Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10262060March 16, 2009
AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON WITHOUT APPARENT REASONS. NO COLLISION OR BUMPS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261036March 7, 2009
AIR BAGS
THE CHECKERED FLAG VABEACH VA DEALERSHIP ACTUALLY TOLD ME MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON BECAUSE OF A MALFUNCTION OF AN AIRBAG FUSE. IF THIS IS TRUE, THE AIRBAG LIGHT DOES NOT WORK ON 2001 NEW BEETLES. I SUGGEST YOU FOLLOW UP ON THIS DEALERSHIP FOR FAULTY INFORMATION AND CONSUMER NEGLIGENCE . ALL THEY DID WAS RESET THE CODE IN THE COMPUTER. T. FORGEY, CUSTOMER *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10261052March 7, 2009
AIR BAGS
AIRBAG LAMP TURNED ON WITHOUT ANY PHYSICAL INCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10260813March 5, 2009
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON (CONCERNED ABOUT NOT WORKING PROPERLY IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT) POSSIBLE WIRE THAT IS TOO SHORT UNDER THE SEAT BREAKING WHEN IT IS MOVED FORWARD TO ALLOW ACCESS TO REAR SEAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259530February 21, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
I OWN A 2002 BEETLE. IT HAS 55,000 MILES ON IT. TWO MONTHS AGO THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WON'T GO OFF. NOW, THE TURN SIGNALS WON'T WORK. TO ADD TO THIS ONCE IN AWHILE THE SUN ROOF WILL OPEN ON IT'S OWN!!! THE DEALER SAID IT WILL COST ABOUT $650 TO FIX. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME WITH ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. THE COMPLETE LIGHTING SYSTEM WENT OUT, THE SECURITY DOOR LOCK SYSTEM STOPPED, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING, BOTH WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED GOING UP AND DOWN. A COUPLE OF TIMES THE ENGINE WON'T START AND THREE TIMES IT WILL JUST SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING. THIS CAR HAS A MIND OF IT'S OWN. LUCKILY NO ONE HAS BEEN HURT YET. SOME OF THIS HAS BEEN RECALLED AND SOME NOT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10259349February 19, 2009
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR DID NOT DIM ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT LATCH FOR THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A FAILED WIRE BY THE LATCH OF THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,888 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,858.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257591February 5, 2009
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
I WROTE VOLKSWAGEN THREE TIMES AND HAD THREE PHONE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE/SPLASH GUARD. I CONSIDER THE PROBLEM TO BE NOT ONLY A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT, BUT ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. THE GUARD HAS COME LOOSE TWICE FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR, WITH VW SUGGESTING THAT ONE TIME WAS DUE TO THE PIECE BEING IMPROPERLY PUT BACK AFTER AN OIL CHANGE FROM AN AUTO REPAIR GARAGE AND THE OTHER INSTANCE DUE TO MY PARKING TOO CLOSELY TO A PARKING SPACE CONCRETE END-BLOCK. IT IS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE PIECE DID NOT COME COMPLETELY OFF AND GO FLYING INTO TRAFFIC. VW TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD PROBABLY BACK INTO PARKING SPACES SO AS TO AVOID THAT PROBLEM OR PARK FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM PARKING SPACE CONCRETE BARRIERS SO IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE IS NO MENTION OF THIS "FEATURE" IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED THAT I AM PROBABLY NOT ACCUSTOMED TO DRIVING A LOW RIDING CAR AND WOULD HAVE TO GET USED TO IT - MY PREVIOUS CAR RODE JUST AS LOW, BUT WAS ENGINEERED WELL ENOUGH THAT THE BUMPER WOULD NEVER GET CAUGHT ON A PARKING BLOCK . ISN'T THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE BLOCKS - TO LIGHTLY TAP THEM TO KNOW THE CAR IS CLOSE ENOUGH IN THE SPACE TO BE KEPT FROM BEING HIT FROM BEHIND? I HAVE ASKED OTHER BEETLE OWNERS IF THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND SO FAR, THE FOUR PEOPLE I ASKED HAVE SAID YES, BUT THEY HAVE NOT CONTACTED VW OR MADE ANY OTHER ENTITIES AWARE OF THE PROBLEM - THEY ARE JUST LIVING WITH IT. THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL MENTIONS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM ON CAR/VW/COMPLAINT FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, WHICH I DOCUMENTED IN MY CORRESPONDENCE WITH VW. THE FINAL WORD FROM VW WAS THAT THEY MEET THE US AUTOMAKER GUIDELINES/SPECIFICATIONS AND THE PROBLEM IS "DUE TO BE TO AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE, AND NOT A MANUFACTURER'S SHORTCOMING" .. AND SO IT EVEN, "DID NOT FALL WITHIN WARRANTY PARAMETERS." THE FIRST REPAIR, VW WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE GUARD BACK INTO PLACE AND SECURE IT; THE SECOND COST ME $340. THANK YOU FOR ANY CONSIDERATION AND FOLLOW-UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257280February 3, 2009
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
AIR BAG DEFAULT, LIGHT INDICATOR ON SHOWS THAT THERE IS AN AIR BAG MALFUNCTION IN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. VW DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT OF THE AIR BAG FOR $800. CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD, 65,000KM, NO ACCIDENTS. THIS SHOULD BE INCLUDED UNDER WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10257213February 2, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONTAL AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR AND REPROGRAMMED THE AIR BAG SYSTEM; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN, THE AIR BAG MODULE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 08V178000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL: SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE OR RECALL) AND 03V3560000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 06/23/09. *LJ A DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED FAILURE OF THE DRIER SEAT BUCKLE WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/24/09.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256887January 29, 2009
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING DOWN ROAD AT 45 MPH (SPEED LIMIT) AND THE RIGHT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. SHE SAW SMOKE AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO CAR DEALERSHIP. THE RESULT WAS THE TREAD SEPARATED, DAMAGED OIL PAN, WRAPPED AROUND CV AXLE, MELTED THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT. THE CAR IS BEYOND REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256648January 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2003 VW BEETLE SHIFTS SO VERY HARD BETWEEN 2ND, 3RD AND 4TH GEAR IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO BREAK. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC. THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION GASKET. I REPLACED IT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW ROLLS DOWN ON ITS OWN. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HITS THE TOP (WHEN PUTTING IT UP) THEN ROLLS DOWN. DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256497January 27, 2009
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V178000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE); UPDATED 03-04-09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AROUND 50,000 MILES THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH RENDERED THE AIR BAG INOPERATIVE. 6 MONTHS LATER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. VW STATED THE AIR BAG SENSOR/MODULE WAS FAULTY AGAIN. UPDATED 03/05/09. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256057January 23, 2009
EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
MY COMPLAINT IS ON THE 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR. I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR LEFT, AND RIGHT WINDOW 3 TIMES, ALL 3 UNDER WARRANTY. NOW, I TOOK MY CAR INTO FIX THE BACK RIGHT, AND DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW, AND GOT A QUOTE OF $480 FOR EACH WINDOW. WHY IS VWOA MAKING CONSUMERS PAY FOR REPAIRS ON THEIR CARS WHEN IT IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN FLAW? I HAVE READ NUMEROUS WEBSITES AND THEY WERE FULL OF PEOPLE JUST LIKE ME THAT GET STUCK WITH A BILL FROM VW FOR SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULD BE COVERING. IS THERE ANY TYPE OF CLASS ACTION HAPPENING ABOUT THIS? OR POSSIBLY A RECALL? THANK YOU! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255860January 21, 2009
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE FOUND ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH VW NEW BEETLE. I FEEL THAT THIS COULD BE A MAJOR PROBLEM DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHILE THIS LIGHT IS ON THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255612January 20, 2009
VISIBILITY
2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. VEHICLE HAS 39,000 MILES AND IS RECENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALER SERVICE TOLD ME ME THAT DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ENTERED REGARDING THESE WINDOW REGULATORS, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE! HOW DOES A WINDOW REGULATOR FAIL ON A FOUR-YEAR-OLD CAR WITH 39000 MILES?!?!?!? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255576January 19, 2009
TIRES
MY GIRL FRIEND HAD A LOW TIRE (KUMHO ECSTA AST 225/R17 94HXL). I WAS PUTTING AIR IN THE TIRE WHICH IS RATED FOR 50PSI MAX. I WANTED 32PSI AND OVER INFLATED TO 40PSI. AS I WAS LETTING AIR OUT THE TIRE RUPTURED IN MY FACE CAUSING LOTS OF FACIAL ABRASIONS, EYE DAMAGE (TEMPORARY I HOPE) AND HEARING LOSS (ALSO TEMPORARY I HOPE). I DO NOT OVERINFLATE TIRE AS AFTER ACCIDENT THE AAA TECH CHECKED THE OTHER TIRES AND ONE WAS AT 45 PSI. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10255494January 18, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
IN THE FALL OF 2007 THE ENGINE OVERHEATING LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING 40MPH+. CAR REMAINED AT A DECENT TEMPERATURE UNTIL THAT SPEED. CHECKED EVERYTHING POSSIBLE BEFORE GOING TO THE DEALER. DEALER SAID THE WATER PUMP WAS BAD AND IT COST $800 TO REPLACE THE PUMP AND A COUPLE OF CHEAP BELTS THEY HAD TO REMOVE IN THE PROCESS. AT THE TIME THE CAR WAS 5 YEARS OLD AND HAD AROUND 30,000 MILES ON IT. VERY UPSET THAT THE WATER PUMP WENT OUT AFTER 30,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255497January 18, 2009
VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD MY WINDSHIELD WIPERS REPLACED TWICE, AND THE LAST TIME WAS AT A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. WHILE DRIVING DURING A TWO-DAY 18 HOUR ROAD TRIP IN VARYING HEAVINESS OF RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING DURING A DOWNPOUR ON A HIGHWAY. THEY FROZE MID WIPE CAUSING A TEMPORARY LACK OF VISIBILITY AND POTENTIALLY A FATAL CRASH. AFTER TURNING THEM OFF FOR A MINUTE THEY STARTED WORKING AGAIN. HAD THIS PROBABLY SEVERAL HOURS LATER AND AGAIN THE NEXT MORNING AFTER THEY HAD BEEN OFF FOR OVER 12 HOURS. THIS EXACT PROBLEM (STOPPED WINDSHIELD WIPERS) DID NOT OCCUR AGAIN. HOWEVER ON JANUARY 17TH, 2009, AFTER USING WIPERS CONTINUOUSLY DURING A CALM RAIN STORM FOR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THE WIPERS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. WHEN THE WIPERS WERE PLACED IN THE OFF POSITION THEY CONTINUE TO WIPE BACK AND FORTH RATHER QUICKLY. THE OTHER SPEED SETTINGS WORK FINE. THEN, AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE AND REMOVING THE KEY AND STARTING THE CAR UP AGAIN, THE WIPERS WOULD NOT CONTINUE WHILE IN THE OFF POSITION, BUT AFTER TURNING THEM ON ONCE THEY WILL NOT GO OFF. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN SOLVED AND A VOLKSWAGEN SPECIALIST IN AUSTIN, TX (WHERE I ENDED UP AFTER MY TRIP) HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255498January 18, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
IN AUGUST 2008 I WENT TO HAVE MY OIL CHANGED AT A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER IN KALAMAZOO, MI. THEY SAID THAT THE ALUMINUM OIL PAN PLUG HAD BEEN OVERTIGHTENED AND THE PAN WAS RUINED. I WAS TOLD THAT POTENTIALLY THE PLUG COULD HAVE FALLEN OUT AT ANY POINT IN TIME, LEAVING ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION, EITHER STRANDED SOMEWHERE BUT MOST LIKELY CAUSING A CRASH. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ALUMINUM PANS WEAR OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED, BUT THIS CAR HAD ONLY 35,000 MILES ON IT AT THE TIME. SOMETHING LIKE AN OIL PAN SHOULDN'T JUST "WEAR OUT" AFTER THAT SHORT A TIME. THEY ALSO TOLD ME I WAS BETTER OFF REPLACING THE ALUMINUM PAN WITH THE STEEL BECAUSE THE ALUMINUM WAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO PUNCTURES FROM ALMOST ANYTHING. THE NEW VOLKSWAGENS ARE BEING MANUFACTURED WITH STEEL PANS AND VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE WILLING TO REPLACE THE OLD ALUMINUM FREE OF CHARGE. THE NEW PAN COST ME $293.69. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10255224January 15, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I RECEIVED A RECALL ABOUT MY BACK OR BREAK LIGHT. MADE AN APT. WITH HERITAGE VW IN GEORGIA. I DROVE FROM LEESBURG AL. TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CHANGE THE LIGHT AND TOLD ME A BELT HAS TO BE REPLACED. I KNOW NOTHING NEEDS REPLACEMENT BECAUSE MY SON ( A MECHANIC ) DOES ALL THE MAINTENANCE IN MY VW. I TOLD THE THEM I WILL TALK TO MY SON AND WILL GET BACK WITH THEM. I HAD A HARD TIME STARING THE CAR, BUT DID NOT PAY ANY ATTENTION BECAUSE I WAS IN A HURRY TO GET OUT OF THERE. I WAS ON HWY 20 WHEN EVERY THING WENT CRAZY WITH MY CAR. LOST MY CRUISE CONTROL, LOST POWER, WON'T START. SO I CALLED HERITAGE AND ASK WHAT THEY DID WITH THE CAR. THEY WANT ME TO BRING IT BACK TO THEM, KNOWING IT CAN'T BE DRIVEN. I FEEL THEY SABOTAGE MY CAR, THEY MESSED UP MY CAR SO MUCH, I PAID OVER $3000.00 FOR IT TO WORK. I KEPT THE RECEIPT JUST IN CASE I MIGHT NEED IT AS PROOF. I RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL LAST WEEK IT'S HARD TO GET BURNT TWICE IN A ROW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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