Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10109575February 2, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE ACCELERATING FORWARD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108089January 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROAD IN AN ISOLATED AREA, LIMITED SHOULDER; WITHOUT WARNING CAR STOPPED RUNNING. HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION & THEN TO A DEALER. IT TURNED OUT THE TIMING BELT HAD FAILED AND HAD DESTROYED THE VAVLES AND PISTONS REQUIRING A NEW ENGINE TO FIX. MY CAR HAD 99,000 MILES ON IT. WARRANTY ON TIMING BELT FOR FIRST OWNER IS TO 100,000 MILES. VW SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS SAY THE TIMING BELT SHOULD BE REPLACED AT 105,000 MILES FOR YEAR 2000 MODELS. I AM CONCERNED NOT ONLY ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY COST THAT IS INVOLVED IN REPAIRING THIS FAILURE BUT ALSO IN THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO WARNING AND IT CAUSED COMPLETE FAILURE OF MY ENGINE. I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER TIMING BELT FAILURES ON THIS VEHICLE. DEALER ASKED FOR AND WAS SUPPLIED INVOICES FOR EVERY REPAIR AND OIL CHANGE BUT REPAIR UNDER THE WARRANTY WAS DENIED BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED BY A DEALER AT 60,000 & 80,000 MILES. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR VW BUT VOLKSWAGEN WAS COMPLETELY UNINTERESTED IN MY STORY. THE ONLY TIME THE ISSUE OF CHECKING THE TIMING BELT WAS MENTIONED TO ME WAS AFTER IT BROKE! EVEN WHEN I HAD OTHER SERVICE PERFORMED AT 88,000 MILES BY THE DEALER. MY FEELING IS THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WHICH IS SO SEVERE THAT IT REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE IS UNACCEPTBLE AND UNEXPECTED. I HAVE OWNED OTHER CARS OF A DIFFERENT MAKE THAT HAD WELL OVER 100,000 MILES WITH LITTLE OR NO PROBLEMS. WHY WOULD VW RECOMMEND REPLACING THE TIMING BELT AT 100,000 MILES IF THERE IS A PROBABILITY THAT IT MAY NOT EVEN MAKE IT THAT FAR? WHAT USE IS A 100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY IF THERE ARE SO MANY LOOP HOLES THAT VW DOES NOT EXPECT TO HAVE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY? *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108578January 21, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CONSUMER STATES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING. NO IMPACT REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107688January 21, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY CAR THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT WENT OUT. THE BRIGHTS STILL WORK BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT DOESN'T UNLESS IT IS ON BRIGHTS, I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST NORMAL MAYBE THE LIGHT WORK OUT BUT I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CONNECTION AND I HAVE SEEN SO MANY WITH THE SAME HEADLIGHT OUT THIS IS UNSAFE AND CAN POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A TICKET OR A WRECK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107375January 13, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE DRIVER WAS SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. NO INJURIES TO REPORT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT TO EXTINGUISHED OUT THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. UPDATED 04/19/06. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105932January 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN CONSTRUCTION ZONE WITH CLOSE CEMENT BARRIERS ON BOTH SIDES, NO SHOULDER; WITHOUT WARNING CAR STOPPED RUNNING. IT TURNED OUT THE TIMING BELT HAD FAILED AND HAD DESTROYED THE VAVLES AND PISTONS REQUIRING A NEW ENGINE AND TIMING BELT TO FIX. MY CAR HAD 68,000 MILES ON IT. WARRANTY ON TIMING BELT FOR FIRST OWNER IS TO 100,000 MILES, BUT ONLY 50,000 MILES FOR SECOND OWNER. I AM SECOND OWNER. I AM CONCERNED NOT ONLY ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY COST THAT IS INVOLVED IN REPAIRING THIS FAILURE BUT ALSO IN THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO WARNING AND IT CAUSED COMPLETE FAILURE OF MY ENGINE. IT WAS EXTREMEMY DANGEROUS. I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER TIMING BELT FAILURES ON THIS VEHICLE. VOLKSWAGEN IS COMPLETELY UNINTERESTED IN MY STORY BECAUSE I AM A SECOND OWNER. MY FEELING IS THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WHICH IS SO SEVERE THAT IT REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE IS UNACCEPTBLE AND UNEXPECTED AND UNSAFE ON A CAR WITH ONLY 68,000 MILES. IT USED TO BE A TIMING BELT FAILURE MADE A CAR RUN POORLY NOT GET DESTROYED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104847December 31, 2004
SEATS
I WAS DRIVING MY 98 BUG WHEN THE ENTIRE SEAT FELL OFF THE TRACK, AND I FELL IN THE BACKSEAT, THE CAR STALLED WHILE ON A 45 MPH ROAD I WAS NOT INJURED.KEFFER VOLK RECURED THE SEAT BUT SAY I WILL COST $1000 FOR A NEW FLOOR TRACK. VOLKS SAYS THIS ISN'T A WARRANTY ISSUE. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A SEAT TO DRIVE THE CAR. MY CONCERN IS HOW MANY OTHER CARS/VOLKS HAVE DONE THIS AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THEIR LACK OF CONCERN. HAD I BEEN INJURED OR WORSE KILLED THERE WOULD BE A HUGE LAWSUIT AT THIS TIME. I DO NOT WEIGH 300 POUNDS NOR AM I ABUSING TO MY VEHICLES. I DO BELIEVE A MOTOR CAR INDUSTRY SHOULD BE ABLE TO BUILD A CAR THAT KEEPS THE SEAT IN PLACE. I RARELY HAVE EVEN MOVED THE SEAT BACK AND FORTH ON THE TRACK. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A WRECK. WE ARE GETTING RID OF THE CAR VERY SOON. I HAVE LOST MY CONFIDENCE IN VOLKS. THIS WAS MY SECOND CAR WITH THEM. THANK YOU. PREVIOUS FIREFIGHTER AND ER NURSE AND SAFETY PREVIONTION OFFICER WITH THE FIRE DEPART. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10105585December 30, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR REPAIRS. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104296December 22, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
CAR INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL - ACCELERATION IS DELAYED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS - POSSIBLY BY COMPUTER. I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC- CAR ACCELERATES ONLY WHEN IT IS READY. I HAVE REQUESTED REPAIR EVERY TIME THE CAR IS IN FOR SERVICE. THEY SAY THAT THEY RESET SOMETHING AND PROBLEM TEMPORARILY GOES AWAY. VW DOESN'T SEEM ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A SAFETY ISSUE/CONCERN. THEY DIDN'T PUT THE REQUEST IN MY LAST MAINTENANCE/COMPUTER WRITE-UP. I ALSO HEAD ANOTHER CUSTOMER, WHILE AT THE DEALER, ASK ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. VW SHOULD ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103013December 15, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
MULTIPLE REQUESTS TO HAVE OUR 2001 NEW BEETLE TDI HEADLIGHTS ADJUSTED PROPERLY HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH BY GURLEY-LEEP VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT, SINCE THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, 2001 WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW.*AK SPECIFICALLY: LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE SET FAR, FAR TOO LOW; I ESTIMATE THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE ABOUT 60 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, LIMITING TRAVEL AT NIGHT TO ~35 MPH; THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY HAZARD FOR TWO REASONS: 1) WE CAN'T SEE HAZARDS SOON ENOUGH, AND 2) OUR LOWER SPEEDS PRESENT A HAZARD TO OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING AT HIGHER (NORMAL) SPEEDS. WHEN I ASK WHY THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SET TOO LOW, I'M TOLD BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL THAT "THEY'RE SET TO SPEC". LATEST, 12/14/04: SERVICE DEPARTMENT AGAIN TOLD US THEY SET THE HEADLIGHTS "TO SPEC", BUT THE RIGHT LIGHT ASSEMBLY DOESN'T STAY IN ADJUSTMENT, I.E., IT "DROPS", AND WE NEED TO BUY A NEW ASSEMBLY AT ABOUT $330.00. THIS IS A STRANGE SITUATION BECAUSE THE LEFT HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATES THE ROAD AT THE SAME DISTANCE AS THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT, AND THE GURLEY LEEP SERVICE DEPARTMENT PEOPLE DID NOT TELL US THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT. BOTTOM LINE: THIS IS APPARENTLY EITHER A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR A POORLY MANAGED MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT; EITHER WAY IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND MUST BE CORRECTED BY VW AT NO CHARGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103772December 14, 2004
AIR BAGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON, AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS. CONSUMER WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO GET VEHICLE SERVICED, BUT DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103570December 13, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20-40 MPH, SUDDENLY THE VENTILATION PANEL BECAME HOT. WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VENTILATION SYSTEM ON THE KNOB MELTED. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY SMOKE COMING OUT THE AIR VENT. VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN MINUTES OF THE CONSUMER EXITING THE VEHICLE, AND CALLING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS REPORTEDLY DUE TO INTERIOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102835December 13, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
I PURCHASED MY VW ON 11/21/03 THE NEXT DAY THE I WAS DRIVING CAR AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS NOT PICKING UP SPEED THEN THE BRAKES WAS REALLY HARD AND IT WAS MAKING A ROARING SOUND. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK CAR INTO VW SVC DEPT AND WAS ADV OH SINCE YOU HAVE A DIESEL CAR IT WILL DO THAT I WAS NOT TKN THAT FOR AN ANSWER I EXPL TO SVC TECH THAT THERS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY CAR, BUT THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT IT.ON 11/23/03 I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND I MY CAR WAS STALLING AND WOULD NOT GO PASS 45 AND THEN I SMELT SOMETHING BURNING AND THEN SMOKE THE BRAKES HAD LOCKED UP AND I PULLED OVER AND HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM TOLD ME THAT IT WAS OK AND DIDNT REPLACE ANYTHING. AND ADVISED ME THAT I WAS OK SO I TOOK CAR HOME AND 3 DAYS LATER IT DID IT AGAIN, I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOOK CAR OVERNIGHT AND THEY FOUND THAT THE HYDL BOOSTER WAS BAD,THEY REPLACED THAT AND THEN I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE BRAKES BECAUSE THEY JUST DIDNT FEEL RIGHT TO ME. I WAS ADV THAT OH THE BRAKES ARE GOOD AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER I DIDNT TRUST TO TK MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP I TOOK CAR TO ACTOR GATOR WHICH WAS GREAT! TO CHECK MY BRAKES AND THEY FOUND PROBLEM AND SHOWED ME HOW BACK BRAKES SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND HOW MINES WAS (THERE WAS HARDLY ANY LEFT ) AND THEY REPLACED BRAKES FOR ME. IM UPSET THAT EVEN THOUGH I PURCHASED A USED CERITIFED VW FROM A VW DEALERSHIP I FELT COMFORTABLE AND I DIDNT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY COULD SELL A CAR WITH NO BRAKES WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE.AND THEN A CUSTOMER HAVING TO PAY FOR BRAKES NOT EVEN A MONTH AFTER I GOT IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102866December 13, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
AT ABOUT 30,000 MILE, THERE WAS A FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC INTSRUMENTATION PANEL DUE TO SOME KIND OF SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH THEY FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AT ABOUT 60,000 MILE WITH SAME SYMPTOM, WHICH I COULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE ITS WARRANTY WAS OVER. BUT, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT ITS INSTRUMENTATION IS FAULTY PART IF SAME PART HAS A FAILURE TWICE WITHIN 60,000 MILES WHEN OTHER INSTRUMENTATION PANEL LAST MORE THAN 220,000 MILE IN MY OTHER VW JETTA WITHOUT ANY FAILURE AT ALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102665December 11, 2004
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
I OWN A 1998 BEETLE AND I AM MAKING YOU AWARE OF A SAFETY CONCERN THAT CAN POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN CAUSE A DEATH. I HAVE COMPLAINED BEFORE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THE EXTERNAL MIRRORS ON THE EARLY NEW BEETLES ARE DANGEROUSLY OVERSIZED THUS CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT BLIND-SPOT(S) WHEN DRIVING. THESE BLIND SPOTS, (ESPECIALLY DRIVERS SIDE) PREVENT VISIBILITY TO THE FRONT SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. EX. IF THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE CROSSWALK IN FRONT LEFT OF YOU, YOU CANNOT SEE THEM OR IT!!! ON TOO MANY OCCASIONS TO COUNT I AND OTHERS HAVE ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN AND ANOTHER ONCOMING VEHICLE DUE TO THIS FAILURE!!! I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE TIMES I WILL BE SO LUCKY, BUT I FEEL AS IF I AM DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB. VW HAS COME UP WITH THE SOLUTION BY REDESIGNING NEWER BEETLES WITH SMALLER AND RELOCATING THE EXTERNAL MIRRORS THUS ELIMINATING THE PROBLEM. BUT, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE THESES OLDER VERSIONS ARE STUCK WITH THIS VERY CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN...PLEASE HELP! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10103464December 9, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
03V265000/EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL SERVICE WORK DONE. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES OR THE BRAKE LIGHT. NOW, CONSUMER HAS DIFFICULTY CHANGING GEARS WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE CONSUMER STRANDED. THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AFTER SEVERAL MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE HIM THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WAS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED DURING THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE WAS 27 DAYS PAST THE 12 MONTH 12,000 MILES REPLACEMENT PARTS WARRANTY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100665November 28, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS A PROBLEM/RECALL WITH THE NEW VW BEATLE. I HAVE A 2000 AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS 4-5 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR OR SO. ALSO I SEE ALOT OF THEM ON THGE HIGHWAY WITH ONE HEADLIGHT OUT. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION INREFERENCE TO THIS ISSUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100345November 22, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES
I OWN A 2002 VW BEETLE. THE SEAT BELT LATCH BECAME DEFECTIVE, THUS TURNING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN MY CAR OFF. I HAVE 80K MILES ON MY CAR AND THE REPAIR COST ME OVER $350. VW IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR THIS VITAL SAFETY ISSUE STATING THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REPAIR OUT OF WARRANTY ITEMS. ISN'T THERE A LAW THAT REQUIRES AUTO MANUFACTURERS TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS? DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE FOR GETTING THIS PAID FOR? THANKS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097557November 22, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK A PEDESTRIAN INFORMED THE FIRE INSPECTOR THAT THE FLAMES WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE. (ELECTRICAL FIRE) *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098883November 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY CAR CONTINUES TO GET STUCK IN PARK. IT'S LEFT ME STRANDED NEEDING ASSISTANCE FROM STRANGERS. ITS FRUSTRATING AND SCARY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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