Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (1998)

171 consumer complaints on file.

#871968October 2, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY BLEW UP, CAUSING WINDOWS TO LOCK/ DOOR LOCKS NOT TO WORK. VOLKSWAGEN WAS CONTACTED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#732536September 26, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#732032September 20, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
A VITAL WIRING HARNESS HAS FAILED AND POSSIBLY BURNED UP CAUSING THE CAR TO DIE IN THE MIDDLE OF MAJOR EXPRESSWAY. VOLKSWAGON CLAIMS THAT THE PART WILL TAKE THREE MONTHS TO GET IF SPECIAL ORDERED FROM THE MANUFACTURER IN GERMANY AND WILL COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO REPLACE. VOLKSWAGON CLAIMS THAT REPLACING THIS HARNESS MAY NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM ENTIRELY. IN OCTOBER OF 1999, VOLKSWAGON REPLACED AN ELECTRICAL PART ASSOCIATED WITH THE DIESEL FUEL GLOW PLUG ASSEMBLY FOURTEEN MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. VOLKSWAGON REPLACED THE BATTERY IN MAY OF 2000 AND HAS REPLACED 5 HEADLAMPS IN TWO YEARS. THIS VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#731356September 13, 2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD MY CAR INTO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY JUST TOLD ME TO KEEP DRIVING UNTIL HTE "DYING" BECAME CLOSER. I TOLD THEM (AND REPORTED IT TO VOLKSWAGEN "CASE # 407289" ) IT WASN'T SAFE FOR ME TO DRIVE THIS CAR I DRIVE 280-320 MILES A DAY. THEY ARE NOW REPLACING THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP (IT SHORTED OUT) THEY ARE CHARGING ME FOR THIS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 20555R16 )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728228August 17, 2000
STEERING:RACK AND PINION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FROM THE START. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ABOUT THREE WEEKS AFTERWARDS, IF YOU HIT A BUMP THE HUBCAPS WOULD COME FLYING OFF. THIS WOULD HAPPEN GOING AT THE SPEED OF 25MPH. I'VE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THEY SAID THAT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE NEW MODELS. THEY REPLACED THE HUBCAPS, BUT THE PROBLEM WOULD CONTINUOUSLY HAPPEN. FINALLY I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN FOR SERVICE AND DEMANDED THAT THIS PROBLEM BE FIXED. SO FAR THEY ARE ALL CHANGED AND IT HASN'T OCCURED AGAIN. BETWEEN THESE PROBLEMS A TOTAL OF 5 HUBCAPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE OTHER PROBLEMS, ARE THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD KNOCK AND MAKE LOUD NOISES. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS BROUGHT IN, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, AND THAT THE CAR WAS CLASSIFIED AS SAFE. IT STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN, AND THEY LOOKED AND SAID IT WAS A "DEFECT" IN THAT YEARS MODEL. SO THEY REPLACED IT, "BECAUSE MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER GUARANTEE". THIS PROBLEM HAS STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN, I TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE JUST RECENTLY AND THEY SAID IT'S BECAUSE OF THE DAMP WEATHER WE'VE BEEN HAVING. JUST YESTERDAY I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR TURNING OFF ON THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE SERVICE CENTER WAS NOT HELPFUL. THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ME A LOANER AND WOULD NOT EVEN GIVE ME A RIDE HOME OR WORK BECAUSE I WORKED IN THE BRONX. MY CAR IS STILL NOT READY, AND THE COMMENT WAS WHEN I CALLED IF MY CAR WOULD BE READY TODAY WAS, "WELL YOU COULD TAKE IT BACK THE WAY YOU BROUGHT IT IN." GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE. I'VE HAVE BEEN VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE CAR AND THE SERVICE CENTER. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOTHING THAT I HAD CAUSED, IT IS AGAIN ANOTHER "DEFECT" AND IT WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE ONLY BECAUSE I'M STILL UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL 8/27/00. HE SAID I WAS LUCKY IT HAPPEND NOW THAN LATER. BUT, EXPLAIN SOMETHING TO ME, IF IT IS WHAT THEY CALL A "DEFECT" AREN'T THEY SUPPOSED TO FIX IT ANYWAY?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867208August 8, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, SUCH AS THE HEADLIGHTS AND THE POWER WINDOWS MALFUNCTIONING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867213August 8, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, HEADLIGHTS AND POWER WINDOWS DO NOT WORK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#865603July 18, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT HEADLIGHT WENT OUT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM HE NEEDED A NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724279June 20, 2000
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
JUNE 19, 2000 - DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A ROCK HAD HIT THE PASSENGER SIDE. NO DAMAGE FOUND UPON INSPECTION. SHORTLY AFTER, PUT PASSENGER WINDOW DOWN AND IT SOUNDED BAD, POWER WINDOW FAILED TO CLOSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#862559May 25, 2000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP "MIL" COMES ON ALL THE TIME AND STAYS ON. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES. HE HASN'T SOLVED THE PROBLEM.*AK THE YELLOW LIGHT CAME ON AND WENT OUT SEVERAL TIMES AT DIFFERENT MILEAGE. THE DEALER KEPT TELLING THE CUSTOMER IT IS OKEY TO DRIVE IT. BUT THE CUSTOMER DOES NOT FEEL SAFE. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723056May 22, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DEALER REFUSES TO SCHEDULE PROMPT REPAIR FOR CURRENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE (REQUEST 5-10 DAYS); CURRENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE INCLUDES PERMANENT FAILURE OF LEFT HEADLIGHT AND INTERMITTENT FAILURE OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS; CONSUMER REPORTS REPORTS 1998 NEW BEETLE AS "USED CAR TO AVOID" (APRIL 2000ISSUE, P. 75); NEW BEETLE WEBSITE CONDUCTED SURVEY OF OWNERS OF 1998 MODEL - 55 PERCENT REPORT TROUBLE WITH THE CAR, 90 PERCENT OF WHICH IS ELECTRICAL; A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR 1998 BEETLES MANUFACTURED IN FIRST HALF OF 1998 BECAUSE OF FAULTY WIRING THAT COULD CAUSE FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT (WE WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF A RECALL); THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS OF BEETLE OWNERS REGARDING VW CONSUMER SERVICE; WE HAVE RECEIVED SUBSTANDARD SERVICE FROM OUR DEALER, INCLUDING ONE REPAIR ON A FAILED HEADLIGHT THAT WAS NOT PERFORMED AS STATED, FORCING US TO RETURN THE CAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551648March 29, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE AND MISSING OIL CAP CAUSED FIRE. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551528March 23, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM), SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR
VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION OPERATION AND SHIFTING, REPLACEMENT OF THE SPEED SENSOR,THROTTLE CABLE AND TCM WIRING RECTIFIED PROBLEMS. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551365March 15, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551264March 8, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTICAL WIRING LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE BATTERY TRAY CAUSING THE WIRE TO DAMAGE (RECALL-98V-100), OWNER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH VEHICLE WITH THIS DEFECT. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#719449February 29, 2000
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CAR DAMAGED BY DEALER DURING MAINTENANCE. DAMAGE IS PREVALENT TO VW DESIGN AND IS EVIDENT ON A NUMBER OF CARS (VARIOUS OWNERS & VARIOUS DEALERS). IS THIS A DESIGN FLAW? VWOA HAS REFUSED TO INVESTIGATE OR ISSUE A SAFETY/MAINTENANCE BULLETIN TO CAUTION SERVICE PERSONNEL ABOUT IMPROVER LIFTING OF THE CAR. THIS HAS DAMAGED THE CARS FRAME. SEE THE FOLLOWING FOR AN EXAMPLE OF THE DAMAGE: HTTP://WWW.GEOCITIES.COM/MOTORCITY/DOWNS/5610/BEETLE.HTML - THANK YOU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#857490February 24, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHEN TRAVELING UP AN INCLINE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING. VEHICLE CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING IT TO ROLL BACKWARDS. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. ALSO, RECALL 98V100000 DID NOT INCLUDE THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#851208October 20, 1999
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIIVNG AT 50 MPH A DEER RAN OUT IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, AND THE CONSUMER AVOIDED THE DEER AND RAN INTO A DITCH. THEN HIT A TREE ON THE LEFT OF THE DRIVER'S DOOR, AND DRIVER SIDE/ PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD THE SEAT BELT ON AND WASN'T HURT. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#609557September 8, 1999
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
ELECTRICAL WIRING UNDER BATTERY TRAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#609753September 8, 1999
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
CABLE IN STEERING COLUMN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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