Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10631163September 5, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ACTIVATING THE TURNING SIGNAL, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHORTED AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
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
#10630551September 3, 2014
STRUCTURE
ADULT MALE HAD HAND UNDER THE TRUNK LID GETTING READY TO LIFT IT OPEN WHEN THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS CLOSED (DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS ALREADY CLOSED). THERE WAS A VACUUM EFFECT AND THE TRUNK LID SLAMMED DOWN ON THE HAND. THE HAND WAS SEVERELY CRUSHED BUT THE SKIN WASN'T BROKEN AND NO BONES WERE BROKEN. IF THIS HAD BEEN A CHILD OR ADOLESCENT IT PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH MORE SEVERE. THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10630095September 2, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAL FROM THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS DETERIORATING AND CAUSED WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629523August 30, 2014
AIR BAGS
ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 2014 AT 12:19 PM, I REAR ENDED A TOYOTA HIGHLANDER AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 30 MPH. MY PASSENGER WAS NOT WEARING A SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND ON IMPACT MY PASSENGER WAS EJECTED OUT OF THE SEAT AND SMASHED HER HEAD OFF THE WINDSHIELD AND THEN ONTO THE DASHBOARD. ALSO SHE HIT HER LEGS OFF THE GLOVE BOX HARD ENOUGH THAT SHE COULD NOT WALK AFTER THE ACCIDENT. THE WINDSHIELD IS SMASHED AND THE GLOVE BOX DOOR IS BROKEN. I ON THE OTHER HAND HAD MY SEAT BELT ON, BUT MY SIDE OF THE CAR HAD SUSTAINED THE MOST DAMAGE, BUT NEITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10629450August 29, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE SPECIFIC REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,479. UPDATED 10/6/2015*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628305August 26, 2014
ENGINE
EXITING GARDEN STATE PARKWAY SB ENGINE CUT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXIT RAMP. HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF AND THEN TOWED. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT IT WAS THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY USED CAR WARRANTY HOWEVER THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2.0L TURBO MOTORS. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS OR TECHNICAL BULLETINS FOR THIS PART. I AM AWARE THAT THE PART THAT IS FAULTY ON THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WAS ONLY CORRECTED IN 2012. I PERSONALLY KNOW SOMEONE WHOSE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THIS PART . THE FAULTY PART BEING REPLACED IS A SPRING. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN WARRANTY HOWEVER THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY VW AND I SHOULD BE EITHER PARTIALLY OR ENTIRELY COVERED FOR THIS REPAIR. IF YOU WANT TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH, THIS PROBLEM IS VERY EASY TO FIND ON THE INTERNET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628600August 26, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND KEYLESS IGNITION. THIS IS AN UNSAFE COMBINATION SHOULD THE CAR BE STALLED. WHEN THE START BUTTON IS PUSHED AND I HAVE FAILED TO GET THE CLUTCH PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM THE CAR WON'T START. NOW THE BUTTON MUST BE PUSHED ONCE TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF, ONCE MORE TO TURN THE IGNITION ON AND YET A THIRD TIME TO ENGAGE THE STARTER AND HOPEFULLY THE CLUTCH PEDAL IS FULLY ENGAGED. ALL OF THIS HAPPENING WHILE IN PANIC MODE AS YOU OBSERVE AUTOS COMING AT YOU. A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE A STARTER BUTTON SEPARATE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. FOR BACKGROUND I AM 60 YEARS OLD AND HAVE DRIVEN STANDARD SHIFT CARS MY ENTIRE LIFE AND HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED SUCH A PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE CLUTCH LOCKOUT FEATURE SHOULD BE DISABLED IN A VEHICLE WITH THIS COMBINATION OR A SEPARATE STARTER BUTTON BE PROVIDED. I AM CONVINCED I WILL DIE IN THIS CAR EITHER AS A RESULT OF A CRASH OR HEART ATTACK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628056August 25, 2014
SEATS
I HAVE NOTICED A QUARTER SIZE BURN STARTING TO HAPPEN ON THE SEAT SECTION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MY SON HAD THE SEAT HEATER ON THIS MORNING WHEN DRIVING TO SCHOOL NO BURN NOTICED ON HIS LEG THE CAR IS A CONVERT ABLE BEETLE 2003 THE SEAT IS IN REASONABLE CONDITION .LEATHER STILL SUPPLE WITH NO VISUAL DEFECTS APART FROM SLIGHT DISCOLORATION AND SOME PERIPHERAL CRACKING ON THE EXTERIOR SEAT SECTION. WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN ON HEATED SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10625766August 16, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND ONCE ON THE OFF RAMP, TRIED TO SPEED UP AND THE ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH, THEN THE VEHICLE SLOWED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME AT ABOUT 35 MPH. STOPPED THE CAR, THEN RESTARTED AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF. CALLED THE CLOSEST VW DEALER . AT FIRST THEY SAID CALL THE VW ROADSIDE HELP SINCE WE HAD NOT BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THEM. AFTER I TOLD THEM THEY HAD ALWAYS SERVICED OUR PRIOR VW'S, ALL THREE OF THEM, THEN THEY CHANGED THEIR TONE AND THEY STATED THAT IF THE LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ON THEN THE SYSTEM MOST LIKELY RESET ITSELF AND IT SHOULD BE FINE. I MADE AN APPOINT TO HAVE IT CHECKED ANYWAY. THE NEXT DAY THE WIFE DROVE TO AND FROM WORK, 120 MILES TOTAL, AND IT SEEMED OK, BUT THE TURBO INDICATOR HAS ALWAYS SHOWN A HIGH READING, EVEN WHEN NOT APPLYING POWER. TOOK IT TO VW DEALER AND AFTER EXAMINATION DETERMINED THE FUEL SYSTEM WAS CONTAMINATED WITH METAL SHAVING. THEY ADVISED THAT VW HAS HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE TDI HIGH PRESSURE PUMP AND THEY WERE GOING TO HAVE TO CONTACT VW TO FIND OUT WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE AT THIS POINT. THEY TOLD US THAT IT WOULD BE AT LEAST TWO DAYS TO FIX IT, SO NOW WE WAIT. THEY DID PROVIDE US WITH A VW BEETLE, TURBO, GAS MODEL AT NO COST. IT SEEMS THIS TURBO WORKS CORRECTLY ON THIS ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10622277August 14, 2014
EQUIPMENT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
THE LIGHT ON MY DASH CAME ON FOR THE DRIVERS AIRBAG AND HAD IT CHECKED BY THE DEALER MARCH, 2010 FOR MY 2001 VW BEETLE 1.9 DIESEL. I WAS TOLD THE CHIP IN THE SEAT BELT HAD GONE BAD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. APPROX. $175.00 THE SERVICE DEPT. CALLED VW AND THEY COULD NOT TELL ME IF MY DEFECTIVE CHIP IN THE SEATBELT WILL DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. 50% CHANCE IT MIGHT. I HAVE NOTICED ALL THE $ I HAVE PUT INTO THIS CAR VW GENERALLY IS NOT ON THE RECALL LISTS FOR ANYTHING. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHT BULBS GENERALLY BURN OUT EVERY YEAR AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. VW DOESN'T TELL HOW TO CHANGE THE BULBS IN THE MANUAL. HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER TO SHOW HOW TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB WHICH I FEEL IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER VW BECAUSE THEY DO NOT BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT. ALSO I KNOW THIS MY BE OLD INFORMATION BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I COULD REPORT THIS UNTIL I SAW SOMETHING IN THE PAPER. I DON'T KNOW MANY OTHER VW'S OUT THERE ARE WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BUT I HAVE TALKED TO VW COMPLAINT DEPT. AND ALL THEY TOLD ME IS THAT THEY GO OFF OF DEALERS RECORDS. I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE IT BECAUSE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD EITHER DOES N'T CHANGE FOR FIXING OR VW FIXES SOME OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE NEXT MODELS COMING OUT OF WHICH I AM STUCK WITH THE PROBLEM. NO HELP FROM VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10622360August 14, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLIDE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THE WIPER BLADES WOULD NOT CLEAR RAIN FROM THE WINDSHIELD. IN ADDITION A CHEMICAL TYPE ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10622025August 13, 2014
STRUCTURE
THE DASHBOARD AND INSTRUMENT PANEL ARE MELTING AWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618479August 3, 2014
SEATS, STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
FIRST THE BUTTON TO ROLL UP THE PASSENGER WINDOW BROKE, THEN THE BUTTON TO LOCK THE PASSENGER DOOR BROKE, THEN THE SEAT FELL APART FOR NOT REASON AND WOULD NOT CLIP DOWN, THEN THE PLASTIC PANELS INSIDE THE DOOR CRACK AND ARE FALLING OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617394July 29, 2014
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
PROBLEM WITH CLUTCH RELEASE. PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP, THE CLUTCH SOMETIMES DISENGAGES WITHOUT ANY SIGN OF SHUTTER. ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU FIND YOURSELF IN TRAFFIC AND THE ENGINE IS OFF AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOCKED. THIS OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK AND CREATES A PANIC RESPONSE ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ARE PULLING AWAY FROM A LIGHT OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC. CARS FROM BEHIND HAVE TO HIT THEIR BRAKES WHEN YOU PULL OUT INTO A LANE OF TRAFFIC AND THE CAR STALLS. MY WIFE AND I HAVE DRIVEN SIX DIFFERENT VEHICLES OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS ALL WHICH HAD MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. FOUR OF THESE VEHICLES WERE VW?S. WE KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE WHEN YOU ACCIDENTLY ?POP THE CLUTCH?. THERE IS USUALLY A SHUTTER AND YOU FEEL THE VEHICLE COMES TO AN ABRUPT STOP. IN THE CASE ON MY 2014 VW BEETLE, YOU SOMETIME NEVER FEEL ANYTHING THROUGH THE CLUTCH PEDAL AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU SEE THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT AND YOU REALIZE THE ENGINE IS ?DEAD?. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE VW DEALER AND THE SHOP SUPERVISOR DROVE THE CAR WITH ME AS A PASSENGER. AS IT WOULD BE, THE CAR NEVER STALLED EVER AFTER MAKING MAY STOPS AND PULLING UP HILLS, ETC. THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY NICE AND DID TRY TO MAKE THE CAR BEHAVE AS I HAVE DESCRIBED ABOVE. UNFORTUNATELY IT DID NOT. I'M WRITING THIS TO GO ON RECORD AS HAVING WHAT I FEEL IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY RELATED PROBLEM WITH MY VW. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617420July 29, 2014
POWER TRAIN
CAR HAS SUDDEN JERKY WHEN SHIFTING ALSO REAR WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. DEALERSHIP SAID NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION BUT HAVE ONLY HAD CAR 8 MONTHS. THE WINDOWS QUIT WORKING AFTER OWNING IT FOR ONE WEEK COST 400 JUST TO FIX ONE WINDOW. DEALERSHIP ESTIMATE TO FIX TRANSMITION 6700.00. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616482July 26, 2014
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOW HAD BEEN STICKING GOING BACK UP, THEN COMPLETELY FAILED AND FELL DOWN WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616136July 24, 2014
SEATS
TWO ISSUES: THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS UNABLE TO LATCH DOWN. AT THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT A PIN HAD BROKEN. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE SEAT BASE. AT OUR REQUEST, THEY PROVIDED US WITH THE BROKEN SEAT BASE. UPON MY INSPECTION, I NOTICED THAT A C CLIP HAD COME OFF OF A PIN. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT LOCKING MECHANISM SLID OFF THE PIN. THEREFORE, THE SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. I INSPECTED THE PASSENGER SEAT. A CLIP HAD FALLEN OFF OF THIS SEAT AND WAS LYING ON THE CARPET IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT SECTION. WHEN I SHOWED THIS BROKEN PART TO THE DEALER, HE INDICATED THAT THIS PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THEY DID NOT RECOMMEND THAT I TAKE ANY ADDITIONAL ACTION AS THIS TIME. THE PASSENGER SEAT STILL LATCHES DOWN. THE CLIP THAT FELL OFF IS DIFFERENT THAN THE C CLIP THAT FELL OFF ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616090July 24, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609887July 11, 2014
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WE TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMS US THAT IT WILL COST UPWARDS $750 TO FIX. EVIDENTLY WIRES UNDER THE SEAT AND SEAT BELT BUCKLE BECOME WORN FROM JUST MOVING THE SEAT IN A DIFFERENT POSITION TO SATISFY THE DRIVER'S SIZE. HOW CAN A SAFETY DEVICE OF SIMPLE PROPORTIONS BE SO COSTLY???? WHAT CAN BE WRONG WITH VW IF GMC IS RECALLING ITEMS AND VOLKSWAGEN SIT BACK AND COLLECTS MONEY BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE CODES AND PARTS THAT CAN FIX THIS SENSITIVE THE ITEM. A MONOPOLY ON A 5 YEAR OLD CAR BECAUSE WE WERE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO BUY THEIR PRODUCT. I UNDERSTAND THE COMPLICATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS NOT A RECALL ISSUE WHEN IT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS POOR ENGINEERING PROBLEM. P.S. I'M RETIRED AND CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THIS TIME AND I'M NOW DRIVING AROUND WITHOUT AIRBAGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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