Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10445681January 28, 2012
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
FIRST LOST THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR, THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR, NOW THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10445522January 26, 2012
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
NO BRAKES PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN GOT HARD COULD NOT PUSH IT WENT THROUGH A RED LIGHT HIT 2 TRUCKS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#10445389January 20, 2012
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
VEHICLE IS SEVEN YEARS OLD WITH 59,100 MILES AND ALREADY NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO INCORRECT GEAR RATIO FAULT 17114, AND PO330. ALSO, NEEDS A CATALYTIC CONVERTER, HAS AIR LEAK FROM BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM PIPE. VW CORPORATION ADVISED CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY AND OFFERED $1,000 TOWARD A NEW OR USED VW. THE TRANSMISSION IS APPROXIMATELY $4,000. I DECLINED THEIR OFFER. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THREE WINDOW REGULATORS. ...UPDATED 01/30/12 *BF
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444013January 17, 2012
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR JERKS BETWEEN GEARS AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. THE PROBLEM IS THE VALVE BODY. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. (HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET COMPLAINING.) VW HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 100,000 AND WE ARE ONLY AT 69,000, BUT IT ENDED IN OCTOBER 2010. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM NOR DID THE MECHANIC TELL US OF THE PROBLEM. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOW SUDDENLY JAM UP AND THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC. THE VW DEALERSHIP NOW WANTS $2,317 FOR THE REPAIR! CLEARLY THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY VW. *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
#10443442January 11, 2012
POWER TRAIN
MY 2005 VW BEETLE IS A TURBO/AUTOMATIC. IT HAS 79,500 MILES ON IT. THE CAR JERKS AND SHAKES WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP. IT HAPPENS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, FROM 60 MPH AND LESS. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECKED AND CHANGED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR ANYMORE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO WHICH MIGHT ENDANGER ME OR OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME. I'VE READ MANY BEETLE OWNER COMPLAINTS ON-LINE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, AND IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE. I AM AWARE THAT A LETTER FROM NHTSA WAS SENT OUT TO SOME VW BEETLE OWNERS TO "EXTEND THE WARRANTY THAT COVERS THE VALVE BODY IN YOUR VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES". I NEVER RECEIVED THAT NOTICE! TO HAVE A NEW "VALVE BODY" INSTALLED WOULD BE AN EXPENSE I CAN'T AFFORD. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN, AND I OCCASIONALLY HAVE MY GRANDCHILDREN IN THE CAR WITH ME. I DON'T FEEL MY CAR IS SAFE ENOUGH TO HAVE THEM IN THE CAR NOW. WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, I EXPECTED IT TO LAST ME LONGER THAN 7 YEARS, ESPECIALLY SINCE VW HAS A GOOD REPUTATION. I CHECKED THE BLUE BOOK VALUE OF MY CAR, AND THE REPAIRS WOULD PROBABLY BE ABOUT HALF OF WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH. I CAN'T SELL IT AND MAKE ANY MONEY ON IT; I CAN'T TRADE IT IN AND GET MUCH FOR IT; AND IF I HAD TO PURCHASE ANOTHER CAR, I'D HAVE CAR PAYMENT THAT I CAN'T AFFORD. I AM NOW "STUCK" WITH A CAR THAT DOESN'T WORK PROPERLY AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443324January 10, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
REPLACE ALL IGNITION COILS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10442820January 7, 2012
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WE OWN A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE...IN 2008 THE WATER PUMP WENT IN IT...HAD THAT REPLACED AND 4 WEEKS LATER HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR 2009 THE WINDOW MOTORS IN BOTH WINDOWS WENT..HAD TO HAVE THOSE REPLACED... THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE FALLING OUT HAVE TO CONSTANTLY PUSH THEM BACK IN....NOW 2011 THE WATER PUMP WENT IN IT AGAIN..NOW THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY ACTING AS A PAPER WEIGHT..HAD I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SO MANY ISSUES WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT ONE..I HOPE THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS HAPPY RAKING PEOPLE OVER THE COALS BY SELLING THEM NOTHING BUT JUNK AND GOD FORBID IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER THEY WANT EVERYTHING UP TO AND INCLUDING YOUR FIRST BORN CHILD... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441811December 30, 2011
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT
I WAS USING THE VEHICLE JACK TO RAISE THE LEFT REAR WHEEL OFF THE GROUND TO CHANGE THE TIRE. THE CAR WAS ON A FLAT CONCRETE GARAGE FLOOR. THE JACK FAILED AND THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWUNG TOWARD ME. THE JACK SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. I CAN SEE THAT THE JACK IS NOT MADE VERY WELL. THE VEHICLE COULD HAVE EASILY FALLEN ON TOP OF ME AND SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED ME. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ON THESE VEHICLE JACKS; BUT, I COULD NOT FIND ONE. THESE JACKS POSE A SERIOUS SAFETY RISK. I WOULD LIKE FOR VW TO REPLACE MY JACK WITH ONE THAT IS SAFE AND WILL NOT FAIL LIKE THIS ONE DID. I HAVE THE JACK AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441624December 29, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN 1.8 TURBO CONVERTIBLE BEETLE. THE CAR IS JUMPING BACK AND FORTH WHEN IT TRIES TO SHIFT GEARS. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE LOCAL VW DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS IN ORDER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. BY LOOKING ON LINE WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD IDEA THAT IT WAS THE VALVE BODY OR THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER THEY RAN THE DIAGNOSTICS THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE VALVE BODY. THEY HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FROM 5 YEARS 70,000 TO 7 YEARS 100000 MILES. WE WHERE THEN ADVISED THAT THE CAR HAD MISSED THE WARRANTY BY A FEW MONTHS BUT THAT WE SHOULD STILL PROCESS DIAGNOSTICS AS VW NORMALLY ASSISTS WHEN SO CLOSE TO WARRANTY EXPIRING. THEY KNOW THESE CARS HAVE THIS DEFECT. THE DEALER CONTACTED VW AMERICA AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE I WAS THE THIRD OWNER OF THE CAR. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2007 FROM A VW DEALER AND IT WAS A CERTIFIED VEHICLE. I AM THE 2ND OWNER. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT THE WAY THE CAR THRASHES BACK AND FORTH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS. I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED AS I AM PREGNANT. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT VW IS UNWILLING TO MAKE THIS REPAIR WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS WAS OUR THIRD VOLKSWAGEN. THE CAR ONLY HAS 72000 MILES. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441402December 27, 2011
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE VEHICLE HAD A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON THE STEEL BRAIDED LINE OFF THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE FRONT BRAKES DURING A PANIC STOP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE LINE HAS A RUBBER ANTI VIBRATION RING PLACED ON THE HOSE , THIS WAS SAID TO BE "OUT OF LOCATION" AND THE STEEL BRAIDED LINE WORE AGAINST THE "AIR BOX" IN THE AREA THAT BURST. THE ANTI VIBRATION RING EITHER VIBRATED OUT OF LOCATION OR WAS POSSIBLY MOVED/MISS-INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUS WORK DONE AT A CERTIFIED VW DEALERSHIP ON THE MASTER CYLINDER 2 YEARS PRIOR TO CORRECT A FAILED BREAK POWER ASSIST UNIT. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR BUT THE DEALERSHIP DECLINED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE. DURING THE ACCIDENT THE REAR BRAKES CONTINUED TO WORK CORRECTLY , THE VEHICLE SLOWED SUBSTANTIALLY AND THE ANTI-LOCK COULD BE "HEARD" TO ENGAGE, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SKID OR LOSE CONTROL BUT WAS NOT SLOWED ENOUGH TO KEEP FROM HITTING THE REAR OF THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10441423December 27, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN
2006 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION, PURCHASED NEW BY MYSELF AS SOLE OWNER. DRIVING DOWN ROAD ON 12/4/11 LATE AT NIGHT SUDDENLY COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS; CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO COAST IN NEUTRAL THROUGH DANGEROUS INTERSECTION IN A MAJOR URBAN CITY. CAR WAS DISABLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO SHOP. "TRANSMISSION FAILURE" DIAGNOSED AT ONLY 31,800 MILES? (DAMAGED TRANSMISSION PARTS DISCOVERED - BUT VW DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY). THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD IN BEETLES, HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS ON PUBLIC INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS, AND SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT. PERSONALLY I WAS LUCKY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME OR APPROACHING AT A NORMAL SPEED HEAD ON; HAD THAT BEEN THE CASE I WOULD CLEARLY HAVE BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440942December 22, 2011
VISIBILITY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY OPERATED IN DRY CONDITIONS AND WERE INOPERABLE DURING RAINY WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE INSPECTED DURING RAINY WEATHER WHEN THE FAILURE WAS PRESENT IN ORDER FOR A PROPER DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.
Crash:
No
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
#10440228December 16, 2011
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION STARTED OUT SHIFTING ROUGH. THEN IT PROGRESSED TO A POINT THAT IT WILL SHIFT SO HARD THAT IT WILL THROW YOU FORWARD IN YOU SEAT. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THEN LAST YEAR THE VW SENT US A LETTER SAYING THE WARRANTY HAD BEEN EXTENDED AS THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, THEY SENT IT TO US A MONTH AFTER THE EXTENSION EXPIRED. WE COMPLAINED TO VW AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440027December 15, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439955December 14, 2011
POWER TRAIN
MY 2005 VW BEETLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 49,000 MILES. VW HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ITEM ON THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE CAN FAIL WHICH HAD FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER I'M BEING TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAS ALSO FAILED. VW IS CLAIMING THAT THE FAILED VALVE BODY DID NOT CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT MYSELF. THIS IS A DEALER MAINTAINED, COMMUTER CAR THAT IS UNALTERED AND UNDER 50,000 MILES THAT I HAVE HAD OTHER PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS LOOK AT AND THEY DO NOT SEE HOW VW CAN CLAIM THE FAILED VALVE BODY WOULD NOT CAUSE THIS KIND OF DAMAGE AND EVENTUAL FAILURE. WE HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10440000December 14, 2011
SEATS
THE SEAT HEATER GOT EXTREMELY HOT VERY QUICK WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS SO HOT, THAT IT BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND BURNED MY BOTTOM. THIS ALSO NEARLY CAUSED ME TO GET INTO A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT AS I TRIED TO NOT GET BURNED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10439447December 12, 2011
POWER TRAIN
MY PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE THAT HAS COMPLAINED...IDENTICAL PROBLEMS! ALL TOLD THE COST, WITH A RENTAL CAR IS $6,500.00, SO FAR. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP AND I AM HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION TO BE DELIVERED. THIS IS INSANITY AND I WON'T EVEN BEGIN WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUES THE CAR HAS HAD AND STILL HAS! THE TRANSMISSION IS/WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. WAKE UP PEOPLE! I KNOW A FEW OF US MUST DIE FOR YOU TO WAKE UP...GET REAL... WE ARE MAD AS [XXX]. I WANT VW TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439329December 11, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ODBI CAME ON WAS TESTED INDICATING CYLINDER MISFIRE TOOK IT FOR REPAIR WAS INFORMED TWO WIRES WERE BROKEN AND SPARK PLUG WAS SEVERELY FOULED NOW THERE'S A COMPRESSION PROBLEM WHICH REQUIRES THE ENGINE TO BE TORN APART. COST OF REPAIRS EXCEEDS AMOUNT VEHICLE'S VALUE AND PURCHASE PRICE I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR FIVE MONTHS WHEN VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IT HAD A LITTLE OVER 51000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER RAN GREAT AND THE VEHICLE BODY IS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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