Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10346811August 2, 2010
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A FOUL, OVERPOWERING ODOR IN THE INTERIOR CABIN. THE CONTACT STATED HE AND PASSENGERS HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE HEADACHES AFTER RIDING IN THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED TIME. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM DEODORIZATION TREATMENTS TO THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT PERFORMED RESEARCH ON THE ODOR IN THE VEHICLE AND BELIEVED AN ASPHALT BASED CHEMICAL WAS USED TO REDUCE THE NOISE IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS CAUSING THE ADVERSE ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE THE CHEMICAL WAS REACTING TO THE PLASTIC USED IN THE CABIN ONE REMEDY WAS TO HAVE ALL THE PLASTIC REMOVED. THE CONTACT DID NOT BELIEVE THAT TO BE AN ADEQUATE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10346543August 1, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER 15 OR SO MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION STARTS TO MISS FIRST & SECOND GEAR SHIFTING ERRATICALLY IF YOU ARE MAKING A LEFT TURN, IT IS QUITE DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE FOR A FEW SECONDS THIS CAN CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT, IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. I HAVE READ OTHER COMPLAINTS & OTHER VW 2005 SUPER BEETLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THANKS. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346532July 31, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL FIRE IN FUSEBOX OF 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DISABLED VEHICLE AND MELTED FUSE HOUSING AND COVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346245July 30, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2005 VW BEETLE REAR LEFT WINDOW REGULATOR HAS FAILED. THE GLASS IS NOT BROKEN, AND THE MOTOR WORKS, BUT THE WINDOW DOES NOT GO UP OR DOWN WITH THE SWITCH. IT WILL MOVE BY PUSHING/PULLING ON IT. I HAVE NOTICED THIS SAME COMPLAINT ON MANY WEBSITES. I DID NOT SEE WHEN THE WINDOW FAILED, IT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE I PURCHASED IT ON JULY 13, 2010. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346363July 30, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2004 VW NEW BEETLE AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE GOING BAD. IT IS A SEALED SYSTEM SO NO ONE HAS TAMPERED WITH IT. AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WILL JERK VERY HARD WHEN TRYING TO DOWNSHIFT FROM A HIGHER SPEED TO A LOWER SPEED (ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO STOP). AT TIMES, IT WILL NOT SHIFT UP WHEN TRYING TO GO FROM A LOWER SPEED TO A HIGHER SPEED, THEREBY CAUSING A JERKING IN THE VEHICLE. THE PEOPLE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE ARE ALSO BEING JERKED FORWARD AND BACKWARD AS IN A WHIPLASH MOTION. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH A VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE THAT CLAIM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS A WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED/BLOGGED ABOUT THEIR PROBLEMS AND VW IS CLAIMING NO LINKAGE TO ANY OF THE EFFECTED VEHICLES. CAN YOU ASSIST IN THIS MATTER OR TELL ME WHERE I CAN GO TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10346386July 30, 2010
AIR BAGS
FAILED AIRBAG WIRING - DEALER SAYS ITS RELATED TO A SEAT SENSOR - LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON AT 62,000 MILES HAS 108,000 CURRENTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345744July 27, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
2002 VW BEETLE TURBO 1.8 WHILE DRIVING THE RED LIGHT SENSOR WOULD COME ON STATING MY CAR WAS OVERHEATING. NOTHING WAS LEAKING, SENSORS WERE REPLACED A FEW MONTHS PRIOR DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE ALONG WITH A RING AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THE RED LIGHT FLASHES THEN ABOUT 2 MILES LATER THE OIL LIGHT GOES ON AND IF THE CAR IS NOT PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY THEN YOU RISK ENGINE DAMAGE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE IS MADE UP OF PLASTIC PARTS PRETTY MUCH WHICH CRACK AND MELT VERY EASY WHEN HEAT GETS TO THEM. SO NOW AFTER SPENDING MONEY ON WATER PUMPS, ASSEMBLIES, HOSES, SENSORS WHICH TOTAL OVER 3K IT IS NOW AN ISSUE ONCE AGAIN AND THE CAR IS UNDRIVABLE. I AM EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS VEHICLE. ALSO MY IGNITER COILS WERE REPLACED 8 TIMES (2X EACH ONE) PRIOR TO A RECALL AND THEY DO NOT REIMBURSE YOU ALL THE MONIES SPENT. NOW THERE IS A RECALL IN MY SUNROOF WHICH THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX SINCE THE WATER DAMAGE IS ALREADY AFFECTING THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE. SO WITH ALL OF MY RECEIPTS NOT INCLUDING RENTAL CARS FOR REPAIRS ONLY I HAVE INVESTED OVER 6K IN A CAR WORTH LESS AND I DOUBT NO ONE WILL PAY TO TAKE IT OFF MY HANDS WHICH WILL LEAVE A SINGLE MOTHER CAR LESS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345380July 26, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2000 VW BEETLE SATURDAY WHEN SHE SMELLED "SOMETHING HORRIBLE." SHE ROLLED THE WINDOWS DOWN AND THE NEXT THING SHE KNEW THERE WAS SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD AREA. SHE PULLED OVER AND A GENTLEMAN BEHIND HER PUT THE FIRE OUT USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. SHE HAD HAD PROBLEMS A FEW DAYS EARLIER WITH THE AC NOT COMING ON PROPERLY. SHE WAS PLANNING TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE SHOP ON MONDAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10345027July 24, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OUR 2002 VW TRANSMISSION WENT OUT @ 75,000 MILES WITH NO NOTICE. JUST ONE DAY IT WOULD NOT BACK UP. THEN IT WAS ALMOST LIKE IT JUMPED INTO REVERSE AND THEN WHEN WE PUT IT IN DRIVE YOU COULD JUST TELL IT WAS NOT RIGHT. WE LIMPED IT AROUND FROM PLACE TO PLACE GETTING OPINIONS ON WHAT WAS WRONG AND GETTING ESTIMATES ON REPAIR. HAD ONE GARAGE TAKE THE COVER OFF SIDE OF TRANSMISSION SEEING METAL SHAVINGS WAS WHEN WE GOT IT REPLACED. THAT REPLACEMENT LASTED A TOTAL OF 3 DAYS, IT WAS USED WITH ONLY 23000 MILES ON IT AND ONLY LASTED 3 DAYS. IT JUST STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD AND WOULD NO GO INTO ANY GEAR. REPLACED THAT ONE WITH ANOTHER ( BOTH WERE FDF TRANSMISSIONS) AND NOW THE SPEEDOMETER IS OFF X 8-13 MPH, THE RPM ARE RUNNING HIGH AROUND 2800 TO 3000 @ 55 -60 MPH. FUEL MILEAGE IS DOWN CUT IN HALF. HAVE TAKEN IT TO A VW DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO CODES ANYWHERE AND THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG OR WHY THESE PROBLEMS WERE HAPPENING. THIS TELLS ME THERE IS A BIG PROBLEM SOMEWHERE WITH VW TRANSMISSIONS AND SOMEONE NEEDS TO INQUIRE INTO THIS. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF VW TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344572July 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344575July 21, 2010
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ON SINCE CAR WAS NEW DESPITE NUMEROUS REPAIRS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10344593July 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2005 VW BEETLE, I JUST MADE MY LAST PAYMENT ON IT. IT HAS 102,000 MILES ON IT. THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. THE WINDOW REGULATOR HAS MESSED UP. I HAVE REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS TWICE. HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIO IN IT. REPLACED THE TAIL LIGHTS NUMEROUS TIMES. THE TRANSMISSION IS THE THING I AM MOSTLY CONCERNED ABOUT. THERE ARE LOTS OF COMPLAINTS OF OTHER BUYERS DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR 2005 BEETLE. THESE CARS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO BUY. IT IS NOT RIGHT TO BUY ANYTHING FOR THIS KIND OF MONEY AND BE FACED WITH ALL THESE EXPENSIVE PROBLEMS. WHEN THE CAR CHANGES GEARS IT SNATCHES YOUR NECK. YOUR HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343890July 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VW NEW BEETLE WITH TRANSMISSION ISSUES THAT ARE DANGEROUS. IT WILL JUMP UNEXPECTEDLY AND AT ONE POINT I ACTUALLY REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE UNCONTROLLABLE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. IT WILL ALSO HESITATE IN AN INTERSECTION MAKING FOR A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343977July 19, 2010
AIR BAGS, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
2004 VW NEW BEETLE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINS ON. SENSOR WAS REPLACED IN NOV. 2004, SEPT. 2006 AND MARCH 2007. VW SAYS THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER THE RECALL # 08V178000. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL VW APPROVES IT AND DEALERSHIP WANTS US TO PAY FOR *ANOTHER* EVALUATION. LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR 1 YEAR, HAD IT EVALUATED JULY 2009. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 80,000. MILEAGE WHEN LIGHT CAME ON WAS 71,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343848July 18, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 VW BEETLE ON THE WESTBANK EXPRESSWAY IN NEW ORLEANS, HE HEARD A LOUD POP, AND THE CAR STARTED TO FILL WITH "WHITE SMOKE", HE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. WITHIN MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THIS CAME WITHOUT WARNING, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO YESTERDAY, 7-17-10. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343716July 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
VW BUG 2003, 87,000 MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ROUGH. DEALER SAID WE NEEDED TO HAVE THE "VALVE BODY" CHECKED ($1413). IF THIS WASN'T THE PROBLEM WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ($5761). I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT COSTS SO MUCH BEFORE WE EVEN KNOW IF THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD, OR WHY THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING ON SUCH A RELATIVELY YOUNG CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343574July 16, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. ALTERNATOR, WIRING HARNESS, FUSE BLOCK AND BATTERY ALL WENT BAD. MELTED PARTS (WIRE AND FUSE BLOCK), WHICH INDICATES HIGH CURRENT DRAW AND POTENTIAL FOR FIRE, CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. VW SAYS ISOLATED ISSUE, WEB SEARCH SAYS A DIFFERENT STORY. CALL VW CUSTOMER CARE, LOGGED A CASE, DEAD END. I'M SURE IT'S THEIR ISSUE HOWEVER THEY WON'T ADMIT AND INSTEAD WE GET A $1500 BILL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343484July 15, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED ON MY 2004 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TODAY. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM BUT HAS YET CAUSED A RECALL FOR DEFECT PARTS FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10343502July 15, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE GLS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ABNORMALLY JERKING WHILE SWITCHING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN ONE MONTH. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION GEAR BOX. SHORTLY AFTER, THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED WHICH WERE ALSO REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342740July 12, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND JERKING ON HI WAYS AND STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. MY VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS APPROX 68,000 MILES AT THE TIME. I HAVE HAD A FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE CAR DID NOT MOVE ON THE FREEWAY SINCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THIS PROBLEMS OCCURS EVERYDAY AFTER THE CAR IS RAN FOR AROUND 5 MILES. MY VW IS A 2004 VW BEETLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO VW THINKING IT WAS DUE FOR AN ADJUSTMENT OR AN OIL CHANGE. I WAS GIVEN RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE OIL MAY NEEDED TO BE TOPPED OFF OR THE COMPUTER MAY NEEDED TO BE CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THAT FOR 120.00 I COULD HAVE THE CAR DIAGNOSED. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO COME BACK IN A FEW HOURS. AFTER CALLING BACK I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS COOLING OFF AND THAT THE DEALER WAS GOING TO TOP OFF THE OIL FOR 40 DOLLARS MORE. I PAID A TOTAL OF 160.00 AND THAN WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD POSSIBLY NEED TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR 7,000 DOLLARS. THE SERVICE REP SAID I COULD PURCHASE A PART FOR 2,000 DOLLARS AND SEE IF THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT HE ALREADY HAS 5 TRANSMISSIONS HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. I FELT THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEW THIS WAS NOT GOING TO HELP BUT SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME SINCE I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE. I THAN CHECKED THE BLOGS FOR VW TRANSMISSION AND TO MY SURPRISE FOUND 240+ REASONS WHY I WAS NOT ALONE ON THIS ISSUE. PLEASE READ THE COMPLAINTS OF OTHER CONSUMERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THESE PEOPLE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS WHO CAN NOT AFFORD TO SPEND THEIR MONEY ON THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX?14@@.F124D77/0 PLEASE HELP US IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. AS ON BLOGGER SAID, WE DIDN'T BUY A VW SO WE COULD PAY EXPENSIVE MAINTENANCE COST. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. GOD BLESS HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX?14@@.F124D77/0. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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