Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10056548February 4, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON MORE OFTEN THAN NOT SINCE 22,000 MILES. ON 8/28/01 O2 SENSOR REPLACED BY DEALER (#1). ON 1/20/03 DEALER (#3) TOLD ME THAT ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR AN ESTIMATED COST TO OWNER OF $1306.25. CAR BROUGHT TO NONDEALER AND REPAIRED FOR $36.00, ALBEIT TEMPORARILY. INCIDENTALLY DEALER HAD COMPLETELY RUN DOWN BATTERY, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. ON 5/8/03 CAR BROUGHT TO DEALER (#4) FOR OVERHEATING DUE TO A PUNCTURE IN OIL PAN, THOUGH OWNER WAS NOT AWARE OF HITTING ANYTHING. OF COURSE ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ON AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. AGAIN INCIDENTALLY TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN 5 MILES OF DEALERSHIP AFTER OIL PAN HAD BEEN "FIXED". ON 1/15/04 OWNER IS NOT ABLE TO PASS EMISSIONS TESTING AND THEREFORE NOT ABLE TO RENEW REGISTRATION OF VEHICLE BECAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. ON THAT DAY, VACUUM LEAK WAS REPAIRED BUT LIGHT RETURNED WITHIN 24 HOURS. ON 1/21/04 A HOSE IN AIR INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED BUT LIGHT RETURNED WITHIN 24 HOURS. MECHANIC HAS NOW REFUSED TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THE CAR. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR - NEVER EVEN CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT BUYING A VW!! THIS IS THE WORST CAR THAT I OR ANYONE I'VE EVER KNOWN HAS OWNED. VW SERVICE IS ATROCIOUS AS WELL. THEY ARE INCOMPETENT, IRRESPONSIBLE AND RUDE TO BOOT. THE FACT THAT VW WILL NOT PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRENTY AND PROBLEMS OCCUR THAT HAVE KNOWN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT THESE CARS POSE. SEE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS THAT OWNER HAS EXPERIENCED UNDER "OTHER".*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056242January 31, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
AT 30,000 MILES MY BEETLE NEEDED NEW REAR BRAKES AFTER DAMAGE OCCURED TO THE ROTOR. AFTER OBSERVING THEM I DECIDED TO CHANGE THE FRONT BRAKES AS WELL, THE FRONT BRAKES HAD PLENTY OF PAD LEFT. IS IT NOT NORMAL THAT THE FRONT WEAR MORE PREMATURELY THAN THE REAR??? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056241January 31, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
AT 30,000 MILES MY BEETLE NEEDED NEW REAR BRAKES AFTER DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE ROTOR. AFTER OBSERVING THEM I DECIDED TO CHANGE THE FRONT BRAKES AS WELL, THE FRONT BRAKES HAD PLENTY OF PAD LEFT. IS IT NOT NORMAL THAT THE FRONT WEAR MORE PREMATURELY THAN THE REAR??? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056090January 29, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050570January 23, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
AFTER STOPPING AT A GAS STATION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN WHICH THEY REPLACED THE SHIFT CARRIER. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS PART SHOULD BE MADE OF METAL INSTEAD OF PLASTIC. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049881January 16, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. AT TIMES THE AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKED, BUT IT NEVER WENT OFF. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SENSOR UNIT SHORTED OUT. *AK *SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069210January 15, 2004
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
CURRENT PROBLEM: MANUAL TRANSMISSION STICK SHIFT MECHANISM COMPLETELY BROKE DURING SHIFTING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (DURING RUSH HOUR). IT WENT TO NEUTRAL, BUT I WAS ABLE TO FIND 3RD GEAR AND GET THE CAR OFF OF THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069625January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BOUGHT A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE FROM TORRANCE NISSAN ON 5 JANUARY, 2003: SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE, THIS CAR HAD BEEN OVERHEATING OFF AND ON. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.? THEY WENT AS FAR AS TAKING IT TO A VW SERVICE REP ON 5 AND 6 JANUARY, 2003 FOR CONFIRMATION. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT VW HAS NO RECORD OF EVER SERVICING OR EVEN SEEING THE VW UNTIL 1 APRIL, 2003! DURING THE MONTHS OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH, 2003 I STILL EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING AND EACH TIME I CALLED AMIR, I WOULD FOLLOW UP WITH A VISIT TO TORRANCE NISSAN. THEIR REPLIES WERE ALWAYS THE SAME, THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM FOR THE OVERHEATING? THERE WERE MANY TIMES I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT I NO LONGER WANTED THIS CAR AND EVEN SUBMITTED IT IN WRITING ON 15 APRIL, 2003. ON 1 APRIL, 2003 I TOOK THE BEETLE TO VOLKSWAGEN MYSELF AND HAD IT FIXED, BUT THE WATER PUMP BROKE AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED ON 4-9-03. THREE DAYS LATER, THE CAR WAS GETTING HOT. I TOLD BOTH VOLKSWAGEN AND TORRANCE NISSAN THAT I NO LONGER WANT THIS CAR! I HAVE PROOF OF ALL THE REPAIRS PERFORMED AND STILL IT OVERHEATS! ON 12 APRIL, 2003 I TOOK THE CAR ONCE MORE TO VOLKSWAGEN TO THOROUGHLY CHECK IT OUT AND THEY CALLED THEIR TECHNICAL SUPPORT. A FEW DAYS LATER THEY FOUND A CRACKED HEAD ON THE ENGINE BLOCK. TO TOP IT OFF, I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT ON 28 APRIL, 2003 ON MY WAY TO WORK AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE LONG BEACH HONDA BODY SHOP. LATER THAT NIGHT THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS BURNED DOWN WITH 3 OTHER CARS IN THE BODY SHOP. BEFORE THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE, I WAS IN PROCESS OF A VALID CLAIM UNDER THE LEMON LAW & MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT WITH THE ADAM KROHN OF THE CONSUME LAW CENTER. ISSUES: RENTAL CAR $1,607.78 (MY INSURANCE ONLY COVERED $600.00, MY INSURANCE COVERED ONLY ACTUAL VALUE OF $10,788.31; LEAVING ME WITH A BALANCE OF $1,043.00 OUT-OF-POCKET. WHICH MY INSURANCE INFORMS ME MAKE A CLAIM AGAINST THE BODY SHOP FOR DIFFERENCE ON BALANCE AND $ 1007.78 OF THE CAR RENTAL.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070227January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE LIGHT ON, AND CAR RUNNING ROUGH, LOSING POWER AND JERKING UPON ACCELERATION. DIAGNOSIS WAS PLUG WIRES AND PLUGS ARE FOULED, CAUSING IGNITION COIL TO BURN OUT. WARRANTY COVERS COIL, BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR NEW PLUGS AND WIRES BECAUSE THEY ARE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR SERVICE ITEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070310January 15, 2004
AIR BAGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
I HAVE 21,500 MILES ON MY 2001 VW BEETLE, HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP APROX 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, CAR HESITATES AND STALLS OUT AS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS A CONSTANT ON, DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM, MY WIFE AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED IN VEHICLE DUE TO STALLING OUT IN FRONT OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC, I LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS AN ENDANGER TO MY AND MY FAMILIES LIFE WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD LIKE THIS VEHICLE TOWED IN, AND SINCE WAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM ALSO NEEDED A RENTAL CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA BOTH REFUSED ON BOTH ACCOUNTS, BECAUSE OF THE BITTER TASTE IN MY MOUTH FOR VW. I NO LONGER WANT THIS CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070354January 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
JUNE 2, 2003 THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS SENT TO VOA DEAR VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA I HAVE A 1999 BEETLE THAT CAUGHT FIRE ON MAY 4TH 2003; AS OF TODAY MAY 12, 2003 THIS IS WHAT I WAS TOLD BY [XXX] FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT. HE SAID, CORPORATE VOLKSWAGEN WILL DO NOTHING WITH THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS TOO OLD AND HAS TOO MANY MILES. THEY WILL NOT BE SENDING ANY KIND OF PAPERWORK TO ME, AND I WILL NOT GET ANY MORE CALLS FROM VOLKSWAGEN ON THIS ISSUE, THIS IS AN INSURANCE ISSUE? I AM NOT PLEASED WITH THIS ANSWER AND THIS IS WHY: 05/04/03 SUNDAY SMOKE THEN FLAMES CAME POURING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD OF OUR 1999 VW BEATLE PURCHASED OCT 1998. I WAS GIVEN A CASE # OF [XXX] TO REFER TO. [XXX] SAID THE A/C SWITCH WIRE CAUSED THE FIRE. HE WAS WAITING FOR A CALL FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA?S CUSTOMER RELATION'S PERSON. 05/12/03 MONDAY 1:38 PM I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AGAIN BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM [XXX]. [XXX] GOT ON PHONE AND SAID THAT A FIRE REPORT WAS SENT TO THEIR PRODUCT LIAISON PERSON. [XXX] SAID, CORPORATE VOLKSWAGEN WILL DO NOTHING WITH THE CAR BECAUSE IT'S TOO OLD AND HAS TO MANY MILES. THEY WILL NOT BE "SENDING PAPERWORK" TO ME AND ? I WILL NOT GET ANY MORE CALLS FROM VOLKSWAGEN ON THIS ISSUE, THIS IS AN INSURANCE ISSUE. I HAVE A RECORD OF ALL PAST SERVICE RECEIPTS (DATING BACK TO THE PURCHASE DATE) AND HAVE DOCUMENTED PROOF OF RECENT PROBLEMS AND REPAIRS TO THE A/C AND ELECTRICAL WIRING ON THIS CAR IN THE PAST. MY DAUGHTER, A CURRENT RESIDENT OF ARIZONA, CURRENTLY IS EMPLOYED AS A FULL-TIME NANNY. SHE HAS IN HER CARE A TWO MONTH OLD AND WILL BE EXPECTED TO DRIVE HIM ABOUT. HER PAST JOB WAS CARING FOR A TWO YEAR OLD AND HAD THIS FIRE? ERUPTED WHILE HE WAS IN HER CARE, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRUE TRAGEDY. PLEASE SEND VERIFICATION OF YOUR DECISION IN WRITING TO ME BY MAY 30, 2003. PLEASE SEND ALL INQUIRIES BACK TO ME AT [XXX] SINCERELY [XXX] JELINEK BUILDERS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070405January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE WATER PUMP HAS A PART THAT GOES INTO THE ENGINE; IT'S MADE OF PLASTIC AND CALLED AN IMPELLER. IT IS PART OF THE WATER PUMP. THE PLASTIC IMPELLER DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE ENGINE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON JUST MINUTES BEFORE THE ENGINE CEASED UP. OTHER THAN THAT, THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING HOT. NORMALLY WHEN A WATER PUMP GOES OUT, THE WATER LEAKS OUT. IN THIS CASE, THE WATER REMAINED IN AND DID NOT CIRCULATE. REPAIRER HAS ASKED OWNER FOR MONEY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ENTIRELY. VW WILL NOT STAND BY ITS MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, WHICH THE OWNER HAS. THE PLASTIC IMPELLER IS A COMMON DESIGN DEFECT WHICH VW KNOWS HAS A SHORT LIFE, BUT THEY KEEP DESIGNING THEIR VWS WITH A PLASTIC IMPELLER!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070739January 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PREOWNED 2001 VW BETTLE ON 7/9/03. ON 8/14/03 THE VEHICLE SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH AT HIGHWAY SPEED AFTER AROUND 1,000 MILES AFTER THE PURCHASE. ON 8/18/03 THE SELLING DEALER (BILL BARRY VOLKSWAGEN, WEST HARTFORD, CT) REFUSED TO HONOR THE MANUFACTURER'S AND CONNECTICUT STATE MANDATED WARRANTIES. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. VW CORPORATE HAS TAKEN NO ACTION TO REMEDIATE. IT HAS BECOME CLEAR BASED ON MY RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10053004January 12, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS CLASSIFIES AS A PROBLEM BUT I WANT TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. I OWN A 2000 VW BETTLE THAT MY DAUGHTER DRIVES. RECENTLY, DURING HER TRIP TO WORK, THE CAR STARTED SPUTTERING AND WOULD NOT GO BEYOND 10 MPH. I NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS VERY SIMILAR TO MY 1982 FIAT SPYDER WHICH HAD A DEFECTIVE AIRFLOW METER. AFTER CHECKING WITH THE LOCAL DEALER, IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM ON ALMOST ALL THEIR MODELS INCLUDING MERCEDES BENZ CARS. THE PRICE OF THIS AIRFLOW METER WAS AROUND $ 60.00 WHICH MADE ME MORE SUSPICIOUS SINCE I PAID WELL OVER $400 FOR THE ONE ON MY FIAT. COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAD OVER 20 ON BACKORDER DURING THE TIME I PURCHASED MINE AND I HAD TO WAIT OVER TWO WEEKS TO GET IT. IF THIS AIRFLOW METERS FAILS DURING TRAVEL ON THE INTERSTATE, IT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN CONSIDERABLY IN HI-SPEED TRAFFIC. THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS COMPONENT IS BOSCH AND ACCORDING TO SERVICE PERSONNEL, THE COST OF THE AIRFLOW METER WAS IN EXCESS OF $250 BUT THEY DROPPED THE PRICE DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF FAILURES. I QUESTIONED WHY THIS WAS NEVER ADDRESSED ON A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLES, AT WHICH TIME THE TECHNICIANS JUST STOPPED TALKING TO ME. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050523January 8, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT WHILE IN USE WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE IT WILL EITHER SURGE OR CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. DEALERSHIP STATED THEY NEED TO SEPARATE THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MOTOR BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER NOTED HE HAS SEEN A LOT OF ONE HEADLIGHT BEETLES AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. *PH *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051949December 23, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051624December 16, 2003
WHEELS
THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SPLIT IN HALF WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED. THE CONSUMER HIT A CURB AS A RESULT. THE FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. (VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 2003 NOT IN SYSTEM.) *JB *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046443December 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE IT MOVED FORWARD. *AK THIS HAPPENED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES TO THREE DIFFERENT DRIVERS. ONCE WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT, WHEN CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, IT WENT REVERSE. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051747December 9, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT PANEL AND RADIO.*MR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE RADIO OPERATED ON IT'S OWN AND THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN ON THEIR OWN. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO USE THE POWER CONTROLS TO. HE WROTE A LETTER TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN AND AUCTIONED OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE VOLKSWAGEN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *CB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ODOMETER ROLLED UP APPROXIMATELY 9000 MILES, THE DEALER RAN A COMPUTER CHECK BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050090December 4, 2003
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE WAS COMING ON AND STAYING ON. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AIR BAGS FOUR TIMES. AFTER THE LAST TIME, THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT SIMPLY RESET THE AIR BAG LIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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