Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10293744November 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES, I STOPPED AT A REDLIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, MY CAR ACTED LIKE IT DID NOT HAVE A LOT OF POWER AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS WITHOUT OVER REVVING. WHENEVER I SLOWED BACK DOWN, THE CAR ABRUPTLY AND SEVERELY DOWNSHIFTS. THE SHIFT IS HARD ENOUGH THAT IT SLINGS ME FORWARD. I FEAR THAT I WILL SOON BE REARENDED BECAUSE OF THIS. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE MY CAR. THIS OCCURRENCE HAPPENS SPORADICALLY AND I CAN'T GET IT FIXED UNTIL A MECHANIC WITNESSES IT HAPPENING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293701November 27, 2009
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
PASSENGER REAR WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BROKEN. I READ THAT MANY OTHER VW BEETLE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND TO REPORT MY PROBLEM HERE. MY CAR IS A 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293597November 25, 2009
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES A YEAR, CAN ONLY BE DONE AT A DEALER AND ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293437November 24, 2009
POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED MY VW 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE NEW IN 2003. I HAVE KEPT VEHICLE MAINTAINED- MOSTLY AT DEALERSHIP ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE. I HAVE ABOUT 115,000 MILES. OVER THE PAST MONTH IT HAS BEGUN "REVVING UP" OR "JERKING"- ESPECIALLY WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP OR ACCELERATING FROM STOP. THIS HAPPENS VERY SPORADICALLY, BUT IS VERY SCARY WHEN IT OCCURS. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT HAVE AN AMATEUR GUESS THAT IT IS TRANSMISSION RELATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293192November 23, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING ACCELERATION. ON DE-ACCELERATION DOWNSHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION JERKS. 2. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND IS VERY DANGEROUS IF TRYING TO SPEED UP TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT OR PEDESTRIAN. 3. CURRENTLY OBTAINING ESTIMATE TO REPAIR VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE HAS 80,000 MILES AND I NOTICED OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. REPAIR COST OF $4,000 TO $6,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293258November 23, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DRIVING DOWN NJ PARKWAY,65 MPH. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT,THUMPING,LOSING SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT AFTER READING BLOG ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED BASED ON THIS INFO. CAR IS NOW UNDRIVABLE. SHIFTING ERRATICALLY IF AT ALL. JERKING BETWEEN GEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293138November 21, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2.0 LITER ENGINE. WHEN SLOWING DOWN, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS FROM 5TH GEAR DOWN TO 3RD GEAR, SEVERELY AFFECTING BRAKING. VW DEALERSHIP, WHERE PURCHASED THE CAR, AND WHICH HAS PROVIDED ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE, ADVISED TRANSMISSION IS SEALED, CAN'T REPLACE FLUIDS, CAN'T FIX, AND THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. ONLY 121K HIGHWAY MILES. REPLACEMENT WILL COST OVER $6K. ACCORDING TO EDMUNDS CARSPACE.COM THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPANT WITH VW BEETLES. DANGEROUS SITUATION DESERVES A RECALL BY VW AMERICA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292976November 20, 2009
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2003 VW NEW BEETLE WINDOW REGULATORS BREAK AND MOTORS GO OUT WAYYYY TOO EARLY. THE 2005 AND UP ARE DESIGNED TO POP DOWN WHEN YOU PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE KEYLESS ENTRY BUT ON THE PREVIOUS YEARS, THEY DO NOT. THEREFORE, THIS CAUSES STRESS ON THE WINDOW AND WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY MOST OF THE TIME. ALSO, SINCE THEY DO NOT POP DOWN WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY, WHEN THE TEMP DROPS BELOW FREEZING AND THE CAR IS OUTSIDE, THE WINDOWS FREEZE AND WILL NOT POP DOWN TO CLOSE THE DOOR UNTIL COMPLETELY THAWED OUT. MEANING YOU GET TO SPEND UP TO 45 MINS WITH THE DOOR CRACKED WAITING FOR THE '!@#$% THING TO UNFREEZE ENOUGH TO POP DOWN AND CLOSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292956November 19, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR JERKING, LURCHING, AND SHIFTING GEARS- TRANSMISSION- AS CAR STARTS AND STOPS IT JERKS REALLY BAD THIS MAKE IT HARD TO STOP THE CAR...VERY SCARED THAT I WILL HAVE AN INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292448November 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS, TIRES
2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TURBO...2.0 LITER ENGINE...THE TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING DOWN OR UP....FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HAS REARENED IT IN THE BACK....HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP AND COUPLE OF OTHER TRANSMISSION PLACES...THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY THING WRONG WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY...NOW THAT IT HAS 94000 MILES AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY DECIDE IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION.....WE HAVE HAD IT SERVICED JUST LIKE WE SHOULD...IT DOESN'T MATTER...WE DON'T HAVE 6000.00 TO GET IT FIXED...SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE...I'VE TALKED WITH MANY, MANY VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM..HOW MANY DOES IT TAKE BEFORE YOU GUYS DO A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292460November 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS, MAY OTHER INDIVIDUALS ARE COMPLAINING ALSO. VERY UNSAFE AND THE COMPANY DOES NOT SEEM TO BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT. CONSUMERS NEED HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292479November 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SEATS, SEAT BELTS
VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE '04 (APPROX. 80K MILES) - SLIPPING AND BANGING TRANSMISSION. SLAMS AND BANGS HARD WITH EACH DOWNSHIFT (AUTOMATIC) AFTER ABOUT 15 MILES OR DRIVING. SLIPS OR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER SLAMMING AND BANGING BEGINS. CANNOT DRIVE CAR IN TRAFFIC FOR FEAR OR BEING REAR ENDED OR BROADSIDED, THEREFORE, CANNOT SAFELY OR DEPENDABLY DRIVE THE CAR. EXPECTED THOUSANDS TO REPAIR IF A MECHANIC WHO UNDERSTANDS THE PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND. MANY OF THE KNOW ISSUES WITH CAR HAVE ALSO OCCURRED; BROKEN PLASTIC WATER PUMP, REAR WINDOW SEAL BROKEN, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LIGHT MALFUNCTION, HEADLIGHTS UNEVEN BRIGHTNESS, SHORT IN DASH, HEATED SEAT TOO HOT TO USE (FEAR OF FIRE) AND INCREDIBLE DOOR RATTLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292597November 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 VW NEW BEETLE: THE CAR WOULD SHIFT TO "NO" GEAR WHILE DRIVING, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT IN "NEUTRAL." WHEN AFTER A STOP THE CAR WOULD NOT GO RIGHT INTO A GEAR....CARS BEHIND WOULD HAVE TO SLAM ON BRAKES BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE INTO GEAR. HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY AT LEAST TWO MECHANICS - ONE WHO WORKS WITH EUROPEAN CARS; AND MY VW DEALERSHIP. AFTER A MIS-DIAGNOSING BY VW - I AM TOLD INDEED A NEW TRANSMISSION!! 88,000 MILES! I NEED A CAR - COULDN'T AFFORD THE $6000 + THAT VW WAS GOING TO CHARGE, SO BROUGHT IT TO A AAMCO AND HAD IT FIXED FOR JUST OVER $4000.00...THIS IS A RECALL PROBLEM...I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT ALL THIS MONEY INTO THE CAR, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT CANNOT BE TRADED IN FOR ANY OTHER CAR. IT WAS CERTAINLY A SCARY RIDE WHEN THE CAR WOULD GO OUT OF GEAR(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). PLEASE HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292382November 16, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. 77315 MI. TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY. SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR...BANGS INTO GEAR SHIFTING FROM 3 TO 4. ENGINE REVS WHILE TRANSMISSION TRIES TO "FIND" THE NEXT GEAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS ! PLEASE DON'T WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED BEFORE FORCING VW TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT !! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292101November 13, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2005 VW BEETLE, WITH A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER TODAY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALUE BODY IN BAD AFTER ONLY 67006 MILES, COSTING $2300 DOLLARS. THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE CARS DOESN'T SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND OR 3RD TO 4TH ON A IRREGULAR BASICS. LOOKING A VARIES WEB SITES. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THOUSAND ARE HAVING WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE MAKE VOLKSWAGEN RECALL THESE CRAPPIE TRANSMISSIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT AT ANY TIME COSTING SOMEONE'S LIFE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS ABOUT $2400 DOLLARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291960November 12, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM VOLKSWAGEN AROUND FEBRUARY OF 2008. MY CAR BEGAN TO SHOW SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE SHORTLY AFTER AND BEGAN TO GET WORSE IN JUNE OF 2008. IT BEGAN GRADUALLY FROM SKIPPING GEARS TO JUMPING INTO NEUTRAL AND LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURS VERY OFTEN NOW. I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES WITHOUT BEING STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR A SHORT PERIOD. I NOTICED THAT AS SOON AS THE TRANSMISSION WARMS UP FROM DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL, AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS TURN ON. LUCKILY MY JOB IS REALLY CLOSE TO MY HOUSE. MY BOYFRIEND BEGAN DOING SOME RESEARCH INTO THIS PROBLEM AND NOTICED THAT THIS IS COMMON IN NEWER VOLKSWAGEN MODELS THAT INVOLVE THE DSG TRANSMISSION, WHICH RESULTED IN A RECALL. I HAVE A 6 SPEED TECHTONIC TRANSMISSION AND THE SAME SYMPTOMS TAKE PLACE. WE HAVE LOOKED FOR QUOTES ON REPLACEMENT OF SENSORS, REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS, BUT WE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT MAY BE BECAUSE TRANSMISSION WORK IS REALLY EXPENSIVE. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR A CAR WITH WAY LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING TO A CAR THAT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291976November 12, 2009
VISIBILITY, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SEATS
LEFT REAR WINDOW IS STUCK IN DOWN POSITION. THE COMPONENT PART IS UNAVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND HAS TO BE ORDERED FROM THE FACTORY IN MEXICO. IT WILL TAKE 2-3 WEEKS FOR IT TO ARRIVE. COST OF REPAIR IS $800 FOR ONE SIDE. COMPLAINTS TO MANUFACTURER WHO WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AS THERE ARE NO RECALLS FILED EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE IS A CONVERTIBLE. THE HYDRAULIC TOP HAS MALFUNCTIONED SINCE THE DATE IT WAS PURCHASED. IT FINALLY SNAPPED OFF PORTIONS OF THE HYDRAULIC MECHANISMS AND PORTIONS OF THE INTERIOR FLAPS WHICH ARE NOW ALL OVER THE BACK SEAT. THE TOP HAD TO BE MANUALLY RAISED AND SECURED AND DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. ALTHOUGH THEY REPAIRED IT PREVIOUSLY, MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. DRIVER'S SEAT SPRING POKED THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A TERRIBLE BLIND SPOT WHILE BACKING OUT. THE RAG TOP COMPLETELY BLOCKS VISION ON THE RIGHT REAR. I HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERS NOTHING. I BELIEVE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED. I FEEL RIPPED OFF BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292021November 12, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 04 VW BEETLE CONV. THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. IT SHIFTS LATE & BANGS INTO GEAR OR DOESN'T SHIFT AT ALL. THE DEALER SAY THE TRANS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED @ A COST OF 6K. I BROUGHT IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP & THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER HAVING THE VEH FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. IN READING THE WEB PAGES I FIND MANY OTHERS WITH THIS VEH HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH LOW & HIGHER MILEAGE. VW KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. I ENDED UP HAVING THE TRANS REBUILT, BUT ITS STILL DOING THE SAME THING, NO CHANGE. THE TRANS SHOP IS BAFFLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291866November 11, 2009
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
WITH ONLY 64000 MILES ON THE CAR, MY 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE'S MANUAL TRANSMISSION LET GO AND SOMETHING TORE A 3/4" BY 2" HOLE IN THE BELL HOUSING. LUCKILY, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE OPEN ROAD. THE RESULTING GUSH OF TRANNY FLUID COULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291424November 9, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THERE IS A LONG HESITATION THEN A VIOLENT JERK GOING INTO GEARS. I HAD STOPPED AT THE STOP SIGN AT THE END OF MY ROAD, I THEN PROCEEDED TO CROSS 4 LANES OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DECIDED TO DO A LONG HESITATION. A MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENT WAS ALMOST THE RESULT. I HAVE SINCE PARKED THE CAR AND DO NOT DRIVE IT BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX IT AND VOLKSWAGEN TOLD ME THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD BE $5700.00. THIS HESITATION AND JERKING HAPPENS EVERYTIME TIME NOW WHEN DRIVEN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. THANK YOU! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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