Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2003)

314 consumer complaints on file.

#10360817October 16, 2010
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 2.8 TURBO AUTOMATIC ENGINE, DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM OR DOOR LATCH. THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH THE DOOR STICKING WHEN YOU OPEN R CLOSE. THEN OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT SHUT THE FIRST TIME AND WILL BOUNCE BACK. AFTER THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENS, IF YOU ARE DRIVING THE DOOR CAN SWING OPEN ON ITS OWN. THE DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED, OR WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. VERY QUICKLY THE PROBLEM ESCALATES. IT WILL NOT SHUT AT ALL. IT BOUNCES BACK OVER AND OVER. IF YOU LEAVE IT ALONE FOR A FEW HOURS AND TRY AGAIN IT WILL EVENTUALLY SHUT. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BROKE FIRST, GOT FIXED, COST ABOUT $500.00. A MONTH LATER THE PASSENGER DOOR DID THE SAME THING. LESS THEN A YEAR LATER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BROKE AGAIN. 3 OF THE SAME PART BROKE IN A SPAN OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MONTHS. CALLED THE COMPANY (VOLKSWAGEN) THEY INSIST THAT THIS IS NOT RECALLED OR A REPORTED PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358949October 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VW NEW BEETLE,2003, WITH ONLY 75,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, RAMPING UP AND THE CAR WAS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. ITS AN AUTOMATIC. I WASN'T ABLE TO DOWN SHIFT. I HAD TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALERSHIP DECIDED I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. LUCKILY I WAS 13 MILES UNDER MY WARRANTY AND THEY FIXED IT WITHOUT CHARGE. I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THIS BECAUSE I SEE MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358850October 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE VW 03' BEETLE AND TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT EARLY. JERKS BETWEEN GEARS, AND FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358438September 30, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE GLS (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WAS BROKEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REGULATORS ON THE DIFFERENT WINDOWS HAD BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED AT HER EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,990.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357138September 23, 2010
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR HAS A TRANSMISSION THAT IS NEEDING REPLACING AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357242September 23, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NEAR COLLISION CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SOLENOID VALVE BODY PRODUCED AND INSTALLED ON THE VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE AND CABRIO CONVERTIBLE MODELS. THE TRANSMISSION IS A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TIP-TRONIC SHIFT STYLE SPECIFICALLY USED BETWEEN 2001 - 2004 MODEL YEARS. THE DEFECTIVE PART CAUSES A SUDDEN JUMP OR JERKING MOTION BETWEEN GEAR SHIFTING. IN OUR INSTANCE THE CAR JERKED AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A VEHICLE COLLISION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ON ONE OCCASION. FURTHER RESEARCH DISCOVERED THAT VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART AND THAT IT HAS CAUSED OR BEEN THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THESE VEHICLES AS WELL AS NUMEROUS AND CONSTANT COMPLAINTS TO VW DEALERS AND ON LINE COMPLAINT FORUMS. A REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE DESIGNED INTERNAL SOLENOID VALVE BODY IS NEEDED TO AVOID FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSIONS AND MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY AN ISSUE FOR LESSER EXPERIENCED DRIVERS AND WHEN HE VEHICLES ARE ENGAGED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357008September 22, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT
2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHOWING SIGNS OF TROUBLE WELL OVER A YEAR AGO. PROBLEM STARTS AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. DOWNSHIFTS HARD AROUND 30-25 MPH. ALSO SHOWS HESITATION COMING OUT OF 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. CAR HAS 75,000 MILES. HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED/FLUSHED TWICE IN PAST 6 MONTHS HOPING THAT WOULD HELP. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TODAY, QUOTED ME $1900 TO REPLACE VALVE BODY. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THIS CAR HAS HAD THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR GO OUT -COST $300 TO REPAIR. THE GLUE AFFIXING THE REAR GLASS WINDOW TO CONVERTIBLE TOP IS BREAKING DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF MALFUNCTION WITH THE GAS CAP...NO MATTER HOW OFTEN I TIGHTEN IT. THEN IT MYSTERIOUSLY GOES OFF. OH, AND SHOULD YOU EVER NEED A REPLACEMENT KEY, GOOD LUCK. WHY COULDN'T VW USE NORMAL SIZED/TYPE KEYS? VW IS MAKING CRAPPY PRODUCTS. NHTSA PLEASE DO SOMETHING. THIS MANUFACTURER SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO RELEASE ANOTHER VEHICLE OFF ITS ASSEMBLY LINE UNLESS IT FIXES THE MANY PROBLEMS AFFECTING INNOCENT, UNFORTUNATE VW OWNERS LIKE MYSELF. YIELD YOUR POWER AND ENFORCE SOME ACTION. VW NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JUNK THEY PRODUCE. MAYBE THEN THEY'LL THINK TWICE BEFORE TURNING OUT ANYMORE CRAPPY PRODUCTS. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER VW PRODUCT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356711September 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION BAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356113September 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS APPROX 89K MILES ON IT. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD CAUSING A JERKING MOTION. IT HAS PROGRESSED FROM A MILDLY NOTICEABLE TO A MORE OBVIOUS JERKING UPON SHIFTING. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SITUATION ONLINE, IT SEEMS AS IF IT IS A WIDELY REPORTED COMPLAINT ABOUT THESE VEHICLES. I FEEL LIKE VW SHOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BEING EXPERIENCED BY SUCH A HIGH NUMBER OF OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356170September 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERVIBLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355932September 16, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A USED 2003 VW BEETLE CONV. IN 2006. I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT IT THERE WAS SOME JERKING HAPPENING WHEN THE CAR CHANGED GEARS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR VW. RECENTLY THE JERKING GOT REALLY BAD, AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND THEN I COULD NOT REGAIN ANY SPEED. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO BEING HIT BY AN ONCOMING CAR. THE REPLACEMENT COST WILL BE AROUND 5800. MY MECHANIC TALKED TO VW AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FIXED IT IN THE NEWER MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355785September 15, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY 2003 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE FOR 7.5 YRS. BEEN TAKING IT IN FOR THE LAST 2 YRS ABOUT HESITATION/GRABBING WHILE DRIVING. WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THIS WEEK, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND I GET THE DIAGNOSTICS RUN AND FOUND OUT I HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE, WHICH IS WHAT THE GRABBING AND HESITATION IS. I ONLY HAVE 78K MILES ON A NEARLY 8 YEAR OLD CAR (AGAIN, ONLY OWNER) AND SHOULDN'T HAVE THIS ISSUE. FOUND OUT THAT VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THESE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION BUT WAITED UNTIL I WAS WELL OUT OF WARRANTY. NOW I'M LOOKING AT MINIMUM OF $5K, MOST LIKELY $6.5K IN REPAIRS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355510September 14, 2010
VISIBILITY
I HAVE A 2003 CONVERTIBLE VW AND MY BACK WINDOW HAS COME UNGLUED TO THE CANVAS. MY VW HAS LESS THAN 45K MILES.VW SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BAD QUALITY IN MANUFACTURING THIS MAKE. I'VE INQUIRED AND IT WILL COST $1300 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TOP. THIS IS RIDICULES - ANYONE KNOW OF A CLASS ACTION?? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10354672September 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 VW BUG STALLS WHEN HITTING AROUND 35 MILES PER HOUR, ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED - TAKES A WHILE TO START BACK MOVING BUT IS SLUGGISH. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. I ONLY HAVE 80,000 MILES ON THIS CAR - HOW COULD THIS BE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353833September 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OVERHEAT LIGHT REMAINS ON AFTER REPLACING THERMOSTAT AND COVER AND TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP. THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED MULTIPLE TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE VW DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM ON 8/25/10 AFTER OVERHEATING LIGHT. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE COOLANT SENSOR MY PREVIOUS MECHANIC HAD REPLACED IN THE CAR. (A VW FACTORY PART). $244.00 REPAIR FROM COOLEY-MAZDA VW DEALER. I DROVE HOME 10 MILES AND THE OVERHEAT SENSOR WAS ON IN MY CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO DEALER AT MY EXPENSE THAT DAY. RENTED A CAR FOR THE WEEKEND. RETURNED ON MONDAY 8/30/10. CAR WASN'T WORKED ON. PICKED UP CAR ON WEDNESDAY, 9/1/10. PAID ADDITIONAL 170.00 FOR REPAIR, OF THERMOSTAT COVER WHICH WAS SAID TO BE LEAKING. DEALER HAD SAID THERE WERE NO LEAKS PRIOR TO THIS. SYSTEM FLUSHED. SAID THERE WAS AIR IN THE SYSTEM. CAR OVERHEAT SENSOR AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES. CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALER. CAR WAS PICKED UP ON 9/3/10. DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT GET THE OVERHEAT LIGHT TO GO ON. I DROVE CAR HOME 15 MILES. OVERHEAT LIGHT ON. I CALLED DEALER. SERVICE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE INCREASED CITY DRIVING I WAS DOING WAS CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT. INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT AND THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HE INFORMED ME THAT SINCE I SAID OKAY AT THE SHOP WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SENSOR WAS NOT GOING ON AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THAT I KNEW THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THAT IS MY FAULT AND MY PRIOR MECHANICS. I HAD CAR TOWED TO A RECOMMENDED INDEPENDENT SHOP WHO WAS GOING TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION. I CAN NOT DRIVE MY CAR AND I STILL OWE MONEY ON IT. I DESPERATELY NEED A VEHICLE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352706August 30, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TRANSMISSION. THE COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BEETLE IS WAY OUT OF LINE. AN VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WITH ALL THE OTHER HARD WORKING PEOPLE THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PART TO BREAK. PLEASE LOOK AT THIS AND DO SOMETHING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352851August 30, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 NEW VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.... LOOK ON THE VW FORUMS AND EDMUNDS- THERE ARE 100S OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS CARS ISSUES. I HAVE A 2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND IT HARD SHIFTS DOWNWARDS FROM 3RD TO 2ND. I AM TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR OFF THE RECORD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH BEETLES IN GENERAL, AND HE HAS SEEN OVER 100 IN HIS ONE YEAR WITH THE COMPANY THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. MINE HAS WHAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED- BRACKETS AROUND ALL THE DRIVES (P,R,N,D,S) SO THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR IT IS IN, IT GETS STUCK IN 3RD SOMETIMES AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT, AND WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTS, THE CAR JERKS AND PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD (THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC, AND DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY). PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RECALL....PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND WE AS CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW TRANSMISSIONS WHEN THERE IS OBVIOUS FAULTS WITH THESE CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350160August 17, 2010
STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY
WHILE THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS BEING LOWERED BY THE 20 YEAR OLD FEMALE DRIVER IT MADE A HORRENDOUS GRINDING NOISE WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO NEARLY LOSE CONTROL AS SHE TRIED TO STOP QUICKLY. SHE FEARED SOMETHING IN THE REAR WHEEL WAS BREAKING. A SHORT TIME LATER THE PASENGER SIDE WINDOW GROUND TO A STATE OF DISREPAIR. NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW NEEDS TO BE LOWERED VERY CAREFULLY TO AVOID ENGAGING THE AUTOMATIC FEATURE AS THIS CAUSES THE WINDOW TO MAKE A TERRIBLE NOISE. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO STOP THE WINDOW JUST BEFORE IT REACHES THE FULLY OPEN POSITION. THE REAR WINDOWS HAVE TO BE MANUALLY POSITIONED JUST RIGHT TO ALLOW THE CONVERTIBLE TOP TO BE LOWERED PROPERLY. ALSO, WHEN SMALL CHILDREN ARE IN THE BACK SEAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO CAUSE THE WINDOWS TO FALL DOWN ALL THE WAY SUBJECTING THEM TO EJECTION OR THE ABILITY TO FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON THEIR OWN. WHEN IT IS RAINING OR SNOWING THE ELEMENTS FLY IN THROUGHT THE WINDOWS BECAUSE THEY WON'T STAY UP. THIS IS ALSO VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. REPAIR ESTIMATES FOR THE REAR WINDOWS START AT $1500.00 WHICH THIS PARTICULAR OWNER/DRIVER CANNOT BEGIN TO AFFORD!. VW REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350186August 17, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2003 VW BEETLE REAR WINDOW ISSUES. 3 TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED WHERE THE REAR WINDOW WONT ROLL UP. 3 TIMES VW DEALERSHIP CHARGED US CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX BECAUSE OF THERE DESIGN FLAW. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM ITS TIME TO INVESTIGATE...PLEASE! I HAVE PUT THE LATEST DATE THIS OCCURRED, BUT AS I SAY THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349123August 12, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I HAVE A 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATORS CONTINUALLY BREAK. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN GOING ON WITH YOUR AGENCY TO GET THIS ITEM COVERED AS A RECALL BY VOLKSWAGEN. THE ITEM OR COMPLAINT NUMBER THAT WAS GIVEN ME IS 10282664. THESE WINDOW REGULATORS ARE OF A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY VW. I DON'T FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD PROSPER BY SELLING THE REGULATOR KITS THAT ARE NECESSARY DUE TO THEIR FAULTY DESIGN. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME THAT I AM REPLACING THESE ITEMS IN A 7 YEAR OLD CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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