2001 Volkswagen Beetle vs 2002 Volkswagen Beetle
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2001 Volkswagen Beetle | 2002 Volkswagen Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 203 | 165 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 189 | 185 |
| Investigations | 2 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 12 | 13 |
| Fire reports | 9 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | — | — |
| Median reported incident mileage | 64,300 mi | 60,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Volkswagen Beetle | Volkswagen Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 40 | 43 |
| Electrical System | 43 | 36 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 41 | 20 |
| Power Train | 24 | 23 |
| Exterior Lighting | 30 | 14 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 | 6 |
| Seat Belts | 11 | 12 |
| Visibility | 7 | 12 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 20 | 8 |
| Check engine light | 16 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 16 | 29 |
| Loss of power | 8 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 7 |
| Overheating | 5 | 0 |
2001 Volkswagen Beetle
2002 Volkswagen Beetle
Compare all Volkswagen Beetle vs Volkswagen Beetle years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.