Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Volkswagen Jetta owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Headlight lens become very milky. Light will not shine on road. Can't see the road or other cars. Can cause damage and death to others. Volkswagen should make them lasts longer and replace all milky headlighs with new ones. All 1999-2005 jettas 1998-2005 passats have this problem. Go to any Volkswagen dealer and you will see the problem.
1. Driving during a early winter snow storm in northern in. Driving at constant speed on interstate in 4th gear. All of a sudden the glow plug light came on and started to blink. It then blinked on and off for the next 2 hours till I arrived at my destination 2. After I got to my destination I looked up what the blinking glow plug light could mean on the internet. A vw chat page said to check my rear tail lights. I went out side and restarted the car, same light started to blink and the tail lights did not work. Emergency flashers worked as well as turn signals but no brake lights. With the heavy snow fall and at night this could have resulted in a large disaster if a vehicle behind me had not seen that I was stopping. 3. I took the car to a vw dealership to be fixed after I read that the brake pedal switch was under recall for failures. …
The epc light came on while I was driving my vehicle. I turned off my car when I arrived at my destination. I read the manual, and it was not helpful. It just stated that I should take the car to a dealer or qualified specialist as soon as possible (note: this is what the booklet says for the majority of items in the owners' manual). Upon returning to my vehicle, I started my car once more. My engine turned over, but the car was unable to shift from park into any other gear. The vehicle had to be towed to an auto shop. Upon further inspection, the auto shop informed me that my car had a "feature" that disabled the car from shifting gears due to a tail-light fuse that blew out. …
Related to NHTSA recall no. 04V096.I am the lessee of a 2002 vw Jetta that has experience a brake light malfunction four (4) times in the past 24 months. The latest failure of the brake lights on the vehicle caused a failure of the lights on deceleration followed by them being stuck in the on position while parked. While repeated repairs of this recurring problem (by the vw dealership) seem to rectify the issue for a period of time, the issue returns. The latest incident nearly caused a rear-end collision on a high-way off-ramp. Maintenance records of this recurring problem were reviewed by vw corp. Factory rep. And the opinion of vw is that they will entertain no further investigation of this incident or repair, nor will they allow me to turn the vehicle in after four (4) instances of brake light malfunctions within 24 months. …
2 times I had to replace a faulty 02 sensor 1st time engine temp sensor. Rear left light burned out 3-4 times within 80 000km. Said it's easier to replace then find the problem at dealership. Have done oil consumption tests 1 litre of oil per 3161km. Saying that this normal. This dealership have recommended flushing the engine. Changing the grade of oil. Do not drive in rush hour traffic. Most of the consumption occurs on the highway and not in traffic. Change the oil instead of 8000 km at 5000km??? This is what Volkswagen has recommended. The most interesting part was watching the mechanic when it consumed the most amount between oil consumption test. He started looking for leaks again & added oil. Rattling in driver side door and window fell into door passenger side. Fixed window and rattling still seems to be noticable.
The turn signal on my 2002 vw Jetta, VIN [redacted] operates at random. This condition sometimes occurs after going over bumps or after completing a lane change maneuver. The turn signal switch is in the center, or "off" position but the turn signal / hazard flasher starts and/or stops at random. Vw's safety recall vx dated March 2005 claims that my vehicle is outside the range of affected vins but clearly this is not the case. Please investigate this concern and consider forcing vw to do a more extensive recall as this problem is not just annoying, it is potentially a safety concern. An accident or electrical fire could possibly result from this condition. Updated 07/16/2012
I own a 2002 Jetta 1.8t manual speed wagon purchased on 3/31/06. Less than four months out of warranty, my brake light switch has failed. There has been numerous recalls on 2002 Jetta's with the same defective part, however my car's VIN was not included on the recall. As there are few manual wagons produced and manual transmissions seem to decrease the failure slightly, the defective brake light switch on this car was not included in the recall. The defective brake light switch is the same part as the recalled 2002 jettas and should be included in the recall or at least be required to be replaced by vw as it is a known faulty part. I would like to include my VIN on the recall as it is using the same defective part (as the recalled vehicles).
On 7-30-2005 I drove approximately 15 miles and while stopped refueling noted that the brake lights were on despite the vehicle being off and the lights off. The brake lights remained on continuously until the brake switch was replaced at chaplin's Volkswagen in bellevue, washington on 8-2-05. Vw has informed me that my VIN number is not within the recall they had on brake light switches. However, when I was at the dealership two other newer vw jettas were also there for the same problem and the dealership acknowledged they see this problem frequently. Obviously the issue has not been taken care of through 2004 (newest model presented at the dealership). Fortunately the vehicle was not rear ended en route to the dealership.
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 NHTSA 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.
Way to many to list here. I have had problems from the start. More than $7000 worth of repair (plus more that was covered by warr) the final item that caused me to say I would never consider another vw product was the engine damage caused by a timing belt failure. All services were performed at the dealership. The users manual states inspection of the belt at services (that I paid for) and replacement at 120,000 miles. I only had 92,000 miles. It will cost $5,000 to repair the engine. It is not cost effective to repair this car. It was a great car to drive but quality control is poor at best.
Related recalls
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
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.
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
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…
Exterior lighting › Hazard flashing warning lights › Switch
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.
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
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.
NHTSA investigations
Brake light switch failure
By letters dated May 24, 2006 and August 4, 2006, Volkswagen (vw) notified the agency that it is conducting a safety recall (NHTSA 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…
Brake light switch
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 national highway traffic safety administration (NHTSA) advising that certain model year (my) 1999 - 2002 Volkswagen jetta vehicles…
Turn signal/hazard flasher failure
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…
Headlight complaints in other Jetta years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the lights of the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta, 7% of the model year's 704 complaints. The component named most often is brake lights › switch (28 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Volkswagen Jetta headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 07V-063 (switch, Feb 20, 2007); NHTSA recall 06V-183 (switch, May 24, 2006); NHTSA recall 04V-584 (switch, Dec 16, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Volkswagen Jetta headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 71,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to lights problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.