Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10785667October 23, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRONT DOOR LATCH FAIL. DOOR WILL NOT LOCK OR ACKNOWLEDGE DOOR IS SHUT. MAY OPEN WHILE DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10785364October 22, 2015
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SWITCHED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO DRIVE. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE AND COAST TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER AT THE END OF THE EXIT. THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE PUT INTO SPORT MODE AND WOULD MOVE FORWARD SOMEWHAT IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS FLOORED, BUT DRIVE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. WHEN IN DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD ONLY REV AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED IT AND SAID THE FRONT DRIVE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FELL APART. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION IS A SEALED SYSTEM, MAKING REBUILDING IT OR REPLACING SPECIFIC PARTS VERY DIFFICULT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10783869October 21, 2015
ENGINE
I WAS COMING HOME FROM BY ERS APPOINTMENT TODAY AND ON THE HIGHWAY 2, TOWARD HOME MY CAR LOST ALL POWER I HAD CARS ALL OVER FINALLY GOT OFF ROAD. WOULD NOT START SO HAD TOWED HOME. NO REASON FOR THIS. DATE TODAY OCTOBER 20 2015 AT 730 @ NIGHT. COLD BY MYSELF IN CAR.....UPDATED 01/13/16 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10785097October 21, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10781433October 12, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MANY OWNERS OF VWS INCLUDING THE BEETLE AND OTHER MODELS HAVE REPORTED COLD SOLDER JOINT ON THE DOOR LOCK SENSORS. THESE COLD SOLDER JOINTS CAUSE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WHERE THE DOORS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK, AND THE WINDOWS WILL ROLL DOWN AND BACK UP. THE WINDOWS FUNCTION IS RELATED TO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP, SO THAT THE WINDOW WILL ROLL DOWN A BIT WHEN THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED SO THAT IT WILL COME OUT FROM THE LIP OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10781217October 10, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FELL DOWN AND THE DEALER PUT A NEW REGULATOR IN IT COSTING US $500.00, THEN THE REAR WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FELL DOWN AND THAT COST US $185.00 AT THE DEALER, NOW THE DRIVER'S WINDOW HAS FALLEN DOWN AND WE ARE WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THE 1ST & 3RD TIME WAS STATIONARY, THE 2ND TIME WE WERE IN MOTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10779936October 5, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
REAR-ENDED A CAR IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY - FENDER BENDER-NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF. BOTH CARS DROVE OFF THE FREEWAY TO THE SIDE STREETS TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION. ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINS LATER WHILST THE CAR WAS PARKED AND ENGINE TURNED OFF - THERE WERE TWO POP POP NOISES AND THEN CAR BURST INTO FLAMES.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10779622October 4, 2015
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
A 2005 TURBOCHARGED BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, SPONTANEOUSLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED WHILE PARKING, IT JUMPED THE CURB AND TRAVELED AT MAXIMUM ACCELERATION 30 FEET UP A GRASSY SLOPE THEN THROUGH AN ALABAMA POST OFFICE WINDOW, VIOLENTLY ENTERING THE LOBBY. NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THIS INCIDENT WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY TELEVISED DURING THE NEWS BROADCASTS ON ALL 3 LOCAL NETWORKS. WE HAVE IN OUR POSSESSION CLEAR PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE THAT THE BRAKE WAS BEING PRESSED HARD THROUGHOUT THIS EVENT AND THIS FACT WAS LATER CONFIRMED BY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER WHO INVESTIGATED THE CASE. PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, ON 3 OCCASIONS WE HAD BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION OF A PERSISTENT, INTERMITTENT, THROTTLE PROBLEM WHICH THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE BUT FAILED, EVEN WITH SUPPORT FROM THE ENGINEERS AT VW OF AMERICA, TO CORRECT. ON ONE OCCASION THEY KEPT THE CAR FOR AN ENTIRE WEEK AND ON ANOTHER, NEARLY 3 WEEKS. WHEN THE CAR WAS IN THEIR POSSESSION WE HAD BEEN ASSURED THAT THERE WAS IN-DEPTH COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THEM AND THE TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT AT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS DOWN DURING THE INCIDENT RESULTING IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT BECOMING FILLED WITH LARGE SHARDS OF SHATTERED WINDOW GLASS. THE POLICE OFFICER INVESTIGATING THE SCENE CHARACTERIZED THE GLASS, STILL SUSPENDED IN THE FRAME ABOVE, AS "CHILLING". ATTACHED BELOW IS AN ARTICLE CONCERNING AN $ 8 MILLION DOLLAR VERDICT AWARDED LAST WEEK IN ANOTHER CASE OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION IN A VW WITH A TURBO CHARGED ENGINE.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10779419October 2, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN ACTIVATED, THE RADIO PROMPTED THE CONTACT FOR A CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10778921October 1, 2015
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
EPC AND ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CARS SHUTS OFF,NO POWER.HAVE TO RESTART AFTER A FEW MINUTE,ON INTERSTATE AND MAJOR ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10778862September 30, 2015
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE BACKUP CAMERA IS SO DIM IT IS USELESS. ALTHOUGH SOME VW CAMERAS HAVE ADJUSTABLE BRIGHTNESS, MY MODEL DOES NOT AND EVEN THE DEALER SAID IT WAS USELESS. WAS SHOWN OTHER MODELS WITH SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED DEALER AND VW OF AMER. AND WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE. NEEDS NEW SENSOR OR REPLACEMENT. A REAL SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10778034September 28, 2015
VISIBILITY/WIPER
THE BACKUP CAMERA ON MY VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IS SO DARK THAT IS IS VIRTUALLY USELESS. WE HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE MANAGER AGREED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. HE REPLACED THE CAMERA AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THEN THE MANAGER LEFT AND ANOTHER ONE CAME ON BOARD WE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO VW AND THEY SPOKE WITH THE MANAGER ONSITE. HE TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS OK BECAUSE ALL OF THE CAMERAS WERE LIKE THAT. WE HAVE OWNED CARS PREVIOUSLY WITH BACK UP CAMERAS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. THE CAMERAS WITH GPS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALER TOLD ME I COULD PAY FOR A UNIT WITH GPS. I HAVE A HAND HELD GPS SO HAVE NO DESIRE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO IT. I PAID EXTRA FOR THE BACKUP CAMERA AND DID NOT GET MY MONEY'S WORTH. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE BACK WINDOW IN THE CONVERTIBLE ALLOWS FOR ONLY LIMITED SIGHT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10777937September 27, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALTERNATOR HARNESS HAD TO MUCH RESISTANCE IN IT CAUSING THE FUSE BOX TO MELT AND FRYING THE ALTERNATOR. DEALER SAID IT WAS A RESULT OF THE WIRE BEING OVER CRIMPT DURING MANUFACTURING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10776521September 25, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1,2,3RD GEAR JERKING SHIFTING GEARS AS WELL AS ON DOWN SHIFT. HAVE HAD CHECKED IS AT TRANSMISSION SHOP AS I FILL THIS OUT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10767302September 22, 2015
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT AND THE MOTOR MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10764279September 16, 2015
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ALL THE GAUGES DROPPED TO ZERO AND FAILED TO FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE TEMPERATURE AND OIL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED, BUT THE OIL WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763949September 15, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, THE IGNITION AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION AND STEERING TUMBLER LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10763355September 13, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
EXTERIOR DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO OPEN WHEN PULLING ON THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. USING JUST THE PROXIMITY RF KEYFOB, PASSENGER DOORS, TRUNK, AND GAS FILLER DOOR WERE DISABLED. THEN PRESSED THE BUTTONS ON THE KEYFOB, NOTHING. AFTER 5 MINUTES OF PULLING, PRESSING, PANIC BUTTON, FINALLY THE TRUNK RELEASED. AFTER THAT, EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THIS OCCURS WEEKLY, BUT USUALLY DOESN'T LAST SO LONG.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10761149September 3, 2015
POWER TRAIN
PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING BETWEEN 3RD & 4TH GEARS, LURCHING, AND LAGGING. I CALLED THE DEALER, GAVE THE SYMPTOMS AND ASKED WHAT THEY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM COULD BE, THEY INSISTED THEY HADN'T HEARD OF VW'S DOING THAT. MY CAR CONTINUED TO DECLINE, BECOMING STUCK IN A GEAR, VIOLENTLY LURCHING, STALLING, AND ALL GEARS LIT UP(BRACKETED) ON THE DASH. WHEN I TOOK CAR TO VW NOV 2011, 80,000 MILES, FIRST THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE, BUT I PERSISTED EXPLAINING MY HORRIBLE, LURCHING DRIVE INTO WORK, WHERE I STALLED SEVERAL TIMES ALMOST GETTING HIT, AND HOW I COULDN'T PUT THE CHILDREN I CARE FOR IN MY CAR FOR FEAR OF SOMEONE HITTING MY STALLED VEHICLE. THE VW MECHANIC TALKED ME INTO FLUSHING OUT THE TRANS AND CHECKING THE MAGNET($560). HE SAID 80% CHANCE IT WAS MY TRANS(QUOTED $6,000), EVEN AFTER THERE WERE NO METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN, OR SAID IT COULD BE THE VALVE BODY(QUOTED $1,600), BUT THEY WOULDN'T KNOW UNTIL AFTER THE REPAIR. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER CARS WELL BEYOND 200,000 MILES WITHOUT HAVING A TRANS ISSUE, SO WAS SHOCKED THE TRANS COULD BE BAD AT 80,000 MILES! I TOOK GOOD CARE OF MY CAR, AND DROVE HER KINDLY. THE MECHANIC DENIED TRANS ISSUES BEING COMMON FOR BEETLES. I PAID THE $560, AND THERE WASN'T AN IMPROVEMENT. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VALVE BODY TOO LATE(EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN EFFECT WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE!) I WAS SCARED EVERY TIME I DROVE, AND IRATE ONCE I LEARNED THROUGH ONLINE SEARCH THAT FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS ARE A HUGELY KNOWN PROBLEM AND VW WON'T FESS UP AND FIX THEIR PROBLEM!! AFTER THE TRANS BLEW ON THE INTERSTATE(THAT WAS TERRIFYING HAVING A TRANS GO AT 70MPH AND I AM SO THANKFUL I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE MY CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD BEFORE I WAS HIT!!), THE BEETLE SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE I STILL MADE PAYMENTS ON IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND FORCE VOLKSWAGEN TO RECALL THESE DANGEROUS TRANSMISSIONS!!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10758806August 24, 2015
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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