2002 Volkswagen Jetta Electrical System Problems
- 51
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 51 stored complaint records:
- 0 indicate a crash
- 2 indicate injury
- 7 indicate fire
What owners report
- engine light · 5 records
- turn signal · 5 records
- electrical problems · 5 records
- harness fuse · 5 records
- wire harness · 5 records
- incident date · 5 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 60–100k mi | 13 |
| 100–150k mi | 10 |
| 30–60k mi | 8 |
| 1–30k mi | 7 |
| 150–400k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Electrical System · Power Train · Unknown Or Other
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. While stationary and in motion, the vehicle's check engine light stays on. The rear middle passenger seatbelt is not useable. The driver's door remains unlocked after pressing…
ODI 11131795
Electrical System
Known melting fuse box on top of battery. From schematics, appears s180 fuse (coolant fan) as predominant point of failure. Issue has been reported (via web) across numerous models and years. Called vw for fix; as techs appear void of a general consensus to problem/fix. Unfortunately, vw refuses to acknowledge and/or provide solution to customer(s). Refers me to dealer, which is over an hour away. Just need info to…
ODI 11030653
Body · Electrical System
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 volkswagen jetta. While entering the vehicle, the contact noticed that the brake warning light was illuminated and the windows were steaming. In addition, the dashboard was on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. A fire report and a police report were filed. The contact sustained a burned hand injury, but did not need medical attention. The vehicle was towed to the contact's…
Fire reported · 1 injury
ODI 10853472
Electrical System
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 volkswagen jetta. While driving at approximately 35 mph, there was smoke and fire underneath the glove compartment box. The contact exited the vehicle with the child before the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The fire department filed a fire report and extinguished the fire. There were no injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The…
Fire reported
ODI 10761408
Electrical System
Faulty fuse panel in engine compartment (the one situated on top of the battery, not the panel in the cabin). *tr
ODI 10650332
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
This is a followup on my nhtsa complaint with odi 10660489. I would like to bring to your attention the nhtsa 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. *tr
ODI 10660504
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting
First intermittent and then inoperative turn signal and hazard flasher function.. *tr
ODI 10660489
Electrical System · Fuel/Propulsion System · Vehicle Speed Control
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…
ODI 10622574
Electrical System
While reaching home, i saw smoke coming out of engine, smell of heated plastic, and the alternator warning lite on. Switched off the car and opened the hood. Noted that the smoke and smell was coming from the plastic fuse box that is on the top of the battery and that the fuse box cover had burnt hole. The wire from the alternator to one of the fuses in the fuse box had melted the plastic. I replaced the fuse box,…
Fire reported
ODI 10730855
Electrical System · Engine And Engine Cooling · Vehicle Speed Control
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.…
ODI 10614461
Electrical System · Engine · Power Train
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. *tr
ODI 10583431
Electrical System
Faulty fuse panel in engine compartment (the one situated on top of the battery, not the panel in the cabin). *tr
ODI 10650329
Electrical System
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.
ODI 10534149
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10494990
Air Bags · Electrical System
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. *js
ODI 10455825
Electrical System · Latches/Locks/Linkages
Driver side lock switch, unable to lock my 02 jetta with remote key. Interior light on the driver door constantly stays on. *kb
ODI 10441937
Electrical System · Seats
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…
Fire reported
ODI 10440242
Electrical System
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.
ODI 10403965
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10456739
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10308823
Electrical System
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…
ODI 10283460
Air Bags · Electrical System · Engine
I purchased a certified used vehicle in 2006 from a volkswagen dealer in virginia (volkswagen of dulles). Two months after the vehicle purchase, we noticed the car electrical system shut down while approaching a stop sign in reston, va. The local dealer attributed it to a fuel system problem and charged us for a throttle body cleaning.? Over the course of two years, we had multiple electrical shutdowns, some at high…
ODI 10637624
Electrical System
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. *tr
Fire reported
ODI 10265959
Electrical System
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. *tr
ODI 10253622
Electrical System
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. *tr
ODI 10292133