Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10153996March 29, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, EQUIPMENT
TRANSMISSION REPLACED THREE TIMES, STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY, LUNGES INTO FORWARD AND REVERSE, AND WILL DROP INTO AND OUT OF HIGH AND LOW GEAR WHEN DRIVING. SUNROOF LEAKED BECAUSE THE DRAINAGE TUBING WAS NOT CONNECTED AT FACTORY CAUSING WATER DAMAGE TO LEATHER SEATS AND NOW MOLD IS GROWING INSIDE OF VEHICLE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO BE INSIDE AND HAVE HAD ONE SINUS INFECTION ALREADY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10152677March 14, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE IS RECALL, #03V265000, CONCERNING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE RECALL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. FOUR BRAKE SWITCHES HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY FOR ALL OF THEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE DAY ONE. THE CONTACT PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT IT DID NOT HELP. IT COST THE CONTACT OVER $3,000 IN REPAIRS. UPDATED ON 05/16/2006. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151989March 6, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. THE RECALLED PART FAILED TWICE SINCE THE ORIGINAL PART WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS BECOMING INOPERATIVE, THE TRANSMISSION ALSO LOCKS RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE BEING INOPERABLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, 03V265000 CONCERNING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, HOWEVER THE RECALL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED TO REIMBURSE THE CONTACT FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART THAT WAS PURCHASED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151568March 1, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THESE ARE SECONDARY SAFETY ISSUES: 1) GAS GAUGE REQUIRES $700 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 2) HEADLIGHTS SHIPPED FROM FACTORY MISSING RETAINER BAND AND REQUIRE $650 FIX JUST TO ALIGN. VW SAN JOSE, CA INVOICE [XXX] ON 2001 VW BEETLE LEMON [XXX]. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150740February 21, 2006
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE SHIFT INTERLOCK SYSTEM SOLENOID. THE REPLACEMENT ONLY REMEDIED THE PROBLEM FOR A TWO YEAR PERIOD AND IT HAS NOW RETURNED, BUT THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE SHIFT INTERLOCK SOLENOID, THE SAFETY FEATURE THAT REQUIRES THE BRAKE TO BE DEPRESSED IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE TAKEN OUT OF PARK FAILED TWICE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150602February 18, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
AT THE END OF MY WORKDAY MY CAR WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK. I CALLED MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS PROBABLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT HE WOULD RATHER SOMEONE WITH MORE VW EXPERIENCE LOOK AT IT. WHEN I CALLED THE VW DEALER THE SERVICE PERSON SAID IT WAS PROBABLY THE BREAK LIGHT SWITCH AND THAT THERE WERE RECALLS THAT IT MAY BE COVERED UNDER. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE NEXT DAY THE FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, AFTER SEARCHING MY VIN# THE DEALER SAID MY CAR WAS NOT ON ANY RECALL. AFTER SEARCHING THE NHTSA WEBSITE, I FOUND A RECALL FOR MY MAKE/MODEL/YEAR VEHICLE PERTAINING TO THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150529February 17, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2001 BEETLE. IT HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE OTHER DAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I JUST TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY HAVE TO REPLACE A COIL AND AN O2 SENSOR. ALL THIS IS GOING TO COST ME CLOSE TO $1000! AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ONLINE, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT FOR VW BEETLES. VW NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL SINCE THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR SO MANY PEOPLE. I READ OF PEOPLE HAVING THE CAR STOP RUNNING WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING. THIS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10151885February 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN
2003 VOLKSWAGEN JERK WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND ACCELERATING. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE COVERED FOR 60,000 MILES. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150359February 15, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
PURCHASED VEHICLE NEW IN 1999. WAS PLAGUED WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THROUGH 2001 SUCH AS FAULTY RADIO ( 2 OCCURRENCES) ,FAULTY DOOR LOCK SWITCH AND 1 OCCURRENCE OF NON FUNCTIONING LIGHTS( INSIDE AND OUT) , HORN, DOOR CHIME . COMPLAINED OF SMOKE STREAMING FROM STEERING COLUMN IN 2004. SMOKE WAS CONSISTENT WITH MELTED PLASTIC ODOR. DEALER WAS ABLE TO LOCATE ORIGIN OF ODOR IN FEB 2006. IGNITION COIL + WIRING OVERHEATED AND MELTED. RELAY ALSO OVERHEATED. PARTS WERE REPLACED BY DEALER. DEFECTIVE IGNITION COIL RETAINED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149982February 10, 2006
WHEELS:RIM
HAD JUST ENTERED FREEWAY, GOING PROBABLY 55 MPH, WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THOUGHT THE TIRE HAD BLOWN, BUT THE RIM ACTUALLY HAD A HOLE IN IT, WITH THE IMPACT DIRECTION GOING AWAY FROM THE TIRE, LIKE IT IMPLODED. HAD TO MANEUVER CAR TO SIDE OF FREEWAY AND STOP. PUT SPARE TIRE ON CAR AND TOOK BLOWN-OUT RIM AND TIRE TO DEALER. TIRE WAS FINE, THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE RIM BECAUSE WE WERE OUT OF WARRANTY ON THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A DEFECTIVE RIM THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MUCH MORE HARMFUL ACCIDENT. TOOK CAR TO TIRE SHOP AND THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE; ORDERED NEW RIM AND ENDED UP PUTTING SAME TIRE ON NEW RIM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10149012January 30, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PARKING WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND COLLIDED WITH A LIGHT POLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAS BEEN INSPECTED. UPDATED 3/28/2006 - THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING THIS ACCIDENT. *NM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148738January 26, 2006
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG DASHBOARD LIGHT CAME ON. ONLY A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER HAS THE EQUIPMENT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND TELL ME WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. THE DEALER WILL NOT LOOK AT MY CAR UNLESS I GIVE THEM $100. IS THIS NOT PRICE GOUGING? NO AUTOMOBILE DIAGNOSIS WITH THAT EXPENSIVE. IT WILL NOT TAKE BUT A FEW MINUTES TO HOOK THE COMPUTER UP TO THE CAR AND SPIT OUT A REASON FOR THE AIRBAG LIGHT. SO, I CAN PAY THEM $100 TO TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR I CAN RIDE AROUND WITHOUT AIRBAGS. THIS TYPE OF EXTORTION SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148507January 25, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
10 DAYS AFTER HAVING VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE SERVICED FOR OIL LIGHT MALFUNCTION ISSUES AND WHILE DRIVING THE OIL SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND MAKING A STRANGE NOISE. AIRBAG LIGHT WAS BACK ON FOR THE 4TH TIME IN ONE YEAR!! SO I TURNED OFF CAR, CALLED VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE VALENCIA, AND THEY TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE AND TO HAVE IT TOWED IN. THIS WAS THE 2ND TOW IN 10 DAYS. AT THIS POINT, I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE TORN DOWN, THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM BEYOND JUST A SENSOR LIGHT, THAT VOLKSWAGEN WAS NOT GOING TO COVER THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM IF THAT WAS THE DIAGNOSIS. I SPOKE WITH VOLKSWAGEN CARLSBAD WARRANTY DEPARTMENT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SOLD ME MY PLATNIUM FACTORY EXTENDED 100000 MILES WARRANTY, AND THEY SAID IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY, SO I HAD MY CAR TOWED 150 MILES TO CARLSBAD, WHERE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH OIL SLUDGE. NOW THE CAR WAS SEEN 10 DAYS BEFORE, AND I WAS TOLD THE OIL LOOKED FINE AND IT PASSED ALL INSPECTION, JUST A SENSOR. I HAVE CHANGED OIL AT SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. I WAS TOLD EITHER INFREQUENT OIL CHANGES OR FAULTY OIL PRODUCT. VOLKSWAGEN HAS AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH ENGINES, AND WERE DELIBERATELY USING INFERIOR PRODUCTS, AND BLAMMING THE CONSUMER FOR THERE FAULTS. A CAR WITH 53000 MILES SHOULD NOT BE HAVING OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS. THISWAS FAULTY MANUFACTURING. WHEN I CALLED CUSTOMER CARE 800 NUMBER AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE SHE STATED, VOLKSWAGEN HAS AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH THE 1.8L TURBO ENGINES." WELL MY VOLKSWAGENWAS S A 1.8L TURBO. SO, VOLKSWAGEN ADMITTED TO A SLUDGE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF RESOLVING THE PROBLEM AND CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE INFERIOR PRODUCTS AND SELLING THEM TO UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMER. THIS IS NOT ONLY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. TWICE I BROKE DOWN ON THE FREEWAY WHICH WERE BOTH AUTO FAILURES WITH THE POTENTIAL OF INJURY TO MYSELF AND OTHER ON THE ROAD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148513January 25, 2006
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
2ND MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SINCE CAR PURCHASE. SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING SEAT OCCUPIED LIGHT MODULE AND AIRBAG LIGHT ON/MALFUNCTIONED. LEFT BRAKE LIGHT BURNT OUT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148516January 25, 2006
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
3RD ELECTRICAL FAILURE, 2ND AIRBAG LIGHT/MALFUNCTION. CONTINUED ISSUE WITH AIRBAG LIGHT ON/MALFUNCTIONING SPONTANEOUSLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148511January 25, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING VOLKSW BEETLE 1.8L TURBO I HAD A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE DRIVING . NO READOUTS, ENGINE WILL CRANK, BUT DOES NOT TURN OVER. NO ELECTRICAL LIGHTS OR READOUTS. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO BOB BAKER VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR SERVICE. REPEATED ELECTRICAL ISSUES/REPAIRS TO CURRENT DATE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148521January 25, 2006
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
MAJOR ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION (SEE 10148507, 10148481) 5TH ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL SAFETY ISSUES/4TH AIRBAG LIGHT/MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE 2ND X TOWED IN 10 DAYS FOR SAME ISSUES FOR FREEWAY BREAKDOWN ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL MALFUCTION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148517January 25, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, AIR BAGS
4TH ELECTRICAL FAILURE, 3RD AIRBAG LIGHT/MALFUCTION. 5 DAYS AFTER SERVICING CAR FOR AIRBAG SAFETY ISSUE, SAME REPEATED PROBLEM. (SEE COMPLAINT 10148516, 10148511). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148481January 24, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED CAR IMMEDIATELY. CHECKED OIL AND IT LOOKED FINE. CALLED VOLKSWAGEN , AND WAS TOLD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. AAA TOWED VEHICLE TO CHAPMAN SCOTTSDALE AUTOPLEX VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT 6601 EAST MC DOWELL ST, SCOTTSDALE AZ 85257. 480-949-7600. WAS TOLD OIL SENDING UNIT HAD AN INTERNAL SHORT, PRESURE TESTING PASSED. NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH OIL SYSTEM WAS STATED BY VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SENSOR REPLACED. OIL/FILTER CHANGED. MILEAGE 52197.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148292January 22, 2006
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME WHILE CAR WAS ON AND IN IDLE AND REMAINS ON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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