2002 VOLKSWAGEN Cabrio Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

5 complaints

ENGINE COIL SUDDENLY WENT BAD. HAD PRIOR REPAIR. *LN

Sep 30, 2013

2002 VW CABRIO CONVERTIBLE, WHEN IT RAINS THE LIGHTS, ELECTRICAL LOCKS AND DOME LIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF, THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL LIGHTING AND ELECTRONIC SWITCH FAILURE OCCURS. LIKE THE CARE IS POSSESSED, I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY SAID THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE, HOWEVER HAVE YOU EVER DRIVEN A CAR AT NIGHT WITH THE LIGHTS INSIDE AND OUT GOING ON AND OFF. NOW I HAVE TO MANUALLY TURN EVERYTHING ON AND OFF, THIS IS NOT THE VEHICLE GUARANTEE THAT I BOUGHT INTO. I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE FIXED AS IT IS A REAL HAZARD ON THE ROAD, HOWEVER VOLKSWAGEN THINKS DIFFERENTLY SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL. ALL OF THE VW MECHANICS IN MY AREA ARE VERY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND IT WILL COST OVER 3000.00 TO FIX EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE ALARM THAT IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL DUE TO THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT THIS CAR HAS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING FOR A YEAR OR SO TO SEE IF THEY WILL FIX THIS ISSUE SO NOW I AM JUST GOING TO FILE A COMPLAINT TO SEE IF YOU CAN HELP IN GETTING THE ISSUE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED IN THIS CAR. *TR

Nov 22, 2010

I OWN A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO, MANUFACTURED BY VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. MY TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHER HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. INITIALLY IT WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT IT HAS FINALLY STOPPED WORKING. FUSES HAVE BEEN CHECKED. IT'S EXACTLY LIKE THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN# 04V584000 - THE SAME PROBLEMS OTHER VW MODELS OF THE SAME YEAR HAD. *TR

May 31, 2008

THERE WAS A WIDESPREAD SAFETY ISSUE OF THE PASSAT AND AUDI. THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER MANUFACTURER ADMITTED THAT ALL 4 IGNITION COILS IN THESE VEHICLE'S WERE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE AND ARE LIKELY TO FAIL UNLESS THE PART IS REPLACED WITH NON DEFECTIVE COILS. DESPITE THIS ADMISSION, NEITHER VOLKSWAGEN OR THE CONSUMER'S DEALER WILL TAKE THE STEPS TO REMEDY, UNLESS FAILURE OCCURS. AT WHICH TIME, ONLY THE FAILED COIL WILL BE REPLACED, LEAVING THE VEHICLE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE THREE OR MORE TIMES. SCC *JB

Mar 24, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THE POWER LOCKS, MIRRORS, HEATED SEATS, AND CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. *JG

Nov 30, 2002

POWER TRAIN

4 complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CLUTCH FAILED. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY THE DEALER PRIOR TO THE CLUTCH FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 90,600. UPDATED 06/09/08 *BF UPDATED 06/09/08

Mar 20, 2008

I BOUGHT A 2002 IN 2005 WITH 30,000 FROM A CERTIFIED USED VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. AFTER ONLY DRIVING THE CAR SOME 29,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. FORTUNATELY I HAD 11 MILES LEFT UNDER WARRANTY SO THE NEARBY DEALERSHIP HONORED THE WARRANTY AND FIXED MY CAR. HAD IT NOT I WOULD HAVE BEEN OUT $7-9,000. *TR

Jul 02, 2007

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED TO GO INTO DRIVE AND REVERSE GEARS. SLOW TO GO INTO GEAR. CONTACED REPAIR SHOP, TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING NEEDED NEW ONE. COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK

May 16, 2007

I HAD JUST GOT MY CAR BACK FROM THE SHOP AROUND 4P.M. I HAD PARKED MY CAR IN THE DRIVEWAY , WELL ABOUT FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER MY FRIEND WAS LEAVEING AND SHE NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS DOWN THE STREET IN MY NEIGHBORS YARD AND THAT THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE LOOKING FOR WHO OWNED THE CAR. I GO RUNNING OUT AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE WERE COMMING UP THE STREET AND I TOLD THE THAT IT WAS MY CAR. ANYWAY THE CAR WAS IN GEAR AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ON THE POLICE OFFICER TOOK PICTURES OF THE CAR AND TOOK PICTURES OF THE CAR BEING IN GEAR AND THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BEING ON HE ASKED ME TO FILL OUT A REPORT SO I DID. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I CAN DO ABOUT THIS I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD REPLACE THE CAR, AND SEND IT BACK TO THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE CONTACT ME TO LET ME KNOW WHAT I MIGHT BE ABLE TO DO ABOUT THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU STEVE NYE. *AK

Feb 27, 2002

Crash: 1

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

4 complaints

OIL LIGHT CAME ON REPEATEDLY DUE TO OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM, WHICH IS A KNOWN DEFECT. VW DID NOT COVER, DUE TO EXPIRED WARRANTY. *JB

Jan 12, 2006

ENGINE SLUDGE DIAGNOSED ON PASSAT. *NM

Oct 10, 2005

MY 2002 VW CARBRIO OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO BLOW. ONLY AFTER THE ENGINE BLEW AND MY CAR COULD NOT ACCELERATE DID THE WARNING LIGHT COME ON. THE DEALERSHIP AND VW SAID THIS WAS NEGLECT AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER MY WARRANTY.*AK

Aug 17, 2003

THE EMISSIONS LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAYED ON, THE DEALER SERVICED THE PROBLEM 3 TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR, THE DEALER STATED IT WAS A SOFTWARE PROBLEM. *JB

Feb 20, 2003

AIR BAGS

3 complaints

I HAVE AA2002 VW CABRIOLET AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON. THE DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED IT WAS THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG AND HARNESS. AFTER THE PART WAS IN, WHILE WAITING TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE THE SERVICE CONSULTANT WAS ON THE PHONE DESCRIBING THE SAME PROBLEM, SAME AIRBAG TO ANOTHER VW CUSTOMER. WHEN I ASKED THE SERVICE CONSULTANT IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM KNOWN TO VW ON THEIR AIRBAGS HE SAID NO. THE WOMAN WAITING BEHIND ME SAID THE SAME HAPPENED TO HER VW. THE COST FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR WAS $690.48. *TR

Aug 20, 2007

AIRBAG SYSTEM IN VW CABRIO FAILED (FAILURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON) JUST AFTER VEHICLE HAD PASSED WARRANTY PERIOD. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA (ELIZABETH GWYNN AT CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN ROCHESTER HILLS MI) STATED THROUGH TWO SUBORDINATES THAT AIRBAG SYSTEMS ARE NOT WARRANTED BEYOND ANY OTHER ITEMS EVEN THOUGH THESE SYSTEMS ARE ALLEGEDLY DESIGNED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR. THE STATEMENT (FROM MR. ERIC NEVINS) WAS THAT SAFETY ITEMS ARE NOT WORTH ANY SPECIAL OR EXTENDED COVERAGE AND THAT SAFETY IS NOT THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSIBILITY BEYOND A BASIC WARRANTY. WE HAVE HAD OUR DEALER DO THE NEEDED REPAIRS ON THIS MAJOR SAFETY ITEM. THIS IS NOT A DEALER ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER (PER GWYNN AND SUBORDINATES) HAS SPECIFICALLY STATED THAT IT TAKES NO FURTHER RESPONSIBILITY FOR VEHICLE SAFETY EVEN A SINGLE MILE AFTER THE BASIC WARRANTY, WHICH COVERS NON-CRITICAL PARTS. *NM

Jun 14, 2006

DRIVER'S AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY WITH AN IMPACT OF 30-35 MILES PER HOUR AND $6,000 DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. IT WAS A REAR-END COLLISION. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT.*AK

Dec 16, 2003

Crash: 1

Injuries: 1

VISIBILITY

2 complaints

2002 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO. CONSUMER STATES THE REAR WINDOW FELL OUT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED IT APPEARED, HER MODEL YEAR WAS THE ONLY YEAR, WHERE THE WINDOWS WERE GLUED IN, INSTEAD OF SEALED, IN THE CONVERTIBLE TOPS.

Oct 10, 2012

THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE WINDOW REGULATOR. IT COMPLETELY FAILED ONCE IT BROKE AND THE WINDOW REMAINED OPEN. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE NO SECURITY AND UNSAFE. THIS WEEK THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DID THE SAME THING AFTER I PAID FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE TO BE REPAIRED. *TR

Jan 03, 2010

STRUCTURE

2 complaints

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS FAILED TO LOCK. *AK ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHEN LITTLE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE DOOR, IT OPENED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. *JB

Mar 18, 2003

SINCE THE DAY OF PURCHASE THR POWER DOOR LOCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAS BEEN INOPERTIVE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR, TWICE. *JG

Nov 30, 2002

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO. ON AUGUST 29, 2017, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (DAVID MAUS VOLKSWAGEN, 1050 LEE RD, ORLANDO, FL 32810) FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE CONTACT RETURNED ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2017 TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NO LONGER WORKING. THE CONTACT INFORMED THE TECHNICIAN THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT WORKING LIKE IT WAS BEFORE THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT AT THE DEALER FOR ANOTHER DAY TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A BLOCKAGE THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE AND WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $400 TO REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STAFF BECAME VERY AGGRESSIVE. THE CONTACT REQUESTED TO HAVE A SECOND OPINION FROM AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, FOR WHICH A LETTER HAD TO BE WRITTEN AND APPROVED BY THE SERVICE DIRECTOR. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REQUEST WAS DENIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REMOVED FROM THE DEALER SINCE AUGUST 29, 2017. THERE WERE NO RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,375. *TT *TR

Jan 11, 2018

STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE

1 complaint

WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE IT JUST STOPPED WOULD NOT START. WENT TO LIFT THE HOOD IT WAS HOT AND IT SEEMS TO HAVE HAD A FIRE. AT A VW DEALER FOR OVER 2 WKS AND THEY STILL CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. SO FAR THEY SAID IT APPEARS ENGINE HARNESS FIRE HAD STARTED AT THE STARTER AND THIS PART IS DISCONTINUED THERE IS A REPAIR KIT. VW CLAIMS A LOT OF ITEMS MUST BE REPLACED AND THAT IS NOT GOING TO GUARANTEE IT WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. YOU WOULD THINK YOU SEND IT TO A DEALER AND THEY COULD FIX IT BUT I GUESS NOT BECAUSE THEY CALLED ME TO TELL ME ALL THEY DID SO FAR HAS NOT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. I PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER IN MARCH 2014 WITH 50,000. MILES. I KNOW THIS IS MY FIRST AND LAST VW I WILL OWN. *TR

Aug 19, 2014

Fire: 1

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A TURN WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATION OF THE ABS WARNING LIGHT. SMOKE BEGAN POURING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS REPLACED THE STARTER AND THE FUEL FILTER YET THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE IGNITION WAS REPLACED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORTAGE IN THE COMPUTER AND HYDRAULIC PUMP OF THE ABS SYSTEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

Jun 20, 2011

Fire: 1

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

1 complaint

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT PUSHED ON THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT AS IF IT WAS PULLED DOWN TO THE FLOOR AND THE TIRES LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

Dec 13, 2010

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1 complaint

2002 VOLKSWAGEN CABRIO EXPERIENCING RECALL SYMPTOMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT HER TURN SIGNAL AND HAZARD FLASHERS HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING. SHE STATED THAT IT WAS INTERMITTENT AT FIRST. SHE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF HER VEHICLE FALLS UNDER THE RECALL. *KB RECALL # 04V584000. *JB

Apr 16, 2008

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,TIRES,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

PURCHSED VEHICLE NEW.. HAVE RETURNED IT VARIOUS TIMES FOR ENGINE LIGHT - FIRST TIME WAS SIX MONTHS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. SO FAR I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE SENSOR GAUGE REPLACED TWICE, A GAS SENSOR REPLACED ONCE, THE O2 SENSOR REPLACED TWICE. I TOO HAVE HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN THREE TIMES FOR THE REAR LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING - THE LAST TIME THE REPAIR TECHNICIAN 'MISSED' A WIRING ISSUE; THE VINYL NEAR THE POWER WINDOW CONTROLS IS PEELING OFF FOR THE SECOND TIME (FIRST TIME VW REPLACED AT NO COST AFTER I COMPLAINED TO VW AMERICAN); WITH JUST 45000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKES (AT MY EXPENSE AT 22000 MILES) AND HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES. IN THE THREE YEARS SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP AT LEAST A DOZEN TIMES NOT COUNTING THE 5000 MILE OIL CHANGES. ALL WORK HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED SO THAT I CAN PROVE THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED.*AK

Apr 07, 2005

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH REAR TAIL LIGHTS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON BUT DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK

Mar 25, 2005

TIRES

1 complaint

HOWEVER THE CAR IS MADE, IT KILLS THE TIRES. TODAY I WILL BE BUYING MY SECOND TIRE IN TWO YEARS. *AK

Mar 15, 2004

SEATS

1 complaint

I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A WEEKEND AWAY, I WAS ON I95 NORTH NEAR MILE MARKER 120.00 TRAVELING ABOUT 15-20MPH WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, I MADE A COMPLETE STOP AND THE CAR BEHIND ME HIT ME GOIN GABOUT 15MPH AND PUSHED ME INTO THE SUV IN FRONT OF ME THE FIRST IMPACT PUSHED MY PASSENGER AND MYSELF FORWARD AND THEN THE SECOND IMPACT OF US HITTING THE SUV IN FRONT OF US PUSHED US BACK...BOTH OF OUR SEATS GAVE WAY AND WE WERE IN LYING POSTIONS. WE HADENT EVEN REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED UNTIL WE SAT UP FROM THE LYING POSTION. I AM ASSUMMING THAT THE SEATS BROKE AND THATS WHY THEY GAVE WAY, I DONT THINK THAT THAT IS A SAFETY FEATURE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WAS DRIVING A 2002 VW CABRIO GLX.*AK

Aug 14, 2003

Crash: 1

Injuries: 2

SEAT BELTS

1 complaint

VOLKSWAGEN WEEKENDER VAN 2002. THE REAR LAP BELTS FAILED TO LATCH.*JB

Feb 24, 2003

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,INTERIOR LIGHTING

1 complaint

THE TRUNK LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. *JG ON ONE OCCASION THE PASSENGER POWER LOCK HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE, AND ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE POWER LOCKS, ELECTRIC MIRRORS, SEAT HEATING, CRUISE CONTROL, AND POWER WINDOWS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. *SCC *SCC

Nov 30, 2002

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS

1 complaint

VEHICLE HIT REAR OF A TRAILER AT 20-30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. VEHICLE BURSTED INTO FLAMES SEVERAL MINUTES AFTER IMPACT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Aug 21, 2002

Crash: 1

Fire: 1

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2002 VOLKSWAGEN Cabrio have?

The 2002 VOLKSWAGEN Cabrio currently has 32 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2002 VOLKSWAGEN Cabrio?

The most common problems reported for the 2002 VOLKSWAGEN Cabrio are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2002 VOLKSWAGEN Cabrio problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2002 VOLKSWAGEN Cabrio comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.