2002 Volkswagen GTI Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 6%of 124 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 45,945miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the visibility of the 2002 Volkswagen GTI, 6% of the 124 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 45,945 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The consumer was coming out of a toll booth at approximately 45 MPH and passenger's side airbag deployed for no reason, resulting in minor injuries. The A/C was inoperative, the passenger side window dropped and would not close, the coil was a problem and the cooling fan had broken.”
NHTSA complaint #10103117, filed 2005-01, 39,000 miles“Window regulator failed. Window was down and when the switch was hit to bring it back up, it remained down and made an awful sound, as if the glass was shredding inside. Window had to be taped up and did not get an appointment to fix it until 2 weeks later”
NHTSA complaint #10005186, filed 2003-02, 7,500 miles“My car window failed only 3 days after I bought it. I was told by the dealers and a representative from the Volkswagen corporate offices that the reason they can't get it fixed in a reasonable amount of time is it is on back order from the factory because the driver's side or passenger's side window clips break in over 50% of new Volkswagen gtis and golfs within the first year.”
NHTSA complaint #765955, filed 2002-08“We purchased this car 8/17/02. On 8/21/02, while parked in our driveway we attempted to put drivers side front window up at which point window glass fell down into door panel. We had to drive 30 miles to the dealer to have repaired. The repair was not finished until 8/21. We were not told of any possiblily of this happening again nor that there was an ongoing investigation or any additional complaints of this type. …”
NHTSA complaint #767172, filed 2002-09Related service bulletins
- 10242996Dec 8, 2014VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10239541Sep 24, 2014Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the Refrigerant Circuit (U.S.Only)
- 10243011May 19, 2014VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242349May 19, 2014VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10239534Apr 18, 2014HVAC, Unpleasant Odor
- 10239533Mar 27, 2014HVAC, Unpleasant Odor
- 10239789Jan 24, 2014To detect which line(s) is inoperative, utilize a volt meter to check for 0 V, which will be present after the open in the grid line. The check must be performed with the engine…
- 10242375Nov 25, 2013VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10242372Nov 4, 2013VW Elsa Newsletter
- 10239532Oct 29, 2013HVAC, Unpleasant Odor
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 7% |
| 2022 | 1 | 3% |
| 2018 | 1 | 6% |
| 2017 | 3 | 6% |
| 2016 | 7 | 10% |
| 2015 | 2 | 2% |
| 2013 | 3 | 9% |
| 2012 | 2 | 5% |
| 2011 | 1 | 2% |
| 2010 | 2 | 4% |
| 2009 | 1 | 1% |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% |
| 2007 | 1 | 1% |
| 2006 | 1 | 2% |
| 2003 | 2 | 4% |
| 2002 | 8 | 6% |
| 2001 | 10 | 14% |
| 2000 | 20 | 44% |
| 1999 | 2 | 25% |
| 1998 | 1 | 10% |
| 1996 | 1 | 11% |
| 1995 | 2 | 11% |
Other parts of the 2002 Volkswagen GTI
42 complaintsAir bags
23 complaintsWheels
22 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsExterior lighting
4 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsEquipment
1 complaintsSeat belts
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Volkswagen GTI
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology