Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (1999)

174 consumer complaints on file.

#10125037June 12, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
COOLING PROBLEMS LED TO OVERALL DIAGNOSIS OF COOLING SYSTEM. 30 AMP FUSE LOCATED IN FUSE PANEL ON TOP OF BATTERY WAS FOUND TO BE BURNED AND MELTED. THE PLASTIC FUSE PANEL WAS DESTROYED AND THE FUSE ITSELF MELTED INTO THE FUSE HOLDER. THE CONTACTS IN THE PANEL FOR THE REMAINING FUSES APPEAR TO BE VERY SMALL (APPROX 18-GAUGE WIRE SIZE) AND POSSIBLY THIS EXTREMELY SMALL CONTACT AREA CONTRIBUTED TO THE OVERHEATING, MELTING AND BURNING OBSERVED. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS DETAILED IN THIS THREAD ONLINE: HTTP://FORUMS.NEWBEETLE.ORG/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=E9AEE49B8C9FDDF9B634388731C5D59A&THREADID=26315&PERPAGE=15&HIGHLIGHT=30A%20FUSE&PAGENUMBER=1 THE FUSE BOX AND FUSE (ORIGINAL OEM GREEN FUSE) APPEARED THE SAME AS THE PICTURES PRESENTED IN THE ABOVE-LINKED THREAD. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119066April 22, 2005
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
AFTER BEING REAR ENDED, THE DRIVERS SEAT RECLINED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN WHIP LASH. AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, THEY STATED THE SEAT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10117848April 12, 2005
STEERING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TIE ROD EQUIPMENT.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER AND NOISY ON TURNS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION GEAR AND TIE ROD ENDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BAKE TO THE DEALER FOR FRONT END VIBRATION AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE ROD ENDS WERE WORN. THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT CLOSE DUE TO DEFECTIVE REGULATORS. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT REAR SPEED SENSOR AND REST THE READINESS CODES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115303April 8, 2005
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP TEMPORARILY. DEALERSHIP INFORMED/REPAIRED THE FRONT RACK AND PINION.*AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114114March 15, 2005
STRUCTURE
WENT IN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND WHEN DRAIN PLUG WAS REMOVED FROM OIL PAN THE THREADS FELL OUT. TECH. WAS ABLE TO PUT IN OVERSIZE DRAINPLUG BUT STATED I WILL NEED NEW OIL PAN (ESTIMATED AT $430) UPON NEXT OIL CHANGE. TECH. STATED THIS HAS BEEN OCCURRING ON 1999 NEW BEETLES AND HE HAS SEEN A SERVICE BULLETIN RE: THIS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110989February 7, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING CLUTCH WENT OUT, AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SHIFT THE GEARS. AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. VEHIICLE WAS LATER TOWED. THE AIR PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107375January 13, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE DRIVER WAS SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. NO INJURIES TO REPORT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT TO EXTINGUISHED OUT THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED OUT BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. UPDATED 04/19/06. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10096733October 13, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE MOTOR BLEW. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10093504October 2, 2004
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:BELL HOUSING
I BOUGHT A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE ON AUGUST 4, 2004. ON AUGUST 27, 2004 I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH. I THEN BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM AND ASKED THEM TO FIX THE CLUTCH, AS IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY REFUSED, AND SAID THAT I RUINED THE CLUTCH DUE TO MY DRIVING. ACCORDING TO THEM THIS CAN HAPPEN IN THE 23 DAYS THAT I OWNED THE CAR. THEY STILL CONTINUE TO REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081509August 20, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL LEAK. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO INDICATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP HAD A CRACK IN IT. THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL COMING THROUGH THE VENTS OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087469August 9, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH ENGINE FELL OUT. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082019July 15, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. THE CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE SMELL CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO FEEL NAUSEOUS AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10081443July 7, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED GAS FUMES LEAKED THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. GAS SMELL BECAME OVERWHELMING WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR A WHILE. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10066769April 7, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS
WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND WITHOUT HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS BLINKED ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND DOWN, AND SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. BUT, MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050570January 23, 2004
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
AFTER STOPPING AT A GAS STATION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN WHICH THEY REPLACED THE SHIFT CARRIER. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS PART SHOULD BE MADE OF METAL INSTEAD OF PLASTIC. *AK *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069210January 15, 2004
AIR BAGS, POWER TRAIN, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
CURRENT PROBLEM: MANUAL TRANSMISSION STICK SHIFT MECHANISM COMPLETELY BROKE DURING SHIFTING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (DURING RUSH HOUR). IT WENT TO NEUTRAL, BUT I WAS ABLE TO FIND 3RD GEAR AND GET THE CAR OFF OF THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070227January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE LIGHT ON, AND CAR RUNNING ROUGH, LOSING POWER AND JERKING UPON ACCELERATION. DIAGNOSIS WAS PLUG WIRES AND PLUGS ARE FOULED, CAUSING IGNITION COIL TO BURN OUT. WARRANTY COVERS COIL, BUT I HAVE TO PAY FOR NEW PLUGS AND WIRES BECAUSE THEY ARE NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR SERVICE ITEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070354January 15, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
JUNE 2, 2003 THE FOLLOWING LETTER WAS SENT TO VOA DEAR VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA I HAVE A 1999 BEETLE THAT CAUGHT FIRE ON MAY 4TH 2003; AS OF TODAY MAY 12, 2003 THIS IS WHAT I WAS TOLD BY [XXX] FROM YOUR DEPARTMENT. HE SAID, CORPORATE VOLKSWAGEN WILL DO NOTHING WITH THE CAR BECAUSE IT IS TOO OLD AND HAS TOO MANY MILES. THEY WILL NOT BE SENDING ANY KIND OF PAPERWORK TO ME, AND I WILL NOT GET ANY MORE CALLS FROM VOLKSWAGEN ON THIS ISSUE, THIS IS AN INSURANCE ISSUE? I AM NOT PLEASED WITH THIS ANSWER AND THIS IS WHY: 05/04/03 SUNDAY SMOKE THEN FLAMES CAME POURING OUT OF THE DASHBOARD OF OUR 1999 VW BEATLE PURCHASED OCT 1998. I WAS GIVEN A CASE # OF [XXX] TO REFER TO. [XXX] SAID THE A/C SWITCH WIRE CAUSED THE FIRE. HE WAS WAITING FOR A CALL FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA?S CUSTOMER RELATION'S PERSON. 05/12/03 MONDAY 1:38 PM I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AGAIN BECAUSE I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM [XXX]. [XXX] GOT ON PHONE AND SAID THAT A FIRE REPORT WAS SENT TO THEIR PRODUCT LIAISON PERSON. [XXX] SAID, CORPORATE VOLKSWAGEN WILL DO NOTHING WITH THE CAR BECAUSE IT'S TOO OLD AND HAS TO MANY MILES. THEY WILL NOT BE "SENDING PAPERWORK" TO ME AND ? I WILL NOT GET ANY MORE CALLS FROM VOLKSWAGEN ON THIS ISSUE, THIS IS AN INSURANCE ISSUE. I HAVE A RECORD OF ALL PAST SERVICE RECEIPTS (DATING BACK TO THE PURCHASE DATE) AND HAVE DOCUMENTED PROOF OF RECENT PROBLEMS AND REPAIRS TO THE A/C AND ELECTRICAL WIRING ON THIS CAR IN THE PAST. MY DAUGHTER, A CURRENT RESIDENT OF ARIZONA, CURRENTLY IS EMPLOYED AS A FULL-TIME NANNY. SHE HAS IN HER CARE A TWO MONTH OLD AND WILL BE EXPECTED TO DRIVE HIM ABOUT. HER PAST JOB WAS CARING FOR A TWO YEAR OLD AND HAD THIS FIRE? ERUPTED WHILE HE WAS IN HER CARE, THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A TRUE TRAGEDY. PLEASE SEND VERIFICATION OF YOUR DECISION IN WRITING TO ME BY MAY 30, 2003. PLEASE SEND ALL INQUIRIES BACK TO ME AT [XXX] SINCERELY [XXX] JELINEK BUILDERS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070405January 15, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE WATER PUMP HAS A PART THAT GOES INTO THE ENGINE; IT'S MADE OF PLASTIC AND CALLED AN IMPELLER. IT IS PART OF THE WATER PUMP. THE PLASTIC IMPELLER DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. THE ENGINE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD CAME ON JUST MINUTES BEFORE THE ENGINE CEASED UP. OTHER THAN THAT, THERE WAS NO WARNING THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING HOT. NORMALLY WHEN A WATER PUMP GOES OUT, THE WATER LEAKS OUT. IN THIS CASE, THE WATER REMAINED IN AND DID NOT CIRCULATE. REPAIRER HAS ASKED OWNER FOR MONEY TO REPLACE THE ENGINE ENTIRELY. VW WILL NOT STAND BY ITS MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, WHICH THE OWNER HAS. THE PLASTIC IMPELLER IS A COMMON DESIGN DEFECT WHICH VW KNOWS HAS A SHORT LIFE, BUT THEY KEEP DESIGNING THEIR VWS WITH A PLASTIC IMPELLER!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051747December 9, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S INSTRUMENT PANEL AND RADIO.*MR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE RADIO OPERATED ON IT'S OWN AND THE WINDOWS ROLLED DOWN ON THEIR OWN. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO USE THE POWER CONTROLS TO. HE WROTE A LETTER TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RESPONSE. THE CAR WAS TAKEN AND AUCTIONED OFF. THE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO MAKE SURE VOLKSWAGEN BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *CB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ODOMETER ROLLED UP APPROXIMATELY 9000 MILES, THE DEALER RAN A COMPUTER CHECK BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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