Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2004)

349 consumer complaints on file.

#10889201July 28, 2016
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN, SEAT BELTS
MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ALL AT ONCE MY AIRBAG/SEATBEILT LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10882429July 4, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE FIRST TIME I ROLLED WINDOWS DOWN IN MY DRIVEWAY SO THAT I COULD TAKE TOP DOWN. THEY WOULD NOT ROLL UP PROPERLY TO MAKE A CONNECTION TO THE TOP CONVERTIBLE OF THE CAR. SO THE CAR WAS NOT WEATHER SAFE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10882120July 1, 2016
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO APPROACH A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT, IT WOULD DOWNSHIFT INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE AND HAD TO BE PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10882136July 1, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
TRANSMISSION SLIPS, JERKS , DOWNSHIFTS , VEHICLE BECOMES DISABLED ON ROADWAY, DANGER TO DRIVER, PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROADWAYS. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT IN LOUISIANA REGARDING THIS PROBLEM . THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION 10-15 MINUTES AFTER IT IS IN MOTION .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10876204June 23, 2016
AIR BAGS, VISIBILITY/WIPER
1. AIR BAG: THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING. 2. SUNROOF DRAIN SYSTEM CLOGGED: THERE IS LEAKAGE THROUGH THE SUNROOF OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. ALL RAIN WATER IS COMING IN FROM THE PASSENGER DOOR. AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS OF THUNDER STORMS THE CAR HAS WATER ALL OVER THE INSIDE AND THE CEILING AND SMELLS BAD. (AS SOON AS I FOUND OUT THE SUNROOF LEAKAGE PROBLEM OF THIS CAR, I FOUND THAT HE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT HAS APPROVED A $69 MILLION SETTLEMENT STEMMING FROM A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT THAT STARTED IN 2007 OVER LEAKING SUNROOFS. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2014/VOLKSWAGEN-SETTLES-LAWSUIT-LEAKING-SUNROOFS.SHTML)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10875747June 21, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
POWER PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW. STOPPED 3/4 OF WAY UP, HEARD A "CRACK". ROLLED DOWN AND NO LONGER WORKS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853967April 7, 2016
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING AND AN UNKNOWN HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE WATER PUMP KIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SWITCHED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10839864March 4, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2015, FEBRUARY 29, 2016 THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, HAD MY SONS JUMP IT AND DROVE IT TO WORK, AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF TRIED TO START AGAIN RIGHT AWAY, VEHICLE DEAD. MADE AN APPOINTMENT MARCH 4, 2016 WITH VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT THE ISSUE IS A BURNT ALTERNATOR CABLE AND MELTED FUSE BOX. AFTER READING NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS ONLINE, IT SEEMS THAT IS GOES OUT BETWEEN 70,000 - 80,000 MILES, MY VEHICLE HAD 79,000 MILES WHEN IT HAPPENED. VOLKSWAGEN ISN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT EVEN THOUGH IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT I'VE SEEN...WANTING VOLKSWAGEN TO PAY FOR REPAIR...VERY FRUSTRATED, DON'T THINK I WOULD OWN ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN!...IF THIS IS THE WAY THEY TREAT CUSTOMERS. THERE WASN'T A FIRE, BUT IT COULD'VE HAPPENED, ISN'T VOLKSWAGEN CONCERNED ABOUT INDIVIDUALS SAFETY, THINK THEY SHOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE BY PROVIDING A DIFFERENT SOLUTION TO HOW THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED PERTAINING TO THE FUSE BOX, ETC.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10820095January 13, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR CABLE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10806380November 23, 2015
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
FOR THE PAST 3-4 YEARS MY BEETLE HAS HAD WORSENING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. SOMETIMES IT JUST TURNS OFF ALL BY ITSELF. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL GOES OUT. IT HAS EVEN HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND IT SHUT OFF. I WAS NEARLY KILLED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10758806August 24, 2015
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10749309August 17, 2015
AIR BAGS
IN 2008 I TOOK MY VW BEETLE TO THE VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN MURRIETA, CA ON DATE STREET AND THEY HAVE RECORD THAT THEY FIXED THE AIR BAG LIGHT/ AND REPLACE THE SWITCH WHICH WAS LIT UP ON MY DASH INSTRUMENT PANEL. WELL I TOOK THE SAME CAR 2004 VW BEETLE BACK ON 08/17/2015 AT 8:15 AM SO THEY COULD TAKE CARE OF MY AIRBAG LIGHT WHICH CAME ON AGAIN AT 107,000 MILES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL SWITCHES FROM THE SEATBELTS TO THE FRONTEND AND ALSO BEHIND THE CARS DASH THAT CAN CAUSE THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON BUT, BEING THIS IS A LIFE SAVING PART ON MY CAR I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A RECALL SERVICE AND PART ON MY RETURN VISIT. AS I SEE IT THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY HAZARD AND I SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED A $126.00 TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND PAY MORE FOR THE PART AND SERVICE TO FIX A DEFECTIVE ITEM. IF I'M INCORRECT PLEASE ADVISE ME SO I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS MY FAULT. I THOUGHT IF YOU FIXED THE PROBLEM THEN IT SHOULD BE ON THE COMPANY OR PERSONS WHO REPAIRED THE RECALL ISSUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE TO MY FRUSTRATION WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10733576July 13, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IT STARTED WITH THE BATTERY LIGHT COMING ON. I MADE IT HOME. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART, DEAD. I FIRST ASSUMED THE BATTERY NEEDED TO RECHARGE AND DID THAT. IT WOULDN'T HOLD A CHARGE. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE FUSE BLOCK ON TOP THE BATTERY, IT WAS MELTED! ALONG WITH THE WIRE GOING TO THE ALTERNATOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THESE VEHICLES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10732577July 7, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO NOTICED THE BATTERY FUSE BOX WAS HEATED AND POTENTIALLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10721836May 27, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND MY FRONT BUMPER HIT A PARKED CAR, AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND RENDERED ME UNCONSCIENCE IT CAUSED $12,000 TO MY TEETH AND POSSIBLE HEAD INJURY AND 18 MONTHS AT A SPECIALIST DENTAL, HAD TO HAVE A BONE GRAPH AND STINT IN MY MOUTH, LIVER AND ABDOMINAL CONTUSION HAD TO PAY AN ATTORNEY $9,000 TO AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT ME IN COURT, I LOST MY JOB AND AM NOW ON SSD
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10714913May 6, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V356000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10715034May 6, 2015
POWER TRAIN
APRIL 2014, THE MECHATRONIC UNIT FOR MY 2004 VW NEW BEETLE TDI FAILED. IT WOULD SURGE IN AND OUT GEAR. THIS PART WAS RECALLED OVERSEAS BUT NOT IN THE USA. THIS JANUARY 2015 WHAT I HAD A TURBO FAILURE AND A DUAL MASS CLUTCH FLYWHEEL FAILURE. THIS IS THE DSG 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE SPECIAL FLYWHEEL HAS FAILED, IT HAS A HOLE IN THE OUT CASING AND THE INTERNAL SPRINGS INSIDE ARE SLOWING BREAKING UP AND WERE SHOOTING OUT THE ASSEMBLY. THESE PIECES THEN SOMEHOW MANAGED TO MACHINE THE TRANSMISSION BELLHOUSING CREATING AT LEAST 3 HOLES IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE. THE CAR SERIOUSLY VIBRATES AT IDLE BUT WHEN UNDER POWER THE CAR RUNS NORMAL. THERE IS A GRINDING SOUNDS ALSO WHEN AT IDLE. I AM AMAZED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HASN'T CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED YET. THIS WOULD BE A POTENTIAL CRASH IF NOT REPAIRED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER CASES SIMILAR TO THE AFOREMENTIONED PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10712928April 26, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ONLY WHEN AT USE FOR 20MIN STARTS TO THUMP IN ALL GEARS. BUT MOSTLY NOTICEABLE AT 3 AND 4. SOMETIME LOCKS AT 3 AND HAVE TO TURN OFF AND LET REST TO ENGAGE 1 AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10689894February 23, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE. VEHICLE ACTED AS IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND A PARTIALLY MELTED FUSE BOX FUSES, BURN MARKS AND MELTED WIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10679519January 28, 2015
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
THE WINDOWS ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT ROLL UP. THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VOLKSWAGEN PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE WINDOW SIDE AS OF THIS DATE. IF THERE IS A RECALL, PLEASE ADVISE. I NEED THIS FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE WINDOW REGULATOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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