Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10148137January 19, 2006
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON A CONTINUOUS BASIS. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE SWITCH IN THE SEAT BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IF THE SWITCH IS NOT REPLACED, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN A COLLISION. *JB UPDATES 3/3/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147986January 18, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS:SWITCH
TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER ON 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE FAILED IN SAME WAY AS DESCRIBED IN YOUR RECALL #04V584000-WHICH APPLIES TO OTHER MODELS BUT NOT NEW BEETLE. OCCURRENCE DATE: 12 JANUARY 2006, MILEAGE 64,200 APPROX. THIS IS SAME BEHAVIOR ALREADY IDENTIFIED BY YOU. I REQUEST THAT INVESTIGATION BE OPENED TO BROADEN THE RECALL TO THIS MODEL. I AM TRYING TO FIND REPLACEMENT PART. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10147126January 6, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DAUGHTER'S 2001 VW NEW BEETLE, PURCHASED PRE-OWNED ODOMETER READING 34908 WITH HIGHEST LEVEL EXTENDED WARRANTY AVAILABLE. ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY (IGNITER OF AIR BAG) HAD SPORADIC VOLTAGE READING. PRE-EMPTYING WARNINGS OF AIR BAG MALFUNCTION. THE ACTUAL PROBLEM WAS IN THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY, HOWEVER SINCE THE BOTTOM LINE TO CORRECTING THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY WOULD RELY ON REPLACING THE AIR BAG, THE WARRANTY REFUSES TO COVER THE CHARGE. SERVICE TECHNICIAN INSISTS IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, WHICH WARRANTY DOES COVER...WARRANTY INSISTS THE CORRECTING OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT RESULTS IN AIR BAG REPLACEMENT...WARRANTY DOES NOT STATE AIR BAG COVERAGE-THEREFORE WE WILL NOT COVER EXPENSE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146992January 5, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO PARK THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. THE LAMPS ILLUMINATED, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CERTIFIED DEALER FOR A REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10146809January 3, 2006
AIR BAGS
2000 VW BEETLE AIRBAG LIGHT. MY WIFE'S 2000 BEETLE'S AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO VW SERVICE FOUR TIMES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. IT STARTED WELL BEFORE THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. EACH TIME THEY REPLACE EITHER THE DRIVER SEAT WIRING HARNESS OR DRIVER SEAT AIRBAG OR BOTH. ONE TIME THEY REPLACED THE CONTROLLER. IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN AND MOST RECENTLY THEY REPLACED THE AIRBAG AND WIRING HARNESS FOR THE FOURTH TIME. THIS TOOK CARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR A WEEK AND THEN AGAIN THE LIGHT COMES ON. VW HAS BEEN GOOD TO COVER THESE REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY BUT AS WE SEE IT, THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER REALLY BEEN FIXED CORRECTLY IN THE FIRST PLACE SO IT'S ONLY RIGHT THAT THEY KEEP SPENDING THEIR DOLLAR TO GET IT RIGHT. IT HAS BEEN EXPLAINED TO US BY VW SERVICE THAT IF THE LIGHT IS ON, THE AIRBAGS SYSTEM WILL NOT FUNCTION IN A CRASH AND THIS CAUSES US GREAT CONCERN. THE VW SERVICE MANAGER CONTACTED VWOA TECH SUPPORT AND THEY SUGGESTED BYPASSING A WIRING CONNECTOR BY RUNNING A WIRE FROM THE CONTROLLER TO THE AIRBAG. (SOUNDS LIKE THEY ARE GRASPING AT STRAWS). PROBLEM IS THEY WANT US TO PAY THE $550 TO PERFORM THIS. VWOA HAS REFUSED TO PAY FOR THIS PROCEDURE. WWW.NEWBEETLE.ORG IS LITTERED WITH AIR BAG PROBLEMS SO IT IS NOT JUST OUR CAR THAT THIS AFFECTS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE PROBLEMS AND MAKE VW ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR AIR BAG SYSTEMS. SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED BY THEIR AIRBAG FAILING TO INFLATE. THANK YOU. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145884December 22, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH FAILURE (BEGAN TO SLIP) ON 2002 NB TDI @ 77K MI. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145566December 18, 2005
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUNROOF CLOGS CONSTANTLY CAUSING WATER LEAKS INTO THE CAR FROM THE HEADLINER OR DOWN THE SIDE ALONG THE WINDSHIELD TO DOOR FRAME PILLAR. APPARENTLY, THERE ARE MANY VW BEETLE OWNERS OUT THERE WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. I HAD VW FIX IT AND IT WAS CLOGGED AGAIN WITHIN A MONTH. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145010December 12, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT MOVE FROM THE PARK POSITION. DUE TO THE DESIGN THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANY OVERRIDE FEATURE THAT WOULD ALLOW THE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SHIFT POSITION. THE DEALER IS WILLING TO OFFER A FREE REMEDY HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE THE TOWING SERVICE. THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144355December 3, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I"VE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH MY 1998 BEETLE. THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING--FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE FUSES WERE MELTED OVER THE BATTERY TERMINAL. MY REVERSE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING--NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THAT YET, MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DON'T USUALLY WORK, BUT SOMETIMES WILL COME ON ALL BY THEMSELVES. GOT LOCKED IN MY CAR TWICE. THE ALARM SOMETIMES GOES OFF FOR NO REASON. THE CAR PERIODICALLY DOESN'T START. HAD IT TOWED TO VW TWICE FOR THIS. THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS. ALSO, SOMETHING IN THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IS DROWNING THE BATTERY--HAVE TO BUY A NEW BATTERY EVERY SIX MONTHS. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH WINDOWS ONCE . I HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED THREE TIMES AND WAS REAR -ENDED ONCE BEFORE VW FINALLY DID A RECALL ON THAT PART. I'M SURE I HAVE LEFT SOMETHING OUT--THERE IS SO MUCH IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER. BOTTOM LINE--THIS CAR IS A HAZARD ON THE ROAD FOR THE PERSON DRIVING AND OTHER MOTORISTS. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144108December 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
VW NEW BEETLE - IN SHOP FOR 3 MONTHS OUT OF 24 MONTHS OWNED. ENGINE TROUBLE, WINDOW TROUBLE, STARTER TROUBLE AND NOW CLUTCH PROBLEMS. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144043November 30, 2005
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED . *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143679November 26, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
RECENTLY I BROUGHT MY NIECE'S VW 2000 NEW BEETLE TO THE VW DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED. IT WAS CLEARLY EVIDENT FROM INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AND THE RECALL NOTICE BELOW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER THE DEALER INDICATED THE VIN FOR MY NIECE'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THEREFORE NOT COVERED BY VW. WE HAD IT FIXED ANYWAY AT OUR COST AND IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT IS INDICATED IN THE RECALL. LATER I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE IN THE US AND THEY DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH THE DEALER AND CONFIRMED THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE SERVICE COST FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE SWITCH. SURPRISINGLY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AT VW KNEW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE RECALL AND COULD NOT ACCESS READILY AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON THE WEB TO UNDERSTAND IT. THE VIN FOR OUR VEHICLE IS [XXX]... VW SHOULD BE FORCED TO EXPAND THE RECALL TO ALL VEHICLES, SINCE IT IS CLEAR THE PROBLEM EXIST WTH MANY OTHER VEHICLES BEYOND THOSE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL AND THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. * MAKE : VOLKSWAGEN MODEL : NEW BEETLE YEAR : 2000 MANUFACTURER : VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V265000 MFG'S REPORT DATE : JUL 25, 2003 COMPONENT: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED : 295136 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION. CONSEQUENCE: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE; OR THE LAMPS COULD COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCHES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 26, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987. NOTES: VW RECALL NO. WT. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATIONS AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). *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
#10143270November 19, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
THE POWER SHUTS DOWN IN MY 2001 BEETLE TURBO WHILE I AM DRIVING. I HAVE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, KILL THE CAR, AND THEN START IT BACK UP. AFTER THAT, IT SEEMS FINE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143271November 19, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2001 BEETLE GETS STUCK IN PARK. WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, IT WILL MOVE FREELY INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. WHEN I START THE CAR, THE GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF PARK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142350November 10, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
08/05 PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM LEXUS OF GLENDALE 09/05 EXPERIENCE NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES. PEDDLE WOULD NOT SPRING BACK INTO PLACE CAUSING CAR TO BE STUCK IN THE ROAD. I HAD TO PHYSICALLY PICK UP THE PEDDLE SO THE CAR WOULD MOVE AGAIN. TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND LEFT IT UNRESOLVED. 10/05 BRAKE PROBLEM OCCURRED MANY MORE TIMES. TWICE WHEN I TAP THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN IT WOULD HAVE A LOUD SUCTION VACUUM SOUND AND GO STRAIGHT TO THE FLOOR AND GET STUCK LEAVING THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME WITH NO WARNING TO STOP. TOOK TO DEALER...THEY SAID THEY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, BUT ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO FIX UNLESS THEY CAN DUPLICATE. WE ASKED THEY HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST IF WE WANTED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. THEY SAID THEY CANNOT GIVE US A PRICE BECAUSE IT'S UNDER WARRANTY...?!? PROBLEM UNRESOLVED!!! 10/05 PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN, BUT THIS TIME ON THE FREEWAY. DEALER SAID BRING IT BACK AND WE'LL LOOK AT IT YET AGAIN! WE ASKED FOR OUR MONEY BACK AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD BUY IT BACK AT A FRACTION OF WHAT WE PAID. LEFT UNRESOLVED...LOOKING FOR ALTERNATIVE WAY TO GET OUR MONEY BACK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142437November 10, 2005
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON (HAS GONE OFF AND ON FOR OVER A YEAR); LOCAL MECHANIC UNABLE TO DETERMINE PROBLEM. 11.09.2005 TOOK IT TO VW IN BRUNSWICK, MAINE. MECHANIC THINKS THERE IS A RESISTANCE ISSUE AND RECOMMENDED REPLACEMENT. HE THINKS IT IS A MALFUNCTION. THE COST IS OVER $500! I SPOKE TO TWO CO-WORKERS WITH DIFFERENT MODEL VW'S AND HAD THE SAME ISSUE. PROBLEM NOT RESOLVED. WHY SHOULD I PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT A MECHANIC THINKS IS WRONG AND OTHERS HAVE TO CONTINUOUSLY PAY FOR? IF IT IS A DEFECT THEN VW SHOULD BE PAYING FOR IT! MY AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED BEFORE. MY CAR WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION WITH THIS LIGHT ON. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141991November 7, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT ON. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141334October 31, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
I DROVE AN HOUR AWAY IN THE RAIN, PARKED FOR 15 MINUTES, AND WHEN I RETURNED THE ENGINE WOULD START BUT I HAD NO USE OF WIPERS, HEATER/BLOWER, OR DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS. SINCE I DARED NOT DRIVE IN THE RAIN WITHOUT WIPERS, AND SINCE IT WAS A SUNDAY, I HAD TO GET TOWED HOME. IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH -- AND WHEN THEY TRIED TO REPLACE IT, THEY FOUND THAT ITS RECEPTACLE AND NEARBY WIRES WERE ALL MELTED! VW SAYS TOUGH LUCK, IT'S MY PROBLEM. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140808October 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ATTEMPTED TO STOP IN DRIVEWAY, ENGINE RACED OUT OF CONTROL, COULD NOT STOP AND HIT UTILITY TRAILER IN YARD, CAR CAME TO STOP BECAUSE OF COLLISION, SHIFTED INTO CAR STILL IN GARAGE BEING FIXED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10133196October 26, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WHEN THE CAR STALLED. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN JANUARY OF 2005. THE CONSUMER TO THE CAR TOOK THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS DONE WITH NO RESULTS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECTIFIED. THE WINDOW SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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