Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10457178May 2, 2012
POWER TRAIN
AT 70,000 MILES, MY VW STARTING SHIFTING HARD CAUSING IT TO BE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. VW STATES THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN THIS EARLY BUT THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456841April 30, 2012
STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AS THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO WOULD INSPECT AND PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456504April 25, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REAR WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN (CAN HEAR SOUND OF MOTORS RUNNING THOUGH). DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT 'DROP-DOWN' WHEN OPENING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456289April 24, 2012
POWER TRAIN
AFTER ONLY HAVING THIS CAR FOR ONE YEAR, THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS AND JERKS TERRIBLY. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THIS HAS HAPPENED IN INTERSECTIONS AND I WAS ALMOST T BONED IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR THE LAST TIME. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AND AM TOLD "WE HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS OR ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THESE CARS". YET, A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH FINDS HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE "NEW" VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. MORE PEOPLE END UP GETTING KILLED IF VW IS NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS THAT INCLUDE ACKNOWLEDGING THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND PUBLICLY ISSUING A FIX AND CONTACTING ALL OWNERS SHOULD BE AT A MINIMUM. I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY CAR IS NOW WORTHLESS, NO REPAIR SHOPS WILL WORK ON IT, AND VW WONT' ADMIT TO A PROBLEM. I AM THINKING OF CONTACTING A LAWYER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456357April 24, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLICKING SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE ROLL OVER BAR SUDDENLY DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456377April 24, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS PROBLEM AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING DOES NOT ADVANCES, THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456163April 23, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOWN-SHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455926April 20, 2012
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THIS VW BEETLE A SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC. ANY TIME I DRIVE SLOWER THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR (AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP - 15 MINUTES OR SO) IT STARTS TO LURCH BETWEEN GEARS - BOTH WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. SPEEDING UP, IT REVS HIGH AND THEN FEELS LIKE IT JUMPS INTO THE NEXT GEAR. SLOWING DOWN, IT JERKS SO HARD IT FEELS LIKE I'M BEING REAR-ENDED. ONE TIME, AS I WAS PARKING IT, IT CLUNKED SO LOUDLY WHEN I SHIFTED FROM R TO D, I THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING TO DROP TO THE GROUND! IT SEEMS THE WORST GOING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. I FEEL LIKE I'M BEING DRIVEN AROUND BY SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT. BUT IT'S AN AUTOMATIC. I'M BEING CHARGED TO REMANUFACTURE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. IT WILL COST $6,700! I ONLY BOUGHT THE CAR FOR $8,400. THIS 2004 CAR WILL COST ME $16,100 BY THE TIME IT'S DRIVABLE. (BY THE WAY - YOUR DROP DOWN FOR VEHICLE COMPONENTS DOESN'T WORK IN IE 9.) *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10455790April 19, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED SECONDS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD TO INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE ENGINE BLEW SHORTLY AFTER THE HOOD WAS OPENED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP, RADIATOR AND VEHICLE REGULATOR SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING BUT THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD STILL BE DRIVEN. EIGHT MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE LEAK FROM THE HEAD GASKET SEALS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 28,000. UPDATED 5/16/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS OIL IN THE ANTI-FREEZE AND THE SEAL ON THE OVERFLOW TANK WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 05/23/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454417April 7, 2012
POWER TRAIN
BOUGHT MY CAR IN 2011 AUGUST. STARTED NOTICING PROBLEMS IN NOVEMBER 2011. GEARS SHIFTING PROBLEMS IN JAN 2012. MY MILEAGE WAS ONLY 77,000 COULD NOT DRIVE CAR. VW SAID MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND WANTED $3,500 FOR NEW TRANSMISSION. PAID MONEY AND IN 2 WEEKS WAS BACK IN SHOP WITH SAME PROBLEM. BUT I ALMOST GOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT, MY GEARS STALLED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME OR IN BACK. SCARED ME AND I WOULDN'T DRIVE IT ANYMORE. FRIEND TOOK IT BACK IN AND THEY REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWO TIMES. (THIS WAS ALL VW TRANSMISSIONS). AND ITS STILL IN THE SHOP BECAUSE IT TOOK OUT THE CAR COMPUTER NOW. ITS BEEN 2 MONTHS WITHOUT A CAR AND IM A SINGLE WORKING MOTHER. GETTING RIDES. THEY ALSO WANTED TO CHARGE ME LABOR FOR THE ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION ERRORS!!!!! ITS BEEN A NIGHTMARE! VW HAS BEEN RUDE AND NOT SENSITIVE TO PROBLEMS AT ALL. THEY COULD CARE LESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10454312April 5, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
HAVE NOTICED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND GETTING WORSE, A STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR. IT CAUSES BAD HEADACHES, ALLERGIES, WORSENS MY ASTHMA. IT SEEMS LIKE A FILM OF IT COATS MY HAIR, SKIN AND CLOTHES, EVEN AFTER BEING IN THE HEAT FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME. IT ISN'T AS BAD DURING COLDER MONTHS, BUT SMELL IS STILL THERE. IT IS UNBEARABLE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE TO AVOID BEING IN THE VW AT THAT POINT. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS LIKE A HEALTH RISK. I CALLED VW LAST FALL TO REPORT IT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD PUT COMPLAINT ON FILE BUT HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453695April 1, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY VW BEETLE IS A 2008. I JUST HAD THE 6TH LIGHT REPLACED ON 03/23/12. TOOK THE CAR TO BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED THE 7TH LIGHT ON 03/26/12!! I AM NOT SURE OF THE ACTUAL DATE OF THE FIRST BLOWN LIGHT. HOWEVER, I DO KNOW THAT 7 RUNNING/HEADLIGHTS IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS IS NOT NORMAL! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453662March 31, 2012
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHERE IT WILL JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN IT SHIFTS UP OR DOWN AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT SHIFT AT ALL. IT WILL GET STUCK IN A GEAR AND I HAVE TO STOP IT AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART IT. IT WILL JERK EVEN WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I AM FAR AWAY FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I NO LONGER DRIVE IT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF ALSO, SO I'M NOT SURE IF IT WILL EVEN WORK IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD NOT BE JERKING THAT WAY AT ALL AND IF SOMEONE WAS TO WALK IN FRONT OF MY CAR AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, IT COULD JERK FORWARD AND HIT THEM. NOT A SAFE CAR. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453304March 28, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AS I TURNED OFF THE 4 LANE HIGHWAY ONTO OUR LOCAL STREET I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, I THOUGHT I HAD BLOWN A TIRE. I PULLED INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, ABOUT 30 YARDS FURTHER, AND SAW NOTHING. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHOSE PARKING LOT HAS AN ENTRY ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR DRIVEWAY. I DROVE TO THEM VERY SLOWLY AS CAR WAS MAKING TERRIBLY NOISES. I ALSO FOUND A BROKEN OFF BOLT ABOUT 1/2 INCH DIAMETER IN THE ROAD JUST BEFORE OUR DRIVEWAY AND TOOK IT TO NISSAN. NISSAN FOUND THAT BOTH ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. THEY FELT ONE HAD BROKEN AND THE WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE FALLING HAD BROKEN THE SECOND. MY ENGINE WAS "SITTING ON TOP ON MY EXHAUST" IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGH SPEED ROAD -- THE HIGHWAY I HAD JUST TURNED OFF OF --- I MAY HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH FATALITIES. I HAVE REPORTED TO BOTH MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AS WELL AS THE VW NATIONAL OFFICE. NEITHER WOULD PAY FOR MY $800 REPAIR, BOTH SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON MY MODEL. I MAINTAIN MY CAR AND FEEL THIS IS TERRIBLE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN HAPPEN. IF THE BOLTS ARE BROKEN --WHICH IS WHAT NISSAN SAYS/ NOT RUSTED --- THEN THE BOLTS ARE DEFECTIVE!!!! IT WAS SO FORTUNATE THAT THE ENGINE DROPPED WHEN IT DID AND NOT ON A HIGHWAY!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452960March 26, 2012
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE STOPPED OR WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO MOVE AT IDLE SPEED. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE HESITATED SEVERAL TIMES. UPDATED 05/23/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10452422March 20, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL ODOR THAT CAUSED THE CONTACT TO RECEIVE HEADACHES. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE ODOR WAS CAUSED BY A STAIN ON THE FLOOR MATS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ODOR WAS NOT COMING FROM THE FLOOR MATS BUT THE ENTIRE CARPET KIT. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE CARPET KIT BUT THE ODOR PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10452294March 19, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS ON THE 2006 BEETLE ARE TIED INTO THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS. IF THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS GO OUT, THEN THERE ARE NO LOW-BEAM HEAD LIGHTS AND GENERALLY I DON'T KNOW UNTIL I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS BUT HIGH-BEAMS. IF THE RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE TO BE TIED INTO ANY HEADLIGHT THEN IT SHOULD BE THE HIGH-BEAMS. I CAN DRIVE WITHOUT THEM BUT NOT WITHOUT THE LOW-BEAMS. I HAVE HAD MY RUNNING LIGHTS GO OUT TWICE SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR NEW IN 12/2005. LOST THE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS BOTH TIMES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND A BAD DESIGN. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451653March 14, 2012
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
MY REAR PASSENGER WINDOW IS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. AFTER READING MANY FORUMS I CAN CONCLUDE THAT IT IS THE REGULATOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE CARS. I AM MOST LIKELY GOING TO HAVE TO PAY UPWARDS OF $1000.00 TO GET THIS FIXED. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS. IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT ON VOLKSWAGENS PART. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES THIS TAKE TO GET A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451716March 14, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY FUSE PANEL HAS BURNT OUT FOUR TIMES IN A YEAR AND A HALF AT A COST OF $100.00 EACH TIME PLUS ALL THE OTHER PARTS IT RUINED WHEN IT BURNED. I HAD TO GET A NEW A/C COMPRESSOR A NEW BATTERY. I KNOW FROM LOOKING ONLINE TRYING TO FIND OUT INFO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT ITS HAPPENING TO ALOT OF PEOPLE AND THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL A LONG TIME AGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451206March 12, 2012
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY
DRIVERS-SIDE BACK WINDOW FAILED AFTER BEING LET DOWN. WILL NOT RETURN TO CLOSED POSITION. SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS TRYING AT FIRST, BUT NOW NO SOUND. SAME PROBLEM ON OTHER SIDE ABOUT 18 MONTHS AGO. AN EXPENSIVE FIX THAT VW SAID WAS DUE TO A FAULTY PART THAT BECAME BRITTLE AFTER SOME TIME. I HAVE AN EOS THAT VW HAS PUT A RECALL ON THE SAME PART UPON FAILURE. NOT SURE WHY THERE'S NOT ONE FOR THE BEETLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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