2002 Volkswagen Beetle Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 4%of 165 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 139,500miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2002 Volkswagen Beetle, 4% of the 165 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 139,500 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My fiancee and I purchased this Beetle in november of 2010 and have had nothing but problems with it. It has been in the shop a number of time (5-7) and we have spent hundreds in trying to fix it. Yet no luck. It is a danger to my fiancee and new born baby. On day it will run fine but then after driving for ten minutes the epc light come on and the brakes barely work if at all, and it wont speed up even if she has her foot to the floor. So now we have a $6000 dollar car that not even the vw dealership can fix. It sits on our road. …”
NHTSA complaint #10423791, filed 2011-09, 157,000 miles“I was driving down the road an the car started accelerating all by it's self so I pulled over but every time I let off the break it acted like I had the gas to the floor. The O2 sensor wire's shorted and burnt up the ECM making the CPU light to come on.”
NHTSA complaint #11516155, filed 2023-04“Consumer states that the vehicle will intermittenly lose power at a certain speed and stay there for about 30 seconds the consumer has tried to step on the gas pedal but the vehicle will still drive at the same speed. Contacted dealer and the dealer is not willing to do anything.”
NHTSA complaint #8009979, filed 2002-05“The epc light comes on the dash. I was told this is due to a brake light switch that will go out. This causes cruise control to go out, brake lights to not work, and difficulty getting your gearshift out of park or neutral.”
NHTSA complaint #10033434, filed 2003-08Related service bulletins
- 10242384Sep 30, 2013VW Elsa Newsletter
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 7% |
| 2016 | 2 | 4% |
| 2015 | 1 | 1% |
| 2014 | 3 | 6% |
| 2013 | 2 | 2% |
| 2012 | 2 | 3% |
| 2010 | 1 | 3% |
| 2009 | 1 | 3% |
| 2008 | 1 | 2% |
| 2007 | 3 | 5% |
| 2006 | 5 | 4% |
| 2005 | 7 | 3% |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% |
| 2003 | 10 | 3% |
| 2002 | 6 | 4% |
| 2001 | 6 | 3% |
| 2000 | 14 | 5% |
| 1999 | 10 | 6% |
| 1998 | 7 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2002 Volkswagen Beetle
43 complaintsElectrical system
36 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
23 complaintsEngine cooling
20 complaintsExterior lighting
14 complaintsBrakes
13 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
13 complaintsSeat belts
12 complaintsBody and structure
10 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsEquipment
5 complaintsFuel system
5 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Volkswagen Beetle
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology