Model year record

2002 Volkswagen Beetle

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 231 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V063000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component: Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected: 1,002,000
Reported to NHTSA: 2007-02-20
Owners notified: 2007-04-27

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Safety risk

THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Recall campaignNHTSA 06V183000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component: Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected: 646,246
Reported to NHTSA: 2006-05-24
Owners notified: 2006-11-27

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Air bags	32	69,000 mi
Electrical system	31	65,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	15	51,400 mi
Engine and engine cooling	10	51,933 mi
Seat belts	10	65,000 mi
Structure: body	8	54,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module	6	52,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch	6	37,000 mi
Unknown or other	6	54,000 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls	6	38,000 mi
Exterior lighting	5	42,000 mi
Power train: clutch assembly	5	38,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	5	122,000 mi
Air bags: side/window	4	65,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine	4	38,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline	4	—
Service brakes	4	90,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	4	19,900 mi
Engine	3	52,000 mi
Equipment	3	21,057 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	3	65,631 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	3	65,631 mi
Electrical system: ignition	2	23,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system	2	30,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	2	51,933 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	2	62,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	2	54,000 mi
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices	2	58,900 mi
Seats	2	54,000 mi
Suspension: front	2	44,000 mi
Air bags: frontal	1	—
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery	1	30,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator	1	30,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch	1	—
Electrical system: starter assembly	1	38,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring	1	30,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood	1	60,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers	1	—
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: hoses/lines/piping/fittings	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger	1	9,000 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility	1	88,900 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	99,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights	1	51,000 mi
Exterior lighting: tail lights	1	51,000 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal	1	1,200 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal: flasher unit	1	—
Fuel system, diesel	1	86,704 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap	1	14,900 mi
Fuel system, other	1	—
Parking brake	1	9,580 mi
Power train	1	—
Power train: driveline: differential unit	1	100,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission	1	68,543 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock: interconnecting assembly(wiring)	1	—
Service brakes, electric	1	112,115 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist	1	27,450 mi
Structure	1	—
Structure: body: trunk lid	1	23,000 mi
Structure: frame and members	1	112,115 mi
Suspension	1	112,115 mi
Tires: tread/belt	1	—
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	1	—
Visibility	1	39,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	1	190,000 mi
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer	1	65,000 mi
Wheels	1	512 mi

The 2001 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2003 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.