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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
51,000 miles · Mar 25, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #10114741

16,680 miles · Aug 17, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10032973

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10008891

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.