Friday, August 7, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2001 Volkswagen Golf vs 2002 Volkswagen Golf

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.

Metric2001 Volkswagen Golf2002 Volkswagen Golf
NHTSA complaints11673
Recall campaigns53
Service bulletins (TSBs)231222
Investigations33
Crash reports42
Fire reports20
NCAP overall rating
EPA MPG (combined)22–3823–38
Median reported incident mileage65,300 mi59,940 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentVolkswagen GolfVolkswagen Golf
Air Bags3222
Engine and Engine Cooling2313
Electrical System1511
Exterior Lighting1511
Visibility137
Service Brakes, Hydraulic93
Power Train74
Vehicle Speed Control70

Symptoms owners describe

Airbag warning light150
Stalling140
2001 Volkswagen Golf
2002 Volkswagen Golf

Compare all Volkswagen Golf vs Volkswagen Golf 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.