Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10222330March 26, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. REPAIRED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY, RIGHT FRONT CRASH SIDE SENSOR REPLACED ON 11 SEP 2007, DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST INCIDENT. NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. *TR CRASH SENSOR.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222240March 25, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR HANDLE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE BODY OF THE 2003 VW BEETLE WHICH MY DAUGHTER, KIMBERLY FREISNER HAS OWNED SINCE IT WAS NEW HAS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE SCREWS WHICH HOLD THESE MECHANISMS IN PLACE AND THE DOOR CLOSED KEEP LOOSENING SEVERAL TURNS. I HAVE TIGHTENED THESE UNITS BEFORE ONLY TO HAVE THEM LOOSEN UP OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IF THE CAR WAS HIT I THINK THE DOORS WOULD OPEN DURING THE CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221769March 19, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
IN NOV 2003 I HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON MY 1999 VW NEW BEETLE GLX UNDER RECALL 03V-265. TODAY (MARCH 19, 2008) I LEARNED THAT A SECOND RECALL (#06V183000) WAS ISSUED ON MAY 4, 2006 WHICH STATED THAT "ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265" AND THAT THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS "DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE" I CONTACTED VW ABOUT THIS RECALL (06V183000 ) AT THE NUMBER LISTED IN IT AND THEY SAY THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS PROBABLY BECAUSE PER ACTION RQ06004 THIS RECALL WAS LISTED AS CLOSED ON AUGUST 7, 2006. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE OF THIS SECOND RECALL FROM VW EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE SWITCH IN MY CAR WAS PERFORMED AS PART OF THE 1ST RECALL (03V-265) AND MY CAR IS OF THE TYPE THAT THE 2ND RECALL COVERS (I.E. HAD 1ST RECALL PERFORMED, HAS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND CRUISE CONTROL). VW IS NOW REFUSING TO EITHER INSPECT MY CAR TO ENSURE THE ORIGINAL RECALL WAS PERFORMED CORRECTLY OR REPLACE THE SWITCH AGAIN PER THE REMEDY OF THE 2ND RECALL. THERE IS NO REASON I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS 2ND RECALL. I HAVE LIVED AT THE SAME ADDRESS SINCE 2000. THE 1ST RECALL WAS PERFORMED AT THE SAME LOCAL DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICED IN THE TIME PERIOD SINCE BOTH THE FIRST AND SECOND RECALLS. AND WHEN I CONTACTED VW AT THE PHONE NUMBER LISTED IN THE 2ND RECALL THEY DEFINITELY HAD MY CORRECT ADDRESS AND PHONE INFORMATION ON FILE. AS I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS PRIOR RECALL AND WAS NOT I THINK VW SHOULD REPLACE THE SWITCH AS PER THE REMEDY OF THE 2ND RECALL BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO DO THIS. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THIS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221383March 16, 2008
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENT. 3RD TIME FOR SERVICE TO AIR BAG SYSTEM. 1ST EVENT WAS IN WARRANTY - REPLACE CLOCK SPRING, 2ND AND 3RD EVENTS WERE NOT COVERED - OVER 50K MILES AND EXTENDED WARRANTY CLAIMS THEY DO NOT COVER SAFETY RELATED SYSTEMS INCLUDING AIR BAG SYSTEMS. 2ND ISSUE, WAS TOO SHORT IN LENGTH OF WIRING HARNESS LEADING TO CLOCK SPRING. 3RD ISSUE WAS DUE TO SEAT BELT SWITCH, NOW LIGHT IS AGAIN ON. HAVE NOT TAKEN CAR BACK TO DEALER YET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10221092March 13, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ABS SYSTEM HAS FAILED, AS INDICATED BY ITS DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT, WHICH IS ON. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS: FAULTY ABS CONTROLLER/PUMP MODULE, $825 TO REPAIR. VW HAS AN ABS RECALL, #02V031000, WHICH COVERS 2000-2002 NEW BEETLE, GOLF/GTI, JETTA. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220831March 11, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESS INSIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WIRES CRACK AND CORRODE AND CAUSES HEADLIGHT TO PERIODICALLY GO ON AND OFF. CORROSION SEEMS TO BE DUE TO THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF METALS IN THE WIRING. WHEN THE SAME TYPE OF METAL IS USED TO RECONNECT THE WIRES THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10220332March 6, 2008
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE ON ALL THE TIME, THERE HAS BEEN NO REASON FOR THE LIGHT TO BE ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. APPARENTLY THIS AIRBAG REQUIRES REPLACEMENT AT LEAST ONCE A YEAR. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT WHILE THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON THE VEHICLE WILL NOT DEPLOY AIRBAGS IN A CRASH. I HAVE TALKED WITH SEVERAL OWNERS OF VW BEATLES AND ALL HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE LAST THING THAT SHOULD FAIL IN A VEHICLE SHOULD BE THE AIRBAG, AND REPLACEMENT IS VERY EXPENSIVE AT $300 ONCE A YEAR. REPLACEMENT OF A RELAY SEEMS TO REPAIR THE ISSUE FOR A FEW MONTHS BUT IS NOT A PERMANENT REPAIR AS THE SYMPTOMS RETURN. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE ODBC COMPUTER SYSTEM WILL NOT DISPLAY CODES THIS CANNOT BE REPAIRED BY NON-MANUFACTURER AUTOSHOPS. VW OWNERS COULD REALLY USE SOME HELP HERE PLEASE LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING SITE HTTP://FORUMS.TDICLUB.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=205721&HIGHLIGHT=AIRBAG FOR A LISTING OF SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219372February 28, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE CAR'S CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON VARIABLY, LOCAL MECHANIC CLAIMS AN OXYGEN SENSOR IS MALFUNCTIONING, AND ABLE TO CLEAR THE COMPUTER WARNING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VW SERVICE STATION CLAIMS CAN'T DIAGNOSE PROBLEM IF LIGHT IS OUT, HAVE TO WAIT TIL LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219391February 28, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
2004 VW NEW BEETLE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ON. *TR CRASH SENSOR.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10219014February 24, 2008
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, IN OUR 2004 NEW BEETLE HAS COME ON APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES IN THREE YEARS. EACH TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, BUT WITHOUT FAIL, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON EACH TIME. THE SEATBELT BUCKLE WAS CHANGED, CONNECTIONS WERE SECURED, THEY SAID IT WAS SHORTED (GUIDED FAULT FINDINGS, BUMPER COVER REMOVED, SEAT REMOVED), AND OTHERS. I HAVE ALL COPIES OF SERVICE RECORDS. AFTER ALL THESE SERVICE VISITS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE AND MAY NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY DURING AN ACCIDENT. I HEARD THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCT ON THE 2004 NEW BEETLES AND WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW OF OUR EXPERIENCE. *TR CRASH SENSOR.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218946February 23, 2008
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT AND OIL LIGHTS COME ON. BRAKES FILL LIKE THEY'RE APPLYING LEFT THEN RIGHT. BEEPER GOING OFF. RESEARCHED AND FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS OF VW AND AUDI'S ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND WIND UP HAVING TO PAY $1300 TO $1900.00 FOR A NEW ABS CONTROLLER UNIT. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED MY WIFE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND VW SHOULD BE LIABLE TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE UNITS FROM THESE MANY CARS THAT THEY MADE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218866February 22, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVERSIDE REAR ELECTRIC WINDOW CEASED FUNCTIONING ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THIS HINDERS LOWERING THE TOP AND I HAVE LEARNED THAT IN SOME CASES THE WINDOW FALLS OPEN AND CANNOT BE CLOSED. WHILE THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED YET, I WORRY THAT IT MIGHT. THE REPLACEMENT PART HAS BEEN ON NATIONAL BACKORDER FOR MONTHS. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND OTHER OWNERS ARE FACING THE SAME DIFFICULTY GETTING IT RESOLVED. I SUSPECT THIS TO BE A SERIOUSLY DEFECTIVE DESIGN TO BE HAPPENING SO FREQUENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218714February 21, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
I GOT IN MY CAR ONE DAY AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO CONSEQUENCES OTHER THAN IT IS PROBABLY THE SENSOR RATHER THAN THE AIR BAG THAT IS DAMAGED. IT HAS TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. NOT SURE IF THAT MEANS THE SENSOR OR THE AIR BAG AS WELL TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE. I AM DRIVING WITH THE LIGHT ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218723February 21, 2008
AIR BAGS
FAILURE OF THE FRONT CRASH SENSOR TO TRIGGERED AN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218745February 21, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FRONTAL AIR BAG SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT A FORMAL COMPLAINT WAS NOT MADE WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT IS IN POSSESSION OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,500 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,439. CRASH SENSOR.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218768February 21, 2008
VISIBILITY:REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
BACK WINDOW BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT ON 2004 CONVERTIBLE NEW BEETLE DO NOT GO UP. FAILURE PUTS CAR AT RISK FOR VANDALISM AND DAMAGE TO INTERIOR DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS. COST TO REPAIR $900. CAN'T JUSTIFY A $900 REPAIR ON A CAR WORTH $18,000. MANY OTHERS AT THE DEALERSHIP REPORT THE SAME FAILURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218793February 21, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. I HAD IT CHECKED OUT AND THE DEALER SAID THE SENSOR WAS BROKEN AND NEEDED REPAIR. THEY SAID THE AIR BAG WOULD NOT ACTIVATE WITH THE SWITCH INOPERABLE. I PAID BIG$$$ ($391)TO HAVE THIS REPAIR PERFORMED. *TR CRASH SENSOR.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10218805February 21, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
I OWN A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. IT HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY THAT WERE NEVER PARTICULARLY CORRECTED. WOULD GO OUT AND CAR WOULD NOT START - COMPLETELY DEAD. BATTERIES WERE REPLACED, ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED, SOMETHING WITH THE STEREO SYSTEM WAS REPLACED, ETC. THIS HAPPENED MANY TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF TWO YEARS, FROM APPROXIMATELY 2005 TO 2007. I COULD PROVIDE SPECIFICS IF NECESSARY SINCE I HAVE ALL RECEIPTS. IT SOMETIMES HAPPENED WITHIN A WEEK OF GETTING THE CAR BACK FROM THE PREVIOUS "REPAIR." NEEDLESS TO SAY IT HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING, AND WE WILL NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER VW. THE REASON I AM JUST NOW WRITING IS BECAUSE MY LOCAL NEWSPAPER HAD A SMALL PARAGRAPH MENTIONING THAT THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING A POSSIBLE CRASH SENSOR MALFUNCTION IN THE AIRBAG SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH OF THE SENSORS AT MY OWN EXPENSE SINCE THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT FIRST CAME ON IN JUNE 2007 AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT CRASH SENSOR WAS REPLACED. JUST A SHORT TIME LATER, SEPTEMBER 2007, THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS TIME THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE PASSENGER SIDE CRASH SENSOR THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. THESE REPAIRS COST ME ROUGHLY $1000 OUT OF POCKET. I THINK THE NHTSA WOULD LIKE TO BE AWARE OF THIS AS PART OF THE INVESTIGATION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PS: WHILE LISTING "FAILURES" BELOW I WILL STICK WITH JUST THE TWO AIRBAG FAILURES AND ONLY PROVIDE INFO ON OTHER ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS IF REQUESTED TO DO SO. *TR CRASH SENSOR.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217790February 12, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DIAGNOSED AS BAD PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR. HAD TO BE REPLACED AT EXPENSE TO ME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217103February 6, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CAR CUT OFF AND ALMOST KILLED ME WITH WITNESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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