an abnormal ticking coming from under the dashboard. The contact took the vehicle to a mechanic and was told that turn signals and hazard switch was failing and needed to be replaced. The mechanic advised the contact that there was a recall for the failure under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 04v584000 (exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: switch). The contact spoke with the manufacturer and was told that the vehicle was not included in the recall campaign. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileages were 170,000.

Filed May 5, 2011 · Lights · MA

Since I have owned the vehicle, the front bulbs on both the blinkers and the main lights go out on a regular basis and have to be replaced. The longer I own the vehicle the more often I have to replace a bulb and these are not bulbs we can replace ourselves and therefore have to take the vehicle to a repair station to fix. I know bulbs need to be replaced but I am talking I am replacing a bulb almost every other month.

Filed Jan 3, 2011 · Lights · 65,000 miles · PA

Headlight lens oxidizing(yellowing). Causing dimmed headlight intensity, lowering night time visibility. Will need to replace lenses this year.

Filed Mar 30, 2010 · Brakes, Lights · 134,221 miles · WI

I have a 2002 volkswagen jetta and I have a brake light switch issue (brake light stays on and a dct(p0571) is set) that was described in the recall/replacement, but the VIN group that this applies to is 3vw---9m-ym000089 to 3vw---9m-2m053565, as you can see, mine is just out side the high VIN. The VIN range should be readdressed to include all 2002 model jettas with cruise control. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.

Filed Jan 15, 2010 · Lights · 96,000 miles · CO

Turn signals and hazard lights only work intermittently. There was a recall issued for a certain number of 02 jettas, but apparently not for this particular VIN number.

Filed Jan 24, 2009 · Lights · 74,889 miles · MD

The turn signal continues to make noise as if it were on at random times while I am driving. This problem has been noted in a recall by volkswagen (id # 04v584000) but my VIN number isn't covered and therefore volkswagen will not fix the problem.

Filed Jan 13, 2009 · Lights · 81,000 miles · NC

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 volkswagen jetta. Intermittently, after the hazard lights were activated, the turn signals would become inoperative. The manufacturer stated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number 04v584000 (exterior lighting:hazard flashing warning lights:switch); however, a technician replaced the brake light switch, but not the hazard lights. The contact would be responsible for the repair costs. The failure mileage was 81,000 and current mileage was 103,000.

Questions about the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta lights

Does the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta have lights problems?

Owners have filed 51 complaints about the lights of the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta, 7% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2002 Volkswagen Jetta lights problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 65,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta lights?

Yes, 4 recalls: 07V063000, 06V183000, 04V584000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Volkswagen Jetta have the most lights problems?

The Volkswagen Jetta model years with the most lights complaints are 2001 (80 complaints), 2002 (51 complaints) and 2011 (42 complaints).