2002 Volkswagen CABRIO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
52,450 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 23 complaints (34.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 13.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 8.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Visibility | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
Electrical System: 8; Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Structure:Body:Door: 2; Tires: 2; Visibility: 2; Air Bags: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 5 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2003: 5; 2004: 1; 2005: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2010: 3; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10008891 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008891 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011315 · 2003-03-18 (March 18, 2003)
THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS FAILED TO LOCK. *AK ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHEN LITTLE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE DOOR, IT OPENED WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032820 · 2003-08-14 (August 14, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM A WEEKEND AWAY, I WAS ON I95 NORTH NEAR MILE MARKER 120.00 TRAVELING ABOUT 15-20MPH WHEN TRAFFIC CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, I MADE A COMPLETE STOP AND THE CAR BEHIND ME HIT ME GOIN GABOUT 15MPH AND PUSHED ME INTO THE SUV IN FRONT OF ME THE FIRST IMPACT PUSHED MY PASSENGER AND MYSELF FORWARD AND THEN THE SECOND IMPACT OF US HITTING THE SUV IN FRONT OF US PUSHED US BACK...BOTH OF OUR SEATS GAVE WAY AND WE WERE IN LYING POSTIONS. WE HADENT EVEN REALIZED WHAT HAD HAPPENED UNTIL WE SAT UP FROM THE LYING POSTION. I AM ASSUMMIN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032820 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032973 · 2003-08-17 (August 17, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 16,680 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050609 · 2003-12-16 (December 16, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050609 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062188 · 2004-03-15 (March 15, 2004)
HOWEVER THE CAR IS MADE, IT KILLS THE TIRES. TODAY I WILL BE BUYING MY SECOND TIRE IN TWO YEARS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062188 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114741 · 2005-03-25 (March 25, 2005)
MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH REAR TAIL LIGHTS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON BUT DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 51,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114741 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10116539 · 2005-04-07 (April 7, 2005)
PURCHSED VEHICLE NEW.. HAVE RETURNED IT VARIOUS TIMES FOR ENGINE LIGHT - FIRST TIME WAS SIX MONTHS AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. SO FAR I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE SENSOR GAUGE REPLACED TWICE, A GAS SENSOR REPLACED ONCE, THE O2 SENSOR REPLACED TWICE. I TOO HAVE HAD TO TAKE MY CAR IN THREE TIMES FOR THE REAR LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING - THE LAST TIME THE REPAIR TECHNICIAN 'MISSED' A WIRING ISSUE; THE VINYL NEAR THE POWER WINDOW CONTROLS IS PEELING OFF FOR THE SECOND TIME (FIRST TIME VW REPLACED AT NO COST AFTER I COMPLAINED TO VW AMERICAN); WITH JUST 45000 MIL…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10116539 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.