Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2003)

314 consumer complaints on file.

#11054489December 13, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE REAR WINDOW OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS COME UNGLUED. AFTER CHECKING ONLINE SOURCES, I HAVE FOUND THIS HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER CARS. IT CAN CAUSE THE ENTIRE REAR WINDOW BLOW OUT IF ALL OF THE ADHESIVE GIVES WAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11051764December 1, 2017
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 AND DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING. THE BATTERY, CHECK ENGINE, AND EPC WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY AND, UPON OPENING THE HOOD, NOTICED THAT PART OF THE ENGINE HAD SEPARATED FROM THE MOTOR MOUNT AS THE BOLTS WERE CRACKED AND STRIPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC OR DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS REPAIRING THE VEHICLE HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11006713July 21, 2017
AIR BAGS
TAKATA...AIR BAG SYSTEM AIR BAG SENSOR ISSUE...AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPAIRED IN 2008 UNDER RECALL, BUT HAS FAILED AGAIN...
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11004977July 12, 2017
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY CAR HAS A VERY,VERY STONG CRAYON-CHEMICAL SMELL..THAT PERMEATES THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. NO ONE, I REPEAT, NO ONE WILL RIDE WITH ME IN MY CAR UNLESS I DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. I COMPLAINED ABOUT TO THE VW DEALERSHIP (LEITH VW/CAPITOL BLVD. RALEIGH,NC)- AND WAS TOLD BY A TECHNICIAN THAT THEY HAVE HAD THIS COMPLAINT BEFORE AND THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE THE THE GLUE USED TO HOLD DOWN THE PADDING/CARPET . I HAVE VERY BAD SENSE OF SMELL AND DO NOT NOTICE AS BAD AS EVERYONE ELSE..BUT HAVE LATELY DEVELOPED A CHRONIC HACKING COUGH THAT HAS LINGERED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS NOW (W/O PROPER DIAGNOSIS..). I WOULD LOVE TO BE INCLUDED IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST VW OF AMERICA TO INCLUDE ALL OF THE OTHER VW OWNERS WHO SHARE THIS VERY,VERY STRONG CRAYON-CHEMICAL SMELL..AND HAVE BEEN GETTING NO HELP FROM THE VW CORPORATION. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING THIS CAR FOR OVER 4 YEARS NOW..PUTTING @ 110,000 MILES ON IT IN THAT TIME PERIOD..AND I ALWAYS DRIVE WITH THE WINDOWS UP (EITHER HEAT OR A/C ON).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10927206November 21, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WINDOW NEEDS NEW REGULATOR. IT IS STUCK HALFWAY DOWN. IT IS THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WINDOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10888310July 25, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR TURN SIGNALS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING AND WERE VERY HOT. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL BLINKED VIGOROUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10882430July 4, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ITS A RECALL OF THE WATER PUMP AND I'M HAVING ISSUES WITH MY COOLING ,MY CAR IS RUNNING HOT HAVE HAD EVERYTHING DONE EXCEPT THE WATER PUMP AND STILL RUNNING HOT JUST FOUND OUT THAT ITS A RECALL ON THE WATER PUMP IF THERE IS OTHER RECALL CAN IT BE DONE ALSO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10860093April 18, 2016
POWER TRAIN
ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP, THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO SHIFT VERY ERRATICALLY. THIS INCLUDES WHILE UPSHIFTING - THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV UP AND SUDDENLY SHIFT INTO THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETIMES THE UPSHIFT IS SO SUDDEN THAT IT CAUSES THE TIRES TO BREAK FREE. IT ALSO OCCURS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO A STOP - THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS INTO LOW GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY AT TOO HIGH OF A SPEED CAUSING EVERYTHING IN THE VEHICLE (INCLUDING OCCUPANTS) TO LURCH FORWARD. THE SUDDEN DECELERATION COULD CAUSE REAR END COLLISIONS FROM FOLLOWING VEHICLES. EDMUNDS.COM HAS A FORUM FULL OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM - HTTP://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/7375/VOLKSWAGEN/NEW-BEETLE/VOLKSWAGEN-BEETLE-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS/P2
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10812052December 24, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSTANT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WIRES MELTING, BATTERY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WARNING LIGHTS GO ON THEN THE CAR DIES WHILE DRIVING, ALARM SYSTEM GOES OFF WHEN RAINING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10783869October 21, 2015
ENGINE
I WAS COMING HOME FROM BY ERS APPOINTMENT TODAY AND ON THE HIGHWAY 2, TOWARD HOME MY CAR LOST ALL POWER I HAD CARS ALL OVER FINALLY GOT OFF ROAD. WOULD NOT START SO HAD TOWED HOME. NO REASON FOR THIS. DATE TODAY OCTOBER 20 2015 AT 730 @ NIGHT. COLD BY MYSELF IN CAR.....UPDATED 01/13/16 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10777937September 27, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ALTERNATOR HARNESS HAD TO MUCH RESISTANCE IN IT CAUSING THE FUSE BOX TO MELT AND FRYING THE ALTERNATOR. DEALER SAID IT WAS A RESULT OF THE WIRE BEING OVER CRIMPT DURING MANUFACTURING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10732714July 8, 2015
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUSE BOX WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, A FEW MONTHS LATER,HERE WAS SMOKE THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10713143April 27, 2015
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2003 VW BEETLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT SHE WAS HAVING AN ISSUES WITH HER RPM'S REVVING VERY HIGH. SHE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AFTER AWHILE. SHE GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME, HER SPEED WAS ROUGHLY 65. ALL OF A SUDDEN HER VEHICLE DROPPED HER SPEED DOWN TO 50 CAUSING HER TO ALMOST BE REAR ENDED ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. AS SHE IS AWAY AT COLLEGE SO HER CAR IS NOT DRIVEN MUCH, SO WE ARE UNSURE IF THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE AND WAS TAKEN TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP AND WE WHERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10706353April 17, 2015
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT DIAGNOSED AT SERVICE BY DEALER (CAMPBELL/NELSON VW) INDICATED THAT A SENSOR OR SWITCH LOCATED IN THE DRIVER-SIDE SEATBELT LATCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND EVEN WHEN THE SEATBELT WAS LATCHED, THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THIS TURNED OUT TO BE A $400 REPAIR AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10704834April 9, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
CAR STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND THE EPC CODE APPEARED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10704554April 8, 2015
POWER TRAIN
WE HAVE PURCHASED THIS 2003 BEETLE BUG FOR MY DAUGHTER AND THE TRANSMISSION IS HARD SHIFTING AND DOWN SHIFT REALLY BAD. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR. THERE AS BEEN NOTHING BUT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION (VALVE BODY). MY UNDERSTANDING THE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES. THIS BEETLE BUG ONLY HAS 86560. WE CAN'T EVEN DRIVE THIS CAR. I CAN'T BELIEVE WITH ALL THE ISSUE THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS HAD WITH TRANSMISSION THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703502April 3, 2015
POWER TRAIN
WE JUST BOUGHT A 2003 BEETLE BUG AND ONLY HAS 86560 AND SHIFTING AND JERKING REALLY HARD AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A COUPLE MILES. IT SHIFT HARD AND DOWN SHIFT THRU 1, 2, 3 GEARS. AFTER READING SEVERAL REPORTS THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL. EVERY WHERE I READ, THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY UNTIL 2010 AND 100,000 MILES. WE ARE UNDER THE MILEAGE BY FAR. I FEEL THE DEALER NEED TO FIX THIS ISSUE SINCE THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE FOR THIS YEAR. YOU DON'T KNOW YOU HAVE AN ISSUE UNTIL YOU HIT AROUND 80,000 MILES MARK. I NEED SOME HELP AND DIRECTION WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THIS CAR, *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10703049April 1, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED FOR AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION, FLASHED, AND REMAINED LIT INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V178000 (AIR BAGS). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10692777March 8, 2015
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I RECEIVED A COUPON IN THE MAIL FROM MIDAS FOR $19.95 OIL CHANGE WITH COUPON.THE COUPON SPECIFIED TO BRING COUPON WITH ME TO A MIDAS MECHANIC SHOP TO GET THE $19.95 OIL CHANGE.I WENT TO MIDAS AT 4480 S BABCOCK STREET, MELBOURNE FLORIDA AND I PRESENTED THE COUPON. THE MANAGER ASKED ME DID YOU BRING YOUR OWN SYNTHETIC OIL LIKE YOU USE TO, I RESPONDED NO I HAVE A COUPON.HE PRINTED THE RECEIPT FOR $19.95, AND I SIGNED. I USE TO BUY MY OWN SYNTHETIC OIL AND MIDAS CHARGED ME $19.95 FOR OIL CHANGE AT SAME RATE THEY CHARGE FOR REGULAR OIL CHANGE.MIDAS ALWAYS ADVERTISED OUTSIDE THEIR SHOP AN OIL CHANGE FOR $19.95. THIS PRICE IS WITHOUT A COUPON. AS THE MECHANIC DROVE MY CAR INTO THE SHOP FOR OIL CHANGE, I REMINDED THE MECHANIC MY CAR TAKES ONLY SYNTHETIC OIL. HE TOLD THE MANAGER/OWNER AND CAME BACK TO TELL ME THEY ARE GOING TO PUT SYNTACTIC OIL. SO HE STARTED CHANGING THE OIL. AFTER HE WAS DONE THE MECHANIC TOLD ME TO GO AND PAY FOR THE OIL CHANGE. THE MANGER/OWNER ASKED FOR MY CREDIT CARD AND HE DID ALL THE TRANSACTIONS AND HAND ME THE RECEIPT IN A ENVELOP. AS I AM LEAVING THE SHOP I TOOK THE RECEIPT OUT OF THE ENVELOP AND FOUND OUT THE MANAGER/OWNER CHARGED ME $62.66 FOR OIL CHANGE WITHOUT SAYING A WARD TO ME.HE SHOULD OF TOLD ME TO COME BACK AND SIGN ANTHER AGREEMENT FOR THE $62.66 BUT HE CHOOSE NOT TO BECAUSE HE WANTED TO MAKE MORE MONEY AND IF HE TOLD ME I WOULD OF SAID NO, AND I WOULD OF TOLD HIM I WANT TO COMEBACK WITH MY OWN SYNTHETIC OIL. THE OWNER WANTED ME TO BRING THE CAR BACK SO HE COULD TAKE HIS SYNTACTIC OIL OUT AND PUT REGULAR OIL INSTEAD IN MY CAR EVEN THOUGH HE KNOWS MY CAR DOES NOT USE REGULAR OIL. I REPLIED YOU WOULD BREAK MY CAR AND MIGHT DO SOMETHING TO THE ENGINE THAT COULD CAUSE DANGER TO ME AND OTHERS IF BREAKS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. I REFUSED TO LET HIM PUT REGULAR OIL IN MY CAR FOR FEAR OF MECHANICAL DAMAGE TO MY CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10683551February 15, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING. BATTERY DEAD, NO POWER IN VEHICLE AT ALL. FOUND MELTED BATTERY FUSE BOX UNDER HOOD. ROOT CAUSE DETERMINED TO BE CORROSION ON ALTERNATOR POWER SUPPLY CABLE THAT CREATED HEAT ENOUGH TO MELT PLASTIC (~450F) AND BURN THE PROTECTIVE COVER OFF THE ALTERNATOR SUPPLY WIRE BACK 2 INCHES. POOR CONTACT DUE TO CORROSION CAUSED BATTERY TO DRAIN, WHICH EVENTUALLY COULD NO LONGER SUSTAIN ENGINE IGNITION. NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO ENGINE STOPPING. NO BATTERY POWER ALSO MEANS NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES, NO AIRBAGS DURING COLLISION. ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. IT WOULD APPEAR TO BE AS DEADLY AS THE GM IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE, BUT IT IS NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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