2002 Volkswagen Jetta: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta: 5 recalls, 702 owner complaints and up to 38 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 2 equipment/tire recalls that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #02V031000 · 2002 · 55,000 vehicles
What's wrong: On some passenger vehicles, short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (ABS).
Why it matters: This can result in a fire.
The fix: Dealers will replace the ABS control unit. Owner notification began March 8, 2002.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #04V096000 · 2004 · 377,130 vehicles
What's wrong: On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles May malfunction.
Why it matters: If this happens, the brake lights could become inoperative, or come on and stay on, even though the vehicle is parked.
The fix: This recall has been superceded by 06v-183.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.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #04V584000 · 2004 · 410,000 vehicles
What's 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.
Why it matters: This May result in intermittent or inoperative turn signal and hazard flasher function.
The fix: 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.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #06V183000 · 2006 · 646,246 vehicles
What's 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.
Why it matters: The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
The fix: 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…
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #07V063000 · 2007 · 1,002,000 vehicles
What's 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.
Why it matters: The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
The fix: 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…
2 aftermarket equipment / tire recalls replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Brakes (hydraulic) Equipment recall #07E023000 · 2007 · 13,128 vehicles
What's wrong: Certain cardone master cylinders with part numbers 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987mza, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, and 11-3156, and with date codes lower than dca7078 sold as replacement equipment for use on the vehicles listed above. The seal on master cylinder can fail and leak brake fluid.
Why it matters: Loss of brake fluid can result in poor braking performance, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
The fix: Cardone will notify owners and offer to repurchase any defective master cylinders. The recall began during April 2007. Owners can contact cardone at 1-800-777-4780.
Engine & cooling Equipment recall #14E007000 · 2014 · 50 vehicles
What's wrong: These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi a4, 2000-2006 Audi tt, 1998-2005 Volkswagen beetle, 1999-2006 golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt May develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.
Why it matters: A failure of the timing belt May cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 71 mention a fire, 75 injuries and 10 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (148): the most common themes are electrical failure (42), stalls / loses power (38), warning light on (19).
- Airbags (108): the most common themes are deploys unexpectedly / inflator (12), fails to deploy (10).
- Engine & cooling (104): the most common themes are warning light on (23), stalls / loses power (22).
- Transmission & drivetrain (103): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (71), stalls / loses power (11).
The 2002 Volkswagen Jetta has 702 owner complaints, ranking #3 of 37 Jetta model years for complaints (2.6× the average Jetta year). Complaints peaked in 2003 (151 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 3 years old, at a median of 52,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2001 (668 complaints, 6 recalls), 2003 (457 complaints, 2 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 35 | 44 | 38 | Diesel |
| 1.9 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 40 | 33 | Diesel |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 29 | 24 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 24 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | Regular |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 28 | 22 | Regular |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 27 | 22 | Regular |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S5) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 27 | 22 | Premium |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 26 | 20 | Regular |
| 2.8 L 6-cyl | Automatic 4-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 19 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta.
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FAQ
Does the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta, plus 2 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2002 Volkswagen Jetta problems?
Owners have filed 702 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (148), airbags (108), engine & cooling (104).
What gas mileage does the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta get?
EPA ratings run up to 38 mpg combined (1.9 L, Manual 5-spd), across 10 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.