Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10438865December 7, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ALL THE WINDOWS APPEAR TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS, THE BACK RIGHT MAKES A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND WON'T BUDGE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MAKES A WEIRD NOISE BUT MOVES, AND THE OVERALL PLACEMENT OF THE WINDOWS IS ODD AND LEAKS AIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438600December 5, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO A DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR SIX HEADLAMP REPAIR/REPLACEMENTS IN 2 YEARS (OCT 2009, NOV 2009, APR 2012, FEB 2011, AND DEC 2011). THE LAST TIME, BOTH HEADLAMPS WENT OUT ALMOST AT ONCE, CREATING A REAL DRIVING HAZARD SINCE IT WAS AT NIGHT. THIS HEADLAMP IS NOT EASY TO REPAIR - EVIDENCE THE DAMAGE DONE IN REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT HEADLAMP BY ONE DEALERSHIP AND SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED BY ANOTHER DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. VW OF AMERICA HAS OFFERED A ONE-TIME PAYMENT THAT SHOULD COVER UP TO FOUR ADDITIONAL HEADLAMP REPAIRS. TO ME, THIS REPRESENTS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW, BUT WITHOUT FORMAL RECOGNITION OR PUBLICATION OF THE PROBLEM. SEVERAL PUBLIC BLOGS EXIST THAT HIGHLIGHT THIS CONDITION. I PURCHASED ANOTHER, NON-VW NEW VEHICLE ON THE SAME WEEK, AND IT HAS NEVER HAD A HEADLAMP OUTAGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438644December 5, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I HAVE 2004 VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE, MY TWO BACK WINDOWS DO NOT WORK AND NOW MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT WORK. WHEN WILL THIS EXISTING PROBLEM BE RECALLED FOR MYSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE WINDOWS NEED TO BE RECALLED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438658December 5, 2011
POWER TRAIN
MY VW BEETLE 2005, HAS A 2 TO 3 SECOND SHIFT DELAY WHETHER IN MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC. WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR TAKING OFF FROM A LIGHT OR DOWNSHIFTING TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR ACTS LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE REVS BUT THE CAR TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 3 SECONDS TO RESPOND. SOMETIMES IT WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 4TH GEAR AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER (IN TRAFFIC THAT IS GOING OVER 55) TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. I CONSIDER THIS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CARS ARE PILING UP BEHIND ME AND ICAN 'T GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO TURN IT OFF. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A CERTIFIED VW REPAIR SHOP OVER A 100 MILES AWAY BECAUSE I KNEW IT WOULDN'T MAKE IT. THEY INFORMED ME MY TRANSMISSION IS GONE. I NEED A NEW ONE. THEY CAN'T REBUILT IT. A NEW TRANSMISSION IS $4500. NOT INCLUDING LABOR. I GOT MY CAR IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I HAVE $8000. INVESTED IN IT ALREADY. MY CAR IS WORTHLESS. I AM 60 YEARS OLD. I HAVE NO STEADY INCOME AT THIS TIME AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY ANOTHER $6000. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND THEY INFORMED ME THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW IS ALSO ACTING UP AND THEY WILL PAY FOR THAT, BUT REALLY, BIG DEAL. I HAVE HEARD, UNFORTUNATELY TOO LATE, THAT VW'S WITH MY KIND OF TRANSMISSION ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND I THINK VW OF AMERICA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY STILL HAVE LOW MILES. MY CAR IS NOW CONSIDERED A THROWAWAY CAR BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO THROW AWAY. THIS HAS HURT ME DEEPLY FINANCIALLY AND ALL VW OF AMERICA WILL OFFER ME IS A LOYALTY CUSTOMER COUPON TOWARDS A NEW CAR. IF I COULD AFFORD A NEW CAR I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT A USED ONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10438648December 5, 2011
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND WITHIN THREE MONTHS HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. RECENTLY IT STARTED TO LURCH AT STOPS AND STARTS, AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAILED VALVE BODY ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSITION COMPANY REFERRED ME TO WEBSITES WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN IN MI AND WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A WARRANTY EXTENSION, OF WHICH I WAS NOT INFORMED, BUT THAT IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO ME NOW. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM WARRANTS A LOOK AT THIS MODEL AND ITS TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER WARNED MY TRANSITION SPECIALIST THAT THE REPAIR WHICH HAS BEEN FREQUENT ONLY WORKS ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. I ASKED IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE AS IS AND WAS WARNED ONLY FOR SHORT DISTANCES. IT APPEARS TO E THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED A RECALL OR A CLASS ACTION SUIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10439516December 5, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE BLUE TEMP GAUGE COMES ON FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME...THEN WHEN I SLOW DOWN THE JUMPS/JERK REALLY HARD...I NOTICE IT ONLY DOES WHEN I SLOW DOWN....TO AVOID IT I TRY TO LET THE CAR SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN BUT IT STILL DOES IT....OTHERS THAT IVE DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH ADVISED ME THAT IT MAY BE THE TRANSMISSION...AND UPON RESEARCHING THE VW BEETLE I FOUND OUT THAT IM NOT THE ONLY PERSON EXPERIENCING THIS IS ISSUE AND THAT IT IS INDEED THE TRANSMISSION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437824November 30, 2011
POWER TRAIN
CAR HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS AND SURGES WHEN IT FINALLY SHIFTS. MULTIPLE DEALER VISITS IN JUNE 2011 AND OCTOBER 2011 INDICATE IT WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION. LOCAL MECHANIC THOUGHT MAYBE COMPUTER ISSUE. RESET OF COMPUTER DID NOT FIX. REVIEW OF INTERNET COMPLAINTS INDICATES SIMILAR ISSUES FOR HUNDREDS OF OTHER 2006 NEW BEETLE OWNERS WITH A VARIETY OF FIXES SUGGESTED, TRIED AND FAILED. NO RECALLS LISTED DESPITE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10437411November 27, 2011
POWER TRAIN
CAR TRANSMISSION DIS-ENGAGES AND THEN HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS AS WELL AS BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH GEARS. THE MOST DANGEROUS INCIDENT INVOLVED MY DAUGHTER STARTING THROUGH A SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION, AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DIS-ENGAGED, SHE WAS ALMOST REARENDED. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND WERE ADVISED BOTH TIMES THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF ~$5,500. AT THE MOST RECENT TRIP TO THE MECHANIC, THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. I RECEIVED A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM VW DATED NOV 2010 (A YEAR AGO) INDICATING THAT THE VALVE BODY MAY BE THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT MY PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO THE VALVE BODY, BUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THEY DID NOT OPEN THE TRANSMISSION TO CHECK THE PARTS TO MAKE THIS DETERMINATION, BUT MERELY RAN A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I'M AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO, AND FEAR OTHER NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER'S MECHANICS, THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT CONSIDERABLE COST. I EXPECT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT IRREPARABLY MALFUNCTION WITH SO FEW MILES. SHORT OF A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT, I SEE NO RELIEF OR REMEDY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436818November 22, 2011
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE, AND MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO MORE THAN ONE LOCATION INCLUDING THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND EVERYONE IS TELLING ME THE CODE READ GEAR RATIO INCORRECT. MY CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME TOO DRIVE THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION I NEED IS 5000 AND THERE IS NO WARRANTY THAT THEY COULD OFFER ME. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR I DON'T HAVE 5000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND EVERYONE IS SAYING THE SAME EXACT THING IM COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW FAST BEETLES TRANSMISSION GO OUT AND HALF OF THEM TOOK THERE BEETLE TO VOLKSWAGEN JUST FOR THEM TO TELL THEM THEY NEED 5000 TO 7000 TRANSMISSION AND LATER FIND OUT THAT WAS JOT EVEN THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR IS STILL DRIVING VERY RECKLESS. I'M PUTTING MY LIFE N DANGER EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR I HAVE TWO JOBS AND I CANT AFFORD TO MISS ONE DAY. SO U TELL ME MISS DAYS FROM WORK BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE SAFE TRANSPORTATION OR DRIVE THE CAR I HAVE N REST MY LIFE EVERYDAY. I NEED SOMEONE TO HEAR ME OUT AND HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. I'M SORRY TO SAY I WILL KEEP COMPLAINING INTEL SOMEONE GETS TO BOTTOM OF THIS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10436691November 21, 2011
POWER TRAIN
IN CITY TRAFFIC, MY VEHICLE HAS A VIOLENT JERKY DOWN-SHIFT WHEN APPROACHING A STOP, APPROXIMATELY 25MPH TO 20 MPH. IT FEELS LIKE THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR IS FALLING OUT. WHEN THESE OCCURRENCES FIRST HAPPENED, THEY WERE OCCASIONAL. ON THE HIGHWAY I BELIEVE IT SLIPS FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. TODAY, A FEW MONTHS LATER THE OCCURRENCES ARE MORE FREQUENT AND I AM FORCED TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL CARE FOR MY VEHICLE. I HAVE REGULARLY MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE WITH CARE AND ATTENTION TO THE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. MY ONLINE RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT THIS EVENT IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT, BUT THIS OCCURRENCE DESCRIBES A TYPICAL VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION WITH MILEAGE BETWEEN 50K AND 70K; THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF LIKE COMPLAINTS. I HAVE FOUND TWO SEPARATE FORUMS ONLINE SUPPORTING THIS VERY COMPLAINT. THIS IS VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR A FAILED TRANSMISSION, ESPECIALLY WHEN MANY SIMILAR SMALL VEHICLES ARE OFFERING WARRANTIES FOR 100K MILES OR MORE. THE VW CUSTOMER CARE HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO MY INQUIRIES. I BELIEVE MY CAR HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I AM FEARFUL THAT IT WILL BREAK DOWN ON THE FREEWAY OR A POTENTIALLY DARK ROAD OR IN BAD WEATHER. I WOULD ASK THAT THE NHTSA PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE RECURRENT ISSUES WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND MAKE VOLKSWAGEN ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FAILING TRANSMISSION, OR, AT THE VERY LEAST LOOK INTO THE VALVE BODIES AND WHETHER THEY ARE UP TO STANDARDS, STANDARDS THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS VEHICLE FROM FAILING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSING POTENTIAL HAZARDS TO DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. THANK YOU, *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435966November 15, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN
THIS CAR IS HORRIBLE! AT 70,000 MILES THE CAR WOULD JERK WHILE IT WAS DRIVING. IT WAS ESPECIALLY SCARY IF IT STARTED TO JERK/KICK WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. I GOT A NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW ENGINE. THEN 20,000 MILES LATER, IT DID IT AGAIN AND NOW VOLKSWAGEN SAID IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION! AGAIN! MORE JERKING, AND IT BECAME WORSE AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED "UNDER WARRANTY" I WILL COMPLAIN TO THE BBB AS WELL. HORRIBLE THAT I PUT SO MUCH MONEY IN ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE CAR STILL WONT WORK. SAFETY PROBLEMS AS WELL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435569November 14, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
TRAVELING ON THE CROSSTOWN FREEWAY @ THE POSTED SPEED, I STARTED TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE'S HEATER AND THE POWER CONTROL SWITCH STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. I TURNED THE POWER CONTROL KNOB CLOCKWISE AND NOTICED SLIPPAGE OF THE CONTROL KNOB. I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE WHOLE HEATER CONTROL ASSEMBLY AND THEN AN ARCH, THEN A SMALLFLAME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435262November 11, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED, VW PAID FOR REGULATOR BUT CHARGED $389.00 LABOR TO FIX (WINDOW UP AND DOWN LESS THEN 20 TIMES UP TO THIS POINT. LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED JUNE 2011, LABOR CHARGE $403.05 VW PAID FOR REGULATOR. LEFT DRIVER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED AUG 2011. VW WILL NOT COVER REGULATOR, OR LABOR OF $375.00 TO REPAIR. VW KNEW THESE PARTS WOULD FAIL AND HAD ISSUED A TECH BULLETIN TO THIS EFFECT WITH NO NOTICE TO OWNER! FAILED PARTS ARE KNOWN BY VW AS FAILURE PARTS, COST TO CUSTOMER FOR KNOWN BAD PARTS IS EXTREME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435294November 11, 2011
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THERE IS AN UNUSUALLY STRONG, AND OBNOXIOUS, ODOR (SMELLING OF BURNT CRAYONS) COMING FROM THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THE SMELL IS SO OVER-POWERING I HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOWS, AND LEAVE THEM OPEN, THE ENTIRE TIME I AM DRIVING THE CAR, OTHERWISE I BECOME DIZZY AND NAUSEOUS. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET, AND THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE BLOGGED THEY HAVE A CAR MADE BY VOLKSWAGEN WITH THE SAME ODOR PROBLEM -- A FEW OF THESE WEBSITES ARE; ----(1) HTTP://WWW.FIXMYSTINKYCAR.COM/?P=706 ----(2) HTTP://FORUMS.AUTOMOTIVE.COM/70/6371584/VOLKSWAGEN/CHEMICAL-ODOR/INDEX.HTML ----(3) HTTP://WWW.CARSURVEY.ORG/REVIEWS/VOLKSWAGEN/JETTA/2001/PAGE-57/ ----(4) HTTP://WWW.WEBANSWERS.COM/AUTOMOBILES/WHAT-IS-CAUSING-MY-CAR-SMELL-5B4BD0. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435213November 10, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM SECOND GEAR BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY HARD SHIFT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10435729November 7, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
THROTTLE BODY GOES OUT (02-03-2009) CV AXEL GOES OUT (03-31-2009 BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT (02-18-2010) CV AXEL GOES OUT AGAIN (4-31-2010) ALTERNATOR GOES OUT (06-21-2010) IGNITION COILS FAIL (09-13-2010) IGNITION COILS FAIL AGAIN(01-21-2011) BRAKE SWITCH REPLACED AGAIN (01-21-2011) AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILS (01-21-2011) AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILS AGAIN (07-26-2011) TIMING BELT REPLACED (06-15-2011) THERMOSTAT REPLACED (06-15-2011) WATER PUMP REPLACED (06-15-2011) NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE BODY/ THROTTLE BODY SENSOR/ ELECTRICAL ISSUE. DEALER IS NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEMS IS AND WANTS TO THROW MONEY AT IT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEMS IS. THIS CAR IS JUST ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434354November 6, 2011
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR STOP AND GO-WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR-THE RPMS WOULD REV AND FINALLY THE NEXT GEAR WOULD "CATCH" REALLY SLAM INTO GEAR AND THE CAR WOULD SHIFT. I HAD MANY NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS DUE TO MY CAR FAILING TO MOVE FORWARD IN TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. I FINALLY DROVE IT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER WHILE THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AND THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO "WITNESS" THE PROBLEM, THE REPAIR WAS MADE-REPLACED TRANSMISSION PARTS AT 62,000 MILES. NOW AT 80,000 MILES, THE CAR DOES 2 THINGS-WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT HAS LOST POWER-THE CAR STAYS ON, BUT THERE IS NO POWER TO THE ENGINE-STEP ON THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS-NO RPMS, NOTHING, THE CAR SLOWS DOWN IMMEDIATELY, BUT BECAUSE IT HAPPENS SO SUDDENLY, CARS THAT ARE FOLLOWING ME DON'T ALWAYS REACT IN TIME AND I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED-AFTER A FEW SECONDS ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WILL REGAIN POWER. THE 2ND PROBLEM HAPPENS RANDOMLY-AS I AM DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH ON AND THE CAR DIES-NO POWER STEERING, NOTHING, JUST A DEAD CAR. I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, TURN EVERYTHING OFF (RADIO, AIR ETC), AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED DURING A LEFT TURN, AT A STOP SIGN, WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET. AGAIN VW MECHANIC FINDS NOTHING ON THE COMPUTER. THIS CAR IS A LEMON-I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 BATTERIES, SEVERAL HEADLIGHTS, TAIL AND TURN LIGHTS, AIR BAG SENSORS, ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS, PLUS 2 OF THE SAME WINDOW REGULATORS TWICE, TRUNK LATCH, REAR ASHTRAY HOLDER, CONVERTIBLE STRAPS, REAR CONVERTIBLE WINDOW CLIPS, AND NOW WHENEVER IT RAINS MY CAR LEAKS. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE CAR IN IT'S CURRENT CONDITION, AFRAID TO CAUSE OR BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE, PLEASE HELP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434421November 6, 2011
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO I NOTED THAT WHEN I PUT MY 2001 BEETLE INTO DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT CATCH. AS I PUSHED THE GAS PEDDLE DOWN, IT WAS NECESSARY TO REV THE ENGINE AND THEN IT WOULD FINALLY CATCH. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK AND WILL GO INTO THE SHOP THIS WEEK. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO REV THE ENGINE TO GET IT INTO GEAR. I HAVE ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ON 2 OCCASIONS, BUT WAS ABLE TO HIT THE BRAKE IN TIME. I NOW PUSH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME TO AVOID THIS POSSIBILITY. I HAVE READ OF SIMILAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THE NEW BEETLE AND WANT TO ADD MY EXPERIENCE AT A PALTRY 41,000 MILES TO THE LIST. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN OTHER POSTINGS SUCH AS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND OR 2ND TO 3RD. I ALSO HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR DOWNSHIFT OR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AS OTHERS HAVE DESCRIBED. THE MAJOR REASON FOR POSTING THIS IS THE TWO EPISODES OF ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10434347November 5, 2011
POWER TRAIN
AT LESS 60K MILES, I'VE BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD BY 2 REPAIR SHOPS THAT IT NEED TO BE REPLACED . BOTH REPAIR SHOPS ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW BEETLE. I PURCHASE THE CAR NEW AND MAINTAINED AND SERVICE AT SUGGESTED TIMES AT SAME PLACE OF PURCHASE. I PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAVE COMPLAINED IN THE PAST. THE PROBLEM THEN WAS INTERMITTENT AND SHOP NEVER FOUND THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED A MONTH LATER. I HAVE READ SIMILAR PROBLEM FROM SEVERAL OWNERS AND SOME WERE REPAIRED FREE WHILE OTHER WERE TURNED AWAY. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS INCONSISTENT WITH MANY OWNERS AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE, THIS PROBLEM QUALIFIES UNDER LEMON LAW. I REQUEST THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND CONSIDER A RECALL BASED ON MANY COMPLAINTS. EVEN REPAIR SHOPS KNOW THIS PROBLEM EXISTED AND WE NEED HELP FORM THIS GOVERNMENT BODY TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT CONTINUES TO COMPROMISED SAFETY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433877November 1, 2011
POWER TRAIN
I PURCHASED MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE BRAND SPANKING NEW IN DEC 2002. THE CAR HAD 32 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT; THE CAR NOW HAS 77K MILES AS OF TODAY. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT VW IS ACUTELY AWARE OF. THE CAR IS A 6 SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION WITH TRIP TRONIC. THE CAR HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION AND BEFORE SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR. INSTEAD, THE TRANSMISSION LURCHES FROM 1ST INTO 2ND, CAUSING THE TIRES TO SCREECH. WHEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD IT CAUSES THE FRONT DRIVE/STEERING TIRES TO LOSE GRIP ON THE PAVEMENT WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES WHEN IT JUMPED SO HARD IT ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND SOMETIMES THE LURCH IS SO STRONG IT FEELS LIKE ANOTHER CAR HIT ME FROM BEHIND. THE TRANSMISSION WORKS FINE WHEN IT IS COOL BUT GETS WORSE AS THE CAR WARMS UP - AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES. THE OTHER GEARS HAVE SHIFTING PROBLEMS TOO; JUST NOT AS HARSH AS GOING INTO 2ND. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS DOWNSHIFTING AS WELL. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE CAR GETTING STUCK IN 2ND GEAR WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC WHICH CREATED A DANGER FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THE ONLY WAY TO CURE THE PROBLEM IS TO SAFELY MAKE MY WAY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN THE ENGINE OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES, THEN TURN IT BACK ON. THIS DOESN'T COMPLETELY MAKE THE LURCHING GO AWAY BUT IT GIVES ME SEVERAL TRAVEL MILES BEFORE GETTING STUCK IN GEAR AGAIN. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO LOOKED UP MY VIN. THEY TOLD ME I WAS OVER MY YEARS FOR THE RECALL ON THE VALVE BODY WHICH IS WHAT SHOULD CORRECT MY TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE LIVED AT THE SAME ADDRESS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2002 AND NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS ITEM. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN VW OF AMERICA! I WAITED SEVERAL YEARS FOR THE CONVERTIBLE VERSION TO COME OUT AND THIS WAS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO MYSELF (THIS IS HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS CAR!) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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