Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2003)

314 consumer complaints on file.

#10348197August 9, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. REAR WINDOWS REGULATOR/MOTORS BROKE. VW ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FRONT WINDOWS (7 YEARS) REAR WINDOWS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER WANTS $700.00 PER SIDE TO FIX. WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN ON COMMAND. OFTEN FALL ON THEIR OWN AFTER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347977August 7, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REAR WINDOW WILL NOT COME UP. OTHER REAR WINDOW IS LOCKED IN UP POSITION AS IT BROKE 8 MO. AGO. THERE SEEMS TO BE ALOT OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE NEW BEATLE ALL YEARS. TIME FOR A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346532July 31, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL FIRE IN FUSEBOX OF 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DISABLED VEHICLE AND MELTED FUSE HOUSING AND COVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343716July 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VW BUG 2003, 87,000 MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ROUGH. DEALER SAID WE NEEDED TO HAVE THE "VALVE BODY" CHECKED ($1413). IF THIS WASN'T THE PROBLEM WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ($5761). I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT COSTS SO MUCH BEFORE WE EVEN KNOW IF THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD, OR WHY THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING ON SUCH A RELATIVELY YOUNG CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341219July 2, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO ILLUMINATE APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. THE DEALER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS ALSO REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THAT REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335782June 11, 2010
VISIBILITY
I OWN A 2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, PURCHASED NEW. ONLY 42,000 MILES ON IT. THE FRONT MOTOR AND MODULE WENT OUR FEW DAYS AGO AND HAD REPLACED. NOW THE REAR REGULATOR IS BAD O THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE READ OF A WHOLE LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, WHY NO RECALL, OTHER MODEL YEARS HAVE BEEN, ALSO THE COIL PACK IS BAD AND HAS BEEN RECALL ON OTHER YEARS. WHY DON'T INCLUDE THE 2003 MODEL? THANKS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332553May 27, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ODI NUMBER: 10282664 HELLO, I HAVE A 2003 VW NEW BEETLE TURBO CONVERTIBLE WITH ONLY 26,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 5-6 REPAIRS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. I'M THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR AND PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2008 AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS UP. LIKE MANY, I HAVE HAD TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THE LAST REPAIR TO REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS OVER $1,000 DOLLARS AND NO THE OTHER SIDE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10332169May 25, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 6SP. TIPRTONIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED AT 78,500 MILES. I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND ONTO THE ROAD AND THE CAR ACCELERATED LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED, SHIFTER THROUGH FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD, THEN NEVER SHIFTED TO FOURTH JUST REVVED. WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED AND QUOTED $4,800 BY MECHANIC. HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ABOUT THIS TOPIC SINCE AND HAVE DISCOVERED SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE SAME SITUATION. I FEEL VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD AT LEAST HELP US OUT. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN ON MAY 12TH AND WAS TOLD BASICALLY THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE SEEN ON DISCUSSION FORUMS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION, I FEEL A RECALL MAY BE IN ORDER TO FORCE VOLKSWAGEN TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE. THANKS YOU FOR TIME AND CONSIDERATION ON THIS MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10331531May 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STRUCTURE
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT THIRD GEAR, TRIPTRONTIC AUTOMATIC, LEAK IN TRUNK, TOP WILL NOT GO UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10330334May 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 VW BEETLE, TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE ...ORIGINAL OWNER, REGULAR SERVICING,COMPLETED. AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED SPORT SHIFT. RUNS FINE WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. DRIVE 10 MILES OR SO AN THE CAR STARTS TO JERK AND FAILS TO SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR. YESTERDAY GOT STUCK IN 3RD GEAR WHILE ON HWY, CREATED A DANGER FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. TOOK IT TO A TRANY PLACE, NOT THE TRANSMISSION, BUT SUGGESTS IT IS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN THE CAR FAILS TO SHIFT THE RPMS GO TO 5K OR 6K THEN THE CAR JERKS AND TIRES SCREECH, I CALLED VW AND THE PARTS GUY SAID THAT A NEW TRANY RUNS7 K OR SO AND HE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS I DESCRIBED IT ABOVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329780May 10, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WAS SEPARATING FROM THE ROOF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ROOF WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ROOF WOULD NOT PROPERLY CLOSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN SERVICED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 06/06/11 *BF UPDATED 12/29/2011 *LN *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327874April 28, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I HAVE A 2003 CONV/NEW BEETLE 1.8T ENGINE 69,200 MI. IT'S HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES, GARAGED KEPT AND LOW MILEAGE LESS THAN 10,000 MIL PER YR. PER THE VW SERVICE DEPT IT HAS SLUDGE BUILD UP. TO MY UNDERSTANDING OTHER 2003 NEW BEETLE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. VERY COSTLY TO FIX. PER VW IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327673April 27, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN 2003 VW BEETLE. WHILE BRAKING CAR JERKS AND JUMPS. CAR HAS 56K MILES AND HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY SERVICED BY VW. VW STATES CAR NEEDS NEW VALVE BODY AND TIPTRONIX SWITCH TOTALING $2500+ . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326276April 19, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION ON THE VW NEW BEETLES ARE FAULTY. CARS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 45,000 MILES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION GOES. THIS HAS BEEN A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ON WEBSITE FORUMS LIKE NEWBETTLE.ORG AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10326052April 16, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NORMAL DRIVING WITH RECOMMENDED SERVICE INTERVALS. TRANSMISSION STARTS HARD DOWNSHIFTS. TRANSMISSION WILL ALSO WIND OUT AND SLIP OR WIND OUT AND NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH AND 6TH GEAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325796April 15, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE PLASTIC WINDOW IS SEPARATING FROM THE CLOTH TOP OF MY CONVERTIBLE VW. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BLOWING BULBS AND THE SENSOR LIGHT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG STAYS ON. AFTER FIXING THE LIGHT ONE TIME, THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS SAID IT WAS THE SEATBELT CONNECTOR PROBLEM. THEY JUST WANT MONEY, MONEY , MONEY AND I AM STUCK WITH A VOLKSWAGEN THAT IS NOT FUNCTIONAL FOR DAILY USE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325728April 14, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND CERTIFIED MECHANICS. I ONLY HAVE 75,000 MILES ON MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. I HAVE SINCE FOUND MANY OF THE SAME YEAR CAR WITH THE IDENTICAL COMPLAINT OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324579April 8, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ALTERNATOR HARNESS HAS BURNT UP TWICE IN LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT MELTED EVERYTHING AND THEY REPLACED IT AND NOW IT HAS DONE IT AGAIN. IT HAS STRANDED ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS ON 2001 TO 2004 MODELS BUT THEN VW CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS NO. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL DO IT AGAIN AND THAT A FIRE WILL BE NEXT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319412March 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319438March 13, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE EPC LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME, EVEN AFTER BEING FIXED. THE WINDOW REGULATORS BREAK. THE BATTERY HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE CV BOOT BROKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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