Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2003)

314 consumer complaints on file.

#10676745January 20, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT UNKNOWN AIR BAG WIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10667513December 21, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED. BRAKE LIGHTS INOP. REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THE SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED UNDER RECALL IN 2007. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662116December 4, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FIRST I MUST ASK MYSELF WHY AM I WASTING MY TIME AGAIN? YOU CAN WRITE TO NHTSA ALL YOU WANT AND EXPLAIN YOUR COMPLAINT / DEFECT BUT THAT'S AS FAR AS IT GOES, THEY NEVER RESPOND AND NOTHING GETS REPAIRED FOR FREE UNLESS NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS HAPPEN AND PEOPLE GET HURT OR WORSE YET DIE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631164September 5, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FIRST I HAD 4 WARNING LIGHTS COME ON. BATTERY, OIL PRESSURE, AIR BAGS, AND BRAKES. THEN THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR TURNED OFF. THEN THE CAR DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY 3 CARS. FINALLY GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OPENED HOOD. THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF THE BATTERY MELTED ALONG WITH THE ALTERNATOR WIRE TO FUSE BOX. COST OVER $1000.00 TO FIX. VW DEALER STATED THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS FUSE BOX BUT NO RECALL AND TO BE PREPARED FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I DID SOME SEARCHING ON THE INTERNET....WOW....THIS IS REALLY AN ISSUE WITH THIS FUSE BOX. THERE WAS A CIVIL SUIT FILED BY FLORIDA RESIDENTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597485June 10, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 VW BEETLE TURBO 1.8.AND THE FUSE BLOCK HAS BURNT UP 3 TIMES NOW AND THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL.I JUST HAD VW TO DO OVER $2000.00 AND HAVE THE RECEIPTS TO PROVE IT.THEY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH BUT SAYS THEY DID.THE CAR HAS LEFT MY DAUGHTER STRANDED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES.I HEAR THAT THE ALTERNATOR HARNESS IS FAULTY.YOU CAN GO TO HTTP://GOTACLASSACTION.COM/VOLKSWAGEN-NAMED-IN-CLASS-ACTION-OVER-FUSE-BOXALTERNATOR-CABLE-ASSEMBLY/ AND SEE THAT THEY ARE SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595562June 2, 2014
POWER TRAIN
I WAS OUT DRIVING MY 2003 BEETLE ON THE FREEWAY AND THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO STALL AND SLOW DOWN. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE JUST REV VERY HIGH AND STARTED JERKING. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AS SOON AS I CAN. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE ON GOING. AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION WILL REV HIGH AS THOUGH I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND EVENTUALLY JERKS AND LUNGES. IF I STOP AT A RED LIGHT THE CAR WILL STALL AND LURCH FORWARD UPON ACCELERATION. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 106,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY VOLKSWAGEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588546May 15, 2014
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT UNLATCH. PASSENGER HAD TO CLIMB OUT FROM UNDERNEATH. CALL TO THE VW DEALERSHIP YIELDED COMMENT FROM SERVICE DEPARTMENT "SOMETIMES THE SEAT BELT LATCH BREAKS; YOU NEED TO BRING IT IN AND HAVE IT REPLACED (AT MY COST)". ON MAY 14, 2014 I HAD THE SERVICE REPAIR DONE. MILEAGE WAS 49,486. COST WAS $292.16. SERVICE WAS DONE BY JIM ELLIS VOLKSWAGEN MARIETTA, 1860 COBB PARKWAY, MARIETTA, GA 30060. I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT. IF WE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, MY PASSENGER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR; THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN LIFE-THREATENING, THEY COULD HAVE DIED. I THINK VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD MAKE A RECALL OF 2003 BEETLE CONVERTIBLES AND REPLACE THE LATCH AND SENSOR (TO AIRBAG) AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10572774March 17, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
MY CAR WAS PURCHASED AS A USED CAR. I PURCHASED IT WITH 100000 MILES (APPROX.), AND I HAVE PUT ON 31000 ADDITIONAL MILES SINCE (WITHIN 5 YEARS). MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN ROUTINELY MAINTAINED/SERVICED. I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY BEETLE. IN NOVEMBER 2013, MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. IT HAS BECOME WORSE, AND IT LURCHES FORWARD WILL IN DRIVE, AND AT A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION MY CAR EITHER HESITATES TO TAKE OFF OR IT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX, HAVING CONSULTED TWO MECHANICS AND RECEIVING THEIR ESTIMATES. I FEEL THAT THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE POSES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF, OTHER DRIVERS, AND PEDESTRIANS WHO MAY BE CROSSING IN FRONT OF MY LURCHING VEHICLE. I THINK THAT WITH THE MULTITUDE OF 2003 TRANSMISSION ISSUES/FAILURES, VW NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT WITH A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567081March 4, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALL PANEL LIGHTS COME ON (ABS, BRAKE, BATTERY, SEATBELT, CHECK ENGINE), AND THE INDICATOR CONTINUOUSLY SOUNDS LIKE THE SEATBELT IS NOT LOCKED. THE RIGHT BRAKELIGHT GOES OUT WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON. ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY WERE BOTH CHECKED AND THEY WERE BOTH REALLY STRONG. THINKING THIS MAY BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549423October 24, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 11/15/13*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10548387October 18, 2013
POWER TRAIN
THE AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543077September 11, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
I AM THE THIRD OWNER AND I SHOULD HAVE CKED THIS CAR OUT SINCE THE PERSON WHO SOLD IT TOO ME DIDNT TELL ME A THING ABOUT THE CAR.I AM SO DICUSTED ABOUT THIS ADORABLE LOOKING CAR. I ONLY DROVE IT ONCE AND TOOK IT TOO OUR MECHANIC. WISHED I HAD TAKEN IT THERE FIRST$800.00 LATER AND JUST THE BEGINNING! I PAID TOO MUCH TO BEGIN WITH. IPAID $4500 FOR A 2003 VW BECAUSE IT WAS CUTE! SO I WISH VW WOULD HELP US AMERICAN PEOPLE. I WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR BUT HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT ONCE.! HELP !! STILL AT THE MECHANICS! WISH PEOPLE COULD BE HONEST ! THIS WOULD NOT HAPPENED IN THE 60"S . WE HAVE A GOOD MECHANIC! THANK GOD! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10533452August 3, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS MY 2003 VW BEETLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE CHANGING GEARS (IT'S AN AUTOMATIC) AND HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. IT WILL JERK AND LUNGE WHEN SLOWING DOWN. EACH TIME THE MECHANIC HAS "RESET THE CODES" AND THE TEST DRIVE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ANYMORE TROUBLE. IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE AND NOW AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 25 OR 30 MINUTES IT BEGINS THE JERKING AND LUNGING. AFTER RESEARCHING, I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I LOVE MY CAR, BUT NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND I CERTAINLY CANNOT RELY ON IT. I NOW FEEL THAT I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT I CANNOT DRIVE NOR CAN I SELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10526179July 22, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT AND WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL BANGING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,200. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10526004July 21, 2013
POWER TRAIN
MY DAUGHTERS 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE SHIFTS VERY HARD AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF POSSIBLE CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT! I'VE READ MESSAGE BOARDS AND HAVE REALIZED THAT THIS YEAR OF BEETLE NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE SOMEONE LOSSES THEIR LIFE! IT SHIFTS THE WORST BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. SHE IS SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS CAR! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523958July 9, 2013
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE HAS STARTED HARD SHIFTING WHEN WARM, CAUSING ERRATIC SPEED CHANGES AND POSSIBLE LACK OF TRACTION. VWOA ISSUED A RECALL AROUND A YEAR AGO HOWEVER ONLY WITHIN A VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF MILES DONE, SHOWING THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT TAKE ADEQUATE ACTION TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10522279June 28, 2013
STRUCTURE:BODY
THIS VEHICLE PERMEATES AN ODOR OF CRAYON WAX IN HEAT OR COLD. MORE SO IN HEAT AND WHEN THE HEAT OR A/C IS BEING USED. THE ODOR STICKS TO YOU HAIR AND CLOTHING AND IS EXTREMELY NAUSEATING. IN RESEARCH IT IS A WAX THAT COATS THE UNDERLAY OF THE CARPET. IF YOU GOOGLE "CRAYON SMELL IN VW OR HOW TO REMOVE CRAYON SMELL IN VW" YOU WILL FIND SEVERAL FORUMS. I BELIEVE IT IS A HEALTH HAZARD. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THE VEHICLE PRIMARILY & REFUSES TO USE THE A/C OR HEAT DUE TO THE SMELL MAKING HER SICK &STICKING TO HER HAIR AND CLOTHES. I DROVE IT FOR A WEEKEND AND HAD A NAUSEATING MIGRAINE ALL WEEKEND LONG. WHO KNOWS WHAT LONG TERM AFFECT THIS CAN HAVE ON ONES HEALTH. I CALLED VW, THEY SAID ITS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS ISNT DUE TO LACK OF CARE OR MAINTENANCE, THIS IS A POOR QUALITY MATERIAL USED TO MANUFACTURE THE VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING THE ODOR THAT IS MAKING PEOPLE SICK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10513531May 25, 2013
POWER TRAIN
I HAVE A 2003 VW BEETLE THAT I PURCHASED ON MAY 18, 2003 OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR OF MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. IT CURRENTLY IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE AS I HAVE EXPERIENCE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMSSION SLIPPING HARD INTO GEAR OR JERKING TO A HARD STOP WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THIS STARTED IN APRIL, 2012, I TOOK IT IN TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I ONLY HAVE 85,000 MILES. WELL, I TOOK IT TOO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR LOCATIONS AND THEY SAID THE SAME WITH A COST UP TO AROUND $6,000. I WORKED HARD TO PAY MY CAR OFF AND NOW IT SITS COVERED IN MY GARAGE AS I HAVE READ THEIR ARE POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST VW FOR THIS ISSUE. I DID RECEIVE A NOTICE FROM VW IN NOVEMBER OF 2010 REGARDING WARRANTY EXTENSION - TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. IT COVERS THE VALVE BODY IN YOUR VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, FROM THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL IN-SERVICE DATE. WELL, I BOUGHT MY CAR IN MAY OF 2003, SO MY 7 YEARS WAS UP IN MAY OF 2010...SO VW SENDS OUT A WORTHLESS NOTICE IN NOVEMBER 2010 AND I AM STUCK WITH THE BILL. I HAVE BEEN GETTING CALLS AND EMAILS FROM MY VW DEALEARSHIP THAT I CAN TRADE IN MY CAR AND THEY WILL GIVE ME TOP $$. I DON'T WANT ANOTHER VW CAR, I JUST WANT THIS ONE FIXED BY VW. PLEASE HELP DIRECT ME TO THE APPROPRIATE GROUP, PERSON SO THAT I CAN BE INCLUDED IN ANY LAWSUIT OR SETTLEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10512189May 15, 2013
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY AND ERRATICALLY DOWN SHIFTS OR HARD UP SHIFTS, CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10508560April 17, 2013
POWER TRAIN
WAS DRIVING MY BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AT AROUND 40MPH THERE WAS A CAR THAT STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND I STARTED SLOWING DOWN AS THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED IT JERKED SO HARD IT MADE ME GO INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ALMOST HAVE A HEAD ON COLLISION VW IS AWARE OF THESE CARS DOING THIS AND WARRANTIED THE VALVE BODY'S BUT WHEN I CALLED AND TOLD THEM ABOUT MINE THEY SAID I WAS TO LATE THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OVER!!! THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND COULD RESULT IN PEOPLE BEING KILLED VW DIDN'T EVEN OFFER ME THE PART TO PAY SOMEONE TO FIX MY CAR SO NOW IT SITS IN THE YARD AND I CAN NOT DRIVE IT DUE TO I HAVE CHILDREN AND I'M SCARED IT WILL GETS US IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT AND HARM US! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS BEFORE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HURT!!!! STEP UP VW AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Beetle