2002 Volkswagen Jetta Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta, and owners have filed 702 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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5 safety recalls for the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Switch (exterior lighting)
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. Vehicles within the make,…
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Switch (exterior lighting)
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.
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…
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Switch (exterior lighting)
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.
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.
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Switch (exterior lighting)
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Remedy: This recall has been superceded by 06v-183.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 1-800-822-8987.
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Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (service brakes)
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 free remedy within a…
702 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta have filed 702 complaints with NHTSA; 31 describe a crash and 71 describe a fire. Reports cite 75 injuries and 10 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 62,330 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 150 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“I was driving on the freeway and the airbags deployed. No one hit me and I don't hit anyone.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 18, 2023 · Air bags
“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,”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 26, 2018 · Electrical system
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta (Jetta Wagon). Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19–39 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 17–35 / 24–45 |
| Fuel | Diesel, Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Compact Cars, Small Station Wagons |
| Engine | 4/6 cyl, 1.8/1.9/2/2.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S5); Automatic 4-spd; Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Volkswagen Jetta model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Jetta model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
How do I know if my 2002 Volkswagen Jetta has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volkswagen dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V031000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Volkswagen models
- Passat7,705 complaints
- Beetle2,596 complaints
- Tiguan2,300 complaints
- Atlas1,999 complaints
- Golf1,439 complaints
- GTI1,405 complaints
- ID.41,007 complaints
- Cc983 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.