Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10593905May 24, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
THE BATTERY TO ALTERNATOR WIRE ON THESE CARS OVERHEATS AND CATCHES FIRE. I OWN A CAR DEALERSHIP AND JUST HAD IT HAPPEN TO ME. I WAS LUCKY AND STOPPED ANYTHING HORRIBLE FROM HAPPENING BUT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT KNOW ENOUGH TO STOP IT OR THAT IT WAS HAPPENING. THESE CARS ARE A HUGE FIRE HAZARD AND YOU NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL. CHECK THE PICTURES OF BURNED CARS ON GOOGLE. YOU WONT FIND ONE COMPLAINT BUT MANY AND PLENTY OF BURNED CARS. SO I ASK THAT YOU DO YOUR BEST TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE CAR I OWN HAS A HISTORY OF THE ALTERNATOR BEING SERVICED. OBVIOUSLY A RECALL ISSUE THAT MAYBE VW SHOULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX INSTEAD A BAND AID AND OUT THE DOOR. CHECK CAR FAX ON THIS CAR. IF SOMEONE LET THERE CAR WARM THEY COULD BURN DOWN THERE HOUSE. I AM GOING TO REROUTE THIS WIRE AND REPLACE IT WITH A BETTER GRADE OF WIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593522May 22, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ONGOING ISSUE WITH STARTING FOR APPROX LAST YEAR AND A HALF. HAVE HAD IN TO LOCAL DEALER WHERE PURCHASED AND THEY FIND NOTHING OTHER THAN TO TELL ME TO LOCK MY CAR WHEN IN USE BECAUSE THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS ARE BEING CONFUSED. WHILE TRYING TO START THE ICONS WILL FLASH AND THE WINDOWS WILL GO UP AND DOWN. SOMETIMES THE CAR EVENTUALLY STARTS ON A 2ND OR 3RD TRY BUT OTHER TIMES THE CAR GOES DEAD AND A JUMP IS NECESSARY. I HAVE LESS THAN 35,000 MILES ON IT AT THIS POINT IN TIME. ARE OTHERS HAVING ISSUES OR IS THIS DEALERSHIP INEFFECTIVE IN DIAGNOSING PROBLEM? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592749May 20, 2014
WHEELS, TIRES
CONTIPROCONTACT TIRE 23540R19 BLOW OUT DEC 2012. SAME TIRE REPLACED IN 2014. NOW FOR THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS (MAY 11,2014) LOSING AIR PRESSURE IN ORIGINAL TIRES. FILL THE TIRES WITH CORRECT AMOUNT OF AIR AND A FEW DAYS LATER DASHBOARD LIKE COME ON SAYING AIR PRESSURE PROBLEM IN TIRES. KEEPS DOING THE SAME THING. ONLY HAVE 10,000 MILES ON THE TIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592808May 20, 2014
POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
SEVERE BURNED DIESEL FUMES INFILTRATING THE CABIN OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592871May 20, 2014
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON. THIS MEANS THE AIRBAGS WERE DISABLED. DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED THE SEAT BELT CLASP ON THE DRIVER SEAT AS THE PROBLEM. THE ELECTRONICS IN THE CLASP WERE NOT COMMUNICATING CORRECTLY CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO BE DISABLED. THE SEATBELT AS A SAFETY MECHANISM ITSELF WAS NOT COMPROMISED. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN AND COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL AND THAT THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE SEATBELT CLASP AT A COST OF ABOUT $300.00. THE CAUSE OF THE SEATBELT CLASP TO FAIL WAS THE MOTION OF MOVING THE SEAT BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS. TO ACCESS THE REAR SEATS OF THE CAR THE SEAT MUST BE MOVED BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS AS IT IS A TWO DOOR CAR. OVERTIME, THIS ACTIVITY WORE OUT SOME ELECTRONICS IN THE CLASP CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO BE DISABLED. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ITEM THAT IS CUSTOMARILY REPLACED SUCH AS TIRES, BRAKE PADS OR WIPER BLADES. THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE AND OFFER TO VOLUNTARILY RECALL THE VEHICLES AND/OR OFFER TO PAY FOR A FIX IN OUR CASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592451May 19, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
PREPARING TO ENTER FREEWAY WHEN ENGINE SPUTTERED, "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. STUCK IN TRAFFIC UNTIL FIRE DEPT. CAME BY AND HELPED PUSH TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 101F WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HAD TOWED TO LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP, WHO INFORMED ME THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP FAILED CAUSING METAL DEBRIS TO ENTER THE FUEL SYSTEM. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM TO INCLUDE THE PUMP & INJECTORS. THEY ALSO DUMPED THE FUEL THAT WAS IN THE TANK. THE TANK WAS FULL OF DIESEL, LESS 45 MILES, WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN GASOLINE PUT IN THIS DIESEL TANK. *JS
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
#10587686May 11, 2014
SEAT BELTS
THE STEEL CABLE SECURING THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE TO THE SEAT CAGE BROKE LEAVING ME UNPROTECTED IN THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE COMMON TO THE VW NEW BEETLE AND CITED BY OWNERS ACROSS MODEL YEARS. ALSO, THE MANUFACTURER COMPLICATES WHAT WOULD BE AN EASY FIX BY ATTACHING THE PART TO THE SEAT CAGE WITH FASTENERS THAT CANNOT BE REMOVED WITHOUT A PROPRIETARY TOOL. IT'S LIKE STRONG-ARM ROBBERY! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587412May 9, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
LOVE MY VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE BUT THIS IS THE 4TH WINDOW THAT HAS STOPPED WORKING AND WITH THE PRICES TO FIX THEM WELL OVER 300 I HAVE ABOUT HAD ENOUGH. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR AWHILE. IS THERE A RECALL ON THESE WINDOW REGULATORS? IF NOT THERE SHOULD BE!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10585913May 7, 2014
SUSPENSION, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP AND ELECTRONIC STABILIZATION PROGRAM FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED A RED AND BLUE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE THEN BROKE DOWN, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE. ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL, THE RED AND BLUE LIGHT MEANT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC STABILIZATION PROGRAM OR ANTI-SLIP REGULATION. WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS INFORMED THE OIL PAN AND GASKET AND SHOCKS WERE LEAKING AND WORN AS WELL AS THE BALL JOINTS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586660May 5, 2014
STRUCTURE, SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VOLKSWAGEN OF ORANGE PARK IS NOT FOLLOWING SAFETY STANDARDS. THEY REPLACE CARPET AFTER FLOOD. DAMAGE BY SLICING THE CARPET UNDER THE DASH AND NOT REMOVING THE DASHBOARD AS THEY ARE PAID. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE CARPET BECOMING LODGED UNDER CONTROL PEDALS AS ITS COMPROMISED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586404May 4, 2014
AIR BAGS
MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON YET AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND WAS FIXED BY A VW DEALER BY CHANGING THE INFREQUENTLY USED PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS $360. THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER. IT WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER AND SCANNED AND FOUND TO BE A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. THE ESTIMATE FOR THE FIX WAS ABOUT $800 WITH THE ADVISORY THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE FIXED WITH THAT PART REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE REPORT READS, "AIRBAG CRASH SENSORS MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL IF SOFTWARE IS DIFFERENT FROM NEW MODULE." IT SOUNDS LIKE THE VW TECHNICIANS THEMSELVES ARE GUESSING ABOUT THE REPAIR. THERE IS REPORTEDLY A VW RECALL ON THE 2003-2005 BEETLE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE BUT THE VW DEALER AS WELL AS VW CUSTOMER SERVICE (800-374-8389) BOTH TELL ME THAT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. THE INTERNET VW BEETLE FORUMS ARE REPLETE WITH REPORTS OF AIRBAG SYSTEM PROBLEMS. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT TO ADD TO THE CURRENT LIST OF SUCH COMPLAINTS WITH THE HOPES THAT VW WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY RELATED DEFECT IN THEIR DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE 2004 VW BEETLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586023May 1, 2014
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH INDICATING PRND2 ALL HAVE BRACKETS AROUND THEM AND DON'T INDICATE WHAT GEAR THE CAR IS IN. IT FEELS LIKE WE HIT A ROAD HAZARD EVERY TIME THE TRANSMISSION DOES CHANGE GEARS, THE DEALER TOLD US THIS IS NORMAL, BUT IT IS GETTING WORSE AND AFTER LOOKING THROUGH ONLINE FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584195April 22, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
MY DAUGHTER'S 2013 VW BEETLE DOES NOT HAVE AN EMERGENCY TRUNK RELEASE. THE ONLY WAY TO RELEASE IT IS TO LOWER THE REAR SEATS, CRAWL INTO THE TRUNK AND USING YOUR KEY, INSERT IT INTO A SLOT IN THE DARK, AND SLIDE IT WHILE PUSHING UP ON THE TRUNK! NOT VERY GOOD FOR A CHILD WHO WOULD BE LOCKED IN ! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584273April 22, 2014
ENGINE
THE CAM SHAFT ADJUSTER BOLT BECAME LOOSE AND FELL OFF. CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS A COMMON FAILURE FOR MY MODEL YEAR AFTER SOME RESEARCH, BUT WAS TOLD NOTHING ABOUT IT FROM VOLKSWAGEN. I WAS DRIVING ON A 70 MILE PER HOUR HIGHWAY WHEN MY ENGINE FAILED. LOSING ALL POWER (BRAKES, POWER STEERING, ETC.) WITH NO WARNING. NEWER MODEL YEARS DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY REDESIGNED THE PART. HAD THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I COULD HAVE GOT IT FIXED BEFORE I ENDANGERED MY LIFE AND MY ENGINE. 2006 VW BEETLE 2.5L BPS ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584024April 21, 2014
POWER TRAIN
VW HAS A HISTORY OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH SEVERAL OF THEIR CARS. OUR CAR STARTED EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH SHIFTING UP AND DOWN. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE FOR ABOUT 30K MILES AGO. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. AS WE STARTING INVESTIGATING IF THERE WERE OTHERS EXPERIENCING THEY SAME ISSUE, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT VW KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS OFFER TO MANY TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY OF THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE THE ISSUE. WE CONTACTED VW TODAY TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO THE SAME FOR OUR VW AND THEY SAID NO. WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOME HELP WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583558April 18, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE AIR BAG SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583110April 16, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TRIPTRONIC SENSORS HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,405.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578362April 8, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AS THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFTING UPWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577872April 7, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 05/28/14*LJ UPDATED 8/17/17*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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