Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10420596August 18, 2011
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG SYSTEM OF THIS VEHICLE CONSTANTLY KEEPS FAILING AND CAUSES THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE YEARS TO FIX THIS ISSUE BUT THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE ISSUE AND THE THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON WITH DIFFERENT THINGS BEING THE ISSUE. FIRST THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SEAT OCCUPIED RECOGNITION MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE AND AN UPDATE WAS PREFORMED. AFTER THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SIDE FRONT CRASH SENSOR WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED. AFTER THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY AND REPLACED. NOW THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE CENTER ADVISES ME THE FRONT CRASH SENSOR IS FAULTY AGAIN AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN NORTH AMERICA CLAIMING THE SYSTEM HAS NUMEROUS FAULTS BUT THEY DO NOT WANT TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY. THEY ADVISE ME TO BRING IT TO THE DEALER AND GET IT REPLACED FOR THE FULL COST OF THE PART AND REPAIR. THE MODEL YEAR 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE HAS A FAULTY AIRBAG SYSTEM AND VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES TO FIX THE ISSUES AND OFFSET THE EXPENSIVE REPAIR COSTS CONSUMERS HAVE TO PAY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419788August 17, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SMELL OF FUEL. ALSO, THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419820August 17, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS UNLESS HE WAS DRIVING 40 TO 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419599August 16, 2011
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR, VISIBILITY
BOTH REAR WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. ONE IS ALL THE WAY DOWN THER OTHER 3/4 THE WAY DOWN. COULD BE UP TO $2000 TO REPAIR BOTH WINDOWS. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419568August 15, 2011
VISIBILITY, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS. SHE ALSO NOTICED DEBRIS ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WHICH WAS A GREASY SUBSTANCE THAT CAUSED HER EYES TO BURN AND COULD HAVE OBSTRUCTED HER VIEW. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,700. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,100. UPDATED 10/18/11*LJ THE DEALER INDICATED THE DEBRIS WAS A RESULT OF THE A/C UNIT PROTECTION WITH A FOAM SUBSTANCE WHICH WAS PEELING OFF THE A/C UNIT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE MAIN VALVE FOR THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419510August 15, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND THE BRAKES DO NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN, THE DRIVERS WINDOW WOULD NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE WINDOW AND TRUNK WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THE IGNITION HAD TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 10/03/11 *BF UPDATED 3/27/12 *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419522August 15, 2011
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE WAX FUMES UNDERNEATH THE CARPET THAT WERE IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS LIQUID WAX THAT HELD THE CARPET IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS HOT AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON THE WAX FUMES CIRCULATE BACK INTO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED HE SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE PER THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 10/14/11 *BF VW TOOK REPSONSIBILITY AND FIXED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/21/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10419352August 14, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE COMPUTER RANDOMLY DETECTS FAULT IN TURBO SYSTEM AND REDUCES ENGINE POWER TO UNSAFE LEVEL. THEN ANY TRAFFIC MANEUVER THAT REQUIRES ACCELERATION, I.E. MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY, ETC., BECOMES EXTREMELY UNSAFE. VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD THE CAR FOR THREE WEEKS AND WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418640August 12, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING VERY ROUGH AFTER 45,000 MILES. I AM CONCERNED THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FATAL ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. VW DEALER SAYS THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST $7200! THE TRANSMISSION VALVLE BODY ON THIS MODEL CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN DECLARED DEFECTIVE BY VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418455August 10, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DEFECTIVE WINDOW REGULATOR: I HAVE A 2006 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW. NO ACCIDENTS, NOTHING OF THE SORT. I WAS ROLLING UP THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND HEARD A POP. THEN THE WINDOW WOULD NOT MOVE, AND I COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE IN THE DOOR. THE WINDOW REGULATOR HAD BROKEN OUT OF NO WHERE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, BUT ONE THAT COSTS UP TO $800 TO FIX AT THE DEALERSHIP. I THOUGHT I COULD FIX IT MYSELF, SO I BOUGHT THE REPAIR KIT FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR $110, BUT IT REQUIRE A SPECIAL TOOL THAT ONLY THE DEALERS HAVE. HOW AM I ON THE HOOK FOR SUCH A POORLY DESIGNED MECHANISM? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418129August 9, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR JUST STOPPED WORKING AS THE WINDOW WAS GOING DOWN. IT WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE BUTTON AND MADE A GRINDING NOISE. I HAD TO MANUALLY RETURN IT TO THE CLOSED POSITION AND NOW IT WILL NOT OPERATE AT ALL. WHEN CHECKING ONLINE FOR THIS ISSUE AND SPEAKING TO THE VW DEALER I FOUND THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE ALREADY SETTLED A SUIT FOR THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE THE REAR ONE. THE DEALER ADVISED ME THAT VW WOULD REPLACE THE PART BUT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE LABOR. SO THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE YET ARE NOT WILLING TO INCLUDE THE REAR WINDOW PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED IN THE SETTLEMENT OF THE SUIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10418241August 9, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE SHIFTING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP GEARS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VALVE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE BODY BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND HAD BECOME WORSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE BODY A SECOND TIME BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER RE-INSTALLED THE ORIGINAL VALVE BODY, ADVISING THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE INITIAL VALVE BODY. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10417997August 8, 2011
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,631.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416360July 30, 2011
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I BOUGHT MY 2001 VW BEETLE AND I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS THE DAY I BROUGHT IT HOME. WITHIN 45 MIN MY EPC LIGHT CAME ON, MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR STALLED. I LOST POWER STEERING, BREAKS, AND CAR WOULD NOT IDLE. CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE THROTTLE BODY HAD WENT OUT. THEY REPLACED IT WITH NO CHARGE, BECAUSE I THREATENED TO RETURN THE CAR UNDER THE LEMON LAW, EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. STARTING IN NOV. OF 2010 I HAD A LOT OF MISS FIRE. TOOK IT TO THE VW DEALER THEY SAID THAT THE COILS WERE RECALLED AND THEY REPLACED THEM FOR FREE. SINCE THEN MY COILS AND SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING. ABOUT TWO WEEKS (JULY 2011) I WENT OUT AND STARTED MY CAR, ONCE AGAIN MY EPC LIGHT, MY ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ONCE AGAIN I LOST MY POWER STEERING, BRAKES, CAR WOULDN?T IDLE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. CHANGED IT CAR RAN FINE FOR ONE DAY. THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT?S THE COILS AND SPARKS PLUGS. HAD THEM CHANGED LESS THAN A MONTH AGO (JUNE 2001) WHEN I HAD THE TIMING BELT CHANGED. TOOK IT BACK AGAIN NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT?S THE THROTTLE BODY AGAIN. LAST TIME I CHECKED A THROTTLE BODY SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 2 YEAR. I WAS LOOKING FOR A USED THROTTLE BODY AND WAS AT A PARTS STORE THE GUY SAID THAT THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE ISSUE WITH THE WIRING HARNESS AND IT COST ABOUT $2000 HOPING THIS IS NOT MY PROBLEM?. WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS I HAVE SUNK 3500 IN TO THIS CRAP CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10415625July 29, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDS REPLACED. $675 FOR THE REPAIR. LEFT FRONT WINDOW SQUEALS WHEN RAISING/LOWERING AND SOMETIMES WHEN RAISING IT - WHEN IT GETS TO THE TOP IT JUST POPS BACK DOWN AND YOU HAVE TO RAISE IT AGAIN. SUSPECT THE REGULATOR TO BE AT FAULT ON THIS WINDOW AS WELL. THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON VW PRODUCTS SEEM TO HAVE A PRETTY BAD TRACK RECORD. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HAVE VW STEP UP AND FIX THESE SHODDY PARTS? I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THIS FIXED! NOW I JUST HAVE TO KEEP DRIVING WITH MY WINDOW PARTIALLY UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10416294July 29, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR CAUSED HIM TO HAVE A HEADACHE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 MILES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10415272July 26, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. "JUMPS" FORWARD SUDDENLY AND ALMOST HITS CAR IN FRONT OR BACK IF IN REVERSE. HAVE TOLD VW THIS SINCE I PURCHASED WITH 1200 MILES ON IT. VW NEVER ACKNOWLEDGES A PROBLEM. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10414845July 23, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE - DRIVER SIDE WINDOW ROLLED DOWN AND WILL NOT ROLL BACK UP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BROKEN REAR WINDOW REGULATOR- APPARENTLY UNDER RECALL BY VOLKSWAGEN BUT CAN'T GET CONFIRMATION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413391July 18, 2011
AIR BAGS
DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH SENSOR FAILURE CAUSES AIRBAG ERROR LIGHT ON THE DASH TO COME ON. DEALER STATES THAT WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED. SEEMS LIKE AN UNNECESSARY SENSOR...WHEN THE CAR IS IN USE WOULDN'T THAT MEAN THAT SOMEONE IS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT? $500 TO FIX. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10413393July 18, 2011
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO DIAGNOSE. DEALER STATED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE (SEAT) SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG (THE ONE BUILT INTO THE SIDE OF THE SEAT NEAREST THE DOOR) WAS NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM AND STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $680 TO FIX. LESS THAN A YEAR AGO I SPENT $500 ON THE DRIVERS SEAT BELT LATCH REPLACEMENT TO CURE THE AIRBAG LIGHT. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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