Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10349727August 16, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT
MY 2004 VW BEETLE AT 44,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPLACED, I ALLOWED THE VW DEALER TO DO ALL THE WORK.. THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURS IS IT JERKS AND WON'T SHIFT GEARS WHEN ON THE FREEWAY OR IN OTHER DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. OVER A YEAR LATER AT 54,000 MILES MY SAME CAR IS NOW DOING THE SAME THING ON THE FREEWAY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND OCCURRING ON A SO-CALLED "BRAND NEW" TRANSMISSION VW CLAIMS TO HAVE PUT IN. MY PARTS WARRANTY FROM A YEAR AGO RECENTLY EXPIRED. A CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE TWO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS UNDER 54,000 MILES! I FOUND SEVERAL MESSAGE BOARDS FULL OF THE SAME COMPLAINT, SAME PROBLEM IN THE BEETLES FROM THIS TIME PERIOD. THE TRANSMISSION JERKS ON PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY OR ROAD. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I AM FILING MINE WITH YOU IN HOPES YOU WILL START INVESTIGATING THESE COMPLAINTS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED DRIVING FROM THEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349376August 14, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DEFECTIVE WINDOW REGULATOR - DRIVER'S SIDE REAR POWER WINDOW 2005 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349115August 12, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR IS BROKEN. WHILE ROLLING WINDOW DOWN, I HEARD A LOUD SNAP. THE WINDOW WILL ONLY ROLL UP HALF WAY, AND THEN AUTOMATICALLY ROLLS DOWN AGAIN. I CANNOT SECURE MY VEHICLE AS THE WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO KIMBALL VOLKSWAGEN, AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE WINDOW REGULATORS, AND THAT IT IS "RE-OCCURRING" PROBLEM! THE COST TO REPAIR THE WINDOW IS $75 FOR THE REPAIR KIT, AND $105 PER HOUR LABOR BY THE DEALERSHIP. MY NEIGHBOR HAS AN 05' RED CONVERTIBLE, HE TOLD ME HE HAS FIXED THE BACK WINDOWS THREE TIMES! THIS IS A CONSUMER RIP OFF. I HAVE NOT FIXED MY WINDOW, BECAUSE I CANNOT AFFORD TO, BECAUSE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS NOW BROKEN AS WELL. A PLASTIC RIVOT HAS BROKEN OFF AND NOW MY CONVERTIBLE BOOT DOES NOT FOLD CORRECTLY! THIS OF COURSE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349123August 12, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I HAVE A 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATORS CONTINUALLY BREAK. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN GOING ON WITH YOUR AGENCY TO GET THIS ITEM COVERED AS A RECALL BY VOLKSWAGEN. THE ITEM OR COMPLAINT NUMBER THAT WAS GIVEN ME IS 10282664. THESE WINDOW REGULATORS ARE OF A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY VW. I DON'T FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD PROSPER BY SELLING THE REGULATOR KITS THAT ARE NECESSARY DUE TO THEIR FAULTY DESIGN. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME THAT I AM REPLACING THESE ITEMS IN A 7 YEAR OLD CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348652August 11, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TDI. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE STARTING SLOWING DOWN, CAUSING HER TO DRIVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE WAITED A FEW MINUTES, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING TO HER DESTINATION AT A LOWER SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MECHANTRONIC UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348687August 11, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PURCHASED A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 2 DAYS AGO. DROVE IT HOME, DROVE IT TO AND FROM WORK (FOR ONE DAY), TODAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE AND THEY TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $6500. THE CAR ONLY HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS INSANE. I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD AND THIS CAR COULD AND PROBABLY WILL LEAVE US STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348823August 11, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2004 VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE NEEDS THE VALVE BODY REPLACED. CAR ONLY HAS 61,900 MILES ON IT. REAR WINDOWS BOTH HAVE BROKEN AIR BAG SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348197August 9, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. REAR WINDOWS REGULATOR/MOTORS BROKE. VW ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FRONT WINDOWS (7 YEARS) REAR WINDOWS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER WANTS $700.00 PER SIDE TO FIX. WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN ON COMMAND. OFTEN FALL ON THEIR OWN AFTER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10348223August 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY LUNGED FORWARD. UPON ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HESITATE WHEN CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE FREQUENCY OF THE FAILURES HAD INCREASED OVER TIME. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 80,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347983August 8, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH MY 2004 NEW BEETLE. ON 5/12/10, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS A FAULTY "TURBO RECIRCULATION VALVE" AND REPLACED THE PART (PICKED UP SAME DAY-$250). ON 5/18/10, I TOLD THEM I WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHERE THE RPMS GOES UP BUT THE SPEED OF THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE..CLOSE TO REDLINE. THIS TIME THE DEALER TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED (PICKED UP ON 5/25/10-$4,269). WHEN I RECEIVED THE CAR I TOLD THEM THE CAR STILL DID NOT PERFORM LIKE IT SHOULD. ON 5/26/10, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND NOW THEY TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER UNIT AND CIRCUIT WAS FAULTY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED...THIS TIME IT TOOK A WHILE (PICKED CAR UP ON 6/29/10 - $1,888). AROUND THE WEEK OF JULY 9TH I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE CAR STILL FELT IT WAS SLIPPING AT TIME WHEN THE WEATHER WAS HOT AND I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN IT. ON, 7/14/10 I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN TO DEALER AND THEY HAD IT FOR A DAY...NOW THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO I PICKED UP THE CAR ON 7/15/10...NO COST THIS TIME. THEY MAY HAVE MADE A FEW TWEAKS AS THE CAR LASTED TILL NOW 8/07/10 WHERE I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR AT A LOCAL POST OFFICE AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN A 105 DEGREE HEAT IN TEXAS (I DROVE ABOUT 37 MILES). IT IS JUST AS I SUSPECTED I WAS ABLE TO ASK MY BROTHER TO TAKE ME TO THE CAR IN THE EVENING AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. I LEFT A MESSAGE FOR THE DEALERSHIP IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN I HAD THE PROBLEMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER TO NOT DEFRAUD THE CONSUMER BY SELLING THEM DEFECTIVE VEHICLES/PARTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347991August 8, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
PLASTIC PART IN HEADLIGHTS (WHICH BULB SITS IN) GETS HOT MELTS CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO GO OUT. POTENTIAL FOR FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347977August 7, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REAR WINDOW WILL NOT COME UP. OTHER REAR WINDOW IS LOCKED IN UP POSITION AS IT BROKE 8 MO. AGO. THERE SEEMS TO BE ALOT OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE NEW BEATLE ALL YEARS. TIME FOR A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347590August 6, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE HATCHBACK INTERMITTENTLY LOSES POWER. I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT LOST POWER. IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE WHEN TRAVELING 60 MPH ON FREEWAY. I BROUGHT CAR TO DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THE NEAR STALL THAT HAPPENED THAT MORNING AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES WHEN MOVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THEY DID DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. CALLED INDEPENDENT VW SHOP AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND HAD REPORTED IT TO VW AND HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THERE IS NO FIX. THE PROBLEM IS DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE AND WHEN IT IS REPLICATED THE MECHANICS CANNOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. SITTING ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO POWER IS FRIGHTENING AND COULD PROVE FATAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347818August 6, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION CONTINUOUSLY SLIPS BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD GEAR WHEN DOWNSHIFTING OR UPSHIFTING. OFTEN IT WILL NOT SHIFT AT ALL. THERE IS SEVERE LURCHING OCCASIONALLY WHEN MOVING OR COMING TO A STOP. I HAVE GOTTEN A TRANSMISSION FLUSH WHICH WITHIN DAYS THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE POWER WINDOWS CONTINUOUSLY DO NOT FULLY RAISE- REQUIRING YOU TO MANUALLY RAISE THEM. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FIXED TWICE AND BOTH TIMES AFTER BEING FIXED THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347877August 6, 2010
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2000 NEW BEETLE WITH ITS SECOND TRANSMISSION. I THOUGHT THESE WERE RELIABLE CARS THAT WOULD BE RELIABLE FOR BACK AND FORTH TO WORK.. I LOOKS AT THE FORUMS AND FIND IM ONE OF THE THOUSANDS THAT HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. IS THIS ACCEPTABLE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347030August 3, 2010
STRUCTURE:BODY
I HAVE A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE TOP OF THE REAR GLASS WINDOW AND HAS A GAP. THE CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD, BUT IT ONLY HAS CLOSE TO 65,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10347125August 3, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2003 NEW VW BEETLE. WAS ROLLING UP THE REAR WINDOW AND IT STOPPED WORKING AND WILL NOT ROLL UP ANY MORE. WINDOW WAS NOT IN A BIND NOTHING WAS IN THE WAY OF IT, AFTER IT BROKE I WENT ON LINE AND SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346741August 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 75MPH, THE TRANSMISSION INDEPENDENTLY DOWNSHIFTED YET THERE WAS AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY DECELERATED FROM 75 TO 15 MPH WITHIN SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION REAR DIFFERENTIAL GEAR WAS DEFECTIVE. THE MECHANIC ALSO ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346756August 2, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REAR WINDOW REGULATOR ISSUE WITH 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. AFTER READING HUNDREDS OF BLOG COMPLAINTS ONLINE IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE OF THE REAR WINDOW REGULATORS DEFAULTING ON THESE VEHICLES MINE HAS ALSO BECOME INOPERABLE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346793August 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN
MY TRANSMISSION SLAMS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR TO FIX IT EITHER NEED A NEW VALVE BODY OR A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Beetle