2000 Volkswagen Beetle Complaint Log

RECENTLY I BROUGHT MY NIECE'S VW 2000 NEW BEETLE TO THE VW DEALER TO HAVE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED. IT WAS CLEARLY EVIDENT FROM INFORMATION AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AND THE RECALL NOTICE BELOW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER THE DEALER INDICATED THE VIN FOR MY NIECE'S VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THEREFORE NOT COVERED BY VW. WE HAD IT FIXED ANYWAY AT OUR COST AND IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT IS INDICATED IN THE RECALL. LATER I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE IN THE US AND THEY DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH THE DEALER AND CONFIRMED THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE SERVICE COST FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKE SWITCH. SURPRISINGLY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AT VW KNEW VERY LITTLE ABOUT THE RECALL AND COULD NOT ACCESS READILY AVAILABLE INFORMATION ON THE WEB TO UNDERSTAND IT. THE VIN FOR OUR VEHICLE IS [XXX]... VW SHOULD BE FORCED TO EXPAND THE RECALL TO ALL VEHICLES, SINCE IT IS CLEAR THE PROBLEM EXIST WTH MANY OTHER VEHICLES BEYOND THOSE INCLUDED AS PART OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL AND THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. * MAKE : VOLKSWAGEN MODEL : NEW BEETLE YEAR : 2000 MANUFACTURER : VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V265000 MFG'S REPORT DATE : JUL 25, 2003 COMPONENT: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED : 295136 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION. CONSEQUENCE: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE; OR THE LAMPS COULD COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCHES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 26, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987. NOTES: VW RECALL NO. WT. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATIONS AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I DROVE AN HOUR AWAY IN THE RAIN, PARKED FOR 15 MINUTES, AND WHEN I RETURNED THE ENGINE WOULD START BUT I HAD NO USE OF WIPERS, HEATER/BLOWER, OR DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS. SINCE I DARED NOT DRIVE IN THE RAIN WITHOUT WIPERS, AND SINCE IT WAS A SUNDAY, I HAD TO GET TOWED HOME. IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH -- AND WHEN THEY TRIED TO REPLACE IT, THEY FOUND THAT ITS RECEPTACLE AND NEARBY WIRES WERE ALL MELTED! VW SAYS TOUGH LUCK, IT'S MY PROBLEM. *NM

AIR BAG FAULT LIGHT ON. *NM

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING A LOUD, HORRENDOUS NOISE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND LOOKED AT THE MUFFLER, IT APPEARED INTACT. I DROVE SLOWLY TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PIPE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT LEADS TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD DETACHED. THEY TOLD ME THE PIPE WAS STAINLESS STEEL AND THEY WERE NOT EVEN SURE HOW IT HAD EVER ATTACHED. THEY CALLED VOLKSWAGEN TO ASK WHAT COULD BE DONE. THE PEOPLE AT VOLKSWAGEN WANTED TO KNOW WHAT YEAR THE CAR WAS AND THE MILEAGE, 61,000 MILES. AFTER A HESITATION THEY TOLD THE MAN AT THE SERVICE STATION THAT IT WOULD COST $800 - $900 FOR A NEW SYSTEM. THE MAN AT THE SERVICE STATION DID AN EMERGENCY WELD, ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T THINK THAT IT WOULD HOLD. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE SAW NO DAMAGE UNDER THE CAR THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS PIPE TO DETACH. HE ALSO SAID HE WAS SUSPICIOUS OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE VOLKSWAGEN REPRESENTATIVE HAD QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT THE YEAR AND MILEAGE AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN MYSELF. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON THAT MODEL HAD BEEN EXTENDED TO 80,000 MILES OR 8 YEARS. I EXPLAINED THAT I WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS THE CONVERTER BUT IT WAS THE PIPE LEADING TO IT, I WAS ASSURED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY COVERED. I TOOK MY CAR TO PITCAIRN VOLKSWAGEN IN LANGHORNE, PA. THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN DIRECTLY AND SHOWED THEM PICTURES OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY CAR. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT I HAD CAUSED THE DAMAGE. WHEN I ARGUED THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE, I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE I HAD THE EMERGENCY WELD DONE. THEY AGREED TO REINFORCE THE WELD BUT THAT WAS ALL. *JB

ABS AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHT STARTED FLASHING A BEEPING WHILE CAR STILL HAD MORE THAN 50% OF ORIGINAL BRAKES LEFT. NO ACT OR EVENT SEEMS TO HAVE PRECIPITATED THE PROBLEM. DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THAT THE ABS PUMP IS MALFUNCTIONING. REGULAR APPLICATION OF BRAKES IS UNAFFECTED. UNKNOWN WHETHER APPLICATION OF ABS SYSTEM WOULD CAUSE BRAKE FAILURE.

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPENED WHILE LEAVING PARKING SPACE. DOOR HAD BEEN SHUT PROPERLY BEFORE TAKING OFF. DOOR LATCH MALFUNCTIONED ALLOWING DOOR TO SWING OPEN. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED AS SPEED WAS LESS THAN 5 MILES PER HOUR, BUT HAD THIS OCCURRED ON THE ROADWAY, I WOULD NOT WANT TO THINK OF WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED. THE DOOR LATCH WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

THE CAR OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE AUTOMOBILE TO A SERVICE STATION. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE BLADES TO THE FAN LYING ON THE ENGINE. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP WITH PARTS ORDERED FROM VOLKSWAGEN. THE MECHANIC WAS ASTONISHED AT THE PLASTIC PARTS USED BY VOLKSWAGEN. THERE WAS ONLY 60,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG DRIVER INFLATOR MODULE FAILED.

THE A/C QUITE WORKING WHILE DRIVING, ONCE IT WAS PARKED IT TURNED COOL FOR A MINUTE OR TWO THEN WENT HOT AGAIN. WE TOOK IT FOR A/C CHECK, ALL WAS FINE FOR ABOUT 5 MILES THEN IT WENT HOT AGAIN. THE NEXT DAY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, JUST BEFORE WE GOT THERE THE TEMP GAUGE CAME ON. THE DEALER FOUND THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, AND TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE PROBLEM IS THE LIGHT DIDN'T COME UNTIL THE DAMAGE WAS ALREADY DONE. *NM

2000 VW NEW BEETLE IGNITION SWTICH - THOUSANDS OF FAILURES WITH DOCUMENTED PHOTOGRAPHIC PROOF OF OVERHEATED WIRING BURNING THROUGH INSULATION WITHIN STEERING COLUMN. FIRE HAZARD! MY SWITCH WENT BACK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ARIZONA DESERT. NO HEADLIGHTS, NO WINDSHIELD WIPERS, NO HORN, NO A/C, NO TURN SIGNALS, NO FOG LIGHTS, NO REAR DEFROSTER. MAIN CONCERN IS NO HEADLIGHTS, AND RISK OF FIRE OBVIOUSLY. VW OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM ACROSS MANY MODELS, AND DEALERS HAVE WARNED THAT CARS ARE 'UN-DRIVEABLE' DUE TO FIRE RISK WHEN PROBLEM SURFACES. VWOA REFUSES TO REPLACE OR RECALL SWITCHES. IGNITION SWITH REQUIRES REPLACMENT.

DT: CONSUMER'S CAR STALLED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO WITH MOSTLY DECELERATION AND DOWN SHIFTING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE LOST POWER. EVERY TIME IT STALLED AND STOPPED, BUT ALWAYS RESTARTED. WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE BEFORE, BUT CURRENTLY A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. YESTERDAY AT FULL SPEED WHILE PASSING A TRUCK WITH NO INDICATION THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND LOST POWER. WHEN TRYING TO MOVE INTO ANOTHER LANE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER, IS CURRENTLY AWAITING AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT MAKES THIS HAPPEN. *AK

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN 2003 THAT MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH INCLUDING THE BRAKE LIGHTS STAYING ON INDEFINITELY. I TOOK THE CAR TO BILL JACOBS VOLKSWAGEN NAPERVILLE, IL AND HAD IT INSPECTED. IN JUNE 2005 MY BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO BILL JACOBS AND AFTER SOME DISAGREEMENT OVER THE RECALL BEING CLOSED THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FOR FREE. IN JUNE 2006, JUST UNDER A YEAR, MY BRAKE LIGHTS AGAIN CAME ON AND WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP AND THEY REPLACED THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ONCE AGAIN. VOLKSWAGEN IS REFUSING TO REIMBURSE THE INVOICE TO DATE SINCE THERE IS NO OPEN RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE PART WAS NOT QUITE A YEAR OLD. I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY ISSUE THAT THIS BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTION RAISES. MY LIGHTS COULD STOP WORKING OR STAY ON WITH NO NOTICE AND I DRIVE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC IN THE CHICAGOLAND AREA. I NOTICED ON YOUR WEB SITE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN 9 OTHER COMPLAINTS FILED SINCE THE RECALL THAT IDENTIFY THIS PROBLEM. *NM

DT: IN OCT 03 THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED. (THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH) AS TIME PASSED, THE VEHICLE BECAME HARDER AND HARDER TO SWITCH OUT OF PARK. ON 6-6-05 THE VEHICLE BECAME STUCK PARK. OWNER CALLED THE DEALER WHILE STUCK AND DEALER INSTRUCTED HOW TO GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. THEN OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND REPAIRED. AIR BAG LIGHT ALSO COMES ON FROM TIME TO TIME, AND HAS BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES. ALSO, ALL THE BULBS IN THE VEHICLE BURN OUT UNREASONABLY FAST.

TO MAKE THIS SHORT THIS LINK TELLS THE WHOLE STORY IN DETAIL ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH MY CAR. HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=1941470 CURRENTLY MY CAR IS STALLING RANDOMLY ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. VW OF AMERICA TELLS ME TO TAKE IT UP WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. WHICH I HAVE BEEN FOR 2 YEARS. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS GIVING IT BACK TO ME UNFIXED BUT STILL REPLACING PARTS! THE DANGEROUS PART OF THIS IS THE STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN THE CAR DIES AND I'TS STILL MOVING. I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING IT AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYWHERE WITH VW. IF YOU GO TO THE LINK ABOVE AND READ THE THREAD YOU WILL SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE AND THAT IT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PARTICULAR YEAR AND ENGINE AS MINE IN MOST REPLIES. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF MORE DETAILS OR INFORMATION IS NEEDED. I WOULD LIKE TO HELP FIND A SOLUTION BEFORE ANY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS HAPPEN OR ANYONE IS HURT. THANK YOU, DAVE WERBECK

CLUTCH DEFECTIVE,VERY LOW MI 40,000

2000 SUPER BEETLE EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** .*MR ON 6/26/02 THE VEHICLE'S REAR PADS BECAME SEIZED IN THE HOLDERS ON ONE SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR ROTORS AND PADS AT 13524 MILES. ON 4/15/05 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BECAUSE OF A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES AND BECAUSE THE BRAKE PEDAL FELT SPONGY WHEN PRESSED. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE REAR SLIDERS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WERE STUCK DUE TO A BUILD UP OF SALT/ROAD DEBRIS WHICH CAUSE THE BRAKE PADS TO WEAR PREMATURELY. THE PADS AND ROTORS ON BOTH REAR WHEEL HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 29277 MILES. ALL THE REPAIRS WERE MADE AT THE CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. THE CONSUMER WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE FIRST BRAKE REPAIR AND NOW REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE MOST RECENT REPAIR. *NM

SINCE NEW, IN THE PAST (4) YEARS, I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS SIDE HEADLAMP BULB (5) TIMES AND THE PASS. SIDE HEADLAMP BULB (4) TIMES (DAYTIME RUNNING AND LOW BEAM). NOW, THE DAYTIME RUNNING AND LOW BEAM LIGHTS DO NO FUNCTION AT ALL!*AK I CANNOT FIND ANY BLOWN FUSES OR CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND AFTER REVIEWING SEVERAL VW OWNER SUPPORT SITES, I'M TOLD IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS DO TO CORROSION FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER BOTTLE SPILLAGE. THE ONLY WAY TO DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT OR DUSK IS BY USING THE HIGH BEAM LAMPS. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRING OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS CAR, 2000 VW BEETLE WITH THE 1.8 TURBO ENGINE.

I HAVE A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE AND ITS RIGHT HEAD LIGHT HAS GONE OUT AND I HAVE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF VOLKSWAGENS RIGHT HEADLIGHT IS OUT AS WELL NOT JUST ON BETTLES BUT ALSO ITS OTHER MODELS. JUST WONDERING IF THERE IS A DEFECT IN THERE LIGHT ASSEMBLY. *JB

DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROAD IN AN ISOLATED AREA, LIMITED SHOULDER; WITHOUT WARNING CAR STOPPED RUNNING. HAD TO BE TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION & THEN TO A DEALER. IT TURNED OUT THE TIMING BELT HAD FAILED AND HAD DESTROYED THE VAVLES AND PISTONS REQUIRING A NEW ENGINE TO FIX. MY CAR HAD 99,000 MILES ON IT. WARRANTY ON TIMING BELT FOR FIRST OWNER IS TO 100,000 MILES. VW SERVICE RECOMMENDATIONS SAY THE TIMING BELT SHOULD BE REPLACED AT 105,000 MILES FOR YEAR 2000 MODELS. I AM CONCERNED NOT ONLY ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY COST THAT IS INVOLVED IN REPAIRING THIS FAILURE BUT ALSO IN THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO WARNING AND IT CAUSED COMPLETE FAILURE OF MY ENGINE. I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER TIMING BELT FAILURES ON THIS VEHICLE. DEALER ASKED FOR AND WAS SUPPLIED INVOICES FOR EVERY REPAIR AND OIL CHANGE BUT REPAIR UNDER THE WARRANTY WAS DENIED BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED BY A DEALER AT 60,000 & 80,000 MILES. I CALLED THE 800 NUMBER FOR VW BUT VOLKSWAGEN WAS COMPLETELY UNINTERESTED IN MY STORY. THE ONLY TIME THE ISSUE OF CHECKING THE TIMING BELT WAS MENTIONED TO ME WAS AFTER IT BROKE! EVEN WHEN I HAD OTHER SERVICE PERFORMED AT 88,000 MILES BY THE DEALER. MY FEELING IS THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WHICH IS SO SEVERE THAT IT REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE IS UNACCEPTBLE AND UNEXPECTED. I HAVE OWNED OTHER CARS OF A DIFFERENT MAKE THAT HAD WELL OVER 100,000 MILES WITH LITTLE OR NO PROBLEMS. WHY WOULD VW RECOMMEND REPLACING THE TIMING BELT AT 100,000 MILES IF THERE IS A PROBABILITY THAT IT MAY NOT EVEN MAKE IT THAT FAR? WHAT USE IS A 100,000 MILE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY IF THERE ARE SO MANY LOOP HOLES THAT VW DOES NOT EXPECT TO HAVE TO HONOR THE WARRANTY? *AK

THE CONSUMER STATES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT WARNING. NO IMPACT REPORTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

03V265000/EXTERIOR BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE RECALL SERVICE WORK DONE. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT HAVING ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES OR THE BRAKE LIGHT. NOW, CONSUMER HAS DIFFICULTY CHANGING GEARS WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE LEFT THE CONSUMER STRANDED. THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND AFTER SEVERAL MOMENTS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE HIM THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE WAS THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. BECAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED DURING THE RECALL, THE VEHICLE WAS 27 DAYS PAST THE 12 MONTH 12,000 MILES REPLACEMENT PARTS WARRANTY. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

WAS WONDERING IF THERE IS A PROBLEM/RECALL WITH THE NEW VW BEATLE. I HAVE A 2000 AND I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHTS 4-5 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR OR SO. ALSO I SEE ALOT OF THEM ON THGE HIGHWAY WITH ONE HEADLIGHT OUT. DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION INREFERENCE TO THIS ISSUE. *AK

DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN CONSTRUCTION ZONE WITH CLOSE CEMENT BARRIERS ON BOTH SIDES, NO SHOULDER; WITHOUT WARNING CAR STOPPED RUNNING. IT TURNED OUT THE TIMING BELT HAD FAILED AND HAD DESTROYED THE VAVLES AND PISTONS REQUIRING A NEW ENGINE AND TIMING BELT TO FIX. MY CAR HAD 68,000 MILES ON IT. WARRANTY ON TIMING BELT FOR FIRST OWNER IS TO 100,000 MILES, BUT ONLY 50,000 MILES FOR SECOND OWNER. I AM SECOND OWNER. I AM CONCERNED NOT ONLY ABOUT THE EXTRAORDINARY COST THAT IS INVOLVED IN REPAIRING THIS FAILURE BUT ALSO IN THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO WARNING AND IT CAUSED COMPLETE FAILURE OF MY ENGINE. IT WAS EXTREMEMY DANGEROUS. I HAVE READ ABOUT OTHER TIMING BELT FAILURES ON THIS VEHICLE. VOLKSWAGEN IS COMPLETELY UNINTERESTED IN MY STORY BECAUSE I AM A SECOND OWNER. MY FEELING IS THIS TYPE OF FAILURE WHICH IS SO SEVERE THAT IT REQUIRES A NEW ENGINE IS UNACCEPTBLE AND UNEXPECTED AND UNSAFE ON A CAR WITH ONLY 68,000 MILES. IT USED TO BE A TIMING BELT FAILURE MADE A CAR RUN POORLY NOT GET DESTROYED.*AK

THE 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE IGNITION SWITCH MELTED AT CONTACT WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CAUSE WAS THE FOG LIGHTS UNDERSIZED WIRING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN IT MELTED THE CONTACTS THE HEADLIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS, HVAC, AND GAUGES BECAME INOPERABLE, TO NAME A FEW. IT WAS OUT OF SERVICE FOR TWO MONTHS AT MY COST AND MY REPAIR. I COULD NOT AFFORD THE REPAIR THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS ALTHOUGH THOUGH CONVERSATIONS WITH VW MECHANICS AND OTHERS THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT UNCOMMON. THERE ARE STILL NUANCES WITH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IN THE BEETLE TO THIS DAY. I WOULD HOPE THERE WERE NO FIRES OR INJURIES. *JB

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, WITHIN 15 MINUTE OR LESS THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON LOCATION TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE BOTH NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS STILL UNDETERMINED. *JB

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK A PEDESTRIAN INFORMED THE FIRE INSPECTOR THAT THE FLAMES WAS NOTICED COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE ENGINE. (ELECTRICAL FIRE) *SC

TWO WIRES ON IGNITION SWITCH MODULE SHORTED. CAUSED FAILURE OF HEADLIGHTS, WIPERS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AIR CONDITIONING, INTERIOR LIGHTING, ETC. IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM REMEDIED.*AK THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN, AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THIS DEFECT, OR INITIATE A RECALL. HERE IS A LINK TO AN ONLINE FORUM WITH OTHER CONSUMERS THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE. HTTP://FORUMS.NEWBEETLE.ORG/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=0667E7E7A9388BFAAA8A71DCDD6574F2&POSTID=499275#POST499275 THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD, AND COULD POTENTIALLY HURT SOMEONE. UPDATED 07/24/2012. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AND AT A STOP VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WOULD RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

FUSE BLOCK ON TOP OF BATTERY MELTED, FUSES NOT BLOWN. *AK

I JUST TRADED FOR A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DIESEL FOR USE AT MY DEALERSHIP DUE TO THE EXCELLENT FUEL MILEAGE. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN AT THE LOCAL VW DEALER AND THE DEALERSHIP PERSONELL DID NOT MENTION THE LIGHT AS BEING A PROBLEM. I CARRIED THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL SERVICE FACILITY FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AND ASKED THEM TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEING ON. THEY REPORTED THAT THE SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS DEFECTIVE. I CARRIED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN ASHEVILLE. THEY REPORTED THAT THE AIR BAG IN THE PASSENGERS SIDE WAS DEFECTIVE. I AUTHORIZED THEM TO REPLACE IT AT A COST OF $566.28. I CALLED VW AND THE LADY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT REIMBURSE ME FOR THE REPAIR SINCE I WAS NOT A CUSTOMER OF VW. MY COMPANY IS THE CUSTOMER AND IT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FOR COMPANY USE. THE AIR BAG WAS DEFECTIVE. WHY SHOULD MY COMPANY HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE SAFETY PRODUCT?

CAR STALLED OUT SEVERAL TIMES RIGHT AFTER STARTING IT. IT WOULD ALWAYS START RIGHT BACK UP NORMALLY, ONCE THE VEHICLE DIED ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROX. 70MPH ALSO CAME RIGHT BACK ON. TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDANT REPAIR SHOP (GOT NO HELP FROM VW DEALER AT ALL) THEY TOLD ME IT WAS AN IDLE MOTOR WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE THROTTLE BODY ($700 REPAIR). WE'LL SEE IF IT WORKS OR NOT.*AK

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON THE CAR FAILED SOMETIME BETWEEN 8:00PM MONDAY 8/02 AND 5:30AM ON TUESDAY 8/03. I WENT OUT TO MY CAR AND STARTED IT, ONLY TO NOTICE, I HAD NO FAN, NO A/C, NO DEFROSTER, NO REAR DEFROSTER, NO HEADLIGHTS, NO FOGLIGHTS, NO POWER TO SOME OF MY GAUGES. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND IT TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH I CALLED MY DEALER FOR AND HAD TO SPEND $90 TO REPLACE. UPON REMOVING THE OLD UNIT, I NOTICED A WIRE THAT CONNECTS TO THE 30 FUSE ON THE UNIT WAS MELTED AND CORRODED, THE PLASTIC HOUSING THAT CONNECTS THE WIRES TO THE SWITCH IT SELF HAD MELTED IN A SMALL PORTION AND THE OLD UNIT HAD VISIBLE BURN MARKS ON IT. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN FIXED, BUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD STILL EXISTS IN MY OPINION, JUST BASED ON THE NUMEROUS PEOPLE I'VE READ ABOUT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

CLUTCH SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY FAILED AT 27,000 MILES. DRIVEN ONLY BY PREVIOUS OWNER OF TWO OTHER VWS. HAVE LEARNED NO REPLACEMENT CLUTCH IS AVAILABLE. WAS ATTEMPTING TO SELL IT SINCE ANOTHER CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN PURCHASED. THIS HAS PRESENTED A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. I AM LIVID LIVID LIVID. NO MORE VWS FOR ME EVER. *JB

I OWN A 2000 NEW BEETLE 1.8T GLX WITH APPROXIMATELY 30461 ORIGINAL MILES. I HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 7 REPAIRS OF THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND ONE REPAIR TO DATE OF MASS AIR FLOW METER. ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN COVERED BY VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICAS EXPENSE. I DO HOWEVER WANT TO NOTE THAT ALL THE MECHANICAL ISSUES REVOLVE AROUND THE MIL MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH. EACH OF THE FAILURES HAPPENS WITHIN ONE YEAR FROM REPLACEMNT OF PARTS AND WITH LESS THAN 6K MILES BETWEEN REPAIRS. WITH MY PERSISTANT CALLS TO VWOA AND MY LOCAL DEALER THEY HAVE PICKED UP ALL EXPENSES. THE WARRANTY FOR THIS VEHICLE WAS 2 YEARS OR 24K MILES. I NOW HAVE 30K PLUS MILES AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PERSISTANT PROBLEM OF O2 SENSORS AND THE LIKE. IF YOU REQUIRE THE VIN NUMBER FOR RECORDS OR OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME DIRECTLY BY MAIL, EMAIL, OR TELEPHONE PERHAPS THIS IS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED BY OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS ABOUT THIS AND ORTHER MODELS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20-40 MPH, SUDDENLY THE VENTILATION PANEL BECAME HOT. WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE VENTILATION SYSTEM ON THE KNOB MELTED. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY SMOKE COMING OUT THE AIR VENT. VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN MINUTES OF THE CONSUMER EXITING THE VEHICLE, AND CALLING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS REPORTEDLY DUE TO INTERIOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

BATTERY HAS TO BE JUMPED WHENEVER LEFT FOR 5 DAYS. HAD TESTED AT 39K BUT VW SERVICE SAID WAS FINE. PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE UNTIL HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 45K AS WOULD NO LONGER START IN MORNINGS. REPORT STATES FAULTY BATTERY AND REPLACED WITH STATELINE (CANNOT AFFORD VW BATTERY WITH ALL THE REPAIRS I'M HAVING TO DO) AT $182.

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN PARK, AND WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO TAKE HER VEHICLE TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER. CONSUMER JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY 2004, AND DID NOT TAKE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. HOWEVER, CONSUMER FELT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING TURNS VEHICLE STALLED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER.*AK THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHILE STOPPED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE MASS AIR METER, DIVERTER VALVE, OXYGEN SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP RELAY BUT THE PROBLEM PERSIST. THE LOWER ENGINE COVER WAS DAMAGED AND THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. *NM

I HAVE A 2000 BEETLE. BOUGHT IT USED WITH A EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM STARTED FEW MONTHS AFTER THE BUYING IT. THE CONSUMPTION OF OIL IS OUTRAGEOUS. I HAVE TO CHANGE THE OIL EVERY 800 MILES. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THE DEALER PERFORMED A CONSUMPTION OIL TEST, AND ACCORDING WITH THEIR TEST THE CONSUMPTION OF OIL WAS WITHIN THE STANDARDS OF A REGULAR CONSUMPTION. HAVING TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL EVERY 800 MILES IS STRESSFUL. FEW WEEK AGO I HAD TO CHANGE THE SPARK PLUG BECAUSE THE CAR WOULDN'T START. *JB

FAN SWITCH WOULD TURN OFF, THEN STARTED SMOKING AND CAUGHT FIRE, BURNING THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD IN A MATTER OF MINUTES. *AK

POSSIBLE GAS LINE LEAK. HASN'T BEEN OFFICIALLY DETERMINED..BUT DEALERSHIP OFFICIALS ARE SAYING THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF A FIRE IN THE ENGINE.DRIVING ON FREEWAY WHEN ENGINE BURST INTO FLAMES.*AK

VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE 2000 1.8 TURBO (ENGINE TYPE: APH) HAS ENGINE STALLING PROBLEM, WHICH HAVEN'T BEEN FIXED BY VOLKSWAGEN DEALER BY 7 OR 8 TIMES. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS TO THE DRIVER. MY BUMPER-TO-BUMPER WARRANTY WOULD BE EXPIRED ON JUNE 30TH, 2005, WHICH IS ONE MONTH LEFT. BUT THE VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICAN STILL REFUSE TO PAY FOR THE FUTURE DIAGNOSE FEE FOR THE SAME ISSUE.

I HAVE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE ENGINE ON MY VW DECARBONIZED AT 40,000 MILES AFTER A LENGTHY TOW, AND NOW IT HAD TO BE TOWED AGAIN AND NEEDS TO BE DECARBONIZED AGAIN AT ONLY 60,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO THAT VW HAD ISSUED A NOTICE TO DEALERS TO PAY FOR DECARBONIZING THE ENGINES UP TO 80,000 MILES. THE SERVICE MANAGER DENIES THIS NOTICE WAS EVER ISSUED. THIS TYPE OF COSTLY AND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM, ( MY WIFE WAS STRANDED ON THE SHOULDER OF A BUSY FREEWAY IN SUBZERO TEMPERATURES) NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. *AK

SUDDEN LOST OF SHIFT ABILITY. VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SHIFTED IT INTO REVERSE, BACKED UP, AND THEN SHIFT TO FORWARD GEAR AND NOTHING WOULD ENGAGE. TOWED TO DEALER WHO SAYS LINKAGE CABLES AND SHIFT LEVERS SNAPPED, "FROZEN" STATES DEALER. TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN COMPLETELY REPLACED 3 MONTHS AGO. SAYS THIS IS NOT PART OF DRIVE TRAIN AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. WANT $500 FOR REPAIR. *JB

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS BEEN ON MORE OFTEN THAN NOT SINCE 22,000 MILES. ON 8/28/01 O2 SENSOR REPLACED BY DEALER (#1). ON 1/20/03 DEALER (#3) TOLD ME THAT ENGINE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR AN ESTIMATED COST TO OWNER OF $1306.25. CAR BROUGHT TO NONDEALER AND REPAIRED FOR $36.00, ALBEIT TEMPORARILY. INCIDENTALLY DEALER HAD COMPLETELY RUN DOWN BATTERY, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. ON 5/8/03 CAR BROUGHT TO DEALER (#4) FOR OVERHEATING DUE TO A PUNCTURE IN OIL PAN, THOUGH OWNER WAS NOT AWARE OF HITTING ANYTHING. OF COURSE ENGINE LIGHT HAD BEEN ON AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR WAS REPLACED AT THAT TIME. AGAIN INCIDENTALLY TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON WITHIN 5 MILES OF DEALERSHIP AFTER OIL PAN HAD BEEN "FIXED". ON 1/15/04 OWNER IS NOT ABLE TO PASS EMISSIONS TESTING AND THEREFORE NOT ABLE TO RENEW REGISTRATION OF VEHICLE BECAUSE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. ON THAT DAY, VACUUM LEAK WAS REPAIRED BUT LIGHT RETURNED WITHIN 24 HOURS. ON 1/21/04 A HOSE IN AIR INJECTION SYSTEM WAS REPLACED BUT LIGHT RETURNED WITHIN 24 HOURS. MECHANIC HAS NOW REFUSED TO CONTINUE WORKING ON THE CAR. DO YOURSELF A FAVOR - NEVER EVEN CONSIDER FOR A MOMENT BUYING A VW!! THIS IS THE WORST CAR THAT I OR ANYONE I'VE EVER KNOWN HAS OWNED. VW SERVICE IS ATROCIOUS AS WELL. THEY ARE INCOMPETENT, IRRESPONSIBLE AND RUDE TO BOOT. THE FACT THAT VW WILL NOT PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR, ESPECIALLY WHEN CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRENTY AND PROBLEMS OCCUR THAT HAVE KNOWN TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, IS ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE, PARTICULARLY IN LIGHT OF ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT THESE CARS POSE. SEE ADDITIONAL PROBLEMS THAT OWNER HAS EXPERIENCED UNDER "OTHER".*AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT WHENEVER HE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN THE BLIND SPOT ON THE VEHICLE DISTORTS HIS VIEW OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSIS AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 111000.

MY WIFE'S VOLKSWAGEN CLUTCH HAS BROKEN 3 TIMES. ONCE AT 3K, ANOTHER AT 34K AND NOW AT 83K; THIS DESPITE THE FACT SHE DRIVES ABOUT THIRTY FIVE MILES EACH WAY TO WORK ON AN EXPRESSWAY, AND DOES NOT SUE THE CLUTCH THAT MUCH. *AK

I DO NOT KNOW IF THIS CLASSIFIES AS A PROBLEM BUT I WANT TO BRING IT TO YOUR ATTENTION. I OWN A 2000 VW BETTLE THAT MY DAUGHTER DRIVES. RECENTLY, DURING HER TRIP TO WORK, THE CAR STARTED SPUTTERING AND WOULD NOT GO BEYOND 10 MPH. I NOTICED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS VERY SIMILAR TO MY 1982 FIAT SPYDER WHICH HAD A DEFECTIVE AIRFLOW METER. AFTER CHECKING WITH THE LOCAL DEALER, IT TURNED OUT TO BE THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM ON ALMOST ALL THEIR MODELS INCLUDING MERCEDES BENZ CARS. THE PRICE OF THIS AIRFLOW METER WAS AROUND $ 60.00 WHICH MADE ME MORE SUSPICIOUS SINCE I PAID WELL OVER $400 FOR THE ONE ON MY FIAT. COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAD OVER 20 ON BACKORDER DURING THE TIME I PURCHASED MINE AND I HAD TO WAIT OVER TWO WEEKS TO GET IT. IF THIS AIRFLOW METERS FAILS DURING TRAVEL ON THE INTERSTATE, IT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN CONSIDERABLY IN HI-SPEED TRAFFIC. THE MANUFACTURER OF THIS COMPONENT IS BOSCH AND ACCORDING TO SERVICE PERSONNEL, THE COST OF THE AIRFLOW METER WAS IN EXCESS OF $250 BUT THEY DROPPED THE PRICE DUE TO THE HIGH NUMBER OF FAILURES. I QUESTIONED WHY THIS WAS NEVER ADDRESSED ON A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLES, AT WHICH TIME THE TECHNICIANS JUST STOPPED TALKING TO ME. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. AT TIMES THE AIR BAG LIGHT BLINKED, BUT IT NEVER WENT OFF. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, AND INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SENSOR UNIT SHORTED OUT. *AK *SCC

AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE. DEALER STATES "PROBLEM IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE; " HOWEVER, CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT AIR BAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF COLLISION.*AK