Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10002262January 7, 2003
AIR BAGS
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 40MPH HAD AN ACCIDENT, CAR SLIPPERY DRIVER LOSS CONTROL AND HIT RAIL GUARD BRIDGE, AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10002017January 3, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER AND IT WILL BE HARD TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK STARTED. DEALER NOTIFIED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001874January 2, 2003
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
CONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVER SIDE OUTSIDE MIRROR IS POSITION TO HIGH. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001886January 2, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE BEGAN TO MISFIRE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH THEN IT STAYED ON. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RIDE VERY ROUGH. TOOK TO DELAER AND DEALER STATED COIL PACKS HAD FAILED. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001461December 24, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ACROSS A BRIDGE, ONE OF HIS ENGINES DIED LEAVING HIM WITH VERY LITTLE POWER. HE STATES THAT THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HIM. HE HAD IT REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY, BUT IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN, OR WITH OTHER PEOPLE, WHICH IS A HIGH RISK FOR AN ACCIDENT IF THE AUTO STOPS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001462December 24, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER STATES HE GET VERY POOR GAS MILEAGE AND HIS AUTO SMOKES WHEN HE STARTS IT UP AND ALSO SMILES WHILE HE IS DRIVING IT. HE SATES ALSO HIS AUTO RUNS VERY ROUGH. CONSUMER STATES HE TOOK HIS AUTO TO A DEALER AND HE WAS TOLD THAT HE HAS A CLOGGED MANIFOLD AND A CLOGGED EGR VALVE. HE ALSO STATES THAT VOLKSWAGEN KNOWS ABOUT THIS AND WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HE SAYS THEY WON'T ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. TS *DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001245December 19, 2002
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE DRIVER SHIFT GEARS AND THE LEVER BROKE OFF IN THEIR HAND. VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE SHIFTER AND ALL RELATED COMPONENTS HAD BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10001189December 18, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE WILL JERK BACK AND FORTH. THE TRANSMISSION HAS FROZE AND WILL NOT SHIFT GEAR. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10000166December 17, 2002
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:COLUMN SHIFT ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING IN METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON, D.C. BELTWAY ("HIGHWAY") TRAFFIC AT EVENING RUSH HOUR, I WAS PREPARING TO SWITCH LANES AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS .... WHEN MY STICK SHIFT BROKE (ONE PIECE BECAME TWO PIECES). I WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO ACCIDENT HAPPENED, I WAS FURTHER BLESSED THAT I WAS ABLE TO COAST AT HIGHWAY SPEED (CAR WENT TO NEUTRAL) UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO MOVE FROM THE MIDDLE LANE TO THE SLOWER RIGHT HAND LANE. AT THIS POINT I CONTINUED ON WITH FLASHERS AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN THIRD GEAR, BUT THE STICK SHIFT REMAINED BROKEN. I HAVE ASKED APPROXIMATELY 50 PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE EVER HEARD OF SUCH A MALFUNCTION. NONE HAD! I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE DEALING WITH ONLY VW PEOPLE CONCERNING THE ACCEPTIBILITY OF THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED USAA AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I GET YOUR GROUP INVOLVED. THANK YOU
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10006532December 13, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
1)DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAD DIFFICULTY GOING UP SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASE, HAVE TO PUSH WITH HAND TO ASSIST. 2) JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE SENSOR BEHIND BRAKE PEDAL FAILED, VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT FROM PARK, REPLACED. 3) AIR BAG CAME ON AND THEN ENGINE LIGHT SOON AFTER, CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. BOTH WARNING LIGHTS OFF AND REPLACED. 4) HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BLOWING OUT, EVIDENCE OF A SHORT WHEN REPLACED. BURN MARKS, AND EXPOSED WIRING BECAUSE PLASTIC ON CONNECTORS GOT BRITTLE AND CRACKED OFF. 5) AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN, TWO WEEKS LATER ENGINE LIGHT ON. TOLD TWO SENSORS ON MASS AIR FLOW AND SOME OTHERS ARE MALFUNCTIONING AND NOW BEEN REPLACED. TOLD THERE IS A BROKEN CLOCK SPRING IN STEERING COLUMN ALONG WITH BAD WIRING HARNESS, BOTH AFFECTING AIR BAGS. ALSO, TOLD AIR BAG IS NOW BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OTHER DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS HAVE SHORTED IGNITER IN AIR BAG OUT. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT AND CANNOT CONTINUE TO FUND REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE. CANNOT SELL EITHER BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS, AND NOW REPUTATION OF BEETLE FOR PROBLEMS. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, EVEN SO MUCH AS BUMPED. METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS----------------770755. *AK *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8024005December 9, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:INTERCONNECTING ASSEMBLY(WIRING)
CONSUMER STATES HIS VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH, PROBLEMS IS DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE STEERING WHEEL IS UNCONTROLABLE. DEALER AND MANUFACTURES HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770494December 5, 2002
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
MY HUSBAND WAS INSTALLING THE BABY SEAT INTO THE BACK SEAT OF OUR CAR IN PREPARATION FOR BRINGING OUR NEWBORN SON FROM THE HOSPITAL ON A COLD RAINY EVENING. WHEN HE TURNED THE REAR-WINDOW DEFOGGER ON. THE REAR WINDOW OF THE CAR EXPLODED INTO SMALL FRAGMENTS OF FLYING SHRAPNEL WHICH SPATTERED ALL OVER THE BACK SEAT AND BABY SEAT. MY HUSBAND SUSTAINED MINOR CUTS ON HIS HANDS AND HEAD. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY, WHEN WE WERE TO BRING MY SON HOME. HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN BLINDED AND BADLY LACERATED OR MUCH WORSE. THE ENTIRE BACK OF THE CAR WAS SOAKED DUE TO THE DRIVING RAIN. BEFORE MY HUSBAND GOT THE CAR INTO A GARAGE, SIGNIFICANT WATER DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE ENTIRE BACK PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. I CONTACTED VW TO PAY FOR OUR DEDUCTIBLE AND REIMBURSE US FOR THE WATER DAMAGE, AND THEIR ONLY ANSWER WAS THAT THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTEE AND THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP US. I MENTIONED THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE INJURIES WHICH COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD MY SON BEEN IN HIS REAR FACING BABY SEAT WHEN THE GLASS SHATTERED. THEY WEREN'T EVEN INTERESTED IN TAKING THE INFORMATION DOWN. THE CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT, A MR. BRANDON CURTIS, SEEMED WILLING TO HELP, BUT IT SEEMS HIS SUPERVISOR OVERRULED HIM. I HOPE WE CAN FIND A WAY TO GET VW TO PAY FOR OUR EXPENSES, BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IS VITAL TO MAKE SURE THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO ANYONE WHILE THERE IS A CHILD OR INFANT ON THAT BACK SEAT. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#770467December 5, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I HAVE CLAIMED TO VOLKESWAGEN WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN ON RECALL ALTHOUGH THE SERVICE IS ADVISING ME THAT THEY CANNOT KEEP UP WITH SERVICE SINCE THEY KEEP HAVING THE SAME MODELS OF CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY CAR HAS BEEN AT THE SERVICE FOR OVER A WEEK AND A HALF NOW SINCE VW IS OUT OF STOCK ON THIS PARTICULAR PARTS. SERVICE CAN NOT START WORKING ON VW TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE NOT CALLING FOR RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT JUST WAIT FOR THE OWNER OF THE CARS WITH DEFECTED PARTS TO FIND OUT THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT FEEL VOLKESWAGEN IS TAKING A PROPER ACTION ON THIS DEFECTED PARTS. WISH SOME KIND OF PROPER ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY SOON. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#770374December 3, 2002
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY BUT CAR WAS TOTALED WHEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES AFTER IT REAR ENDED CAR IN FRONT OF IT. PAID EXTRA MONEY FOR FIRE SAFETY FEATURES ON THIS CAR BUT IT STARTED ON FIRE ANYWAY. THIS IS MY DAUGHTERS CAR AND SHE WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME. DT
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769967November 21, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
PLASTIC PART ON ORIG. HARNESS MELTED ON BOTH FRONT HEADLAMPS. THE PART WAS CHANGED TO ELIMINATE THE PLASTIC BUT NO RECALL WAS INITIATED. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE THE REDESIGN OF THE PART. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8022657November 13, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE HAS STALL MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. PLEASE FURNISH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8022678November 13, 2002
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
THE CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEADRESTS ARE DESIGNED TOO HIGH, OBSTRUCTING THE VIEW OUT OF THE REAR WINDSHIELD WHEN BACKING. MR THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE NEW HEADRESTS(WHICH BETTERED VISIBILITY) WOULDN'T FIT THIS MODEL, AND IS WAITING ON A REPLY FROM DEALER/MANUFACTURER. SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#769475November 8, 2002
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
10/10/2002 WHILE BACKING VEHICLE UP SCRAPED WALL. ONLY SCRATCHES ON BUMPER. FULLY LOCATED BEHIND BUMPER CRUSHED . CONCERNED ABOUT DESIGN FLAW & ASSOCIATED DANGERS. DT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#568093November 5, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE CONSUMER HAS HIS FOT ON THE BRAKE, AND THE TRANSMISSION IN FORWARD GEAR, IT WILL NOT ENGAGE. WHEN REMOVING HIS FOOT, THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE AND THEN LURCH FORWARD INTO GEAR. IF ON A HILL THE VEHICLE WILL ROLL BACKWARDS BEFORE ENGAGING. THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE HAS BEEN CHANGED SEVERAL TIMES AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#567115November 4, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH, VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, POWER TRAIN
EIGHTEEN MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO TURN IT ON. AFTER THE THIRD TIME, CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. *JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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