Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2004)

349 consumer complaints on file.

#10306739February 5, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY AT AROUND 60,000 MILES. WE HAVE OUR 04 VW AT A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND I AM BEING TOLD THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH OF A PROBLEM THAT VW CHANGED THE DESIGN FROM 2004 TO 2005. VW DOES NOT ADMIT ANYTHING AND SAYS THAT THE CAR MUST BE TAKEN TO A VW DEALERSHIP IN ORDER THAT THEY CAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, I DO NOT BELIEVE THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303241January 29, 2010
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
MY 2004 VW BEETLE SHOWED AN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. I TOOK IT TO VW UNDER A RECALL AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR FREE. 3 MONTHS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. VW SAID THE CAR HAD A BAD DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE. COST WOULD BE $ 331.07 PLUS TAX. I STILL HAVE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON. IT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT A BAD SEAT BELT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CAR COMPANY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302227January 25, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2004 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE W/60,000. MILES ON IT. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM A STOP, IT WON'T GO INTO PROPER GEARS. IT JERKS REALLY BAD AFTER BOGGING DOWN (NOT GOING INTO GEAR). I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES IN GETTING REAR-ENDED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON & THE VW DEALER JUST SAYS THEY NEED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM SO TO START IT IS $150. & I WAS TOLD IT COULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION; BUT, I SEE OTHER POSTING OF SIMILAR ISSUES ON WEB SITES WHEN I DID A SEARCH ABOUT IT. THAT IS WHERE I FOUND THIS LINK, I THINK THIS IS A DANGEROUS & COSTLY ISSUE! I BELIEVE IT IS A RECALL ISSUE FOR VOLKSWAGEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10302034January 23, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY HAS TROUBLE UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. IT JERKS, HESITATES AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD. IT STARTS OCCURRING AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MIN DRIVE. IT IS ESPECIALLY UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. THE CAR SLOWS DOWN, THE PANEL SHOWS DOWNSHIFTED GEAR, CAR ALMOST STOPS, THEN MAKES A SHARP SUDDEN MOVEMENT FORWARD. IT IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT INTERSECTIONS, BECAUSE OF UNCONTROLLABLE JERKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10300464January 20, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A 2004 AUTOMATIC VW BEETLE LAST YEAR FROM A DEALER. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN TO GO INTO NEUTRAL IN BETWEEN SHIFTING, AND SOMETIMES LOCKS INTO 3RD GEAR UNTIL I DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT ALMOST ALL THE 6 SPD. AUTOMATIC VOLKSWAGEN CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT 80,000 MILE, MINE HAS 84,000 ON IT NOW. I HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAY "THERE ARE NO ENGINE CODES, WE CAN'T FIX IT", BUT IT IS A HAZARD TO DRIVE BECAUSE IF YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY, IT WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL SOMETIMES, AND THE ENGINE JUST REVS UNTIL IT FINALLY SLAMS INTO GEAR. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED, BUT THAT HAS NO EFFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298693January 8, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHENEVER HE STARTED HIS VEHICLE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AND THEN REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS AND HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A MONTH AND A HALF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10298312January 5, 2010
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILURE ----- I BOUGHT A 2004 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, IT IS SO CUTE AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A LOT OF FUN. WHEN RUNNING COLD THE CAR WAS FINE, AFTER WARMING UP, IT STARTED JERKING AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. *TR BY THE WAY, WHY TRANSMISSION IS NOT ONE OF THE COMPONENT IN YOUR SITE? I HAVE TO CHOOSE UNKNOWN/OTHER INSTEAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10296308December 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH 80K AND A TRANSMISSION THAT IS JERKING AND SHIFTING TERRIBLY FOR MONTHS, AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING IT. I'VE SPENT TOO MUCH ON THIS CAR ALREADY, AND 7500 TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION THAT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IS AWFUL. THERE ARE MANY OF US OUT THERE WITH PROBLEM TRANSMISSIONS WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294443December 3, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING; NOW, WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES, IT IS SLIPPING CONSTANTLY, RESULTING IN INCREASED DRIVING DANGER. ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS WEBSITES, THIS APPEARS TO BE AN UNCOMFORTABLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM FOR MANY OWNERS OF NEW BEETLES, 2003 - 2005. THIS WILL BE AN EXPENSIVE FIX, REQUIRING A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294145December 1, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS MY CAR'S GEARS HAVE BEEN ACTING UP, SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR; AND IN MORE THEN 10 CASES COMPLETELY GOING OUT OF GEAR AND LEAVING MY CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE IM DRIVING (IN SOME CASES ON THE FREEWAY). THE CAR JERKS WHEN IT DOWN SHIFTS, AND ALSO JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING INTO CERTAIN GEARS. AT FIRST, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED RARELY. NOW IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10294089November 30, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BOUGHT MY VW NEW. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH JERKY SHIFTING FROM EARLY ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". THEY ACTED LIKE THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH HAS TO BE A LIE CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HERE. I'M NOW PAST THE WARRANTY, THE CAR IS PAID FOR, AND I WORRY EVERY TIME I GET IN IT THAT I'LL GET STUCK IN A GEAR. VOLKSWAGEN KNEW THE TRANSMISSIONS WERE BAD IN THESE CARS AND THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293701November 27, 2009
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
PASSENGER REAR WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BROKEN. I READ THAT MANY OTHER VW BEETLE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND TO REPORT MY PROBLEM HERE. MY CAR IS A 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293192November 23, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING ACCELERATION. ON DE-ACCELERATION DOWNSHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION JERKS. 2. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND IS VERY DANGEROUS IF TRYING TO SPEED UP TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT OR PEDESTRIAN. 3. CURRENTLY OBTAINING ESTIMATE TO REPAIR VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE HAS 80,000 MILES AND I NOTICED OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. REPAIR COST OF $4,000 TO $6,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293138November 21, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2.0 LITER ENGINE. WHEN SLOWING DOWN, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS FROM 5TH GEAR DOWN TO 3RD GEAR, SEVERELY AFFECTING BRAKING. VW DEALERSHIP, WHERE PURCHASED THE CAR, AND WHICH HAS PROVIDED ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE, ADVISED TRANSMISSION IS SEALED, CAN'T REPLACE FLUIDS, CAN'T FIX, AND THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. ONLY 121K HIGHWAY MILES. REPLACEMENT WILL COST OVER $6K. ACCORDING TO EDMUNDS CARSPACE.COM THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPANT WITH VW BEETLES. DANGEROUS SITUATION DESERVES A RECALL BY VW AMERICA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292448November 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS, TIRES
2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TURBO...2.0 LITER ENGINE...THE TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING DOWN OR UP....FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HAS REARENED IT IN THE BACK....HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP AND COUPLE OF OTHER TRANSMISSION PLACES...THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY THING WRONG WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY...NOW THAT IT HAS 94000 MILES AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY DECIDE IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION.....WE HAVE HAD IT SERVICED JUST LIKE WE SHOULD...IT DOESN'T MATTER...WE DON'T HAVE 6000.00 TO GET IT FIXED...SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE...I'VE TALKED WITH MANY, MANY VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM..HOW MANY DOES IT TAKE BEFORE YOU GUYS DO A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292479November 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SEATS, SEAT BELTS
VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE '04 (APPROX. 80K MILES) - SLIPPING AND BANGING TRANSMISSION. SLAMS AND BANGS HARD WITH EACH DOWNSHIFT (AUTOMATIC) AFTER ABOUT 15 MILES OR DRIVING. SLIPS OR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER SLAMMING AND BANGING BEGINS. CANNOT DRIVE CAR IN TRAFFIC FOR FEAR OR BEING REAR ENDED OR BROADSIDED, THEREFORE, CANNOT SAFELY OR DEPENDABLY DRIVE THE CAR. EXPECTED THOUSANDS TO REPAIR IF A MECHANIC WHO UNDERSTANDS THE PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND. MANY OF THE KNOW ISSUES WITH CAR HAVE ALSO OCCURRED; BROKEN PLASTIC WATER PUMP, REAR WINDOW SEAL BROKEN, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LIGHT MALFUNCTION, HEADLIGHTS UNEVEN BRIGHTNESS, SHORT IN DASH, HEATED SEAT TOO HOT TO USE (FEAR OF FIRE) AND INCREDIBLE DOOR RATTLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292597November 17, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 VW NEW BEETLE: THE CAR WOULD SHIFT TO "NO" GEAR WHILE DRIVING, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT IN "NEUTRAL." WHEN AFTER A STOP THE CAR WOULD NOT GO RIGHT INTO A GEAR....CARS BEHIND WOULD HAVE TO SLAM ON BRAKES BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE INTO GEAR. HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY AT LEAST TWO MECHANICS - ONE WHO WORKS WITH EUROPEAN CARS; AND MY VW DEALERSHIP. AFTER A MIS-DIAGNOSING BY VW - I AM TOLD INDEED A NEW TRANSMISSION!! 88,000 MILES! I NEED A CAR - COULDN'T AFFORD THE $6000 + THAT VW WAS GOING TO CHARGE, SO BROUGHT IT TO A AAMCO AND HAD IT FIXED FOR JUST OVER $4000.00...THIS IS A RECALL PROBLEM...I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT ALL THIS MONEY INTO THE CAR, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT CANNOT BE TRADED IN FOR ANY OTHER CAR. IT WAS CERTAINLY A SCARY RIDE WHEN THE CAR WOULD GO OUT OF GEAR(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). PLEASE HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291976November 12, 2009
VISIBILITY, STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, SEATS
LEFT REAR WINDOW IS STUCK IN DOWN POSITION. THE COMPONENT PART IS UNAVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND HAS TO BE ORDERED FROM THE FACTORY IN MEXICO. IT WILL TAKE 2-3 WEEKS FOR IT TO ARRIVE. COST OF REPAIR IS $800 FOR ONE SIDE. COMPLAINTS TO MANUFACTURER WHO WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AS THERE ARE NO RECALLS FILED EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE IS A CONVERTIBLE. THE HYDRAULIC TOP HAS MALFUNCTIONED SINCE THE DATE IT WAS PURCHASED. IT FINALLY SNAPPED OFF PORTIONS OF THE HYDRAULIC MECHANISMS AND PORTIONS OF THE INTERIOR FLAPS WHICH ARE NOW ALL OVER THE BACK SEAT. THE TOP HAD TO BE MANUALLY RAISED AND SECURED AND DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. ALTHOUGH THEY REPAIRED IT PREVIOUSLY, MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. DRIVER'S SEAT SPRING POKED THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A TERRIBLE BLIND SPOT WHILE BACKING OUT. THE RAG TOP COMPLETELY BLOCKS VISION ON THE RIGHT REAR. I HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERS NOTHING. I BELIEVE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED. I FEEL RIPPED OFF BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10292021November 12, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 04 VW BEETLE CONV. THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. IT SHIFTS LATE & BANGS INTO GEAR OR DOESN'T SHIFT AT ALL. THE DEALER SAY THE TRANS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED @ A COST OF 6K. I BROUGHT IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP & THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER HAVING THE VEH FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. IN READING THE WEB PAGES I FIND MANY OTHERS WITH THIS VEH HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH LOW & HIGHER MILEAGE. VW KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. I ENDED UP HAVING THE TRANS REBUILT, BUT ITS STILL DOING THE SAME THING, NO CHANGE. THE TRANS SHOP IS BAFFLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291495November 9, 2009
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE X 2. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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