Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10358396September 30, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT BEGAN BEEPING, THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED BEEPING AND A RED LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THE CONTACT NOTICED A THUMP UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SO SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT SIDE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, SO SHE COASTED OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THERE WERE FLAMES ERUPTING AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 136,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358438September 30, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE GLS (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WAS BROKEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REGULATORS ON THE DIFFERENT WINDOWS HAD BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED AT HER EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,990.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358287September 29, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 NEW BEETLE TO WORK. THE BRAKES FROZE UP, I COULD NOT STOP RAN A STOP SIGN I PUT CAR IN PARK STILL COULD NOT STOP. HAPPENED TWICE MORE B/4 I GOT TO WORK. I LOOKED UP RECALL FOR VOLKSWAGEN 2002. THERE WAS ONE "SERVICE BRAKES ,HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK RECALL. I CALLED VOLKS AND WAS ASKED IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER? I TOLD THEM NO. ALTHOUGH I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE ABOUT MY PROBLEM I GOT NO RESULTS. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALLS FOR VIN NUMBER I GAVE HER. I CAME BACK TO WORK AND FOUND THAT THERE WAS, SAID EVERY VEHICLE HAS IT'S OWN ID NUMBER WHICH I UNDERSTOOD BUT I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358304September 29, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
COMPONENT: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DETAILS: ISSUE HAS NOT YET CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT WILL. VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, 2005 MODEL WITH FEWER THAN 57,00.00 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILING CAUSING HARD SHIFTING AND SLIPPING GEARS RESULTING IN CAR LURCHING AND PAUSING UNEXPECTEDLY. FROM MY INVESTIGATION THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEW BEETLE, ONE THAT VW WILL NOT ADMIT NOR CORRECT. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME FINDING THAT THERE IS NO QUESTION AS TO WHETHER A NEW BEETLE OWNER WILL HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RATHER WHEN THE PROBLEM WILL BEGIN. WHILE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MANY IF ANY ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS ISSUE I DO KNOW THERE IS A GREAT CONCERN AMONGST THESE VEHICLE OWNERS THAT ACCIDENTS WILL OCCUR. VW SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES THAT USE THESE 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *DT *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358028September 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2005 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH TRIPTONIC TRANSMISSION, WITH ONLY 68,300 MILES, LURCHES IN THE LOWER GEARS AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY BETWEEN THE LOWER GEARS AND OFTEN REVS UP TO 5000 RPM BEFORE IT "SLAMS" INTO HIGHER GEAR. I'M AFRAID TO GO ON ANY HIGHWAYS WITH THIS - WHAT HAPPENS IF IT GET STUCK IN GEAR AND I CAN'T STOP? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358106September 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION, GEAR STUCK IN LOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357939September 27, 2010
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE WAS DRIVING 50 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE CONTACT STOPPED DRIVING TO WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO STOP BEFORE PROCEEDING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE WIPERS BEGAN OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAULTY WIPERS COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357437September 25, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OUR SON BEGAN HAVING TRANSMISSION JERKING ON HIS AUTOMATIC 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE AROUND 75,000 MILES. THE SHIFTING CAN BE SO SEVERE AS IF THE CAR HAD BEEN HIT FROM BEHIND. WHEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WE WERE TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS NEVER CHECKED BECAUSE IT IS COMPLETELY ENCASED AND THE FLUID IS NEVER CHECKED WHEN SERVICED. WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD BE ABOUT $5000. TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357313September 24, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE BACK PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW STUCK IN THE 1/2 DOWN/UP POSITION. WHEN WE TRIED TO LOWER IT WITH POWER WINDOW MECHANISM, IT CRUSHED UPON ITSELF. DURING ITS REPLACEMENT FOR $880, OUR VW TECHNOLOGY, INC. SERVICEMAN OFFERED THAT ALL CONVERTIBLE BEETLE VOLKSWAGEN HAVE THIS PROBLEM, EVEN TO THE 2010 MODEL . OURS IS A 2002 MODEL. THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WANTED OVER $1,000 FOR THE SAME REPLACEMENT WORK. WE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN'S NATIONAL SERVICE WHO DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357376September 24, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I AM HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON MY 2000 BEETLE. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT NEED REPLACED BUT I FEEL OTHERWISE. WHEN I AM DRIVING MY VEHICLE WILL PULL BACK VERY HARD AND THEN JUMP AND SHOOT ME FORWARD. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS WILL CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357430September 24, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC DRIVING UP THE DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC...WHEN I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE SO I FINALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PULL OVER AND LET THE CAR COOL DOWN. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS AGAIN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD THEM I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM...SAD THING IS I HAVE HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP ON 3 OTHER TIMES SINCE LATE MAY FOR THEM TO 1) REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, 2) REPLACE THE COMPUTER TRANSMISSION CHIP, 3) REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION...ALL IN ALL I HAVE BEEN OUT ABOUT $7K INCLUDING RENTALS AND EVERYTHING. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT IN THE OTHER CASES I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IT WAS WHEN I WAS GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AFTER DRIVING A BIT THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP. THIS TIME HOWEVER COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT SINCE IT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS IN MAJOR TRAFFIC. IN TOTAL THE VW DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 10 WEEKS SINCE LATE MAY...THIS IS TERRIBLE. I AM NOT THE ONLY CONSUMER WITH VW BEETLE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SEVERAL OUT THERE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS. CAN SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF THE CONSUMER SUFFERING?? OR DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE WORST CASES SIMILAR TO TOYOTA OR FORD? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357104September 23, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW FAILED 9-22-10. I PUT THE WINDOWS DOWN. I TRIED TO PUT THE WINDOWS BACK UP AS IT WAS STARTING TO RAIN. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW WILL ONLY GO HALF WAY UP AND THEN STOPS AND GOES BACK DOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357138September 23, 2010
POWER TRAIN
THE CAR HAS A TRANSMISSION THAT IS NEEDING REPLACING AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357141September 23, 2010
STRUCTURE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HINGES WERE COMING LOOSE. THE DOOR HINGES ARE NOT CONNECTED TO THE FRAME; HOWEVER, THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR OPENED WHILE DRIVING. THE DOOR WAS NOT REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357142September 23, 2010
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP AND IF THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT REFUSED TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED DUE TO THE COST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357154September 23, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2005 VW BEETLE WITH MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANNY WILL NOT SHIFT ON TIME AND WHEN IT DOES IT JERKS THE CAR. IT WILL ALSO STALL DURING ACCELERATION AND LEAVES ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN YOU NEED IT TOO. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO GET WORSE MORE AND MORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357172September 23, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON THE 2004 NBC ARE DEFECTIVE. BOTH OF MY REAR WINDOWS HAVE BROKEN. ACCORDING TO VW, THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WHERE THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS FOR 7 YEARS. WHEN I CALLED TO SEE ABOUT MINE THEY SAID THE CONVERTIBLES WERE NOT COVERED, EVEN THOUGH THE SAME PARTS WERE USED. THE WINDOWS BROKE WHEN I ROLLED THEM DOWN TO GET THE MORNING CONDENSATION OFF OF THEM. AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC WILL CHARGE ME $260 PER WINDOW VERSUS THE $500 PER WINDOW QUOTED BY VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357242September 23, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NEAR COLLISION CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SOLENOID VALVE BODY PRODUCED AND INSTALLED ON THE VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE AND CABRIO CONVERTIBLE MODELS. THE TRANSMISSION IS A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TIP-TRONIC SHIFT STYLE SPECIFICALLY USED BETWEEN 2001 - 2004 MODEL YEARS. THE DEFECTIVE PART CAUSES A SUDDEN JUMP OR JERKING MOTION BETWEEN GEAR SHIFTING. IN OUR INSTANCE THE CAR JERKED AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A VEHICLE COLLISION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ON ONE OCCASION. FURTHER RESEARCH DISCOVERED THAT VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART AND THAT IT HAS CAUSED OR BEEN THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THESE VEHICLES AS WELL AS NUMEROUS AND CONSTANT COMPLAINTS TO VW DEALERS AND ON LINE COMPLAINT FORUMS. A REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE DESIGNED INTERNAL SOLENOID VALVE BODY IS NEEDED TO AVOID FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSIONS AND MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY AN ISSUE FOR LESSER EXPERIENCED DRIVERS AND WHEN HE VEHICLES ARE ENGAGED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357008September 22, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT
2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHOWING SIGNS OF TROUBLE WELL OVER A YEAR AGO. PROBLEM STARTS AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. DOWNSHIFTS HARD AROUND 30-25 MPH. ALSO SHOWS HESITATION COMING OUT OF 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. CAR HAS 75,000 MILES. HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED/FLUSHED TWICE IN PAST 6 MONTHS HOPING THAT WOULD HELP. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TODAY, QUOTED ME $1900 TO REPLACE VALVE BODY. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THIS CAR HAS HAD THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR GO OUT -COST $300 TO REPAIR. THE GLUE AFFIXING THE REAR GLASS WINDOW TO CONVERTIBLE TOP IS BREAKING DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF MALFUNCTION WITH THE GAS CAP...NO MATTER HOW OFTEN I TIGHTEN IT. THEN IT MYSTERIOUSLY GOES OFF. OH, AND SHOULD YOU EVER NEED A REPLACEMENT KEY, GOOD LUCK. WHY COULDN'T VW USE NORMAL SIZED/TYPE KEYS? VW IS MAKING CRAPPY PRODUCTS. NHTSA PLEASE DO SOMETHING. THIS MANUFACTURER SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO RELEASE ANOTHER VEHICLE OFF ITS ASSEMBLY LINE UNLESS IT FIXES THE MANY PROBLEMS AFFECTING INNOCENT, UNFORTUNATE VW OWNERS LIKE MYSELF. YIELD YOUR POWER AND ENFORCE SOME ACTION. VW NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JUNK THEY PRODUCE. MAYBE THEN THEY'LL THINK TWICE BEFORE TURNING OUT ANYMORE CRAPPY PRODUCTS. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER VW PRODUCT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356711September 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION BAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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