Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2002)

165 consumer complaints on file.

#10239564August 25, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EACH TIME I SELECT THE TURN SIGNAL IT NOW BLINKS A COUPLE TIMES AND THEN STOPS WORKING. THE HAZARD LIGHTS WORK FINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231630June 19, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN TWO OF THE VW NEW BEETLES. ONE IS 2002 AND THE OTHER IS 2003. BOTH OF THEM HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE TAILLIGHT/STOPLIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CONTACT DESIGN IN THE BULB SOCKET. IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE ASSEMBLY OUT AND BEND THE CONTACT TO PUT MORE SPRING IN THEM WHICH PUTS MORE PRESSURE AGAINST THE BULB. THIS MAY FIX THE PROBLEM FOR A TIME ( 1 TO 60 DAYS) THEN THE PROBLEM REVERTS. ALL PARTS ARE OEM EQUIPMENT. I HAVE CONTACTED VW ABOUT THIS AND THERE IS NOT A RECALL. I WOULD THINK THAT TURN SIGNALS AND TAIL LIGHTS WOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILIES SAFETY AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A MANDATORY RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231468June 18, 2008
AIR BAGS
FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IN MY DAUGHTER'S 2002 NEW BEETLE LIT UP. AFTER A COSTLY ($315) DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS RESISTANCE IN THE SEAT BUCKLE. WHEN I SCHEDULED THE DIAGNOSIS, THE SERVICE DESK PERSON PREDICTED THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THAT INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT. SHE ALSO SAID THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE LIGHT IS ON. WHICH IN ITS SELF IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10230928June 13, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DIESEL TURBO SEALS AND/OR BEARING FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN OIL FILLING THE INNER COOLER AND AIR TUBES--THIS RESULTED IN OIL BEING TAKEN INTO THE INTAKE AND FILLING THE CYLINDERS--THIS LED TO HYDRO LOCK OF THE ENGINE AND CYLINDER DAMAGE--HAD THE VEHICLE NOT JUST BEEN STARTED WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED, THIS CONDITION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN RUNAWAY ENGINE RPM'S AND NO WAY TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO THE ENGINE BLOWING UP AND/OR FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229356May 30, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
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
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10221383March 16, 2008
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218723February 21, 2008
AIR BAGS
FAILURE OF THE FRONT CRASH SENSOR TO TRIGGERED AN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217790February 12, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216997February 5, 2008
AIR BAGS
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216400January 29, 2008
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216047January 25, 2008
AIR BAGS, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10216048January 25, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10214044January 7, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10213784January 5, 2008
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10212145December 17, 2007
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10204021September 24, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PASSENGER DOOR HAD BEEN DIFFICULT TO GET CLOSED SINCE ABOUT 9/15/06, BUT ON THIS DATE, ALTHOUGH DOOR HAD BEEN SUCCESSFULLY CLOSED AND LOCKED FOR 20 MILES, IT SWUNG OPEN AS I WAS EXITING A US HIGHWAY AND TURNING ONTO A STATE HIGHWAY. FORTUNATELY I WAS ALONE IN THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO A PRIVATE SHOP AND HAD THE DOOR REPAIRED - ALTHOUGH NOW I CAN'T OPEN IT USING THE OUTSIDE HANDLE, THE DOOR HAS NO PROBLEMS LATCHING. PREVIOUS TO THIS ISSUE WITH THE DOOR, MY TRUNK RELEASE BUTTONS ON BOTH MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND MY REMOTE WOULDN'T RELEASE MY TRUNK - I WAS ONLY ABLE TO OPEN IT MANUALLY USING THE KEY IN THE LOCK. I REPLACED THE REMOTE BATTERY, BUT THAT HAD NO EFFECT. AFTER MY CAR DOOR WAS REPAIRED, MY TRUNK RELEASES STARTED WORKING AGAIN. HOWEVER, ON OCCASION THE TRUNK HAS HAD THE SAME RELUCTANCE TO LATCH THAT THE PASSENGER DOOR DID. IN THE LAST MONTH, MY WINDOWS HAVE DECIDED TO GO NO FARTHER THAN AN INCH FROM TOP ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND ONLY HALFWAY UP ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND I CAN NEITHER UNLOCK NOR LOCK MY CAR USING THE INTERIOR BUTTONS - I CAN ONLY USE MY REMOTE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202834September 12, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SCAN DTC FOUND THAT THE DRIVER'S BUCKLE RESISTANCE WAS SET TOO HIGH. THE FIRST TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND WAS REPAIRED WAS ON APRIL 6, 2005. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 52,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10202529September 11, 2007
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THE MECHANIC REPAIRED THE FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HOWEVER, IT ALWAYS RECURS A FEW DAYS LATER. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 37,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201284August 30, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE WITH YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE, WHEN YOU LET OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR WILL ROLL BACKWARDS THEN JERK FORWARD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197699July 27, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
FAILURE TO START, WONT READ KEY IN IGNITION DEALER UNABLE TO FIX PROBLEM AS OF YET. SIMILAR PROBLEMS OCCURRED LAST YEAR, PRIOR TO ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN PROBLEM WAS MENTIONED, THE DEALER COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.... BASICALLY BRUSHED ME OFF. VERY FRUSTRATING SINCE I GREATLY DEPEND ON MY CAR FOR WORK. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY INOPERABLE! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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