Volkswagen Golf Complaints (2002)
74 consumer complaints on file.
- #10177056December 27, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THERE IS A FAULTY BRAKE SWITCH WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO BE LOCKED IN PARK. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO A DEALER FOR REPAIRS. OTHER MODELS OF THE 2002 GOLF HAVE A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10177065December 27, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
TL* - THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE CONTACT HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT HE HAD A FAULTY BRAKE SWITCH WHICH KEPT THE CAR IN PARK. THE DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THEIR WAS A RECALL O FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK UPDATED 02/16/07.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10177163December 27, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY 2002 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF ALL FAILED TO OPERATE. VW DEALER (CLASSIC VOLKSWAGEN IN ESCONDIDO, CA) DETERMINED THE PROBLEM WAS A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. VW DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10176197December 14, 2006POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
ROLL PIN THAT RETAINS DIFFERENTIAL SPIDER GEAR PIN BACKED OUT CAUSING LARGER PIN TO CONTACT INSIDE OF CASE. THE FAILURE INCLUDED A LARGE HOLE IN TRANSMISSION/ DIFFERENTIAL CASE, GEAR AND BEARING DAMAGE. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10175459December 7, 2006AIR BAGS
THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS IN MY '02 VW GOLF DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON WHEN I WENT FROM A STOP TO A START, BARELY GOING OVER 5 MPH. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10174758November 30, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
ALL BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERABLE. BULBS ARE FINE. THIS WILL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE CAR IS REAR ENDED. THERE IS AN EXISTING RECALL, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V096000 HOWEVER, IT APPLIES TO THE 1999 TO 2002 VW JETTA ONLY. I DRIVE A GOLF, WHICH IS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL CAMPAIGN, HOWEVER USES THE SAME PARTS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10174449November 27, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
VW GOLF 2002 60K TURN SINGALS KEEP ON CLICKING. POSSIBLE LINK TO USING ARMORALL POLISH? *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10168439September 16, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
I HAVE A 2002 VW GOLF, THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON MY CAR HAS BROKEN 4 TIMES IN THE 4 YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR. THE LAST TIME IT HS HAPPENED MY CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND I HAD TO GET MY CAR TOWED. EACH TIME THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY AND IT WAS REPLACED. THIS IS A VERY FRUSTRATING PROBLEM AND ITS VERY TIME CONSUMING. I BELIEVE THAT VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10167116August 30, 2006VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW COMES OFF TRACK. WINDOW FALLS INTO DOOR AND WINDOW CAN NOT BE CLOSED. THIS HAPPENED TO ME AS I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 8 WEEK OLD DAUGHTER AND 3 YEAR OLD SON. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS ALOT OF WIND COMING INTO CAR ON YOUNG CHILDREN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY VW OWNERS, VW HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS DUE TO THIS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10166460August 24, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, MY WIFE AND I OWN A WHITE, 2002, VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. MY WIFE HAS HAD THE OIL CHANGED ON THE VEHICLE AT A JIFFY LUBE IN NAPA, CA. SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE. RECENTLY SHE NOTICED AN OIL LEAK. MY WIFE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC IN CLEARLAKE, CA. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE OIL FILTER WAS LOOSE AND SUBSEQUENTLY FIXED THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO LEAK OIL. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE MECHANIC IN CLEARLAKE. UPON RAISING THE VEHICLE, THE MECHANIC LOCATED THE OIL DRAIN PLUG. THE DRAIN PLUG WAS LOOSE. THE DRAIN PLUG WAS REMOVED AND DETERMINED TO BE A CHEVY TRUCK DRAIN PLUG. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE OIL PAIN, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT IT HAD BEEN STRIPPED AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. I HAD THE OIL PAN REPLACED AT A COST OF $401.71. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO THE JIFFY LUBE IN NAPA. BASED ON MY CONVERSATIONS WITH THE OWNER, SENIOR MANAGER AND THE MANAGER, IT IS THEIR CONTENTION THAT THEY ARE NOT AT FAULT FOR THE DAMAGE ON MY VEHICLE. THEY EXPLAINED TO ME THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS THE HIGHEST INCIDENT OF PAN STRIPPING COMPARED TO OTHER MANUFACTURES. IT IS THEIR OPINION THAT THE NEW OIL PAN WILL ALSO STRIP. JIFFY LUBE HAS AGREED TO PAY ME THE ABOVE MENTIONED COST OF REPAIRING MY VEHICLE. AS PART OF THE REPAYMENT, THEY HAVE REQUIRED ME TO WRITE TO NTSA AND THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION TO RECEIVED MY FUNDS. PLEASE USE THIS LETTER AS PART OF ANY ON GOING INVESTIGATIONS AS TO THE FAILURE OF VOLKSWAGEN OIL PANS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10161948July 10, 2006EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THE GOLF IS THE SAME BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THE JETTA. THEY HAVE THE SAME PART NUMBER AND EVERYTHING. THEY ALSO FAIL AT THE SAME RATE, BUT ONLY THE JETTA BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS RECALLED. WHEN IT FAILS, YOU CANNOT GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK AND YOUR BRAKE LIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, WHICH IS A SAFETY HAZARD. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10161157June 30, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
I HAD AN OIL CHANGE DONE ON MY CAR AND THE DRAIN PLUG STRIPED OUT THE THREADS. THE OIL PAN IS MADE OF ALUMINUM AND THE PLUG IS MADE OF STEEL. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10160645June 24, 2006AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE PARKS HIGHWAY NEAR TALKEETNA, ALASKA IN MY 2002 VW GOLF AND HAD THE SIDE-CURTAIN AND PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAGS DEPLOY SUDDENLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. 5 PERSONS WERE IN THE CAR, ALL EXPERIENCED A LOUD BANG AND A CAR FULL OF ACRID SMOKE, TWO WERE STRUCK AS THE BAG DEPLOYED. I STOPPED AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO CHECK OUT THE PASSENGERS AND FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED. NO DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE VEHICLE TO CAUSE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, AND IT WAS IN NO WAY IMPACTED OR SUBJECTED TO EXTREME DRIVING FORCES. I BELIEVE MY CAR TO BE DEFECTIVE AND AM SEEKING PAYMENT FROM VOLKSWAGEN. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10158622May 30, 2006AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
SPONTANEOUS AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT ON RIGHT SIDE OF MY 2 DOOR 2002 VW GOLF TDI WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH BLACKTOP ROAD. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE LEFT SIDE CURTAIN AND SEAT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED BY THEM SELVES. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HIT A BUMP OR POTHOLE OR ANYTHING ELSE IN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HIT BY ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO OR DURING THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. MY WIFE WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND WAS HIT BY THE DEPLOYED AIR BAG. SHE HAD A RED SORE ON HER RIGHT ARM AND HAD HEARING PROBLEMS IN HER RIGHT EAR FOR ONE DAY. HER HEARING RETURNED TOO NORMAL THE NEXT DAY AND ALL SORENESS IN HER RIGHT ARM WAS GONE WITHIN TWO DAYS. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10158000May 22, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HELLO, MY WIFE HAS A VOLKSWAGEN GOLF. HER VOLKSWAGEN IS HAVING CERTAIN PROBLEMS WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE SUNROOF IS OPERATING WHEN THE CAR IS ON OR OFF BY ITSELF. RAIN IS SOME HOW GETTING INTO THE CAR AND INTO THE OVERHEAD LIGHT. HER TAIL LIGHTS HAVE A MIND OF THERE OWN. SO DAYS THE TAILS WILL WORK AND OTHERS THEY WON'T. I HAVE PHYSICALLY CHECKED THE BULBS AND HAVE PUT NEW ONES IN AND STILL THEY DO NOT WORK. HER RADIO WILL NOT WORK. AND HER TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN LOOKED AT SEVERAL OF TIMES AND STILL CONTINUES TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IS THERE ANYWAY YOU CAN CHECK THESE PROBLEMS? *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10150674February 20, 2006ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, STEERING:COLUMN
THE CAR HAS A TILT/TELESCOPE STEERING COLUMN, AFTER ADJUSTING THE COLUMN THE TURN SIGNALS QUIT WORKING. COULD NOT RESTART THE CAR AFTER TURNING IT OFF BECAUSE IMMOBILIZER WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE KEY. MULTIPLE FUSES WERE BLOWN OUT, INCLUDING THE ONE FOR THE HAZARD FLASHER. UPON INVESTIGATION THE FAILURE WAS FROM THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE STEERING COLUMN, THE INSULATION ON MOST OF THE WIRES WAS CRACKED AND THE TURN SIGNAL WIRES SHORTED OUT. THE INSULATION FOR THE MAIN POWER WIRES RUNNING INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH ALSO WERE CRACKED, IF THESE SHORTED OUT IT COULD HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. MOST OF THE INSULATION IN THIS AREA HAS HARDENED AND IS NOT VERY FLEXIBLE, MAKING IT PRONE TO CRACKING. TEMPORARY REPAIR HAS BEEN TAPING UP ALL THE EXPOSED WIRES WITH ELECTRICAL TAPE. HAVE NOT YET CHECKED INTO THE AVAILABILITY OF A REPLACEMENT WIRING HARNESS. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10145249December 14, 2005SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
BURNING SMELL OCCURRED ON OFF-HIGHWAY ROAD, TRAVELING AT SPEEDS UNDER 5 MPH. HOT SENSATION ON THIGH PROMPTED QUICK ACTION TO TURN OFF VEHICLE / SEAT HEATER WHILE GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE A 1/4" HOLE WAS FOUND ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SEAT. HARNESS WAS DISCONNECTED AND SERVICE WAS SCHEDULED. *NM
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10138225September 30, 2005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
1. TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. CAR WAS NOT ABLE TO START. WAS TOWED FOR REPAIR. THIS CHIP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. 2. CAR BEGAN MAKING SEVERE JERKING MOVEMENTS, RANDOMLY. USUALLY THESE JUMPS OCCUR WITHIN THE FIRST 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE BUT CAN OCCUR LATER. THE SEVERITY OF THE JERKS IS ALSO VARIABLE. 3. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT CORRECTED. 4. THE CAR CONSUMES AN UNUSUAL HIGH AMOUNT OF MOTOR OIL (MORE THAN A QUART APPROXIMATELY EVERY 1,000 MILES). 5. VW WAS RUNNING A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST BUT THEY INSISTED THE CONSUMPTION LEVEL WAS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF ENGINE. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NUMEROUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SOON AFTER PURCHASE IN 2002. I HAVE ALWAYS TRIED TO NEGOTIATE WITH VW. I HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS AND THEY HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IN A SATISFACTORY WAY. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE LEMON LAW BUT MY TIME ALLOWANCE HAS EXPIRED. THE CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL JANUARY 2006. IN ADDITION TO THE ENGINE/ TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH ALL MY WINDOWS ROLLING DOWN AUTOMATICALLY AS I TRY TO CLOSE THEM. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS. THIS HAS BEEN EXAMINED OVER 5 TIMES. THE PANELS WERE REPLACED. THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I AM NOT ABLE TO GIVE AN EXACT DATE OF AN INCIDENT BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY. ALL OF THESE DATES HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED. I AM GIVING A DATE OF JANUARY 2002 AS THE INCIDENT DATE (WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED). I FEEL VW HAS EVADED RESPONSIBILITY IN CORRECTING THE PROBLEMS AND HAS CREATED AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. THE NUMBER OF FAILURES AND THE INABILITY TO CORRECT THEM IS UNACCEPTABLE. I FEEL MY PROBLEMS WERE NOT ADDRESSED SERIOUSLY AND WERE DISMISSED WITHOUT CONCERN FOR MY SAFETY AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN GENERAL. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10134334August 26, 2005SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
DT: THE ROD THAT CONNECTS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER BROKE AT THE WELLED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ON 8-20/21-205. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES, AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK UPDATED 11/4/2005 - WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKE BOOSTER WERE REMOVED THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE ROD BETWEEN THE PEDAL AND BOOSTER WAS HOLLOW. *NM
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 2
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10121355May 18, 2005AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED WITH NO PROVOCATION.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0