Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10325728April 14, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2003 WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND CERTIFIED MECHANICS. I ONLY HAVE 75,000 MILES ON MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. I HAVE SINCE FOUND MANY OF THE SAME YEAR CAR WITH THE IDENTICAL COMPLAINT OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325753April 14, 2010
POWER TRAIN
THE PROBLEM IS REGARDING MY 2004 VW BEETLE - TRANSMISSION. I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY VW AT 86,000 MILES WITH NO HELP FROM VW...THE CAR WAS RUNNING VERY HARD, IT WOULD STAY IN 2 OR 3RD GEAR (THOUGH AN AUTOMATIC) AND THEN WOULD GO INTO "NEUTRAL"....THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 95 WITH HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS CHECKED BY A VW DEALER AND THEN TRIED A FEW THINGS, BUT COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT...THEN FINALLY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION - $6500 WITHOUT LABOR! I THEN BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL AAMCO AND THEN CONFIRMED THE NEED FOR A TRANSMISSION(FOR A LOT LESS) AND THEY ALSO NEEDED TO REBUILT SOME OTHER PARTS THAT WERE FAULTY. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN ISSUE FOR VW BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND A REFUND FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE ALREADY SPENT THE MONEY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325449April 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1. CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD / 40K MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING - HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. READ ONLINE THAT OTHER VW HAD SAME ISSUE - CLEARLY MANUFACTURING FAILURE. 2. TRANSMISSION FAILURE 3. VALVE BODY REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325074April 12, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION/SHIFTING PROBLEMS. EVERYTIME THE CAR SHIFTS INTO A GEAR, ITS VERY ROUGH AND INFACT WILL JERK VERY HARD. THIS STARTED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AND BEGAN HAPPENING MORE REGULAR AS A MONTH OR SO WENT ON. NOW IT WILL STICK IN 3RD GEAR AND JUST STAY THERE. WE CAN STOP AT A REDLIGHT, AND IT WILL REMAIN IN 3RD GEAR, THEN DRIVE FROM THE REDLIGHT WITH THE CAR STARTING IN 3RD GEAR! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE THE CAR WILL STICK WHEN SHIFTING ALMOST EVERYTIME AND YOU COULD PUSH THE GAS BUT ONLY THE RPMS WILL GO UP..NOTHING ELSE. THIS COULD CAUSE ME TO BE REAR ENDED OR HIT FROM THE SIDE WHEN TURNING LEFT. I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS DUE TO THIS ISSUE! I HAVE CHILDREN, AND THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ANYMORE. I HAVE PRICED WHAT WOULD FIX THIS, AND ITS NOT ONLY THAT I CAN NOT AFFORD IT, BUT THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IS ONLY TEMPORARY! I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE SAME CAR, AND THEY HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS DOLLARS ON A PROBLEM THAT STILL PERSISTS. THIS PAST SATURDAY MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STUCK IN GEAR GOING 45 MPH, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO DESCEND IN SPEED, GIVING THE PEOPLE BEHIND US HARDLY NO TIME TO REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. WE WERE VERY VERY CLOSE TO AN ACCIDENT. TO ADD TO THIS PROBLEM I HAVE HAD AN AIRBAG SENSOR COME ON THE DASH ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I HAD THIS LOOKED AT BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY RECALL, BUT THE VW DEALER TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NO ONE OF THE VINS, BUT LOOKED AS IF IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM! THIS IS SERIOUS! THEY SAID THEY COULD FIX IT, FOR A VERY HIGH AMOUNT, BUT IF IT WAS DEFECTIVE THAT I COULD BE BRINGING IT BACK IN FOR REPAIR! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!! WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LIFE OR DEATH IN A CRASH! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325132April 12, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 VW BEETLE DOWNSHIFTS WITHOUT REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN CITY TRAFFIC TWO TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE CAR WAS DRIVEN, BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, IT DOWNSHIFTED FROM 6TH GEAR TO 2ND GEAR WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324579April 8, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE ALTERNATOR HARNESS HAS BURNT UP TWICE IN LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT MELTED EVERYTHING AND THEY REPLACED IT AND NOW IT HAS DONE IT AGAIN. IT HAS STRANDED ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS ON 2001 TO 2004 MODELS BUT THEN VW CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS NO. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL DO IT AGAIN AND THAT A FIRE WILL BE NEXT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324082April 6, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2005 VW NEW BEETLE AUTO 6 SPEED 57,000 MILES. HARD DOWNSHIFTING. THIS PROBLEM IS ONGOING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10324111April 6, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2005 VW BUG TURBO JERKS SO VIOLENTLY BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS THAT I'VE NEARLY HIT A HANDFUL OF CARS WHEN I'M TRYING TO MOVE SLOWLY AHEAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, HAVE SERVICED IT FAITHFULLY, IT IS A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC AND IT ONLY JUST TURNED 50K MILES. ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT SHIFTING ROUGHLY BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR (BOTH UPSHIFTING AND DOWN SHIFTING) I MENTIONED IT TO MY VW SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID "THAT'S WHAT ALL BUGS DO," AND BRUSHED ME OFF. I'M WRITING YOU NOW BECAUSE THE JERKING HAS BECOME SO VIOLENT IT FEELS LIKE I'M BEING REAR ENDED EACH TIME IT MOVES FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. THANK YOU. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323765April 5, 2010
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE [XXX] AIR BAG LIGHT HAS CAME ON TWICE AND VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISES ANYTIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVE & PASSENGER SEAT BELT LATCH TO MAKE THE AIR BAG LIGHT GO OFF AT A COST OF $600.32. IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323811April 5, 2010
TIRES, TIRES:SIDEWALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS YOKOHAMA TIRES, SIZE 205/55R16. WHILE DRIVING AT AN APPROXIMATE SPEED OF 55 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE OFF OF THE ROAD AND CHANGE THE TIRE WITH A SPARE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER; THE CONTACT CONFIRMED THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE ROTTEN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,355.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323636April 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT A 2005 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IN 2005 WITH THE OPTIONAL 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CAR NOW HAS APPROX 80000 MILLES ON THE ODOMETER AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND SLIPS IN ALL GEARS. THE TACHMOMETER WINDS 3000 RPMS ABOVE WHAT THE ENGINE SHOULD RUNNING AT ANY PARTICULAR SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURS. DURING THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IN TRAFFIC I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND WHICH PLACES ME AT RISK OF A COLLISION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323342April 1, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATES SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNING HIS VEHICLE HE HAS HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH WHEN HIS DASH LIGHTS BLEW OUT, HIS POWER DOOR LOCKS ALSO STOPPED WORKING. THE CONTACT STATES WHILE HIS VEHICLE IS PARKED OUTSIDE AND IS NOT RUNNING HIS ALARM WOULD JUST GO OFF ON IT'S OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME SO THE CONTACT DIDN'T HAVE TO PAY AS MUCH. THE CONTACT STATES HE HAS SPENT ABOUT 353.00 ON MISCELLANEOUS, AND NORMAL MAINTENANCE. THERE WAS 5,182 PAID ON REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATES HE ALSO HAD A NEW COMPUTER PUT IN THE VEHICLE ABOUT 3 YEARS AGO. THERE HAS BEEN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS BACK TO BACK AND THE CONTACT ALSO STATES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON AND OFF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1 MILE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 58,000. AR UPDATED 06/22/11 UPDATED 07/12/11
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10323426April 1, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING IN A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH 71,000 MILES, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEM BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR BECAME DEFECTIVE AT 59,000 MILES AND WHEN I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WAS TOLD IN ORDER FOR THEM TO ASSIST WITH PROBLEM IT MUST BE DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. DROVE 60 MILES AND WAS CHARGED $100 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM (WHICH I ALREADY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS) AND THEN WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. MANUFACTURER KNEW THE MILEAGE PRIOR TO REQUESTING ME TO TAKE TO DEALER. COST OF REPLACING A WINDOW REGULATOR $600, THERE IS A KIT THAT CAN BE INSTALLED, BUT OF COURSE THAT INFORMATION IS NOT GIVEN TO THE CUSTOMER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322739March 29, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I PURCHASED 2004 VW BEETLE 7 MONTHS AGO. ABOUT A WEEK AFTER PURCHASE, THE CAR BEGAN JUMPING, JERKING, AND SURGING. ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE CAR STALLED ON THE ROADWAY, TWICE ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR WAS BARELY DRIVEN DUE TO UNCERTAINTY WITH WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE TODAY (75 MPH), THE VEHICLE SWITCHED OUT OF GEAR. I IMMEDIATELY LOST ABILITY TO DRIVE. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE HIGHWAY BEFORE SOMEONE CRASHED INTO ME. I HAD IT TOWED TO ANOTHER VW DEALERSHIP AND JUST TODAY FOUND OUT THE MECHATRONICS CONTROL MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ASAP BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED! *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322743March 29, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION JERKING AND SHIFTING HARD. THE CAR HAS 55,000 MILES, AND THE DEALERSHIP CANT TELL ME NOTHING ONLY THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR AROUND $7000. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND TALKED WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE VERY SAME ISSUES. *CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322467March 27, 2010
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW GLASS DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, IT IS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN BY USING THE AUTO GLASS OPERATOR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322284March 26, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 VW BEETLE DOWNSHIFTS FROM HIGHER GEAR DOWN TO 2ND GEAR WITHOUT REASON OR WARNING. TWICE I WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH AND THE 3RD TIME HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE 26 AT 60 MPH. VERY DANGEROUS. EACH TIME THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. WHEN THE CAR COOLED DOWN, IT COULD BE DRIVEN 8-10 MILES WITH NO PROBLEM AND THEN IT WOULD DOWNSHIFT AGAIN. THIS CAR HAS BEEN AT THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR 8 MONTHS. VW WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10322082March 25, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FAILING DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL. SYMPTOMS ARE VIBRATION, RATTLING. SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING SINCE VEHICLE WAS DETECTED WITH UNKNOWN VIBRATION AT 17K. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AFTER REPLACING EGR, MAF, FUEL PUMP AND CHECKING FLYWHEEL FOR GREASE DEPOSITS. RESULTS OF FAILURE ARE IMMEDIATE LOCKUP OF TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE IF OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE ARE PROBABLE. WELL KNOWN DOCUMENTED FAILURES HAVE BEEN RECORDED AND FIXED BY VW, BUT MOST FAILURES ON MANUAL CARS HAVE BEEN BLAMED ON DRIVER AGRESSIVENESS EVEN THOUGH DMF MAKERS HAVE RELEASED DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOW THAT FAILING DMF WILL SHOW THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS A FAILURE DUE TO AGRESSIVE DRIVING. VW HAS ACTIVE RECALL CAMPAINS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FOR THE SAME DMF FAILURES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321740March 24, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VW BEETLE DIESEL. DRIVER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 5MPH ON A CLEAR DAY WHEN SHE NOTICED A SQUEAK IN THE ENGINE. TOOK TO DEALER FOR A NEW BATTERY AND TO CHECK SQUEAK IN FRONT END AND CHECK AIR CONDITIONER. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED FUSES WERE BURNT AND THAT BOTH FANS WERE MELTED. AFTER REPAIRS MADE CONTACT STATES THAT SQUEAK STILL PRESENT AND FANS STILL NOT WORKING. TECHNICIAN INFORMED CONTACT THAT REPAIRS MADE CORRECTLY. CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER AND IT IS STILL THERE. FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000. CURRENT MILEAGE 106,075.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10321442March 22, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Beetle