Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2002)

165 consumer complaints on file.

#10291424November 9, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A LONG HESITATION THEN A VIOLENT JERK GOING INTO GEARS. I HAD STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN AT THE END OF MY ROAD, I THEN PROCEEDED TO CROSS 4 LANES OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DECIDED TO DO A LONG HESITATION. A MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENT WAS ALMOST THE RESULT. I HAVE SINCE PARKED THE CAR AND DO NOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX IT AND VOLKSWAGEN TOLD ME THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE $5700.00. THIS HESITATION AND JERKING HAPPENS EVERYTIME TIME NOW WHEN DRIVEN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. THANK YOU! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289389October 22, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION OF 2002 VW BEETLE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED . THE CAR HAS ONLY 31,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN VERY WELL CARED FOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM ON VW BEETLES. COULD THERE BE A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSIONS OF THERE CARS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10289014October 19, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 TURBO VW BEETLE. SEEMS TO BE JERKING WHEN SHIFTING INTO GEAR. LAST WEEK IT JERKED ME FORWARD QUITE HARD. SCARY!! CAR HAS 70,000 MILES. I SEE THERE IS ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I'VE SPENT 1200.00 IN THE LAST YEAR ON VARIOUS REPAIRS. AS I SAW WITH OTHER COMPLAINTS, A/C STOPS WORKING AND THEN THIS. WONDERING IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS JERKING AFFECT. JERKING NOW HAS GOTTEN HARDER AND IS EVERYTIME IT SHIFTS INTO GEAR. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC! WHEN RECENTLY TAKEN INTO A VW SHOP THEY DID A COMPUTER SCAN ON IT AND NOTHING COMES UP. VARIOUS HOSES, WATER PUMP, THERMO READER HAVE BEEN REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279871August 10, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE FOR OVER 1 1/2 YEARS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT AND SENSOR CAUSED THE FAILURE. THROUGH RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT A NEWER MODEL MIGHT HAVE A RECALL FOR THIS SAME ISSUE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000. UPDATED 09/11/09 *BF UPDATED 09/14/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10269686May 22, 2009
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
2002 VW BEETLE. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THE DIAGNOSIS IS THAT A WIRE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH IS BROKEN THEREFORE RELAYING THAT THE SEAT BELT IS NOT LATCHED (FALSE POSITIVE). WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG FUNCTION IS DISABLED. THE REPAIR IS NOT OF A WIRE, BUT OF THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT AT $250+. AT ANY TIME THIS IS A LOT BUT WHEN OUT OF A JOB MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE. AS MY COLLEGE-AGE DAUGHTER IS THE ONE IN THE SEAT, I AM LEFT WITHOUT MUCH CHOICE, BUT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS GONE ON, ALL WITH DIFFERENT DIAGNOSIS. WHY IS THIS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE? THE TOPIC IS FREQUENT ON THE WEB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265250April 14, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2002 VW NEW BEETLE. PROBLEM..ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THEN GOES OFF. HAD MANY COSTLY REPAIRS. PROBLEM REOCCURS. MECHANIC STATED THAT I MAY NEED A NEW CATALYTIC. HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT CAR MAINTAINS AN 80,000 OR 7 YEAR WARRANTY. IS THIS TRUE AND IF SO HOW DO I GET MY CAR FIXED ASAP BEFORE THIS WARRANTY EXPIRES? CAR HAS 54000 MILES AND IS NOW 7 YEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264353April 7, 2009
SEAT BELTS, EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
I AM AN OWNER OF A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. MY SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT CAR INTO GREENBRIER VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP LOCATED IN CHESAPEAKE, VA IN FEB 2009. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE LATCH (BUCKLE) ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAD DEALERSHIP REPLACE. ONE MONTH LATER SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I BROUGHT CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT PASSENGER SEATBELT LATCH (BUCKLE) WAS DEFECTIVE. I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE WITH MY SERVICE REP BRENT FROM GREENBRIER VOLKSWAGEN AND HE STATED "THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH BEETLES" I ASKED HIM IF IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON A IMPORTATION SAFETY DEVICE OF A SEATBELT WAS IS THERE NO RECALL ON VEHICLE TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE SEATBELT LATCHES. HE WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ME AN ANSWER. I NOW HAVE CONCERNS WITH NOT ONLY MY VEHICLE SAFETY, BUT ALL WHO DRIVE BEETLES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IF WILL THERE BE A MANDATORY RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259530February 21, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
I OWN A 2002 BEETLE. IT HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT. TWO MONTHS AGO THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T GO OFF. NOW, THE TURN SIGNALS WON'T WORK. TO ADD TO THIS ONCE IN AWHILE THE SUN ROOF WILL OPEN ON IT'S OWN!!! THE DEALER SAID IT WILL COST ABOUT $650 TO FIX. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE COMPLETE LIGHTING SYSTEM WENT OUT, THE SECURITY DOOR LOCK SYSTEM STOPPED, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING, BOTH WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED GOING UP AND DOWN. A COUPLE OF TIMES THE ENGINE WON'T START AND THREE TIMES IT WILL JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAR HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN. LUCKILY NO ONE HAS BEEN HURT YET. SOME OF THIS HAS BEEN RECALLED AND SOME NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257280February 3, 2009
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
AIR BAG DEFAULT, LIGHT INDICATOR ON SHOWS THAT THERE IS AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. VW DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR BAG FOR $800. CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD, 65,000KM, NO ACCIDENTS. THIS SHOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255494January 18, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
IN THE FALL OF 2007 THE ENGINE OVERHEATING LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING 40MPH+. CAR REMAINED AT A DECENT TEMPERATURE UNTIL THAT SPEED. CHECKED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE BEFORE GOING TO THE DEALER. DEALER SAID THE WATER PUMP WAS BAD AND IT COST $800 TO REPLACE THE PUMP AND A COUPLE OF CHEAP BELTS THEY HAD TO REMOVE IN THE PROCESS. AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS 5 YEARS OLD AND HAD AROUND 30,000 MILES ON IT. VERY UPSET THAT THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT AFTER 30,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255497January 18, 2009
VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPLACED TWICE, AND THE LAST TIME WAS AT A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. WHILE DRIVING DURING A TWO-DAY 18 HOUR ROAD TRIP IN VARYING HEAVINESS OF RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING A DOWNPOUR ON A HIGHWAY. THEY FROZE MID WIPE CAUSING A TEMPORARY LACK OF VISIBILITY AND POTENTIALLY A FATAL CRASH. AFTER TURNING THEM OFF FOR A MINUTE THEY STARTED WORKING AGAIN. HAD THIS PROBABLY SEVERAL HOURS LATER AND AGAIN THE NEXT MORNING AFTER THEY HAD BEEN OFF FOR OVER 12 HOURS. THIS EXACT PROBLEM (STOPPED WINDSHIELD WIPERS) DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN. HOWEVER ON JANUARY 17TH, 2009, AFTER USING WIPERS CONTINUOUSLY DURING A CALM RAIN STORM FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THE WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. WHEN THE WIPERS WERE PLACED IN THE OFF POSITION THEY CONTINUE TO WIPE BACK AND FORTH RATHER QUICKLY. THE OTHER SPEED SETTINGS WORK FINE. THEN, AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVING THE KEY AND STARTING THE CAR UP AGAIN, THE WIPERS WOULD NOT CONTINUE WHILE IN THE OFF POSITION, BUT AFTER TURNING THEM ON ONCE THEY WILL NOT GO OFF. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED AND A VOLKSWAGEN SPECIALIST IN AUSTIN, TX (WHERE I ENDED UP AFTER MY TRIP) HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255498January 18, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
IN AUGUST 2008 I WENT TO HAVE MY OIL CHANGED AT A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN KALAMAZOO, MI. THEY SAID THAT THE ALUMINUM OIL PAN PLUG HAD BEEN OVERTIGHTENED AND THE PAN WAS RUINED. I WAS TOLD THAT POTENTIALLY THE PLUG COULD HAVE FALLEN OUT AT ANY POINT IN TIME, LEAVING ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION, EITHER STRANDED SOMEWHERE BUT MOST LIKELY CAUSING A CRASH. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ALUMINUM PANS WEAR OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THIS CAR HAD ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. SOMETHING LIKE AN OIL PAN SHOULDN'T JUST "WEAR OUT" AFTER THAT SHORT A TIME. THEY ALSO TOLD ME I WAS BETTER OFF REPLACING THE ALUMINUM PAN WITH THE STEEL BECAUSE THE ALUMINUM WAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO PUNCTURES FROM ALMOST ANYTHING. THE NEW VOLKSWAGENS ARE BEING MANUFACTURED WITH STEEL PANS AND VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE WILLING TO REPLACE THE OLD ALUMINUM FREE OF CHARGE. THE NEW PAN COST ME $293.69. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252212December 18, 2008
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN OUR 2002 VW NEW BEETLE. SHE WAS HIT IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR. HER HEAD WAS THROWN AGAINST THE DRIVER'S WINDOW AND HER HIP WAS HURT FROM THE DOOR INTRUDING INTO THE CABIN. HER NECK WAS HURT ALSO. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO VA BEACH GEN. HOSPITAL AND GIVEN X-RAYS, A CT SCAN AND A PHYSICAL EXAM. HER TRANSPORT WAS VIA AMBULANCE AND SHE WAS EXTRICATED THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR ON A BACKBOARD WITH A NECK BRACE. WE BELIEVE HER INJURIES ARE AT LEAST IN PART DUE TO HER SIDE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. WE HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA AND PROVIDED THEM INFORMATION AND PHOTOS OF THE AUTOMOBILE. VW HAS INFORMED US THAT VW'S STAND IS THAT IT ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE DAMAGE DID NOT FALL WITHIN THEIR SPECS PER THE DIAGRAM IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. OUR POSITION IS IT ABSOLUTELY DOES FALL WITHIN THEIR GUIDELINES AS WITNESSED BY THE PHOTOS. WE ALSO OFFERED THEM A 30 DAY PERIOD THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD HOLD THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION AND THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN EXAMINING THE CAR AND AS FAR AS VW AMERICA WAS CONCERNED THE MATTER WAS CLOSED. WE BELIEVE VW SHOULD BE HELP LIABLE FOR MY WIFE'S MEDICAL BILLS AT A MINIMUM AND THAT THEY SHOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR DEFECTS IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND WILL NOT BE REPAIRED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10249733November 24, 2008
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECT IN THE SUNROOF DRAIN TUBES WHICH ALLOWS THEM TO EASILY GET CLOGGED, WHICH CAUSES WATER LEAKS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THIS CAN CAUSE MOLD AND OTHER DAMAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10249359November 19, 2008
SEAT BELTS, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC, SUSPENSION
REAR COLLISION ACCIDENT IN 2004, NOW SEATBELT LATCH MECHANISM NOT WORKING, STRUTS AND WHEEL BEARINGS DAMAGED AND NEED REPLACEMENT ALONG WITH SUBFRAME AND EMERGENCY BRAKE SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10248428November 11, 2008
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID IT IS CAUSED BY A BAD WIRING HARNESS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SEATBELT LATCH. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK IF THE LIGHT IS ON. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT! THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, YET VW HAS YET TO RECALL THIS PART. ARE THEY WAITING UNTIL SOMEONE DIES? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247904November 7, 2008
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. NO OPERATOR REASON FOR THIS; I.E., NO VEHICLE IMPACTS, NO WORK DONE ON CAR OTHER THAN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED ONE WEEK PRIOR. RESEARCH INDICATES AIRBAG SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE IF THIS LIGHT IS ON. RESEARCH ALSO INDICATES THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT IS EXPENSIVE FIX AND IS NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE. CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED WITH OBD II READER; NEEDS EXPENSIVE ($250+) DIAGNOSTIC SOFTWARE AND CABLE TO USE WITH LAPTOP COMPUTER FOR RELIABLE DIAGNOSIS. VW DEALERS TYPICALLY CHARGE IN EXCESS OF $100 TO READ DIAGNOSTIC CODES AND THEN PRICE OF REPAIRS IS UNAFFORDABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE--OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEMS ARE AT LEAST AS IMPORTANT AS EMISSIONS SYSTEMS AND SHOULD BE RELIABLE FOR MORE THAN 70,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10244314October 3, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I OWN A 2002 VW BEETLE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE SINCE CHANGED IT OUT. NOW THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE NOTICED SURFING THE WEB THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN SO FREQUENTLY AND IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT THERE SHOULD BE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240858September 4, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVERS DOOR LOCK FAILS TO LATCH WHEN CLOSED. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239887August 27, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2002 VW BEETLE WOULD DRAIN ALL BATTERY POWER PARKED MORE THAN A FEW DAYS. IT WAS RETURNED TO DEALER UNDER WARRANTY SEVERAL TIMES. OWNER SELF DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS RADIO KEEP ALIVE POWER WAS PULLING EXCESSIVE CURRENT DUE TO INTERNAL RADIO FAULT. THE RADIO WAS REPLACED AND SOLVED THE ISSUE. IT TOOK AT LEAST 4 VISITS TO THE DEALER TO GET THIS RESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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