Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10119066April 22, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
AFTER BEING REAR ENDED, THE DRIVERS SEAT RECLINED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN WHIP LASH. AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, THEY STATED THE SEAT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10119021April 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING. THE HEADLIGHTS SHORT OUT WHICH BURNS THE BULBS. THE WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117848April 12, 2005
STEERING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TIE ROD EQUIPMENT.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER AND NOISY ON TURNS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION GEAR AND TIE ROD ENDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BAKE TO THE DEALER FOR FRONT END VIBRATION AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE ROD ENDS WERE WORN. THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT CLOSE DUE TO DEFECTIVE REGULATORS. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT REAR SPEED SENSOR AND REST THE READINESS CODES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115078April 12, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING TURNS VEHICLE STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHILE STOPPED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASS AIR METER, DIVERTER VALVE, OXYGEN SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP RELAY BUT THE PROBLEM PERSIST. THE LOWER ENGINE COVER WAS DAMAGED AND THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115303April 8, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP TEMPORARILY. DEALERSHIP INFORMED/REPAIRED THE FRONT RACK AND PINION.*AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116492April 6, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I OWN A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND I WAS LOCKED IN MY CAR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT USING A NEW REMOTE I HAD JUST PURCHASED.*AK SECONDLY, TWO DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE, IT WAS WARM, AND I TURNED ON THE FAN. IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED BLOWING 'HIGH' AND WOULDN'T TURN OFF. WITHIN A MINUTE THE DASHBOARD BEGAN SMOKING AND THERE WAS A DISTINCT ELETRICAL SMELL. I STOPPED, RAISED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE FAN STUCK IN THE 'HIGH' POSITION AND CAUSED A FIRE WHICH 'TOTALLED' THE CAR. THE DASH AND SEATS MELTED AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BROKE OUT FROM THE FLAMES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10117457April 5, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. DIAGNOSTIC TEST SHOWED THAT THE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE, AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116319April 4, 2005
AIR BAGS, STEERING
BOUGHT NEW 2004 VW BEETLE IN 9/04, 2 WEEKS LATER, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK TO DEALER. THEY HAD THE CAR OVER 8 WEEKS TRYING TO FIX. FINALLY AGREED TO REPLACE WITH IDENTICAL NEW ONE. LESS THAN 2500 MILES LATER, AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. THEY RESET BUT DID NOT DO ANY REPAIRS. DON'T KNOW IF THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM AS SHORTLY AFTER, STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN OFF ROAD AND HIT GUARD RAIL. VW HAS NOW, WAITING TO SEE IF THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, IT DOESN'T APPEAR AS THEY WILL FROM WHAT I AM HEARING FROM SERVICE MANAGER. FINAL VERDICT NOT IN YET.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116092March 30, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
SINCE NEW, IN THE PAST (4) YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLAMP BULB (5) TIMES AND THE PASS. SIDE HEADLAMP BULB (4) TIMES (DAYTIME RUNNING AND LOW BEAM). NOW, THE DAYTIME RUNNING AND LOW BEAM LIGHTS DO NO FUNCTION AT ALL!*AK I CANNOT FIND ANY BLOWN FUSES OR CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND AFTER REVIEWING SEVERAL VW OWNER SUPPORT SITES, I'M TOLD IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS DO TO CORROSION FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE SPILLAGE. THE ONLY WAY TO DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT OR DUSK IS BY USING THE HIGH BEAM LAMPS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRING OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS CAR, 2000 VW BEETLE WITH THE 1.8 TURBO ENGINE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114386March 21, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN I PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE IT DOESN'T ALWAYS ACCELERATE AS SOON AS I HIT THE GAS PEDAL. I NEVER KNOW WHEN IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AND IT'S VERY NERVE RACKING. IT'S MOST DIFFICULT IN A PARKING LOT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114274March 18, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
PROBLEM: VERY HARD TO SHIFT GEARS WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. CAR ONLY HAD 35,000 MILES. TOOK CAR TO VW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. REPAIR PERSON KNEW INSTANTLY WHAT PROBLEM WAS. AFTER TAKING CLUTCH APART, VW DEALER SAID TOTAL CLUTCH FAILURE AND SHOWED ME THE CLUTCH PARTS. VW DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH AND I WAS BILLED $1600. VW SAID NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY BECAUSE WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. (I EVEN PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE SAME DEALER WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR). THIS IS B.S. A CLUTCH DOES NOT FAIL ONLY AFTER TWO YEARS OF NORMAL DRIVING. THIS TYPE OF CLUTCH IS A MAJOR DEFECT AND VW KNOWS ABOUT IT. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA TO REPORT PROBLEM WHICH WAS TOTALLY USELESS. I AM SO DISGUSTED WITH VW NOW, I WILL NEVER BUY A VW AGAIN AND I WILL ALWAYS ADVISE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY NEVER TO OWN A VW.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114114March 15, 2005
STRUCTURE
WENT IN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND WHEN DRAIN PLUG WAS REMOVED FROM OIL PAN THE THREADS FELL OUT. TECH. WAS ABLE TO PUT IN OVERSIZE DRAINPLUG BUT STATED I WILL NEED NEW OIL PAN (ESTIMATED AT $430) UPON NEXT OIL CHANGE. TECH. STATED THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING ON 1999 NEW BEETLES AND HE HAS SEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN RE: THIS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115567March 9, 2005
POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SEATS, VISIBILITY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
THE CONSUMER HAS HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, BEARINGS, AXLE, COOLING SYSTEM, SEAT TRACKS AND BOLTS AND WINDOW TRACK IN HER 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. *NM THE CONSUMER ALSO NEEDED TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND THE FRONT AXLE. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111216March 2, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
THE TURN SIGNALS TO NOT WORK. CONSUMER HAS TO REMOVE THE BULB AND REPLACE THEM TO MAKE THEM WORK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THE ONGOING PROBLEM, AND THE DEALER HAS ONLY REPLACED THE BULBS.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE BULBS THAT WHERE REPLACED WHERE NOT BURNT OUT AND THE PROBLEM RESIDES IN THE SOCKET. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SOCKET AND THE BULB IS NOT SOUND AND THEREFORE THE BULB RATTLES. AFTER TIGHTENING THE BULB WILL WORK A FEW DAYS AND THEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN. THE DEALER JUST TIGHTENS THE BULB BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10112360March 1, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
2001 VW BEETLE, REAR BRAKE CALIPERS LOCKED CLOSED CAUSING EXCESSIVE HEAT AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS. VW MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. ALL SERVICE AND INSPECTIONS DONE BY VW DEALER AS REQUIRED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110727February 17, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I HAVE A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE AND ITS RIGHT HEAD LIGHT HAS GONE OUT AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF VOLKSWAGENS RIGHT HEADLIGHT IS OUT AS WELL NOT JUST ON BETTLES BUT ALSO ITS OTHER MODELS. JUST WONDERING IF THERE IS A DEFECT IN THERE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110626February 16, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 1998 BUG HAS BURNED APPROX. 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES, DEALERSHIP REPORTED THIS AS NORMAL? DON'T THINK SO. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS EVERY SIX MONTHS UNTIL THE SWITCH ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR THE DAYTIME RUNNINGS LAMPS BROKE. I OPEN THE CAR DOOR (STILL IN WARRANTY) AND THE HANDLE FELL OFF IN MY HANDS. FOG LIGHT HAD MOISTURE IN IT, NOW BOTH HAVE FALLEN OUT. BOTH DOOR HINGES BROKE. YOU CANNOT OPEN DOORS AND SHUT THEM, I HAD TO CLIMB IN AND OUT OF THE WINDOWS TO GET INTO THE CAR. THE TRUNK LATCH HAD TO BE REPAIRED, IT WOULDN'T OPEN. THE GAS LATCH IS BROKEN AND DOESN'T HINGE, THE GLOVE BOX HINGES DON'T WORK, THE COMPARTMENT ABOVE THE CLOCK DOESN'T HINGE PROPERLY. THE RADIO TURNS ITSELF OFF, THE TEMP READ OUT IN THE CAR FADES IN AND OUT, SOMETHING ON THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND I ONLY HAD 2ND AND 3RD GEAR, I HAVE REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS TWICE, MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, I HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED A NEW SEAT TO CORRECT THIS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS DUE THE THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS EVERY BUG SEEMS TO HAVE. HUB CAP HAS FALLEN OFF SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE LOST ANTIFREEZE, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHERE II'S GOING. I'M SURE THERE IS MORE, BUT THIS CAR CONSTANTLY HAS SO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH IT, I CAN'T KEEP UP ANYMORE. UNFORTUNATELY THE DEALERSHIPS ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN'T SEEM TO SEE ALL THE CRONIC PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111251February 9, 2005
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
CONSUMER CLIPPED THE CURB WITH THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER ESTIMATED A CHARGE OF $1,400 TO MAKE THE REPAIRS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110989February 7, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING CLUTCH WENT OUT, AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SHIFT THE GEARS. AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. VEHIICLE WAS LATER TOWED. THE AIR PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108493February 3, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
MY 2001 GLX BEETLE NEEDS THE ABS CONTROL MODULE REPLACE WHICH THE DEALER TELLS ME WILL COST $900. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 39,000 MILES. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE 2001 GLX BEETLE FOR THE ABS CONTROL MODULE BUT IT APPARENTLY ONLY AFFECTS VEHICLES WHERE THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF THE VIN ARE 475001 OR HIGHER. MY VEHICLE'S VIN IS IN THE 457XXX RANGE. I CAN'T BELIEVE MY PROBLEM IS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL YET BECAUSE MY VIN IS TO LOW, THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE VOLKSWAGEN EXTEND THE RECALL TO COVER VEHICLES IN MY VIN RANGE. THERE IS RISK OF FIRE IF THE UNIT IS NOT REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL NOTICE SO NOW I MUST INCUR A LARGE EXPENSE TO REPLACE A PART I BELIEVE WAS DEFECTIVE WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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