Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2008)

60 consumer complaints on file.

#10983798May 6, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ON MY 2008 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR/MOTOR MADE A LOUD POP WHEN ROLLING UP THE WINDOW (VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TRAVLING AT ABOUT 20MPH IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD) AND IS NOW BROKEN. IT WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN, THE CAR ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT & IS ALWAYS GARAGE KEPT. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ELECTRICAL ISSUE I'VE HAD WITH THE WINDOWS. WHEN PRESSING THE 'ALL WINDOWS' BUTTON (WHETHER UP OR DOWN) THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO DIM AND THEN GO BACK TO NORMAL WHEN YOU LET OFF THE BUTTON. THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION AT ANY SPEED OR PARKED. THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING FROM THE 'ALL WINDOWS' BUTTON IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF VISIBILITY, AND IT'S CONFUSING TO OTHER DRIVERS THINKING THAT YOU ARE FLASHING THEM. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE DEFECTS THAT ARE CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES. I BELIEVE VW IS FULLY AWARE OF BOTH OF THESE QUALITY ISSUES AND EVEN HAS 'TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS' ON BOTH. A RECALL NEEDS BE DONE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10874883June 17, 2016
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE PASSENGER-SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED OVER THE 3 YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS CONVERTIBLE. I HAVE SPEND ALMOST A $1000 TO HAVE VARIOUS RELATED PARTS REPLACED AND THE LIGHT FAILS TO WORK (I.E. IT IS NEVER JUST A BLOWN BULB) WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. MOST RECENTLY JUNE 2016.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10860487April 20, 2016
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED, LOST ACCELERATION, AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ETC LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THREE BURNED "ETC WIRES FROM THE TRANSMISSION" WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10853176April 3, 2016
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE A 2008 VW BEETLE THAT HAS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT. IT WILL NOT PASS SMOG; SOMETHING ABOUT CODES NEEDING TO BE RESET. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A HIGHLY RATED REPAIR SHOP AND HE SPENT HOURS TALKING TO VW AND BAR. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND CALLED A VW DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE TO A SERVICE REP. HE TOLD ME JUST TO DRIVEN THE CAR AND IT WILL RESET ITSELF. NOT TRUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10851341March 24, 2016
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WAS UNATTACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10838217January 12, 2016
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE AIR FILTER LEAKAGE AND ENGINE HYDRAULIC HOSE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND IT GOT TO THE POINT, WHERE IT STARTED FLASHING. AN ASSOCIATE AT AN AUTO PARTS STORE, INFORMED THE CONSUMER, IF THE AIR FILTER DID NOT WORK, THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THE HYDRAULIC HOSE TO THE LINE OF THE ENGINE COULD BREAK AND CAUSE OIL TO CLOG THE ENGINE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10785667October 23, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FRONT DOOR LATCH FAIL. DOOR WILL NOT LOCK OR ACKNOWLEDGE DOOR IS SHUT. MAY OPEN WHILE DRIVING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10781217October 10, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FELL DOWN AND THE DEALER PUT A NEW REGULATOR IN IT COSTING US $500.00, THEN THE REAR WINDOW ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FELL DOWN AND THAT COST US $185.00 AT THE DEALER, NOW THE DRIVER'S WINDOW HAS FALLEN DOWN AND WE ARE WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. THE 1ST & 3RD TIME WAS STATIONARY, THE 2ND TIME WE WERE IN MOTION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10758580August 22, 2015
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BOTH HEADLIGHTS EITHER BURNOUT OR LOSE CONNECTION. IT HAPPENED 4 TIMES DURING WARRANTY AND AN ADDITIONAL 8 TIMES AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD. NUMEROUS CONTACTS AT THE DEALER RESULTED IN CONVERSATION THAT VW WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY EVIDENT TO ME AS AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER AND A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER THAT THE LOCKING ASSEMBLY IS NOT ADEQUATE TO LOCK THE ASSEMBLY INTO THE REQUIRED POSITION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10671317January 9, 2015
POWER TRAIN
THE VW NEW BEETLE WAS RECALLED FROM YEARS 2003 TO 2008 FOR TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFTING FROM 1 TO 2 AND 2 TO 3 GEARS. VW RECALLED VEHICLES BECAUSE OF A BAD TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. MY CAR WAS SOLD NEW IN AUGUST OF 2007 TO ITS FIRST OWNER AND HAS THE KNOWN TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AS RECALLED BY VW. THE TRANSMISSION IN QUESTION IS AN O9G TRANSMISSION ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY SAW NO CODES AND THIS WERE SEALED TRANSMISSIONS, MEANING NO SERVICING NEEDED. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY LETTER FROM VW AND WHEN I CALLED TO REPORT THE PROBLEM THEY TELL ME MY VIN NUMBER IS NOT RECALLED. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE SAME PROBLEM EXIST ON THIS VEHICLES AND I AM ASKING THE NHTSA TO REOPEN THIS CASE WITH VW AND EXTEND THE WARRANTIES FOR OWNER STILL EXPERIENCING THE A PREVIOUS RECALL FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM. MY CAR PRODUCTION DATE IS 6/7/2007 AND SOLD NEW ON 8/12/2008. THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE COVERED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10663145December 9, 2014
SEATS
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE I WAS DRIVING. IT STARTED SMOKING THEN A FLAME CAME FROM THE TOP OF THE SEAT. I PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH MY BOTTLED WATER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10645083October 16, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW STUCK ON CONVERTIBLE BEETLE, WOULD NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. HAD WINDOW REGULATOR REPLACED--$400 TWO MONTHS LATER, REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AGAIN STUCK. MADE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. DAY BEFORE APPOINTMENT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW STUCK IN OPEN POSITION. WOULD NOT ROLL UP. INFORMED THAT I NEED NEW REGULATOR FOR THAT WINDOW TOO, ANOTHER $400. BACK WINDOW JUST NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED. SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A FLAW IN DESIGN. WHEN WILL IT BE RECALLED AND FLAW FIXED? I LIVE UP NORTH. SO GLAD THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN IN SUBZERO WEATHER! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10637748September 20, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE 2008 MODEL FOR THE VW BEETLE APPEARS TO HAVE A DESIGN FLAW REGARDING THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH ASSEMBLIES BECAUSE THE "HEADLIGHT BUCKETS" COME LOOSE FROM THE POWER SUPPLY INSIDE THE FENDER WHERE THE HOUSING UNITS ARE CONNECTED. THIS ISSUE MEANS THAT WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP, THE LIGHTING ASSEMBLY COMES LOOSE AND HEADLIGHTS FAIL TO OPERATE. AT NIGHT, THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! I HAVE CONTACTED VW ABOUT THE ISSUE AND I AM SUPPOSED TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM. I HAVE HAD BOTH ASSEMBLIES REPLACED WITH BRAND NEW UNITS AND THE SAME ISSUE OCCURS. MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY BELIEVE THEIR HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT AND HAVE IT REPLACED. WHEN THE HEADLIGHT IS REPLACED, THE UNIT IS REMOVED AND PLUGGED BACK IN AND CAN EASILY MASK THE REAL ISSUE. THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN AND A CONTINUOUS CONNECTIVITY ISSUE WITH THESE PARTS! VW NEEDS TO ISSUE A SAFELY RECALL AND FIX THIS SO OUR HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES REMAIN PLUGGED INTO THE POWER SOURCE! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10609887July 11, 2014
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. WE TAKE IT TO A DEALERSHIP WHO INFORMS US THAT IT WILL COST UPWARDS $750 TO FIX. EVIDENTLY WIRES UNDER THE SEAT AND SEAT BELT BUCKLE BECOME WORN FROM JUST MOVING THE SEAT IN A DIFFERENT POSITION TO SATISFY THE DRIVER'S SIZE. HOW CAN A SAFETY DEVICE OF SIMPLE PROPORTIONS BE SO COSTLY???? WHAT CAN BE WRONG WITH VW IF GMC IS RECALLING ITEMS AND VOLKSWAGEN SIT BACK AND COLLECTS MONEY BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE CODES AND PARTS THAT CAN FIX THIS SENSITIVE THE ITEM. A MONOPOLY ON A 5 YEAR OLD CAR BECAUSE WE WERE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO BUY THEIR PRODUCT. I UNDERSTAND THE COMPLICATION OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY IT IS NOT A RECALL ISSUE WHEN IT SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS POOR ENGINEERING PROBLEM. P.S. I'M RETIRED AND CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED AT THIS TIME AND I'M NOW DRIVING AROUND WITHOUT AIRBAGS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10606996June 30, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS, SEATS
THE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AT 65MPH. I TOOK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED AND THEY SENT THE CAR OVER TO THE VW DEALERSHIP. VW DEALERSHIP CONTACTED ME AND SAID THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT, AIRBAG IGNITER WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED A DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG UNIT TO THE TUNE OF 881.79. I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HOWEVER NOTHING RELATED TO THE AIRBAG OR SAFETY IS COVERED. SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN I WONDER WHY VW DOESN'T STAND BY THEIR PRODUCTS AND WARRANTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598524June 16, 2014
VISIBILITY/WIPER, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED AND THE GEAR SELECTOR DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINE AND AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587412May 9, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
LOVE MY VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE BUT THIS IS THE 4TH WINDOW THAT HAS STOPPED WORKING AND WITH THE PRICES TO FIX THEM WELL OVER 300 I HAVE ABOUT HAD ENOUGH. AFTER LOOKING ON THE INTERNET THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR AWHILE. IS THERE A RECALL ON THESE WINDOW REGULATORS? IF NOT THERE SHOULD BE!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578362April 8, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED VIOLENTLY AS THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFTING UPWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10573970March 21, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
I OWN A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE REAR WINDOW ADHESIVE ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP BECAME SEPARATED THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE GLASS TO SEPARATE AND THE WINDOW TO SEPARATE FROM THE TOP AND ALMOST FLEW OUT IN TRAFFIC AND COULD CAUSED A ACCIDENT AT THIS TIME THE CAR IS PARKED DUE TO THE SAFETY CONCERN. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE GLASS MAY FLY OUT WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD CONVERSATION THROUGH EMAIL WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED, THE ONLY RESPONSE IS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY,. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. AGAIN IF I WOULD HAVE NOT PULLED OVER WHEN I DID THE WINDOW WOULD HAVE FLOWN OUT AND CAUSED A ACCIDENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10562345January 31, 2014
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
AIR BAG SYSTEM DASH WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. TRACED TO AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION IN THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH RECEIVER MECHANISM (AIR BAG FAULT CODE 0591) WHICH HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED IN-ORDER FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TO RESUME FUNCTION. THIS IS A KNOWN VW ISSUE YET THE $490.00 DEALER-EXCLUSIVE REPAIR IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN, DEALER SERVICE BULLETIN, OR MANUFACTURER'S GOODWILL PLAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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