2002 Volkswagen Jetta Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 51about this part
- Share
- 7%of 702 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 65,050miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 51 complaints about the brakes of the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta, 7% of the 702 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 65,050 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 3 a fire, according to the filers. 4 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have a 2002 Volkswagen Jetta and I have a brake light switch issue (brake light stays on and a dct(p0571) is set) that was described in the recall/replacement, but the VIN group that this applies to is 3vw---9m-ym000089 to 3vw---9m-2m053565, as you can see, mine is just out side the high VIN. The VIN range should be readdressed to include all 2002 model jettas with cruise control. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.”
NHTSA complaint #10322862, filed 2010-03, 134,221 miles“I was driving my car when all of a sudden my check engine light came on and was flashing and my battery light came on. I was about to switch lanes to pull over and I lost power, brakes, and steering. I just made it into a parking lot about five feet from a building when my car all of a sudden started smoking. I popped my hood but it wouldn't come open. Within about a minute and a half my hood started melting sparks were falling from the underneath of my car and through the grill I could see a small fire. Within two minutes my car was on fire! …”
NHTSA complaint #10676178, filed 2015-01, 146,000 miles“My 2002 vw Jetta has been sitting at the dealership for almost 30 days waiting for an ABS control module. No one at the dealership or vw of america can tell me when the part will be shipped or if it has even been shipped yet. I call every day to find out status, and still no one at this huge corporation has an answer.”
NHTSA complaint #10041515, filed 2003-10, 20,480 miles“I own a 2002 vw Jetta 1.8t. Over the winter my ABS system did not function properly at all! Sometimes it would work and sometimes it wouldn't. Now that it is warmer out it does not work at all! Abs light, traction light, and blinking brake light now illuminate my dashboard. I have read that this is a faulty ABS control unit which many people have had problems with. I simply don't have 1,500 dollars to fix something like this but it would be nice to be in control of my car on snowy wisconsin roads.”
NHTSA complaint #10226350, filed 2008-05, 96,000 miles“I own a 2002 vw Jetta tdi. Three times now I have had a serious incident with my brakes. While driving at low speeds, under 25 MPH, the brake pedal has pulled itself to the floor and sharply applied the brakes while I was driving. My foot was on the accelerator while this occurred. There is also a loud pressure release sound coming from the brake pedal after it applied itself. This happens intermittently and the dealer has not been able to correct it yet.”
NHTSA complaint #10137579, filed 2005-09, 54,000 milesRelated recalls
- 07V063000Feb 20, 2007On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed…Covers: Volkswagen Jetta 2001–2005, Golf 1999–2006, GTI 1999–2006 +3 more
- 06V183000May 24, 2006On certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic or manual transmissions and cruise controls, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction if…Covers: Volkswagen Jetta 1999–2002, Beetle 1998–2002
- 04V096000Feb 20, 2004On certain passenger vehicles, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction.Covers: Volkswagen Jetta 1999–2002
- 02V031000Jan 31, 2002On some passenger vehicles, short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (abs).Covers: Volkswagen Jetta 2001–2002, Golf 2001–2002, NEW Beetle 2001–2002
Related service bulletins
- 10238566Jun 18, 2013If mechanical damage is found to the turbocharger (e.g. damaged compression wheel, loose or broken shaft), it is not enough to just replace the turbocharger.
Brakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 6% |
| 2024 | 13 | 28% |
| 2023 | 11 | 26% |
| 2022 | 12 | 28% |
| 2021 | 26 | 37% |
| 2020 | 7 | 13% |
| 2019 | 30 | 5% |
| 2018 | 1 | 3% |
| 2017 | 15 | 9% |
| 2016 | 23 | 14% |
| 2015 | 19 | 10% |
| 2014 | 18 | 5% |
| 2013 | 22 | 4% |
| 2012 | 37 | 7% |
| 2011 | 28 | 5% |
| 2010 | 55 | 6% |
| 2009 | 205 | 23% |
| 2008 | 23 | 12% |
| 2007 | 44 | 22% |
| 2006 | 30 | 5% |
| 2005 | 14 | 6% |
| 2004 | 12 | 5% |
| 2003 | 22 | 5% |
| 2002 | 51 | 7% |
| 2001 | 77 | 12% |
| 2000 | 45 | 10% |
| 1999 | 31 | 9% |
| 1998 | 11 | 6% |
| 1997 | 2 | 4% |
| 1996 | 2 | 6% |
| 1995 | 23 | 10% |
| 1994 | 9 | 8% |
| 1993 | 1 | 6% |
| 1992 | 2 | 7% |
| 1991 | 2 | 6% |
| 1990 | 2 | 9% |
| 1988 | 3 | 16% |
| 1987 | 1 | 6% |
| 1986 | 1 | 7% |
| 1985 | 3 | 23% |
Other parts of the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
148 complaintsAir bags
108 complaintsEngine cooling
104 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
103 complaintsSeats
101 complaintsExterior lighting
50 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
45 complaintsFuel system
22 complaintsBody and structure
19 complaintsEquipment
17 complaintsVehicle speed control
17 complaintsTires
15 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
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