2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Complaints

View complaints related to 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. The complaints found here are submitted by actual consumers with first hand experience. There are more than 160 complaints submitted for the 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. You can submit your own complaint to the NHTSA or call the Hotline, Monday-Friday 8am to 8pm at (888) 327-4236, TTY: (800) 424-9153.

  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
    - SANTA CLARITA, CA

    THE INTERIOR SMELLS STRONGLY OF CRAYONS AND WILL NOT GO AWAY WITH SHAMPOOING, CLEANING AND/OR OTHER METHODS OF ODOR REMOVAL. THE ODOR IS VERY STRONG AND RUBS OFF ON CLOTHING AND SKIN WHILST SEATED.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
    - SATSUMA, FL

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
    - GONZALES, LA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 10/18/2017*CN

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
    - HESPERIA, CA

    I WAS STRUCK BY A DRIVER ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 30 MPH WHO WAS SWITCHING LANES AND HIT MY DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND DRIVER SIDE FENDER ON MY CAR. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE CONTINUOUSLY CONTACTED AND HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED FOR THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SEVERAL TIMES. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWINS AND THIS IS MY ONLY CAR SO I COULD NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE IN EVERY TWO TO FOUR WEEKS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT HAS LASTED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALL THE RECORDS SHOWING ALL THE TIMES I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO GET THE AIRBAG LIGHT FIXED AND EVERY TIME THE VW COMPANY FIXED IT A FEW DAYS TO A WEEK LATER IT WOULD COME BACK ON. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE AUGUST OF 2006.

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
    - WARRINGTON, PA

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

    Source: HOTLINE VEHICLE OWNERS QUESTIONNAIRE
  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
    - YODER, IN

    BOUGHT THIS VW BEETLE USED. HAD TERRIBLE SMELL, LIKE BURNT CRAYONS. CLEANED IT INTENSELY, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THOROUGH DETAIL JOB. STILL SMELLS, CAUSING HEADACHE. AIR BAG LIGHT AND BUZZER STAYED ON EVEN AFTER LATCHING SEAT BELT. CRUISE CONTROL WORKS ERRATICALLY, LUNGING FORWARD SUDDENLY, THEN CHUGS, THEN LUNGES FORWARD QUICKLY AGAIN. SPEED WORKS CONSISTENTLY WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT ENGAGED. VERY UNSAFE WITH CRUISE CONTROL IN USE. LIGHTING ISSUES. INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK, UNABLE TO SEE INTERIOR GAUGES IN THE DARK. TURN SIGNALS BLINKING ERRATICALLY, AND NOT IN SYNC. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS AT AN AUTHORIZED VW DEALER, PAID $1,300.00. STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. TOOK IT BACK IN 4 DAYS LATER BECAUSE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW ALMOST FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND INTERIOR LIGHTING ISSUES STILL DID NOT WORK. WAS CHARGED ANOTHER $600.00. VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE POSITION EASILY, AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL IS JERKED ON. DEALER SAID SENSORS WERE THE PROBLEM, AND THAT I WILL NEED TO BRING IT BACK AGAIN TO HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL FIXED AT A COST OF $250.00. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE NOW. THERE SHOULD BE SOME RECALLS ON THE SMELL ISSUE, AND THE AIR BAG/SEAT BELT ISSUE. ALSO CRUISE CONTROL ISSUE, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
    - SHAMOKIN DAM, PA

    ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014 AT 12:19 PM, I REAR ENDED A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 30 MPH. MY PASSENGER WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND ON IMPACT MY PASSENGER WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE SEAT AND SMASHED HER HEAD OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND THEN ONTO THE DASHBOARD. ALSO SHE HIT HER LEGS OFF THE GLOVE BOX HARD ENOUGH THAT SHE COULD NOT WALK AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE WINDSHIELD IS SMASHED AND THE GLOVE BOX DOOR IS BROKEN. I ON THE OTHER HAND HAD MY SEAT BELT ON, BUT MY SIDE OF THE CAR HAD SUSTAINED THE MOST DAMAGE, BUT NEITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
    - KING CITY, CA

    ON JUNE 13TH I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND I WENT TO TURN OFF THE AC AND IT MADE A LOUD CLICKING NOISE, AFTER THE NOISE THE AC WOULDN'T TURN OFF SO I ENDED UP DRIVING 3 HOURS WITH THE AC FULL BLAST. A FEW DAYS AFTER THIS I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE AC, AND LEFT IT LIKE THIS FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. AT THIS POINT THE MIDDLE KNOB WAS STUCK AND THE AC WOULD RANDOMLY WORK AND NO LONGER WOULD TURN AT ALL. ON JUNE 30TH AS I WAS LEAVING THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT AND WENT TO TURNED ON THE AC, IT MADE A WEIRD NOISE BUT I CONTINUED DRIVING ANYWAYS. THE AC STOPPED WORKING SO I TURNED THE KNOB AGAIN AND I STARTED GETTING A BURNING SMELL, I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM BEHIND THE KNOB SO I DROVE BACK TO MY APARTMENT BECAUSE I DECIDED IT WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. IN A MATTER OF A MINUTE THE SMOKE GOT WORSE AND STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE ENTIRE AREA UNDER MY RADIO. I PARKED MY CAR ONCE I GOT BACK HOME AND STOOD OUTSIDE AS I ALLOWED MY CAR TO AIR OUT, NOT LONG AFTER THIS I SAW FLAMES COMING OUT FROM THE MIDDLE KNOB AND GROWING BIGGER. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO PUT IT OUT WITH A CUP OF WATER AND WAS FORCED TO CALL 911 TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY OUT. THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST EXPERIENCES THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME AND IT WAS TERRIFYING, IF I DIDN'T HAVE A CUP OF WATER AT THE TIME THE FIRE COULD HAVE EASILY BURNED UP THE REST OF MY CAR IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
    - ARLINGTON, MA

    THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE IN A HEAD ON CAR ACCIDENT. SOMEONE HIT MY CAR IN THE RIGHT REAR END AND I LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR AND IT CAREENED HEAD FIRST INTO A TREE. BEFORE THE CAR WAS HIT IT WAS GOING ABOUT 30 - 35 MPH BUT AFTER IT WAS HIT IT WENT FASTER, I CAN'T SAY HOW MUCH (I ESTIMATED ABOVE). I WAS THE DRIVER AND ONLY OCCUPANT. THE CAR WAS TOTALED BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. I GOT WHIPLASH (REAL WHIPLASH) AND INJURED MY HIP AS IT BROKE THE ARM REST. THE VIN NUMBER I PROVIDED IS FOR THIS CAR THAT WAS TOTALED - IT'S NO LONGER ON THE STREET. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE
  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE
    - LOS ANGELES, CA

    I WAS SITTING IN STANDSTILL TRAFFIC, BY MYSELF, WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AT FULL FREEWAY SPEED, FORCED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, RESULTING IN A DOMINO EFFECT AND A 6 CAR PILE UP. I SUSTAINED BOTH FRONT END AND BACK END DAMAGE, TOTALING MY CAR, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED (AGAIN, I WAS ALONE) THE DRIVERS SIDE ONE DID NOT, FORCING ME INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD. I AM CURRENTLY UNDER A DOCTORS CARE. *TR

    Source: NHTSA WEB SITE