Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2003)

314 consumer complaints on file.

#10394951April 5, 2011
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND STAYS ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT GOES OFF AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED EVEN WHEN NO SEATBELTS ARE PUT ON. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V178000, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE SYMPTOMS SEEM SIMILAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10393659March 29, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 VOLKSWAGON BEETLE CONVERTABLE..TRANSMISSION COMPANY STATING I NEED A NEW VALVE BODY..VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. RECEIVED THE EXTENSION LETTER BUT WAS A LITTLE TO LATE. MY YOUNG DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HAS BEEN STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DOEN ABOUT THIS..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390409March 16, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAD PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED ABOUT MY 2003 BEETLE ON THIS WEBSITE. SOMEHOW MY CAR SEEMS TO HAVE SOMEHOW REPAIRED IT SELF !! IT IS NO LONGER SHIFTING HARD WHEN IT SHIFTS AND ITS NO LONGER LURCHING OR PAUSING AS IT SHIFTS. IM NOT SURE WHY, IM JUST REALLY RELIEVED! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390190March 15, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2003 NEW VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER SIDE REAR QUARTER WINDOW. WINDOW FAILS TO FULLY RAISE AND WILL AUTOMATICALLY OPEN WHEN IT REACHES 2/3 RAISED POSITION. FAULTY WINDOW REGULATOR. A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10390191March 15, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, REAR WINDOW SEPARATION FROM CONVERTIBLE TOP. FAILURE OF ADHESIVE. NO REPAIR CAN BE MADE BY THE DEALER, ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TOP! EXPENSIVE REPAIR! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10388748March 7, 2011
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING ONE EVENING THE CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEARS ON HIGHWAY, THUS LIMITING THE SPEED TO LESS THAN 35 MILES PER HOUR IN A POSTED ZONE OF 55 MPH. THIRD -SIXTH GEARS FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10386523March 5, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
1) I DRIVED MY CAR AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN MARCH 2007. THE FOLLOWING THREE TIMES THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, WAS WHEN I WOULD START MY CAR UP. 2) MARCH 2007-FIRST TIME AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON:HAMMER LANE VW CHARGED ME FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. DECEMBER 2007-AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN:ELK GROVE VW DID NOT CHARGE ME JAN 2008-AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN:ELK GROVE VW DID NOT CHARGE ME JUNE 2008-AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN:ELK GROVE VW DID NOT CHARGE ME SEPTEMBER 2009-AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN:ELK GROVE VW WANTS TO CHARGE ME 230.00 FOR LABOR AND 678.63 FOR PARTS TO FIX AIR BAG LIGHT AND KERRY FROM VW STATES THAT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. THE SELF DIAGNOSIS PROTOCOL SAYS 00003 CONTROL MODULE DEFECTIVE AND 00532 SUPPLY VOLTAGE LOWER LIMIT NOT REACHED SPORADIC. THE SOFTWARE PART NUMBER IS 6Q0909605E 3)BOB FROM BOB'S GERMAN AUTO REPAIR REPLACED AIR BAG SENSOR PASS SIDE FRONT THE FIRST TIME. SECOND TIME: ELK GROVE REPLACED AND REPLACED SEAT BELT DRIVERSIDE AND RESET FAULTS. THIRD TIME:ELK GROVE VW REPLACED SENSOR IN PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. FOURTH TIME: I DECLINED SERVICE FROM ELK GROVE VW AND THEY CHARGED ME 115.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS FAIR AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS HASSLE AND PAY UNFAIR FEES WHEN THERE IS RECALLS ON THIS BEETLES ALL OF THE TIME. IM YOUNG AND I AM GOING TO COLLEGE. I DON'T HAVE THE TIME AND THE MONEY TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10384794February 28, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD TO 4TH. HAS EVEN STALLED ON OCCASION. HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION HITS SO HARD IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT WILL FALL OUT OF THE CAR. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING IT DUE TO THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. CAN NOT AFFORD THE 4,000 - 7000 DOLLARS QUOTED TO REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10383131February 17, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE BEGAN TO BANG VERY HARD WHEN SHIFTING AND LOCKED UP PERIODICALLY IN THIRD GEAR. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP IN THIRD GEAR WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE CAR WAS VERY SLOW TO MOVE. THIS LEFT ME NEARLY STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF MAJOR BUSY INTERSECTIONS SEVERAL TIMES. I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CARS WHIZZING PAST. THIS DEFECT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS A KNOWN FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THROUGH SEVERAL YEAR MODELS. IT COST ME OVER $3000 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FIXED. VW IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTROL VALVE IN THIS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION AND HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY, BUT HAS LEFT OUT CARS SOLD AT THE TIME MINE WAS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381729February 13, 2011
AIR BAGS
AFTER STARTING THE CAR, AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN ONE YEAR THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS FIRST TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DRIVER SIDE SENSOR UNDER THE SEAT WAS REPLACED AT DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381582February 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 VW NEW BEETLE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. ROUGH SHIFTING UP AND DOWN. 1ST AND 2ND.. COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFLEY. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT AAMCO. VW IS RUFUSING TO REIMBURSE ME. 4K +. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380031February 2, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER AROUND 36000 MILES WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD SHIFT ROUGH. THE DEALER TOLD US IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAD A LEAK. THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED AND WE WERE TOLD BY A TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS. IT NOW SHIFTS SO ROUGH THAT WHEN IT GOES INTO GEAR IT PULL HARD LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN IT ENGAGES. UPON DOWNSHIFTING IT ACTUALLY LUNGES FORWARD AND HAS CAUSED MANY CONCERNS WITH ME AND MY WIFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380588February 1, 2011
POWER TRAIN
DROVE 600 MILES TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE-MY DREAM CAR. HAD IT FOR 2 DAYS, PUT THE TOP DOWN TWICE AND THE CABLE TO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP SNAPPED. COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY (MISSED THE WHOLE FIRST SEASON OF USING THE CONVERTIBLE). FINALLY GOT ENOUGH $$ TOGETHER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND FOUND OUT A PIECE OF SOMETHING MUST HAVE FALLEN DOWN INTO THE CHANNEL OF THE REAR WINDOW AND BROKE A PART INSIDE SO ADDED THAT TO THE EXPENSE, AROUND $800. REPLACED THE BRAKES NEXT (O.K. WITH THAT, NORMAL REPAIR OF ANY VEHICLE). BUT, NOT TOO LONG AFTER, NOTICED TRANSMISSION HAD A TINY "SLIP". IGNORED THAT SINCE I DIDN'T WANT TO THINK SOMETHING ELSE WAS GOING WRONG ALREADY. PROGRESSED TO WHERE I AM NOW, SLAMMING DOWN INTO THE LOWER GEARS WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW STATING IF ANY REPAIRS HAD BEEN INCURRED DURING THE WARRANTY/EXTENDED WARRANTY, IT WOULD BE COVERED AS 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. WELL, AS IT HAPPENS, MY CAR HAS JUST UNDER 83,000 MILES ON IT AND THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED IN APRIL OF 2010. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY QUOTED ME $2490 FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD A REP HE COULD CALL TO SEE IF "THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO" SINCE IT WAS SUCH A SHORT TIME AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. AFTER IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE, THEY WOULD DEDUCT $750 FROM THE TOTAL REPAIR IF I WOULD SHOW GOOD FAITH AND PURCHASE NEW TIRES ($500), NEW BATTERY ($195 OR $165) AND AN EXHAUST CLAMP ($58) FROM THEIR DEALERSHIP. I'M NO MATH WIZARD, BUT THAT PUT ME RIGHT BACK TO ALMOST THE ORIGINAL REPAIR COST. I AM AT MY WIT'S END WITH THIS CAR. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT BUT HAVE NO CHOICE AS IT IS MY ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE BEEN READING SEVERAL OTHER COMPARABLE COMPLAINTS, SO I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE. I FEEL THAT A 100,00 MILE WARRANTY SHOULD BE JUST THAT, NOT 7 YEARS/OR.......
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378136January 21, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OCCASIONAL VIOLENT SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO THIRD GEAR - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VERY DANGEROUS IN INTERSECTIONS. VW HAD A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THEM LAST MONTH- VW SAID MY CAR WAS 1 YEAR TOO OLD - CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX ON MY OWN - CAR IS WORTHLESS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378134January 21, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OCCASIONAL VIOLENT SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO THIRD GEAR - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VERY DANGEROUS IN INTERSECTIONS. VW HAD A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THEM LAST MONTH- VW SAID MY CAR WAS 1 YEAR TOO OLD - CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX ON MY OWN - CAR IS WORTHLESS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376889January 17, 2011
VISIBILITY
SIX MONTHS AGO THE LEFT REAR WINDOW IN MY VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE BROKE, IT WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN. I DO NOT USE THE REAR WINDOWS VERY OFTEN SO I WAS QUITE SURPRISED WHEN THE WINDOW BROKE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER TO GET REPAIRED. IT COST ME NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET. CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE JUST THE WINDOW REPAIRED. I THOUGHT THIS WAS RIDICULOUS FOR JUST ONE SMALL WINDOW. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS VERY VERY UPSET BUT I HAD NO ALTERNATIVE I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. NOW SIX MONTHS LATER THE LEFT REAR WINDOW HAS BROKEN. ONCE AGAIN I DO NOT USE THE REAR WINDOWS VERY OFTEN ESPECIALLY SINCE THE THOUSAND DOLLAR CHARGE THERE IS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO CHANCE THAT HAPPENING. HERE IT IS WINTER TIME SO THERE IS NO REASON TO BE USING THOSE WINDOWS. ANYWAY LAST WEEK I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I HEARD A TERRIBLE POPPING SOUND, ONE WHICH I HAVE HEARD BEFORE AND I THOUGHT OH NO NOT AGAIN. WELL ONCE I GOT TO WORK AND CHECKED SURE AS HECK THE LEFT WINDOW WAS BROKEN. IT IS DOWN ABOUT EIGHT INCHES AND ONE GO UP OR DOWN. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT IT WILL COST ME ANOTHER THOUSAND DOLLARS JUST TO FIX A WINDOW. I DO NOT HAVE A THOUSAND DOLLARS LAYING AROUND TO GET IT REPAIRED. MY PARENTS ALSO OWN A VW BEETLE AND THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL WINDOW PROBLEMS. WE HAVE BOTH DECIDED WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW BECAUSE WE JUST CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR COSTS FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE WRONG WITH THESE CARS. I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH IT COSTS FOR REPAIRS. I KEEP CHECKING ON THE RECALL LIST PRAYING THAT I MAY GET SOME HELP BUT AS OF YET THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ASSISTANCE. CAN VW EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THESE WINDOWS??? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376838January 16, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, WITH UNDER 50,000 MILES ON IT WILL SHIFT DANGEROUSLY HARD. WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR, IT SHIFTS WITH A SLAM AND LURCHES FORWARD. THERE IS A PAUSE BEFORE IT SHIFTS WHICH MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, INSTEAD OF MOVING FORWARD WHEN IT SHOULD THERE IS THAT PAUSE WHILE IT LURCHES DOWN AND SLAMS INTO GEAR. IT DOES THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10376188January 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN
THE ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN THIRD GEAR WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO RESET. THIS IS A PERILOUS MANEUVER, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE MANY OPTIONS. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME PROBLEMS SHIFTING BOTH UP AND DOWN. THE UPSHIFTS ARE PROBLEMATIC IN THAT THE CAR CAN SUDDENLY LURCH FORWARD WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGES. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CAR WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND. THE RPMS WILL GO TO @5000, THEN THE SHIFT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO SQUEAL TIRES AND LURCH FORWARD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10375446January 10, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 TDI BEETLE (AUTO) JERKS ABRUPTLY WHEN UPSHIFTING. THE CAR ALMOST STALLS IN FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC, CREATING A LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION. DEALER SERVICE DEPT. STATES A TEMPERATURE SENSOR FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID IS NOT FUNCTIONING, AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD FAIL AS IT THREATENS LIVES, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373889January 3, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 VW NEW BEETLE HAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION WHICH IS PRESENTING A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. CAR DOES NOT SHIFT RIGHT, HARD SHIFTS, BUCKING, ETC. AND NOW STALLING, PROBABLY A TOTALLY FAILED TRANSMISSION FOR WHICH VW IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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