Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10126506June 24, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
DT:CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH UNLOCKING VEHICLE. WHEN SHE TURNED THE KEY THE WINDOWS ROLL DOWN ON THEIR OWN. IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN RIGHT AT THAT TIME, BUT SOME TIME AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AND OFF THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN. SOMETIMES THE KEYLESS ENTRY REMOTE WILL WORK AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT WORK. CONSUMER KNEW OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER WAS REPAIRING THE PROBLEM . DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. REPAIRS WERE DONE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. DEALER REPLACED THE CYLINDER LOCK SWITCH.CONSUMER HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE SHE OWNED THE VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124075June 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS; THE SPEAKERS DIDN'T WORK/WINDOWS KEPT GOING UP AND DOWN, AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN A ONE YEAR OLD. *AK THE REPLACED TRANSMISSION STILL PERFORMS POORLY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES. *TT *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10126361June 23, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:ABS WARNING LIGHT, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE, PARKING BRAKE:INDICATOR LIGHT, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY ABS DASH INDICATOR CAME ON STEADY, THE BRAKE INDICATOR ON THE DASH STARTED FLASHING AND WHAT SOUNDED LIKE THE INTERIOR CHIME STARTED SOUNDING CONTINUOUSLY. I PULLED OVER INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. A PUFF OF SMOKE/STEAM CAME UP FROM THE PASSENGER FRONT WHEELWELL AND THERE WAS A HORRIBLE HISS AND WHINE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD ON THE SAME SIDE AND A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ABS MODULE (WHICH THEY CHANGED FOR $950!!!) AND THAT ONLY FIXED THE ABS LIGHT. NO CLUE ON THE FLASHING BRAKE IDIOT LIGHT AND NOW THEY SAY THE AC DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. NO REFRIGERANT, SO OBVIOUSLY A LEAK. IT SEEMS WAY TOO COINCIDENTAL. I HEARD ABOUT AN ABS MODULE RECALL BACK IN '03 WHICH COULD SHORT CIRCUIT AND CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE. I DON'T HAVE ANY IDEA ABOUT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT GEOGRAPHY AND I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR (BOUGHT USED) FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. IT APPEARS I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON TO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. SEE ATTACHED LINK: HTTP://FORUMS.NEWBEETLE.ORG/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=&THREADID=50457
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125596June 17, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: CONSUMER'S CAR STALLED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO WITH MOSTLY DECELERATION AND DOWN SHIFTING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE LOST POWER. EVERY TIME IT STALLED AND STOPPED, BUT ALWAYS RESTARTED. WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE BEFORE, BUT CURRENTLY A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. YESTERDAY AT FULL SPEED WHILE PASSING A TRUCK WITH NO INDICATION THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND LOST POWER. WHEN TRYING TO MOVE INTO ANOTHER LANE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER, IS CURRENTLY AWAITING AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT MAKES THIS HAPPEN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125287June 14, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
VEHICLE PURCHASED 03/1999. PROBLEM: BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER NON-FUNCTIONING OR STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY. REPAIRS: REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH VOLKSWAGEN PART#1J0945511A,B,& D. OCCURENCES: 05/12/1999, 09/24/1999 AND 04/23/2001 OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE. THREE OTHER OCCURENCES UNTIL 2003 REPLACED UNDER IN-HOUSE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION "WARRANTY". SAFETY RECALL ISSUED 10/2003. RECALL REPAIRS COMPLETED 11/2003. OCCURENCE: 06/2005 RECALLED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AGAIN. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. REPLACES BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, BUT REFUSES TO HONOR ANY KIND OF WARRANTY OF THE PART THAT FULFILLED THE ORIGINAL RECALL. THIS NEGATES THE 10/2003 RECALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. IT LEAVES ME, THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, JEOPARDIZED WITH THE SAME REAR CRASH SAFETY SITUATION I WAS ENCOUNTERING BEFORE THE RECALL. I AM REPLACING THE PART, OF COURSE, BUT AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND WITHOUT ANY CONCERNS FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. QUESTION: HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY THE MALFUNCTION OF THIS SAME RECALL MANDATED REPAIR? WILL THERE BE DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO THIS MALFUNCTION? I CAN ONLY PRAY THAT THERE ARE NONE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10125037June 12, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
COOLING PROBLEMS LED TO OVERALL DIAGNOSIS OF COOLING SYSTEM. 30 AMP FUSE LOCATED IN FUSE PANEL ON TOP OF BATTERY WAS FOUND TO BE BURNED AND MELTED. THE PLASTIC FUSE PANEL WAS DESTROYED AND THE FUSE ITSELF MELTED INTO THE FUSE HOLDER. THE CONTACTS IN THE PANEL FOR THE REMAINING FUSES APPEAR TO BE VERY SMALL (APPROX 18-GAUGE WIRE SIZE) AND POSSIBLY THIS EXTREMELY SMALL CONTACT AREA CONTRIBUTED TO THE OVERHEATING, MELTING AND BURNING OBSERVED. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS DETAILED IN THIS THREAD ONLINE: HTTP://FORUMS.NEWBEETLE.ORG/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=E9AEE49B8C9FDDF9B634388731C5D59A&THREADID=26315&PERPAGE=15&HIGHLIGHT=30A%20FUSE&PAGENUMBER=1 THE FUSE BOX AND FUSE (ORIGINAL OEM GREEN FUSE) APPEARED THE SAME AS THE PICTURES PRESENTED IN THE ABOVE-LINKED THREAD. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124609June 8, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DIGITAL ODOMETER "GOES OUT" AND THE CHARACTERS CHANGE WHILE THE CAR IS SITTING OR WHILE STARTING. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS BAD OR NOT, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM NORMAL. I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 5 TIMES WITH NO FIX OR URGENCY TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE. CLUSTER WAS REPLACED ONCE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124439June 7, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DT: IN OCT 03 THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED. (THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH) AS TIME PASSED, THE VEHICLE BECAME HARDER AND HARDER TO SWITCH OUT OF PARK. ON 6-6-05 THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK PARK. OWNER CALLED THE DEALER WHILE STUCK AND DEALER INSTRUCTED HOW TO GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. THEN OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. AIR BAG LIGHT ALSO COMES ON FROM TIME TO TIME, AND HAS BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES. ALSO, ALL THE BULBS IN THE VEHICLE BURN OUT UNREASONABLY FAST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10124370June 6, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE 2000 1.8 TURBO (ENGINE TYPE: APH) HAS ENGINE STALLING PROBLEM, WHICH HAVEN'T BEEN FIXED BY VOLKSWAGEN DEALER BY 7 OR 8 TIMES. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO THE DRIVER. MY BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY WOULD BE EXPIRED ON JUNE 30TH, 2005, WHICH IS ONE MONTH LEFT. BUT THE VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICAN STILL REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE FUTURE DIAGNOSE FEE FOR THE SAME ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10123950June 2, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER STATES: THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT ITSELF OFF WHILE DRIVING. DEALERSHIP KEPT 5 DAYS AND NEVER RECOGNIZED PROBLEM. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122400May 29, 2005
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WHEN I CLOSE MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, THERE IS CONSISTENTLY A GAP BETWEEN THE GLASS AND SOFT TOP CONVERTABLE. ALSO WHEN I USE THE BUTTON TO CLOSE MY WINDOW IT GOES UP BUT COMES RIGHT BACK DOWN REPEATIDLY, I HAVE COMPLAINED TO VW AND I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHOIP , I HAVE TAKEN IT THERE NUMBEROUS TIMES AND THEY HAVE "FIXED" IT BUT IT CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME THING REPEATIDLY... I AM VERY FUSTRATED .... I LOVE MY CAR BUT HATES IT WHEN IT DOES NOT FUNTION PROPERLY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122624May 20, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2000 SUPER BEETLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** .*MR ON 6/26/02 THE VEHICLE'S REAR PADS BECAME SEIZED IN THE HOLDERS ON ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR ROTORS AND PADS AT 13524 MILES. ON 4/15/05 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES AND BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SPONGY WHEN PRESSED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE REAR SLIDERS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WERE STUCK DUE TO A BUILD UP OF SALT/ROAD DEBRIS WHICH CAUSE THE BRAKE PADS TO WEAR PREMATURELY. THE PADS AND ROTORS ON BOTH REAR WHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 29277 MILES. ALL THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE FIRST BRAKE REPAIR AND NOW REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MOST RECENT REPAIR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121250May 18, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
TO MAKE THIS SHORT THIS LINK TELLS THE WHOLE STORY IN DETAIL ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH MY CAR. HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=1941470 CURRENTLY MY CAR IS STALLING RANDOMLY ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. VW OF AMERICA TELLS ME TO TAKE IT UP WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. WHICH I HAVE BEEN FOR 2 YEARS. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS GIVING IT BACK TO ME UNFIXED BUT STILL REPLACING PARTS! THE DANGEROUS PART OF THIS IS THE STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN THE CAR DIES AND I'TS STILL MOVING. I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING IT AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYWHERE WITH VW. IF YOU GO TO THE LINK ABOVE AND READ THE THREAD YOU WILL SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE AND THAT IT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PARTICULAR YEAR AND ENGINE AS MINE IN MOST REPLIES. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF MORE DETAILS OR INFORMATION IS NEEDED. I WOULD LIKE TO HELP FIND A SOLUTION BEFORE ANY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS HAPPEN OR ANYONE IS HURT. THANK YOU, DAVE WERBECK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10121257May 18, 2005
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG SYSTEM HAS BEEN DEFECTIVE SINCE DELIVERY OF THE CAR. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON WITH IN DAYS OF PURCHASE, THE CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR ON AT LEAST 5 OCCASIONS, HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR THE PAST 2.5 WEEKS AND THEY ARE SAYING IT MAY BE AS MUCH AS 3 MORE MONTHS BEFORE THE PROBLEM CAN BE RESOLVED BECAUSE OF A SOFTWARE PROBLEM WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. IF THIS IS TRUE THEN ALL THE 2005 VW BEETLES WOULD BE AFFECTED BY THE SAME SAFETY ISSUE
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120926May 15, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CLUTCH DEFECTIVE,VERY LOW MI 40,000
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120471May 9, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED THIS "LIKE NEW"VW SUPER BEETLE ON DEC 31 04. IT HAD ONLY 17000 MILES ON IT. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION MODULATOR ON IT CHANGED, AND IN THE SHOP 6 TIME FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AN HOUR OR SO IT WILL HESITATE THEN SLAM INTO 2ND GEAR. IT CAUSES ME AND PASSENGERS TO LUNGE FOWARD THEN BACK. I AM TOLD THIS IS A CHARATURISTIC OF VW AND SHOULD JUST IGNORE IT OR GET USE TO IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119839May 4, 2005
AIR BAGS
2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CAR IS LESS THAN TWO YEARS OLD AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS TURNED ON FOR NO REASON THREE TIMES. (IT STAYS ON.) IN SEPT '04 DEALER REPLACED A CRASH SENSOR; IN OCT '04 DEALER REPLACED THE AIRBAG; IN MAY '05 DEALER REPLACED CRASH SENSOR AGAIN. SRS.PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118626April 28, 2005
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION WE NEVER EVEN LEFT THE DEALERSHIP. THE LAST TIME WE PICKED IT UP THE VEHICLE THEY TOLD US IT WAS A SOFTWARE ISSUE, AND THE SOLUTION SHOULD BE IN TWO WEEKS, AND IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST FIVE MONTHS AND STILL NO SOLUTION AS OF YET. THEY WERE STILL SAYING TWO WEEKS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118500April 26, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A SERIES OF PROBLEMS SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VOLKSWAGEN ENTHUSIAST. SO WHEN I SAW THE NEW BEETLES I WAS NATURALLY EXCITED AND COULDN'T WAIT TO OWN ONE. WHAT I EXPECTED WAS VOLKSWAGENS USUAL EXCELLENT QUALITY AND VALUE FOR MONEY. WHAT I GOT WAS A VEHICLE THAT NOT ONLY IS AN INCONVENIENCE TO DRIVE, BUT IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AT LEAST 8 MAJOR DEFECTS. I CALL THEM DEFECTS BECAUSE SO MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THEIR NEW BEETLES. KEEP IN MIND THE VEHICLE IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED, AND IS ONLY AT 97,000 MILES. 1. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND VEHICLE STALLS OR CUTS OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS. 2. THE LOW BEAMS ON MY HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS BURN OUT. I CHANGE THE LIGHTS AND THEY JUST BURN OUT AGAIN. I ALWAYS HAVE TO DRIVE INSTEAD WITH MY HIGH BEAMS ON. 3. MY DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS HAVE FALLEN INTO MY DOORS. MEANING THAT THEY WONT ROLL UP, A LOUD, NOISE CAN BE HEARD WHEN YOU TRY. I WAS TOLD BY VOLKSWAGEN THAT THEY WERE "AWARE" OF THE PROBLEM. THEY EVEN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THEY USED PLASTIC CLIPS TO HOLD THE WINDOWS AND THEY ARE NOW REPLACING WITH METAL CLIPS. FINE AND GOOD, BUT WHILE MY WINDOWS WERE DOWN MY SEATS BECAME SEVERELY STAINED. (THEY STAIN EASY) WHO'S GOING PAY FOR THAT??? 4. THE WINDOW SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE WINDOWS GOING UP AND DOWN BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. 5. THE RADIO TRIES TO LOAD A TAPE WHEN THERE ISN'T ONE. HOOD LATCH BROKE, HAS TO BE OPENED WITH SCREWDRIVER NOW. THANKS VWOA!! 6. HEATER MOTOR TURNS UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN 7. ENGINE HOLDS HIGH RPMS IN HIGHWAY, RAPID IOL CONSUMPTION. 8 REVERSE LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. QUESTIONS VWOA? CALL ME, WE'LL CHAT 269-986-0996 . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119086April 25, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS ON THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES DID NOT OPERATE WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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