Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10463237June 27, 2012
SEATS, STRUCTURE:BODY, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
HARD HEAVY ODOR PERMEATING MY INSIDE OF MY VW CONVERTIBLE 2007 CAR. WENT TO DEALER I PURCHASED IT FROM AND FOR A FEW DAYS THEY PURIFIED IT FOR DAYS. I PICKED IT UP AND IT WAS STILL THERE. BROUGHT IN TO OTHER DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING. IT WAS CLEARLY A STAGED ANSWER. BUT I HAVE TO ADMIT , VW DEALERS TOOK TIME TO SEE WHAT IT COULD BE. STATING THEY SMELL "SOMETHING" NOT SURE WHAT IT IS? IT VERY WELL COULD BE A HEALTH RISK .HOW DO I KNOW I WONT GET CANCER OR POISONING FROM THIS ? I CAN ASSURE YOU NO ONE CARS FROM VW OF AMERICA. BASICALLY I OWN A CAR I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE AND ONLY DRIVE IT WHEN I AM HARD UP TO GET SOMEWHERE. IT SMELLS LIKE CRAYONS AND CHEMICALS. WHEN I DROVE IT, I WOULD GET HEADACHES AND SO WOULD MY DAUGHTER. I WOULD GET TEARS IN MY EYES, AND I QUIT DRIVING IT.IT IS NOW 5 YEARS OLD AND HAS 32000 MILES ON IT. FILED 3 CLAIMS WITH VW OF AMERICA AND THEY SAID "THERE IS NO SMELL". I HAVE ALMOST PAID OFF THE CAR , (WHICH I CANNOT DRIVE). I AM SO FRUSTRATED. LEMON LAW DOES NOT COVER ODOR ISSUES AS THE CAR RUNS PERFECTLY. IT IS TOXIC TO ME, AND I WON'T DRIVE MY FAMILY IN IT. BUT ITS A DANGER. I EMAILED VW OF AMERICA AND THEY TOTALLY BLEW ME OFF. I AM A 30 YEAR VW OWNER. I KNOW MY CARS. THERE IS A DEFECT HERE. AND I AM SCREWED OUT OF A NEW CAR. THERE GOES ALL MY MONEY. MANY POSTS POINT TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE LINING , AS THEY WERE MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO. POSSIBLY USED LOW GRADE MATERIAL CAUSING THE SMELL.THE ONLY WAY TO DRIVE THIS ,IS WINDOWS DOWN. THE SMELL IS SO STRONG, THAT WITH THE TOP DOWN- THE CAB SMELLS I AM TELLING YOU I HAVE BEEN RIPPED OFF.THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT!!!! NO ONE IS HELPING ME WITH A FULL REFUND OR A FINAL REMEDY!--FYI VW OF AMERICA REPS TOLD ME TO CALL THE CEO OF VOLKSWAGEN?????????????????????????(REALLY?) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463344June 27, 2012
POWER TRAIN
MY VEHICLE WILL DOWN SHIFT REALLY HARD FROM 3RD TO 2ND WITH A LOUD CLUNK NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION AT TIMES WILL GET STUCK IN A GEAR AT A INTERSECTION AND NOT MOVE AT ALL..THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL TAKE OFF REALLY FAST. IT HAS DONE THIS ON THE FREEWAY AS WELL. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS CAR AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY KNOW THAT THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS BUT FAIL TO FIX IT. THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION A LOT OF THESE CAR OWNERS ARE YOUNG (NEW ) DRIVERS AND THIS IS NOT A SAFE CAR! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463038June 25, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID A DEER ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WAS A REPID INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE DEER. THE DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE RELATED TO THE MEGATRONIC UNIT IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MILES. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE BECOME MORE SEVERE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462890June 24, 2012
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THIS THE 3RD WINDOW REGULATOR TO FAIL. ONE DOOR AND NOW BOTH REAR REGULATORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10462914June 24, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
RIGHT SIDE HEAD LIGHT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION COMES LOOSE AND THE HEADLIGHT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY I HAD SIX FAILURES OF THE HEADLIGHTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10461653June 13, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE EXAMINED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE STARTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460594June 4, 2012
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460170May 31, 2012
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD THE REGULATOR REPLACED IN MY REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND MY FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS. IT SEEMS THAT THERE MIGHT BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THE REGULATORS/WINDOWS. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10460488May 31, 2012
POWER TRAIN
2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE OWNER BLOGS, FAILED TRANSMISSION IS A COMMON AND FREQUENT OCCURRENCE. *05/31/12*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE CAR AND SHIFTING IT MOVED FORWARD FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN STOPPED. THE ENGINE STILL RAN FINE BUT, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT TO HIGHER GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. UPDATED 06/06/12 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459639May 25, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT LOST POWER AND HAD TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THE FAILURE PERSISTED REPEATEDLY AS THE CONTACT WAS TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VALVE BODY COVER HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET AN ANSWER FOR WHY THE FULL TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED INSTEAD OF JUST THE VALVE BODY COVERS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,040.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10459326May 22, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
10282664. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458842May 17, 2012
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT AND WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458629May 16, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE STALLED APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION. IT WOULD NOT RESTART, AND NONE OF THE ELECTRONICS FUNCTIONED. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PUSHED INTO A NEARBY PARKING LOT. UPON REPAIR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY FUSE BLOCK HAD MELTED, AND THE IN-LINE FUSES WERE ALL DAMAGED. THE BATTERY FUSE BLOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458748May 16, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ON 5/15/12, I PARKED MY CAR AT 1:20 P.M. IN AN OFF ROAD SMALL PRIVATE PARKING LOT (A SMALL ASSISTED LIVING COMPLEX IN STOCKTON, CA), TEMPERATURE LESS THAN 80 DEGREES, NO TREES OVERHEAD, PERPENDICULAR, FACING THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. WHEN I CAME OUT 3 HOURS LATER, FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, I NOTICED WHAT SEEMED TO BE A SEMI-CIRCLE HAIRLINE FRACTURE ON MY FRONT WINDSHIELD, THAT HADN'T BEEN THERE BEFORE; STARTING AT THE UPPER ROOFLINE APPROXIMATELY 10 INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR, ARCHING DOWNWARD THROUGH THE CENTER LOCATION OF THE MIRROR BRACKET (SILICONED TO THE WINDSHIELD FROM THE INSIDE) ARCHING BACK UPWARDLY APPROXIMATELY 8" TO THE RIGHT OF THE MIRROR ENDING AT THE UPPER ROOFLINE. CLOSER EXAMINATION FROM INSIDE SHOWED ONE VERTICAL FRACTURE TO THE RIGHT OF THE BRACKET POSITION, FROM THE ROOFLINE AS THE ACTUAL POSSIBLE ORIGIN OF THE LEFT ARCH, THE RIGHT ARCH SEPARATE FROM THE PREVIOUS BRANCHING INTO AN ADDITIONAL HAIRLINE FRACTURE, AND YET ANOTHER SMALLER ATTACHED HAIRLINE SEMICIRCLE FRACTURE ARCHING BELOW THE FIRST OBSERVED SEMICIRCLE!! THERE IS A VERY TINY LOOP OF SILICONE HANGING FROM THE INSIDE ROOFLINE. PREVIOUS TO THIS OBSERVATION, THERE HAD BEEN NO FRACTURES! THIS WAS TOTALLY "OUT OF THE BLUE". IN MY 4903 MILES OF DRIVING, I HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANYTHING BUT RAIN "HITTING" THE WINDSHIELD...NO OTHER DRIVERS HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR WITHOUT MY BEING IN THE CAR...AND I HAVE ONLY USED "TOUCH LESS" CAR WASHES. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THE NATIONAL VW CUSTOMER CARE CENTER, AFTER READING MULTIPLE VW OWNERS' COMMENTS ONLINE WITH SIMILAR "SPONTANEOUS" FRACTURES TO THEIR 2012 BEETLE'S WINDSHIELDS!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458592May 15, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, HE TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK AND EXIT THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS ABLE TO BE EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458610May 15, 2012
POWER TRAIN
MY AUTOMATIC 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE JERKS SO HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, IT FELLS LIKE I HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED, OR POPPED THE CLUTCH. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE JERKING, AND HAVE HAD THE WHEELS ACTUALLY SQUEAL. THE CAR WORKS FINE FOR THE FIRST 20-30 MINUTES, BUT THEN GETS SO BAD I FEAR I MAY GET WHIPLASH. IT IS NOW BEGINNING TO REV TO 6000 RPM WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO 6TH GEAR, OR HESITATES AND I LOSE POWER. HAVE BEEN TOLD I WILL NEED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION, BUT THAT WILL COST ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE CAR IS WORTH. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458213May 12, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY
I NOTICED A SET OF CRACKS NEAR THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD, APPROXIMATELY AT THE POINT WHERE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR ATTACHES AND EXTENDING UP TO THE ROOF LINE EDGE. THE CRACKS WERE APPROXIMATELY 6" - 8" IN LENGTH. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN OR HOW IT OCCURRED AS I DO NOT RECALL ANY STONE OR OTHER ROAD DEBRIS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, THERE WAS NO SOUND OF ANYTHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD OR SMALL CHIP IN THE GLASS WHERE THE IMPACT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I DID NOT PARK IT UNDER A TREE AND NOTHING FELL ON OR HIT THE GLASS TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I HAVE HEARD SIMILAR REPORTS FROM OTHER 2012 VW BEETLE OWNERS, AND IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT SOME WINDSHIELDS WERE INSTALLED IMPROPERLY AND COULD LEAD TO STRESS FRACTURES. THERE ARE A LIST OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOUND AT: HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?5560318-CRACKING-WINDSHIELD-AND-ANNOYING-RATTLE-ON-2012-BEETLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10458029May 10, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DIPLAYED AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE ALSO JUMPED GEARS WHEN SHIFTING. IT IS A TRIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. WHEN LOOKING ON THE WEBSITE WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/NEW+BEETLE+CONVERTIBLE/AUTOMATIC+TRANSMISSION I FIND MANY VW BEETLE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THESE TRANMISSIONS SHOULD BE RECALLED. FAULTY AND DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457767May 8, 2012
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
FRONT AND REAR WINDOW REGULATORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10457470May 4, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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