Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10038850September 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AT 25,000 MILES THE CAR STARTED BURNING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL. AT 28,516 VW FINALLY AGREES THE CAR IS BURNING OIL EXCESSIVELY. VW REPLACED PISTON RINGS. BUT AT 35,000 THE PROBLEM RETURNS! NOW VW STATES THIS IS "NORMAL". WHY IS THIS NORMAL NOW AND THE SAME PROBLEM WAS NOT NORMAL BEFORE? I HAVE RECENTLY LEARNED PER VOLKSWAGEN,IS SUPPOSED TO USE A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES. I WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS BY THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS TOTALLY RIDICULOUS AND UNACCEPTABLE!!! ITS MY OPINION, BUT I SUSPECT THAT VW IS WELL AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THEY PROBABLY DON'T WANT TO EAT THE COST OF REPLACING THOUSANDS OF ENGINES. SO....THEY DECLARED THIS SITUATION "NORMAL".I AM TOTAL DISCUSSED WITH VW OF AMERICA. BECAUSE THIS CAR BURNS MORE OIL THEN THE OLD HEAP I GOT TIRED OF. I WOULD LIKE A NEW ENGINE THAT DOES NOT BURN OIL!!!! "NORMAL" IS JUST A STANDARD WAY TO WEASEL OUT OF TAKING ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE VERY REAL PROBLEMS THAT MYSELF AND OTHER HAVE WITH THEIR VEHICLES!!!! *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038605September 10, 2003
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING , THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037488September 8, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
I AM WILL REINECKE AND WILL BE SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MS. ROSSI. WE HAVE A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH 15500 MILES ON IT [THE VEHICLE HAD 1220 MILES ON IT WHEN WE BOUGHT IT]. WE NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR THAT BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE. IN AS MUCH AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY [12 MONTHS OR 12000 MILES], A FRIEND AND MYSELF SEARCHED FOR THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE THAT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM BOTH SIDES, REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WE FOUND THE CAUSE TO BE THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTINGS. INSIDE THESE MOUNTINGS IS A FIBER OR NEOPHRENE GASKET/GROMMET THAT WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DISINDEGRADED IN BOTH MOUNTINGS. WHEN WE REMOVED EACH SHOCK WE DISCOVERED AN ORANGE DUST/CRUMB LIKE SUBSTANCE ON THE SHAFT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION LED US TO WHAT WAS LEFT OF THESE GASKETS EMBODIED WITHIN THE MOUNTINGS. I HAVE THE REMAINS OF THESE GASKETS ALONG WITH THE CRUMB LIKE RESIDUE IN MY POSSESSION AND WILL GLADLY SEND IT TO YOU SHOULD YOU SO DESIRE. I CONTACTED THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AS WELL AS THEIR CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AND RECEIVED NO HELP AT ALL WITH THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD OCCUR ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 15500 MILES ON IT THAT IS MAINLY DRIVEN WITHIN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY BY A SENIOR CITIZEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038060September 3, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10036892August 30, 2003
AIR BAGS
NEW BEETLE 2001: VIN#[XXX] E AIR BAG SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING. 7 REPAIR ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY VW AUTHORIZED REPAIR REPRESENTATIVES. VW HAS NOT IDENTIFIED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK VW MADE ME AN $2,000.- TRADE-IN ALLOWANCE OFFER (AGAINST THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VW). IF TRADED, THIS CAR WOULD VERY LIKELY BE RE-SOLD TO A CONSUMER WITH THE DEALERS FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE SAFETY PROBLEM AS VW REFUSES TO TAKE THIS CAR OFF THE MARKET PLACE. WHAT SHOULD I DO ?? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034455August 25, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LIGHT SENSOR WOULD COME ON, AND CONSUMER WOULD NOT HAVE ANY BRAKES. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033434August 25, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THE EPC LIGHT COMES ON THE DASH. I WAS TOLD THIS IS DUE TO A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH THAT WILL GO OUT. THIS CAUSES CRUISE CONTROL TO GO OUT, BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT WORK, AND DIFFICULTY GETTING YOUR GEARSHIFT OUT OF PARK OR NEUTRAL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033266August 21, 2003
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
2000 VW BEETLEOUGHT THE CAR NEW. AT 12,000 MILES HAD A BENT TIE ROD WHICH VW INSISTED THAT I DAMAGED WHICH I DIDN'T. IF I DID I WOULD HAVE BLOWN THE TIRE OUT. TRODDLE BOX NEEDS REPLACING BECAUSE OF A BAD CENSOR. TOTAL COST OVER $500 NOT INCLUDING WHAT I SPENT REPLACING THE TIE ROD. LOST POWER IN THE CAR, TWICE AND SERVICE CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS ON COMING ON ALONG WITH THE EPC LIGHT. AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT HAD TO BE RESET DUE TO THE POWER FAILURE. VW CUSTOMER SERVICE IS WORTHLESS. DON'T EVEN WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEMS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10034175August 18, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
VEHICLE TURBO HOSE CAME LOOSE ON 2002 NEW BEETLE.*MR *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031231August 15, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD INTO A PARKED VEHICLE IN A NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHEN SHE TRIED TO APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONSUMER STATED WAS GOING TO HAVE THE MASTER CYLINDER CHECKED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029740August 15, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK. THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY WORN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033774August 12, 2003
AIR BAGS
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND WILL NOT GO OFF UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032489August 8, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. PREVIOUSLY THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED, HOWEVER THE STALLING CONTINUED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030914August 6, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BEETLE HAS HAD A NUMBER OF MAJOR REPAIR PROBLEMS. AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM FAILED AT 3YEARS OLD RESULTING IN A COMPLETE REBUILD. RECENTLY, WINDOW PARTS FAILED ON BOTH SIDES RESULTING IN WINDOWS FALLING DOWN INTO THE DOORS. POWER WINDOW ON DRIVER SIDE, HATCH RELEASE AND GAS TANK DOOR RELEASE SWITCHES HAVE ALL FAILED OR BROKE RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT. ECM MODULE HAS BEEN REPLACED. GLOVE BOX DOOR BROKE AND HAS BEEN REPLACED. CURRENTLY DEALING WITH ANOTHER SERIES OF CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS AND AWAITING DIAGNOSIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032080August 5, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
CONSUMER STATES THAT BATTERY CABLES ARE MELTING. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032017August 4, 2003
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10032022August 4, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE AND STALL WITHOUT NO POWER AT ALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031472July 29, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING SMOKE WAS COMING FROM INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE VENTS. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10025082July 28, 2003
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A LEFT FRONTAL COLLISION YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *NLM *CB *NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10031917July 25, 2003
TIRES
VEHICLE LOSS CONTROL AND BEGAN SKIDDING ON HIGHWAY. *MR THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE CONSUMER NOTICED A LARGE GAPING HOLE CUT THROUGH THE RIGHT TIRE WITH EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE METAL WHEEL. THIS WAS SAID TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. *SCC *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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