Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10364373November 8, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IN 2003. A FEW YEARS AGO, I REPORTED A NUMBER OF INSTANCES OF A LURCHING PROBLEM TO MY SERVICE GUY AT THE VW DEALERSHIP, AND HE SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK FULL FORCE, AND HE SAID EVENTUALLY I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS BEGUN LURCHING AND SHUDDERING VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING, AND TODAY, MY RPM'S WERE HIGHLY ELEVATED, DESPITE MY LOW SPEED. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF, DESPITE BEING ON THE 101 FREEWAY IN LA. IT COULDN'T DRIVE. IT STARTED UP AGAIN, AND THIS EVENING THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I'M AFRAID TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE MY CAR. IT'S SEVEN YEARS OLD AND IT ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. THERE'S NO REASON FOR THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM TO OCCUR, AND THERE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE A RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364391November 8, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION IN 2005 VW BEETLE WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT IS SUDDENLY FAILING TO SHIFT. RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE YET VW REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I EXPLAINED THAT THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THIS WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO OVER TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF MORE THAN THE CURRENT VALUE OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363990November 4, 2010
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WAS BROKEN ON THE REAR WINDOWS TWICE. THE CONTACT ORIGINALLY HAD TO REPLACE THE PARTS IN JULY OF 2010. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363884November 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT 64,000 MILES MY 2004 VW , AUTOMATIC, BEGIN TO "JUMP" GEARS BETWEEN THE 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AFTER IT WARMED UP. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER. AFTER BEING TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OUT, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE CERTAIN IT WAS THE GEAR BOX BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHOW UP IN THE DIAGNOSTIC AS THE PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE GEAR BOX WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I DID NOT AUTHORIZE THE WORK AND TOOK IT TO ANOTHER VW REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT NOT SHOWING UP IN THE DIAGNOSTIC. I HAVE NO CONFIRMATION OF THE PROBLEM AND THE WORK IS EXPENSIVE, THE ESTIMATE FOR THE GEAR BOX REPLACEMENT (WITHOUT GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM WAS IN EXCESS OF $2,000. THE OTHER GAMBLE WAS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF $5,000 PLUS LABOR. I STILL DON'T HAVE CONFIRMATION OF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT THE REPAIR OPTIONS ARE COSTLY AND A GAMBLE AT BEST. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363786November 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE HAS MANY ISSUES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL WHILE ACCELERATING, HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS, AND NOT GOING INTO THE CORRECT GEAR CAUSING SLOW TO NO ACCELERATION WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363490November 1, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A NOISE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND THE FLYWHEEL SUDDENLY EXPLODED AND LOCKED THE VEHICLE, DAMAGING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FLYWHEEL AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER A MECHANIC INSPECTED IT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363508November 1, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT APPROXIMATELY 75K MILES, 2005 VW BEETLE BEGAN VIOLENT LURCHING UPON SLOWING DOWN, RESULTING IN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR - LOCAL DEALER DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND IS UNDERGOING A TRANSMISSION REBUILD QUOTED AT APPROXIMATELY $3,500.00. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363534November 1, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING - LESS THAN 85,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 60K MILES I NOTICED A JERKING WHEN I WOULD SLOW. THE JERKING WOULD OCCUR WHILE THE CAR WAS SLOWING BETWEEN 3RD AND 2ND GEAR. THAT SEEMED TO IRON ITSELF OUT, BUT THEN A NEW PROBLEM SURFACED - THE CAR WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR SPORADICALLY. AT 80K MILES, I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC - HE TOLD ME IT COULD BE DUE TO LOW TRANSMISSION FLUID. HE CHECKED MY LEVELS AND SAID ALL SEEMED TO BE IN ORDER. NOW (A MONTH LATER) IT OCCURS MORE RECENTLY (DAILY AND MORE THAN ONCE A DAY), MY CAR WILL TRANSITION SMOOTHLY BETWEEN GEARS UNTIL TRANSMISSION WARMS UP. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 - 15 MINUTES WORTH OF DRIVING, ACCELERATING BETWEEN 2 AND 3RD GEAR, THE CAR REVS LIKE IT HAS SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND WILL JERK VIOLENTLY INTO 3RD GEAR. WHEN I CAN TELL THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS, ALLOW THE RPMS TO RETURN TO NORMAL AND THEN TRY ACCELERATING AGAIN, NORMALLY THIS WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO SMOOTHLY TRANSITION TO 3RD GEAR. TODAY, HOWEVER, THE CAR REMAINED IN NEUTRAL AND ALTHOUGH I TOOK MY FOOT FROM THE GAS, THE ENGINE SEEMED TO CONTINUE TO REV AS IF MY FOOT WAS STILL PRESSING ON THE GAS. I PRESSED THE BREAK TO STOP THE RPMS FROM CLIMBING HIGHER AND THEN THE CAR JERKED INTO 3RD - THIS WAS BY FAR THE SCARIEST BECAUSE I HAD A CAR RIGHT BEHIND ME. IMPROMPTU BREAKING AND LURCHING COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAD I BEEN IN TIGHTER TRAFFIC. I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MILES PER HOUR. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN AND FORMALLY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT. I'VE ALSO GONE ON SEVERAL VEHICLE FORUMS AND FOUND I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF VW BEETLE THAT IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC TODAY TO FIND OUT A DIAGNOSIS. HOPING SOMEONE ELSE HAS HEARD OF THIS AND FOUND A MORE VIABLE SOLUTION OTHER THAN SOAKING $6K INTO A 5-YEAR OLD CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10363016October 30, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AUTO TRANSMISSION ON 2005 VW BEETLE SLIPS AND LEAVES ME WITH NO POWER ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN TOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362869October 29, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 04 BEETLE CONV. AND AT AROUND 78,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING SLUGGISH AND WOULD MAKE A LOUD POPPING SOUND AS IT SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND JOLTED U FORWARD, NOW IT IS AT AROUND 81,000 AND WILL ONLY SHIFT THROUGH FIRST AND SECOND GEARS SAFELY. WHEN IT HITS 35MPH THE RPM'S RAISE RAPIDLY AND THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY COME TO REST AT 25 MPH AND GO NO FASTER. IF I SLAM ON THE BREAKS IT GETS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR AND WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO REACH 50 MPH MAX AT 5,500 RPM'S.. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AND THEY JUST TELL ME THAT A MY ONLY OPTION IS TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF 5,813.00+LABOR OR TRADE IT IN FOR A VALUE SOMEWHERE AROUND 1,500.00 AND REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM BETWEEN BEETLES, JETTAS, GOLFS, AND GTI'S. WITH CAR TRANSMISSIONS COMPLETELY GOING OUT OR ACTING LIKE THIS ON THE ROAD, IM A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO WHY VW HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO DEAL WITH THIS AND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362791October 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2005 VW BEETLE. AT APPROXIMATELY 89,000 MILES I NOTICED A LURCHING BETWEEN GEARS. THIS WOULD OCCUR ONLY AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. I AM NOT A MECHANIC BUT SUSPECTED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN MY CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A FEE OF $95.00 I WAS TOLD THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. SINCE THE 2005 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WAS BUILT WITH A NON-SERVICEABLE TRANSMISSION THE VW MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION FROM 'GOING UP' EARLY. THE MECHANIC ALSO SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE LASTED SEVERAL MORE YEARS BEFORE HAVING ANY ISSUES. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN APRIL 2005, AND I DO NOT HAVE THE $6,000.00 IT WILL COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS OUT THERE FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR SHOULDN'T THIS BE SOMETHING THAT VW IS REQUIRED TO FIX? ONE OTHER INCIDENT I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF OWNING MY 2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. SINCE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD THEM LOOK AT IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SWITCH HAD TO BE RESET AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. HOWEVER, THEY NEVER DOCUMENTED THIS COMPLAINT AT ALL SO WHEN I WENT BACK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. I WAS TOLD THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THE COMPLAINT AND THEY WOULD CHARGE ME OVER $100.00 JUST TO LOOK AT IT. NOW THAT I AM RESEARCHING THE TRANSMISSION I SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VERY THING AND I WAS NEVER INFORMED, NOR WAS THE LIGHT EVER FIXED. AFTER ALL THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS JUST A TRIPPED SWITCH AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, JUST A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SO I DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT ' UNTIL NOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362647October 27, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 VW BEETLE SLIPPING BANGING TRANSMISSION 4500-7000 DOLLAR FIX SEEMS TO BE ON MOST CARS. SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362663October 27, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP FOR THE BRAKES HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ALSO ABNORMALLY LOW. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE FAULTY BRAKE VACUUM PUMP UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE AN OIL LEAKAGE. THE LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP BRAKE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THEY STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR CRASH WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF UPDATED 03/24/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10362507October 26, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW NO LONGER OPENS OR CLOSES. THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND, LUCKILY, VW REPLACED THE REGULATOR ON THAT SIDE UNDER WARRANTY DURING THE 1ST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. ALL IT DOES NOW IS MAKE A 'GRINDING' NOISE. A LOCAL VW REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF THESE - THERE IS A DEFECT IN VW'S REGULATOR. IT'S A CONVERTIBLE, AND YOU CAN'T PUT THE TOP DOWN NOW. THE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN, AND IS PRESENTLY HELD IN PLACE WITH A RUBBER DOOR STOP. LAST VW IN OUR STABLE, FOR SURE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361836October 22, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TURNED ON MY CAR AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF ON THE DASH BOARD PANEL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361501October 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE THAT HAS A TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION WITH ALMOST 69,000 MILES. IT STARTED JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT VW/AUDI REPAIR SHOP HAD DIAGNOSTICS RUN AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD, AND THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM FREQUENTLY SEEN WITH 2004 BEETLES THAT HAVE THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. THE COST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE $5700.00 PLUS TAX, AND A USED TRANSMISSION WOULD BE $4400.00 PLUS TAX. I CALLED THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TO ASK ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF THE PROBLEM AND WHETHER VW WAS PLANNING ANY TYPE OF RECALL DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION, AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM DIDN'T WARRANT A RECALL AT THIS TIME. I THINK A $6200.00 REPAIR FOR A CAR THAT IS WORTH AROUND $10,000.00 IS INSANE. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2004 BEETLES AND THE EXCESSIVE COST OF REPAIR, VW SHOULD RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361528October 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC WAS "HARD SHIFTING" AFTER WARMING UP FOR 15-20 MINUTES FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, AND DOWN FROM 4TH ALL THE WAY TO 1ST. THIS ISSUE STARTED AFTER 75,000 MILES. FIX = REPLACE VALVE BODY...AROUND $2000. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE, AND THAT VW HAS ADDRESSED THIS DEFECT IN NEWER MODELS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IF IT IS A KNOWN, COMMON, AND FIXED PROBLEM BY VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361547October 21, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
06 VW BEETLE HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT SO MANY TIMES AND THE COST TO REPAIR EACH TIME IS AROUND $100. AFTER EACH REPAIR IT COULD BE A DAY A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE THE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. I NOW DRIVE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS SO THAT I AM VISIBLE AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361359October 20, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE CAR SURGES WHEN SHIFTING CAUSING THE WHEELS TO SPIN OUT ON WET SURFACES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361415October 20, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE - WINDOW REGULATOR PROBLEM, ALREADY HAD BACK WINDOW REPLACED LAST YEAR, NOW FRONT GETTING REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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