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Volkswagen BEETLE - 2002

439.0 faults per 100 tests
Year average for all cars of 2002 is 375.3 faults per 100 tests
Dataset: MOT tests in Great Britain (period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-09-10) for Volkswagen BEETLE, model year 2002. Sample size: 1,279 cars, 2,848 tests and 12,503 recorded faults.
0%
More faults compared to the average car of same model year

Quick summary

Total: 1,279 cars

The 2002 Volkswagen Beetle has an overall defect rate of 439 per 100 vehicles, which is 17% higher than the average for cars of the same year. Notably, the Beetle experiences significantly more issues with brakes, steering, lights and electrics, and other categories compared to its peers, with defects in these areas ranging from 21% to 46% above average. Mileage trends indicate that as the vehicle ages, the defect rate increases, particularly in the highest mileage category (124,000+ miles), where the Beetle shows a rate of 584 defects per 100 vehicles. In contrast, there are no standout better categories for this model, indicating a consistent trend of increased defects.

Cars by mileage segment

Total: 1,279 cars

More model years for Volkswagen BEETLE

1970 1971 1972 1973 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

Other models from Volkswagen

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Categories

Brakes
▼ 23.0% worse
205.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 167.0 / 100 tests
  • Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
  • Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
  • Significant brake effort recorded with no brake applied indicating a binding brake
  • Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
  • Flexible brake hose: excessively damaged, deteriorated, chafed, twisted or stretched
Steering
▼ 22.9% worse
31.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 25.3 / 100 tests
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: damaged or deteriorated
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
  • A steering ball joint: with excessive wear or free play
  • Power steering fluid leaking or system malfunctioning
Visibility
▲ 1.7% better
29.1 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 29.6 / 100 tests
  • Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured: but not adversely affecting driver’s view
  • Wiper blade: defective
  • Obligatory mirror or device: slightly damaged or loose
  • Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
  • Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
Lights & Electrics
▼ 46.4% worse
140.5 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 96.0 / 100 tests
  • Product on the lens or light source which obviously reduces light intensity or changes emitted colour to other than white or yellow
  • A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative: when rear registration plate has 2 or more lamps or light sources
  • Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
  • Beam image obviously incorrect
  • Lamp emitted colour, position or intensity not in accordance with the requirements
Wheels & Suspension
▼ 9.7% worse
323.7 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 295.2 / 100 tests
  • Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
  • The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
  • A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
  • A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
  • A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
Body/Structure
▲ 5.1% better
65.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 68.9 / 100 tests
  • Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: severely deteriorated
  • A transmission shaft constant velocity joint boot: missing, split, insecure or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
  • Vehicle structure corroded to the extent that: the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced
Equipment
▼ 2.0% worse
15.2 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 14.9 / 100 tests
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
  • ESC MIL indicates a system malfunction
  • A seat belt: webbing or flexible stalk significantly stretched or weakened
  • An SRS malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) indicates a system malfunction
  • is significantly reduced or The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any seat belt anchorage (a ’prescribed area’): inadequately repaired
Other
▼ 25.7% worse
67.4 faults / 100 tests
Year avg: 53.6 / 100 tests
  • Emissions levels exceed default limits
  • Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
  • Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
  • Engine MIL inoperative or indicating a malfunction
  • Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer’s specified limits

Fault rate by mileage segment

Model    Year average
0 584 0–31,000 mi 31,000–62,000 62,000–93,000 93,000–124,000 124,000+
* Metric: faults per 100 tests.

Most common faults (Top 10)

A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 859
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 750
Brake pipe damaged or excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 742
Brake disc or drum: insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 729
Tyre tread depth not in accordance with the requirements
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 719
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 548
Fluid: leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 503
Exhaust system has a major leak or is insecure
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 329
Brake hose ferrules: excessively corroded
ADVISORY
Occurrences: 305
Headlamp reflector or lens: slightly defective
MINOR
Occurrences: 297

Serious faults (Top 10)

Beam image obviously incorrect
FAIL
Occurrences: 239
A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing: excessively worn
FAIL
Occurrences: 235
The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm … is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
FAIL
Occurrences: 226
Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover: missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc.
FAIL
Occurrences: 128
Stop lamp(s): all missing or inoperative
FAIL
Occurrences: 120
Wiper blade: missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
FAIL
Occurrences: 99
Emissions levels exceed default limits
FAIL
Occurrences: 95
A headlamp: missing, inoperative or more than ½ not functioning in the case of LED
FAIL
Occurrences: 90
A tyre: with a lump, bulge or tear … or with cords exposed or damaged
FAIL
Occurrences: 89
A spring: or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
FAIL
Occurrences: 84