Volkswagen Beetle Complaints

2,629 consumer complaints on file.

#10369513December 7, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DEFECTIVE VALVE BODY FOR 09G ENGINE THAT VW CORPORATE HAS KNOWN ABOUT AND FIXED IN LATER MODELS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369222December 5, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I TOOK MY VW DIESEL WITH AN AUTOMATIC DSG TRANSMISSION FOR 90,000 MILE SERVICE. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH BEING DIAGNOSE WITH A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED SINCE NEW BY AUTO BAHN VW OF FORTH WORTH. THE FIRST INDICATOR OF A PROBLEM WAS THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPING AROUND. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10369119December 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FAULTY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ACTIVITY. LOW MILEAGE TRANSMISSION FAILURES CAUSING HAZARDOUS DRIVING. DOWNSHIFTING CAUSES JOLTING GEAR CHANGES, ACCELERATING CAUSES SLIP INTO NEUTRAL NEARLY CAUSING REAR-END COLLISIONS. COMPUTER CODES FAIL TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE FAILURE, CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368931December 1, 2010
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING REPLACEMENT BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE SAME SWITCH THAT WA REPLACED UNDER RECALL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368084November 29, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
GAS TANK LEAK. WHEN INSPECTED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC, A CRACK IN THE TANK WAS DISCOVERED. WHEN THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO ORDER A NEW TANK, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE GAS TANK IS ON BACK ORDER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. HE THEN REMOVED THE TANK AND WELDED THE CRACK. HE STATED TO ME THAT THE TANK SEEMS TO BE EXTRAORDINARILY THIN AND FLAWED IN ITS DESIGN. IT SEEMS PECULIAR TO ME THAT THERE IS SUCH A DEMAND FOR A GAS TANK UNLESS THERE IS IN FACT A DESIGN FLAW. OBVIOUSLY, THE DANGER OF A FIRE IS GREAT. UPDATED IVOQ/ 12/21/10.*JB *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368161November 29, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. IT STARTED AROUND 67000 MILES AND HAPPENS JUST AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHES OPERATING TEMPERATURE. DEALERSHIP SAYS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT $7000. I HAVE ALSO READ ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE NOTED THERE HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR YR MODEL BEETLE WITH THE SAME TYPE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. DEALER WILL NOT HELP, BUT STATED THEY KNOW OF THE ISSUE BUT ARE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL VW TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE ISSUE, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED YET ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10368234November 29, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND SLIPS IN LOWER GEARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367744November 24, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH TRIPTONIC TRANSMISSION, WITH ONLY 55,000 MILES, LURCHES IN THE LOWER GEARS AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY BETWEEN THE LOWER GEARS AND OFTEN REVS UP TO 5000 RPM BEFORE IT "CLUNKS" INTO HIGHER GEAR. THE VW DEALER MECHANIC WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, AT A COST TO ME OF $6800. MY RESEARCH HAS LEARNED THAT THE FIRST GENERATION OF VW?S DOUBLE CLUTCH TRANSMISSIONS HAD A CHRONIC WEAK POINT. THEY COMBINE A WET CLUTCH (AS IN TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC) AND A GEAR PART (AS IN TRADITIONAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION), HOWEVER BOTH ARE LUBRICATED OUT OF SAME OIL SUMP. THE GEAR PART CAUSES THE OIL TO BE MORE CONTAMINATED WITH WEAR PARTICLES (VS. TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THIS CONTAMINATED OIL IS USED ALSO IN THE VALVE BODY AND THE WET CLUTCH, AND THESE WEAR PARTICLES CAN DETERIORATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WET CLUTCH (CLUTCH MATERIAL, RESULTING IN SLIPPAGE, OR CLUTCH AND GEAR CHANGE HYDRAULIC CONTROLS, RESULTING IN DEFECTIVE SHIFT STRATEGIES). ONCE THAT HAPPENS, DAMAGE IS USUALLY IRREVERSIBLE. VW CHANGED THE OIL SERVICE RECOMMENDATION RECOMMEND FROM (FILL FOR LIFE) OR 100,000 MILES TO 40,000 MILES. EVEN AT THIS REDUCED AMOUNT, THEY CLEARLY STILL HAD A PROBLEM. THEY PROBABLY MODIFIED THE DESIGN SINCE BUT HAVE NOT ADMITTED IT. VW HAS NOT BEEN ETHICAL IN THEIR HANDLING OF THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION DESIGN. THE TRANSMISSION CAN FAIL AT ANYTIME CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE FREEWAY, TURNING ACROSS TRAFFIC, ETC. VW OF AMERICA ACTS LIKE THIS IS A NEW PROBLEM THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. SUGGESTS REPLACING A PRESSURE SENSOR AND REPLACING TRANSMISSION FLUID AT A COST OF $700 PLUS THE $150 FOR DIAGNOSING. LOCAL EUROPEAN REPAIR (WELL RESPECTED) SAYS PRESSURE SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION VALVE CASING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TOGETHER (COST $2000)...IF LUCKY THIS WILL DELAY FULL BLOWN TRANSMISSION SELF DESTRUCTION. VW OF AMERICA IS SCREWING LOYAL CUSTOMERS BY NOT REPAIRING DESIGN FLAW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10367821November 24, 2010
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366693November 18, 2010
VISIBILITY, EQUIPMENT, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE :DRIVERS SIDE WINDOWS REGULATOR AND MOTOR AND BROKEN HINGE. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SAYS IT NEED COIL PACK AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR. SEAT BELT LIGHT SAYS IT NEED SEAT BELT SENSOR. ALSO DOOR LATCH REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366716November 18, 2010
TIRES
WE TEST DROVE CARS AT ROD & TYS ALL STAR AUTO IN PUYALLUP, WE NOTICED THAT THE TIRES WERE BALD AND ONE CAR HAD A BULGE AND TEAR IN THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. I BROUGHT THIS TO THEIR ATTENTION AND THEY SAID THEY AREN'T REQUIRED TO MAKE THESE CARS SAFE. THAT IS THE BUYERS RESPONSIBILITY. I WAS VERY UPSET. THESE TIRES ARE SO BALD THEY AREN'T EVEN LEGAL. I WOULD LIKE THIS PLACE INVESTIGATE TO SHUT DOWN BEFORE SOME IS HURT OR KILLED FROM THE DANGEROUS CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366611November 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS MY 2003 AUTOMATIC VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH 56K MILES HAS BEEN SHIFTING HARD (LURCH FEELING) INTERMITTENTLY GOING UP OR DOWN HILLS. WHEN THE MECHANIC INSPECTED IT THE TRANSMISSION READOUT SAID IT WAS FINE AND THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010 WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 15MPH, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED GRABBING AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT IT TO THE TIPTRONIC SYSTEM TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY OUT OF THE WAY. UPON INSPECTION THE VW DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW THE EXACT CAUSE AND ONLY DIRECTION THEY GOT FROM VW NATIONAL WAS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FOR $7K. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366475November 16, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY VEHICLE HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT AND IS A 2004 NEW BEETLE. IT IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE AND THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME IT IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $5,000 TO $7,000 TO REPAIR. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, I CAN SEE THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2004 NEW BEETLES. I AM CURRENTLY NOT DRIVING IT BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY BUCKS SO BADLY THAT IT CAUSES MY CAR TO JUMP ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 5 FEET AND IT COULD HIT A VEHICLE OR A PEDESTRIAN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366481November 16, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
BOUGHT 2005 VW BEETLE IN DECEMBER 2008. OCTOBER 2010, CAR SHIFTING HARD AND JERKING WHILE SHIFTING INTO GEARS. LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING DUE TO GEARS GETTING STUCK. MECHANIC SAYS I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366488November 16, 2010
AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), EXTERIOR LIGHTING, SEAT BELTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
SENSOR LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY. NOT CONSISTENT AND GO DAYS BETWEEN REPEAT ISSUE. ABS/BRAKE/ESP: COMES ON AND WHEN CAR IS RESTART WILL NOT DUPLICATE. DEALER REPLACED MODULE AND IT CAME ON AGAIN. SEAT BELT ALARM: WILL ALARM EVEN WHEN SEAT BELT IS FASTENED. AIRBAG SENSOR: CAME ON THEN, WHEN CAR WAS RESTART IT WOULD NOT DUPLICATE. HAPPENED 3 TIME IN A WEEK. HEADLIGHTS REPLACED: BOTH REPLACED TWICE IN ONE YEAR. LOCKS: WILL LOCK/UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING WHEN THEY ALREADY HAD BEEN LOCKED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365448November 12, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GENERATOR PULLEY FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365409November 11, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 NEW BEETLE CONV TURBO . ALWAYS IN SHOP. ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS. IN THE SHOP MORE THAN AT HOME. ELEC ISSUES,WINDOWS NOT WORKING, AIR BAG LIGHTS FLASHING, TOP STAYING DOWN WONT GO UP ONE REPAIR AFTER ANOTHER. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. WHAT A PIECE OF [XXX]. JUST HOPE SOME ONE READS THIS AND TALKS THEIR DAUGHTER OR WIFE OUT OF MAKING A 20,000 DOLLAR MISTAKE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365091November 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2005 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT - UP TO DATE ON ALL MAINTENANCE WITH ONLY 64,450 MILES ON IT. A WEEK OR SO THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE WAS HOPING IT WAS A SOLENOID, AND AN EASY FIX BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS A REBUILD. HE CALLED HIS TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO SAID - 'I WON'T EVEN TOUCH A BEETLE, IT'S LIKE PUTTING ON ANOTHER WEDDING RING. YOU GET TIED TO THESE CARS' I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SMALL ISSUES WITH THE CAR, AND ONE BIG ISSUE WHICH MY DEALERSHIP TOOK CARE OF DURING MY WARRANTY PERIOD SO I HAD BEEN SATISFIED WITH VW'S RESPONSE AT LEAST IN THE PAST, BUT A LIGHTLY DRIVEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE FAILING 4500 MILES OUTSIDE THE CARS WARRANTY..AND THE FACT THAT TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS RECOGNIZE THIS AS A FREQUENT AND RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL MAKES ME THINK THERE IS CAUSE FOR RECALL. SEARCHING FOR BEETLE TRANSMISSION PROMPTS MESSAGE BOARDS WITH HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES ON THE TOPIC AND IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE ARE IN THE 'JUST OVER 60,000 MILE' CATEGORY I FALL UNDER. SOME EXAMPLES: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F124D77 (33 PAGES OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE) HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/VW_BEETLE.HTML (2004-2005 BEETLE OWNERS WHO DESCRIBE THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS I'M HAVING). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10365120November 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VISIBILITY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, AIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN SHE CHANGED GEARS. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR MOTORS FAILED; THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED AND WERE REPAIRED AT A REPAIR SHOP. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS BEGINNING TO DETACH FROM THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,347 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,800.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10366089November 9, 2010
POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CAR SPORADICALLY LOOSES POWER WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AFTER MOMENTARILY LIFTING FOOT OFF GAS PEDDLE. MOST INSTANCES OCCUR WHILE CHANGING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY OR ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A NORMAL LEFT HAND TURN. EXAMPLE: GOING 60 MPH, LIFT FOOT OFF PEDDLE TO SLOW DOWN DUE TO CAR IN FRONT OF ME, SEE OPENING IN THE LANE TO MY RIGHT, TURN WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO CHANGE LANES, FLOOR IT ONLY TO FIND I HAVE NO POWER WITH OTHER CAR BARRELING DOWN ON ME. THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER A DOZEN TIMES BUT I AM UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT AT WILL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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