Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Volkswagen Beetle, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Air bags43
- Electrical system36
- Power train23
- Engine and engine cooling20
- Exterior lighting14
- Visibility12
- Seat belts12
- Structure10
- Unknown or other6
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 12 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 15 2002 Beetle vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 12 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
In the United Kingdom
767 cars built in 2002 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 957 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
MOT test results in Great Britain
In 2023, 1,576 of these cars first registered in 2002 took their annual MOT test. 47% passed first time; among all cars first registered in 2002 the figure was 58%.
| Failed on | These cars | All cars from 2002 |
|---|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 31.4% | 20.8% |
| Suspension | 20.7% | 15.8% |
| Brakes | 15.0% | 13.6% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 14.7% | 6.9% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 11.0% | 9.7% |
| Visibility | 8.8% | 7.7% |
DVSA anonymised MOT tests and results, 2023 (Department for Transport) · Open Government Licence v3.0 · first tests only; a fix made at the test station within the hour still counts as a fail
In New Zealand
217 2002 cars are on the New Zealand register; 41% arrived as used imports, 55% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2002 Volkswagen Beetle.
| 2006122 24 May 2006 | Lights And Instruments On certain Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta wagon, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, Passat and Passat wagon, the brake lamp switch may malfunction. If this happens, … |
| 2003184 5 Aug 2003 | Electrical On certain vehicle, the brake lamp switch may malfunction. If this happens, the brake lamps could become inoperative; or the lamps could come on and stay on, e… |
| 2002028 15 Feb 2002 | Brakes On certain passenger vehicles short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (ABS). This can result in a fire. Cor… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Volkswagen told its dealers about the 2002 Volkswagen Beetle: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10253215 | Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation |
| 10253214 | Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation |
| 10253213 | Exterior Lights, Moisture Accumulation |
| 10253204 | Customer States Windshield Wipers Streak or Smear |
| 10252204 | Air Conditioning Does not Operate |
| 10249138 | Airbag / Pyrotechnic Safety Belt Deployment Inquiries, update to contact information due to retirement. |
| 10243066 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243059 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243053 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243052 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243046 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243034 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243011 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10243002 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242996 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242404 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242399 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242397 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242391 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242390 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242384 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242375 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242372 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242349 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
| 10242340 | VW Elsa Newsletter |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation