Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10244314October 3, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I OWN A 2002 VW BEETLE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO AND HAVE SINCE CHANGED IT OUT. NOW THE SAME THING HAS HAPPENED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE NOTICED SURFING THE WEB THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN SO FREQUENTLY AND IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS ITEM? IF NOT THERE SHOULD BE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243422September 25, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DEALER PERFORMED RECALL ON CRASH TEST SENSORS ON 2004 NEW BEETLE TDI, ON THE WAY HOME AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, VW WANTS US TO PAY OVER $1000.00 TO REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243223September 23, 2008
SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A U-SHAPED BAR ATTACHED TO THE SEAT BELT, WHICH ALLOWS THE SEAT BELT TO MOVE TO THE BACK WHEN NOT IN USE. HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. IT WOULD PROVIDE THE CONTACT APPROXIMATELY EIGHT INCHES OF "EXTRA" SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT WOULD POP TO THE BACK POSITION WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE COME TO THE FRONT. SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE BAR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND COULD REDUCE THE PROTECTION NEEDED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,142 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10243025September 22, 2008
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR-CONDITIONER HAS GONE OUT. FAILURE OCCURS AFTER PARKING VEHICLE. VW OF AMERICA CANT SEEM TO FIND OUT WHY IT FAILS TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. HAVE COME UP WITH VARIOUS SOLUTIONS WITHOUT RESOLVE. ALREADY SPENT MONIES FOR SERVICE OF PROBLEM AND THEY CANT RESOLVE PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242849September 18, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY CAR BEGAN TO OVER HEAT IN JULY AND I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC. I HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT AND TIMING BELT. @ MONTHS PASS AND AGAIN ITS OVERHEATING AGAIN NOW I'M TOLD THE HEAD GASKET IS BAD. I FIX THE HEAD GASKET AND ITS OVERHEATING. THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT. $1500 LATER I'M STILL IN THE SAME BOAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242286September 15, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A LOOSE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR FOR THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED INCORRECTLY. ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR THE SAME FAILURE, BUT WITH NO RESOLUTIONS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED WITH THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10242608September 12, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE TURBO GLS HAS A DEFECTIVE PART PRODUCING HIGH VOLTAGE. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES AND DEPRECIATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. *NJ THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW WINDOW MOTOR. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO HAVE THE WORK DONE SOMEWHERE ELSE, SO THEY GAVE HER A CABLE KIT AND NOT A REGULATOR. THE OTHER REPAIR SHOP STATED IT WAS THE REGULATOR THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SECOND OPINION AFTER THE ORIGINAL DEALER IMPLIED SHE HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SOMETHING WAS OVERCHARGING THE ALTERNATOR, WHICH TURNED OUT THAT A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE WINDOW MOTOR WAS CAUSING HIGH VOLTAGE EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF; IT WAS DRAINING THE POWER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEAVING THE DEFECTIVE WINDOW MOTOR IN THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241801September 11, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. IN MY VEHICLE IT STARTED AROUND 66500 MILES AND HAPPENS JUST AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHES OPERATING TEMPERATURE EVERY DAY. I HAVE MADE AN APPT WITH DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE NOTED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR YR MODEL BEETLE AND THE SAME TYPE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL YET ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241910September 11, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PROBLEM: GEAR SHIFTER FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN PARK POSITION. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER HAS LOCKED IN THE PARK POSITION. IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR INTO A DRIVE GEAR, IT WAS NECESSARY TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES WHILE PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT HAS TAKEN AS LONG A 30 MINS. OF THIS PROCESS TO GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. ON EACH OCCASION MY CAR WAS IN A PARKED POSITION. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM COULD POTENTIALLY OCCUR IF THE CAR WERE PLACED INTO PARK AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, IT WOULD CREATE A TRAFFIC HAZARD. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED BY MULTIPLE CONSUMERS THROUGHOUT VARIOUS INTERNET WEBSITES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10241032September 5, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON DASH IN LATE JULY. VW DEALER CONTACTED TO SEE IF SAFETY HAZARD, TOLD NO. RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FROM VW ONE MONTH LATER FOR AIRBAG SENSOR. CALLED DEALER TO SEE IF URGENT SAFETY MATTER. TOLD NO, COME IN AT OUR LEISURE. ONE WEEK LATER, AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN HIT MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10241103September 5, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WE HAVE A 2000 NEW VW BEETLE THAT WE BOUGHT NEW IN 2000. IT HAS BECOME A HIGH MAINTENANCE VEHICLE THAT SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED. MOSTLY ELECTRICAL. WINDOW ONCE FELL INSIDE OF DOOR. FOG LIGHT THAT HAS WATER IN THEM. TODAY A WEEK AFTER TAKING THE CAR INTO VW SERVICE TO REPAIR ANOTHER THING FOR AROUND $200.00. I HAD RETURNED TO THE SHOP AGAIN BECAUSE WITH IN A DAY AFTER CAR WAS OUT OF THE SHOP A NEW PROBLEM CROPPED UP. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WAS STAYING ON. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP TO HAVE THE SEAT BELT LIGHT REPAIRED. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR MOST OF THE DAY. I JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM VW SERVICE DEPT. AND WAS TOLD THE SEAT BELT DENSER WAS THE PROBLEM. IT CONTROLS ALL THE SEAT BELT AIR BAGS AND SOME OTHER SAFETY THINGS. IT IS DRIVABLE AND SEAT BELT MAY BE OK. I WAS ALSO TOLD IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATE OVER $700.00. OUR VW BEETLE ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT AND WE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON IT FOR REPAIRS. IT OVER HEATED LAST SUMMER AND WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THEY COULD FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT..I THINK THIS WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND SENSORS. WE HAVE REPLACE MAY\NY SENSORS IT SEEM S SEVERAL TIMES. MOST OF THESE REPAIRS WAS NO UNDER A RECALL. THIS IS A VERY HIGH MAINTENANCE CAR. IT HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE MANY TIMES AND COST IS STARTING DRAIN US. I AM A RETIRED IOWA POLICE OFFICER ON A FIXED INCOME..SO THIS CAR IS A STRAIN ON OUR BUDGET. SO MANY PROBLEMS.. ALL OUR VEHICLES ARE PAID FOR AS WELL AS OUR HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240858September 4, 2008
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
DRIVERS DOOR LOCK FAILS TO LATCH WHEN CLOSED. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240558September 2, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
2004 VW NB CONVERTIBLE WITH RECENTLY EXPIRED WARRANTY AND THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. LEFT SIDE REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT WAS AN UPGRADED REGULATOR...ORIGINAL WITH PLASTIC CLIPS IS SUBJECT TO FREQUENT BREAKAGE. DEFECTIVE REGULATORS SHOULD BE AFFORDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD FOR REPLACING WITH THE UPGRADED REGULATOR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240531September 1, 2008
POWER TRAIN
DMF FAILED BLEW SHRAPNEL THROUGH BELL HOUSING! NORMAL DRIVING, VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE, 2005.5 DIESEL 1.9L TDI AUTOMATIC TRANS DSG. DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL (DMF) EXPLODED ON THE ROAD UNDER 10MPH. SMALL METAL PARTS OF SPRINGS AND ALUMINUM PUNCHED HOLE IN SIDE OF CASE. CLEAR 'GREASE' AND SHAVINGS EVERYWHERE. COULD HAVE CAUSED ENGINE OR WHEELS TO LOCKUP IF IT HAD JAMMED A LARGER PIECE IN THE DRIVETRAIN. TOWED TO DEALER WITH 95K MILES, SOUNDS LIKE A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE ON ACCELERATION. THIS IS HEAVY PART WITH A LARGE HOLE BLOWN IN THE EDGE WHERE PARTS CAME FLYING OUT. ONLY OFFERED A $750 REBATE ON PURCHASE OF A NEW VW... THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, IMHO, THAT VWOA DID NOT COVER. REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER FOR DMF, OEM PART NO LONGER AVAILABLE. VW REPLACED WITH PART NUMBER 03G-105-266-BE $785. WORK DONE AT DEALER, ALMOST $2K! MANY DMF FAILURE STORIES BLAME THE CLUTCH, BUT MINE IS AN AUTOMATIC! THIS IS A BAD PART, THAT VWOA IS TRYING TO HIDE KNOWLEDGE OF, BLAMING CUSTOMERS. OTHER AUTO MAKERS HAVE ADMITTED BAD PART AND REPLACED AT 100K MILES! I HAVE THE OLD PART AND FURTHER CHECKS CAN BE DONE TO SHOW IT FAILED ON THE INSIDE. MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER IS SCARED TO DRIVE IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN TO HER! NO WAY TO KNOW, THERE IS NO SCHEDULED MAINT, NOTHING TO CHANGE OR CHECK. FLYWHEEL SHOULD BE COVERED BY VWOA, IT IS NOT A WEAR ITEM! CAN YOU HELP? MANY OTHERS MAY NOT BE REPORTING IF VWOA IS REPLACING UNDER WARRANTY, AS MY WEB RESEARCH SEEMS TO SHOW. THEY HAD TO REPLACE AN AIRBAG, BUT MY DMF EXPLODING ON THE ROAD IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM? WHY NO RECALL AND NO TSB'S? BEW GYS WITH DIRECT SHIFT GEARBOX. DAMPING LAYER FAILED IN DMF. THIS WILL BECOME A LARGER ISSUE AS MORE MILES ARE LOGGED ON THIS PART. WILL IT CAUSE SOMEONE TO LOOSE LIFE? THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240097August 28, 2008
VISIBILITY
2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE WITH APPROX 23,000 MILES ON CAR. BOTH REAR WINDOWS REGULATORS HAVE FAILED IN THE PAST YEAR ALLOWING THE REAR WINDOWS TO FALL DOWN INTO THE CAR WITH A VERY LOUD NOISE WHICH COULD EASILY DISTRACT THE DRIVER. ONCE IT HAS FALLEN DOWN IT CANNOT BE RAISED AND COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS IN A VERY COLD OR HOT ENVIRONMENT. VW HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE FRONT WINDOWS BUT HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT THE REAR WINDOW FAILURES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239887August 27, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2002 VW BEETLE WOULD DRAIN ALL BATTERY POWER PARKED MORE THAN A FEW DAYS. IT WAS RETURNED TO DEALER UNDER WARRANTY SEVERAL TIMES. OWNER SELF DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS RADIO KEEP ALIVE POWER WAS PULLING EXCESSIVE CURRENT DUE TO INTERNAL RADIO FAULT. THE RADIO WAS REPLACED AND SOLVED THE ISSUE. IT TOOK AT LEAST 4 VISITS TO THE DEALER TO GET THIS RESOLVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239996August 27, 2008
VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST TWICE. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON AUGUST 26, 2008. DURING THE FIRST FAILURE, SOMEONE ASSISTED THE CONTACT WITH ROLLING UP THE WINDOW. THE WINDOW WAS UNSUCCESSFULLY ABLE TO BE ROLLED UP AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT PUTS HER AT RISK OF BEING CARJACKED OR STOLEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10240002August 27, 2008
VISIBILITY
WINDOW REGULATORS ARE MADE WITH CHEAP PLASTIC CLIPS THAT BREAK IN ABOUT 3 TO 4 YEARS. SOME MULTIPLE TIMES ONCE WARRANTY IS UP, COST CONSUMER MANY DOLLARS TO FIX AND SOME DON'T FIX AND LEAVE THE WINDOWS BROKEN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239564August 25, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
EACH TIME I SELECT THE TURN SIGNAL IT NOW BLINKS A COUPLE TIMES AND THEN STOPS WORKING. THE HAZARD LIGHTS WORK FINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10239430August 23, 2008
VISIBILITY
THE WINDOWS IN MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WILL NOT LET UP OR DOWN. I THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THESE VOLKSWAGENS BECAUSE IT CAUSES A MAJOR INCONVENIENCE AT FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS AND EVERYDAY LIFE. THINK ABOUT IT IF I WAS IN THE CRASH I WOULD BE FURTHER INJURED IF THEY HAD TO BREAK A WINDOW T GET ME OUT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

← Back to Volkswagen Beetle