2002 Volkswagen Beetle

I OWN TWO OF THE VW NEW BEETLES. ONE IS 2002 AND THE OTHER IS 2003. BOTH OF THEM HAVE TROUBLE WITH THE TAILLIGHT/STOPLIGHT AND TURN SIGNALS NOT WORKING DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CONTACT DESIGN IN THE BULB SOCKET. IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE ASSEMBLY OUT AND BEND THE CONTACT TO PUT MORE SPRING IN THEM WHICH PUTS MORE PRESSURE AGAINST THE BULB. THIS MAY FIX THE PROBLEM FOR A TIME ( 1 TO 60 DAYS) THEN THE PROBLEM REVERTS. ALL PARTS ARE OEM EQUIPMENT. I HAVE CONTACTED VW ABOUT THIS AND THERE IS NOT A RECALL. I WOULD THINK THAT TURN SIGNALS AND TAIL LIGHTS WOULD BE CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE. I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY FAMILIES SAFETY AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY A MANDATORY RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. *TR

FOR NO APPARENT REASON THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IN MY DAUGHTER'S 2002 NEW BEETLE LIT UP. AFTER A COSTLY ($315) DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS RESISTANCE IN THE SEAT BUCKLE. WHEN I SCHEDULED THE DIAGNOSIS, THE SERVICE DESK PERSON PREDICTED THAT WAS THE PROBLEM. THAT INDICATES THAT THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT. SHE ALSO SAID THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF THE LIGHT IS ON. WHICH IN ITS SELF IS CAUSE FOR CONCERN . *TR

2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DIESEL TURBO SEALS AND/OR BEARING FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN OIL FILLING THE INNER COOLER AND AIR TUBES--THIS RESULTED IN OIL BEING TAKEN INTO THE INTAKE AND FILLING THE CYLINDERS--THIS LED TO HYDRO LOCK OF THE ENGINE AND CYLINDER DAMAGE--HAD THE VEHICLE NOT JUST BEEN STARTED WHEN INCIDENT OCCURRED, THIS CONDITION COULD HAVE RESULTED IN RUNAWAY ENGINE RPM'S AND NO WAY TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, EVENTUALLY LEADING TO THE ENGINE BLOWING UP AND/OR FIRE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES PER HOUR WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR BEGAN TO SOUND LIKE I WAS DRAGGING METAL ACROSS THE ROAD. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR TO THE RIGHT TO PULL OVER AND PARK, AND THE CAR LOCKED. THREE AIRBAGS THEN DEPLOYED. THE STEERING LOCKED AND CAUSED THE CAR TO SIDESWIPE ANOTHER. THE OFFICER THAT RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT, ADVISED ME TO REPORT IT ON TO THIS SITE. HE CLAIMED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE AND SAID IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE WHEEL. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT COMPLETELY BROKE CAUSING THE SUSPENSION FRAME TO BREAK. THE POLICE OFFICER REPORTED THIS AS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH 44,000 MILES. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENT. 3RD TIME FOR SERVICE TO AIR BAG SYSTEM. 1ST EVENT WAS IN WARRANTY - REPLACE CLOCK SPRING, 2ND AND 3RD EVENTS WERE NOT COVERED - OVER 50K MILES AND EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIMS THEY DO NOT COVER SAFETY RELATED SYSTEMS INCLUDING AIR BAG SYSTEMS. 2ND ISSUE, WAS TOO SHORT IN LENGTH OF WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO CLOCK SPRING. 3RD ISSUE WAS DUE TO SEAT BELT SWITCH, NOW LIGHT IS AGAIN ON. HAVE NOT TAKEN CAR BACK TO DEALER YET. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY SAID IT IS CAUSED BY A BAD WIRING HARNESS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK IF THE LIGHT IS ON. VW OF AMERICA REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR (ALMOST $400) BECAUSE IT IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AT ABOUT 52,000 MILES. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED ON THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WAS DEACTIVATED AND THE SEAT BELT LATCH SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED IN ORDER FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR BECAUSE AIR BAG WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 02/14/08. *LJ THE BRAKE LIGHT BULB AND RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. UPDATED.