Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10433158October 28, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE FRONT AUTOMATIC WINDOWS IN THIS CAR SINCE AUGUST 2008. IN MAY 2010 THE REAR WINDOWS WOULD GO UP PART WAY AND THEN GO BACK DOWN. I HAD REPAIRS DONE (REINSTALLED WINDOW SEAL AT A COST OF $96.00) THEN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2011 THE OTHER REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP AND THE DEALER SAID THAT I NEEDED A "KIT" TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF THE CABLES BINDING UP AND KEEPING THE WINDOW FROM GOING UP. THIS REPAIR COST $800. TODAY THE OTHER REAR WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND IS MAKING THE FAMILIAR GRINDING SOUND. I SUSPECT THAT I WILL NEED TO GO TO THE DEALER AND GET A "KIT" FOR THIS WINDOW WHICH IS THE ONE THAT HAD THE SEAL REPLACED ON IT. ANOTHER $800.00 OR SO FOR SOMETHING THAT WILL ONLY TEMPORARILY FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE BACK WINDOWS DOWN ON THIS VEHICLE MAYBE A DOZEN TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. THIS IS CLEARLY A CHEAP AND FAULTY DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER. IF I DO NOT CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE REPAIRS I CANNOT PROPERLY SECURE MY VEHICLE AND RISK DAMAGE OR THEFT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433023October 27, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
HAD A VERY HARD TIME GETTING THE TOP TO COME UP ENOUGH TO LATCH NUMEROUS TIMES ON A ROAD TRIP. AS SUDDENLY AS THE PROBLEM STARTED IT WENT AWAY. BUT WHEN THAT PROBLEM STOPPED, I WAS LEFT WITH A SEVERE RATTLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND A QUARTER BACK WINDOW ON THE SAME SIDE THAT LOOKS MIS-ALIGNED WITH THE FRONT WINDOW AND LEAVES A GAP, LETS WIND IN AND QUITE OFTEN DOESN'T COME COMPLETELY SHUT. ON OCTOBER 6, I PUT MY TOP DOWN TO DRIVE ABOUT 5 MILES HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME, THE TOP WOULDN'T COME UP. I GOT OUT AND GENTLY PULLED ON THE TOP, GOT BACK IN AND EVENTUALLY IT CAME UP. EXACTLY ONE WEEK LATER, I PUT THE TOP DOWN AND I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK 1/4 WINDOW WAS STUCK HALFWAY DOWN. TRIED TO PUT IT UP AND HEARD A NASTY LITTLE SOUND WHICH CONTINUED WHENEVER I PRESSED THE BUTTON FOR THAT WINDOW. I HAD TO FINALLY GET A GENTLEMAN TO HELP ME PULL IT UP. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I REPLACED THE BATTERY (A REAL WHIPPING TO GET IN AND OUT) FOLLOWED A WEEK LATER BY A DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT LIGHT BULB FOR WHICH I WAS CHARGED $100 AND THE MECHANIC DID THE CHANGE IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. I'VE REPLACED BACK-UP LIGHTS SO MANY TIMES I'VE ACTUALLY LEARNED HOW TO DO IT MYSELF. VW OF AMERICA NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE WINDOW REGULATORS, TOP PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ETC. ETC. I AM A SINGLE FEMALE WITH NO GARAGE TO PARK IN IF THE QUIRKY TOP AND WINDOWS DECIDE NOT TO COME UP. I AM ALSO LIMITED ON BUDGET AND THE DESIGN OF THIS CAR CAUSES LABOR CHARGES THAT ARE ASTRONOMICAL TO DO THE SIMPLIST OF THINGS. PRETTY SURE I HAVE THE WINDOW REGULATOR PROBLEM WHERE THEY WANT TO CHARGE $900 PER SIDE. THE LABOR CHARGE TO REPLACE A BATTER IS OVER $100. THE WINDOW PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH VW FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I'VE HAD 3 AND HAD NUMEROUS WINDOW PROBLEMS IN EVERY ONE OF THEM. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432540October 24, 2011
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE ENGAGED IN ORDER TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO WAS TOLD THAT THE CONTROL VALVES CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD INCREASE IN SPEED AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN TO 5TH GEAR. UPDATED 12/02/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432478October 23, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THE CAR HAD ONLY 55,000 MILES ON IT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS NEVER ANY DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR. VW SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG, BUT REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND IT. THEY WANT $750 TO FIX IT. IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE EACH WINDOW MOTOR. THEY COST $400 TO REPLACE. THE DRIVER SIDE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THAT MEANS THE FIRST REPLACEMENT LASTED LESS THAN FOUR YEARS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 77,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430589October 18, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOW REGULATOR FAULTY ON ALL WINDOWS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430672October 18, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED OR CLOSED. THE CLIPS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUOUSLY RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,569.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429998October 13, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE TIMING BELT BROKE WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 10/31/11 *BF UPDATED 11/14/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10430107October 13, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
LEFT REAR WINDOW REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY 3/11, WARRANTY ENDED 5/11, RIGHT REGULATOR GOES OUT 8/11. EVERY TIME THE DOORS OPEN ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS ACTIVATE. APROX 100 TO 200 CYCLES SEPARATE THE FAILURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429444October 11, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOW REGULATORS COME APART AND MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. WINDOWS FALL INTO THE DOOR AND WILL NOT GO BACK UP. PARTS TAKE AT LEAST A WEEK TO COME IN. QUITE A PROBLEM IN A CONVERTIBLE, THE WINDOWS GO UP AND DOWN EVERY TIME YOU OPEN THE DOORS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE IN THE LAST 9 MONTHS. VOLKSWAGEN HAS NO RECALL OR DEFECT REPORTED. VOLKSWAGEN MAKES THE PART AND GIVES IT A 12 MONTH OR 12,000 MILE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY BUT OFFERS NO GUARANTEE THE WINDOW REGULATORS WILL NOT FAIL AGAIN AND DOES NOT OFFER TO COVER THE COST OF REPAIR WHEN THEY DO, OUTSIDE 12 MOS/12K MILES. AT $250 A DOOR ON A 3 YEAR OLD CAR, I'M NOT LOOKING FORWARD TO REPLACING THESE WHEN THEY FAIL AGAIN. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429512October 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BETTLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RPMS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429268October 10, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2004 BEETLE RAN FINE FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER A PURCHASED IT FROM THE DEALER, NOW THE CAR STOPS RUNNING AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, DURING MY TRAVEL TO WORK. I HAVE READ SEVERAL POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET STATING THE SAME ISSUES FROM THOUSANDS OF VW OWNERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD MY CAR DIAGNOSIS STATING I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANS, BUT THERES NO INDICATION TRANS FAILURE. ONE WEEK THERE CAR RUNS GREAT THEN, NEXT IT STOPS DURING TRAVEL AND HAS JERKY FEELS DURING MOVEMENT. I'M SURE THERE HUNDRED OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUES AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY TOO MANY TO LIST. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428944October 6, 2011
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT AS OF 1/1/11, THESE WERE RECALLED FOR 2004-2006 BEETLES AND 2003-2005 BEETLE CONVERTIBLES. NO RECALLS YET FOR 2003 BEETLES, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEMS THAT ARE YET TO BE FIXED BY VW!!! SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE JUST DELAYING THE RECALL UNTIL THEY RECEIVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS/INJURIES. 2 RECALLS OF A FRONTAL SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE IN 4/2008 & A PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (POD) DEALER REPROGRAM REPAIR IN 12/2004 BUT AGAIN NOTHING FOR 2003 MODELS EVEN THOUGH IT STARTED IN LATE 2003. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428133October 1, 2011
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TRANSMISSION FAILURE- VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED HARD AND WOULD NOT COME OUT OF 1ST GEAR DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING REAR END COLLISION. AFTER TURNING CAR OFF AND TURNING VEHICLE BACK ON IT PROCEEDED FOR ABOUT 5 MILES BEFORE DOING THE SAME. CAR WAS TOWED AND TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT BUT THE CAR CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME. RECENTLY TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR, SLOWING DOWN FOR TRAFFIC THAT WAS AT A STAND STILL THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED HARD CAUSING THE CAR BEHIND ME TO SLAM ON HIS BRAKES CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BEHIND ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10427177September 26, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
MY PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDS TO BE FIXED $400-500. OK, BUT I ALREADY REPLACED THE ONE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WINDOW. I AM READING THIS IS A PROBLEM. SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426937September 23, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426402September 20, 2011
POWER TRAIN
MY CAR IS A CERTIFIED USED VW BEETLE. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING A FEW MONTHS AGO, ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR. THIS WAS AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD ON THE CAR, AND I KNOW IT IS USED, BUT I NOW COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED, IN FACT ARE BLATANTLY ON THIS WIKI FOR THE CAR (WHICH UNFORTUNATELY, EITHER WAS NOT UP WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR, OR I DID NOT READ IT CAREFULLY) HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/VOLKSWAGEN_NEW_BEETLE "THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FOR EXAMPLE, IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED ISSUE, OFTEN FAILING AFTER ONLY A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF USE." THERE ARE NUMEROUS PAGES WHERE THIS IS NOTED NOW ACROSS THE WEB: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F124D77 HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/VW_BEETLE.HTML SOME INCIDENTS NOTED SHOW THE DANGER OF THIS SITUATION. LUCKILY THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ME, BUT NOW I AM LOOKING AT REPLACING A WHOLE TRANSMISSION (ALONG WITH FAILED DOOR MOTORS AND SUCH). IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, HOW CAN VW GET AWAY WITH CERTIFYING THIS CAR, WITHOUT AT LEAST A WARNING OR A LONGER WARRANTY ON PARTS THEY KNOW WILL FAIL. I CONSIDER THIS A FRAUD PERPETRATED ON ME. UNFORTUNATELY THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH, AND YET, WE STILL OWE MONEY ON IT TO VW FOR OUR LOAN. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED HERE. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426347September 19, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN
I COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TO COME OUT. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. NOW, AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES, I AM TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE--IT WILL GET STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, IT WILL KICK BETWEEN GEARS ONE AND TWO, AND IT WILL JOLT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425954September 18, 2011
POWER TRAIN
THE SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AT RANDOM I GOT THIS CAR FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND IM SCARED TO LET HER DRIVE IT. GOT A NOTICE IN THE MAIL FROM VW ABOUT IT THEY DROVE IT AND SAID IT WAS OK BUT OBVIOUSLY ITS NOT. THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOME ONE GETS INJURED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425151September 13, 2011
POWER TRAIN
THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THE BEETLES. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN HIS SHOP RECENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425183September 13, 2011
POWER TRAIN, VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. WHEN DECELERATING TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK BEFORE SWITCHING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND AFTER INSPECTION THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE AT A COST OF $6,000. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Beetle