Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2004)

349 consumer complaints on file.

#10663487December 10, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE BACK PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR WAS REPLACED. TODAY 12/09/14 NOT THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR NEEDS REPLACED. I THINK THIS IS FAULTY. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL VW REPAIR DEALERSHIP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10643670October 9, 2014
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WIRING HAS FAILED THUS ILLUMINATING THE AIR BAG LIGHT. THE SEAT BELT WIRING IS OF MINUTE DIAMETER WITH LITTLE SHIELDING AND POOR CONDUIT. BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT MUST FLEX WHEN MOVING THE SEAT FORWARD, THE STRAIN ON THE WIRING IN THE SEAT BELT RIPS THE WIRING FROM IT'S SOLDERED JOINT. THIS CAUSES THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND CAUSES THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TO REVERT TO A BACKUP ALGORITHM THAT PUTS THE DRIVER IN A DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT. THIS "BACKUP" ALGORITHM WILL NOT MONITOR VEHICLE SPEED AND WILL AUTOMATICALLY DEPLOY THE AIRBAG AT A DEFAULT AMOUNT OF FORCE REGARDLESS OF IMPACT FORCE. THIS MEANS THAT A MINOR FENDER BENDER THAT REACHES THE AIRBAG FORCE THRESHOLD COULD DEPLOY THE AIRBAG AT A FORCE TOO GREAT AND CONVERSELY A HIGH SPEED IMPACT MAY DEPLOY THE AIRBAG WITH INSUFFICIENT FORCE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH WILL ALERT YOU AS TO HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM IS. AFTER CALLING MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME "WE REPLACE A TON OF THOSE SEATBELTS." VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THIS EGREGIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART BEFORE FATAL CONSEQUENCES FURTHER PROVE THIS IS A DEADLY AND EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631163September 5, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL, STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ACTIVATING THE TURNING SIGNAL, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHORTED AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628305August 26, 2014
ENGINE
EXITING GARDEN STATE PARKWAY SB ENGINE CUT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXIT RAMP. HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF AND THEN TOWED. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT IT WAS THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY USED CAR WARRANTY HOWEVER THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2.0L TURBO MOTORS. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS OR TECHNICAL BULLETINS FOR THIS PART. I AM AWARE THAT THE PART THAT IS FAULTY ON THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WAS ONLY CORRECTED IN 2012. I PERSONALLY KNOW SOMEONE WHOSE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THIS PART . THE FAULTY PART BEING REPLACED IS A SPRING. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN WARRANTY HOWEVER THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY VW AND I SHOULD BE EITHER PARTIALLY OR ENTIRELY COVERED FOR THIS REPAIR. IF YOU WANT TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH, THIS PROBLEM IS VERY EASY TO FIND ON THE INTERNET. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10628056August 25, 2014
SEATS
I HAVE NOTICED A QUARTER SIZE BURN STARTING TO HAPPEN ON THE SEAT SECTION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MY SON HAD THE SEAT HEATER ON THIS MORNING WHEN DRIVING TO SCHOOL NO BURN NOTICED ON HIS LEG THE CAR IS A CONVERT ABLE BEETLE 2003 THE SEAT IS IN REASONABLE CONDITION .LEATHER STILL SUPPLE WITH NO VISUAL DEFECTS APART FROM SLIGHT DISCOLORATION AND SOME PERIPHERAL CRACKING ON THE EXTERIOR SEAT SECTION. WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN ON HEATED SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10617420July 29, 2014
POWER TRAIN
CAR HAS SUDDEN JERKY WHEN SHIFTING ALSO REAR WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. DEALERSHIP SAID NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION BUT HAVE ONLY HAD CAR 8 MONTHS. THE WINDOWS QUIT WORKING AFTER OWNING IT FOR ONE WEEK COST 400 JUST TO FIX ONE WINDOW. DEALERSHIP ESTIMATE TO FIX TRANSMITION 6700.00. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609599July 10, 2014
ENGINE
ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON. LOSS OF POWER STEERING. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE LAST TIME WAS 7/8/2014, THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST. VOLKSWAGEN HAS BEEN CONTACTED THEY SAY NOT RECALLS ARE LISTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10608859July 8, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR. INITIALLY THE HEADLIGHT WAS BURNT OUT. ORDERED A NEW HEADLIGHT AND INSTALLED IT AND IT WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THEN MY DAUGHTER DROVE THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES. WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT HER DESTINATION SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CAR OFF BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. WHEN I ARRIVED I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AND THE CAR BATTERY WAS NOW DEAD. I HAD THE BATTERY JUMPED BUT NOW THE HEADLIGHT THAT I JUST REPLACED WAS NOT WORKING AGAIN, AND NOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE RUNNING LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE NEXT MORNING THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. WHEN WE FINALLY GOT OVER TO THE MECHANIC THE WIRING WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND THE HEADLAMP MODULATOR WAS BLOWN. THE WINDOW WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR WAS MELTED AND RUINED. AFTER ABOUT $1000 IN REPAIRS THE MECHANIC IS EXPLAINING THIS IS JUST THE ONE SIDE, THE WIRING FOR THE OTHER SIDE IS GOING TO NEED TO BE REPLACED IN NEXT 6 MONTHS OR SO. HE EXPLAINED THIS IS A COMMON OCCCURANCE WITH THESE CARS. I AM HONESTLY AFRAID TO ALLOW MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT SEEMS IT IS A FIRE HAZARD. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10606869June 29, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE AC STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR. I ALSO NOTICED A BEEP SOUND THAT WOULD COME ON WHEN I TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS ON BUT THE SOUND WOULD TURN OFF AND ON WHILE I DROVE. THEN THE ALARM STOPPED WORKING AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, THE RADIO ALSO GAVE OUT AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO HESITATE WHILE DRIVING IT. I CHECKED THE FUSE BOX ON THE BATTERY AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SLOT WHERE THE FUSE SLIPS INTO ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE BATTERY WAS MELTED AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ON THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP COVER LIKE SOME TYPE OF GAS OR FUMES HAD ESCAPED THE BATTERY AND SPRAYED THE HEADLAMPCOVER. I CHANGED THE FUSES AROUND AND GOT THE AC GOING AGAIN, THEN I CHANGED THEM ALL OUT, AND EVERYTHING WORKED GREAT FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS, THEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN, THE ALARM STOPPED WORKING, RADIO IS OUT, THE BEEPING SOUND IS BACK AND WHEN I CHECKED THE FUSE, IT WAS MELTING AGAIN. I AM AFRAID THAT WHILE IN THE VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN I WILL HAVE A MALFUNCTION AND BE INJURED. I JUST PAID OFF THE VEHICLE... WHAT A GIFT FOR PAYING OFF A VEHICLE... SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING IN AND ON THAT VEHICLE IS A HAZARD AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.. ITS SAD BECAUSE I USE TO LOVE MY NEW BEETLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593905May 24, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
THE BATTERY TO ALTERNATOR WIRE ON THESE CARS OVERHEATS AND CATCHES FIRE. I OWN A CAR DEALERSHIP AND JUST HAD IT HAPPEN TO ME. I WAS LUCKY AND STOPPED ANYTHING HORRIBLE FROM HAPPENING BUT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT KNOW ENOUGH TO STOP IT OR THAT IT WAS HAPPENING. THESE CARS ARE A HUGE FIRE HAZARD AND YOU NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL. CHECK THE PICTURES OF BURNED CARS ON GOOGLE. YOU WONT FIND ONE COMPLAINT BUT MANY AND PLENTY OF BURNED CARS. SO I ASK THAT YOU DO YOUR BEST TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE CAR I OWN HAS A HISTORY OF THE ALTERNATOR BEING SERVICED. OBVIOUSLY A RECALL ISSUE THAT MAYBE VW SHOULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX INSTEAD A BAND AID AND OUT THE DOOR. CHECK CAR FAX ON THIS CAR. IF SOMEONE LET THERE CAR WARM THEY COULD BURN DOWN THERE HOUSE. I AM GOING TO REROUTE THIS WIRE AND REPLACE IT WITH A BETTER GRADE OF WIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10592871May 20, 2014
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON. THIS MEANS THE AIRBAGS WERE DISABLED. DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED THE SEAT BELT CLASP ON THE DRIVER SEAT AS THE PROBLEM. THE ELECTRONICS IN THE CLASP WERE NOT COMMUNICATING CORRECTLY CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO BE DISABLED. THE SEATBELT AS A SAFETY MECHANISM ITSELF WAS NOT COMPROMISED. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN AND COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL AND THAT THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE SEATBELT CLASP AT A COST OF ABOUT $300.00. THE CAUSE OF THE SEATBELT CLASP TO FAIL WAS THE MOTION OF MOVING THE SEAT BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS. TO ACCESS THE REAR SEATS OF THE CAR THE SEAT MUST BE MOVED BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS AS IT IS A TWO DOOR CAR. OVERTIME, THIS ACTIVITY WORE OUT SOME ELECTRONICS IN THE CLASP CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO BE DISABLED. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ITEM THAT IS CUSTOMARILY REPLACED SUCH AS TIRES, BRAKE PADS OR WIPER BLADES. THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE AND OFFER TO VOLUNTARILY RECALL THE VEHICLES AND/OR OFFER TO PAY FOR A FIX IN OUR CASE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586404May 4, 2014
AIR BAGS
MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON YET AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND WAS FIXED BY A VW DEALER BY CHANGING THE INFREQUENTLY USED PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS $360. THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER. IT WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER AND SCANNED AND FOUND TO BE A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. THE ESTIMATE FOR THE FIX WAS ABOUT $800 WITH THE ADVISORY THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE FIXED WITH THAT PART REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE REPORT READS, "AIRBAG CRASH SENSORS MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL IF SOFTWARE IS DIFFERENT FROM NEW MODULE." IT SOUNDS LIKE THE VW TECHNICIANS THEMSELVES ARE GUESSING ABOUT THE REPAIR. THERE IS REPORTEDLY A VW RECALL ON THE 2003-2005 BEETLE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE BUT THE VW DEALER AS WELL AS VW CUSTOMER SERVICE (800-374-8389) BOTH TELL ME THAT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. THE INTERNET VW BEETLE FORUMS ARE REPLETE WITH REPORTS OF AIRBAG SYSTEM PROBLEMS. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT TO ADD TO THE CURRENT LIST OF SUCH COMPLAINTS WITH THE HOPES THAT VW WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY RELATED DEFECT IN THEIR DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE 2004 VW BEETLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586023May 1, 2014
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH INDICATING PRND2 ALL HAVE BRACKETS AROUND THEM AND DON'T INDICATE WHAT GEAR THE CAR IS IN. IT FEELS LIKE WE HIT A ROAD HAZARD EVERY TIME THE TRANSMISSION DOES CHANGE GEARS, THE DEALER TOLD US THIS IS NORMAL, BUT IT IS GETTING WORSE AND AFTER LOOKING THROUGH ONLINE FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10577872April 7, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 05/28/14*LJ UPDATED 8/17/17*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568844March 12, 2014
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V178000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10565298February 21, 2014
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THE CAR TURNED OFF. THE CAR WAS STEERED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560605January 20, 2014
POWER TRAIN
SIMPLY WHAT HAPPEN WAS I BOUGHT THE WRONG CAR IT SEEMS.ONE NIGHT I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND ALL THE SUDDEN AS I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR I NOTICE THE CAR WAS JUST REVVING AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE AT ALL AND ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER THE PNRDS WAS FLASHING SO I PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND MOVED INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554302December 2, 2013
POWER TRAIN
CAR SLIPPED COMPLETELY OUT OF GEAR WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4TH GEAR. IT CONTINUES TO DO THIS WHEN THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY WARMED UP. GOING OUT OF GEAR ESSENTIALLY MAKES US A SITTING DUCK ON THE HIGHWAY FOR A REAR END COLLISION. VERY MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE CHILDREN RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554000November 27, 2013
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD WHEN STARTING FROM STOP. LURCHING IS SEVERE AND BECOMES WORSE AND TRANSMISSION WARMS. TRANSMISSION IS DSG TYPE OF AUTOMATIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10537725August 28, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED OUR USED 2004 BEETLE CONVERITBLE, THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1-3 GEARS THE CAR JUMPS AND HALTS. IT IS HORRIBLE. WE HAD THE TRIP TRON SWITCH REPLACED AND STILL NO HELP. I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS FROM 2003 TO 2008. A NEW TRANSMISSION IS OVER $6000. APPARENTLY, IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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