Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10372681December 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I CURRENTLY OWN A 2005 VW BEETLE WITH 96,000 MILES. BEFORE ME, THE CAR WAS OWNED BY MY PARENTS SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT IN 2005. ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO, IT BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY JERK BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF CITY DRIVING. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE CAR WOULD STALL, THEN BUCK FORWARD AS IF I WAS BEING REAR-ENDED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO AAMCO, PLUS 3 ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS IN THAT TIME. TO DATE, I HAVE SPENT $1,100 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND THE SHIFTER REPLACED. THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE AND THE CAR NOW VIOLENTLY JERKS FROM SECOND GEAR INTO THIRD GEAR AND HESITATES ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN FIFTH AND SIXTH GEAR. IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, I'VE NEARLY BEEN REAR-ENDED TWICE IN 2010 ALONE. THIS IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE. TO DATE, VOLKSWAGEN HAS ESSENTIALLY REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT. THOUGH THE VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA HAS EXTENDED ME A 7-YEARS OR 100,000-MILES WARRANTY, DOUGLAS VOLKSWAGEN, THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH THE CAR WAS BOUGHT IN NEW JERSEY REFUSES TO REPLACE THE VALVE-BODY (THE PART COVERED UNDER WARRANTY) AND HAS RECOMMENDED I PUT A NEW $8,000 TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR. THEY CLAIM THE TRANSMISSIONS MADE AFTER 2008 DO NOT HAVE THE PROBLEMS 2003 THROUGH 2007 MODELS HAD. REGARDLESS, THEY HAVE NOT TRIED TO REPLACE THE CAR'S VALVE-BODY, WHICH IS A PART OF THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SEEM TO FIND IT APPROPRIATE THAT I REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION OUT OF POCKET AT A COST HIGHER THAN THE CAR IS PRESENTLY WORTH. FOR THAT REASON I HAVE REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA. MANY NEW BEETLE OWNERS COMPLAIN THAT THEY HAVE ALSO ENCOUNTERED SIMILAR RESISTANCE FROM VOLKSWAGEN AND HAVE BEEN PUSHED TO PAY FOR NEW TRANSMISSIONS ONLY TO REALIZE THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AFTER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SPENT. THE COMPANY HAS MADE FEEBLE EFFORTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HOPE NHTSA WILL ASSIST CONSUMERS PRESENTLY BEING POLITICKED BY VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372691December 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2004 VW NEWBEETLE. MY CAR WAS SHIFTING FUNNY AND SHAKING AS IT DROVE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A TRIPTONIC SWITCH. THEY REPLACED IT. AFTER TEST DRIVING THE CAR WITH THIS NEW PART THEY DETERMINED THIS WASN'T THE PROBLEM AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF 5400.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372710December 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SCRAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE CAUSED BY THE SEPARATION OF THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH THE FLYWHEEL AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373162December 28, 2010
VISIBILITY
DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED IN THE DOWN POSITION ON MY 2004 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE REGULATOR HAS FAILED ON MANY NEW BEETLES. THE WINDOW REGULATOR HAS BEEN COVERED FOR 2003 - 2005 NEW BEETLE SEDANS BUT NOT CONVERTIBLES. I WANT TO DOCUMENT THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS ON THE CONVERTIBLES AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372323December 24, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HARD SHIFTING TRANSMISSION. WV REPLACED VALVE BODY. CAUSED TRANS FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10372355December 24, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFTING RECALL. TOOK CAR INTO DEALER IN DRIVING CONDITION. CAR DIAGNOSED AND VW REPLACED VALVE BODY CAUSING TRANS FAILURE. VW REFUSING TO REPLACE TRANS. DEALER FORCING ME TO PURCHASE NEW TRANS. WOULD NOT ATTEMPT ANOTHER VALVE BODY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371916December 21, 2010
AIR BAGS, VISIBILITY
MY 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE HAS THE SAME BAD WINDOW REGULATORS AS THE REST OF THE RECALLED ONES. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALSO ON WITHOUT ANY WRECKS TO MY AUTO VIN # [XXX]. I'VE REPORTED IT TWICE TO STEVENS VOLKSWAGEN OF WICHITA,KS AND ONCE TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REFERENCE NUMBER: 810010103. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY ANSWER FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA . THE ONLY REPLY I GOT FROM STEVENS VOLKSWAGEN OF WICHITA,KS IS THAT THEY WILL CHARGE ME 130.00 JUST TO DECIDE IF I'M COVERED UNDER THE WINDOW REGULATOR RECALLS AND OR THE AIRBAG LIGHT MALFUNCTIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371264December 20, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY LUNGED FORWARD AS IT ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY HESITATE WHILE ACCELERATING AT A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TIPTRONIC SWITCH WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371802December 20, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOW REGULATOR ON OUR 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE FAILED ON THE SECOND REAR WINDOW ON DECEMBER 18, 2010. THE FIRST OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2010. ACCORDING TO OUR REPAIRMAN, THIS WINDOW REGULATOR IS A VERY POOR DESIGN AND HAPPENS ON MANY BEETLES, EVEN NEW 2010 VERSIONS. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR ITS DESIGN PROBLEM. OUR COST TO REPAIR WILL BE $850 TO $1,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371024December 17, 2010
WHEELS, TIRES
SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IN TIRE(S) ON 2001 NEW BEETLE WITH 17 INCH ALUMINUM WHEELS. CAUSED BY CORROSION ON THE BEAD AREA OF THE RIM. CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO TIRE, HAD TO REPLACE ONE EXPENSIVE TIRE BECAUSE OF DAMAGE TO SIDEWALL. 3 TOTAL OCCURRENCES ON 2 DIFFERENT RIMS. TIRE DEALER "CLEANED UP" THE BEAD AREA AND REMOUNTED THE TIRE. LUCKILY ALL FAILURES EITHER OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS OR NOTICED WITH CAR PARKED. COULD NOT REINFLATE TIRE AS RIM WOULD NOT RESEAL WITHOUT REMOUNTING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10371597December 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN
VEHICLE WOULD LURCH WHEN DOWN OR UPSHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD AND 3RD TO 4TH AT JUST OVER 90,000 MILES. IT WOULD ALSO STICK IN NEUTRAL FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL SHOP FOR REPAIR IN DECEMBER 2010. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY CAUSING A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS. WHILE THE OUR BUG WAS IN THE SHOP WE RECEIVED A LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 2010 FROM VW ABOUT EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES OR 7 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. OUR BUG WAS PURCHASED AUGUST 2003 PUTTING IT OUT OF WARRANTY. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS VW SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING A GENERAL SERVICE RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION LONG BEFORE NOVEMBER 2010..
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370738December 15, 2010
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE WITH CONTINENTAL MS RADIAL(NA) TIRES, SIZE P225/45 R17, DOT NUMBER 50751. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE COMPLETELY CAME APART. THE SIDEWALL SPLIT AND THE TREAD FROM THE TIRE CAME OFF OF THE TIRE. THE TIRES WERE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PUT 20000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AFTER IT WAS PURCHASED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370822December 15, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2001 VW BEETLE: 189944 MILES. SUDDEN PERMANENT FAILURE OF SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES. WILL INVESTIGATE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT COST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370595December 14, 2010
AIR BAGS
1. 2000 VW BEETLE WORKED FINE. 2. ONE DAY I STARTED THE CAR UP AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. IT DIDN'T COME ON THE NEXT TIME I STARTED IT, BUT IT DID THE TIME AFTER THAT AND IT COMES ON AND STAYS ON NOW EVERY TIME I START THE CAR. 3. TRIED TO HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO READ THE CODE. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT. (ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, ALMOST ALL THE BEETLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AS THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE SEATS THAT CONNECTS THE SIDE AIRBAGS TO THE BUCKLES ON THE SEAT BELT WAS MADE ABOUT 3" TOO SHORT AND GETS PULLED FORWARD OR OUT COMPLETELY WHEN THE SEATS ARE BROUGHT FORWARD TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE BACK.) THIS OBVIOUSLY SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370670December 14, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SERIOUS ELECTRICAL LONG TERM QUALITY ISSUES, STARTING WITH UNDER HOOD WIRING FOR GLOW PLUGS MELTED AWAY, AIR BAG/SEAT BELT WIRING BROKE/FAILED, SEAT HEATER FAILED, PASSENGER DOOR SWITCH FAILED, TURN SIGNAL BULB HOLDER FAILED, REPEATED HEAD LAMP AND TAIL LIGHT FAILURES, ALTERNATOR PULLEY CLUTCH FAILED(EXPLODED) FACTORY ALARM PROBLEMS - JUST SETS OFF, AIR BACK LIGHT ON DASH ON, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10370501December 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VW BEETLE 2003, 98,000 MILES, STARTED SHIFTING HARD ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO; JERKS WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND, SECOND AND THIRD, AND 4TH TO 3RD TO 2ND TO 1ST; CALLED VW AFTER I RECEIVED THE WARRANTY EXTENSION - TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY LETTER (DEC 11, 2010) BUT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO COVER THE COST (5 MONTHS TOO OLD); THEY'VE ADMITTED THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369964December 11, 2010
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
THE STATE OF VIRGINIA REQUIRES VEHICLE INSPECTIONS, ONE ITEM REQUIRES THAT DASH WARNING LIGHTS FOR SEAT BELT AND AIRBAGS OPERATE CORRECTLY. OUR 2001 VW BEETLE HAS AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT THAT WOULD NOT GO OUT. THE VW DEALER CHARGED $100 TO DIAGNOSE THE FACT THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT (MICRO CHIP) WAS THE CULPRIT AND FOR ANOTHER $500 THE PROBLEM COULD BE CORRECTED. FEELING THIS DEALER WAS TRYING TO "RIP ME OFF" I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS FROM OWNERS OF VW CARS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, CUSTOMER CARE ADVOCATE, FOR INFORMATION ON THIS SAFETY ITEM AND INQUIRED WHY THE EXCESSIVE CHARGE FROM THEIR DEALERS. A SIMPLE REPLY WAS RETURNED SAYING THEY DID NOT SEE A NEED FOR A RECALL TO CORRECT A RECURRING PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IF THE SENSOR DOES NOT BELIEVE THE SEAT BELT IS FASTENED, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. I WISH TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE MANY COMPLAINTS I FOUND IN THE NHTSA WEB SITE REGARDING VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA'S DISREGARD FOR THE LIVES OF THEIR CUSTOMERS, SO THEIR DEALERS CAN MAKE MONEY FROM A REPEATED CORRECTION TO THIS PROBLEM. AT YOUR REQUEST I WILL PROVIDE FACTS, DOCUMENTS, AND EVIDENCE CONCERNING MY COMPLAINT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369968December 11, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER WARMING UP, THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION JERKS VERY BADLY, AND RUNS WILDLY BEFORE SHIFTING. THE MILEAGE IS JUST 75K. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE HARD SHIFT. MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. VW MUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS HORRIBLE DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369901December 10, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VOLKSWAGEN, 2003 NEW BEETLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369430December 7, 2010
SEAT BELTS
I OWN A 2003 VW BEETLE, THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAS WIRES CONNECTED TO IT, THIS WIRES SNAPPED ON THEIR OWN. MY AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON, FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS I HAD THIS LIGHT ON IN MY CAR. THROUGH RESEARCH IN THE INTERNET, I FOUND OUT THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, LOTS OF BEETLE OWNERS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED VW AND THEY REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. INFORMATION PROVIDED INDICATES THAT WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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