Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2000)

263 consumer complaints on file.

#10202524September 11, 2007
AIR BAGS
I TURN ON MY CAR AND SUDDENLY THE AIRBAG SENSOR TURN ON WITHOUT REASON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197075July 20, 2007
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIR BAG FAULT LIGHTS HAS BEEN COMING ON AND GOING OFF FOR OVER A YEAR,,, EVERYTIME I GET TIME TO GO BY AND GET IT FIXED, IT GOES OFF, HOOKED THE COMPUTER UP AND IT SHOWS NO FAULT... NOW IT IS ON ALL THE TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BUT AT GREAT EXPENSE TO ME,,, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT REALLY HURTING ANYTHING.. I WAS TOLD THAT IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING, BUT I WONDER... THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT IS HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND I DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT, SO WE , THE OWNERS ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE VW CORPORATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10193906June 21, 2007
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR, I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. IT DID NOT GO OFF. THEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO TENSION. THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION AT ALL. I DROVE ALONG SOME GRASSY AREAS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO SLOW THE CAR, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NO DECELERATING, AND HIT A TREE AT ABOUT 50 MPH. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED. THE CAR WAS SOLD TO A JUNK YARD BECAUSE THE REPAIR COSTS WERE TOO HIGH AND BECAUSE THE REPAIR FACILITY SAID THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE CRUISE CONTROL AND BRAKES FAILED.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10193663June 18, 2007
STRUCTURE:BODY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WATER INSIDE AUTOMOBILE DAMAGED ELECTONICS. APPEARED TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10191719May 25, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE BATTERY AND THE ECP WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE TIMING BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR FOR FREE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AT 38,000 MILES AND 49,000 MILES. THE TIMING BELT WAS REMOVED TO REPLACE THE PUMP. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10187992April 16, 2007
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG SYSTEM DEFECTIVE, REQUIRING REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS, INCLUDING AIRBAG REPLACEMENTS, 11 DIFFERENT TIMES. SINCE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AND AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY WHEN SENSORS ARE ON, THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10185216March 15, 2007
AIR BAGS
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. ON JULY 30, 2001 (MILEAGE 20013) I COMPLAINED TO MY DEALERSHIP THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. THEY RECONNECTED THE WIRE UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT STATING IT WAS LOOSE, POOR FIT. ON NOVEMBER 15, 2002 (MILEAGE 33164) I COMPLAINED AGAIN THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. THEY INSPECTED AND FOUND TWO MISC. CODES RESET AND TESTED, SAID ALL IS OK AT THIS TIME. ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2003 (MILEAGE 41463)I COMPLAINED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME, AGAIN. DEALERSHIP TESTED AND SAID I NEEDED D/D AIR BAG, HARNESS AND SEAT BELT REPLACED AT A COST OF $675.00. I DECLINED REPAIR AND CALLED VOLKSWAGEN. ON NOVEMBER 5, 2003 VW SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE FOR CUSTOMER "GOODWILL". ON JULY 19, 2005 (MILEAGE 61130) I COMPLAINED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ONCE AGAIN ON ALL THE TIME. DEALERSHIP REPOSITIONED CONNECTOR FOR DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG AND STATED IF IT COMES ON AGAIN WILL NEED NEW AIR BAG. ON NOVEMBER 20, 2006 (MILEAGE 73661) ONCE AGAIN I COMPLAINED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW DRIVERS SEAT AIR BAG, HARNESS WITH REWIRE TO CONTROL AT A COST OF $1040. ONCE AGAIN I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND THIS TIME I WAS TOLD SORRY, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP ME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE AND SPECIFICALLY A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE IS ANY HELP YOU ARE ABLE TO OFFER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184138March 4, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE IGNITION SWITCH MELTED AT CONTACT WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CAUSE WAS THE FOG LIGHTS UNDERSIZED WIRING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN IT MELTED THE CONTACTS THE HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, HVAC, AND GAUGES BECAME INOPERABLE, TO NAME A FEW. IT WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR TWO MONTHS AT MY COST AND MY REPAIR. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS ALTHOUGH THOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH VW MECHANICS AND OTHERS THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT UNCOMMON. THERE ARE STILL NUANCES WITH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE BEETLE TO THIS DAY. I WOULD HOPE THERE WERE NO FIRES OR INJURIES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183911March 1, 2007
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT TURNED ON THE HEATER AND IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE HEATER EVENTUALLY TURNED ON, THE BLOWER STOPPED ,AND FLAMES STARTED COMING FROM THE HEATER VENTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,800. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A FAULTY HEATER/AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL SWITCH. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY WILL NOT DO ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT A NON VOLKSWAGEN REPAIR SHOP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183217February 22, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE SERVICE REP AT UNIVERSITY VW REPORTED MY CAR NEEDED A NEW TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP - COST $1,500 (THE WORD WARRANTY WAS NEVER MENTIONED, SO I NEVER CONSIDERED THIS REPAIR MIGHT BE COVERED.) ANOTHER MECHANICS QUOTE FOR THE SAME JOB WAS $448. DURING REPAIR HE FOUND THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WAS DEFECTIVE, SO MY TOTAL COST WAS $615 - STILL LESS THAN HALF OF THE QUOTE BY UNIVERSITY VW. (I ALSO HAD TO PAY UNIVERSITY $96 FOR THEIR RIP-OFF QUOTE.) I CONTACTED VW, WHO TOLD ME TO TAKE THE PART TO THE DEALER FOR CONFIRMATION OF DEFECT. DEFECT WAS CONFIRMED BY THEIR LEAD MECHANIC. (NOTE THAT HE CONFIRMED DEFECT AND NOT WORN OUT PART. I STILL HAVE ALL PARTS.) SERVICE MANAGER STATED HE WOULD FILE A CLAIM WITH VW FOR ME. HE CALLED ON 2/19 AND REPORTED MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. THE REQUEST WAS NOT MADE TO VW, BUT DECIDED BY HIS REGIONAL MANAGER. I CALLED VW ABOUT A CLAIM. ON 2/20 VW CLAIMS CALLED STATING MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. SHE STATED THAT MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. SHE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY - IF I HAD NOT TAKEN IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. I TOLD HER I WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, IF I HAD KNOWN IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY! (THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I LEARNED THE PROBLEM WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY!) I TOLD HER I WANTED TO APPEAL THIS DECISION, SO WHOM SHOULD I CONTACT? SHE STATED, "I AM EMPOWERED BY THE CEO OF VOLKSWAGEN, SO THERE ISN'T ANYONE HIGHER. YOUR CLAIM WILL NOT BE PAID." AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THIS ENTIRE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A SERVICE CONSULTANT NOT TELLING ME THIS REPAIR WOULD BE (OR EVEN, MIGHT BE) COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AS A NON-MECHANICAL CUSTOMER, I FEEL I SHOULD HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO EXPECT THAT SERVICE. IF I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT, I DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE LEFT MY CAR AT UNIVERSITY VW FOR THE REPAIRS, BUT I FELT I HAD NO CHOICE - EITHER PAY $1,500 OR $500. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10183198February 21, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
CAR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP. MANY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. AAA HAS SEEN THIS CAR MORE THAN I HAVE OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. CURRENTLY AT 51,000 MILES THE TIMING BELT BROKE CAUSING SERIOUS ENGINE DAMAGE. VW SAYS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH I BOUGHT A CERTIFIED VEHICLE WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHOEVER HEARD OF A TIMING BELT BREAKING AT 51,000 MILES!!! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182651February 15, 2007
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BUG. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED INCLUDING WHEN THE IGNITIONWAS STARTED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO, FUMES ENTERED THE VEHICLE BENEATH THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO TWO MECHANICS, AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS AN AIRFLOW TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182459February 13, 2007
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN 2005. THE DEALER SAID THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG HAD TO BE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR LATER, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER SAID THEY "FIXED" IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DID. IN JANUARY 2007, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW. I'M WORRIED THAT MY AIRBAGS WON'T WORK IN A COLLISION BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEALER IS DOING AND THEY CAN'T TELL ME WHAT THE CONTINUING PROBLEM IS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10182675February 7, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
2000 BEETLE CUSTOMER CAN'T GET AN APPOINTMENT TO FIXING A SAFETY RECALL N-4**CC THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN THE MAIL REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. RECALL# 06V183000. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181437February 2, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2000 TURBO ENGINE BEETLE WITH 68,700 MILES WAS 'CHUGGING' LIKE A DIESEL IMMEDIATELY AFTER NON-RELATED WARRANTY REPAIR AT THE DEALER. TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER WHO QUOTED $1500 TO REPLACE TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP. PAID $95 FOR THEIR DIAGNOSIS AND TOOK THE CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC WHO DID THE SAME REPAIR FOR $450! HOWEVER, MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE "TIMING BELT TENSIONER" WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE BELT TO WEAR OUT. THIS WAS AN ADDITIONAL $150 COST FOR THAT PART. I HAVE ALL THE PARTS FROM THE REPAIR. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181133January 30, 2007
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE CONTACT HAD ALREADY HAD THE REPAIR DONE WHEN THE RECALL LETTER WAS RECEIVED. THE CONTACT WENT THROUGH THE REIMBURSEMENT PROCESS WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND RECEIVED A CHECK FOR $67.59. THE CONTACT PAID A TOTAL OF $224.46. THE CONTACT CALLED VOLKSWAGEN TO SEE WHY HE RECEIVED THIS AMOUNT, AND WAS TOLD THAT WAS ALL THEY WERE WILLING TO PAY.*AK
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
#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
#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

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