Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10342514July 11, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
NORMAL DRIVING WITH MY VW 2005 BEETLE. IT HAS HAD A LOT OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES. HAVE HAD TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, AND BRAKE LIGHTS SEVERAL TIME. ONLY HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. NOW THE POWER WINDOW HAS STOPPED WORKING. ONE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AFTER THE OTHER. SORRY PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342447July 10, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
EPC LIGHT ON,CAR LOOSING POWER. I HAVE CHANGE EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT COULD BE CHANGE TO FIX IT AND NOTHING. NOBODY KNOWS HOW TO FIX IT, NOBODY WANTS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.VW CORPORATION DON'T HAVE RECALLS FOR IT, AND NO DEALER OR MECHANIC KNOWS HOW TO FIX IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10342095July 8, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, SEAT BELTS
WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM FOR THE 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE COMPANY IS REPLACING THEM. I JUST HAD ONE INSTALLED AFTER HAVING THE ENGINE LIGHT INDICATE I HAD A PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341417July 4, 2010
AIR BAGS
VW BEETLE, AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION FOR MY 2004 MODEL. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR FOR REPAIR FOR AT LEAST 4-TIMES IN THE PAST 4-YEARS. I BELIEVE THE INITIAL RECALL # 03V3S6000 WAS NEVER CORRECTED AND COMPANY IS NOT CONCERNED IN FIXING IT EVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341219July 2, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO ILLUMINATE APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. THE DEALER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS ALSO REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THAT REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10341049July 1, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A 2000 VW BEETLE AT 60,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340546June 29, 2010
VISIBILITY
REAR WINDOWS REGULATORS ARE OUT OF ORDER. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN QUITE OFTEN ON THESE CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340314June 27, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 VW TURBO BEETLE--AFTER LAST TWO DEALER SERVICING THE CAR DIES ON TURNS--DASH LIGHTS COME ON, NO POWER STEERING. CAR REGAINS POWER IN @ 2 SECONDS. A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALER AND VW AMERICA WANT TO START REPLACING PARTS AND SEE WHAT WORKS AT MY EXPENSE. HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR FOR THREE WEEKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340328June 27, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE LESS THAN 80,000 MILES ON MY 2005 VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE AND WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION COSTING $6000. WHEN RESEARCHING, I FOUND THAT THIS MODEL IS RIDDLED WITH TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340228June 26, 2010
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
I'M IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING MY SECOND DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH (THE FEMALE END THAT THE BELT ATTACHES TO) ON MY 2002 VW NEW BEETLE. THIS FAILURE TRIGGERS THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FIRST SEAT BELT LATCH WAS REPLACED IN APRIL OF 2007; NOW, THREE YEARS LATER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN AND THE ERROR CODE INDICATES THE SAME ISSUE, SO I'M FORCED TO REPLACE THE SAME PART AGAIN. FROM MY READING VW NEW BEETLE FORUMS, THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. AT THE VERY LEAST YOU'D THINK VW WOULD RE-DESIGN THE PART TO ELIMINATE THE ISSUE SO IT ONLY HAS TO BE REPLACED ONE TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339572June 22, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING FORWARD AND HESITATING TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VALVE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE VALVE WAS REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339614June 22, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I STRONGLY FEEL THAT WE OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACING AN EXPENSIVE TRANSMISSION WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS A RECOGNIZABLE "PRE-EXISTING CONDITION" THAT COULD VERY WELL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MY 2004 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TURBO BEGAN SHIFTING GEARS ROUGHLY, JERKING AND SLIPPING ON UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING A FEW MONTHS AGO AT 52K MILES. ONLY AFTER WARMING UP. SOUND FAMILIAR? YES, MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $6000, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND A PRIVATE AUTO TRANS SHOP. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED ON TIME BY THE SAME DEALER. NEVER ABUSED. SINCE MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THESE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS, AND SINCE IT MIGHT LEAD TO AN ABRUPT GEAR FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE. WEB SEARCHES REVEAL THE PROBLEM TO BE ACROSS MODEL YEARS. WEAR & TEAR? NO, I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN IN NO.CAL. AND DRIVE MOSTLY FREEWAY MILES IN LIGHT TRAFFIC WITH FEW GEAR CHANGES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339260June 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2002 VW NEW BEETLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT HAS FAILED WITH 220,000 MILES ON IT. IT BEGAN TO SLIP AND NOT DOWN SHIFT PROPERLY AT 170,000 MILES. IT IS A DIESEL AND I EXPECT THE ENGINE WILL CONTINUE TO PERFORM FOR ANOTHER 3 TO 400 THOUSAND MILES. HAS VW BEEN HONEST WITH THE CONSUMER ABOUT ITS TRACK HISTORY OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN THE NEW BEETLE? PLEASE ADD MY NEW BEETLE TO THE LIST OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION COMPLAINTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339347June 21, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE TO ASSIST. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10339235June 20, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2005 VW BEETLE, BEGAN SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR AND THE FINAL STRAW WAS IN FAST MOVING TRAFFIC AND IT SLIPPED OUT COMPLETELY, WAS NEARLY KILLED! FOUND OUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT AT 97,700 AND APPARENTLY THIS HAPPENS QUITE A BIT WITH THESE VEHICLES, TO REPLACE IS $7,500. THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE, NTSB WON'T SAY IF OR WHAT THEY ARE DOING ABOUT IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335782June 11, 2010
VISIBILITY
I OWN A 2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, PURCHASED NEW. ONLY 42,000 MILES ON IT. THE FRONT MOTOR AND MODULE WENT OUR FEW DAYS AGO AND HAD REPLACED. NOW THE REAR REGULATOR IS BAD O THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE READ OF A WHOLE LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, WHY NO RECALL, OTHER MODEL YEARS HAVE BEEN, ALSO THE COIL PACK IS BAD AND HAS BEEN RECALL ON OTHER YEARS. WHY DON'T INCLUDE THE 2003 MODEL? THANKS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335615June 10, 2010
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION IN WHICH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10335427June 9, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND OBD DEVISE FAILED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE ALL THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10335458June 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY 2004 VW BEETLE CONV STARTED EXPERIENCING ERRATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING-IT WOULD "CLUNK" INTO 1ST/2ND/3RD GEARS, SOMETIMES TO THE POINT OF "SCREECHING" OFF AND ALMOST LAYING RUBBER. THIS HAPPENS AFTER ENGINE IS WARM--AFTER GETTING OFF A FREEWAY OR DRIVING FOR A FEW MILES. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO MY MECHANIC, AND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX PROBLEM, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE VW NEW BEETLE AFTER 60,000 MILES AND THAT THE ONLY FIX IS A NEW VALVE AND ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION COSTING FROM $4000 TO $7000. THIS INFO IS FROM MY TRUSTED MECHANIC OF OVER 30 YEARS. VW WILL NOT ADMIT TO ANY ENGINEERING FLAWS AND WILL NOT PAY TO FIX VEHICLE. IT DOES THIS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AT STOPLIGHTS AND INTERSECTIONS AND HAS NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH VW TO GET THIS FIXED AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10334409June 3, 2010
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MADE A LOUD SQUEAKY NOISE WHEN IN ACTIVATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON FIVE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHERE THE MECHANIC LUBED THE WINDOW GLASS TRACK INSIDE OF THE DOOR PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MECHANISM AND EXTERIOR SIDE VIEW MIRRORS CONTROL MECHANISM MALFUNCTIONED AND WERE REPLACED. THE EXTERIOR PAINT ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR EXHIBITED SEVERE CHIPPING. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED WATER WOULD LEAK INSIDE THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOOR PANEL CAUSING THE WINDOW GLASS TO FOG. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5. UPDATED 10/27/10. *LJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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