Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (1999)

174 consumer complaints on file.

#744238April 18, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I WAS LOOKING FOR A RELIABLE AND ECONOMICAL CAR. I HAVE BEEN VERY DISAPPOINTED. THIS CAR BURNS OIL AT AN UNBELIEVABLE RATE. I CANNOT RELY ON IT AND DO NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT OUT OF TOWN. I AM NOW KEEPING JUMPER CABLES IN THE HATCH BECAUSE OF CONSTANT BATTERY PROBLEMS. THE RADIO IS NOT WORKING. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED A REGULATOR (WINDOW) ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND IT HAS BROKEN AGAIN. LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER IT WAS REPLACED. SEVERAL DEALERSHIPS TOLD ME THAT THEY COULDN'T GET ME IN TO FIX THE PROBLEM FOR 2 WEEKS - MY WINDOW WAS STUCK DOWN INSIDE OF THE DOOR AND WOULD NOT ROLL UP. THE WAITING TIME FOR AN APPT AT A DEALER SHOULD BE AN INDICATION THAT THE ARE NOT PRODUCING QUALITY VEHICLES. THE WARRANTY PERIOD IS TOO SHORT. THE PROBLEMS SEEM TO ALL HAPPEN AFTER THE WARRANTY IS UP. IS THAT HOW LONG THEY EXPECTED TO LAST - 2 YEARS?I HAVE BEEN VERY DISAPOINTED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#883771March 22, 2001
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
CONSUMER COMPLAINT IS THAT THE SIDE AIR BAG ON HIS VEHICLE FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE HIT THE DRIVERS SIDE AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH. CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING FORWARD AT APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 60 MPH. A PICK-UP TRUCK HIT CONSUMER'S CAR BROADSIDE ON DRIVER'S SIDE, AN ENGINEER AT VW CLAIMS STATED THAT THE FORWARD MOTION OF VEHICLE LESSENED THE SIDE IMPACT ENOUGH THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT ACTIVATE. *SLC
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#742632March 18, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#882422March 7, 2001
SEATS
WAS STARTING TO APPLY BRAKES WHEN SEAT WENT BACKWARDS, AND DRIVER LOST VISIBILE CONTACT WITH ROAD. LATER, HAD SEAT CHECKED OUT, AND NOTICED SCREWS ON TRACK OF SEAT HAD BECOME STRIPPED. THIS WHAT CAUSED SEAT PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#741664February 28, 2001
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TRUNK LID:LOCK
ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCUR PERIODICALY. ONE DAY THE GAS GAUGE WILL SHOW EMPTY WHEN THE TANK IS FULL. THE ELECTRIC WINDOW WENT DOWN AND NEVER CAME BACK UP, THEY HAD TO REPLACE A SWITCH IN SIDE THE DOOR. THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAS TO BE PULLED ON TWICE TO OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE REAR HATCH WILL NOT ALWAYS OPEN WHEN RELEASED, YOU MUST PUSH THE BUTTOM AGAIN TO OPEN IT. AND THE REASON I AM FILLING OUT THIS QUESTIONNAIRE IS BECAUSE THE CAR TONIGHT WOULD NOT START. THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, THEN OFF, THEN DIM, THEN GO BRIGHT. (THE RADIO SHOWS ON ITS SMALL WINDOW THE WORD SAFE) THE IGNITION SWITCH DOES NOT SEEM TO BE WORKING. SO I DECIDED TO CHECK OUT YOUR WEB SITE FOR ANY RECALLS OR SERVICE BULLETINS. THE CAR WILL BE HEADING TO THE DEALERSHIP IN THE MORNING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#878900January 24, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP, STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING, STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL, AND SHAKE, SHOWED A SIGN OF VEHICLE LOSING POWER.ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL, AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK ENGINE ALSO HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM THE START. VEHICLE HAS HAD COMPLAINTS REGARDING TRUNK AND FUEL RELEASE ACTUATOR CABLE. STEERING RODS CAME LOOSE AND HAD TO BE RESECURED AND MOUNTING BOLT.. WINDOW MOTOR FAILED. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738764January 4, 2001
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
THESE TIRES WERE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN I PURCHASED IT. THE TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM THE BODY OF THE TIRE AT 18,500 MILES. I CONTACTED PERELLI TIRE OF NORTH AMERICA. THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A MISAPPLICATION OF THAT TIRE. VOLKSWAGEN ENGINEERS DETERMINED TGAT AN 89-LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY IS NECESSARY FOR A 1999 BEETLE. HOWEVER, THE TIRES THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAD INSTALLED ON MY CAR WAS RATED AT 82. PERELLI IS HELPING ME WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT IS CONCERNED AS TO HOW MANY VEHICLES HAVE TIRES INSTALLED BY VW UNSAFELY. HAVING CONTACTED SCHUMACHER VW OF WEST PALM BEACH,FL, THEY DENY IT IS THEIR PROBLEM AND REFUSED ME ANY RESOLUTION IN THIS MATTER. PERELLI TIRE ND I FEEL THAT THE PUBLIC SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF THIS SAFETY ISSUE BEFORE IT BECOMES A FIRESTONE/EXPLORER PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT CAN BE EASILY REMEDIED BY SIMMPLE EDUCATION TO DEALERS WHO CARE ABOUT THEIR CONSUMERS. THANK YOU. *AK (DOT NUMBER: ? TIRESIZE: P215/45ZR)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#738296December 26, 2000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
IS THERE ANY WAY TO FIND OUT IF THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAGS. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR OUR 18 YEAR OLD TWIN DAUGHTERS WITH SAFTEY IN MIND. WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP ON THIS. PLEASE CONTACT US. THANK YOU. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#875853December 1, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH COMPUTER SHUTTING DOWN ENGINE AFTER REPLACING BATTERY. COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE RECODED. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY THIS WARNING WAS NOT LISTED IN OWNER'S MANUAL WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#875425November 22, 2000
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
GOODYEAR EAGLE TIRE P205/55R15 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, DEALER REFUSED TO TALK TO CONSUMER ABOUT TIRE. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#871753September 28, 2000
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH APPLIED CLUTCH AND IT WILL NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL. THEN, VEHICLE WAS TOWED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#869951September 7, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON INSIDE OF IGNITION SWITCH BOX. THERE WAS A BAD CONNECTION IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. FIRE MELETED WIRES INSIDE THE BOX WHICH CAUSED SHUTDOWN IN DASHBOARD IE/ HEADLIGHTS/ WINDSHIELD WIPERS, AND ETC. DEALER'S REMEDY WAS TO TIGHTEN THE WIRES IN IGNITION BOX, BUT THE ELECTRICAL PORTION OF DASHBOARD WOULD PERIODICALLY GO DOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#729855September 1, 2000
AIR BAGS
CAR HIT HIGHWAY ON RAMP GUARD RAIL ON RIGHT FRONT SIDE. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO RIGHT FRONT SIDE BUMPER AND TO HOOD.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#729902September 1, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE CAR STOPS DEAD - I KNOW OF A MAN WHO WAS KILLED IN ANOTHER VW BEETLE BECAUSE OF THIS....I HEARD ON TV THAT FORD MIGHT BE RECALLED FOR A FAULTY RELAY PART. WHY NOT VW? THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR DIES. MY DEALER HAD MY CAR FOR ONE MONTH AND I DIDN'T GET ANY SATISFACTION UNTIL I CALLED THE MAIN PLANT AND UNTIL I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEPT OF MOTOR VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THIS IS A LARGE VW PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#728734August 22, 2000
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
EXPRESS FUNCTION OF DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW SWITCH FAILED. CAUSE WAS APPARENT BROKEN INTERNAL SPRING. REPLACED BY OWNER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#867872August 15, 2000
SEATS
SHE WAS STATIONARY INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND HEARD SWEAKING NOISE LAST WEEK. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT CAME OFF TRACK, AND FELL OVER INTO BACK SEAT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WERE AWARE OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#553633August 10, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, SUSPENSION:FRONT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL), STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
BATTERY WAS CRACKED CAUSING ACID TO LEAK ONTO POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#727444August 10, 2000
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
GRAVEL GAURD FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN DRIVE WAY. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE OF OUTSIDE CONTACT. DEALER(SANTA CRUZ VOLKSWAGON) SAID IT WAS CAUSED BY PARKING AT CURBS. I ASKED THEM WHY THEY DIDN'T TELL ME THE CAR COULDN'T BE PARKED UP TO A CURB WHEN I BOUGHT IT. I THEN CALLED VOLKSWAGEN. THEY REFUSED RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRENTY. THEY STATED THE SAME THING AS SANTA CRUZ. I TOLD THEM THAT WHEN I LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE THE DRIVERS TRAINING INSTRUCTOR TOLD US TO TOUCH THE TIRE TO THE CURB, OR PARKING BLOCK. THEY AGREED THAT THEY LEARNED THE SAME THING. BUT THE SUPERVISOR AT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA STILL REFUSED AND WOULD NOT GIVE SUPERIORS PHONE NUMBER. CALLED BOB LEWIS VOLKSWAGON, THEY SAID THE GRAVEL GAURD FALLS OFF OF 99% OF THE BEETLES THAT THEY SELL. AND THEY HAVE NOT SEEN VOLKSWAGON WARRENTY ONE YET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#863331June 9, 2000
SEATS
UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES TO DRIVER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT STILL REMAINS DAMAGED. *AK *ML
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#723520June 3, 2000
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
THIS CAR SHUTS DOWN AT ALL TIMES WHEN DRIVING, COULD BE WHEN YOU JUST GO, IF YOU ARE DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES TO AN HOUR, WHEN EVER IT DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN IT JUST DOES.AND THE COMPUTER DOESNT REGISTER IT SHUTTING DOWN, SO I AM TOLD NOTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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