Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#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
#10608530July 7, 2014
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO OPERATE AND CLOSE THE WINDOW. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, WHO REPLACED THE MOTOR REGULATOR. HOWEVER, THE REMEDY REPAIR FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10608203July 4, 2014
ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR UNDER A MONTH. NOTICEABLE LAG FROM DEAD START AS WELL AS LOW SPEEDS AND TRYING TO ACCELERATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10607529July 1, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
ON JUNE 13TH I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AND I WENT TO TURN OFF THE AC AND IT MADE A LOUD CLICKING NOISE, AFTER THE NOISE THE AC WOULDN'T TURN OFF SO I ENDED UP DRIVING 3 HOURS WITH THE AC FULL BLAST. A FEW DAYS AFTER THIS I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE AC, AND LEFT IT LIKE THIS FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. AT THIS POINT THE MIDDLE KNOB WAS STUCK AND THE AC WOULD RANDOMLY WORK AND NO LONGER WOULD TURN AT ALL. ON JUNE 30TH AS I WAS LEAVING THE PARKING LOT OF MY APARTMENT AND WENT TO TURNED ON THE AC, IT MADE A WEIRD NOISE BUT I CONTINUED DRIVING ANYWAYS. THE AC STOPPED WORKING SO I TURNED THE KNOB AGAIN AND I STARTED GETTING A BURNING SMELL, I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT FROM BEHIND THE KNOB SO I DROVE BACK TO MY APARTMENT BECAUSE I DECIDED IT WASN'T SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY. IN A MATTER OF A MINUTE THE SMOKE GOT WORSE AND STARTED COMING OUT FROM THE ENTIRE AREA UNDER MY RADIO. I PARKED MY CAR ONCE I GOT BACK HOME AND STOOD OUTSIDE AS I ALLOWED MY CAR TO AIR OUT, NOT LONG AFTER THIS I SAW FLAMES COMING OUT FROM THE MIDDLE KNOB AND GROWING BIGGER. I WAS LUCKILY ABLE TO PUT IT OUT WITH A CUP OF WATER AND WAS FORCED TO CALL 911 TO MAKE SURE THE FIRE WAS COMPLETELY OUT. THIS IS ONE OF THE WORST EXPERIENCES THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME AND IT WAS TERRIFYING, IF I DIDN'T HAVE A CUP OF WATER AT THE TIME THE FIRE COULD HAVE EASILY BURNED UP THE REST OF MY CAR IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10606996June 30, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, SEATS
THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH. I TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED AND THEY SENT THE CAR OVER TO THE VW DEALERSHIP. VW DEALERSHIP CONTACTED ME AND SAID THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT, AIRBAG IGNITER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED A DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG UNIT TO THE TUNE OF 881.79. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HOWEVER NOTHING RELATED TO THE AIRBAG OR SAFETY IS COVERED. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN I WONDER WHY VW DOESN'T STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS AND WARRANTY. *TR
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
#10606340June 26, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR STALLS AND LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. 3RD INCIDENT ON CAR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE CAN'T FIND ANY ISSUE TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10605083June 22, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
MY BEETLE SMELLS LIKE MELTED CRAYONS SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. IT GIVES ME A MAJOR HEADACHE ON LONG TRIPS AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO THE CAR FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR GETS CONTAMINATED WITH THE CRAYON SMELL, HOPE ITS NOT TOXIC. GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM IN MOST 2006 BEETLES MADE IN MEXICO. I'M NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE DONE, BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR IF I HAD KNOWN. ITS THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WHEN I TEST DROVE THE CAR BUT THOUGHT MAYBE A CRAYON WAS STUCK IN THE DEFROSTER - NOT THE CASE. LET ONE OF THE VW EXECUTIVES TAKE A LONG ROAD TRIP AND SEE FOR THEMSELVES. ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY POORLY DESIGNED. BULBS BLOW REGULARLY AND ARE HARD TO CHANGE AND I EVEN HAD THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY POP OUT OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT COULD HAVE KILLED THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, EASILY. APPARENTLY THE WIND/AIR RUSHING THRU THE GRILL FORCED THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY TO POP OUT AND GO BOUNCING DOWN THE HIGHWAY LIKE A BOWLING BALL. IM SURE IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE DIFFICULTY OF INSTALLING THE ASSEMBLY AND IT NOT BEING SECURED CORRECTLY BY THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES. YOU SHOULDN'T NEED A PHD TO CHANGE A BULB. CUTE WILL ONLY GET YOU SO FAR VW! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10604323June 18, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598462June 16, 2014
STEERING, AIR BAGS
CLOCKSPRING IN STEERING BROKE CAUSING FAILURE OF ABS, AIRBAG, ESC AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM.CAR WAS BRAND NEW WITH 259 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598464June 16, 2014
STEERING, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), AIR BAGS, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CLOCKSPRING BROKE FOR THE SECOND TIME CAUSING FAILURE OF ABS, AIRBAG, ESC AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM. SECOND FAILURE OF THE SAME PART IN 3 WEEKS. VOLKSWAGEN IS UNRESPONSIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598524June 16, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED AND THE GEAR SELECTOR DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597485June 10, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2003 VW BEETLE TURBO 1.8.AND THE FUSE BLOCK HAS BURNT UP 3 TIMES NOW AND THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL.I JUST HAD VW TO DO OVER $2000.00 AND HAVE THE RECEIPTS TO PROVE IT.THEY DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM TO BEGIN WITH BUT SAYS THEY DID.THE CAR HAS LEFT MY DAUGHTER STRANDED 3 DIFFERENT TIMES.I HEAR THAT THE ALTERNATOR HARNESS IS FAULTY.YOU CAN GO TO HTTP://GOTACLASSACTION.COM/VOLKSWAGEN-NAMED-IN-CLASS-ACTION-OVER-FUSE-BOXALTERNATOR-CABLE-ASSEMBLY/ AND SEE THAT THEY ARE SOME MAJOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10597512June 10, 2014
POWER TRAIN, STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AROUND A CORNER THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, POWER STEERING WENT OUT AND NO ACCELERATION. IT DID NOT APPEAR THAT THE ENGINE STALLED. THE LIGHT WENT OUT AND THE POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION CAME RIGHT BACK WITHOUT TOUCHING THE IGNITION KEY. MY DAUGHTER ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. NO OTHER DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON OTHER THAN THE BATTERY INDICATOR. THIS CAR IS A DEATHTRAP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596080June 4, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO TWIST THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERAL TIMES EXTREMELY HARD IN ORDER TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595562June 2, 2014
POWER TRAIN
I WAS OUT DRIVING MY 2003 BEETLE ON THE FREEWAY AND THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO STALL AND SLOW DOWN. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE JUST REV VERY HIGH AND STARTED JERKING. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AS SOON AS I CAN. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE ON GOING. AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION WILL REV HIGH AS THOUGH I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND EVENTUALLY JERKS AND LUNGES. IF I STOP AT A RED LIGHT THE CAR WILL STALL AND LURCH FORWARD UPON ACCELERATION. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 106,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY VOLKSWAGEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10595271May 31, 2014
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN DRIVING AT 65 M/H THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THANKFULLY NO ONE HIT THE BACK. IT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AT 20-30 M/H. TWO WEEKS PRIOR A WARNING SIGNAL WENT OFF FOR THE AIR COMPRESSOR. WHEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT AND IT WOULD COST $5,000. *TR
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
#10593826May 24, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
THE FUSE BOX ATOP THE BATTERY MELTED ON 2/18/2009 CAUSING A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. REPAIRS INCLUDING NEW FUSE BOX AND OTHER DAMAGED PARTS COST ME $1500.00. ON 7/15/2011 THE FUSE BOX MELTED CAUSING A/C TO STOP WORKING. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME WAS IN THE HIGH 90'S DURING A PROLONGED HEAT WAVE IN THE NORTH EAST. COST TO REPAIR $400.00. ON 5/18/2014 ONCE AGAIN THE FUSE BOX MELTED, COST TO REPAIR AND REPLACE $700. TWO DAYS LATER THE REPAIR (5/20/2014) THE CAR WENT DEAD IN TRAFFIC CAUSED BY A DRAINED BATTERY COST OF TOWING $150.00 + NEW FUSE BOX MELTED. IN CHECKING VW OWNERS FORUMS AVAILABLE ON THE INTERNET, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND COMPLAINT (FUSE BOX MELTING) IN THE VW PRODUCT LINE. WHY HASN'T VW BEEN FINED AND ORDERED TO RECALL THEIR DEFECTIVE CARS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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