Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2001)

203 consumer complaints on file.

#10089258August 9, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND SHUT DOWN WITH NO WARNING. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ALTERNATOR. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075791July 27, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE FROM THE REAR. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. *AK THE REAR BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE ROTORS. THE FRONT BRAKE PADS SHOWED NO SIGN OF WEAR AND THE REAR BRAKE PADS WORE TO THE EXTENT THAT THE BRAKE ROTOR WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080357July 5, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
2001 VW BEETLE, 10,000, WELL MAINTAINED MECHANICALLY/GARAGE PARKING - ALTERNATOR SHUT DOWN ON I-66 IN VIRGINIA WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING; NUMBER OF LIGHTS ON THE PANEL LITE UP ON THE MORNING OF JUNE 20, 2004 ON A TRIP TO TENNESSEE AND CAR JUST SHUT DOWN, LOST POWER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075863June 8, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD.THEN, CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10065222March 30, 2004
SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS
CONSUMER FELT THAT THE AIRBAGS AND SEAT BELTS SHOULD NOT BE HOOKED UP TOGETHER. BOTH AIRBAGS AND SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERABLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10059276February 18, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056242January 31, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
AT 30,000 MILES MY BEETLE NEEDED NEW REAR BRAKES AFTER DAMAGE OCCURED TO THE ROTOR. AFTER OBSERVING THEM I DECIDED TO CHANGE THE FRONT BRAKES AS WELL, THE FRONT BRAKES HAD PLENTY OF PAD LEFT. IS IT NOT NORMAL THAT THE FRONT WEAR MORE PREMATURELY THAN THE REAR??? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056241January 31, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
AT 30,000 MILES MY BEETLE NEEDED NEW REAR BRAKES AFTER DAMAGE OCCURRED TO THE ROTOR. AFTER OBSERVING THEM I DECIDED TO CHANGE THE FRONT BRAKES AS WELL, THE FRONT BRAKES HAD PLENTY OF PAD LEFT. IS IT NOT NORMAL THAT THE FRONT WEAR MORE PREMATURELY THAN THE REAR??? *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10056090January 29, 2004
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070310January 15, 2004
AIR BAGS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
I HAVE 21,500 MILES ON MY 2001 VW BEETLE, HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP APROX 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, CAR HESITATES AND STALLS OUT AS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS A CONSTANT ON, DEALERSHIP CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM, MY WIFE AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED IN VEHICLE DUE TO STALLING OUT IN FRONT OF FAST MOVING TRAFFIC, I LET THEM KNOW THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS AN ENDANGER TO MY AND MY FAMILIES LIFE WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD LIKE THIS VEHICLE TOWED IN, AND SINCE WAS AN ON GOING PROBLEM ALSO NEEDED A RENTAL CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA BOTH REFUSED ON BOTH ACCOUNTS, BECAUSE OF THE BITTER TASTE IN MY MOUTH FOR VW. I NO LONGER WANT THIS CAR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10070739January 15, 2004
POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED PREOWNED 2001 VW BETTLE ON 7/9/03. ON 8/14/03 THE VEHICLE SUFFERED CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CLUTCH AT HIGHWAY SPEED AFTER AROUND 1,000 MILES AFTER THE PURCHASE. ON 8/18/03 THE SELLING DEALER (BILL BARRY VOLKSWAGEN, WEST HARTFORD, CT) REFUSED TO HONOR THE MANUFACTURER'S AND CONNECTICUT STATE MANDATED WARRANTIES. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. VW CORPORATE HAS TAKEN NO ACTION TO REMEDIATE. IT HAS BECOME CLEAR BASED ON MY RESEARCH THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050090December 4, 2003
AIR BAGS
THE AIR BAG LIGHT IN THE VEHICLE WAS COMING ON AND STAYING ON. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AIR BAGS FOUR TIMES. AFTER THE LAST TIME, THE LIGHT CONTINUED TO COME ON. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM, BUT SIMPLY RESET THE AIR BAG LIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049900December 2, 2003
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DEALERSHIP/MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE ADVANCED AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATION WAS DUE TO DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LATCH FAILURE. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046581November 7, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
REIMBURSEMENT REQUEST FOR REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.*MR (NAR) *CB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS RECALLED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10047763November 5, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT ON 2001 BEETLE. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT THE SERVICE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 17 DAYS TO FIX THE BRAKE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044512October 22, 2003
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S BRAKES.*MR THE CONSUMERS HAD PLACED THERE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 11 DAYS BEFORE RETURNING. THE CONSUMER FELLED IT WAS SERIOUSLY A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, EITHER AND ACCIDENT WOULD OCCUR OR IN EVENT BREAKING THE LEASE. PLEASE HELP IN RESOLVING MATTERS. *CB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044345October 21, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STRUCTURE
INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE READ IMPROPERLY. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10044317October 20, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A PERIOD OF ONE HOUR DRIVER TRIED TO START IT BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. ALSO, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE DASH. VEHICLE DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. DEALER FOUND THAT THERE WAS A MALFUNCTION IN THE WIRING UNDER THE DASH, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10037488September 8, 2003
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
I AM WILL REINECKE AND WILL BE SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MS. ROSSI. WE HAVE A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH 15500 MILES ON IT [THE VEHICLE HAD 1220 MILES ON IT WHEN WE BOUGHT IT]. WE NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR THAT BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE. IN AS MUCH AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY [12 MONTHS OR 12000 MILES], A FRIEND AND MYSELF SEARCHED FOR THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE THAT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM BOTH SIDES, REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WE FOUND THE CAUSE TO BE THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTINGS. INSIDE THESE MOUNTINGS IS A FIBER OR NEOPHRENE GASKET/GROMMET THAT WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DISINDEGRADED IN BOTH MOUNTINGS. WHEN WE REMOVED EACH SHOCK WE DISCOVERED AN ORANGE DUST/CRUMB LIKE SUBSTANCE ON THE SHAFT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION LED US TO WHAT WAS LEFT OF THESE GASKETS EMBODIED WITHIN THE MOUNTINGS. I HAVE THE REMAINS OF THESE GASKETS ALONG WITH THE CRUMB LIKE RESIDUE IN MY POSSESSION AND WILL GLADLY SEND IT TO YOU SHOULD YOU SO DESIRE. I CONTACTED THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AS WELL AS THEIR CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AND RECEIVED NO HELP AT ALL WITH THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD OCCUR ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 15500 MILES ON IT THAT IS MAINLY DRIVEN WITHIN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY BY A SENIOR CITIZEN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10036892August 30, 2003
AIR BAGS
NEW BEETLE 2001: VIN#[XXX] E AIR BAG SYSTEM KEEPS FAILING. 7 REPAIR ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE BY VW AUTHORIZED REPAIR REPRESENTATIVES. VW HAS NOT IDENTIFIED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK VW MADE ME AN $2,000.- TRADE-IN ALLOWANCE OFFER (AGAINST THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VW). IF TRADED, THIS CAR WOULD VERY LIKELY BE RE-SOLD TO A CONSUMER WITH THE DEALERS FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE SAFETY PROBLEM AS VW REFUSES TO TAKE THIS CAR OFF THE MARKET PLACE. WHAT SHOULD I DO ?? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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