2002 Volkswagen New Beetle recalls
Reported Jan 31, 2002 · 55,000 vehicles affected · VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Problem: On some passenger vehicles, short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (Abs).
Risk: This can result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the ABS control unit. Owner notification began march 8, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
2002 Volkswagen New Beetle problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|
| Power Train | 8 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 6 | |
| Visibility | 3 | |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | |
| Electrical System | 3 | |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 2 | |
| Parking Brake | 2 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | |
| Seats | 1 | |
| Air Bags | 1 | |
Most reported parts
- Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 5
- Power Train › Clutch Assembly — 3
- Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights › Switch — 2
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 1
- Visibility › Windshield — 1
- Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/Supercharger — 1
- Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 1
- Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly — 1
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 23,500 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Power Train · at 10,000 miles · reported Nov 27, 2004
The transmission in my 2002 new beetle fails to engage for a second or two after the car has been sitting for a while. Doesn't do it at other times, only when the car has been sitting an hour or more. Dealership replaced transmission module twice (Two different dealerships) and the third and fourth time I brought it in with the same complaint, they said it was normal for the transmission to behave this way. Inherent to the design of the transmission was this small delay for emissions reasons. I AM not buying it, not with all the other issues I have had with this car. I have had it in four…
Power Train · at 23,500 miles · reported Jun 10, 2004
The clutch on 2002 beetle 1.8 turbo went out on my wife on I-40 in amarillo. The car would not accelerate and she was going 30 miles per hour in heavy traffic on the interstate. She was able to move across two lanes and exit the interstate without incident. The vw clutches in the 1.8 turbos seem to be having very early failure. The clutch was replaced for $1450.00 and not covered by warranty. I have requested to see the old parts. I have read that the new clutch and flywheel have different part numbers than original.
Power Train · at 27,800 miles · reported Jun 8, 2004
Vw 2002 turbo beetle had an epc light come on. The car was loosing power and would cut off at times (In traffic). I took it in and they said that it a problem with the vacuum on the turbo. The receipt shows that they replaced a switch. About a few weeks later, the car started loosing power again. I called the dealership and brought it in. I was told that the car's clutch was out and that I needed a new clutch & flywheel. The estimate was $1800 to repair. The car has about 27,000 miles (Probably less). The powertrain warranty does not cover the clutch even at 27,000 miles. I was told that it…
Power Train · at 24,750 miles · reported Apr 3, 2004
Vw 2002 turbo beetle suddenly started to lose power, cut out in traffic a couple of times. Took it into the dealership as an emergency. Was told the clutch was bad at less than 25k on the speedometer? Part not covered by powertrain warranty - "hidden" warranty, so they wanted $1800 to fix. I have been driving manual transmissions for 30-years, never had a transmission or clutch problem even on cars with over 200k on clock. They charged me $300 to tear down clutch, vw maintained "driver outside influences." meanwhile I get on the internet and there are pages of web sites and hundreds of letters…
Latches/Locks/Linkages · reported Jan 26, 2004
Door locks have never worked properly. The car has been at the dealer for repairs for lock problems at least 8 times. This is a safety issue. Often the doors will not lock with the interior power door lock. They have given several different diagnosis, we have been told they can't reproduce the problem, and now they are stating that the car is designed to operate so that the doors cannot be locked from the inside until the car is started if the trunk was opened with the power trunk release on the key. They tell me I have to open the driver's door, use the trunk release button on the door and…
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle: 02V-031 (service brakes, hydraulic). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Volkswagen New Beetle?
Owners report power train problems most often (8 reports), followed by exterior lighting (6). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 23,500 miles.
Are Volkswagen recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Volkswagen dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.