Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2003)

314 consumer complaints on file.

#10264967April 11, 2009
AIR BAGS, SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE WARNING LIGHT FOR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMES ON AND DOES NOT GO OUT ALSO DRIVER SEAT IS STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN ON 11/15/2005 AT THAT TIME IT WAS ONLY THE AIR BAG CAUSE; 00591. DRIVERS SEAT BELT SWITCH FAULTY IT WAS REPLACED ON 12/12/2007 THE SAME PROBLEM AND MORE BUT,THIS TIME I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE FOUND A ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND NHTSA IS AWARE OF IT.THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY I HAVE HAD REPAIR DRIVER SEAT SLIDER. IT HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING, NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264152April 4, 2009
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, STRUCTURE:BODY
2003 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE RIGHT SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10264153April 4, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO MANUAL FROM AUTOMATIC WHILE STOPPED. IT WAS INTERMITTENT AND AT ABOUT 58,000 FAILURE IS PERMANENT AND NO LONGER IS USABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263598March 30, 2009
VISIBILITY
MY COMPLAINT IS ON THE 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR. THE WINDOW IS DOWN AND WILL NOT ROLL UP. I TOOK MY CAR INTO FIX THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, AND GOT A QUOTE OF $880 FOR EACH WINDOW. WHY IS VWOA MAKING CONSUMERS PAY FOR REPAIRS ON THEIR CARS WHEN IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW? I HAVE READ NUMEROUS WEBSITES AND THEY WERE FULL OF PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME THAT GET STUCK WITH A BILL FROM VW FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD BE COVERING. IS THERE ANY TYPE OF CLASS ACTION HAPPENING ABOUT THIS? OR POSSIBLY A RECALL? THANK YOU! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10263605March 30, 2009
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT ALWAYS ON EVEN AFTER THE 6 SECOND RULE THAT THE MANUAL EXPLAINS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256648January 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2003 VW BEETLE SHIFTS SO VERY HARD BETWEEN 2ND, 3RD AND 4TH GEAR IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO BREAK. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC. THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION GASKET. I REPLACED IT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW ROLLS DOWN ON ITS OWN. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HITS THE TOP (WHEN PUTTING IT UP) THEN ROLLS DOWN. DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256057January 23, 2009
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
MY COMPLAINT IS ON THE 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR. I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR LEFT, AND RIGHT WINDOW 3 TIMES, ALL 3 UNDER WARRANTY. NOW, I TOOK MY CAR INTO FIX THE BACK RIGHT, AND DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, AND GOT A QUOTE OF $480 FOR EACH WINDOW. WHY IS VWOA MAKING CONSUMERS PAY FOR REPAIRS ON THEIR CARS WHEN IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW? I HAVE READ NUMEROUS WEBSITES AND THEY WERE FULL OF PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME THAT GET STUCK WITH A BILL FROM VW FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD BE COVERING. IS THERE ANY TYPE OF CLASS ACTION HAPPENING ABOUT THIS? OR POSSIBLY A RECALL? THANK YOU! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255860January 21, 2009
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE FOUND ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH VW NEW BEETLE. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHILE THIS LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254364January 9, 2009
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR BOUGH USED FROM VS DEALERSHIP ON 7/31/2006. BEEN IN FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT 4TIMES, AIRBAG LIGHT 3 TIMES, A/C BROKE ONCE, WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP ONCE, NEEDED NEW ROTORS ONCE, RATTLING UNDER HOOD ONCE, BATTERY DIED TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND I HAD TO TOW IT BACK TO VW. CAR JERKS WHEN GOING OUT OF FIRST GEAR-I TOLD VW THIS REPEATEDLY AND THEY ONLY TRIED TO FIX IT AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS UP. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $700 TO FIX. ON 12/9/2008 MY CAR WOULD NOT GO OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS OUT OF THIS CAR. I CAN NOT PUT ANYMORE MONEY INTO IT. WHEN THE WARRANTY WENT UP, ALL OF THE SUDDEN EVERYTHING STARTED GOING WRONG. I REQUESTED PRIOR INFORMATION FROM THE VW DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE OTHER OWNER BEFORE ME. I FEEL THAT THIS CAR WAS DOCTORED SO THAT I WOULD BUY IT AND THEN IT STARTED FALLING APART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253965January 6, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. ON DECEMBER 19, 2008, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE RELAY WAS MALFUNCTIONING. ALL THE COMPONENTS ATTACHED TO THE RELAY FAILURE WERE REPAIRED, BUT THE VEHICLE STILL WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR MORE INFORMATION AND THEY STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPENT OVER $800 REPAIRING THE FUEL PUMP THREE TIMES. THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. HIS LAST RESORT WAS TO HAVE THE DEALER REPAIR THE FUEL PUMP; HOWEVER, THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE UNDER WARRANTY. THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,968.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10253967January 6, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CAR WILL NOT START. ENGINE NOT RECEIVING FUEL. FUEL PUMP, SENDER, RELAY, & FUSES ARE NOW BEING REPLACED FOR THE THIRD TIME WITHIN 3 WEEKS TIME. DEALER WILL NOT WARRANTY PARTS EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED 10 OR 12 OTHER INCIDENTS WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS. FOREIGN CAR MECHANIC AND INDEPENDENT TOW TRUCK DRIVERS HAVE ALSO REPORTED KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER INSTANCES OF THE SAME SITUATION IN THIS AREA. REPAIR COSTS HAVE ALREADY EXCEEDED $800. NOT INCLUDING TOWING THE VEHICLE ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. CONCERNS ARE RELATED TO FUEL SAFETY ISSUE AND MAYBE RELATED TO 2003 VW PASSAT FUEL PUMP RECALLS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252188December 18, 2008
AIR BAGS
2003 VW BEETLE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON, WILL NOT GO OFF. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V178000, INVESTIGATION PE08-012, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE08012 LISTS MODEL YEAS 2003-2005 HOWEVER, 2003 MODEL WITH THIS VIN NUMBER NOT LISTED. BELIEVE TO BE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10252187December 18, 2008
AIR BAGS
2003 VW BEETLE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON, WILL NOT GO OFF. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V178000, INVESTIGATION PE08-012, NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE08012 LISTS MODEL YEAS 2003-2005 HOWEVER, 2003 MODEL WITH THIS VIN NUMBER NOT LISTED. BELIEVE TO BE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10250725December 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE OIL PRESSURE AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO OIL SLUDGE AND THE SENDING UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,600 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. 4/01/09 *NJ THERE WAS SLUDGE IN THE OIL PAN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. UPDATED 04/06/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247641November 4, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SINCE SEPTEMBER 22, 2008, THE OIL LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON, FIRST INTERMITTENTLY AND THEN CONSTANTLY, FOLLOWED BY BUZZING SOUND. THE VW SERVICE REPAIR REPLACED A CLOGGED OIL PUMP WHICH THEY STATED WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. OCTOBER 6, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON-REPLACED OIL PRESSURE SENSOR AND OIL FILTER.. ON OCTOBER 17, 2008 THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN - VW SERVICE KEPT THE CAR TO TEST DRIVE UNTIL OCTOBER 20 AT WHICH TIME THEY REPLACED THE OIL PUMP. OCTOBER 22, 2008 THE OIL LIGHT CAME BACK ON- VW SERVICE REQUESTED TO KEEP THE CAR BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO CALL VW HEADQUARTERS TO TRY TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE OIL LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMING ON. ON NOVEMBER 3, VW SERVICE STATED THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS, HOWEVER, SUGGESTED REPLACING THE ENGINE, AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. IN REVIEWING INFORMATION ON VARIOUS DISCUSSION BOARDS, THE 1.8T ENGINE THAT IS IN THE VW NEW BEETLE IS THE SAME ENGINE THAT CAUSED SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE OIL LIGHT IN THE PASSAT AND THE AUDI. IN CONVERSATION WITH VW CUSTOMER CARE (1-800-822-8987), THEY INDICATED THERE ARE NO COMPLAINTS RE NEW BEETLE AND THE 1.8T ENGINE AND STATED THE OIL PAN SIZE IS DIFFERENT. IT IS UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT THAT AN ENGINE WITH 55,000 MILES AND 5 YEARS OLD , AND THAT HAS BEEN MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANUAL WOULD NEED REPLACING---AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE SCARY PART IS THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CANNOT GUARANTEE THAT REPLACING THE ENGINE WOULD FIX THE OIL LIGHT ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246917October 28, 2008
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE DOOR, THE WINDOW WOULD NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY AND WOULD ROLL DOWN APPROXIMATELY HALF AN INCH. ONCE THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN, THERE WAS NO WAY TO ROLL THE WINDOW BACK UP. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ELECTRONICS THAT CONTROL THE WINDOW FAILED AND THE ENTIRE WINDOW OPERATING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, INCLUDING ALL FOUR REGULATORS, MOTOR, AND ALL THE RELATED COMPONENTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $1,400. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10246727October 26, 2008
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON. THE LEFT FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE IS THE CAUSE OF THE LIGHT BEING ON. APPARENTLY THE SENSOR IN THE BUCKLE IS DEFECTIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245541October 15, 2008
VISIBILITY
THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW WENT DOWN 1/2 WAY THEN STOPPED. I TRIED TO ROLE IT BACK UP AND IT DROPPED DOWN AND WOULD NOT COME UP OR DOWN. THEN THE TOP WOULD NOT GO DOWN AND THE RIGHT WING FLAP FROZE OPEN. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST 300.00 TO GO IN AND THE PART WOULD COST 3-5 HUNDRED FOR THE PART. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAPPENED QUIT OFTEN ON THE 2003 VW CONV. IF THAT IS THE CASE, IF THIS IS SUCH A WIDE SPREAD AND INHERENT PROBLEM, WHY HAS VW NOT BEEN FORCED TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. WOULD THIS COME UNDER THE LEMON LAW AS IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT CANNOT BE PERMENANTLY REPAIRED. I UNDERSTAND THAT LATER MODELS WERE GIVEN EXTENDED WARRANTIES TO COMPENSATE FOR THE PROBLEMS. I WILL NEVER TRUST VW DEALERSHIPS OR PRODUCTS AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10245554October 15, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A TRANSAXEL ON MY 2003 BEETLE CONV. THAT HAS A SETTING FOR MANUAL SHIFT OR AUTO. I CAN NO LONGER SHIFT TO THE MANUAL SETTING. AT FIRST IT WOULD ALLOW ME TO SHIFT INTO MANUAL IF I STOPPED THEN, I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND SHIFT QUICKLY FROM PARK TO MANUAL. NOW, NOTHING. THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A NEW TRANSAXEL INSTALLED. I HAVE DRIVEN OLDER VW FOR 20 YEARS, NOW I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW PRODUCT OF ANY KIND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242286September 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A LOOSE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED INCORRECTLY. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE, BUT WITH NO RESOLUTIONS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED WITH THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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