Coil failure in 1.8T engine. I have a '02 Jetta 1.8T. One of the four ignition coils died while driving. Result was complete loss of power and sudden stop without benefit of brake lights. The car is then undrivable and needs to be towed to a dealer. This is a huge safety issue as had I been merging into traffic or had someone been behind me, this would have caused an accident. VW acknowledges that there was a faulty design and has since redesigned the part. They also acknowledge that at some point every coil will fail in a simmilar manner. They, however, refuse to replace the other three pre-revision coils with the new part until each of them fails on its own. They further refuse to even sell the part (as it is easily fixed and would keep someone from becoming stranded if they had a spare.) this is absolutely terrible. I will never buy another VW because of they way they have handled this issue. I am afraid to take my car anywhere outside of a few miles because I know that I will end up stranded at least three more times. I did not pay over $20,000 for an unsafe and unreliable car.

- Forest Hills, NY, USA

While traveling on the highway without prior warning the vehicle started shaking and vibrating and shut off. Please fill in additional information dealer is aware of the problem.

- Miami, CA, USA

While driving "check engine" started flashing, and there was a odor coming from the air vents. The dealership indicated after that the number 2 ignition coil had burnt out. A month later the number 1 ignition coil had burnt out. Replaced part on both occasions.

- Cleveland, OH, USA

While traveling on the highway the vehicle will shake and vibrate due to the ignition coil spring. Dealer is aware of the problem. Please provide additional information.

- Richfield, MN, USA

Ignition coils of a 2002 VW Jetta 1.8T "burned out" according to the dealer. He informed me this is a known and widespread issue. This causes the car to behave irratically, causing my vehicle to lunge forward while idling at a red light, and vibrate violently while driving at 20 mph on my residential street. After doing research on the internet talkign to the tow truck driver who towed the car to the dealership, and information from the dealership's mechanic, I have found that a large number of other owners have had this same problem with this part. VW North America will not issue a recall voluntarilly, and this could cause a serious or fatal driving condition if this happens when travelling at highway speeds and the car begins to violently shake and vibrate as it did when I was driving, and I feel that it warrants further investigation by the NHTSA to see if an across the board recall is necessary to protect both owners of these vehilcles, as well as those who share the road with us. I have been told that due to the large number of people who have had the same problem that voldwagen cannot get enough of these coils to replace in those of us who need them, let alone a recall due to the sheer numbers of people who are breaking down due to this... this really should be looked into before it kills someone.

- New York, NY, USA

Twice now, a single ignition coil has failed on my 2002 VW Jetta 1.8T this results in immediate failure of the car to have sufficient driving power, preventing the car from being driven any further. The company has not recalled them _yet_ however thousands of us are having the same problem. My biggest comliant is that they will only fix one coil at a time, virtually guaranteeing that we will be stranded 2 more times in the next few weeks.

- Redmond, WA, USA

My 2002 VW Jetta 1.8T engine started to run rough, check engine light began to blink, and car smelled foul like burning rubber and sulfur. Engine power was significantly reduced. I was in busy traffic, but fortunately, was able to pull over safely. Had car...... towed to VW dealer. No surprise- faulty ignition coil. Although this is known to be a bad part, dealer stated that VW would not replace all 4 coils, just the bad one, because the computer code only indicated one bad coil. Dealer said that VW doesn't have enough replacement parts to repair all 4. just waiting for the others to fail...hopefully in a safe location.

- St. Paul, MN, USA

2002 Jetta 1.8 T, start shaking after driving for 5 minutes. Dealer detected as a failed ignition coil problem.

- Sergeantsville, NJ, USA

>I have a car problem. I have a 2002 Jetta and have made only 9 payments. >> it has been in the shop 2 times in a month, both times it was a "coil" >> problem and 2 coils had to be replaced. I have found out that this is a >> major problem and VW has chosen not to issue a recall on the cars affected by this "coil" problem. I see tons of notes on the internet from people all over the us with the same issue. Some people are having to wait over a month for the part to come in B/C VW cannot make enough, quickly enough. Who should I contact to express my concern and hopefully get a recall issued? I have called VW directly and they just tell me they are sorry >> and offer me $100 gift cert for their merchandise. There are 4 coils in >> the engine, so at this point some of us just have to cross our fingers and >> pray we don't break down again, instead of VW just recalling the cars and >> replacing all of the coils at one time, they say they must be broken to be >> fixed.

- Manassas, VA, USA

2002 Jetta glx (V6). Car has 10,000 miles on it and the second ignition coil pack just failed. Car has been in the shop for 3 weeks waiting for parts this time around. Dealer indicated that several other Jettas have been brought in with the same problem. Other VW owners (passat) indicated similar problems. Other dealers indicate similar problems and long wait times. I see from other complaints on the NHTSA website that this problem is epidemic in other parts of the country as well. The repeated and unexpected failure of the ignition coils is an incredibly serious safety issue for the drivers of these vehicles as well as anyone else on the highway. These coils fail without warning - the second one failed while I was hundreds of miles from home on a very lonely stretch of the western Massachusetts turnpike (no cell phone service of course) early in the morning in a snowstorm!

- Melrose, MA, USA

Coil pack failure (2nd in less than 3000 miles)

- Tulsa, OK, USA

I've taken my 2002 Jetta 1.8T in on 3 occasions to have an ignition coil replaced, and I'm still running the car with the fourth original ignition coil. The service manager even stated, "it's probably only a matter of time before the fourth goes bad, but we aren't authorized to replace it if it's not having any problems."

- Livermore, CA, USA

Failure of ignition coil.

- Fullerton, CA, USA

Coil packs which control spark to the engine failed on cylinders #2 and #4. replaced by dealer under warranty. Five days later coil pack on cylinder #3 failed. Also replaced by dealer. The coil pack failures resulted in a considerable loss of power and a foul odor from the exhaust. In addition, the coil pack broke apart allowing the electrical parts to be exposed.

- Nottingham, MD, USA

Vehicle stalled numerous times at any speed due to a faulty ignition coil. Dealer inspected and replaced just one out the five coil. Provide further information.

- Duluth, GA, USA

Coil has broken twice in two weeks. Known issue with VW and they refuse to replace all potentialy defective parts, only will replace currently broken parts.

- Park Ridge, IL, USA

I feel that the high failure rate of VW ignition coil packs is a danger to the general public safety. It is not uncommon to have multiple coil packs fail. I have to cross a busy highway to go to work and fear being killed should I accidentally pull out into oncoming traffic and have this problem again. The car has virtually no power to accelerate to avoid an accident when this happens.

- California City, CA, USA

I started vehicle, proceeded to drive, but vehicle shuddered and lost power. Also there was a slight foul smell. Malfunction indicator light came on. Was told car unsafe to drive by dealership, as ignition coils failed. They said only two damaged at this time and will not replace other two unless problem occurs again. There are other reported incidents on similar vehicles. I am afraid to drive vehicle if this causes the vehicle to be unsafe why are they not replacing all 4. this could also cause me to be stranded somewhere as I drive long distances on occasion.

- Dublin, OH, USA

Failure results in disabling of vehicle. VW is only replacing failed coils even though they admit that the others will probably fail eventually.

- Arlington, MA, USA

One coil pack failure in miami, repaired by esserman VW. Another failed in nw Georgia mountains, repaired by obtaining part thru local techician.

- Miami Springs, FL, USA