Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2007)

56 consumer complaints on file.

#10849939March 16, 2016
POWER TRAIN
AFTER WARMING UP TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, BUCKING, AND CLUNKING. HAPPENS AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE (ABOUT 10 MILES).
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10785364October 22, 2015
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SWITCHED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO DRIVE. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE AND COAST TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER AT THE END OF THE EXIT. THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE PUT INTO SPORT MODE AND WOULD MOVE FORWARD SOMEWHAT IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS FLOORED, BUT DRIVE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. WHEN IN DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD ONLY REV AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED IT AND SAID THE FRONT DRIVE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FELL APART. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION IS A SEALED SYSTEM, MAKING REBUILDING IT OR REPLACING SPECIFIC PARTS VERY DIFFICULT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10781433October 12, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MANY OWNERS OF VWS INCLUDING THE BEETLE AND OTHER MODELS HAVE REPORTED COLD SOLDER JOINT ON THE DOOR LOCK SENSORS. THESE COLD SOLDER JOINTS CAUSE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WHERE THE DOORS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK, AND THE WINDOWS WILL ROLL DOWN AND BACK UP. THE WINDOWS FUNCTION IS RELATED TO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP, SO THAT THE WINDOW WILL ROLL DOWN A BIT WHEN THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED SO THAT IT WILL COME OUT FROM THE LIP OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10745614August 2, 2015
ENGINE
AFTER DEPARTING MY HOME, AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 23 MILES, I HAD A BRIEF SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING, HOWEVER, ALL THE WINDOWS WERE OPEN AND I WAS ON A HIGHWAY OF 12 LANES OF TRAFFIC, AND FELT IT COULD BE FROM ANY WHERE, NOT NECESSARILY MY VEHICLE. MOMENTS LATER, I CAUGHT A FLASH IN MY RIGHT EYE, THAT DREW MY ATTENTION TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD, BUT WHEN I LOOKED I THOUGHT PERHAPS IT WAS A SUN REFLECTION. DIRECTING MY ATTENTION BACK TO THE HIGHWAY, SECONDS LATER, I CAUGHT A SECOND FLASH AND THIS TIME WHEN LOOKING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD, THERE WAS FLAMES INSIDE THE CAR NEAR THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT TOWARDS THE FLOOR AND DOOR, AND BLACK SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY, TURNED OFF THE CAR, EVACUATED WITH MY BELONGINGS, AS THE CAR BECAME TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 AND ASSISTANCE ARRIVED TO INCLUDE THE STATE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND TURNPIKE STAFF. THE CAR WAS PICKED UP ON CAMERA BY THE TURNPIKE DISPATCHER ONCE I CALLED IN. NOTE: THIS VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED 35 DAYS PRIOR FROM THE VW DEALER WHERE PURCHASED 4 YEARS AGO! I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AT ALL, AND HAVE A CAR FAX THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME WHEN PURCHASED THAT SHOWS NO PREVIOUS RECALL EITHER. SOMETHING WENT SERIOUSLY WRONG ON 25 JUL 2015. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY MORE TRAGIC DAMAGE, TO INCLUDE MY LIFE, OTHER VEHICLES, AND POSSIBLY OTHER LIVES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10715814May 11, 2015
POWER TRAIN
WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND FROM 2ND TO 3RD THERE IS A PAUSE BETWEEN GEARS AND THEN IT BANGS WHEN IT FINALLY CATCHES. IT SEEMS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VW. I'M PICKING MY CAR UP TOMORROW AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS INCLUDING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT THE VW AGREED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALER THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST $1800 TO REPLACE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT AND VW NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE REPAIRS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10714030May 1, 2015
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT REMAINED RETRACTED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 7/9/15*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10706354April 17, 2015
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
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
#10692311March 5, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
GAS LEAKAGE FROM UNDER HOOD IDENTICAL TO RECALL #20I4 BUT WAS TOLD BY VW DEALERSHIP CAR WAS CHECKED 3 YEARS EARLIER AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM IN THE LOCATION OF PARTS AND THAT THIS LEAKAGE HAPPENED AT ANOTHER AREA OF THE FUEL LINE AND VW OF AMERICA CONCURRED WITH DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO FIRE BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING BAD AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER SMELLING GAS ODOR INSIDE CAR. IT SEEMS VW WON'T OWN UP TO ANYTHING UNLESS THERE IS A CASUALTY. AFTER HAVING BOUGHT THREE BEETLES I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN VW OF AMERICA AND THIS DEALERSHIP ANYMORE. ALSO THE HEADLINER HAS TO BE REPLACED AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY AFTER DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. VERY LOW MILEAGE TO BE INCURRING DESIGN PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10662871December 8, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THERE IS OIL LEAKING ONTO TIMING COVER AT THE REAR OF CYLINDER HEAD. VERY COSTLY AND THERE IS NO WAY TO CATCH IT BEFORE IT HAPPENS, IT JUST HAPPENS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10653381November 7, 2014
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2007 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE SHIFTS HARD (VIOLENTLY) FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD GEAR IN STANDARD MODE AND SPORT MODE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WHILE THE VEHICLE IS WARM. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD SINCE THERE WEREN'T ANY CODES PRESENT, THAT I DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. LAST WEEK THE CAR STALLED WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I MANAGED TO STEER OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID A COLLISION. VW OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT RESOLVE THEIR MANUFACTURING ISSUES. THIS ISSUE POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO OCCUPANT SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629450August 29, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE SPECIFIC REPAIRS WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,479. UPDATED 10/6/2015*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10618479August 3, 2014
SEATS, STRUCTURE:BODY, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
FIRST THE BUTTON TO ROLL UP THE PASSENGER WINDOW BROKE, THEN THE BUTTON TO LOCK THE PASSENGER DOOR BROKE, THEN THE SEAT FELL APART FOR NOT REASON AND WOULD NOT CLIP DOWN, THEN THE PLASTIC PANELS INSIDE THE DOOR CRACK AND ARE FALLING OFF. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616090July 24, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS THEN STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595162May 30, 2014
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WAS TOLD BY DEALER MAIN AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE WAS BAD AND MORE COULD BE BAD ONCE THAT WAS REPAIRED AND REST OF SYSTEM COULD BE CHECKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593522May 22, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ONGOING ISSUE WITH STARTING FOR APPROX LAST YEAR AND A HALF. HAVE HAD IN TO LOCAL DEALER WHERE PURCHASED AND THEY FIND NOTHING OTHER THAN TO TELL ME TO LOCK MY CAR WHEN IN USE BECAUSE THE CAR'S ELECTRONICS ARE BEING CONFUSED. WHILE TRYING TO START THE ICONS WILL FLASH AND THE WINDOWS WILL GO UP AND DOWN. SOMETIMES THE CAR EVENTUALLY STARTS ON A 2ND OR 3RD TRY BUT OTHER TIMES THE CAR GOES DEAD AND A JUMP IS NECESSARY. I HAVE LESS THAN 35,000 MILES ON IT AT THIS POINT IN TIME. ARE OTHERS HAVING ISSUES OR IS THIS DEALERSHIP INEFFECTIVE IN DIAGNOSING PROBLEM? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584024April 21, 2014
POWER TRAIN
VW HAS A HISTORY OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH SEVERAL OF THEIR CARS. OUR CAR STARTED EXPERIENCING ISSUES WITH SHIFTING UP AND DOWN. WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE FOR ABOUT 30K MILES AGO. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE. AS WE STARTING INVESTIGATING IF THERE WERE OTHERS EXPERIENCING THEY SAME ISSUE, WE HAVE LEARNED THAT VW KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS OFFER TO MANY TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY OF THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE THE ISSUE. WE CONTACTED VW TODAY TO SEE IF THEY WOULD DO THE SAME FOR OUR VW AND THEY SAID NO. WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOME HELP WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556519December 18, 2013
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION WHERE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555797December 12, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION IS BAD. HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. ALSO BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. DRIVES FINE UNTIL THE CAR WARMS UP. AFTER ABOUT 20 OR 30 MINUTES IT STARTS THE HARD SHIFT AND JERKING. IT HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN 2ND GEAR AND WILL NOT SHIFT UP OR DOWN, NOTHING, JUST STUCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547300October 8, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A STOP. TWO MONTHS LATER WHILE PARKING IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO AND ROLLED OVER A CEMENT CHOCK FOLLOWED BY A STORAGE UNIT THAT FRACTURED THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT NO CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE WAS DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,387.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535465August 15, 2013
STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE IGNITION KEY/TUMBLER AND STEERING COLUMN WILL BECOME LOCKED IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT PERFECTLY STRAIGHT. CAR MUST BE ALIGNED PERFECTLY BEFORE PARKING TO NOT HAVE AN ISSUE. CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN FIXED. KEY AND TUMBLER WILL ACTUALLY SPIN IN THE COLUMN WHEN TURNED WHILE COLUMN IS LOCKED UP. DEALER SAID TO PULL ON KEY/TUMBLER WHILE TURNING AND IT WILL "CATCH" ITS POSITION AGAIN. WIFE HAS BEEN TRAPPED IN VARIOUS LOCATIONS BECAUSE OF STEERING COLUMN LOCK-UP. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION FOR ANYONE TO BE LEFT STRANDED IN ANY LOCATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Beetle