Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10177293December 29, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AROUND 20 MPH. JERKS SO HARD SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR WILL STALL OUT. DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT IT IS GOOD ON THE TRANSMISSION!? THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177333December 29, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2000 VW NEW BEETLE- DIESEL: HAS HAD RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE GLOW-PLUG SYSTEM. COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY REPLACED STARTING 11/2004. SERVICE DATES INCLUDE, BUT NOT LIMITED TO 5/2005, 8/2006, 12/2006, NOT INCLUDING SEPARATE DIAGNOSTICS. TOTAL CHARGES TO DATE IN EXCESS OF $1200.00 OF THIS SINGLE SYSTEM. NO HELP FROM MANUFACTURER OR ACKNOWLEDGEMET THAT A PROBLEM EVEN EXISTS. VEHICLE IS LOCATED IN AREA (SE TEXAS) THAT WOULD NECESSITATE THE USE OF GLOW PLUG ONLY A FEW DAYS A YEAR. THE SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO BE DESIGNED TO ACTIVATE ONLY BELOW A CENTIAN LOW TEMPERATURE. IT IS OTHERWISE A 'STATIC' SYSTEM WITH NO MOVING PARTS THAT SHOULD NOT BE SUBJECT TO WEAR AND TEAR. YET, COMPONENTS OF THIS SYSTEM HAVE REGULARLY FAILED, CAUSING DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT. HAVE TOTALLY LOST CONFIDENCE IN THE VEHICLE, OR VW'S AUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERS TO ROCOGNIZE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM, AND PROVIDE A SOLUTION FROM THE MANUFACTURER'S SIDE THAT IS A PERMANENT FIX, RATHER THAN JUST REPLACING THE SAME PARTS REPEATEDLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177259December 28, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
TL* - THE CONTACT'S AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHED 51,000 MILES. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER CONTROLLER FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BY THE OWNER AT A COST OF $1000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON DECEMBER 27, 2006, WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ,THE RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG / CURTAIN DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON, BRUISING A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. THE WEATHER AT THE TIME THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WAS NICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WANTED TO PURSUE VOLKSWAGEN TO GET AIR BAG REPAIRED AND WORKING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10176914December 25, 2006
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT ON FOR 2ND TIME SINCE AUG 2006 WHEN CAR WAS BOUGHT USED. NEWBEETLE.ORG MEMBERS ALL HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND I KEEP GETTING CHARGED TO READ CODE AND TURN OFF THE LIGHT BECAUSE IT'S AN "INTERMITTENT" CODE. I'M TIRED OF DRIVING AROUND A VEHICLE KNOWING THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176612December 19, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 07/10/06 A REPAIR WAS DONE ON HIS VOLKSWAGEN BUG IN WHICH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKING WHILE IN PARK. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD HIM TO BRING IN VEHICLE FOR A BRAKE SWITCH REPLACEMENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176597December 19, 2006
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS REPLACED. FOR $780 THEY REPLACED THE AIRBAG AND WIRING HARNESS. THIS AIRBAG WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN IS RESPONSIBLE! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176600December 19, 2006
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK TO DEALER. THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS REPLACED. FOR $780 THEY REPLACED THE AIRBAG AND WIRING HARNESS. THIS AIRBAG WAS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A LIFE SAFETY ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN IS RESPONSIBLE! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176066December 13, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A NHTSA RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED INDICATING THE BRAKE SAFETY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT PRESENTED ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH YET. THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WAS 130 MILES FROM THE LOCALITY. THE CONTACT ASKED THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART TO PERFORM THE REPAIR AT AN INDEPENDENT AUTHORIZED CERTIFIED MECHANIC OR OTHER TRUSTED DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED THE PROPOSAL. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD BE FLEXIBLE IN CASES WERE NO DEALERSHIP WERE PRESENT IN THE AREA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175574December 8, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
I NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL IN THE CAR EACH TIME I DROVE IT. THE MECHANICS CHECKED AND FOUND A SEAL FOR THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING LEAKS. THEY REMOVED AND REPLACED HOUSING AND SEAL. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175471December 7, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG DRIVER INFLATOR MODULE FAILED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174943December 1, 2006
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
AIRBAG SHORT TO GROUND COOLANT SYSTEM SHORT TO GROUND. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174556November 28, 2006
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THEN, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS EVACUATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE PRESENT, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE FROM THE HEATER FAN WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, REFUSED TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE FIRE COULD HAVE INJURED AN OCCUPANT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174213November 24, 2006
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON, 4 TRIPS TO TWO DIFFERENT VW DEALERS. THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, LEAVING ME WITHOUT FUNCTIONING AIR BAGS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10174145November 24, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
MY WIFE BECAME STUCK AND COULD NOT DRIVER HER 1999 VW NEW BEETLE AFTER DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS PUSHING ON HER BRAKE PEDAL. SO I HAD TO INSTRUCT HER TO REMOVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH SO THE CAR COULD MOVE. ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS ON IT THIRD OR FOURTH RECALL FROM VW. WHY SO MANY RECALLS? CAN'T VW GET IT RIGHT? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173800November 18, 2006
AIR BAGS
OUR 2004 VW NEW BEETLE HAS HAD TWO AIR BAG SWITCH FAILURES. THE FIRST ONE WAS WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE THOUSAND MILES AND WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND ONE JUST HAPPENED AND WAS NOT COVERED BY OUR ORIGINAL WARRANTY, OR OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY. IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WE DID NOTHING TO PROMOTE THE FAILURE, IS THE $535 REPAIR OUR RESPONSIBILITY? *JB SRS.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173690November 16, 2006
VISIBILITY, AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PURCHASED BRAND NEW. PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR: 1. REAR POWER WINDOWS HAVE BOTH TAKEN TURNS FALLING DOWN INTO THE BODY. WILL NOT POWER UP. ONE HAS BEEN REPLACED. DEALER NOW WON'T FIX SECOND ONE BECAUSE THEY 'DON'T SEE IT AS A KNOWN PROBLEM.' 2. HEADLINER AROUND REAR WINDOW HAS COME UNDONE. 3. HEADLIGHTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED CONSTANTLY. FOR EXAMPLE; A LIGHT BULB WAS INSTALLED ON A SATURDAY, AND HAD STOPPED WORKING BY THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY. 4. RUBBER COATING ON GLOVE BOX AND ON INTERIOR DOORS IS PEELING OFF. DEALER WOULD NOT EVEN CONDSIDER FIXING OR ADDRESSING. 5. KEY ASSEMBLY FOR ARM CONSOLE BROKE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS, AND SEVERAL REMINDERS, TO GET DEALER TO REPLACE. 6. SOMETIMES RADIO STAYS ON AFTER KEY HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM IGNITION. 7. AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. WON'T GO OFF. 8. HAND RELEASE ON FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OFTEN GETS 'STUCK' AND WILL NOT WORK. 9. CUP HOLDER HAS COME OFF TRACK. I ONLY DRIVE THIS CAR TO-AND-FROM WORK. NO KIDS/PASSENGERS RIDE IN IT. IT HAS NOT HAD ANY OWNER ABUSE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN PRODUCT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173163November 10, 2006
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
MY 2005 TURBO VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IS GETTING 19 AND 20 MPG HIGHWAY AND SURFACE STREET DRIVING). THIS IS FAR BELOW THE MANUFACTURES ESTIMATE. THE DEALER CONTENDS THAT THE CAR NEEDS TO BE BROKEN IN, AND OR IT IS LOWER DUE TO CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172787November 6, 2006
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG DASHBOARD LIGHT LIT AT 24,635 MILES. REPAIR MADE BY DEALER 2/9/05 FOR $308 LABOR AND $44.76 PART (SMALL CABLE UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT). TEXT ON DEALER WORK ORDER: "FOUND THE D/S AIRBAG ASSM. TO HAVE A FAULT IN THE CONNECTOR OF HARNESS. REMOVED SEAT ASSM AND REPLACED HARNESS. SEAT AIRBAG CODES. T/DRIVE TO CONFIRM REPAIR." AT 35,500 AIR BAG DASHBOARD LIGHT HAS LIT AGAIN. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172262October 31, 2006
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
I OWN A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW "EXPLODED" MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE,WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT IN OUR SUBDIVISION. THIS SAME WINDOW HAD BEEN REPAIRED ABOUT 6 MONTHS PRIOR BECAUSE IT WAS RATTLING. IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MORNING THE WINDOW EXPLODED WAS THE COLDEST MORNING SINCE IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED-39 DEGREES. I CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN OUR GARAGE THAT EVENING. THE GARAGE WAS MUCH WARMER THAN THE OUTSIDE AMBIENT AIR. WITHIN ONE MINUTE OF MY WIFE DRIVING THE CAR FROM THE GARAGE THE WINDOW EXPLODED. HAD SHE BEEN ON A MAJOR ROAD THIS COULD HAVE TURNED INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I THINK VOLKSWAGEN IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SIDE WINDOWS RATTLING ON THEIR CONVERTIBLE MODELS. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW HAS STARTED TO RATTLE. THIS INCIDENT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MANNER THE DEALER FIXED IT FROM RATTLING. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10171877October 26, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
CAR WAS IN FOR A RECALL ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2006 FOR THE EGR COOLER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE FLYWHEEL WAS GOING BAD. I TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE MASTER CYLINDER. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE FLYWHEEL AND NOT THE MASTER CYLINDER. A MONTH LATER THE FLYWHEEL WENT BAD CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO GO BAD. THIS WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND MADE THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. DEALER WAS AWARE THE FLYWHEEL WAS GOING BAD BUT DID NOT OFFER TO REPAIR IT FOR ME OR INFORM ME IT WAS A WARRANTY ITEM. WHEN THE CAR WAS REPAIRED THE FLYWHEEL AND THE CLUTCH WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE FLYWHEEL (PARTS ONLY) BECAUSE THEY HAD NOTICED IT WAS GOING BAD BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. BUT THEY DID NOT COVER THE LABOR. IN ORDER TO GET TO THE FLYWHEEL, YOU HAVE TO GET TO THE CLUTCH. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR AND THE FLYWHEEL. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE IN REGARDS TO THIS FLYWHEEL PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW IF THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WOULD PROBABLY KNOW THIS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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