Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (1999)

174 consumer complaints on file.

#8009948May 15, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FO RECALL REPAIRS, OXYGEN SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE IS MAKING LOUD NOISES. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#761578May 6, 2002
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#760869April 18, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8006843April 2, 2002
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN CONSUMER NOTICED FLAMES 1 FOOT HIGH COMING FROM DASHBOARD. AT DEALER AT THIS TIME, HEATER SWITCH CAUSED FIRE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#759766March 25, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, AIR BAGS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR I NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER & ODOMETER WEREN'T WORKING (MILEAGE FROZE AT 26,139). THE GAS GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING EITHER. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT. BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE 19 FAILURES WHEN IT WAS TESTED ON THEIR COMPUTER. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS PARTS REPLACED. (WILL BE COVERED UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY POSSIBLY). STILL WAITING ON PARTS. THEY SAID AFTER THEY REPLACE PARTS OF TRANSMISSION THEY WILL LET ME KNOW WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST ME. THE STANDARD WARRANTY ENDED MARCH 2001. THE VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE (26,139). THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED LAST YEAR. MANY TIMES THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND HAD TO BE JUMPED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE FIRST YEAR I HAD THE CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT WAS A SENSOR PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8001920January 10, 2002
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT IS POORLY DESIGNED WHICH CAUSES DRIVER'S DISCOMFORT WHILE DRIVING. *AK *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#898624November 1, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
CONSUMER HAS BEEN HAVING ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICAL FEATURES. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED 2 BATTERIES/ 1 CD CHANGER/ 4 HEADLIGHT BULBS, AND AIR CONDITIONER OUTLET DIDN'T WORK. DEALER STATED VEHICLE HAD TOO MANY MILES. PROBLEMS EXISTED SINCE DAY 1.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897961October 18, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE MORE THAN 10 MINUTES THERMOSTAT WOULD OVERHEAT. WHILE AT A DEALERSHIP, THERMOSTAT SENSOR THAT WAS REPLACED FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.ALSO, MECHANIC INDICATED THAT WATER PUMP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED IF THE THERMOSTAT STILL OVERHEATED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#752951October 5, 2001
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
I COMMUTE ON A 2 LANE ROAD TO WORK AND THE DANGER OF DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS PUTS NOT ONLY MYSELF BUT ANYONE IN BACK OF ME IN EXTREME DANGER OF CAUSING A ACCIDENT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED FAILURE AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR MUCH LONGER THAN TWO YEARS. NOT HAVING FOLLOWED MYSELF I HAVE NO IDEA EXACTLY HOW LONG I HAD BEEN DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS. ALSO WITH IT BEING SUMMER AND LIGHT IN THE MORNING WHEN I WOULD LEAVE I COULDN'T SEE THE GLARE IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#897237October 2, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
WHILE STARTING BATTERY EXPLODED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBELM WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SURGE FROM ALTERNATOR . FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#895709September 4, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE.ALSO, THERE IS NOISE LIKE A BANGING TAPPING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#751240August 27, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
AT 1 1/2 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON "WITH NO FAULT FOUND" TOOK 1 1/2 YEARS AND 6 SERVICE VISITS TO FIX. THE CAR OFTEN GOES FORWARD WHILE IN REVERES AND HAS SHIFTING PROBLEMS, HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION "ADJUSTED" 3 TIMES STILL HAS PROBLEMS. OIL LIGHT DOESNT GO ON WHEN OIL IS LOW. BATTERY LIGHT DOESNT GO ON WHEN THE BATTER IS DYING. WIRING TO HEADLIGHT KEEPS "LOOSENING" CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. HAD REAR AND FRONT BRAKES REPLACED DUE TO LOW GROUND CLEARANCE AND SNOW GETTING LODGED IN THEM AND FREEZING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#895019August 23, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
BATTERY CABLE HAS BURNED OUT TWICE SINCE DATE OF PURCHASE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK REAR HATCH INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT OPEN WITH THE REMOTE DUE TO IT BEING OUT OF ADJUSTMENT, THE LEFT WINDOW SWITCH IS LOOSE. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#749060July 24, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THREE MONTHS PRRIOR TO THE ENGINE FIRE, A BATTERY BLEW UP IN THIS CAR AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY. PRIOR TO THAT THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES AND THE A/C CONDENSER REPLACED. WE BELIEVE THIS CAR HAS SOME SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. VW DECIDED IT WAS AN "INSURANCE" ISSUE, BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE OF THE CAR. IN SHORT, THEY ARE SAYING THAT IT IS OK FOR THE ENGINE TO BURN UP ON A 1999 CAR WITH 44,000 MILES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891584June 28, 2001
SEATS
FRONT SEAT ON DRIVER SIDE WOULD GO FORWARD WHEN PUT ON BRAKES. ALSO, WHILE PUTTING IN BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE,HEARD A NOISE AND SEAT BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747352June 25, 2001
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
ON DEC. 9TH, 2000, OUR BEETLE WAS HIT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE AND SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. "EXPERTS" AT VOLKSWAGEN CLAIMED THAT OUR FORWARD MOTION AT THE TIME OF IMPACT LESSENED THE SIDE IMPACT. I CAN UNDERSTAND THIS TO SOME DEGREE BUT BY THEIR REASONING, IF WE WERE GOING TWICE AS FAST, WOULD THE DAMAGE HAVE BEEN HALVED? OY. THE SIDE WAS SO CAVED-IN THAT I HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE CAR WITH THE JAWS OF LIFE. PEOPLE WHO HAVE SEEN THE CAR , INCLUDING THE REPAIR SHOP FOREMAN, CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ON CONTACTING VW, I WAS TOLD THAT BEING THAT I WAS MOVING AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, IT LESSENED THE SIDE IMPACT. I CAN UNDERSTAND THIS TO SOME EXENT, BUT DOES THIS MEAN THAT IF WE WERE DOING 100MPH INSTEAD OF 50MPH WOULD THE DAMAGE WOULD HAVE BEEN HALVED?. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#890546June 18, 2001
SUSPENSION
STRUT BAR HAS DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE CAUSING A "SCRUBBING" NOISE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND FOUND THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#745517May 19, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
AFTER DRIVING CAR FOR AN HOUR THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON,. DEALER TOOK CAR TO CHECK IT OUT AND IN DOING WHICH DAMAGE THE CAR FURTHER BY DENTING PASSENGER FENDER AND BUMPER. FAILED TO TELL ME ABOUT THIS, HOWEVER ENGINE LIGHT WAS FIXED (O2) SENSOR.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#785413April 23, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
CONSUMER STATES BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS HAVE FAILED, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE BAD OXYGEN SENSOR HAS DAMAGED THE MASS AIR FLOW DEVICE, CONSUMER STATES HE HAS RECEIVED DIFFERENT INFORMATION FROM DEALER DEPARTMENTS, SOME SAY IT IS BECUASE THE GAS IN THE STATE HE LIVES IN IS NOT REGULATED AS TO QUALITY AND IF PREMIUM QUALITY GAS IS NOT USED THE PARTS WILL NOT BE WARRANTED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#886432April 23, 2001
STRUCTURE
WHEN CONSUMER BACKED UP INTO 6 INCHES OF SNOW ENGINE SKID PLATE, WHICH WAS ATTACHED BY 3 BOLTS ON EITHER SIDE TO A PLASTIC COMPONENT, DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED BOLTS AND REPLACED SKID PLATE TO VEHICLE. *AK THE SHIELDS UNDER THE VEHICLE WERE BROKEN. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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