2002 Volkswagen Beetle Air Bags & Restraints Problems

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION (ABOUT 25 MPH) WHEN A FRONT END COLLISION OCCURRED WHICH RESULTED IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ACTIVATING ONLY. THE DRIVER SIDE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG DID NOT ACTIVATE. DRIVER'S FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

I WAS STRUCK BY A DRIVER ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 30 MPH WHO WAS SWITCHING LANES AND HIT MY DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND DRIVER SIDE FENDER ON MY CAR. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE CONTINUOUSLY CONTACTED AND HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED FOR THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SEVERAL TIMES. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWINS AND THIS IS MY ONLY CAR SO I COULD NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE IN EVERY TWO TO FOUR WEEKS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT HAS LASTED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALL THE RECORDS SHOWING ALL THE TIMES I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO GET THE AIRBAG LIGHT FIXED AND EVERY TIME THE VW COMPANY FIXED IT A FEW DAYS TO A WEEK LATER IT WOULD COME BACK ON. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE AUGUST OF 2006.

BOUGHT THIS VW BEETLE USED. HAD TERRIBLE SMELL, LIKE BURNT CRAYONS. CLEANED IT INTENSELY, INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. THOROUGH DETAIL JOB. STILL SMELLS, CAUSING HEADACHE. AIR BAG LIGHT AND BUZZER STAYED ON EVEN AFTER LATCHING SEAT BELT. CRUISE CONTROL WORKS ERRATICALLY, LUNGING FORWARD SUDDENLY, THEN CHUGS, THEN LUNGES FORWARD QUICKLY AGAIN. SPEED WORKS CONSISTENTLY WHEN CRUISE CONTROL IS NOT ENGAGED. VERY UNSAFE WITH CRUISE CONTROL IN USE. LIGHTING ISSUES. INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK, UNABLE TO SEE INTERIOR GAUGES IN THE DARK. TURN SIGNALS BLINKING ERRATICALLY, AND NOT IN SYNC. TOOK VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS AT AN AUTHORIZED VW DEALER, PAID $1,300.00. STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY. TOOK IT BACK IN 4 DAYS LATER BECAUSE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW ALMOST FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND INTERIOR LIGHTING ISSUES STILL DID NOT WORK. WAS CHARGED ANOTHER $600.00. VEHICLE WILL NOT ENGAGE INTO DRIVE POSITION EASILY, AND SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL UNLESS THE STEERING WHEEL IS JERKED ON. DEALER SAID SENSORS WERE THE PROBLEM, AND THAT I WILL NEED TO BRING IT BACK AGAIN TO HAVE THE CRUISE CONTROL FIXED AT A COST OF $250.00. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE NOW. THERE SHOULD BE SOME RECALLS ON THE SMELL ISSUE, AND THE AIR BAG/SEAT BELT ISSUE. ALSO CRUISE CONTROL ISSUE, BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *TR

ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014 AT 12:19 PM, I REAR ENDED A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 30 MPH. MY PASSENGER WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND ON IMPACT MY PASSENGER WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE SEAT AND SMASHED HER HEAD OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND THEN ONTO THE DASHBOARD. ALSO SHE HIT HER LEGS OFF THE GLOVE BOX HARD ENOUGH THAT SHE COULD NOT WALK AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE WINDSHIELD IS SMASHED AND THE GLOVE BOX DOOR IS BROKEN. I ON THE OTHER HAND HAD MY SEAT BELT ON, BUT MY SIDE OF THE CAR HAD SUSTAINED THE MOST DAMAGE, BUT NEITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR

I WAS SITTING IN STANDSTILL TRAFFIC, BY MYSELF, WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AT FULL FREEWAY SPEED, FORCED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, RESULTING IN A DOMINO EFFECT AND A 6 CAR PILE UP. I SUSTAINED BOTH FRONT END AND BACK END DAMAGE, TOTALING MY CAR, MY PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYED (AGAIN, I WAS ALONE) THE DRIVERS SIDE ONE DID NOT, FORCING ME INTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD. I AM CURRENTLY UNDER A DOCTORS CARE. *TR

THE FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE BECOMES DEFECTIVE AND SETS AN AIRBAG CODE MAKING THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURN ON AND POSSIBLY NOT WORK. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BUCKLE ON THIS VEHICLE IN 187,000 MILES. I HAVE CHECKED A NUMBER OF VW CLUB FORUMS AND HAVE FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NHTSA SHOULD LOOK INTO. *JS

I OWN A 2002 VW BEETLE,THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON,AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE AROUND $600.00 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED.I WAS DOING SOME RESEARCH ON LINE ABOUT THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON,AND FOUND OUT THAT ALOT OF PEOPLE WHO OWNED THE SAME MODEL YEAR ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE.I THINK THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE LOTS OF OTHER CONSUMERS ARE HAVING EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG LIKE ME. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE. DEALER STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE (SEAT) SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG (THE ONE BUILT INTO THE SIDE OF THE SEAT NEAREST THE DOOR) WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $680 TO FIX. LESS THAN A YEAR AGO I SPENT $500 ON THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT LATCH REPLACEMENT TO CURE THE AIRBAG LIGHT. *KB

VW DEALER ADVISES THAT AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATES AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED AND CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION IN THE SEATBELT LATCH ASSEMBLY COSTING $386 TO REPAIR. VW DEALER SAYS THIS HAPPENS A LOT. VW DEALER SAID THAT AIRBAGS WOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED. VW DEALER SAID THAT WIRING INSIDE THE LATCH "JUST BREAKS" EVENTUALLY. FAILURE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE AN AUTOMATIC RECALL AND MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR DEFECTS AT THEIR COSTS AND NOT COST TO THE CONSUMER. *TR

DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH SENSOR FAILURE CAUSES AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT ON THE DASH TO COME ON. DEALER STATES THAT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED. SEEMS LIKE AN UNNECESSARY SENSOR...WHEN THE CAR IS IN USE WOULDN'T THAT MEAN THAT SOMEONE IS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT? $500 TO FIX. *KB

FAILED AIRBAG WIRING - DEALER SAYS ITS RELATED TO A SEAT SENSOR - LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AT 62,000 MILES HAS 108,000 CURRENTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 10/18/2017*CN

VW DEALER ADVISES THAT AIRBAG LIGHT INDICATES AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED AND CAUSED BY A MALFUNCTION IN THE SEATBELT ASSEMBLY COSTING OVER $500 TO REPAIR. D.O.T. REQUIRES MANUFACTURERS TO INSERT AIRBAGS AS SAFETY MEASURES, BUT FAILS TO ENFORCE AUTO MANUFACTURERS MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR THIS DEFECT. FAILURE OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT SHOULD BE AN AUTOMATIC RECALL AND MANUFACTURERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPAIR DEFECTS AT THEIR COSTS AND NOT COST TO THE CONSUMER. *TR

2002 VW BEETLE. THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. THE DIAGNOSIS IS THAT A WIRE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH IS BROKEN THEREFORE RELAYING THAT THE SEAT BELT IS NOT LATCHED (FALSE POSITIVE). WHEN THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAG FUNCTION IS DISABLED. THE REPAIR IS NOT OF A WIRE, BUT OF THE ENTIRE SEAT BELT AT $250+. AT ANY TIME THIS IS A LOT BUT WHEN OUT OF A JOB MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE. AS MY COLLEGE-AGE DAUGHTER IS THE ONE IN THE SEAT, I AM LEFT WITHOUT MUCH CHOICE, BUT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS GONE ON, ALL WITH DIFFERENT DIAGNOSIS. WHY IS THIS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE? THE TOPIC IS FREQUENT ON THE WEB. *TR

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. MY SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT CAR INTO GREENBRIER VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP LOCATED IN CHESAPEAKE, VA IN FEB 2009. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE LATCH (BUCKLE) ON DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE. I HAD DEALERSHIP REPLACE. ONE MONTH LATER SEATBELT LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I BROUGHT CAR BACK TO DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT PASSENGER SEATBELT LATCH (BUCKLE) WAS DEFECTIVE. I CALLED DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE WITH MY SERVICE REP BRENT FROM GREENBRIER VOLKSWAGEN AND HE STATED "THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH BEETLES" I ASKED HIM IF IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON A IMPORTATION SAFETY DEVICE OF A SEATBELT WAS IS THERE NO RECALL ON VEHICLE TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE SEATBELT LATCHES. HE WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ME AN ANSWER. I NOW HAVE CONCERNS WITH NOT ONLY MY VEHICLE SAFETY, BUT ALL WHO DRIVE BEETLES. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM IF WILL THERE BE A MANDATORY RECALL. *TR

AIR BAG DEFAULT, LIGHT INDICATOR ON SHOWS THAT THERE IS AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. VW DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR BAG FOR $800. CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD, 65,000KM, NO ACCIDENTS. THIS SHOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN OUR 2002 VW NEW BEETLE. SHE WAS HIT IN THE DRIVER'S DOOR. HER HEAD WAS THROWN AGAINST THE DRIVER'S WINDOW AND HER HIP WAS HURT FROM THE DOOR INTRUDING INTO THE CABIN. HER NECK WAS HURT ALSO. SHE WAS TRANSPORTED TO VA BEACH GEN. HOSPITAL AND GIVEN X-RAYS, A CT SCAN AND A PHYSICAL EXAM. HER TRANSPORT WAS VIA AMBULANCE AND SHE WAS EXTRICATED THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR ON A BACKBOARD WITH A NECK BRACE. WE BELIEVE HER INJURIES ARE AT LEAST IN PART DUE TO HER SIDE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. WE HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA AND PROVIDED THEM INFORMATION AND PHOTOS OF THE AUTOMOBILE. VW HAS INFORMED US THAT VW'S STAND IS THAT IT ACCEPTS NO RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE DAMAGE DID NOT FALL WITHIN THEIR SPECS PER THE DIAGRAM IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. OUR POSITION IS IT ABSOLUTELY DOES FALL WITHIN THEIR GUIDELINES AS WITNESSED BY THE PHOTOS. WE ALSO OFFERED THEM A 30 DAY PERIOD THAT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WOULD HOLD THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION AND THEY SAID THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED IN EXAMINING THE CAR AND AS FAR AS VW AMERICA WAS CONCERNED THE MATTER WAS CLOSED. WE BELIEVE VW SHOULD BE HELP LIABLE FOR MY WIFE'S MEDICAL BILLS AT A MINIMUM AND THAT THEY SHOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR DEFECTS IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AND WILL NOT BE REPAIRED. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. NO OPERATOR REASON FOR THIS; I.E., NO VEHICLE IMPACTS, NO WORK DONE ON CAR OTHER THAN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED ONE WEEK PRIOR. RESEARCH INDICATES AIRBAG SYSTEM IS INOPERATIVE IF THIS LIGHT IS ON. RESEARCH ALSO INDICATES THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM THAT IS EXPENSIVE FIX AND IS NOT ALWAYS RELIABLE. CANNOT BE DIAGNOSED WITH OBD II READER; NEEDS EXPENSIVE ($250+) DIAGNOSTIC SOFTWARE AND CABLE TO USE WITH LAPTOP COMPUTER FOR RELIABLE DIAGNOSIS. VW DEALERS TYPICALLY CHARGE IN EXCESS OF $100 TO READ DIAGNOSTIC CODES AND THEN PRICE OF REPAIRS IS UNAFFORDABLE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE--OCCUPANT PROTECTION SYSTEMS ARE AT LEAST AS IMPORTANT AS EMISSIONS SYSTEMS AND SHOULD BE RELIABLE FOR MORE THAN 70,000 MILES. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID IT IS CAUSED BY A BAD WIRING HARNESS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT, SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SEATBELT LATCH. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK IF THE LIGHT IS ON. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A MANUFACTURER DEFECT! THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, YET VW HAS YET TO RECALL THIS PART. ARE THEY WAITING UNTIL SOMEONE DIES? *TR