Used 2002 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan Consumer Reviews
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My Jetta 1.8t with everything
Its awesome! It has all the bells and whistles, the stereo is amazing with an 8 speaker 200 watt amp and the turbo engine just recently upgraded is powerful and lots of fun.
Nothing but problems
I really want to love this car, but I just can't. It's been nothing but problems for me. I've been to the dealership 9 times for repairs in 16 months. Twice for engine problems, the rest for stupid stuff like cup holders that won't pop out, stuck glove box door, doors making noise while driving, etc. It's a great looking car, and has such a great feel to it. Like I said, I really want to love it, but everytime I start to, something else breaks. Judging from the reviews posted here, I'm not the only one with these problem.
Love the turbo!
Best car for the price
I love my car!
I love my VW! I have not had any major problems with it. Runs great and is very comfortable. Handles great in the snow! Gets regular maintenance and oil changes with synthetic oil.
Not Too Shabby
So far, so good. This is a great a car for 2 people. It's quick and stylish. I've never had a car that got me so many compliments. The back seat is a joke however. It's embarassing to have to give anyone a ride. You can actually drive and reach anything in the back-seat without a problem. The sunroof is a little trick to operate at first.
Good price for a good car
A very valuebale car!
Unreliable
This car gets great gas mileage and in my case the mechanical aspects are good. However, i have had numerous problems with my jetta. Both front door sensors broke, my arm rest broke, the glove box door fell off. Both front turning indicator light covers broke. Small but extremely frustrating problems.
Wicked nice car
I bought this car for my wife, and we both love it. 115 HP may seem little on paper, but this car has plenty of power. Only problem was when her key eneded up in the wash. Awesome quality German sedan
2002 Jetta GLI
I've got about 3200 miles on my 2002 GLI. The new VR6/6-speed combo is almost perfect. I was going to buy the GLS 1.8T until I tried the new 24v VR6, and I was hooked. By FAR the best VW manual ever offered. Build quality, ergonomics, and comfort are generally excellent. Nearly everyone that has commented on the car thinks it's much more expensive than it really is. The only thing I'd change is the soft suspension.
don't buy one
2002 jetta. 1) calaber went bad 384.00 each 2) engine light twice 3) sensor switch twice 4) radio stopped working 5) tail lights burning out 6) head lights shut off while driving had to use hi beams to see. It's like non stop problems. I'm trading it in. Never again with VW. Wish I listened.
Never Again
My 2002 1.8T is the worst new car I have ever owned. After a long history of expensive repairs, the coup de grace is that my transmission now has to be replaced at 95,000 miles. A $5,500 repair, almost what the car is worth. I owned two Audis previously which I drove for a total of 13 years. The two of them combined didn't require as much maintenance as the VW. I will never, ever consider another VW.
My car hates me!
Bought my jetta used. Ran great 4 a while then the problems started. 2 water pumps, 2 alternators, all round brakes once a year, hose harness broke causing oil to leak on fire wall, timing belt, lights blow out or short out until you tap them often, all 4 VW caps on wheels fell off. Bumper cover almost fell off, paint peeling on hood, front arm rest lid broke, stereo knobs fell off, radio comes on by itself sometimes causing battery to go dead when car is off and parked, moonroof has a mind of its own sometimes wont close for a few tries, steering wheel and dash trim is peeling. Need a new transmission and emission work which I cant afford so she will sit while I cont. To make pymts on her!
Piece of junk
I bought this car new in 2002 since day one it was an electrical nightmare. Air cond. stopped working first year. It took a month for the dealer to fix. It took 7 trips to the dealer and me figuring that there was a short in the telescopic steering wheel. Besides the at least 50 or so times this car has been in the shop, the best is when the timing belt snapped while backing out of a parking spot ended up costing me $3500 because it has an interference engine where all the valves get bent requiring head to be redone. There was a bulletin stating there was a problem with antifreeze leaking down the wiring harness, of course this happened to my car. Do not buy this car!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Worst car ever!
I owned this car for a total of 4 months with nothing but problems from day one! I had the super-duper 'bumper to bumper' extended warranty that still didn't fix any of the problems that the dealership said it had. It spent more time in the dealership being 'repaired' than it did in my driveway. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR! Volkswagen really messed up with this car.
Happy Driver
This Jetta is my second one and I absolutely love driving it. The handling and road feel are excellent and the styling brings positive comments from other people.
Jetta GLX
I can't say enough about the VW Jetta. My car is equipt with the sports suspension and the 5 speed. I forgot how much fun driving could be. The car handles as a car priced in the mid $30's. For a sport suspension the ride is not rude but you do feel the road. Anything lost in the ride catagory is more than made up in the handling. The interior is laid out wounderfully if you like a driver orientaded car. Materials are first rate for the compact class then some. Makes the back roads to work worth the extra time.
Never Buy This car or a VW Ever
My car is at about 85k and I have had way too many problems with this vehicle. It is by far the worst vehicle I have ever had and I will never buy a VW ever again. I have had to replace the water pump at 62k, the alternator went out, I was just told I needed to replace the catalytic converter, the ect sensor and an addition 2 grand in fixes for a total of 3,200. I had some boots and a cb join that were cracked and leaking that was about 1000 bucks. By far the most unreliable vehicle I have had and hated everything about it. I ripped off the bumper 3 times because it always would catch on the curb because there is no guard on there. Don't buy this car.
another example of overenginered parts
when i bought this car it gave a GREAT FIRST impression. good fit and finish clean lines good overall german paint and body.it was fun to drive plenty of power good not great handling. over all a very seemly sound investment. I have now owned the vehicle for four years 1.5 setting in my garage dead. I have had this car in the shop about five times for dead batterys snapped timing belt bad water pump( its impeller is made out of plastic very bad idea) bad alternator, tail light constantly going out, check engine light comes on in two minutes after dealership resets it but it show no codes, and now something is wrong with the transmission wont go anywhere. overall i would not recommend this car
Goog little ride!
I have a 2001 Jetta and so far so good. The only problem I've had is that recently the sunroof got stuck...while open. The dealership took it and fixed it right away and even gave me a rental car. I commute about 45 miles everyday to work and I feel very safe in my jetta. I think it is reliable and sturdy.
EVERYONE SHOULD OWN A VOLKSWAGEN
I JUST SWITCHED FROM A CIVIC TO A JETTA AND I THINK ITS THE BEST THING IVE EVER DONE. THE JETTA IS SUCH A FUN CAR TO DRIVE AND LOOKS GREAT. YOU GET A LOT FOR YOUR MONEY AND FINALLY I CAN GET THROUGH TRAFFIC WITHOUT A PROBLEM.
Don't waste your money or time
I purchased this vehicle new and within one month; there has been nothing but mechanical/electrical problems. At least every other month something else was and still is breaking and needs repair. The trade- in value is horrible; however after this mornings episode; I made up my mind to finally get rid of this piece of junk. The latest break was found when I went to get gas. The tank release button on the door broke and the gas door can't be opened. After looking throughout the car and trunk for an 'emergency release button'; none could be found. I drove the car to a local station; warranty expired; so this cost will be added to the long list of headaches that came along with this car.
Bang for the Buck!
The perfect blend of style, luxury, and performance; it appeals to true driving enthusiasts for a reason. The interior was designed with the comfort of its occupants in mind. The exterior is understated, yet makes a statement. This car is built solid, and technoligically sophisticated for a $20k price tag.
It's Never Gonna Die
I bought my 1.8t 4dr in early march with 100,000 miles, and I've put it through the works. I'm 19 year old so I'm not the slowest driver, the second day i had it i crashed the hell out of it. I'm not sure how but the air bags didn't deploy, and i was able to drive away with ease. I had to replace many parts including doors, windows, wires. Very easy work considering the dept of it. Since, I've put over 8,000 miles on it and my girl friend had smashed more windows out lol. But overall whenever i get more money I'm definitely gonna consider buying another one. Excellent performance, Decent fuel economy, Kinda small, Big trunk! ;) Great car..
Beautiful Rubbish
I am very mixed about this car. It was a zippy, fun to drive car and the experiences it gave me made the money spent worthwhile. But the money spent was A LOT of money!!! EVERYTHING breaks on this car, from knobs on the stereo, to the coolant expansion tank to the muffler mounting bolts, to the window actuators. It's very expensive to repair and you must get aftermarket upgrades if you want the repairs to last, OEM parts just fall apart in equal amount of time. The engine and tranny will last forever but before long everything else in the car will have been swapped out. If you have a love for VW and some money to spare, get this car, otherwise stay far away from it!
try me honda youll regret it
just got my 2002 1.8t ride is excellent braking awsome. Sound is outstanding, cant change cds if your thirsty i am pleased that this is my only complaint my vehicle also has to have the turn signal replaced at 300 miles??? On the positive side have you ever been in bumper to bumper traffic then seen the perfect opening in cars that would let you leave it all behind? I have and belive me there is nothing more satisfing then letting that turbo suck in air as your heart picks up then whistle it out as you realize the traffic is no longer around you and the only place you see it is in the rearview mirror. Bravo VW
STOP!
Do not buy this car! My engine light is the only electronic item that works, it's always on. Radio, door locks, windows headlights, only work when they want to. You almost have to bring it into the shop for everything because you need a special tool to do anything on the car. I will never buy another VW again! I wouldn't even feel comfortable giving this car to a friend.
never again!
while fun to drive, the jetta has been very dissappointing when it comes to reliability--water pump...fuel pump...ignition switch...indicator switch... seat tracking (3X!)...drivers door window regulator (2X!)...main onboard computer went beserk and locked us out sporadically and spontaneously... had to wait 3 MONTHS for part to repair ignition switch. what would you think?...
Do your research
This jetta has been my dream car for forever, until I purchased it. A month after I bought it would no longer run due to transmission problems. I took it back to the dealer and demanded they fix it, which they did. In the past year I have replaced 2 mass air flow sensors, the main computer for the car, countless other sensors and recently the fuel pump. If you are interested in a VW you better do some research to make sure it's a good fit for you. Jetta's are cute and fun to drive, but if you get a bad one it's going to be a money pit. Also, they are expensive to maintain, my oil changes cost around $70. Make sure you are prepared for all the comes with being a VW owner before you get one!
Good commercials, bad car!
I have had nothing but problems with my 2002 Jetta 1.8T. It looks very good, is fun to drive(when it goes into drive!) But has so many problems in the first two months, that I would strongly urge anyone considering buying one to really reconsider. I can not put my car into drive directly, have to go into 3rd or 4th gear and then sometimes it will go into drive is the largest of the problems.
Love it
I got my black Jetta 1.8T GLS last Friday. It is so much fun to drive and it looks so beautiful. Got the sport luxury package: 17" alloys, sport suspension, and a power sunroof. These cars are built in Mexico, and I don't really trust Mexican quality control. It worries me. The Jetta 1.8T GLS is definitely more bang for the buck than a BMW or Lexus. It's not as nice as those other cars, but I'll be paying off the Jetta in 2 years instead of 5 years for the IS 300. I don't like that the acceleration curve is not very smooth. You have to be careful with all that torque or you are risking whiplash. I also wish it got better gas mileage. (only 22/29)
ouch!
I loved my new Jetta until I dove it for an hour. The seat is very uncomfortable! Am I the only one who finds this to be so? I sure hope it breaks in. Otherwise, I love the car.
Biggest Pile I Have Ever Owned
I was really excited when I bought the car. Been all downhill since. There cannot be a car that is more cheaply made than this. Mechanical issues (hoses, coils, traction control, etc.), interior is literally peeling, seats fall apart, antenna is cracking and falling off, engine cover under the car fell off, front bumper has come off twice. Lost lug caps, front grill caps. I could go on and on. Worst car I have ever owned. Will never buy a VW again.
Fast , Fun & Safe
After weighing all of my options, looking at competitors vehicles. I decided on the best car. The Jetta 1.8T w/ the Tip-Tronic and 17" wheels. The other cars were boring and all looked the same. This one stands out for performance and the "Fun Factor".
Stay away from 2002 Jetta
VW Jetta is not worth a dime. Problems since day 1. Water pump froze up causing timing belt to jump an d ruin engine. 1 Year later water pump froze up again. Constant electrical glitches and other mysterious items. Local VW dealer won't even look at if for less than $120. I would highly recommend staying away from these vehicles. They look nice; however, the quality is garbage.
2002 Jetta GLS 2.0 Automatic
Overall, I am thrilled with my car. I had a 1995 Jetta III, and a 1997 Jetta GT. They were good cars, but don't compare to the 2002 Jetta. In fact, I brag so much about my car that two of the girls in my office are now driving Jettas,
Vw Jetta DO NOT BUY
2002 VW jetta worst car ever made. Water pump went out, electrical issues, transmission went out, heater problems, many other problems also. All this with only sixty thousand miles. By far the worst car ever made..
WOW
Two words: Holy Crap (in a good way) Engine and handling are amazing. Interior design is beautiful. Radio controls on steering wheel offsets cup holders. Worried about more room in back, get a Passat or tell rear passengers to walk and miss out on an unreal ride. Get sports Lux package with manual and you will not be sorry. not by a long shot.
Very happy
We've bought a VW Jetta 1.8 T stick shaft over a year back and are extremely satisfied with the performance. Its a lot of fun...!
Check Engine light was on more than off
Worst decision I ever made was buying this cute zippy car. I experienced all the problems others mentioned and then some. Someone wrote these are simple problems? hahaha Never, as the simple problems always cost four hundred or five hundred dollars because the mechanic would have to pull the engine out to handle those "simple problems" like replacing the thermostat. I had no choice but to get rid of it as it was costing me five to fifteen hundred dollars a month to repair whatever would cause the check engine light to go on and it came on every month! Once I paid off the car, service became more expensive than the car payments. I will never never give the German auto industry another dime.
Great car
This is Jetta #3. The I have had some major problems with the eletrical system with the first two Jetta's I owned. I have heard they had improved with the eletrical system so I decided to buy a 2001 Jetta. I have been very happy with this car and I have not had any problems yet. The car is great on gas and it's fun and comfortable to drive.
nothing but trouble
In 2 yrs, I've had it in the shop to repair a cup holder, center arm rest, remote entry, broken passenger window regulator, broken driver side window regulator, leaky door sealant, and emissions (5 times). Quality feel has been a mirage. Absolute disaster and will never buy a VW again. Large number of 2 yr jettas in the used lot should have been a clear signal.
Great Car
Great car- sophisticated drivetrain, top quality interior materials-i have the sport lux pkg w/17" wheels,and monsoon, love'em.
This Car Is a Lemon
This car is nothing but a problem. The service department is always full so it is just not me having problems. I have had this car over a year and I will list a few of its problems: Air Condition broke, Drivers side window fell out TWICE, speakers broke, brakes went bad after 5000 miles, sunroof broke, interior lights broke and there are many more. Im warning you DONOT buy this car.
Love at first sight!!
I've been a big fan of the Jetta, but more so, the awesome VR6 engine; when I heard that VW was upping the hp from 174 to 200, I was at the dealer asap. I've only had the car for one day, but I'm in love already. This new VR6 engine really has a lot of pull power w/ no hesitation whatsoever (1.8T). The build quality feels BMW/Audi-esque and the suspension is just right. If it was any stiffer, the ride would be too jarring -- I am willing to sacrifice some performance for some ride quality. I can't wait until VW puts out the Jetta/Golf RSi....
9th volkswagen - 1rst major problem
Bought my 9th VW in March - a 1.8T with tiptronic. The car is beautiful to look at and certainly fun to drive, but after hearing strange noises underneath and having it checked out, I now find the entire frame needs to replaced. The dealer has agreed to buy the car back for what I paid for it - I'm going back to a 5-spd. (I think the automatic transmission is very poor) and the regular engine. My last two jettas went 160K and 300K!
A Lada would be better
This is the worst built car I have ever purchased. I have had it for 15 months and the doors have twitched and squeaked since I drove it off the lot. (Dealer has tried several times to repair with no success. They are also a piece of work. They have basically given up on the car and wont even follow up on my calls.) Also, the brake light switch, the turn signal relay and the ventilation fan motor have had to be replaced. There is a problem with a noise coming from the front suspension. The front left power window usually re-opens when it is closed on auto-up. The paint seems very soft as it chips very easily. Overall, a Lada would be a better bet.
Goodness... Where to begin!?
12k miles I have already taken it in 5 times, most recently 2 of my gears in my windows melting which will have my car in service for 20 days. 4k miles check engine light goes on and car dies on freeway. dealership laughs at me almost dieing than steals my keychain when I go get my house key from them. 5k miles front window breaks when Im washing my car in 75 degree weather, and in the shade, also knocking on right weel when I reverse. This car is a pile of crap built in Mexico. Do not buy a VW unless you have a crush on the mechanics because you will be there a lot.
ELECTRIC WINDOWS ... BAD!
I LOVE THIS CARS PERFORMANCE AND AND RIDE. HOWEVER, I HAVE HAD MORE LITTLE PROBLEMS THEN I WANT TO DEAL WITH. THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSAGER WINDOWS HAVE HAD THE "RISER" ARM BREAK 6 TIMES TOTAL IN THE LAST YEAR. IF THE LEMON LAW WASN T SUCH A PAIN IN THE ASS I WOULD DO IT, BUT I THINK I LL JUST TRADE IT IN. SORRY TO BUM OUT ALL THE VW HEADS.
Jetta VR6= (Road+Car+Driver)^(Connected)
I have always wanted a VR6 and boy, I am so happy that I finally got one last year. I bought a used GLX 5-speed manual with all the options and only 26,000 miles. I have since improved the car by conditioning the leather and waxing it a couple of times - that's how much I like this car. It has many features you would not expect on a compact car - rear sunshade, automatic windshield wipers, excellent interior illumination (even with ambient LED lighting), fog lamps, REAL wood trim, excellent leather. However, the best thing of this car is the way you connect to it when you drive it. Around town it is amazingly fun to drive, and at high speeds, it is dead stable. Great European car!
Lots of noise
The 2002 Jetta GLX makes lots of rattling noises. It is far from a quit ride. If you are looking at the Jettas make sure to check out the service department. You will spend a ton of time there and it often difficult to get a loaner car.