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2002 Volkswagen Cabrio

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
23Owner complaints

Model-year median: 14.5

0Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
29
199916
200038
200123
2002
Compare all Cabrio years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
9Air Bags
4Engine And Engine Cooling
3Exterior Lighting
3Visibility
3
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2Structure
2Tires
2Engine
1Interior Lighting
1Power Train
1Seats
1Service Brakes, Air
1Steering
1Unknown Or Other
1Vehicle Speed Control
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 12 of 23 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports3 fire reports2 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2007
Air Bags

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 …

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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

NHTSA ODI #10200208

53,900 miles · Jun 14, 2006
Air Bags

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 ALLEG…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10159849

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 2003
Air BagsCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #10050609

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2002
Air BagsElectrical SystemCrashFire

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

NHTSA ODI #8016893

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.