Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10230835June 12, 2008
AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE. SHE TOOK HER VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN RESET THE AIR BAG SENSORS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE REPAIR, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE DISCOUNTED PRICE OF $250. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE THE RECALL FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V178000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE) DOES NOT BEGIN UNTIL JULY 31, 2008, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229880June 4, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG SENSOR ON MY 2004 VW BEETLE DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE BY VW DEALER. DEFECT IDENTIFIED ONLY 20 DAYS PAST THE EXPIRATION OF NEW CAR WARRANTY. DEALER AND VW - AMERICA DECLINED TO REPAIR VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. I ADVISED VW AMERICA THAT THE NHTSA WEBSITE INFORMS THAT A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BEGINS ON 7/31/08. THEY STILL REFUSED TO OFFSET OR PARTIALLY OFFSET THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229941June 4, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY GOES INTO 2ND GEAR WHERE IT REMAIN UNTIL THE KEY IS REMOVED. THE DEALER INDICATES THE 'MEGATRONIC' SHIFTING CONTROLLER IS BAD. HOWEVER THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER FROM THE FACTORY AND THERE IS A 7-10 DELAY IN SHIPMENT FROM THE FACTORY. IT SEEMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PART FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229748June 3, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, WHICH INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. AT 27,680 MILES, THE DEALER IDENTIFIED THE FAILURE WITH THE AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR. THEY REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE CRASH SENSOR AND TWO WINDOWS. THE FAILURE RECURRED AT 27,680 MILES AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V178000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE). THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,297. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF UPDATED 07/03/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229827June 3, 2008
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WENT DOWN,BUT WOULDN'T COME BACK UP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10229356May 30, 2008
SUSPENSION:FRONT
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES PER HOUR WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR BEGAN TO SOUND LIKE I WAS DRAGGING METAL ACROSS THE ROAD. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR TO THE RIGHT TO PULL OVER AND PARK, AND THE CAR LOCKED. THREE AIRBAGS THEN DEPLOYED. THE STEERING LOCKED AND CAUSED THE CAR TO SIDESWIPE ANOTHER. THE OFFICER THAT RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT, ADVISED ME TO REPORT IT ON TO THIS SITE. HE CLAIMED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE AND SAID IT WAS A DEFECT IN THE WHEEL. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BOLT COMPLETELY BROKE CAUSING THE SUSPENSION FRAME TO BREAK. THE POLICE OFFICER REPORTED THIS AS A DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE IS A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH 44,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10229267May 29, 2008
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
2000 VW BEETLE HAS HAD 3 AIRBAGS INSTALLED SINCE 2002. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THEREFORE WILL NOT PASS THE VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION PROCESS.. THREE LETTERS SENT TO VW WITH NO SUCCESS. VW CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE WILL NOT LOOK INTO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM ON THE 2000 VW BEETLE SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FIRST AIRBAG ISSUE STARTED UNDER WARRANTY. THE THREE AIRBAGS REPLACED TO DATE HAS BEEN 2 DRIVERS AND 1 PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN RESET NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS WITHOUT REPLACING AN AIRBAG. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228868May 25, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED - CABLE 'SHREDDED' AND AUTOMATIC WINDOW NO LONGER WORKS TO 'ROLL UP' THE WINDOW. FOUND MANY RESULTS ONLINE FOR OTHER VW OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR OE REGULATORS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10228775May 23, 2008
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I HAVE A VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 2003 LESS THAN 49,000.00 MILES AND SUDDENLY BOTH BACK WINDOWS STOP WORKING PROPERLY. EVERYTIME I TURN THE ENGINE THE WINDOWS GO DOWN AND DO NOT WANT TO CLOSE WITH THE ELECTRIC BOTTOM, IT IS RAINING AND MY CAR IS GETTING DAMAGE, I DON'T HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALER, I HAVE BEEN TOLD, I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS . NOW, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE ARE ANY COMPLAINS IN REGARDS TO THIS ISSUE, THIS IS A DEFECT, SHOULD THE COMPANY BE RESPONSIBLE? THANK YOU, *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10227535May 12, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
FRONTAL AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR IS BAD BARLEY OUT OF WARRANTY . I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ALOT ON THE INTERNET AND BELIEVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY VOLKSWAGEN'S IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226928May 7, 2008
STRUCTURE
HEADLINER SEPARATES FROM FORMED SUB COMPOSITE. FAILURE IS A DAY TO DAY PROBLEM. HEADLINER DROOPS INTO INTERIOR OF CAR. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE BECAUSE OF CURRENT AGE OF VEHICLE. WE SAFETY PIN UP THE HEADLINER TO SUB STRUCTURE IN HOPE THAT IT WILL NOT FALL IN FRONT OF US AS WE DRIVE THIS CAR ON A DAILY BASIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226809May 6, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DEALER FOUND THAT FRONT CRASH SENSOR FAILED AND THAT THERE WAS A RELATED COMPUTER PROBLEM AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES AND THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. AT 40,000 THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE OTHER SIDE FRONT CRASH SENSOR HAD FAILED ALSO AND THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I WAS CHARGED $505 TO REPLACE THIS. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THEY "SEE THIS ALL THE TIME WITH THE BEETLE", AND THAT "AFTER ONE SIDE FAILS THE OTHER SIDE USUALLY DOES TOO". *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10226727May 5, 2008
AIR BAGS
I HAVE A VW NEW BEETLE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE 700 DOLLARS TO FIX IT BUT THE CAR IS EXPENSIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10225186April 20, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ON APRIL 4, 2008, OUR 2000VW GLS BEETLE CAUGHT FIRE AS IT WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE INTERSTATE. CAR HAD BEEN HESITATING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, SO WE HAD IT SERVICED AT OUR LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP ON MARCH 28. DIAGNOSTICS DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE WENT AHEAD AS ASKED FOR FUEL FILTER AND THE COOLANT SENSOR TO BE REPLACED. FOR THE NEXT WEEK, THE CAR CONTINUED TO HESITATE, ESPECIALLY AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR MORE THAT 20 MINUTES. WE MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND AS MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO THIS APPOINTMENT SHE NOTICED THE HESITATION AGAIN, AND ABOUT 10 MILES LATER, NOTICED SMOKE IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. SHE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND SMOKE STARTED POURING INSIDE THE CAR. ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CLICKED ON, THEN OFF. WITHIN 2 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND WAS NOT PHYSICALLY HARMED. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10224535April 14, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
THIS THE SECOND WATER PUMP REPLACED DUE TO IMPELLER FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223531April 7, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
MY 99 VW BEETLE IS A DEATH TRAP, IF IT'S NOT ONE THING IT'S ANOTHER. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT. IT'S A STANDARD SHIFT, IT HAS A CLUTCH, WHY DOES IT HAVE A TRANSMISSION TO? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223500April 6, 2008
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I WAS REMOVING MY SEAT BELT AND IT SLIPPED FROM MY HAND. AFTER THAT THE AIR BAG DEFAULT LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON. TWO DEALERSHIPS HAVE TOLD ME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SEAT BELT LATCH, BUT THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL STILL DEPLOY. THE DEALERS ARE AUTOBARN VW IN EVANSTON, IL AND JENNIGS VW IN GLENVIEW, IL. HOWEVER CITY VW TELLS ME THE AIR BAGS WON'T DEPLOY DUE TO THE FAILURE LIGHT BEING ON AND THAT THE BUCKLE HAS TO BE REPLACED. I HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS ON THE VW BLOGS ON THE WEB. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10223100April 2, 2008
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN A ON GOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 2 YEARS NOW, EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE CAR TO THE VW DEALER ONLY TO GET SCREWED ,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON CAR STARTS MISFIRING HAS NO POWER USES LOTS OF GAS STALLS RUNS RUFF . I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THIS CAR ON THE FREEWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC FOR FEAR OF IT STALLING AND GETTING RAN INTO BY ANOTHER CAR ITS A PUBLIC ENDANGERMENT THESE CARS ARE. IN APRIL OF 2007 I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THEY GAVE IT A QUICK FIX COSTING 450.00 THE LAST TIME THEY TOLD ME I HAD A BAD FUEL INJECTOR THEY REPLACE IT . IT RAN FINE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS THEN IN NOV 15 2007 THE CAR STALLED AGAIN DAUGHTER LIMPED IT HOME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON THE CAR WAS MISSING BAD IT WAS NIGHT AND GETTING CLOSE TO ZERO OUTSIDE . WE PARKED IT THIS TIME BECAUSE WE DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THE CAR IT HAS 53,000 MILES ON IT. I REFUSE TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER VW DEALER , AND ALL VW OF AMERICA WILL SAY IS WE ARE SORRY FOR YOU TROUBLE BUT BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT THE FIRST BUYER OF THE CAR AND ARE THE SECOND BUYER OF THIS CAR THAT WAS A LEASE RETURN YOU ARE NOT ENTITLE TO THE 10 YEARS 100.000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY THAT COME WITH THE CAR. IF YOU ARE THE FIRST BUYER OF THE CAR. THEN THESE REPAIR WOULD BE COVERED . THE WEEK OF JAN 15 2008 WE TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO MECHANIC SHOP . I TOOK THEM 2 DAYS TO FIND THE PROBLEM THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR WAS BAD AND THE TPS SENSOR IS BAD IN ALL IT WILL TAKE 1,400.00 DOLLARS TO FIX THIS CAR. WE PAID FOR THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR TO BE REPLACED AND THE COST TO FIND THE PROBLEMS. THEN WE TOOK THE CAR HOME AND PARKED IT . IT STILL NEEDS THE TPS SENSOR REPLACED THAT WILL COST 1,000.00 AND THE CAR WILL BE DRIVABLE . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222876March 31, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
PURCHASED 1999 VW BEETLE 20 MONTHS AGO. CAR HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES. SINCE OWNING THE CAR HAVE ALREADY OVER $3,500 IN REPAIRS. ALL OF THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AT MY LOCAL DARCAR VW REPAIR SHOP. I BELIEVE SOME OF THESE REPAIRS WERE RECALLS AND HAVE ALL RECEIPT. IS THERE SOMEONE I CAN SENT MY REPAIR RECEIPTS TO TO SEE IF I CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALL SERVICES? I CAN FORWARD RECEIPTS. ALSO SEVEN DAYS AGO THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE AND IT APPEARS IT HAD BEEN RECALLED PER TWO VW OWNER WHO HAD SAME PROBLEMS BUT I CAN'T FIND THE RECALL INFORMATION ON IT. CAN YOU SUGGEST HOW I CAN VIEW ALL RECALLS FOR 1999 VW BEETLE GLS? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10222633March 28, 2008
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ON JAN 2, 2004. THE AIR BAG LIGHT 1ST CAME ON IN SEPT 2004 AND WAS REPAIRED. SINCE THAT POINT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED NEARLY EVERY 6 MONTHS, AND REPAIRED. EVERY, TIME, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP, IT HAS BEEN A CRASH SENSOR OR SEAT MODULE REPLACEMENT. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT VW SEVEN TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. IN NOVEMBER 2007, OUR CAR WAS AT 54,000 MILES, THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AT 50,000 MILES, THE LIGHT ONCE AGAIN ILLUMINATED. AFTER A PROTRACTED BATTLE WITH THE DEALER AND VW REGIONAL, THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE CONTROL MODULE. AND AGAIN, WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER, "THIS SHOULD DO IT". JUST THIS PAST WEEK, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. ONLY THIS TIME, THE DEALER CLOSED THEIR DEALERSHIP AT THE START OF THE YEAR AND WE'RE STARING AT A $1200 REPAIR BILL. CERTAINLY, TO DRIVE AROUND WITHOUT AN AIR BAG ISN'T EXACTLY A SMART THING TO DO, BUT I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE THIS WON'T COME BACK ON 6 MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, BASED ON THE HISTORY ABOVE. IN MY EYES, THERE IS A SYSTEMIC DEFECT IN THE SYSTEMS THAT CONTROL THE AIR BAG. *TR CRASH SENSOR.*PCO
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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