3.3

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,536 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2002 Volkswagen Beetle engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2002 Volkswagen Beetle:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2002 Volkswagen Beetle Owner Comments

problem #10

Jul 272013

Beetle 4-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The VW new Beetle I just got has a strong interior smell of crayons. Is this harmful to our health?

- Eden, MD, USA

problem #9

Nov 302011

Beetle

  • 74,430 miles
The blue temp gauge comes on for a short period of time...then when I slow down the jumps/jerk really hard...I notice it only does when I slow down....to avoid it I try to let the car slow down on its own but it still does it....others that ive discussed the issue with advised me that it may be the transmission...and upon researching the VW Beetle I found out that im not the only person experiencing this is issue and that it is indeed the transmission

- Tampa, FL, USA

problem #8

Oct 122011

Beetle 4-cyl

  • 51,933 miles
There is an unusually strong, and obnoxious, odor (smelling of burnt crayons) coming from the interior of the car. The smell is so over-powering I have to open the windows, and leave them open, the entire time I am driving the car, otherwise I become dizzy and nauseous. I searched the internet, and there are many people who have blogged they have a car made by Volkswagen with the same odor problem -- a few of these websites are; ----(1) www.fixmystinkycar.com/?P=706 ----(2) forums.automotive.com/70/6371584/Volkswagen/chemical-odor/index.html ----(3) www.carsurvey.org/reviews/Volkswagen/jetta/2001/page-57/ ----(4) www.webanswers.com/automobiles/what-is-causing-my-car-smell-5B4bd0.

- Richardson, TX, USA

problem #7

Jul 252010

Beetle

  • 134,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

2002 VW Beetle turbo 1.8 while driving the red light sensor would come on stating my car was overheating. Nothing was leaking, sensors were replaced a few months prior due to the same issue along with a ring and it happened again. The red light flashes then about 2 miles later the oil light goes on and if the car is not pulled over immediately then you risk engine damage. The entire engine is made up of plastic parts pretty much which crack and melt very easy when heat gets to them. So now after spending money on water pumps, assemblies, hoses, sensors which total over 3K it is now an issue once again and the car is undrivable. I am extremely disappointed in this vehicle. Also my igniter coils were replaced 8 times (2X each one) prior to a recall and they do not reimburse you all the monies spent. Now there is a recall in my sunroof which the dealership will not fix since the water damage is already affecting the roof of the vehicle. So with all of my receipts not including rental cars for repairs only I have invested over 6K in a car worth less and I doubt no one will pay to take it off my hands which will leave a single mother car less.

- Miami, FL, USA

problem #6

Jul 012009

Beetle

  • 70,000 miles
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 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.

- Vancouver, WV, USA

problem #5

Sep 012006

Beetle

  • 40,000 miles
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.

- San Francisco, CO, USA

problem #4

Aug 262008

Beetle

  • 35,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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 Volkswagen 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.

- Savannah, GA, USA

problem #3

Jan 312003

Beetle

  • miles
Vehicle vibrates. Dealer has been notified.

- Brighton, MA, USA

problem #2

Dec 262002

Beetle

  • miles
Consumer states that while driving at 65mph and no warning the vehicle will shut off causing consumer to pull over and it will be hard to get the vehicle back started. Dealer notified.

- Enola, PA, USA

problem #1

Dec 232002

Beetle

  • miles
Consumer states he get very poor gas mileage and his auto smokes when he starts it up and also smiles while he is driving it. He sates also his auto runs very rough. Consumer states he took his auto to a dealer and he was told that he has a clogged manifold and a clogged egr valve. He also states that Volkswagen knows about this and won't do anything about it. He says they won't admit there is a problem with these cars.

- Madison, WI, USA

Not what you are looking for?