Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2005)
261 consumer complaints on file.
- #10522161June 27, 2013VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW WON'T ROLL UP ENTIRELY. SOUNDS LIKE THE MOTOR STILL WORKS, BUT WHEN IT WOULDN'T ROLL UP, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE, LIKE GLASS BREAKING. HAVE SEEN THIS BE AN ISSUE ON MULTIPLE FORUMS. IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE A RECALL? *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10521068June 21, 2013POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FAILS TO SHIFT AT THE PROPER ENGINE RPM. THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE AS THE TRANSMISSION GETS HOT. WHEN IT DOES SHIFT IT HITS VERY HARD, JERKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL. SECONDLY, THE FAILURE SHIFT WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD PLACING YOU IN HARMS WAY SHOULD THIS HAPPEN AT THE WRONG PLACE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT OPERATIONAL DUE TO THIS UNCONTROLLABLE SHIFTING MALFUNCTION. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN THIS MALFUNCTION WILL OCCUR AND COULD LEAD TO BODILY INJURY OR POSSIBLE DEATH. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10519729June 13, 2013POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, SUSPENSION
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED WITH ORIGINAL WARRANTY STILL GOING AND I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (HIGH TECH) WITH IT. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND THEN SHIFT INTO GEAR OR SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR OR IT WOULD BARELY MOVE. MY MALFUNCTION LIGHTS DIFFERENT ONES WERE COMING ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT. SOMETIMES IT WOULD LEAK ALL THE WATER OUT AND OTHERS YOU WOULD SEE IT BOILING THE CAR ALSO MADE DIFFERENT NOISES AS I DROVE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WOULD MAKE THIS PIERCING NOISE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD GO DOWN AND UP BY ITSELF. WELL THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN REPLACED PLUS MORE.....(2) HEAD GASKETS, A FEW WATERPUMPS, COOLANT FLANGE MELTED A FEW TIMES, A COUPLE THERMOSTATS, IMPELLOR, TIMING BELT TENSIONER NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING NUMEROUS TIMES AND SEVERAL THINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES ALONG WITH OTHER ITEMS. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO VW CAPO FOR REPAIR OVER 40 + TIMES I STOPPED COUNTING. VW CAPO IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT HAS SERVICED THIS CAR SINCE MY PURCHASE. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON ORTEGA HWY IN 103 DEGREES WITH NO CELL COVERAGE DUE TO VEHICLE OVERHEATING I THINK I'VE BEEN TOWED IN 4 OR 5 TIMES. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE....THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT'S MY FAULT THAT I MUST HAVE PUT SOMETHING IN THE CAR TO CLOG IT. I NOW HAVE REPLACED THE RADIATOR AT MY COST OF $1600 PLUS. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD ALL THESE PROBLEMS?? I HAVE HAD ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE STRUTS, MOUNT, CV BOOTS, CONTROL ARMS ETC......... *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10515216June 5, 2013POWER TRAIN
2005 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSMISSION WILL LURCH AND SLIP FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. ISSUE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A VALVE BODY ISSUE THAT VW DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE DEFECTIVE PART. THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE BASICALLY WILL NOT GO WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN THOSE GEARS. IT TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS FOR IT TO SHIFT, THE VEHICLE WILL REV UP AT THAT TIME AND THEN SLAM INTO GEAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10514046May 29, 2013VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES
DRIVING DOWN A LONG TWO-LANE ROAD, I DECIDED TO PUT ON THE CRUISE-CONTROL FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. AS MY INTERSECTION CAME UP, I HIT THE BRAKES TO TAKE THE CAR OUT OF CRUISE-CONTROL AND BEGAN MY TURN, BUT THE CAR DID NOT SLOW, NO MATTER HOW HARD I HIT THE BRAKES. THE MALFUNCTION CAUSED ME TO TAKE THE TURN TOO FAST AND I HEADED STRAIGHT INTO A 4 FOOT DECORATIVE ROCK WALL THAT BORDERED THE ROAD. THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED, AND I HAD TO SPEND THE NIGHT IN THE HOSPITAL. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10511383May 10, 2013VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW FELL DOWN. I'M TOLD THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR SNAPPED AND THEY HAVE TO REPAIR IT. FOR $600! FROM WHAT I'VE READ ONLINE, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 05 MODEL. IT'S A SHAME THAT VOLKSWAGEN DOESN'T STAND BEHIND THIS AND PUT OUT A RECALL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10505639April 9, 2013POWER TRAIN
DEFECTIVE VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING SEVERE CAR TROUBLES ON-ROAD, SIMPLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE GOING 60 MPH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10507202April 5, 2013VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REAR POWER WINDOWS NOT BEHAVING. ON PASSENGER SIDE, IT DOESN'T MOVE AT ALL - LOTS OF SCRATCHING NOISES. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHEN POWERED 'UP' THE WINDOW GOES UP HALFWAY, THEN IMMEDIATELY BACK DOWN. THE REGISTER APPEARS TO WORK BUT HAS A WILL OF ITS OWN. AT PRESENT, THE FIRST WINDOW CAN BE CLOSED MANUALLY, THE SECOND (DRIVER'S SIDE) WILL NOT CLOSE AT ALL. THERE APPEARS TO BE A GREAT DEAL OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THE REAR WINDOWS ON SEVERAL YEARS OF THE VW NB - THAT'S WHY I'M GOING IN THE RECALL DIRECTION. THERE IS CLEARLY A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM IN THIS AREA OF THE CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10503727March 20, 2013STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE TRUNK HAD MOLD AND MILDEW DUE TO WATER SEEPING INTO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE TOP HAD SEPARATED FROM THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000. *TR UPDATED 4/24/13 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE CONVERTIBLE TOP SEPARATED FROM THE REAR WINDSHIELD, ALSO ON BOTH SIDES OF THE REAR CANVAS THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS LEAKING INSIDE THE TRUNK
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10503521March 18, 2013EXTERIOR LIGHTING
I HAVE REPLACED THIS SAME BRAKE LIGHT OVER AND OVER. I JUST READ WHERE THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA AND THEY SAID MY VEHICLE HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED IN 2007 SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED, I DID NOT KNOW IF IT HAD THE RECALL REPLACEMENT. I ASKED VW OF AMERICA SINCE IT SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WOULD THEY REPLACE IT AND THEY DENIED MY REQUEST. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACEMENT DOES NOT LAST. I HAVE LESS THAN 65K MILE ON THE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10503319March 17, 2013POWER TRAIN
MY 05 VW BEETLE AUTOMATIC BEGAN LURCHING/SLIPPING WHEN GOING FROM FULL STOP TO ABOUT 40MPH.....WHEN TRANS IS GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND TO 3RD GEARS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10501374March 5, 2013STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS SEPARATING FROM THE REAR GLASS WINDOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10498232February 15, 2013POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
WHEN GEARING DOWN OR STARTING UP AT REDLIGHT, CAR DOWNSHIFTS AND GEARS-UP WITH A JERK; TOOK TO VW DEALER; SAYS IT IS VALVE BODY DEFECT WHICH COULD UTIMATELY CAUSE TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD; WAS TOLD AT DEALERSHIP VW KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND EXTENDED A WARRANTY ON VALVE COVER ONLY WHICH WENT OUT LAST YR ON MY VEHICLE. I NEVER GOT A NOTICE. VW ADMITS THE PROBLEM WAS THERE WHEN MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO. I BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MANY VW OWNERS. ALSO HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH WINDOW REGULATORS MALFUCTIONING - AFFECTING LOCKING OF DOORS AND WINDOW CLOSINGS- EVEN WHEN THESE COSTLY REGULATORS ARE REPLACED, THE PROBLEMS RETURN... MY CAR VALUE IS NOW -0- THANKS TO VW MANUFACTURING ISSUES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10497623February 10, 2013VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR WINDOWS AND REAR WINDOW REGULATORS IN THE NEW BEETLES FROM 2003-2010. I HAVE EXPERIENCED AND READ NUMEROUS TESTIMONIALS THAT INDICATE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT VW IS MAKING MONEY REPAIRING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10496303February 4, 2013POWER TRAIN
CAR JOLTS INTO GEAR BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR; ALSO PROBLEMS BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR ON AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. BROUGHT CAR INTO LOCAL VW DEALER IMMEDIATELY, TO HAVE REPAIRED. DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS NEEDING A NEW VALVE BODY FOR TRANSMISSION. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN SO WIDESPREAD THAT VW ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS 100,000 MI. PROBLEM...REPAIR IS $1,800. VW WILL NOT COVER THIS AND HONOR THE WARRANTY FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH ONLY HAS 49,000 MI. ON IT. THEY SAID I AM 6 MONTH OUTSIDE OF THE TIME WARRANTY (EXPIRED 6/18/12). THEY WILL NOT AUTHORIZE AN EXCEPTION EVEN THOUGH MY CAR ONLY HAS 49,000 MI.. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IT LUNGES FORWARD AND ALSO GETS STUCK IN GEAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10496059February 1, 2013VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR STOPPED WORKING IN JULY 2012. IN OCTOBER 2012 THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR STOPPED WORKING. BOTH HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED BUT WAS BOUGHT USED. VW DEALER COVERS NOTHING BUT CHARGES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT TO FIX. READING OTHER BLOGS THERE ARE MANY, MANY WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND VW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE REAR WINDOW REGULATORS. THE REAR WINDOWS NOT WORKING MEANS YOU CAN NOT PUT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DOWN WITHOUT RISKING FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10495060January 29, 2013POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER RESTARTING. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,534.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10494375January 22, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BECOME DEFECTIVE. DO NOT WORK. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10484850November 15, 2012STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN SUPER BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ADHESIVE AROUND THE REAR WINDOW FAILED AS THE WINDOW BEGAN TO SEPARATE. THERE WAS ONLY A PIECE OF CLOTH THAT WAS HOLDING THE WINDOW IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND THE ENTIRE CONVERTIBLE TOP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER NONE COULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,624.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10482494October 28, 2012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON THE DASHBOARD, MECHANICS HAVE SAID THEY CANNOT FIX IT, MAKES ME CONCERNED THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. *TR BOTH THE PASSENGER WINDOW AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATORS ARE BOTH BROKEN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN WHEN YOU PRESS THE WINDOW BUTTON, AND THE PASSENGER DOOR/ WINDOW RATTLES WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN YOU SHUT THE DOOR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0