Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2003)

314 consumer complaints on file.

#10457178May 2, 2012
POWER TRAIN
AT 70,000 MILES, MY VW STARTING SHIFTING HARD CAUSING IT TO BE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. VW STATES THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN THIS EARLY BUT THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10456357April 24, 2012
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLICKING SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE ROLL OVER BAR SUDDENLY DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453662March 31, 2012
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHERE IT WILL JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN IT SHIFTS UP OR DOWN AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT SHIFT AT ALL. IT WILL GET STUCK IN A GEAR AND I HAVE TO STOP IT AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART IT. IT WILL JERK EVEN WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I AM FAR AWAY FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I NO LONGER DRIVE IT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF ALSO, SO I'M NOT SURE IF IT WILL EVEN WORK IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD NOT BE JERKING THAT WAY AT ALL AND IF SOMEONE WAS TO WALK IN FRONT OF MY CAR AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, IT COULD JERK FORWARD AND HIT THEM. NOT A SAFE CAR. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10453304March 28, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
AS I TURNED OFF THE 4 LANE HIGHWAY ONTO OUR LOCAL STREET I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, I THOUGHT I HAD BLOWN A TIRE. I PULLED INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, ABOUT 30 YARDS FURTHER, AND SAW NOTHING. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHOSE PARKING LOT HAS AN ENTRY ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR DRIVEWAY. I DROVE TO THEM VERY SLOWLY AS CAR WAS MAKING TERRIBLY NOISES. I ALSO FOUND A BROKEN OFF BOLT ABOUT 1/2 INCH DIAMETER IN THE ROAD JUST BEFORE OUR DRIVEWAY AND TOOK IT TO NISSAN. NISSAN FOUND THAT BOTH ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. THEY FELT ONE HAD BROKEN AND THE WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE FALLING HAD BROKEN THE SECOND. MY ENGINE WAS "SITTING ON TOP ON MY EXHAUST" IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGH SPEED ROAD -- THE HIGHWAY I HAD JUST TURNED OFF OF --- I MAY HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH FATALITIES. I HAVE REPORTED TO BOTH MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AS WELL AS THE VW NATIONAL OFFICE. NEITHER WOULD PAY FOR MY $800 REPAIR, BOTH SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON MY MODEL. I MAINTAIN MY CAR AND FEEL THIS IS TERRIBLE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN HAPPEN. IF THE BOLTS ARE BROKEN --WHICH IS WHAT NISSAN SAYS/ NOT RUSTED --- THEN THE BOLTS ARE DEFECTIVE!!!! IT WAS SO FORTUNATE THAT THE ENGINE DROPPED WHEN IT DID AND NOT ON A HIGHWAY!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10451716March 14, 2012
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY FUSE PANEL HAS BURNT OUT FOUR TIMES IN A YEAR AND A HALF AT A COST OF $100.00 EACH TIME PLUS ALL THE OTHER PARTS IT RUINED WHEN IT BURNED. I HAD TO GET A NEW A/C COMPRESSOR A NEW BATTERY. I KNOW FROM LOOKING ONLINE TRYING TO FIND OUT INFO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT ITS HAPPENING TO ALOT OF PEOPLE AND THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL A LONG TIME AGO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448192February 16, 2012
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO DOWN SHIFT CONTINUOUSLY INTO LOWER GEARS. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448248February 16, 2012
POWER TRAIN
MY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY IS FAULTY, BUT VW'S EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY COVERS VEHICLES AFTER 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. MY CAR WAS JUST 4 MONTHS TOO OLD TO QUALIFY AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE ANYTHING, DESPITE IT BEING A MAJOR ISSUE AFFECTING DRIVE PERFORMANCE. OTHER CARS IN MY SAME MODEL YEAR QUALIFIED, BUT MINE DID NOT. HOW IS THIS FAIR? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10448070February 15, 2012
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2003 BEETLE HAS BEEN VIOLENTLY JERKING AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES OF DRIVING (WHEN IT WARMS UP). IF I'M AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND ACCELERATE - IT VIOLENTLY JERKS INTO GEAR !! IF I BABY IT AND BARELY MOVE (WHERE TRAFFIC IS PRACTICALLY RUNNING INTO ME FROM BEHIND), IT IS NOT SOOOO BAD, BUT STILL BAD AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. VW ALSO EXTENDED THE WARRANTY UNTIL 2010 OR 100,000 WHICH EVER CAME FIRST, AND UNFORTUNATELY 2010 CAME FIRST AND THEY REFUSE TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO BE USED UNDER THE 100,000 MILES RULE. THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, I'VE READ THOUSANDS OF THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINTS IN THIS CAR -- THOUSANDS, THE VERY SAME THING AND VW WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO CHANGE IT TO 100,000 MILES AND NOT JUST 2010 (WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS PAST 2 YEARS AGO). THIS IS DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE. IT IS A DEFECT AND VW SHOULD PAY FOR THIS. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO GET KILLED BEFORE THEY OFFER THE EXTENSION UP TO 100,000 MILES??? THANK YOU *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443397January 11, 2012
POWER TRAIN
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND AS I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR SHIFTED DOWN VERY HARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED CAUSING ME TO HIT A GUARDRAIL. I TOOK MY CAR TO A SHOP AND HAD THE BODY REPAIRS DONE ($3910.00), AND UPON TAKING MY CAR, IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. I HAD IT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THOSE VW'S AND THEY HAD A RECALL ON IT. MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME BECAUSE THE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE WAS UP. I WAS HOPING THAT SOMEONE THERE COULD HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE REPAIR IS 5900.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE BODY DAMAGE WAS 3910.00. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440523December 20, 2011
POWER TRAIN, SEAT BELTS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FROM DAY ONE THIS CAR HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHICH WERE DENIED BY THE DEALER ON 5 VISITS, AFTER I SOLD THE CAR I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM VW, NOW THAT I AM LOOKING AT BLOGS THEY HAVE APPARENTLY RECALLED THIS RECALL TO SUIT THEM. OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS VEHICLE ARE WINDOW TROUBLES, CONVERTIBLE ROOF TROUBLES, ELECTRONIC TROUBLES, SEATBELT TROUBLES, AIRBAG TROUBLES. I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYONE WILL ALLOW THIS CAR TO STILL BE SOLD OR ON THE ROAD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD ON WHEELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438648December 5, 2011
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND WITHIN THREE MONTHS HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. RECENTLY IT STARTED TO LURCH AT STOPS AND STARTS, AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAILED VALVE BODY ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSITION COMPANY REFERRED ME TO WEBSITES WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN IN MI AND WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A WARRANTY EXTENSION, OF WHICH I WAS NOT INFORMED, BUT THAT IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO ME NOW. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM WARRANTS A LOOK AT THIS MODEL AND ITS TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER WARNED MY TRANSITION SPECIALIST THAT THE REPAIR WHICH HAS BEEN FREQUENT ONLY WORKS ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. I ASKED IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE AS IS AND WAS WARNED ONLY FOR SHORT DISTANCES. IT APPEARS TO E THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED A RECALL OR A CLASS ACTION SUIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433877November 1, 2011
POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE BRAND SPANKING NEW IN DEC 2002. THE CAR HAD 32 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT; THE CAR NOW HAS 77K MILES AS OF TODAY. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT VW IS ACUTELY AWARE OF. THE CAR IS A 6 SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION WITH TRIP TRONIC. THE CAR HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION AND BEFORE SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR. INSTEAD, THE TRANSMISSION LURCHES FROM 1ST INTO 2ND, CAUSING THE TIRES TO SCREECH. WHEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD IT CAUSES THE FRONT DRIVE/STEERING TIRES TO LOSE GRIP ON THE PAVEMENT WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES WHEN IT JUMPED SO HARD IT ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND SOMETIMES THE LURCH IS SO STRONG IT FEELS LIKE ANOTHER CAR HIT ME FROM BEHIND. THE TRANSMISSION WORKS FINE WHEN IT IS COOL BUT GETS WORSE AS THE CAR WARMS UP - AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES. THE OTHER GEARS HAVE SHIFTING PROBLEMS TOO; JUST NOT AS HARSH AS GOING INTO 2ND. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS DOWNSHIFTING AS WELL. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE CAR GETTING STUCK IN 2ND GEAR WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC WHICH CREATED A DANGER FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THE ONLY WAY TO CURE THE PROBLEM IS TO SAFELY MAKE MY WAY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN THE ENGINE OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES, THEN TURN IT BACK ON. THIS DOESN'T COMPLETELY MAKE THE LURCHING GO AWAY BUT IT GIVES ME SEVERAL TRAVEL MILES BEFORE GETTING STUCK IN GEAR AGAIN. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO LOOKED UP MY VIN. THEY TOLD ME I WAS OVER MY YEARS FOR THE RECALL ON THE VALVE BODY WHICH IS WHAT SHOULD CORRECT MY TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE LIVED AT THE SAME ADDRESS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2002 AND NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS ITEM. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN VW OF AMERICA! I WAITED SEVERAL YEARS FOR THE CONVERTIBLE VERSION TO COME OUT AND THIS WAS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO MYSELF (THIS IS HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS CAR!) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10432478October 23, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THE CAR HAD ONLY 55,000 MILES ON IT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS NEVER ANY DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR. VW SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG, BUT REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND IT. THEY WANT $750 TO FIX IT. IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE EACH WINDOW MOTOR. THEY COST $400 TO REPLACE. THE DRIVER SIDE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THAT MEANS THE FIRST REPLACEMENT LASTED LESS THAN FOUR YEARS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 77,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429998October 13, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE TIMING BELT BROKE WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 10/31/11 *BF UPDATED 11/14/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10429512October 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BETTLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RPMS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10428944October 6, 2011
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT AS OF 1/1/11, THESE WERE RECALLED FOR 2004-2006 BEETLES AND 2003-2005 BEETLE CONVERTIBLES. NO RECALLS YET FOR 2003 BEETLES, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEMS THAT ARE YET TO BE FIXED BY VW!!! SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE JUST DELAYING THE RECALL UNTIL THEY RECEIVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS/INJURIES. 2 RECALLS OF A FRONTAL SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE IN 4/2008 & A PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (POD) DEALER REPROGRAM REPAIR IN 12/2004 BUT AGAIN NOTHING FOR 2003 MODELS EVEN THOUGH IT STARTED IN LATE 2003. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426937September 23, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10426347September 19, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN
I COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TO COME OUT. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. NOW, AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES, I AM TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE--IT WILL GET STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, IT WILL KICK BETWEEN GEARS ONE AND TWO, AND IT WILL JOLT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425954September 18, 2011
POWER TRAIN
THE SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AT RANDOM I GOT THIS CAR FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND IM SCARED TO LET HER DRIVE IT. GOT A NOTICE IN THE MAIL FROM VW ABOUT IT THEY DROVE IT AND SAID IT WAS OK BUT OBVIOUSLY ITS NOT. THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOME ONE GETS INJURED. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425183September 13, 2011
POWER TRAIN, VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. WHEN DECELERATING TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK BEFORE SWITCHING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND AFTER INSPECTION THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE AT A COST OF $6,000. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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