# NHTSA recall 02V256000

A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.

- Published by: NHTSA \(United States\)
- Campaign number: 02V256000
- Manufacturer's number: WQ
- Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
- Reported: 2002\-09\-18
- Owners notified: 2002\-11\-20
- Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
- Units potentially affected: 10450

## What is wrong

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE ELECTRICAL PORTION OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO BECOME INOPERATIVE.


## What can happen

IF SUCH FAILURES OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE AT NIGHT OR IN RAINY OR SNOWY WEATHER, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.


## The remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL PART OF THE IGNITION SWITCH ASSEMBLY.   OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 20, 2002.   OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1\-800\-822\-8987.


## Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1\-888\-DASH\-2\-DOT \(1\-888\-327\-4236\).


## Vehicles this campaign lists

- [1996 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT](/makes/volkswagen/passat/1996/recalls.md). Built 1995\-08\-01 to 1995\-12\-31.

## Investigated as EA00020

This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.

- EA00020: Engineering analysis, opened 2000\-08\-10, closed 2002\-10\-09. LIGHT AND /WINDSHIELD WIPERS. EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V256000/investigations](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V256000/investigations)

## Bulletins for the same vehicles and component

A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.

- [TT641402](/bulletins/10239789.md), 2023-07-31, Service bulletin
- [101703](/bulletins/10004525.md), 2003-12-18, Service bulletin
- [0328](/bulletins/10004521.md), 2003-12-18, Service bulletin

## Check a VIN

- [NHTSA recall lookup by VIN, United States](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
- [Transport Canada recall search, Canada](https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/7/VRDB-BDRV/search-recherche/menu.aspx?lang=eng)

JSON: [/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V256000](/v1/recalls/nhtsa/02V256000)

[Report an error on this page](https://github.com/wenmar-pro/wenmar-open/issues/new?template=data_correction.yml&title=Data%20correction%3A%20NHTSA%20recall%2002V256000&page=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.wenmarpro.com%2Frecalls%2Fnhtsa%2F02V256000&vehicle=NHTSA%20recall%2002V256000)