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2002 Volkswagen Gti Recalls & Complaints

2

open safety recalls on record

Serious

141 owner complaints filed · Severity Index 0.43 · updated 2026-08-07

The recalls

Serious07V063000

Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights:Switch

THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Moderate04V584000

Exterior Lighting:Hazard Flashing Warning Lights:Switch

THIS MAY RESULT IN INTERMITTENT OR INOPERATIVE TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER FUNCTION.

Remedy & full details

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HAZARD FLASHER SWITCH/RELAY KIT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HAZARD SWITCH AND FLASHER SYSTEM FUNCTION MAY DEGRADE OVER TIME BECAUSE OF DISTORTION AND MATERIAL TRANSFER OF THE CONTACTS OF CERTAIN HAZARD SWITCH RELAYS WHICH OCCURS DUE TO SUBSTANTIALLY INCREASED ELECTRICAL CURRENT LOAD FROM HIGHER WATTAGE TURN SIGNAL BULBS.

Complaint volume

141 this model-year 8 median, same year

Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.

What owners reported happened

2Crashes
0Fires
14Injuries
0Deaths

Across 141 complaints. Severity Index 0.43.

Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.

What owners report most

Electrical System · Ignit…31 · 22%Wheels14 · 10%Air Bags · Side/Window12 · 9%Air Bags9 · 6%Wheels · Rim8 · 6%Electrical System5 · 4%Visibility · Power Window…4 · 3%Unknown Or Other4 · 3%
  1. Electrical System:Ignition — 31 reports
  2. Wheels — 14 reports
  3. Air Bags:Side/Window — 12 reports
  4. Air Bags — 9 reports
  5. Wheels:Rim — 8 reports
  6. Electrical System — 5 reports
  7. Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls — 4 reports
  8. Unknown Or Other — 4 reports
  9. Power Train:Clutch Assembly — 4 reports
  10. Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs — 4 reports

What to do

  1. Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
  2. Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
  3. Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.

Other model years

1995 (2) · 1996 (1) · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 (2) · 2000 (3) · 2001 (2) · 2002 · 2003 (1) · 2004 (1) · 2005 (1) · 2006 (2) · 2007 (1) · 2008 (1) · 2009 (2) · 2010 (1) · 2011 (2) · 2012 (2) · 2013 (2) · 2014 (1) · 2015 (6) · 2016 (4) · 2017 (2) · 2018 (3) · 2019 (4) · 2020 (3) · 2021 (1) · 2022 (6) · 2023 (5) · 2024 (2)

Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.

Questions

Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?

Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.

Do I pay for recall repairs?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.

Why are there complaints but no recalls?

Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.

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