2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Complaints

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES PER HOUR WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR BEGAN TO SOUND LIKE I WAS DRAGGING METAL ACROSS THE ROAD. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR TO THE RIGHT TO PULL OVER AND PARK, AND THE CAR LOCKED. THREE AIRBAGS THEN DEPLOYED. THE STEERING LOCKED AND CAUSED THE CAR TO SIDESWIPE ANOTHER. THE OFFICER THAT RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT, ADVISED ME TO REPORT IT ON TO THIS SITE. HE CLAIMED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE AND SAID IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE WHEEL. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT COMPLETELY BROKE CAUSING THE SUSPENSION FRAME TO BREAK. THE POLICE OFFICER REPORTED THIS AS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH 44,000 MILES. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENT. 3RD TIME FOR SERVICE TO AIR BAG SYSTEM. 1ST EVENT WAS IN WARRANTY - REPLACE CLOCK SPRING, 2ND AND 3RD EVENTS WERE NOT COVERED - OVER 50K MILES AND EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIMS THEY DO NOT COVER SAFETY RELATED SYSTEMS INCLUDING AIR BAG SYSTEMS. 2ND ISSUE, WAS TOO SHORT IN LENGTH OF WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO CLOCK SPRING. 3RD ISSUE WAS DUE TO SEAT BELT SWITCH, NOW LIGHT IS AGAIN ON. HAVE NOT TAKEN CAR BACK TO DEALER YET. *TR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DIAGNOSED AS BAD PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR. HAD TO BE REPLACED AT EXPENSE TO ME. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID IT IS CAUSED BY A BAD WIRING HARNESS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK IF THE LIGHT IS ON. VW OF AMERICA REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR (ALMOST $400) BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AT ABOUT 52,000 MILES. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED AND THE SEAT BELT LATCH SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED IN ORDER FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE AIR BAG WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 02/14/08. *LJ THE BRAKE LIGHT BULB AND RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED.

DEFECTIVE DOOR LATCH ,,,SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN YOU OPEN DOOR. I HAVE TWO 2002 VW BEETLES AND THEY BOTH HAVE NON WORKING WARNING LIGHTS DUE TO DEFECTIVE LATCHES, FAULT. BOTH PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON, BUT VW DOESN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO WHEN YOU CALL THE DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT THESE LATCHES ARE IN STOCK DUE TO HIGH RATE OF FAILURE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE DOOR LATCH, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE VW DEALER WANTS 450.00 TO REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH, SO MOST PEOPLE WILL BE DRIVING AROUND WITHOUT THIS SAFETY EQUIPMENT. PLEASE MAKE THEM STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCT . THANK YOU *TR

DEFECTIVE DOOR LATCH ,,,SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE WARNING LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON WHEN YOU OPEN DOOR. I HAVE TWO 2002 VW BEETLES AND THEY BOTH HAVE NON WORKING WARNING LIGHTS DUE TO DEFECTIVE LATCHES, ALSO AIRBAGS DON,T WORK DUE TO FAULT. BOTH PROBLEMS ARE VERY COMMON, BUT VW DOESN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO WHEN YOU CALL THE DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT THESE LATCHES ARE IN STOCK DUE TO HIGH RATE OF FAILURE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE DOOR LATCH, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ALSO THE AIR BAGS NEED TO BE RECALLED. THE VW DEALER WANTS 450.00 TO REPLACE THE DOOR LATCH, AND THE AIRBAGS START AT ABOUT 800.00 SO MOST PEOPLE WILL BE DRIVING AROUND WITHOUT THIS SAFETY EQUIPMENT. PLEASE MAKE THEM STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCT . THANK YOU *TR

I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 VW NEW BEETLE AS IN PE 04073: TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER FAILURE: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT. THE FLASHER DOES NOT WORK CONSISTENTLY: IT STARTS, THEN STOPS AFTER ONE OR TWO BLINKS. THE TIMING OF THE BLINKS ARE ALSO ERRATIC. MY MODEL NEEDS TO BE COVERED BY THIS RECALL. *TR

CLUTCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED IN MY 2002 VW NEW BEETLE. I COMMUTE 200 MILES A DAY.. ALL FREEWAY.. AND AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR USED AND USING IT FOR 5 MONTHS, THE CLUTCH NEEDS REPLACING ALREADY. I HAVE ALMOST ALWAYS OWNED MANUAL TRANSMISSION AUTOMOBILES AND HAVE NEVER HAD A CLUTCH PROBLEM. I DO NOT DRIVE A LOT USING THE CLUTCH SEEING AS MOST OF MY DRIVING IS ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM GLAD I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM EARLY AND WAS ONLY DRIVING TO THE STORE INSTEAD OF ON THE FREEWAY. *CN

AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR CLUTCH FELL OFF CAR UNDER NORMAL USE. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE HAD THE DUST COVER ON THE BOTTOM OF THE MOTOR COMPARTMENT NOT HAVE CAUGHT IT AND THE CLUTCH WAS THROWN INTO TRAFFIC.. *TR