Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2000)

263 consumer complaints on file.

#10016494April 25, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE: 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED RESULTING IN A LACK OF ABILITY TO PROPERLY GAUGE SPEED. ALSO, LOST THE ABILITY TO DETERMINE WHETHER FUEL LEVEL WAS LOW. VW DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISED THE CLUSTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE IS 3 YEARS AND 1 MONTH OLD. THE WARRANTY PERIOD WAS 24 MONTHS OR 24,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE HAS 16,000 MILES. I CONTACTED VW "CUSTOMER ADVOCATE" (THEIR NAME, NOT MINE) DEPARTMENT AND REQUESTED THEIR HELP. I REFERENCED SERVICE BULLETIN NUMBER 0103; "SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NONFUNCTIONAL". AFTER REVIEW THE "ADVOCATE" SAID THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING IN REGARDS TO 'GOODWILL' BASED ON AGE (1 YEAR OUT OF WARRANTY) AND MILEAGE. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT THEIR APPLICATION OF MILEAGE (THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 16,000 WHILE WARRANTY IS 24,000) THE ADVOCATE RESTATED THE REASON FOR DECLINE, BUT WITHOUT MILEAGE. FURTHER, THE ADVOCATE STATED THAT SINCE I WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THEY WOULD NOT APPLY GOODWILL. WHEN I ASKED WHAT THE BASIS WAS FOR OWNERSHIP DISCRIMINATION, SHE INDICATED THE LACK OF SERVICE RECORDS. WHEN I, AGAIN, INDICATED THAT I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER THREE MONTHS AGO AND COULD PROVIDE THE PRIOR SERVICE RECORDS, SHE SAID BASICALLY "TOO BAD", I COULD SEND THEM A COPY, BUT UPON REVIEW VW CUSTOMER ADVOCATE WOULD NOT LIKELY REVISE THEIR DECISION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10015493April 9, 2003
AIR BAGS
THE VEHICLE HIT A POT HOLE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO STATED THEY WOULD FIX IT SO THE LIGHT WOULD NOT COME ON, AND STATED THAT THE RIGHT PASSENGER AIRBAG HAD A LEAK IN IT. CONSUMER WAS LATER INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10010730March 19, 2003
AIR BAGS
DRIVER'S SIDE SIDE IMPACT-AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A FREEWAY. VOLKSWAGEN THEORIZED THAT ROAD DEBRIS PENETRATED THE FLOORBOARD CAUSING THE SENSOR TO GO OFF. HOW THIN IS THE FLOORBOARD THAT A ROCK OR PIECE OF ROAD DEBRIS COULD PENETRATE IT? AND WHY DOES THAT THROW OFF THE SENSOR FOR A SIDE AIRBAG? VOLKSWAGEN REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR TOWING, REPAIRS, OR MY ARM INJURY. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10006414February 4, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE VEHICLE HESITATES, SHUTS DOWN AND WILL NOT RESTART. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10006073January 31, 2003
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAY ILLUMINATED, DEALER NOTIFIED SAID SPRING LIKE CONTACT AND WIRE HARNESS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770494December 5, 2002
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
MY HUSBAND WAS INSTALLING THE BABY SEAT INTO THE BACK SEAT OF OUR CAR IN PREPARATION FOR BRINGING OUR NEWBORN SON FROM THE HOSPITAL ON A COLD RAINY EVENING. WHEN HE TURNED THE REAR-WINDOW DEFOGGER ON. THE REAR WINDOW OF THE CAR EXPLODED INTO SMALL FRAGMENTS OF FLYING SHRAPNEL WHICH SPATTERED ALL OVER THE BACK SEAT AND BABY SEAT. MY HUSBAND SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS ON HIS HANDS AND HEAD. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY, WHEN WE WERE TO BRING MY SON HOME. HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN BLINDED AND BADLY LACERATED OR MUCH WORSE. THE ENTIRE BACK OF THE CAR WAS SOAKED DUE TO THE DRIVING RAIN. BEFORE MY HUSBAND GOT THE CAR INTO A GARAGE, SIGNIFICANT WATER DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE ENTIRE BACK PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I CONTACTED VW TO PAY FOR OUR DEDUCTIBLE AND REIMBURSE US FOR THE WATER DAMAGE, AND THEIR ONLY ANSWER WAS THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTEE AND THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP US. I MENTIONED THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE INJURIES WHICH COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD MY SON BEEN IN HIS REAR FACING BABY SEAT WHEN THE GLASS SHATTERED. THEY WEREN'T EVEN INTERESTED IN TAKING THE INFORMATION DOWN. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT, A MR. BRANDON CURTIS, SEEMED WILLING TO HELP, BUT IT SEEMS HIS SUPERVISOR OVERRULED HIM. I HOPE WE CAN FIND A WAY TO GET VW TO PAY FOR OUR EXPENSES, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS VITAL TO MAKE SURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO ANYONE WHILE THERE IS A CHILD OR INFANT ON THAT BACK SEAT. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#8020517October 9, 2002
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER. MR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT AFTER REVIEWING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS SLIGHT DAMAGE DISCOVERED ON THE LEFT SIDE IN THE FIREWALL AREA. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IMPROPERLY ENGINEERED. SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#768246October 8, 2002
AIR BAGS
SRS SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 16000 MILES. VEHICLE FAULT CODE WAS RESET WITH THE FIRST FAILURE. SIDE AIRBAG WAS REPLACED WITH THE SECOND LIGHT ILLUMINATION. SYSTEM FUNCTIONED PROPERLY FOR ABOUT 8000 MILES AND HAS FAILED AGAIN. AWAITING RESOLUTION FROM VW AS THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES ALSO PURCHASED A 2002 JETTA WHICH HAD AN SRS FAILURE IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGEN'S SRS SYSTEM WHICH YOU MAY WISH TO INVESTIGATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#767697September 25, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THIS IS A QUOTE FROM THE POLICE REPORT (FULL COPY AVAILABLE ON REQUEST) "DRIVER AND ONLY OCCUPANT BUTLER STATED HE ENTERED THE PARKING LOT AND PUT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION OF THE VEH. INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED INTO THE PARKING SPACE, BUT THEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES OF THE VEH. THEY DIDN'T WORK, CAUSING FRONT OF VEH. TO JUMP OVER THE APPROX. 6" HIGH CURB AND COME TO REST HANGING OVER EDGE OF THE RIVER WALL. BUTLER REPORTED HE HAS HAD THE LEASE VEH. FOR APPROX. 3 YEARS AND HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH IT, BUT NEVER ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES" "AN UNIDENTIFIED MALE WAS SITTING ON THE BACK OF THE VEH. TO KEEP IT FROM TIPPING INTO THE WATER" "BUTLER WAS NOT INJURED BUT HE DIDN'T WANT TO EXIT THE VEH. AS HE REPORTED IT WAS TEETERING BACK AND FORTH BEFORE THE MALE SAT ON THE BACK END" ON REPORTING THE ABOVE TO VOLKSWAGEN, THEIR OFFICIAL RESPONCE THAT I FOUND INSULTING WAS THAT IT WAS "OPERATOR ERROR". I HAVE BEEN DRIVING STICK SHIFT VEHICLE FOR 12 YEARS AND NEVER MISTAKEN THE CLUTCH WITH THE BRAKE, AND AFTER RELUCTANTLY TAKING BACK THE BEETLE I WENT TO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT TO SEE IF IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR ME TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH BY MISTAKE AND FOUND THAT MY RIGHT FOOT WOULD NOT EASILY REACH THE PEDAL AND THEREFORE BEYOND ANY DOUBT DISMISS THE CLAIM OF "OPERATOR ERROR". SINCE THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY AND MINIMAL VEHICLE DAMAGE IT IS NOT FINANCIALLY VIABLE FOR ME TO TAKE LEGAL PROCEEDING, ALTHOUGH 4 MONTHS AFTER THE INCIDENT I STILL HAVE FLASHBACKS AND BAD DREAMS OF THE NEAR FATAL EVENT. NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8018023September 5, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATES THE HEADLIGHTS WILL BURN OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. HAS HAPPENED TWICE OVER LAST 2 MONTHS. CONSUMER HAS TO REPLACE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT UNIT.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8018024September 5, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTING IN THE HORN, RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS FAILING INTERMITTENLY.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#567131August 14, 2002
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE EPC INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER STATED THE SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND A NEW BRAKE SWITCH WAS INSTALLED, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE, SHE NOTICED THAT IT FELT DIFFERENT, IT FELT TIGHT, CONSUMER SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES HAD FROZE AND WOULD NOT MOVE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE NEW BRAKE SWITCH THAT WAS INSTALLED HAD CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8016146August 13, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764953July 30, 2002
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
MAY 2001 WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT A WINDOW (DRIVERS) FELT THRUOUGH DOOR CAVITY ON MY VEHICLE. THE DEALER REPAIRED AND THAT WAS IT. THE NEXT MONTH THE PASSENGER WINDOW HAD THE SAME LUCK AND THIS TIME THE SERVICE ADVISORS AT THE DEALER (CAMELBACK VOLKSWAGEN AT PHONEIX, AZ) COMMENTED THAT THIS WAS FAIRLY COMMON ON THE VOLKSWAGENS, AND NOW THAT BOTH OF MY SYSTEMS WHERE REPAIRED I DID NOT HAVE TO WORRY ANYMORE. I WAS UPSET AND ASKED HOW COME THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THEY SAID THAT VW DID NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY ISSUE ONCE THE WINDOW FALLS YOU HAVE NO WAY TO LOCK THE CAR UNLESS YOU TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE!! ON JULY 29, 2002 MY PREVIOULSLY REPAIRED WINDOW FELT INTO THE DOORS CAVITY ONE MORE TIME. I CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE INSTALLED PART WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY AND THAT A NEW PART WAS DESIGNED AND BEING INSTALLED ON BROKEN VEHICLES. THIS TIME I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND DEMANDED THAT BOTH OF MY WINDOWS SYSTEMS WHERE TO BE REPAIRED AT THE SAME TIME WITH THE NEWLY DESIGN PART, AND ASKED WHY THERE IS NOT A RECALL ON THIS MATTER AND THEY CLAIMED THAT THERE IS NOT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF CASES. WELL THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH 10-15 CASES A DAY AND THEY DO NOT EVEN HAVE THE PART IN STOCK., IT IS ON BACK ORDER AND THEY CAN ONLY PROP THE WINDOW AND LEAVE UNMOBILE UNTIL THE PARTS ARRIVE. IN THE MEANTIME VW REFUSES TO REPLACE THE OTHER PART ON THE DRIVERS SIDE UNTIL IT FAILS, EVEN WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THE INSTALLED PART IS FAILING CONSTANTLY AT LEAST IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566861July 24, 2002
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
CONSUMER STATED THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT BULB FAILED, ALSO THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT IS LOCATED IN PLACE THAT IS HARD TO GET TO, THE DEALER STATED IT TOOK 45 MINUTES TO REMOVE THE INSIDE PANELLING AND 2 SECONDS TO CHANGE THE BULB.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566136June 18, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
CONSUMER IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE OIL CONSUMPTION IN THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXAMINED FOR OIL LEAKS. VEHICLE RUNS LOW ON OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL FOR THIS TYPE OF ENGINE.*JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011520June 11, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BOLTS THAT HOLD ENGINE FRONT ON RIGHT HAND SIDE CRYSTALIZED, HEAT TREATMENT FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TO COME LOOSE. *AK *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#761903May 14, 2002
AIR BAGS
THE FAILURE IS WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. DOES NOT FUNCTION WHEN AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A BAD PANEL. I WANT TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL REGAURDING THESE PANELS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8009391May 7, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
BRAKE AND GAS PEDAL ARE VERY CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN WEARING WORKSHOES THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF STEPPING ON THE BRAKE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL AT THE SAME TIME BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSES BEYOND THE HEIGHT OF THE GAS PEDAL. CONSUMER REQUEST THAT DEALER INSTALL A KILL SWITCH ON ACCELERATOR TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8008886April 30, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE APPLYING BRAKE AT 40 MPH THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUE DTHOUGH THE INTERSECTION BEFORE STOPPING. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Beetle