2002 Volkswagen Golf: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 98 complaints
98
Total Complaints
51,000mi
Median Mileage
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
Top Issue
5
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

26,466 25th Percentile
51,000 Median Mileage
77,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
16
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
6
AIR BAGS
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
3
SEAT BELTS
3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
3
STEERING:COLUMN
2

Severity Assessment

5
Crashes
0
Fires
13
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"1) WHILE DRIVING, DOOR AJAR LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON FOR NO REASON. NO DOORS WERE AJAR. AFTER PARKING, THE FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. 2) THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DEFECT RELATES TO A PERSISTENT BUZZING NOISE FROM THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER."
"1) WHILE DRIVING, DOOR AJAR LIGHT SUDDENLY CAME ON FOR NO REASON. NO DOORS WERE AJAR. AFTER PARKING, THE FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES FOR NO APPARENT REASON. 2) THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DEFECT RELATES TO A PERSISTENT BUZZING NOISE FROM THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER."
"I FOUND THAT IS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODEL AFTER TALKING TO MANY PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM.NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28