Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10307345February 8, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION OVERHEATING JUST A TERRIBLE CAR. WAX MATERIAL INTERIOR REMOVES EASILY WITH NAILS CHILDREN CAN EAT IT HAS CRAYOLA SMELL.SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE OF PLASTIC OR VINYL. THIS WHOLE CAR SHOULD BE RECALL. EPC BRAKE SWITCH ALWAYS ON HAD IT REPAIRED 3 TIMES ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. BAD ELECTRICAL. INTERIOR AC LIGHT IS ALWAYS OFF. IN AND OUT OF MECHANIC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307461February 8, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATOR ARE DEFECTIVE AND DON'T WORK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307289February 7, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS A TRANSMISSION FLAW WHICH RESULTS IN JERKY SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR CAUSING WHIPLASH TO THE DRIVER AS WELL AS A HESITATION (AND HIGH ENGINE REVVING) SHIFTING INTO 5TH GEAR. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH SOME KIND OF SHIFTING CONTROL PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION WORKS FINE WHEN IT IS COOL (FIRST START DRIVING) BUT GETS WORSE AS THE CAR WARMS UP. AFTER 15 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING IS VERY JERKY AND UNSETTLING. THERE IS A HESITATION AND THEN A VERY HARD CLANKING SOUND WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. HIGHWAY DRIVING IS VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO HESITATION BETWEEN GEARS 4 AND 5 AT AROUND 60 MILES PER HOUR. CITY STREET DRIVING IS DANGEROUS DUE TO THE JERKY SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AT AROUND 20 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS HAPPENING 1 DAY AFTER HAVING THE CAR IN THE VW SHOP FOR 4 DAYS HAVING THE TIPTRONIC GEAR SHIFT CONTROL MODULE REPLACED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO A LESSER DEGREE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE CAR HAS HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED 4 TIMES IN 5 YEARS TO ADDRESS THE ROUGH SHIFTING CONDITION. THE VW DEALERS\SERVICE PEOPLE REPORT THE TRANSMISSION IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOT DESIGNED TO JERK ROUGHLY BETWEEN GEARS NOR TO HESITATE BETWEEN UPPER GEARS. ANY HESITATION AT 55 TO 60 MPHS SHIFTING FROM 4TH TO 5TH GEAR (SIMILAR TO PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH BUT NOT SHIFTING GEARS IN A MANUAL TRANNY) CAN RESULT IN SOMEONE RUNNING INTO TEH REAR END OF THE CAR. IN A SMALL VEHICLE LIKE THE BEETLE, A REAR END COLLISION AT 60 MPH CAN RESULT IS FLIPPING THE CAR AND DEATHS. PLEASE TAKE ACTION AGAINST VW AMERICA TO ADDRESS AND RESOLVE THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. THANK YOU. *TW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307207February 7, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I STARTED EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION SHIFT PROBLEMS ON MY '03 VW BEETLE TURBO, JUST AROUND ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE FROM A VW DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS PRE-CERTIFIED AT THE TIME, SINCE I COULDN'T AFFORD THE WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALER HAD, I PRESUME, DECLARED IT FREE OF DEFECTS AND PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THE PROBLEM, UPON WHICH I WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $4200. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE GIVEN AS TO THE REASON OR POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THE PROBLEM, IN SPITE OF MY REQUESTS FOR A DESCRIPTION. THE SERVICE ADVISOR JUST STATED "IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED". I HAVE SINCE VISITED ONLINE AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS AND FOUND OUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS AS WELL. I AM CONCERNED NOW THAT EVEN IF I REPLACE IT, THE REPLACEMENT MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IN THE MEAN TIME THE TRANSMISSION UNPREDICTABLY STARTS SLIPPING, OR MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN SLIPPING AND AT OTHER TIMES WON'T EVEN SHIFT FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. *TW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307036February 6, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2005 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND JERKING ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. I T HAS 50+ K MILES ON IT. FINALLY TOOK IT INTO ARMSTRONG VW DEALER IN GLADSTONE OR AND WAS TOOK IT WAS THE "TRANSMISSION VALVE" AND WOULD COST MORE THAN $2000.00 TO REPAIR AND IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY!! THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPT NOW TELLS ME THAT IF I PAY $550.00 FOR A COMPLETE 45K MILE TUNEUP THAT VW WILL REPLACE THE PART FOR FREE. YES, THE CAR HAS OVER 50K MILES ON IT! PLEASE NOTE THAT I HAVE THE BEETLE SERVICED AT A LOCAL GARAGE BUT THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THE TUNEUP MUST BE DONE BY A VW DEALER! THIS IS A HOSTAGE SITUATION. IT APPEARS FROM INTERNET RESEARCH THAT MANY, MANY OWNERS OF VW BEETLES ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS LURCHING HAS NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10306739February 5, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY AT AROUND 60,000 MILES. WE HAVE OUR 04 VW AT A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND I AM BEING TOLD THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH OF A PROBLEM THAT VW CHANGED THE DESIGN FROM 2004 TO 2005. VW DOES NOT ADMIT ANYTHING AND SAYS THAT THE CAR MUST BE TAKEN TO A VW DEALERSHIP IN ORDER THAT THEY CAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, I DO NOT BELIEVE THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305158February 4, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I OWN A 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, 4 CYL, 6 SP AUTO. IT HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, IT'S STARTED JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FIND I'M NOT ALONE. THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF OTHERS IN THE SAME POSITION. ACCORDING TO VW, THE TRANSMISSION IS $6,800. WOW - I KNOW! YOU HAVE TO USE THE DEALER BECAUSE THE PARTS AREN'T AVAILABLE TO THE AFTER MARKET. IN ANY EVENT, THE CAR HESITATES WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO PULL OUT, JERKS WHEN YOU STOP. I'VE NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL REAR END COLLISIONS AS WELL AS SAID SEVERAL PRAYERS WHEN IT DIDN'T ACCELERATE AS QUICKLY AS IT SHOULD HAVE. I'M NOT A MECHANIC, BUT I'M NOT STUPID EITHER. THE TRANSMISSION IS FINE UNTIL THE ENGINE IS WARM. I CAN SHIFT GEARS WITH NO PROBLEM USING THE TIPTRONIC PART OF THE SYSTEM - BUT OTHERS HAVE SAID THIS ONLY WORKS FOR A SHORT PERIOD. THERE ARE NO METAL SOUNDS WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHIFTING. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. VW REFUSES TO PUT THE TIME AND EFFORT INTO DETERMINING WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS. THEY JUST REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS AND POCKET $6,800. BY THE WAY, THE BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE CAR IS $6,800. IRONIC, I KNOW. I'VE READ POST AFTER POST FROM PEOPLE WHO HAD THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY VW ONLY TO FIND THE PROBLEMS PERSIST. I UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T WANT TO FIND THE ISSUE, BUT I REALLY LOVE MY CAR AND WANT IT FIXED. CORRECTLY. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE VW TO DO THE RIGHT THING, FIND THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER IS APPRECIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303338January 30, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
LIKE ALMOST ALL 2005 VW NEW BEETLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, MINE (AFTER WARMING UP) SHIFTS VERY HARD BOTH UP AND DOWN THE GEARS AND REVS UP BETWEEN GEARS. OCCASIONALLY IT HANGS UP IN THIRD GEAR UNTIL IT SITS AND COOLS DOWN FOR SEVERAL HOURS. I HAVE HAD IT FAIL ON MULTIPLE LANE HIGHWAYS CAUSING ME TO BECOME TRAPPED BETWEEN LANES. THIS TRANSMISSION IS FAILING IN MOST IF NOT ALL VW BEETLES AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. JUST DO AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR "NEW BEETLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE" AND YOU'LL SEE HOW PERVASIVE IT IS. MY BEETLE BEGAN GIVING PROBLEMS AT 45,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303241January 29, 2010
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
MY 2004 VW BEETLE SHOWED AN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. I TOOK IT TO VW UNDER A RECALL AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR FREE. 3 MONTHS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. VW SAID THE CAR HAD A BAD DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE. COST WOULD BE $ 331.07 PLUS TAX. I STILL HAVE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON. IT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT A BAD SEAT BELT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CAR COMPANY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302227January 25, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2004 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE W/60,000. MILES ON IT. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM A STOP, IT WON'T GO INTO PROPER GEARS. IT JERKS REALLY BAD AFTER BOGGING DOWN (NOT GOING INTO GEAR). I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES IN GETTING REAR-ENDED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON & THE VW DEALER JUST SAYS THEY NEED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM SO TO START IT IS $150. & I WAS TOLD IT COULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION; BUT, I SEE OTHER POSTING OF SIMILAR ISSUES ON WEB SITES WHEN I DID A SEARCH ABOUT IT. THAT IS WHERE I FOUND THIS LINK, I THINK THIS IS A DANGEROUS & COSTLY ISSUE! I BELIEVE IT IS A RECALL ISSUE FOR VOLKSWAGEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302034January 23, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY HAS TROUBLE UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. IT JERKS, HESITATES AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD. IT STARTS OCCURRING AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MIN DRIVE. IT IS ESPECIALLY UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. THE CAR SLOWS DOWN, THE PANEL SHOWS DOWNSHIFTED GEAR, CAR ALMOST STOPS, THEN MAKES A SHARP SUDDEN MOVEMENT FORWARD. IT IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT INTERSECTIONS, BECAUSE OF UNCONTROLLABLE JERKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300464January 20, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A 2004 AUTOMATIC VW BEETLE LAST YEAR FROM A DEALER. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN TO GO INTO NEUTRAL IN BETWEEN SHIFTING, AND SOMETIMES LOCKS INTO 3RD GEAR UNTIL I DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT ALMOST ALL THE 6 SPD. AUTOMATIC VOLKSWAGEN CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT 80,000 MILE, MINE HAS 84,000 ON IT NOW. I HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAY "THERE ARE NO ENGINE CODES, WE CAN'T FIX IT", BUT IT IS A HAZARD TO DRIVE BECAUSE IF YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY, IT WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL SOMETIMES, AND THE ENGINE JUST REVS UNTIL IT FINALLY SLAMS INTO GEAR. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED, BUT THAT HAS NO EFFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300218January 19, 2010
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIRBAG LIGHT ON FOR SECOND TIME, VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, HAS COST ME SO FAR $110 FOR A DEALER TO CHECK AND $117 FOR PARTS NOT TO COUNT MY LABOR FOR REPLACEMENT WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN AN EXTRA $400 OR SO. I BELIEVE VEHICLE FALLS UNDER A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND DURING THE REPLACEMENT OF THE BAD PARTS I FOUND THE BAD PARTS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL NO. 08V178000 ON MY VEHICLE WHICH I STILL HAVE. WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE, WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL BY VW AMERICA BUT ACCORDING TO THE DOCUMENT NO. RCMN-08V178-2838.PDF FOUND ON THIS WEB SITE UNDER DEFECTS & RECALLS, IS IN FACT ONE OF THE VEHICLES THAT SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE MY REPAIRS FINISHED, WHICH SHOULD ONLY REQUIRE THE AIRBAG COMPUTER TO BE RESET AND MY PREVIOUS COST AND POSSIBLE LABOR CHARGE REFUNDED TO ME BY VW OF AMERICA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300062January 17, 2010
SEATS
MY DRIVER SEAT WAS DISLOCATED N PUSHED TO THE BACK WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION. LUCKILY I WAS DRIVING IN THE TOWN N THE SPEED WAS SLOW N I MANAGED TO PARK MY CAR AFTER MUCH DIFFICULTY COS I COULD NOT REACH THE PEDAL OF BRAKE N HAD TO PULL MYSELF FORWARD TO DO IT. GOD BLESSED ME THAT NOTHING HAPPENED EXCEPT RUSHING OF ADRENALINE. LATER I FOUND OUT THAT THE DISLOCATION OF SEAT WAS CAUSED BY THE LOOSING SCREWS WHICH SECURED THE SEAT. THE SCREWS ARE IN PERFECT CONDITION. THEY CERTAINLY CANNOT COME LOOSE COS THERE IS NOT WEAR N TEAR. IT MUCH BE MANUFACTURED DEFECT. I REPORT TO VW DEALER BUT THEY WANT DIAGNOSTIC CHARGE. WHAT A JOKE. I DO NOT SEND MY CAR FOR REPAIR COS I WANT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER. I ONLY TAPED MY SCREWS TO FIX THEM. STILL THEY WILL COME LOOSE AFTER A WHILE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300077January 17, 2010
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I PURCHASED A 2001 VW BEETLE NEW AND I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES DUE TO SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ON-GOING PROBLEM EVEN AFTER VW MADE A RECALL AND SUPPOSEDLY "FIX" THE SEAT BELT PROBLEM. THIS VERY FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE CAR HAD LESS 1500 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300096January 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299917January 15, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE HAVE A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT AT LEAST 8 TIMES SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN SPRING OF 2006. THE AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED EACH TIME WITH SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE RAILS. VOLKSWAGEN ENCOURAGES ME TO CONTINUE BRING IT TO THEM FOR REPAIR. IT IS UNSAFE AS THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT ON NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVEWAY, NOT BUMPY COUNTRY ROADS. I HAVE INCLUDED THE LATEST INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299637January 13, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
1. NORMAL DRIVING. 2. EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATING (EGR) COOLER CONNECTING PIPE FRACTURES. THIS CAN OCCUR ANYWHERE BETWEEN 30,000 AND 120,000 MILES. THIS FRACTURE ALLOWS EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE PASSENGER CABIN. AS OF NOW THE PART HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED, $178 DEALER ITEM. OLD PART WILL BE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298964January 11, 2010
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE "AIR BAG " WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON EIGHT SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVER SIDE WIRING HARNESS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO RESOLUTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,218. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,564.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298830January 9, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2006 VW BEETLE WITH DEFECTIVE DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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