Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2004)

349 consumer complaints on file.

#10535829August 16, 2013
POWER TRAIN
I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT MY 2004 VW BEETLE HAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. UPON RESEARCHING IT MORE, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT VW WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, VW CONTINUED TO PRODUCE CARS FOR YEARS WITH THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 2011, WHICH WAS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL LAST MONTH WHEN IT STARTED LURCHING AND SHIFTING HARD. MY CAR HAS FEWER THAN 55,000 MILES, AND IS ONLY DRIVEN TO WORK AND BACK (9 MILES A DAY). IT WAS NOT UNTIL I READ THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS THAT I FOUND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT ISOLATED TO MY CAR. I AM SHOCKED THAT VW WILL NOT CORRECT AN EXPENSIVE AND DEBILITATING ISSUE WITH THEIR CARS THAT CAUSES TRANSMISSIONS TO SHUT DOWN. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A CAR WITH LOW MILES AND IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. VW REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND BASICALLY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP. I AM HOPING THIS COMPLAINT WILL FORCE THEM TO CORRECT THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ANY VW BEETLE PRODUCED IN THE YEARS (2003-2010) THAT HAS THIS DEFECT. IT IS THE SAFE AND RIGHT THING TO DO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523500July 6, 2013
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REAR WINDOW WENT UP AND THEN DOWN BY ITSELF...THEN A CRACKING NOISE ENSUED AND NOW WINDOW IS STUCK OPEN. HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF BEETLE CONVERTIBLES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, WHICH IS DUE PRIMARILY TO POOR ENGINEERING. VW MAKES $500-600 FOR EVERY REPAIR. (SEE: HTTP://NEWBEETLE.ORG/FORUMS/NEW-BEETLE-CONVERTIBLE/38354-BACK-WINDOW-REGULATOR-MOTORS-VW-RECALL.HTML). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10521973June 26, 2013
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG MODULE LITE STAYS ON. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST 800 TO REPLACE MODULE. THIS VEHICLE AT THIS HAS ONLY 71802 MILES AS OF JUNE 26,2013. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY A VW DEALERSHIP FREE OF CHARGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498207February 15, 2013
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
MY CAR WAS FINE AND IT STARTED RUNNING A LIL FUNKY SO I TOOK IT TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND TURNS OUT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY AIR BAGS ! TRANSMISSION AND BODY VALVE ? IT ABSOLUTELY DOESN'T WANT TO GO IN REVERSE ANYMORE AND I BARLEY BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY OF 2012 AND THIS INCIDENT HAPPENS JUST 5 MONTHS LATER. VERY DISAPPOINTED PLEASE HELP I AM A WORKING NURSING STUDENT THAT STILL MAKES PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR. I KNOW MY RIGHTS AND I FEEL YOU CAN HELP ME OUT PLEASE AND THANK YOU. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490430December 29, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN, AIR BAGS
CAR WOULDN'T EXCEL WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY 1 MILE FROM TOWN SUDDENLY TRAFFIC SLOWED FROM SNOW STORM IN TOWN,THE VEHICLE SMELL WAS FUNNY BLACK SMOKED SLOWLY LEAKED INSIDE THE CAR WINDOWS UP HEARD A MISFIRE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON BLINKED THEN I HEARD LOUD BLAST LIKE I THOUGHT IT WAS A PLOW TRUCKS MUFFLER LOUDNESS REALIZED IR WAS MY VEHICLE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY LESS 1/3 MILE AT BANK. SHUT OFF MOTOR M NOW SEEING SMOKE SLOWLY ENTERED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 2 FRONT SEATSAND CONSOLE. FEELING HOT UNDER BELLY OF FLOORS. ORANGE GLOW THROUGH ELECTRICAL OUTLET IN BACK OF CONSOLE APPEARED TO BE HOTWITH PLASTIC CASING IN AND UNDER FLOORS HOT SIZZLING CRACKLING UNDER CENTER CASING/I TRY TO CALL 911 MISUSED THE CELL WOULDN'T OPERATE EFFECTIVELY FLAGGED DOWN A MAN N WOMAN AT THE CORNER LIGHT OF BANK THEY DECLINED TO HELP SO I WENT TO CAR PUT SNOW ON COMPARTMENT AND WET IT DOWN AND AIRED OUT SMOKE WITH PASSENGER DOOR OPEN .I WENT IN BANK FOR ASSISTANCE .THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR SAFETY ISSUES BY MANUFACTURER IN THE PAST .WERE SAID TO BE CORRECTED BY REPAIRMAN ALSO SAID SEATBELT HARNESS WAS A ISSUE HEATED SEATS WERE A ISSUE AND AIRBAGS TRANNY ALSO RECALLED FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND OR TRANSMISSION AND AIR BAGS ON SOME 2004 VW VEHICLE BEETLES RECALLS SO FAR OCCURRED TO THIS VW WERE AIRBAG SENSORS/ ALSO THE SEATBELT HARNESS CASES WERE BREAKING REPEATEDLY ONCE PURCHASED DUE TO PUTTING THE SEATS UP AND BACK TO GET IN THE VEHICLE. NOW THIS MYSTERIOUS FIRE AND HEADLAMP ISSUE.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487592December 6, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,888. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10483339November 5, 2012
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICLE THAT HAS A KNOW ISSUE. THE TIPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING GEAR CHANGING. VW REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF THE 4 YEAR WARRANTY BUT THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAT 50000 MILES. THERE IS A KNOW ISSUE FOR THIS BUT I WILL HAVE TO PAY $6500 FOR THE REPAIRS>??? NOT FAIR FOR NEW BUYERS WHO ARE KEPT IN THE DARK ABOUT A KNOW ISSUE.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10481145October 19, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR JOLTS AFTER IT IS WARMED UP. USUALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS. TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478940October 7, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, POWER TRAIN
CAR WAS SHIFTING VERY HARD, TIRES WOULD SQUEAL AS SHIFTING BETWEEN 1-2 AND 2-3RD GEARS. TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IT WILL BE BETWEEN 2-5000.00 DOLLARS WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE WINDOW REGULATORS, THERMOMETER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478432October 3, 2012
VISIBILITY, STRUCTURE
THE BACK WINDSHIELD HAS POPPED AWAY FROM THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10478300October 2, 2012
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
ERRATIC SHIFTING UP AND DOWN BETWEEN 1ST AND 3RD GEARS. CAR LURCHES TO THE POINT THAT A NATURAL REACTION IS TO RELIEVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE WHICH COULD CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION IN SOME CASES. PROBLEMATIC PART IS INTERNAL VALVE BODY WHICH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH VW'S OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL. WE HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED THEN CALLED VW CUSTOMER CARE TO SEE ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT AND WERE TOLD THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS ISSUED FOR 7 YEARS OR 2010. SINCE MY CAR HAD LOW MILEAGE THE INTICATION OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD BY VW THAT IT IS NOW MY PROBLEM TO TAKE CARE OF IT TO THE TUNE OF $2300 PARTS AND LABOR. INCIDENTALLY, I ALSO DID NOT RECEIVE THE WARRANTY AS I WAS TOLD IT WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER ANYWAY. CONSIDERING THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY VW TO BE PROBLEMATIC UP TO 70,000 MILES I FEEL THAT VW SHOULD OFFER UP COMPENSATION IN THAT IT IS THEIR FAULTY PART. ANY HELP IN RECOUPING COSTS INCURRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10476743September 22, 2012
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE JUST STARTED DOWNSHIFTING VERY HARD (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). BROKE TWO MOTOR MOUNTS WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING THIS HARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475988September 19, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION SLIPS SECOND GEAR THROUGH FIFTH GEAR. CONTACTED 2 VW DEALERS AND WAS TOLD BY THEM VW MADE BAD TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS YEAR. THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND WANT 6000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT! *TR *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10475498September 15, 2012
POWER TRAIN
WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR FROM A LOW SPEED, WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR, THE ENGINE REVS TO A VERY HIGH RPM, AND I HAVE NO POWER AND NO ACCELERATION. IF I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, IT WILL THEN SHIFT WITH A HARD CLUNK. SHIFTING IN OTHER GEARS IS STARTING TO BE CLUNKY AS WELL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH A CAR DRIFTING TO A LOWER VELOCITY, WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCELERATE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471857August 22, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE GLS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE THERE WAS A BRIEF DELAY ON THE VEHICLE ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD A THREE SECOND DELAY WHICH WAS CONSIDERED NORMAL BUT AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10470410August 13, 2012
VISIBILITY/WIPER
BOTH REAR WINDOW CONTROL MECHANISMS HAVE GONE BAD. I HAVE DONE A SEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10468084July 28, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND N FLARING. THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN LUNGES FORWARD UPON ACCELERATION. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN PROCESS FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10466244July 16, 2012
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
1) INFERIOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PUMP VALVE ASSEMBLY CAUSED VERY HARD DOWN AND UP SHIFTING THAT COULD STARTLE THE DRIVER. IT WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. 2) LEFT SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT TIME OF PURCHASE (FEB. 2012). RIGHT SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR HAS FAILED JULY 2012 AND MUST BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10464212July 4, 2012
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN I STOP. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY RAN IT ON THE COMPUTER STATED FOUND NOTHING. MECHANIC SAID HE TOOK IT OUT FOR A DRIVE AND NO PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD ;I FEEL LIKE I AM GOING TO BE REARENDED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME BECAUSE IT IS SO SUDDEN; NO WAY TO WARN THE CAR BEHIND ME. PLEASE HELP ME AND OTHERS THAT HAVE POSTED THE SAME PROBLEMS ON INTERNET. THANK-YOU. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10463451June 28, 2012
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS WERE INOPERABLE AND REMAINED OPEN. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Beetle