Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2002)

165 consumer complaints on file.

#10132167August 9, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
JUST AFTER REACHING 35,800 MILES, MY 2002 VW NB SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING ON THE FREEWAY LOST POWER AND SPEED. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV ERRATICALLY FROM A LOW OF 1000 RPMS TO 6000/7000 RPMS WHILE THE SPEED CONTINUED TO DROP BELOW 50 MPH. I TOOK THE CAR TO A VA DEALERSHIP FOR THE 35,000 MILE SERVICE AND BOUGHT THE ERRATIC ENGINE BEHAVIOR TO THE ATTENTION THE OF SERVICE MANAGER. HE ADVISED ME THAT HE HAD "NO IDEA WHAT-SO-EVER" (INDICATING SO ON THE SERVICE PAPERS FOR THE CAR) ABOUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE CARS ERRATIC BEHAVIOR BUT WOULD TEST DRIVE IT TO TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM. I RECEIVED A CALL LATER THAT DAY THAT THEY HAD FOUND THE PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. THE "FLY WHEEL" WAS "FALLING OUT" OF THE CAR AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED ASAP. FURTHERMORE, WHILE TROUBLESHOOTING THE CAR THE MECHANICS HAD ACTUALLY BROKEN THE FLY WHEEL (CLUTCH) RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVABLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER ADVISED ME THAT IN THE 3 YEARS THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD SERVICED MY CAR THEY HAD NEVER CHECKED MY CLUTCH AS IT WAS SUPPOSE TO BE SELF-REGULATING AND THAT HE FOUND IT UNUSUAL THAT THE CLUTCH WOULD FALL OUT WITH SO FEW MILES ON THE CAR. HOWEVER, THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT THE CLUTCH IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND WOULD COST ME APPROXIMATELY $2,000 OR MORE TO REPAIR. I CONTACTED VA OF AMERICA TO INQUIRY AS TO WHY THE CLUTCH IS NOT SERVICED REGULARLY WITH THE REST OF THE CAR AND WHY OWNERS ARE NOT ADVISED OF THE SO-CALLED SELF-REGULATING CLUTCH WHICH IS NOT MENTIONED ANYWHERE IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT EVEN IF THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE NOW AT 35,000 MILES THAT I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN ACTION TO HAVE THE PART REPLACED WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH SHE COULD NOT SPECIFICALLY STATE WHEN THE FLY WHEEL WAS UNDER WARRANTY OR WHETHER IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AS YET THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131532August 4, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
DT : THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE INGITION. HAD TO WAIT UP TO 10 MINUTES IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. ONCE IT STARTED IT STAYED LOCKED/PARKED. IT WAS INTERMITTENTLY. CONTACTED THE DEALE, THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND COULD NOT T REPLACE PARTS UNTIL THEY DUPLICATE. THIS STARTED ON MAY 15, 2005. ALSO THE TRUNK RELEASE WILL NOT UNLOCK FROM THE BUTTON THAT USED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THIS PROBLEM EITHER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131287July 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN
2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE ELECTRIC FAN FAILED.*MR THE STATED THAT AN OBJECT MUST HAVE HIT THE FAN TO CAUSE IT TO FAIL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAN WAS PROTECTED ON ALL SIDES BY STEEL AND ALUMINUM. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ONLY WAY TO ACCESS THE FAN WAS TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10129180July 18, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT AND AFTER 30,000 MILES MANY MECHANICAL FAILURES INCLUDING 2 ALTERNATORS REPLACED, 2 BATTERIES REPLACED, EPC LIGHT HAD COME ON TWICE, BRAKE LIGHT DEFAULTS, SIGNAL LIGHT DEFAULTS. MOST OF THIS WAAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, THE A/C SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING AT 65,000 MILES AND IS NOT A FREON ISSUE. THE A/C WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120471May 9, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I PURCHASED THIS "LIKE NEW"VW SUPER BEETLE ON DEC 31 04. IT HAD ONLY 17000 MILES ON IT. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION MODULATOR ON IT CHANGED, AND IN THE SHOP 6 TIME FOR A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AN HOUR OR SO IT WILL HESITATE THEN SLAM INTO 2ND GEAR. IT CAUSES ME AND PASSENGERS TO LUNGE FOWARD THEN BACK. I AM TOLD THIS IS A CHARATURISTIC OF VW AND SHOULD JUST IGNORE IT OR GET USE TO IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119086April 25, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE WAS ON THE ROAD WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE BRAKES DID NOT OPERATE WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114274March 18, 2005
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
PROBLEM: VERY HARD TO SHIFT GEARS WHILE DRIVING AND ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE. CAR ONLY HAD 35,000 MILES. TOOK CAR TO VW DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. REPAIR PERSON KNEW INSTANTLY WHAT PROBLEM WAS. AFTER TAKING CLUTCH APART, VW DEALER SAID TOTAL CLUTCH FAILURE AND SHOWED ME THE CLUTCH PARTS. VW DEALER REPLACED CLUTCH AND I WAS BILLED $1600. VW SAID NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY BECAUSE WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. (I EVEN PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FROM THE SAME DEALER WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR). THIS IS B.S. A CLUTCH DOES NOT FAIL ONLY AFTER TWO YEARS OF NORMAL DRIVING. THIS TYPE OF CLUTCH IS A MAJOR DEFECT AND VW KNOWS ABOUT IT. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA TO REPORT PROBLEM WHICH WAS TOTALLY USELESS. I AM SO DISGUSTED WITH VW NOW, I WILL NEVER BUY A VW AGAIN AND I WILL ALWAYS ADVISE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY NEVER TO OWN A VW.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10111216March 2, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
THE TURN SIGNALS TO NOT WORK. CONSUMER HAS TO REMOVE THE BULB AND REPLACE THEM TO MAKE THEM WORK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR THE ONGOING PROBLEM, AND THE DEALER HAS ONLY REPLACED THE BULBS.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE BULBS THAT WHERE REPLACED WHERE NOT BURNT OUT AND THE PROBLEM RESIDES IN THE SOCKET. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SOCKET AND THE BULB IS NOT SOUND AND THEREFORE THE BULB RATTLES. AFTER TIGHTENING THE BULB WILL WORK A FEW DAYS AND THEN THE PROBLEM OCCURS AGAIN. THE DEALER JUST TIGHTENS THE BULB BUT THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102835December 13, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
I PURCHASED MY VW ON 11/21/03 THE NEXT DAY THE I WAS DRIVING CAR AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS NOT PICKING UP SPEED THEN THE BRAKES WAS REALLY HARD AND IT WAS MAKING A ROARING SOUND. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK CAR INTO VW SVC DEPT AND WAS ADV OH SINCE YOU HAVE A DIESEL CAR IT WILL DO THAT I WAS NOT TKN THAT FOR AN ANSWER I EXPL TO SVC TECH THAT THERS SOMETHING WRONG WITH MY CAR, BUT THEY WOULD NOT LOOK AT IT.ON 11/23/03 I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND I MY CAR WAS STALLING AND WOULD NOT GO PASS 45 AND THEN I SMELT SOMETHING BURNING AND THEN SMOKE THE BRAKES HAD LOCKED UP AND I PULLED OVER AND HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP.THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT FROM TOLD ME THAT IT WAS OK AND DIDNT REPLACE ANYTHING. AND ADVISED ME THAT I WAS OK SO I TOOK CAR HOME AND 3 DAYS LATER IT DID IT AGAIN, I TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOOK CAR OVERNIGHT AND THEY FOUND THAT THE HYDL BOOSTER WAS BAD,THEY REPLACED THAT AND THEN I EXPRESSED MY CONCERNS ABOUT THE BRAKES BECAUSE THEY JUST DIDNT FEEL RIGHT TO ME. I WAS ADV THAT OH THE BRAKES ARE GOOD AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER I DIDNT TRUST TO TK MY CAR TO DEALERSHIP I TOOK CAR TO ACTOR GATOR WHICH WAS GREAT! TO CHECK MY BRAKES AND THEY FOUND PROBLEM AND SHOWED ME HOW BACK BRAKES SHOULD LOOK LIKE AND HOW MINES WAS (THERE WAS HARDLY ANY LEFT ) AND THEY REPLACED BRAKES FOR ME. IM UPSET THAT EVEN THOUGH I PURCHASED A USED CERITIFED VW FROM A VW DEALERSHIP I FELT COMFORTABLE AND I DIDNT UNDERSTAND HOW THEY COULD SELL A CAR WITH NO BRAKES WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE.AND THEN A CUSTOMER HAVING TO PAY FOR BRAKES NOT EVEN A MONTH AFTER I GOT IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102866December 13, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
AT ABOUT 30,000 MILE, THERE WAS A FAILURE OF ELECTRONIC INTSRUMENTATION PANEL DUE TO SOME KIND OF SHORT CIRCUIT, WHICH THEY FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AT ABOUT 60,000 MILE WITH SAME SYMPTOM, WHICH I COULD NOT FIX IT BECAUSE ITS WARRANTY WAS OVER. BUT, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT ITS INSTRUMENTATION IS FAULTY PART IF SAME PART HAS A FAILURE TWICE WITHIN 60,000 MILES WHEN OTHER INSTRUMENTATION PANEL LAST MORE THAN 220,000 MILE IN MY OTHER VW JETTA WITHOUT ANY FAILURE AT ALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10100345November 22, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WARNING LIGHT/DEVICES
I OWN A 2002 VW BEETLE. THE SEAT BELT LATCH BECAME DEFECTIVE, THUS TURNING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IN MY CAR OFF. I HAVE 80K MILES ON MY CAR AND THE REPAIR COST ME OVER $350. VW IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR THIS VITAL SAFETY ISSUE STATING THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO REPAIR OUT OF WARRANTY ITEMS. ISN'T THERE A LAW THAT REQUIRES AUTO MANUFACTURERS TO REPAIR DEFECTIVE SEAT BELTS? DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE FOR GETTING THIS PAID FOR? THANKS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098883November 15, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
MY CAR CONTINUES TO GET STUCK IN PARK. IT'S LEFT ME STRANDED NEEDING ASSISTANCE FROM STRANGERS. ITS FRUSTRATING AND SCARY TO HAVE THIS HAPPEN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090385September 3, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE AT A STOP/DRIVING VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082716July 26, 2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
I HAVE A 2002 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE AND WAS FILLING THE GAS TANK WITH FUEL AT A TEXACO IN BEAUFORT, SOUTH CAROLINA. THE GAS PUMP SHUT OFF WHEN THE TANK FILLED UP, AND I PULLED THE PUMP FROM MY TANK. WHEN I REMOVED THE PUMP GASOLINE BURST OUT OF THE TANK AND COVERED ME IN GASOLINE. THE GASOLINE WENT INTO MY EYES AND ALL OVER MY BODY AND CLOTHES, AND I BECAME CHEMICALLY BLIND FOR NEARLY TWO HOURS. I WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL AND HAD TO HAVE MY EYES FLUSHED OUT WITH TWO BOTTLES OF SOLUTION PER EYE. THE GAS STATION REPLACED THE NOZZLE OF THE PUMP, BUT STILL COULD NOT VERIFY THAT THE PUMP WAS TO BLAME. THE EXPERIENCE WAS EXTREMELY TRAUMATIC.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10072216July 6, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE WARNING PANEL LIGHT ILLUMINATE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE BATTERY DIED. THE VEHICLE INDICATED IT WAS OVERHEATING WHEN IT WASN'T. THE VEHICLE INDICATED IT WAS OUT OF GAS WHEN IT WASN'T. THE VEHICLE HAS HAD CONSTANT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT AFFECT THE LIGHTS, DOOR LOCKS, SEATS, ENGINE AND WARNING LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER HAS STOPPED DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10067847April 26, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE VEHICLE "COUGHED OR SPUTTERED" AND THE ENGINE QUIT. I TURNED THE KEY TO OFF POSITION AND BACK ON AND THE ENGINE RESTARTED. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE ON DOWN THE HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY ONE TO TWO MILES WHEN I HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION, LIKE A BACKFIRE, COME FROM UNDER THE CAR. THE CAR BEGAN SMOKING IMMEDIATELY A BLUISH SMOKE. I KNEW SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT SO I SLOWED DOWN, TURNED AROUND AND BEGAN HEADING BACK TOWARD THE CITY. THE CAR DID NOT HAVE FULL POWER AND SO I WAS ONLY GOING TWENTY TO THIRTY MILES PER HOUR AND HAD TRAVELED ABOUT ONE HALF MILE WHEN ANOTHER CAR BEGAN PASSING ME AND FLAGGED ME DOWN TELLING ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. BY THE TIME I GOT STOPPED THE SMOKE WAS COMING OUT THE HOOD AND OUT FROM THE DASH. I IMMDEDIATELY GRABBED MISCELLANEOUS PERSONAL ITEMS AND CARRIED THEM ABOUT 5O FEET BEHIND THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO RUN BACK FOR ONE MORE TRIP BEFORE IT LOOKED ENTIRELY UNSAFE TO ATTEMPT ANOTHER TRIP. THE WITNESS CALLED 911 BUT THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY BURNT UP BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THERE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10051624December 16, 2003
WHEELS
THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SPLIT IN HALF WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED. THE CONSUMER HIT A CURB AS A RESULT. THE FRONT AND SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER. (VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 2003 NOT IN SYSTEM.) *JB *MR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10046443December 10, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHIFTING THE VEHICLE INTO REVERSE IT MOVED FORWARD. *AK THIS HAPPENED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES TO THREE DIFFERENT DRIVERS. ONCE WHILE SITTING AT A LIGHT, WHEN CONSUMER TOOK FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, IT WENT REVERSE. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10048434November 20, 2003
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE LEFT REAR TIRE EXPLODED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THE DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A GAS STATION TO REPLACE THE TIRE. *PH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10033434August 25, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THE EPC LIGHT COMES ON THE DASH. I WAS TOLD THIS IS DUE TO A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH THAT WILL GO OUT. THIS CAUSES CRUISE CONTROL TO GO OUT, BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT WORK, AND DIFFICULTY GETTING YOUR GEARSHIFT OUT OF PARK OR NEUTRAL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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