Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (2004)

349 consumer complaints on file.

#10362647October 27, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 VW BEETLE SLIPPING BANGING TRANSMISSION 4500-7000 DOLLAR FIX SEEMS TO BE ON MOST CARS. SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361501October 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE THAT HAS A TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION WITH ALMOST 69,000 MILES. IT STARTED JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT VW/AUDI REPAIR SHOP HAD DIAGNOSTICS RUN AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD, AND THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM FREQUENTLY SEEN WITH 2004 BEETLES THAT HAVE THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. THE COST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE $5700.00 PLUS TAX, AND A USED TRANSMISSION WOULD BE $4400.00 PLUS TAX. I CALLED THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TO ASK ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF THE PROBLEM AND WHETHER VW WAS PLANNING ANY TYPE OF RECALL DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION, AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM DIDN'T WARRANT A RECALL AT THIS TIME. I THINK A $6200.00 REPAIR FOR A CAR THAT IS WORTH AROUND $10,000.00 IS INSANE. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2004 BEETLES AND THE EXCESSIVE COST OF REPAIR, VW SHOULD RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361476October 20, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH 2004 VW BEETLE TURBO, ABRUPT SHIFTING, AND ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEED TO A SUDDEN STOP DEALERSHIP CANT FIND SOLUTION IT IS FRUSTRATING MIGHT NEED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR IS ONLY 68000 MILES, NO WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM. ALREADY PAID VW DEALERSHIP 500DLLS WITHOUT A DIAGNOSE, CAR IS GETTING WORSE HAS ENGINE LIGHT ON, ESP AND ASR LIGHTS ON, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, YET THEY CANT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10361215October 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, IT STARTED TO JUST JERK RIGHT AROUND THE TIME I WOULD BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKES BUT HAD THEM CHECKED OUT AND THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. THEN THE CAR STARTED GETTING WORSE. WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS IN LOW GEARS WHETHER SHIFTING UP OR DOWN THE CAR JERKS AND SOMETIMES STALLS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10360484October 14, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE TURBO, AUTOMATIC CONVERTIBLE, WITH 77,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSIONS DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS PROPERLY, AND AT WILL NOT OPERATE AT ALL. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $6,800. THE VEHICLE IS NOT WORTH MUCH MORE THAN THAT!! IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358842October 2, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY CAR IS A 2004 VW BEETLE. IT ONLY HAS OVER 48,000 MILES. THE CAR BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHIFT GEARS. VW SERVICE STATED IT NEEDED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND QUOTED ME $7,000.00. I NOW HAVE IT AT A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO IS REBUILDING IT AND IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $3,000. I HAVE A RENTAL CAR THAT WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $400.00. VW HAS A MONOPOLY ON THEIR CARS. I HAVE READ ON-LINE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. HOW IS IT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER IN THIS ECONOMY FOR VOLKSWAGEN NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR DEFECTIVE CARS AND SHIFT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE UNKNOWING CONSUMER? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10358106September 28, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, STRUCTURE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION, GEAR STUCK IN LOW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357430September 24, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC DRIVING UP THE DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC...WHEN I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE SO I FINALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PULL OVER AND LET THE CAR COOL DOWN. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS AGAIN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD THEM I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM...SAD THING IS I HAVE HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP ON 3 OTHER TIMES SINCE LATE MAY FOR THEM TO 1) REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, 2) REPLACE THE COMPUTER TRANSMISSION CHIP, 3) REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION...ALL IN ALL I HAVE BEEN OUT ABOUT $7K INCLUDING RENTALS AND EVERYTHING. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT IN THE OTHER CASES I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IT WAS WHEN I WAS GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AFTER DRIVING A BIT THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP. THIS TIME HOWEVER COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT SINCE IT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS IN MAJOR TRAFFIC. IN TOTAL THE VW DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 10 WEEKS SINCE LATE MAY...THIS IS TERRIBLE. I AM NOT THE ONLY CONSUMER WITH VW BEETLE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SEVERAL OUT THERE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS. CAN SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF THE CONSUMER SUFFERING?? OR DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE WORST CASES SIMILAR TO TOYOTA OR FORD? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357104September 23, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW FAILED 9-22-10. I PUT THE WINDOWS DOWN. I TRIED TO PUT THE WINDOWS BACK UP AS IT WAS STARTING TO RAIN. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW WILL ONLY GO HALF WAY UP AND THEN STOPS AND GOES BACK DOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10357172September 23, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON THE 2004 NBC ARE DEFECTIVE. BOTH OF MY REAR WINDOWS HAVE BROKEN. ACCORDING TO VW, THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WHERE THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS FOR 7 YEARS. WHEN I CALLED TO SEE ABOUT MINE THEY SAID THE CONVERTIBLES WERE NOT COVERED, EVEN THOUGH THE SAME PARTS WERE USED. THE WINDOWS BROKE WHEN I ROLLED THEM DOWN TO GET THE MORNING CONDENSATION OFF OF THEM. AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC WILL CHARGE ME $260 PER WINDOW VERSUS THE $500 PER WINDOW QUOTED BY VW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356822September 21, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND IT BEGAN CLANKING, JERKING AND SOMETIME IT FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE SHE WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE VALVE BODY THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT REPAIRING THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND ADVISED HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING SO THAT THEY COULD DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,900.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356344September 19, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 77K MILES. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED/REBUILT AT A COST OF $4,500. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10356166September 17, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 2004 VW NEW BEETLE, GLS 2.0 AUTOMATIC, WITH 56,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS MAKING A QUICK TRIP DOWN THE STREET AT AROUND 30MPH WHEN MY GEARS SUDDENLY STARTED SLIPPING, CAUSING MY RPM TO SHOOT DANGEROUSLY HIGH AND MY CAR TO SLOW DOWN. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE THE CAR UNDER 30MPH TO WORK (1.5 MILES AWAY) AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE ONLY WAY I COULD DRIVE SAFELY WAS TO LET OFF OF THE GAS EVERY TIME THE GEAR CHANGED AND SLIPPED. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. THE GENTLEMAN I SPOKE WITH AT THE SHOP SAID HE HAD SEEN A LOT OF VW BEETLES COMING IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, ALL UNDER 100K MILES. UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE $4,000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR AND AM NOW LEFT WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION INDEFINITELY. I AM EXTREMELY ANGERED BY THE FACT THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO A CAR AT ONLY 56,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355225September 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH UPHILL WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE FLY WHEEL AND CLUTCH WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 12/15/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/27/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355409September 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY JERKING AND STALLING. I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY THROUGH A DOCTOR'S OFFICE PARKING LOT VERY MINDFUL OF PEDESTRIANS WHEN THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY JERKED FORWARD AND I NEARLY HIT A PEDESTRIAN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT A CROSS WALK WHERE I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO STOP BUT BEFORE I DID STOP THE CAR DOWNSHIFTED ABRUPTLY AND HAD I NOT HAD A FIRM GRIP ON THE BREAK I WOULD HAVE HIT CHILDREN IN THE CROSS WALK. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE AND VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PAGES ONLINE OF SIMILAR CASES. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE VW TRANSMISSIONS ARE THE CAUSE OF A SERIOUS INJURY IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. VERY FRIGHTENING AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355406September 13, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DRIVE TRAIN ON 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, VEHICLE WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT WHEN STOPPED UNLESS VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, THEN WHEN PUT IN GEAR JUMPS FORWARD. SEALED TRANSMISSION, DEALER SAID IT HAPPENS A LOT BUT VW OF AMERICA WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355052September 12, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2004 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE W/ 85K MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN "CLUNKING" ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. I WAS TOLD I WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION COSTING MORE THAN $4000. I CAME TO THIS SITE AND SAW TIME AND TIME AGAIN THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING. MANY HAVE RESEARCHED FURTHER AND IT APPEARS TO BE AN OBVIOUS DEFECT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A FORMAL RECALL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353993September 6, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 VW NEW BEETLE WITH DSG TRANSMISSION. CAR DROPS INTO LIMP MODE. HAPPENED ON EXPRESSWAY RESULTING IN LOW SPEED TO GET TO MEDIAN. HAPPENS WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM INTERSECTION AND GOES INTO NEUTRAL. CAR WILL NOT MOVE UNTIL ENGINE IS STOPPED AND RESTARTED. ABOVE ISSUES HAPPENED 4 TIMES OVER A 3 DAY PERIOD. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. DSG TRANSMISSION WITH THE MECHATRONICS UNIT IS RARE IN 04 BEETLES. NOT INCLUDED IN FACTORY RECALLS OF 07 AND UP. HAD MECHATRONICS UNIT REPLACED FOR $2250.00 MY EXPENSE. 80,000 MILES ON CAR. 07 AND UP HAVE WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 100,000 MILES. 04 NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE OF LOW FREQUENCY OF EVENT. LOW FREQUENCY BECAUSE NOT MANY AROUND. CAR IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY SAME AS O7 VW & AUDI CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353743September 3, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION HAS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, WONT SHIFT SMOOTHLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND INITIALLY, THEN WHEN IN TRAFFIC THE TRANSMISSION KICKS IN LIKE I WAS REAR-ENDED CAUSING MY HEAD TO SNAP. I CANNOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WITHOUT THE VEHICLE NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR CAUSING A DELAY DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. I ALMOST HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND FLUID REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THIS IS VERY ALARMING BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT GOING TO SHIFT, THE RPMS REV TO 6 AND 7 BEFORE THE SHIFT TAKES PLACE. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HAS SUDDENLY REVVED INTO THE 7 AND 8. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, THE RECALL COVERED THE DEFECT IN 2008 BUT, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND IS NOT COVERED UNLESS I GET A DIAGNOSTIC FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHICH THEY WANT ME TO PAY 150.00 THEN THEY WILL CONSIDER ON A CASE BASES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10353812September 3, 2010
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 2.0L GLS AND BOTH FRONT WINDOW REGULATORS ARE BROKEN AT THE SAME TIME. I PULLED ONE OF THE DOORS APART TO SEE WHAT WAS BROKEN AND IT IS A PLASTIC PIECE THAT HOLDS THE MOTOR TO THE REGULATOR. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS PART TO BREAK AND ESPECIALLY FOR BOTH SIDES TO BREAK ABOUT THE SAME TIME. THE PLASTIC PART THAT IS NEEDED IS NOT SOLD SEPARATE, THE WHOLE WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE PURCHASED, SO TO FIX THE WINDOWS WILL COST A LOT OF MONEY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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