MYRModel Year Report

2002 Volkswagen Jetta

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2002 Volkswagen Jetta
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
702
Recalls
7

Campaigns on file for 2002

Investigations
7

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Electrical system

22% of complaints

Complaints per year

1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 13 complaints 1986: 14 complaints 1987: 18 complaints 1988: 19 complaints 1989: 28 complaints 1990: 22 complaints 1990 1991: 32 complaints 1992: 30 complaints 1993: 17 complaints 1994: 120 complaints 1995: 220 complaints 1996: 173 complaints 1996 1997: 141 complaints 1998: 192 complaints 1999: 349 complaints 2000: 439 complaints 2001: 668 complaints 2002: 702 complaints 2002 702 2003: 456 complaints 2004: 231 complaints 2005: 248 complaints 2006: 580 complaints 2007: 201 complaints 2008: 188 complaints 2008 2009: 888 complaints 2010: 852 complaints 2011: 607 complaints 2012: 500 complaints 2013: 517 complaints 2014: 386 complaints 2014 2015: 194 complaints 2016: 161 complaints 2017: 159 complaints 2018: 31 complaints 2019: 549 complaints 2020: 53 complaints 2020 2021: 69 complaints 2022: 43 complaints 2023: 43 complaints 2024: 44 complaints 2025: 29 complaints 2026: 6 complaints 2026
1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 13 complaints 1986: 14 complaints 1987: 18 complaints 1987 1988: 19 complaints 1989: 28 complaints 1990: 22 complaints 1990 1991: 32 complaints 1992: 30 complaints 1993: 17 complaints 1993 1994: 120 complaints 1995: 220 complaints 1996: 173 complaints 1996 1997: 141 complaints 1998: 192 complaints 1999: 349 complaints 1999 2000: 439 complaints 2001: 668 complaints 2002: 702 complaints 2002 702 2003: 456 complaints 2004: 231 complaints 2005: 248 complaints 2005 2006: 580 complaints 2007: 201 complaints 2008: 188 complaints 2008 2009: 888 complaints 2010: 852 complaints 2011: 607 complaints 2011 2012: 500 complaints 2013: 517 complaints 2014: 386 complaints 2014 2015: 194 complaints 2016: 161 complaints 2017: 159 complaints 2017 2018: 31 complaints 2019: 549 complaints 2020: 53 complaints 2020 2021: 69 complaints 2022: 43 complaints 2023: 43 complaints 2023 2024: 44 complaints 2025: 29 complaints 2026: 6 complaints 2026
1984: 1 complaint 1984 1985: 13 complaints 1986: 14 complaints 1986 1987: 18 complaints 1988: 19 complaints 1988 1989: 28 complaints 1990: 22 complaints 1990 1991: 32 complaints 1992: 30 complaints 1992 1993: 17 complaints 1994: 120 complaints 1994 1995: 220 complaints 1996: 173 complaints 1996 1997: 141 complaints 1998: 192 complaints 1998 1999: 349 complaints 2000: 439 complaints 2000 2001: 668 complaints 2002: 702 complaints 2002 702 2003: 456 complaints 2004: 231 complaints 2004 2005: 248 complaints 2006: 580 complaints 2006 2007: 201 complaints 2008: 188 complaints 2008 2009: 888 complaints 2010: 852 complaints 2010 2011: 607 complaints 2012: 500 complaints 2012 2013: 517 complaints 2014: 386 complaints 2014 2015: 194 complaints 2016: 161 complaints 2016 2017: 159 complaints 2018: 31 complaints 2018 2019: 549 complaints 2020: 53 complaints 2020 2021: 69 complaints 2022: 43 complaints 2022 2023: 43 complaints 2024: 44 complaints 2024 2025: 29 complaints 2026: 6 complaints 2026

2002: 702 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19800
19810
19820
19830
19841
198513
198614
198718
198819
198928
199022
199132
199230
199317
1994120
1995220
1996173
1997141
1998192
1999349
2000439
2001668
2002702
2003456
2004231
2005248
2006580
2007201
2008188
2009888
2010852
2011607
2012500
2013517
2014386
2015194
2016161
2017159
201831
2019549
202053
202169
202243
202343
202444
202529
20266

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Electrical system

22% · 151 reports

Most commonly citing ignition and module.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Consumer states while she was driving smoke begun to come from the hood area near driver's side. Consumer states she stopped the auto and asked a person for something to put the fire out.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-10-09

While the vehicle is in motion, it "Jerks" Or makes a shaking movement. While the vehicle is in motion, the "Door ajar" Light stays on although all doors have been opened and closed. While stationary, the vehicle brake light is not working.

NHTSA ODI report, 2018-09-26

Also filed under Power train

Air bags

16% · 110 reports

Most commonly citing side/window and frontal.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact was driving 35 MPH and crashed into the rear of a preceding vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The contact sustained injuries as a result.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-07-05

While driving our two month old Jetta on route 80 our driver's side air bags went off without any type of impact. There is no visible damage to the car which was confirmed by the closest volkwagen dealer we drove it to.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-11-22

Lower side air bags depolyed while driving down street. Upper side airbags deployed after driver and two passengers exited vehicle at curb and vehicle was stopped.

NHTSA ODI report, 2002-09-05

Engine and engine cooling

15% · 107 reports

Most commonly citing engine and exhaust system.

FIREDEATH

Power train

15% · 105 reports

Most commonly citing automatic transmission and manual transmission.

CRASHFIREINJURY

Seats

15% · 102 reports

Most commonly citing seat heater/cooler.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the driver's side heated seat overheated and burned through the seat, causing burns to the contact's legs.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-12-19

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta. The contact stated that the heated seats began to spark and burned a whole in the seat. The seats were repaired under a previous manufacturer's recall, but the failure recurred.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-03-29

Safety timeline

7 recalls · 7 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2002Complaint volume 702 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    2002-03-08Service brakes, hydraulic02V031000 On some passenger vehicles, short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (ABS).

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the ABS control unit. Owner notification began March 8, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. I
    2003-11-19Preliminary evaluationClosed 2004-03-30 Driver seat overheats/burns
  4. I
    2003-12-17Recall queryClosed 2004-03-01 Brake light switch
  5. I
    2004-03-30Engineering analysisClosed 2004-10-21 Driver side front seat overheats
  6. R
    2004-04-30Exterior lighting04V096000 On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction.

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. I
    2004-10-19Preliminary evaluationClosed 2004-12-16 Turn signal/hazard flasher failure
  8. I
    2004-12-16Preliminary evaluationClosed 2005-04-01 Inadvertent side-airbag deployment
  9. R
    2005-03-31Exterior lighting04V584000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. I
    2005-08-11Defect petitionClosed 2005-12-08 Engine stalling
  11. I
    2006-02-28Recall queryClosed 2006-08-07 Brake light switch failure
  12. R
    2006-11-27Exterior lighting06V183000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. R
    2007-04-02Service brakes, hydraulic07E023000 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…

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  14. R
    2007-04-27Exterior lighting07V063000 On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.

    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.…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  15. R
    2014-05-01Engine and engine cooling14E007000 The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013...

    Remedy: Gates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

2002 Volkswagen Jetta — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Electrical system: 151 reports on file for this year.
  • Air bags: 110 reports on file for this year.
  • Engine and engine cooling: 107 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 02V031000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 04V096000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 04V584000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 06V183000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07E023000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 07V063000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 14E007000 · Engine and engine cooling
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta?
The most-reported component is electrical system, accounting for 22% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta have?
7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.