Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10382627February 14, 2011
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE HAS OCCURRED IN THIS 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE MULTIPLE TIMES. VOLKSWAGEN RESPONDED BY REPLACING THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BUT REFUSED TO ACTUALLY CORRECT THE ENGINEERING ISSUE CAUSING THE FAILURE TO RETURN. THE WIRING HARNESS IS TOO SHORT UNDER THE SEAT AND FEEDING TO THE SWITCH IN THE SEAT BELT OF THE DRIVER. THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND FAILED YET AGAIN. IF YOU WILL NOTICE, THERE ARE MANY ISSUES WITH THE 2000 NEW BEETLE BUT ONLY 4 RECALLS OF THIRD PARTY LIGHTING PRODUCTS AND NO ACTUAL VOLKSWAGEN RECALLS. VOLKSWAGEN IS BEING ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH ABUSE TO THE CONSUMER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10382513February 14, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION:REAR, TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
REAR SUSPENSION MAKES SQUEAKING NOISE. TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR ON AFTER 2 HOURS OF DRIVING. HEAD LIGHTS TOO WEAK BULB FOR FRONT OR REAR OR REVERSE ALWAYS NEEDS REPLACEMENT INSIDE HAND REST TOO WEAK DESIGN ALWAYS BREAK. VW SERVICE STATION TOO EXPENSIVE AND WANTS MONEY ONLY. 2)FIX IT YOURSELF. KEEP DOING IT TILL I CANNOT SELL IT. 3) FIX IT YOUR SELF. YES WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE MANUAL SO I CAN DO IT PROFESSIONAL MYSELF. 4)IN LITTLE ROCK THE NORTH POINT SERVICE STATION IS THE WORST VW STATION.THEY ONLY WANT MONEY EVEN TO FIX OR IN INSPECT OR FIND OUT WHAT IS AT FAULT. BUYING VW MEANS DO THE REPAIRING YOURSELF. PARTS TOO EXPENSIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381729February 13, 2011
AIR BAGS
AFTER STARTING THE CAR, AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN ONE YEAR THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS FIRST TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DRIVER SIDE SENSOR UNDER THE SEAT WAS REPLACED AT DEALER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381737February 13, 2011
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT BULBS BURN OUT EVERY THREE MONTHS OR SO. I AM AN ENGINEER, AND HAVE INSURED THAT THE CONNECTIONS ARE TIGHT, AND THE HOUSING IS FREE OF MOISTURE. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381548February 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH WHEN THE FLY WHEEL DISINTEGRATED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FLY WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381582February 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2003 VW NEW BEETLE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. ROUGH SHIFTING UP AND DOWN. 1ST AND 2ND.. COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFLEY. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT AAMCO. VW IS RUFUSING TO REIMBURSE ME. 4K +. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381603February 11, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I DO NOT KNOW WHO TO TURN TO NOW. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. I PURCHASED THE CAR MARCH, 2010 AND A FEW WEEKS AGO IT STARTED ACTING UP. THE GEARS HAVE BEEN SHIFTING VERY VIOLENTLY, SO MUCH SO THAT IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE REAR ENDED ME EVERY TIME. MIND YOU, THIS ONLY HAPPENS AFTER I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR FOR MORE THAN 15 MILES, SO I FIGURE THAT IT'S ONCE THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY COOLED. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN IN NOVEMBER, 2010 FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS FIXED AND NOW THEY TELL ME THAT I WAS ONLY COVERED UNTIL SEPTEMBER, 2010. THE LETTER SAYS IT WILL COVER TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST FROM THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL IN-SERVICE DATE. THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO ME BECAUSE TECHNICALLY I'M STILL ON THE 7TH YEAR AND I'M CURRENTLY AT 54K MILES. I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE A LOT OF BEETLE OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME MISFORTUNE AND VOLKSWAGEN IS DOING NOTHING OF THE MATTER BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT WILL COST THEM MILLIONS. THIS IS VERY UPSETTING, SEEING THAT I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AND IT'S HAD 2 PREVIOUS OWNERS. I TRIED CALLING VOA AND THE "MANAGER" TELLS ME THAT THEY'RE LOOKING INTO THE MATTER BECAUSE THEY HAVE GOTTEN A HIGH VOLUME CALL THIS WHOLE WEEK REGARDING THIS. I CALL 2 DAYS LATER AND THEY TELL ME THAT I AM OUT OF LUCK. IT REALLY DOES SEEM THAT THIS IS A DESIGNER FLAW, AND VW IS FAILING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10381461February 10, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY DOES NOT FULLY ENGAGE WITH HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR (SOCKET) WHEN REPLACING HEAD LAMPS AND RE-INSTALLING ASSEMBLY. HEAD LIGHT CAN GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO ROAD VIBRATION. WE HAD DRIVERS SIDE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY (6/24/09, 37,779 MILES). PASSENGER SIDE FAILED AFTER I REPLACED LOW BEAM LAMP (1/15/11, 54,000 +/- MILES). I HAD (HAVE TO- DEPENDING ON TIMING AND MY ABILITY-) TO REPLACE THE "RETAINER", THE DEVICE THAT SECURES THE HEAD LIGHT MODULE/ASSEMBLY WITHIN THE FENDER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380171February 3, 2011
VISIBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
WELL IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. FIRST THING, THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE LIGHTS. THE TOP WILL NOT COME DOWN BY IT SELF. THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON ( AIR BAG, BRAKES, CHECK ENGINE, EMISSIONS). SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE HOLES IN THE MUFFLER. LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW FELL DOWN AND THEY WON'T 800 TO FIX, THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379912February 2, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
BOUGHT USED 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE FOR DAUGHTER. 102K MILES. AFTER HAVING IT ONE WEEK, WENT TO START IT, BATTERY DEAD (NEW BATTERY). NOTICED THAT THE COSMETIC MIRROR LIGHT IN DRIVER'S SIDE VISOR WOULD GO ON EVEN THOUGH MIRROR CLOSED AND VISOR NOT IN USE. IN LOOKING FURTHER, IT APPEARS THAT SOMETHING IN THE MOVEMENT OF THE CAR JIGGLES SOME LOOSE WIRING IN THE VISOR, AND LIGHT REMAINS ON WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE. WE BOUGHT NEW BATTERY, AND HAVE TAPED VISOR INTO SECURE POSITION WHEN PARKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380664February 2, 2011
AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE:BODY, SEAT BELTS
THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG SENSORS. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD THE SENSORS REPLACED (THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY BASED ON TIME). VW REFUSED ULTIMATELY REIMBURSED US FOR THE REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSORS. IN JANUARY OF 2011 THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER CHARGED A FEE TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE LIGHT WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, AND THE FACT THAT THE BATTERY WAS DISCHARGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THEY WANTED APPROXIMATELY $480 TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, AND $245 TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. I CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE BUCKLE FOR NO CHARGE, BUT WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE BATTERY. VW OPENED A CASE # 110006836 AND REGIONAL MANAGER LISA WAS THE CONTACT. WE HAD AAA COME TO DO A TEST ON THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM BOTH PASSED THE TEST. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT A TRICKLE CHARGE WOULD BRING THE BATTERY TO A FULL CHARGE. IN ADDITION, VW AGREED TO DO A ONE TIME COURTESY REPLACEMENT OF THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF SINCE THE FABRIC HAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR WINDOW. A CLIP RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED, BUT THE HEADLINER WAS HANGING DOWN AND HAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR WINDOW. WE FEARED THAT THE WINDOW COULD SEPARATE FROM THE ROOF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. STATEMENT INDICATES THAT VW PERFORMED 61.07-02 TECH BULLETIN TO PERFORM MODIFICATIONS TO THE REAR WINDOW.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380031February 2, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AFTER AROUND 36000 MILES WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD SHIFT ROUGH. THE DEALER TOLD US IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAD A LEAK. THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED AND WE WERE TOLD BY A TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS. IT NOW SHIFTS SO ROUGH THAT WHEN IT GOES INTO GEAR IT PULL HARD LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN IT ENGAGES. UPON DOWNSHIFTING IT ACTUALLY LUNGES FORWARD AND HAS CAUSED MANY CONCERNS WITH ME AND MY WIFE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379817February 1, 2011
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT
THE REAR WINDOW REGULATORS WENT OUT ON BOTH WINDOWS, CONVERTIBLE TOP WON'T WORK 90% OF THE TIME. REPLACED HEADLIGHT 4 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. *LN
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380588February 1, 2011
POWER TRAIN
DROVE 600 MILES TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE-MY DREAM CAR. HAD IT FOR 2 DAYS, PUT THE TOP DOWN TWICE AND THE CABLE TO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP SNAPPED. COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY (MISSED THE WHOLE FIRST SEASON OF USING THE CONVERTIBLE). FINALLY GOT ENOUGH $$ TOGETHER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND FOUND OUT A PIECE OF SOMETHING MUST HAVE FALLEN DOWN INTO THE CHANNEL OF THE REAR WINDOW AND BROKE A PART INSIDE SO ADDED THAT TO THE EXPENSE, AROUND $800. REPLACED THE BRAKES NEXT (O.K. WITH THAT, NORMAL REPAIR OF ANY VEHICLE). BUT, NOT TOO LONG AFTER, NOTICED TRANSMISSION HAD A TINY "SLIP". IGNORED THAT SINCE I DIDN'T WANT TO THINK SOMETHING ELSE WAS GOING WRONG ALREADY. PROGRESSED TO WHERE I AM NOW, SLAMMING DOWN INTO THE LOWER GEARS WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW STATING IF ANY REPAIRS HAD BEEN INCURRED DURING THE WARRANTY/EXTENDED WARRANTY, IT WOULD BE COVERED AS 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. WELL, AS IT HAPPENS, MY CAR HAS JUST UNDER 83,000 MILES ON IT AND THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED IN APRIL OF 2010. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY QUOTED ME $2490 FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD A REP HE COULD CALL TO SEE IF "THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO" SINCE IT WAS SUCH A SHORT TIME AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. AFTER IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE, THEY WOULD DEDUCT $750 FROM THE TOTAL REPAIR IF I WOULD SHOW GOOD FAITH AND PURCHASE NEW TIRES ($500), NEW BATTERY ($195 OR $165) AND AN EXHAUST CLAMP ($58) FROM THEIR DEALERSHIP. I'M NO MATH WIZARD, BUT THAT PUT ME RIGHT BACK TO ALMOST THE ORIGINAL REPAIR COST. I AM AT MY WIT'S END WITH THIS CAR. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT BUT HAVE NO CHOICE AS IT IS MY ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE BEEN READING SEVERAL OTHER COMPARABLE COMPLAINTS, SO I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE. I FEEL THAT A 100,00 MILE WARRANTY SHOULD BE JUST THAT, NOT 7 YEARS/OR.......
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379770January 31, 2011
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE REAR WINDOW WAS SEPARATING FROM THE TOP. PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED MODIFICATION TO REAR WINDOW HEADLINER RING. CLIP RECALL ALREADY PERFORMED AND HEADLINER CONTINUED TO HANG DOWN AND WAS SEPARATING FROM THE WINDOW. WINDOW COULD SEPARATE FROM ROOF AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10379766January 31, 2011
AIR BAGS, SEAT BELTS
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN EARLIER RECALL DUE TO SENSORS. WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND NOT DUE TO SENSORS. WE WERE ALSO ORIGINALLY TOLD IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY BATTERY. HOWEVER, THE BATTERY WAS CHECKED BY AAA AND WAS NOT FAULTY. EVENTUALLY VW AGREED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10380244January 27, 2011
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY HARD-SHIFTING BEETLE'S TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACING! I DROVE MY LAST BEETLE FOR 10 YEARS! NOW THIS CAR, ONLY NOW 6 YEARS OLD HAS A FAILING TRANSMISSION? THIS BEGAN VERY SLOWLY. WHEN I HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALER FOR THE AIRBAG SENSOR RECALL I ASKED ABOUT IT BUT WE COULDN'T REPLICATE IT. NOW THEY RECALL THE VALVE BODY, A PART WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION, YET VW HAS DENIED MY CLAIM TO THE WARRANTY. THEY STATE MY TRANSMISSION IS ENTIRELY RUINED AND THE VALVE BODY REPLACEMENT WILL NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM NOW. WELL WHAT ELSE COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS OTHER THAN THE FAULTY VALVE BODY? THIS CAR IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD FROM NEUTRAL TO 1ST GEAR, THEN CLUNKS THROUGH THE REST OF THE GEARS. PLEASE HELP GET THESE DANGEROUS CARS OFF THE ROAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378499January 24, 2011
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE DURING REGULAR USAGE. CAR HAS ONLY 30,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378136January 21, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OCCASIONAL VIOLENT SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO THIRD GEAR - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VERY DANGEROUS IN INTERSECTIONS. VW HAD A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THEM LAST MONTH- VW SAID MY CAR WAS 1 YEAR TOO OLD - CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX ON MY OWN - CAR IS WORTHLESS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10378134January 21, 2011
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
OCCASIONAL VIOLENT SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO THIRD GEAR - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VERY DANGEROUS IN INTERSECTIONS. VW HAD A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THEM LAST MONTH- VW SAID MY CAR WAS 1 YEAR TOO OLD - CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX ON MY OWN - CAR IS WORTHLESS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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