2002 Volkswagen Jetta Engine cooling Problems
- Complaints
- 104about this part
- Share
- 15%of 702 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 50,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 104 complaints about the engine cooling of the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta, 15% of the 702 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 50,000 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Vw Jetta 2002. Car is 21/2 yrs old and has been to dealer 4 times. The ignition coil has failed 2 times. The engine light had to be replaced and the seloniod also had to be replaced. All were under warranty. Vw needs to get the quality of their cars up to par. Once my lease is done I am turning the car in and will not get another vw.”
NHTSA complaint #10102851, filed 2004-12, 6,000 miles“Volkswagen Jetta 2002 cooling fan failure/ inoperative I've been trying to locate the problem for about 2 months with no luck and I also did research on the web and there are quite a few people that have this same exact issue someone please help.”
NHTSA complaint #10267665, filed 2009-05, 75,000 miles“My 2002 vw Jetta has smelled of melted crayons since the day that I bought it. I am not alone...just doing a google search brings up a lot of posts. Vw of america is aware of the problem and is not doing anything to help those of us with this problem. The smell is so bad that it gives me a headache if I can't have the windows down. Turning on the heat makes the smell even worse, so I am dreading the cold winter. I don't know what breathing in these fumes is doing to my health.”
NHTSA complaint #10359178, filed 2010-10, 4 miles“I had both the passenger side window and the driver side window fall into the door frame within a matter of months. Both times the windows were fixed, however, they were reluctant to fix the problem as if it had been my fault. I have a small child and I don't think he appreciates asphyxiation from so much wind in his face on the long drives to the dealer to be replaced. …”
NHTSA complaint #10018863, filed 2003-05, 1,000 miles“I have a 2002 Jetta gls tdi. I am constantly replacing glow plugs. Have a coolant temp code reading for quite some time and also fuel injection pump, which is probably what is causing glow plugs to go bad.”
NHTSA complaint #10215472, filed 2008-01, 50,000 milesRelated service bulletins
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Engine cooling: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 2% |
| 2023 | 1 | 2% |
| 2019 | 2 | 0% |
| 2017 | 2 | 1% |
| 2016 | 1 | 1% |
| 2015 | 3 | 2% |
| 2014 | 6 | 2% |
| 2013 | 4 | 1% |
| 2012 | 8 | 2% |
| 2011 | 25 | 4% |
| 2010 | 71 | 8% |
| 2009 | 72 | 8% |
| 2008 | 7 | 4% |
| 2007 | 9 | 4% |
| 2006 | 54 | 9% |
| 2005 | 41 | 17% |
| 2004 | 37 | 16% |
| 2003 | 45 | 10% |
| 2002 | 104 | 15% |
| 2001 | 109 | 16% |
| 2000 | 121 | 28% |
| 1999 | 78 | 22% |
| 1998 | 15 | 8% |
| 1997 | 11 | 20% |
| 1996 | 1 | 3% |
| 1995 | 26 | 12% |
| 1994 | 20 | 17% |
| 1992 | 6 | 20% |
| 1991 | 5 | 16% |
| 1990 | 7 | 32% |
| 1989 | 2 | 7% |
| 1987 | 3 | 17% |
| 1985 | 2 | 15% |
Other parts of the 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
148 complaintsAir bags
108 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
103 complaintsSeats
101 complaintsBrakes
51 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 27, 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