Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10722946June 2, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE "IGNITION KEY WAS NOT IN RANGE WARNING" APPEARED ACROSS THE MESSAGE BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION KEY BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10722094May 28, 2015
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. THE BACKUP CAMERA ON THE VEHICLE IS VERY DARK AND NOT SAFELY USABLE. EVEN ON SUNNY DAYS THE IMAGE IS VERY DARK AND OBJECTS CANNOT BE SEEN WELL ENOUGH TO MAKE BACKING UP SAFE. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER ON THE SAME DAY OF PURCHASE FOR REPAIR. WAS INFORMED THAT A SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE BUT NOTHING ELSE COULD BE DONE AND THAT MY VW CAMERA WAS COMPARED TO OTHER BEETLES IN THEIR LOT AND THEY WERE ALL THE SAME WITH LOW IMAGE. THE ADJUSTMENT MADE NO DIFFERENCE IN THE CAMERA IMAGE. IT IS STILL DARK AND NOT SAFE TO USE. I HAVE REGISTERED MY COMPLAINT WITH THE LOCAL DEALER AND WITH VW, INC. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10721739May 27, 2015
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND COOLANT TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E007000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 235,403.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10721836May 27, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
I WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND MY FRONT BUMPER HIT A PARKED CAR, AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND RENDERED ME UNCONSCIENCE IT CAUSED $12,000 TO MY TEETH AND POSSIBLE HEAD INJURY AND 18 MONTHS AT A SPECIALIST DENTAL, HAD TO HAVE A BONE GRAPH AND STINT IN MY MOUTH, LIVER AND ABDOMINAL CONTUSION HAD TO PAY AN ATTORNEY $9,000 TO AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT ME IN COURT, I LOST MY JOB AND AM NOW ON SSD
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10721420May 26, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE BARS ON THE FREEWAY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NOSE AND A CUT TO THE FACE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10721463May 26, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND SWITCHING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE RETENTION WALL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE AND A LARGE CUT FROM THE LOWER LIP ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HER CHIN. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DOCTOR STATED THAT A PIECE OF METAL FROM THE AIR BAG CRACKED SOME OF HER FRONTAL TEETH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000. ...UPDATED 06-12-15 *BF
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10721297May 25, 2015
STRUCTURE:BODY, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
DOOR HINGE SUSPENSION THIS IS THE 2ND VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WE HAVE OWNED. 1ST WAS A 2006. BOTH CARS HAVE EXPERIENCED DOOR HINGE ISSUES. MY FEELING IS THE DOORS ARE TOO HEAVY FOR THE HINGE SUSPENSION. IT HAS HAPPENED ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. NOISE, THEN THE SMALL PIN SUSPENSION SNAPS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10717821May 21, 2015
ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING NOTICED WHITE SMOKE BEHIND THE VEHICLE, THEN ALL ELECTRONICS FAILED BUT CAR REMAINED RUNNING, PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS QUICKLY ON FIRE FROM THE DASH FORWARD. TRIED CALLING VW COSTUMER CARE AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE PERTAINING TO FIRE. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE FOUND DOZENS OF SIMILAR IF NOT EXACT INCIDENTS. THIS WAS MY DAUGHTERS CAR (17) AND CARRIED ONLY LIABILITY. ONLY REASON FOR WRITING IS TO EDUCATE SO THAT OTHERS ARE NOT FACING A LIFE THREATNING EVENT, AS VW DENIES ANY WRONG DOING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10716820May 16, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE BACKUP CAMERA ON THE VEHICLE IS SO DARK TO BE ALMOST UNUSABLE. IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SAFETY DEVICE, BUT YOU CANNOT IDENTIFY WHAT IS IN YOUR PATH. IT HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THIS AND THEY CANNOT FIND A FAULT OR A WAY TO ADJUST THE IMAGE. THEY CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN TECH SUPPORT WHO OFFERED NO SOLUTION AND DO NOT SEEM TO BE INTERESTED. I HAVE ASKED TO CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN DIRECTLY, BUT THEY HAVE NO WAY FOR THE CONSUMER TO DO THAT. THIS CAR HAS THE "PREMIUM 8" RADIO AND NO NAVIGATION. IT APPEARS TO BE AN ODD COMBINATION AS I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE ONE FOR COMPARISON WITHIN A 50 MILE RADIUS. AGAIN, THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE BACKS OVER A CHILD OR SOMETHING ELSE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10715814May 11, 2015
POWER TRAIN
WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND FROM 2ND TO 3RD THERE IS A PAUSE BETWEEN GEARS AND THEN IT BANGS WHEN IT FINALLY CATCHES. IT SEEMS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VW. I'M PICKING MY CAR UP TOMORROW AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS INCLUDING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT THE VW AGREED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALER THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST $1800 TO REPLACE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT AND VW NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE REPAIRS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10715573May 11, 2015
AIR BAGS
I WAS STRUCK BY A DRIVER ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 30 MPH WHO WAS SWITCHING LANES AND HIT MY DRIVER SIDE TIRE AND DRIVER SIDE FENDER ON MY CAR. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE CONTINUOUSLY CONTACTED AND HAD MY VEHICLE SERVICED FOR THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG SEVERAL TIMES. I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWINS AND THIS IS MY ONLY CAR SO I COULD NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE IN EVERY TWO TO FOUR WEEKS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM THAT HAS LASTED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I HAVE ALL THE RECORDS SHOWING ALL THE TIMES I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE IN TO GET THE AIRBAG LIGHT FIXED AND EVERY TIME THE VW COMPANY FIXED IT A FEW DAYS TO A WEEK LATER IT WOULD COME BACK ON. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE AUGUST OF 2006.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10714913May 6, 2015
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V356000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,600.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10715034May 6, 2015
POWER TRAIN
APRIL 2014, THE MECHATRONIC UNIT FOR MY 2004 VW NEW BEETLE TDI FAILED. IT WOULD SURGE IN AND OUT GEAR. THIS PART WAS RECALLED OVERSEAS BUT NOT IN THE USA. THIS JANUARY 2015 WHAT I HAD A TURBO FAILURE AND A DUAL MASS CLUTCH FLYWHEEL FAILURE. THIS IS THE DSG 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE SPECIAL FLYWHEEL HAS FAILED, IT HAS A HOLE IN THE OUT CASING AND THE INTERNAL SPRINGS INSIDE ARE SLOWING BREAKING UP AND WERE SHOOTING OUT THE ASSEMBLY. THESE PIECES THEN SOMEHOW MANAGED TO MACHINE THE TRANSMISSION BELLHOUSING CREATING AT LEAST 3 HOLES IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE. THE CAR SERIOUSLY VIBRATES AT IDLE BUT WHEN UNDER POWER THE CAR RUNS NORMAL. THERE IS A GRINDING SOUNDS ALSO WHEN AT IDLE. I AM AMAZED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HASN'T CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED YET. THIS WOULD BE A POTENTIAL CRASH IF NOT REPAIRED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER CASES SIMILAR TO THE AFOREMENTIONED PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10714203May 2, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY DAUGHTER'S CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN BY MY NIECE ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE LIGHT WENT ON SIGNALING IT WAS OVER HEATING SO SHE PULLED OVER TO A CALL BOX AND WHILE SHE WAS MAKING THE CALL FOR ASSISTANCE SHE HEARD A POP POP AND THE FRONT HOOD WAS ON FIRE AND A MAN PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO PUT IT OUT WITH HIS EXTINGUISHER WHICH DIDN'T WORK AND THE WHOLE CAR WENT UP IN FLAMES WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES. IT WAS COMPLETELY BURNED UP WHICH ALSO BURNED DOWN THE CALL BOX ON THE FREEWAY. SHE HAD JUST SPENT APROXIMATELY $1, 400 ON REPAIRS ON THE CAR WHICH WAS MAINLY ON THE COOLING SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10714030May 1, 2015
SEAT BELTS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT REMAINED RETRACTED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 7/9/15*CN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10713143April 27, 2015
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2003 VW BEETLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT SHE WAS HAVING AN ISSUES WITH HER RPM'S REVVING VERY HIGH. SHE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AFTER AWHILE. SHE GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME, HER SPEED WAS ROUGHLY 65. ALL OF A SUDDEN HER VEHICLE DROPPED HER SPEED DOWN TO 50 CAUSING HER TO ALMOST BE REAR ENDED ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. AS SHE IS AWAY AT COLLEGE SO HER CAR IS NOT DRIVEN MUCH, SO WE ARE UNSURE IF THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE AND WAS TAKEN TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP AND WE WHERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING ISSUES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10713260April 27, 2015
TIRES
HANKOOK FRONT TIRES WORE OUT AT 10,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10712928April 26, 2015
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ONLY WHEN AT USE FOR 20MIN STARTS TO THUMP IN ALL GEARS. BUT MOSTLY NOTICEABLE AT 3 AND 4. SOMETIME LOCKS AT 3 AND HAVE TO TURN OFF AND LET REST TO ENGAGE 1 AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10712433April 23, 2015
VISIBILITY/WIPER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ROLL THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW UPWARDS, THE WINDOW INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED DOWNWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10711922April 21, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT AND OTHER LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER CHECKED WITH THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V031000 (SERVICE BRAKES); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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