Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2001)

203 consumer complaints on file.

#766125August 23, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO STOP CAR SAFELY. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. DEALER REPORTS THAT ECM IS BEING REPLACED, BUT BLAMES PROBLEM ON AN AFTERMARKET K&N AIR FILTER THAT WAS INSTALLED 11 MONTHS AGO. INFORMED DEALER AND VW CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THE MAGNUSSEN-MOSS WARRANTY ACT OF 1982 WHICH MAKES IT A FEDERAL OFFENCE TO NOT HONOR A WARRANTY UNLESS THE MANUFACTURER OFFERS FREE FILTERS. VW IS COVERING ECM UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IS INSISTING ON USE OF A VW FILTER AT MY EXPENSE. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT AND A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW. THE VW REFERENCE NUMBER FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS #20268678.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#6901311August 12, 2002
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN CONSUMER OFF THE ROAD, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN OVER A CURB, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CLAIM 43-R829-345. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#6901312August 12, 2002
TIRES, AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG THEN DEPLOYED, THERE WAS A SCRATCH ON THE WHEEL, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN, CLAIM 53-C850-661. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566140June 19, 2002
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CONSUMER HAD A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN A SERIOUS INJURY TO THE PASSENGER. *YH THE CONSUMER STATED THE BELT TENSIONER DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED HIS INCREASED ACCELERATION OVER THE NORMAL FORCES .
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#8011083June 5, 2002
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND ROLLING OVER SOME PIECES OF TIRE TREAD ON ROAD DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#762397May 29, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DEALER SAYS AIR BAG MUST BE REPLACED. NEVER DEPLOYED. SHOULD IT NOT LAST LONGER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8009441May 8, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING ON A BRIDGE AT 50 MPH WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#8005901March 19, 2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND REQUESTED CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO RECEIVE A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK.*AKL
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8003845February 11, 2002
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING 40MPH THE CAR HIT GRAVEL/ SPET OFF THE SIDE OF ROAD, AND CAUSED PASSENGER'S SIDE TO HIT A TREE. NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED TOTALED.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#757615January 31, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MOST OF THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED DURING THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY. ON JAN 22ND, TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, ENGINE LOST POWER AND WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND THE POWER CUT FROM 55 TO ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR IN THE MATTER OF SECONDS. OTHER CARS WERE SWERVING AROUND ME AND I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED OUT. ON JAN 30TH THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, ONLY THIS TIME I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY BUT A SIDE STREET. CAR WAS TOWED AWAY AGAIN ANDIS IN THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR REPAIRS. DURING THIS MONTH NOT ONLY WAS AN ENGINE REPLACED BUT IT MALFUNCTIONED TWICE. IT IS DANGEROUS TO TRAVEL ON ANY HIGHWAY WITH THIS CAR. THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED TWICE IN ONE WEEK. I CAN NOT SAFELY RETURN TO DRIVING THIS CAR. I WAS ALMOST KILLED ONCE AND WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIUOS ACCIDENT. THE BEETLE HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS AND VERY MAJOR ONES. FOR A CAR THAT IS 8 MONTHS OLD, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756957January 16, 2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
REAR SEATBELTED PASSENGERS HIT THEIR HEADS ON NON-CUSHIONED REAR PILLARS DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ON A BUMPY ROAD, BOTH REAR PASSENGERS CAN GET PAINFUL BUMPS ON THEIR HEADS. AT THE VERY LEAST THE PILLARS SHOULD BE CUSHIONED. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY UNFORTUNATELY COULD NOT RECOMMEND A SOLUTION. THIS REMINDS ME OF THE OBSOLETE HARD/RIGID DASHBOARDS ON OLD CARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#756447January 5, 2002
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I USED THE SWITCH TO LOWER THE WINDOW ,HEARD A CLUNK,WINDOW FELL ALL THE WAY INSIDE THE DOOR.THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR VW AND THEY CONTINUE NOT TO REMEDY IT.ALL WINDOW REGULATORS ARE ON BACKORDER FOR 4 WEEKS SO THAT TELLS YOU SOMETHING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#753675October 25, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I RECEIVED THIS 2001 BEETLE AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND A VOLKSWAGEN REPRESENTATIVE, BECAUSE MY 2000 BEETLE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WHICH COULD NOT BE FIXED. AFTER ABOUT 5 MONTHS, THIS 2001 BEETLE HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS AND CONTINUES TO HAVE MANY PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT IN THE FIRST TIME ON JULY 26, 2001 FOR ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I TOOK IT TO FOR SERVICE SAID IT WAS A DEFECT AND THEY ORDERED MEPARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY DID ALSO FIND FAULTS WITH P1200 AND P0411 TECH BULLETINS. IT WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP MOTOR WAS INOPERATIUVE. THEY REMOVED AND INSTALLED AN OVVERRUN CUT-OFF VALVE. THAT SAME DAY, THE WINDOW GLASS WAS FOUND OFF TRACK SO THEY REMOVED AND INSTALLED A FRONT DOOR TRIM PANEL AND THE WINDOW GLASS. THE CAR WAS BACK IN FOR THE ORDERED PARTS FOR THE ENGINE DEFECT ON A LATER DATE. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER THOSE REPAIRS, MY AUTOMOBILE WAS IN FOR A FAULTY TRUNK LATCH AND MOTOR AND A MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRBAGS. THEY HAD TO ORDER PARTS FOR THAT AND SO MY CAR WAS IN ON A LATER DATE FOR THAT. THEY REPLACED THE LOWER TRUNK LATCH BINDING AND REMOVED AND INSTALLED LIFTGATE TRIM AND A REAR LOCK. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE, AS WELL AS REMOVING AND INSSTALLING AN AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT. THE CAR HAS OTHER PROBLEMS AS WELL. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND VIBRATES THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING. IT HAS A HUM SOUND WHILE DRIVING. THE TURBO WING LIGHT COMES ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES. IT'S HAVING THE ALMOST ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MY LAST BEETLE. I'M VERY ANGRY WITH THIS CAR AND I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANY RELIEF. IT'S A LEASED AUTOMOBILE, THAT'S MY ONLY THING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, IS GETTING RID OF IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#748662July 18, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR FAILURE. I HAVE HAD 4 FAIL, AND THE DEALER HAS JUST BEEN REPLACING THESE. I HAVE COME TO THE POINT OF JUST DISABLEING THIS SENSOR AND RUNNING OFF OF THE MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR. SEVERAL CARS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561989July 10, 2001
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATES THE REAR WINDOW CAN NOT BE CLEARED OF RAIN, DEW, FOG OR MOISTURE THAT ACCUMULATES ON THE WINDOW WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN MOTION, EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION UNDER CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE REAR WINDOW VISION REMAINS OBSCURED, CONSUMER HAS DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT A CHEMICAL BE APPLIED TO THE REAR WINDOW THAT WILL FACILITATE REMOVAL OF MOISTURE FROM THE WINDOW, BUT THAT SOLUTION IS EFFECTIVE ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT A WIPER BE INSTALLED FOR THE REAR WINDOW AT HIS EXPENSE, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO DO SO.*ET
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747930July 5, 2001
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES DELAYS IN ACCELERATION ALMOST CAUSING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. DEALER #1, LASHER VOLKSWAGON STATED PROBLEM WAS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND REPLACED IT. VEHICLE STILL EXPERICENCED DELAYS IN ACCELERATION. DEALER #2, ROSEVILLE VOLKSWAGON STATED PROBLEM IS CONTAINED WITHIN THE VEHICLES SOFTWARE AND WILL TAKE 1 TO 3 MONTHS TO CORRECT. THIS VEHICLE IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747326June 24, 2001
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
THE BACK GLASS JUST EXPLODED INTO A MILLION PIECES WHILE IT WAS IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#885021April 4, 2001
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
THERE IS A MAJOR DISTORTION IN THE CENTER OF THE REAR WINDOW. IT MAKES FRONT END OF OTHER VEHICLES LOOK LIKE CRUMBLED UP. FRONT WINDSHIELD AT BOTTOM HAS A MAJOR DISTORTION WHICH EXTENDS VISION 15 FEET IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER WILL BE CONTACTNG MANUFACTURER. *AK THE DEFECT IN REAR WINDOW WAS NOTICABLE ONLY TO TALLER PERSONS ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#879218January 29, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE WILL START OFF OKAY, BUT THEN IT WOULD DIE/STALL. PROBLEM WAS INTREMITTENT. IT SHUT OFF FOR ABOUT10 SECONDS OR MORE. *AK DEALER REPLACED RELAY, HOWEVER VEHICLE HAS STALLED 4 MORE TIMES, POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#878495January 18, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL LEAKAGE DUE TO A PUNCTURE IN PLASTIC FUEL TANK. THERE IS NO PROTECTION OR BARRIER FOR LOW POSITIONED FUEL TANK . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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