Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#8021926October 30, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. THE PEDAL WAS HARD AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AT ALL. THE DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS *TT *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8021201October 21, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, ANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE ACTIVATES THE MOTOR PROTECTION CIRCUIT, THIS CIRCUIT REMAPS THE COMPUTER TO SHUT OFF THE TURBO, THIS HAS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHICH CAUSED A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. *TS *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8020517October 9, 2002
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. CONTACTED DEALER. MR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT AFTER REVIEWING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS SLIGHT DAMAGE DISCOVERED ON THE LEFT SIDE IN THE FIREWALL AREA. THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IMPROPERLY ENGINEERED. SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#768246October 8, 2002
AIR BAGS
SRS SYSTEM FAILURE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED FOR THE THIRD TIME IN 16000 MILES. VEHICLE FAULT CODE WAS RESET WITH THE FIRST FAILURE. SIDE AIRBAG WAS REPLACED WITH THE SECOND LIGHT ILLUMINATION. SYSTEM FUNCTIONED PROPERLY FOR ABOUT 8000 MILES AND HAS FAILED AGAIN. AWAITING RESOLUTION FROM VW AS THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. ONE OF MY EMPLOYEES ALSO PURCHASED A 2002 JETTA WHICH HAD AN SRS FAILURE IN THE FIRST TWO MONTHS. THERE APPEARS TO BE A DESIGN PROBLEM WITH VOLKSWAGEN'S SRS SYSTEM WHICH YOU MAY WISH TO INVESTIGATE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8020330October 8, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE WITH FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKES IT WILL NOT ENGAGE. WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE BRAKE VEHICLE WILL HESITATEAND THEN LURCH FORWARD. DEALER CONTACTED, CANNOT FIX PROBLEM. *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8020415October 8, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE LOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY. VEHICLE "SPUTTERS" AND THEN STALLS. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#768184October 7, 2002
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
POWER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW NOW STUCK IN DOWN POSITION. SAME FAILURE HAPPENED ON DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW ONE YEAR AGO. OBVIOUSLY OUTSIDE OF 24,000 MILE WARRANTY. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#567681September 30, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN SLOWLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED ON A HILL. ALSO THE BRAKES CAUSE A JOLTING STOP. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#767697September 25, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
THIS IS A QUOTE FROM THE POLICE REPORT (FULL COPY AVAILABLE ON REQUEST) "DRIVER AND ONLY OCCUPANT BUTLER STATED HE ENTERED THE PARKING LOT AND PUT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION OF THE VEH. INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED INTO THE PARKING SPACE, BUT THEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES OF THE VEH. THEY DIDN'T WORK, CAUSING FRONT OF VEH. TO JUMP OVER THE APPROX. 6" HIGH CURB AND COME TO REST HANGING OVER EDGE OF THE RIVER WALL. BUTLER REPORTED HE HAS HAD THE LEASE VEH. FOR APPROX. 3 YEARS AND HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH IT, BUT NEVER ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES" "AN UNIDENTIFIED MALE WAS SITTING ON THE BACK OF THE VEH. TO KEEP IT FROM TIPPING INTO THE WATER" "BUTLER WAS NOT INJURED BUT HE DIDN'T WANT TO EXIT THE VEH. AS HE REPORTED IT WAS TEETERING BACK AND FORTH BEFORE THE MALE SAT ON THE BACK END" ON REPORTING THE ABOVE TO VOLKSWAGEN, THEIR OFFICIAL RESPONCE THAT I FOUND INSULTING WAS THAT IT WAS "OPERATOR ERROR". I HAVE BEEN DRIVING STICK SHIFT VEHICLE FOR 12 YEARS AND NEVER MISTAKEN THE CLUTCH WITH THE BRAKE, AND AFTER RELUCTANTLY TAKING BACK THE BEETLE I WENT TO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT TO SEE IF IT WAS POSSIBLE FOR ME TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH BY MISTAKE AND FOUND THAT MY RIGHT FOOT WOULD NOT EASILY REACH THE PEDAL AND THEREFORE BEYOND ANY DOUBT DISMISS THE CLAIM OF "OPERATOR ERROR". SINCE THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY AND MINIMAL VEHICLE DAMAGE IT IS NOT FINANCIALLY VIABLE FOR ME TO TAKE LEGAL PROCEEDING, ALTHOUGH 4 MONTHS AFTER THE INCIDENT I STILL HAVE FLASHBACKS AND BAD DREAMS OF THE NEAR FATAL EVENT. NLM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8019393September 25, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, STRUCTURE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND THE DRIVER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. *MR THE HEAD LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLES IS FLLING APART AFTER ONE MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8018023September 5, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATES THE HEADLIGHTS WILL BURN OUT WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. HAS HAPPENED TWICE OVER LAST 2 MONTHS. CONSUMER HAS TO REPLACE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT UNIT.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8018024September 5, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESULTING IN THE HORN, RADIO AND HEADLIGHTS FAILING INTERMITTENLY.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#567334September 4, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 18 MONTHS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE JUMP STARTED. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN FOR AN INOPERATIVE SPEEDOMETER BUT IT ENDED UP BEING THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK BECAUSE OF AN ERROR WITH THE ELECTRONICS. *SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766183August 25, 2002
AIR BAGS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#766098August 23, 2002
AIR BAGS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, ENGINE"CHECK LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. ALSO, CD PLAYER WAS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY AND TEMPERATURE DISPLAY (BY REAR VIEW MIRROR) DID NOT WORK. TOOK IN TO DEALER'S SVC DEPT. MANY TIMES, BUT PROBLEMS PERSITED . DEALER SVC. DEPT. CLAIMED EVERYTHING WORKING FINE. RECENTLY, THE WINDOW ON THE DRIVER SIDE FAILED AND IT WOULD NOT GO UP. TOOK CAR IN TO DEALER SVC. DEPT. AND GOT REPAIRED. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, CAR DIED. IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY, SO CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER SERVICE DEPT. ON 8-14-02. DEALER EXAMINED CAR AND SAID IT WAS THE TRI-LOCK SYSTEM AND DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. TRI-LOCK SYSTEM REMOVED BY DEALER BUT CAR STILL NOT WORKING. PROBLEM: POWER WINDOWS DID NOT WORK, PUSH WINDOW BUTTON AND TRUNK WOULD POP OPEN, AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON, ETC. ETC. ETC. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT DEALESHIP FOR OVER A WEEK AND DEALER KEEPS TELLING ME IT'S FIXED, BUT WHEN I GO PICK IT UP (3 TIMES), THE CAR IS STILL DOING THE SAME THING, AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS STILL ON ALL THE TIME. VERY FRUSTRATED AND DISAPPOINTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#766125August 23, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO STOP CAR SAFELY. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. DEALER REPORTS THAT ECM IS BEING REPLACED, BUT BLAMES PROBLEM ON AN AFTERMARKET K&N AIR FILTER THAT WAS INSTALLED 11 MONTHS AGO. INFORMED DEALER AND VW CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THE MAGNUSSEN-MOSS WARRANTY ACT OF 1982 WHICH MAKES IT A FEDERAL OFFENCE TO NOT HONOR A WARRANTY UNLESS THE MANUFACTURER OFFERS FREE FILTERS. VW IS COVERING ECM UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IS INSISTING ON USE OF A VW FILTER AT MY EXPENSE. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT AND A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW. THE VW REFERENCE NUMBER FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS #20268678.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8016949August 22, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DURING ONE SITUATION VEHICLE SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. OTHER PROBLEMS WERE IMMOBILIZER FAILED AGAIN, AFFECTING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALSO, FRONT LIGHT COVERS WERE RETAINING WATER, CAUSING A SHORT. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#567131August 14, 2002
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE EPC INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER STATED THE SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND A NEW BRAKE SWITCH WAS INSTALLED, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE, SHE NOTICED THAT IT FELT DIFFERENT, IT FELT TIGHT, CONSUMER SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES HAD FROZE AND WOULD NOT MOVE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE NEW BRAKE SWITCH THAT WAS INSTALLED HAD CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8016146August 13, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING AT 35MPH A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#6901311August 12, 2002
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN CONSUMER OFF THE ROAD, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN OVER A CURB, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CLAIM 43-R829-345. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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