2003 Volkswagen Beetle Complaint Log

MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHERE IT WILL JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN IT SHIFTS UP OR DOWN AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT SHIFT AT ALL. IT WILL GET STUCK IN A GEAR AND I HAVE TO STOP IT AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART IT. IT WILL JERK EVEN WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I AM FAR AWAY FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I NO LONGER DRIVE IT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF ALSO, SO I'M NOT SURE IF IT WILL EVEN WORK IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD NOT BE JERKING THAT WAY AT ALL AND IF SOMEONE WAS TO WALK IN FRONT OF MY CAR AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, IT COULD JERK FORWARD AND HIT THEM. NOT A SAFE CAR. *JS

BOUGHT CAR FOR DAUGHTER FEB.2011. THE GEAR SEEMS TO GET HUNG UP BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD THEN THE CAR WILL BARELY MOVE. SOMETIMES WHEN IT GOES IN TO GEAR IT LUNGES FORWARD. MY DAUGHTER ALMOST HAD A WRECK TRYING TO TURN AND THE GEAR GOT HUNG UP AND STALLED IN TRAFFIC. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF AROUND 45+ MPH MY WIFE'S VW BEETLE RANDOMLY DOWNSHIFTED TO THE POINT THAT IT SQUEALED THE TIRES AND THREW HER FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEIR ESTIMATE IS $4900 FOR A USED TRANSMISSION OR $6000+ FOR A NEW ONE FROM VW. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS A "KNOWN" PROBLEM WITH THIS SPECIFIC TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP SAID WE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION TO 100,000 MILES FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE THE LETTER BUT MY WIFE'S CAR HAS 128,000 MILES SO VW HAS REFUSED TO HELP AT ALL WITH THE PROBLEM. I ALSO CHECKED WITH TWO OTHER VW DEALERSHIPS IN THE KC METRO AND THEY IMMEDIATELY STARTED NODDING THEIR HEAD IN AGREEMENT ABOUT THIS BEING A "KNOWN" PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. AS I WAS TRYING TO LOCATE A USED TRANSMISSION ONLINE AT A CHEAPER PRICE I WAS ABSOLUTELY IN SHOCK AT THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. THAT RANDOM DOWNSHIFT IS GOING TO CAUSE A WRECK IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. IF SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE, THE PAVEMENT IS WET, SNOW ON THE GROUND, GRAVEL ROADS, WHATEVER SCENARIO YOU CAN IMAGINE - A DOWNSHIFT OF THAT NATURE COULD EASILY RESULT IN A WRECK. I ALSO CHECKED WITH A NATIONAL TRANSMISSION COMPANY (CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION) AND THEY SAID THAT DUE TO A "DESIGN FLAW" WITH THAT TRANSMISSION THEY WILL ONLY WARRANTY THEIR WORK TO 12MOS/12,000 MILES INSTEAD OF THEIR NORMAL 3YR/50,000. VW'S OWN LETTER ACKNOWLEDGING A PROBLEM DUE TO "CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS", 3 DEALERSHIPS STATING THIS IS A "KNOWN" PROBLEM, A NATIONAL TRANSMISSION COMPANY REDUCING THEIR WARRANTY DUE TO A "DESIGN FLAW" AND THE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM - IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH VW'S "GGZ" TRANSMISSION. *TR

THIS VEHICLE PERMEATES AN ODOR OF CRAYON WAX IN HEAT OR COLD. MORE SO IN HEAT AND WHEN THE HEAT OR A/C IS BEING USED. THE ODOR STICKS TO YOU HAIR AND CLOTHING AND IS EXTREMELY NAUSEATING. IN RESEARCH IT IS A WAX THAT COATS THE UNDERLAY OF THE CARPET. IF YOU GOOGLE "CRAYON SMELL IN VW OR HOW TO REMOVE CRAYON SMELL IN VW" YOU WILL FIND SEVERAL FORUMS. I BELIEVE IT IS A HEALTH HAZARD. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THE VEHICLE PRIMARILY & REFUSES TO USE THE A/C OR HEAT DUE TO THE SMELL MAKING HER SICK &STICKING TO HER HAIR AND CLOTHES. I DROVE IT FOR A WEEKEND AND HAD A NAUSEATING MIGRAINE ALL WEEKEND LONG. WHO KNOWS WHAT LONG TERM AFFECT THIS CAN HAVE ON ONES HEALTH. I CALLED VW, THEY SAID ITS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS ISNT DUE TO LACK OF CARE OR MAINTENANCE, THIS IS A POOR QUALITY MATERIAL USED TO MANUFACTURE THE VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING THE ODOR THAT IS MAKING PEOPLE SICK. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH WHEN THE REAR CONVERTIBLE WINDOW BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 18,452.

WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND STAYS ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT GOES OFF AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED EVEN WHEN NO SEATBELTS ARE PUT ON. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V178000, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE SYMPTOMS SEEM SIMILAR.

I TOOK THE TOP DOWN THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME THE REAR RIGHT SIDE WINDOW WENT DOWN BUT WOULD NOT GO UP TRIED TO GET IT FIXED AT THE DEALER THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE MORE THEN $600.00 WENT SOMEWHERE ELSE THEY TOOK IT APART AND IT STARTED WORKING FINE THEN LESS THEN A WEEK LATER IT WAS STUCK DOWN AGAIN AND TWO DAYS LATER WENT UP WITH SOME WORK NOW I DON'T EVEN WANT TO PUT IT DOWN AT ALL! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BETTLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RPMS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

2003 NEW VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER SIDE REAR QUARTER WINDOW. WINDOW FAILS TO FULLY RAISE AND WILL AUTOMATICALLY OPEN WHEN IT REACHES 2/3 RAISED POSITION. FAULTY WINDOW REGULATOR. A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGON BEETLE CONVERTABLE..TRANSMISSION COMPANY STATING I NEED A NEW VALVE BODY..VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. RECEIVED THE EXTENSION LETTER BUT WAS A LITTLE TO LATE. MY YOUNG DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HAS BEEN STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DOEN ABOUT THIS..

I HAD PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED ABOUT MY 2003 BEETLE ON THIS WEBSITE. SOMEHOW MY CAR SEEMS TO HAVE SOMEHOW REPAIRED IT SELF !! IT IS NO LONGER SHIFTING HARD WHEN IT SHIFTS AND ITS NO LONGER LURCHING OR PAUSING AS IT SHIFTS. IM NOT SURE WHY, IM JUST REALLY RELIEVED! *TR

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS MY 2003 VW BEETLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE CHANGING GEARS (IT'S AN AUTOMATIC) AND HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. IT WILL JERK AND LUNGE WHEN SLOWING DOWN. EACH TIME THE MECHANIC HAS "RESET THE CODES" AND THE TEST DRIVE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ANYMORE TROUBLE. IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE AND NOW AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 25 OR 30 MINUTES IT BEGINS THE JERKING AND LUNGING. AFTER RESEARCHING, I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I LOVE MY CAR, BUT NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND I CERTAINLY CANNOT RELY ON IT. I NOW FEEL THAT I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT I CANNOT DRIVE NOR CAN I SELL. *TR

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS. SHE ALSO NOTICED DEBRIS ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WHICH WAS A GREASY SUBSTANCE THAT CAUSED HER EYES TO BURN AND COULD HAVE OBSTRUCTED HER VIEW. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,700. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,100. UPDATED 10/18/11*LJ THE DEALER INDICATED THE DEBRIS WAS A RESULT OF THE A/C UNIT PROTECTION WITH A FOAM SUBSTANCE WHICH WAS PEELING OFF THE A/C UNIT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE MAIN VALVE FOR THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD TO 4TH. HAS EVEN STALLED ON OCCASION. HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION HITS SO HARD IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT WILL FALL OUT OF THE CAR. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING IT DUE TO THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. CAN NOT AFFORD THE 4,000 - 7000 DOLLARS QUOTED TO REPLACE. *TR

SIX MONTHS AGO THE LEFT REAR WINDOW IN MY VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE BROKE, IT WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN. I DO NOT USE THE REAR WINDOWS VERY OFTEN SO I WAS QUITE SURPRISED WHEN THE WINDOW BROKE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER TO GET REPAIRED. IT COST ME NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET. CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE JUST THE WINDOW REPAIRED. I THOUGHT THIS WAS RIDICULOUS FOR JUST ONE SMALL WINDOW. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS VERY VERY UPSET BUT I HAD NO ALTERNATIVE I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. NOW SIX MONTHS LATER THE LEFT REAR WINDOW HAS BROKEN. ONCE AGAIN I DO NOT USE THE REAR WINDOWS VERY OFTEN ESPECIALLY SINCE THE THOUSAND DOLLAR CHARGE THERE IS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO CHANCE THAT HAPPENING. HERE IT IS WINTER TIME SO THERE IS NO REASON TO BE USING THOSE WINDOWS. ANYWAY LAST WEEK I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I HEARD A TERRIBLE POPPING SOUND, ONE WHICH I HAVE HEARD BEFORE AND I THOUGHT OH NO NOT AGAIN. WELL ONCE I GOT TO WORK AND CHECKED SURE AS HECK THE LEFT WINDOW WAS BROKEN. IT IS DOWN ABOUT EIGHT INCHES AND ONE GO UP OR DOWN. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT IT WILL COST ME ANOTHER THOUSAND DOLLARS JUST TO FIX A WINDOW. I DO NOT HAVE A THOUSAND DOLLARS LAYING AROUND TO GET IT REPAIRED. MY PARENTS ALSO OWN A VW BEETLE AND THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL WINDOW PROBLEMS. WE HAVE BOTH DECIDED WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW BECAUSE WE JUST CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR COSTS FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE WRONG WITH THESE CARS. I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH IT COSTS FOR REPAIRS. I KEEP CHECKING ON THE RECALL LIST PRAYING THAT I MAY GET SOME HELP BUT AS OF YET THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ASSISTANCE. CAN VW EXPLAIN WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THESE WINDOWS??? THANK YOU VERY MUCH. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT AS OF 1/1/11, THESE WERE RECALLED FOR 2004-2006 BEETLES AND 2003-2005 BEETLE CONVERTIBLES. NO RECALLS YET FOR 2003 BEETLES, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEMS THAT ARE YET TO BE FIXED BY VW!!! SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE JUST DELAYING THE RECALL UNTIL THEY RECEIVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS/INJURIES. 2 RECALLS OF A FRONTAL SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE IN 4/2008 & A PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (POD) DEALER REPROGRAM REPAIR IN 12/2004 BUT AGAIN NOTHING FOR 2003 MODELS EVEN THOUGH IT STARTED IN LATE 2003. *TR

THE ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN THIRD GEAR WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO RESET. THIS IS A PERILOUS MANEUVER, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE MANY OPTIONS. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME PROBLEMS SHIFTING BOTH UP AND DOWN. THE UPSHIFTS ARE PROBLEMATIC IN THAT THE CAR CAN SUDDENLY LURCH FORWARD WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGES. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CAR WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND. THE RPMS WILL GO TO @5000, THEN THE SHIFT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO SQUEAL TIRES AND LURCH FORWARD.

2003 TDI BEETLE (AUTO) JERKS ABRUPTLY WHEN UPSHIFTING. THE CAR ALMOST STALLS IN FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC, CREATING A LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION. DEALER SERVICE DEPT. STATES A TEMPERATURE SENSOR FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID IS NOT FUNCTIONING, AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD FAIL AS IT THREATENS LIVES, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY VW. *TR

2003 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WINDOW REGULATORS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ONE EVENING THE CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEARS ON HIGHWAY, THUS LIMITING THE SPEED TO LESS THAN 35 MILES PER HOUR IN A POSTED ZONE OF 55 MPH. THIRD -SIXTH GEARS FAILED.

VW BEETLE 2003, 61,000 MILES, I NOTICED IT SHIFTED HARD SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED IT THIS PAST APRIL; JERKS WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND, SECOND AND THIRD, ETC; WENT TO VW AFTER I RECEIVED THE WARRANTY EXTENSION - TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY LETTER (RECEIVED IN DECEMBER 2010, BUT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO COVER THE COST BECAUSE THE EXTENSION IS TO COVER 7 YEARS, AND MY CAR IS 6 MONTHS TOO OLD; THEY'VE ADMITTED THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT. *TR

AFTER WARMING UP, THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION JERKS VERY BADLY, AND RUNS WILDLY BEFORE SHIFTING. THE MILEAGE IS JUST 75K. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE HARD SHIFT. MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. VW MUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS HORRIBLE DEFECT. *TR

VOLKSWAGEN, 2003 NEW BEETLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR

DEFECTIVE VALVE BODY FOR 09G ENGINE THAT VW CORPORATE HAS KNOWN ABOUT AND FIXED IN LATER MODELS. *TR

I OWN A 2003 VW BEETLE, THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAS WIRES CONNECTED TO IT, THIS WIRES SNAPPED ON THEIR OWN. MY AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON, FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS I HAD THIS LIGHT ON IN MY CAR. THROUGH RESEARCH IN THE INTERNET, I FOUND OUT THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, LOTS OF BEETLE OWNERS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED VW AND THEY REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. INFORMATION PROVIDED INDICATES THAT WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *TR

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.......

VEHICLE WOULD LURCH WHEN DOWN OR UPSHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD AND 3RD TO 4TH AT JUST OVER 90,000 MILES. IT WOULD ALSO STICK IN NEUTRAL FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL SHOP FOR REPAIR IN DECEMBER 2010. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY CAUSING A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS. WHILE THE OUR BUG WAS IN THE SHOP WE RECEIVED A LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 2010 FROM VW ABOUT EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES OR 7 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. OUR BUG WAS PURCHASED AUGUST 2003 PUTTING IT OUT OF WARRANTY. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS VW SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING A GENERAL SERVICE RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION LONG BEFORE NOVEMBER 2010..

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

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

GENERATOR PULLEY FAILURE. *TR

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IN 2003. A FEW YEARS AGO, I REPORTED A NUMBER OF INSTANCES OF A LURCHING PROBLEM TO MY SERVICE GUY AT THE VW DEALERSHIP, AND HE SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK FULL FORCE, AND HE SAID EVENTUALLY I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS BEGUN LURCHING AND SHUDDERING VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING, AND TODAY, MY RPM'S WERE HIGHLY ELEVATED, DESPITE MY LOW SPEED. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF, DESPITE BEING ON THE 101 FREEWAY IN LA. IT COULDN'T DRIVE. IT STARTED UP AGAIN, AND THIS EVENING THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I'M AFRAID TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE MY CAR. IT'S SEVEN YEARS OLD AND IT ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. THERE'S NO REASON FOR THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM TO OCCUR, AND THERE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE A RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR

TURNED ON MY CAR AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF ON THE DASH BOARD PANEL. *TR

I TOO HAVE FALLEN VICTIM OF THE LATEST TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAVE A 2003 VW BEETLE WITH 90,000 MILES IN IMMACULATE CONDITION AND EXPERIENCED JERKINESS IN THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL. WHEN I WOULD PRESS ON MY BRAKES I NOTICED THAT AS MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS TRYING TO SHIFT ITSELF DOWN, IT BEGIN TO JERK AS IT WAS SHIFTING DOWN. I MADE SURE I MAINTAINED THIS CAR AND WAS TOLD ALL WAS WELL. THEN ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE FREEWAY AND AS I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL IT WOULDN'T GO ANY MORE. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT IT OFF. WHEN I STARTED UP THE CAR AGAIN I PUT IT IN D (DRIVE) IT WOULD JERK FORWARD AND TURN ITSELF OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS STUCK IN 4TH GEAR. WHEN THE MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT I WAS TOLD THERE WERE LOTS OF METAL PIECES IN THE OIL AS IF POSSIBLY SOMETHING BROKE INSIDE. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN????????? MY WARRANTY WILL ONLY PAY $2,000. 00 AND THE COST IS APPROX. $6,000.00 TO REPAIR. WHY DO I HAVE TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE? I KNOW IT'S MINE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. *TR

2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHOWING SIGNS OF TROUBLE WELL OVER A YEAR AGO. PROBLEM STARTS AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. DOWNSHIFTS HARD AROUND 30-25 MPH. ALSO SHOWS HESITATION COMING OUT OF 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. CAR HAS 75,000 MILES. HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED/FLUSHED TWICE IN PAST 6 MONTHS HOPING THAT WOULD HELP. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TODAY, QUOTED ME $1900 TO REPLACE VALVE BODY. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THIS CAR HAS HAD THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR GO OUT -COST $300 TO REPAIR. THE GLUE AFFIXING THE REAR GLASS WINDOW TO CONVERTIBLE TOP IS BREAKING DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF MALFUNCTION WITH THE GAS CAP...NO MATTER HOW OFTEN I TIGHTEN IT. THEN IT MYSTERIOUSLY GOES OFF. OH, AND SHOULD YOU EVER NEED A REPLACEMENT KEY, GOOD LUCK. WHY COULDN'T VW USE NORMAL SIZED/TYPE KEYS? VW IS MAKING CRAPPY PRODUCTS. NHTSA PLEASE DO SOMETHING. THIS MANUFACTURER SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO RELEASE ANOTHER VEHICLE OFF ITS ASSEMBLY LINE UNLESS IT FIXES THE MANY PROBLEMS AFFECTING INNOCENT, UNFORTUNATE VW OWNERS LIKE MYSELF. YIELD YOUR POWER AND ENFORCE SOME ACTION. VW NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JUNK THEY PRODUCE. MAYBE THEN THEY'LL THINK TWICE BEFORE TURNING OUT ANYMORE CRAPPY PRODUCTS. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER VW PRODUCT. *TR

I BOUGHT A USED 2003 VW BEETLE CONV. IN 2006. I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT IT THERE WAS SOME JERKING HAPPENING WHEN THE CAR CHANGED GEARS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR VW. RECENTLY THE JERKING GOT REALLY BAD, AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND THEN I COULD NOT REGAIN ANY SPEED. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO BEING HIT BY AN ONCOMING CAR. THE REPLACEMENT COST WILL BE AROUND 5800. MY MECHANIC TALKED TO VW AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FIXED IT IN THE NEWER MODELS. *TR

THE CAR HAS A TRANSMISSION THAT IS NEEDING REPLACING AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES. *TR

BEGINNING AROUND SEPTEMBER 2010, MY 2003 VW NEW BEETLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING HARD SHIFTING AND ENGINE REVVING DURING NORMAL DRIVING. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, AND FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, THE CAR IDLES AT VERY HIGH RPMS WHILE FAILING TO ACTUALLY SHIFT FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN SHIFTS VERY HARD INTO GEAR FORCING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN, JERK AND BUCK. VW DID ISSUE A WARRANTY EXTENSION SOME TIME AGO BUT THE EXTENSION WAS ONLY TO 100,000 MILES AND AT THE TIME, MY CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 104,000 MILES ON IT AND VW WOULDN'T DO THE WORK - WHICH INVOLVES REPLACING A FAULTY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. SINCE THAT TIME, THE RPMS HAVE GOTTEN STUCK IDLING ALMOST TO RED ZONE LEVELS WHILE I'M DRIVING, THOUGH THE CAR IS NOT ACTUALLY ACCELERATING. IT'S AS IF THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL WITH THE FOOT ON THE GAS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES AND IS REMEDIED IF I PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF, THEN RESTART IT. IN ADDITION, WHEN DOWNSHIFTING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY OR UPSHIFTING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, OR SIMPLY WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO SKIP A GEAR OR SHIFT SO HARD IT JERKS AND BUCKS AND REVS VERY HIGH UNTIL THE GEAR ENGAGES (LIKE IT DOES WHEN A KID IS LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT, ONLY IT'S AN AUTOMATIC). THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR AND HAS CONTINUALLY WORSENED. I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACTUAL ACCIDENT BUT BELIEVE IT IS IMMINENT IF THE CONDITION KEEPS GETTING WORSE. *TR

2003 VW BUG STALLS WHEN HITTING AROUND 35 MILES PER HOUR, ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED - TAKES A WHILE TO START BACK MOVING BUT IS SLUGGISH. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. I ONLY HAVE 80,000 MILES ON THIS CAR - HOW COULD THIS BE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

NEAR COLLISION CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SOLENOID VALVE BODY PRODUCED AND INSTALLED ON THE VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE AND CABRIO CONVERTIBLE MODELS. THE TRANSMISSION IS A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TIP-TRONIC SHIFT STYLE SPECIFICALLY USED BETWEEN 2001 - 2004 MODEL YEARS. THE DEFECTIVE PART CAUSES A SUDDEN JUMP OR JERKING MOTION BETWEEN GEAR SHIFTING. IN OUR INSTANCE THE CAR JERKED AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A VEHICLE COLLISION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ON ONE OCCASION. FURTHER RESEARCH DISCOVERED THAT VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART AND THAT IT HAS CAUSED OR BEEN THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THESE VEHICLES AS WELL AS NUMEROUS AND CONSTANT COMPLAINTS TO VW DEALERS AND ON LINE COMPLAINT FORUMS. A REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE DESIGNED INTERNAL SOLENOID VALVE BODY IS NEEDED TO AVOID FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSIONS AND MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY AN ISSUE FOR LESSER EXPERIENCED DRIVERS AND WHEN HE VEHICLES ARE ENGAGED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. *TR

I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY 2003 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE FOR 7.5 YRS. BEEN TAKING IT IN FOR THE LAST 2 YRS ABOUT HESITATION/GRABBING WHILE DRIVING. WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THIS WEEK, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND I GET THE DIAGNOSTICS RUN AND FOUND OUT I HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE, WHICH IS WHAT THE GRABBING AND HESITATION IS. I ONLY HAVE 78K MILES ON A NEARLY 8 YEAR OLD CAR (AGAIN, ONLY OWNER) AND SHOULDN'T HAVE THIS ISSUE. FOUND OUT THAT VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THESE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION BUT WAITED UNTIL I WAS WELL OUT OF WARRANTY. NOW I'M LOOKING AT MINIMUM OF $5K, MOST LIKELY $6.5K IN REPAIRS. *TR

OVERHEAT LIGHT REMAINS ON AFTER REPLACING THERMOSTAT AND COVER AND TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP. THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED MULTIPLE TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE VW DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM ON 8/25/10 AFTER OVERHEATING LIGHT. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE COOLANT SENSOR MY PREVIOUS MECHANIC HAD REPLACED IN THE CAR. (A VW FACTORY PART). $244.00 REPAIR FROM COOLEY-MAZDA VW DEALER. I DROVE HOME 10 MILES AND THE OVERHEAT SENSOR WAS ON IN MY CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO DEALER AT MY EXPENSE THAT DAY. RENTED A CAR FOR THE WEEKEND. RETURNED ON MONDAY 8/30/10. CAR WASN'T WORKED ON. PICKED UP CAR ON WEDNESDAY, 9/1/10. PAID ADDITIONAL 170.00 FOR REPAIR, OF THERMOSTAT COVER WHICH WAS SAID TO BE LEAKING. DEALER HAD SAID THERE WERE NO LEAKS PRIOR TO THIS. SYSTEM FLUSHED. SAID THERE WAS AIR IN THE SYSTEM. CAR OVERHEAT SENSOR AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES. CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALER. CAR WAS PICKED UP ON 9/3/10. DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT GET THE OVERHEAT LIGHT TO GO ON. I DROVE CAR HOME 15 MILES. OVERHEAT LIGHT ON. I CALLED DEALER. SERVICE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE INCREASED CITY DRIVING I WAS DOING WAS CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT. INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT AND THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HE INFORMED ME THAT SINCE I SAID OKAY AT THE SHOP WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SENSOR WAS NOT GOING ON AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THAT I KNEW THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THAT IS MY FAULT AND MY PRIOR MECHANICS. I HAD CAR TOWED TO A RECOMMENDED INDEPENDENT SHOP WHO WAS GOING TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION. I CAN NOT DRIVE MY CAR AND I STILL OWE MONEY ON IT. I DESPERATELY NEED A VEHICLE TO DRIVE. *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 2.8 TURBO AUTOMATIC ENGINE, DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM OR DOOR LATCH. THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH THE DOOR STICKING WHEN YOU OPEN R CLOSE. THEN OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT SHUT THE FIRST TIME AND WILL BOUNCE BACK. AFTER THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENS, IF YOU ARE DRIVING THE DOOR CAN SWING OPEN ON ITS OWN. THE DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED, OR WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. VERY QUICKLY THE PROBLEM ESCALATES. IT WILL NOT SHUT AT ALL. IT BOUNCES BACK OVER AND OVER. IF YOU LEAVE IT ALONE FOR A FEW HOURS AND TRY AGAIN IT WILL EVENTUALLY SHUT. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BROKE FIRST, GOT FIXED, COST ABOUT $500.00. A MONTH LATER THE PASSENGER DOOR DID THE SAME THING. LESS THEN A YEAR LATER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BROKE AGAIN. 3 OF THE SAME PART BROKE IN A SPAN OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MONTHS. CALLED THE COMPANY (VOLKSWAGEN) THEY INSIST THAT THIS IS NOT RECALLED OR A REPORTED PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

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

2003 NEW VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.... LOOK ON THE VW FORUMS AND EDMUNDS- THERE ARE 100S OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS CARS ISSUES. I HAVE A 2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND IT HARD SHIFTS DOWNWARDS FROM 3RD TO 2ND. I AM TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR OFF THE RECORD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH BEETLES IN GENERAL, AND HE HAS SEEN OVER 100 IN HIS ONE YEAR WITH THE COMPANY THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. MINE HAS WHAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED- BRACKETS AROUND ALL THE DRIVES (P,R,N,D,S) SO THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR IT IS IN, IT GETS STUCK IN 3RD SOMETIMES AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT, AND WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTS, THE CAR JERKS AND PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD (THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC, AND DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY). PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RECALL....PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND WE AS CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW TRANSMISSIONS WHEN THERE IS OBVIOUS FAULTS WITH THESE CARS. *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TRANSMISSION. THE COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BEETLE IS WAY OUT OF LINE. AN VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WITH ALL THE OTHER HARD WORKING PEOPLE THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PART TO BREAK. PLEASE LOOK AT THIS AND DO SOMETHING. *TR

AS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE BEGAN TO BANG VERY HARD WHEN SHIFTING AND LOCKED UP PERIODICALLY IN THIRD GEAR. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP IN THIRD GEAR WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE CAR WAS VERY SLOW TO MOVE. THIS LEFT ME NEARLY STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF MAJOR BUSY INTERSECTIONS SEVERAL TIMES. I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CARS WHIZZING PAST. THIS DEFECT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS A KNOWN FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THROUGH SEVERAL YEAR MODELS. IT COST ME OVER $3000 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FIXED. VW IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTROL VALVE IN THIS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION AND HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY, BUT HAS LEFT OUT CARS SOLD AT THE TIME MINE WAS. *TR

MY CAR (2003 VOLKSWAGEN CONVERTIBLE BEETLE AUTOMATIC) JERKS SO HARD DANGEROUSLY. I FOUND SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS ONLINE. FORTUNATELY I HAVEN'T HURT ANYONE YET. PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE I DO! *TR

2003 VW BEETLE REAR WINDOW ISSUES. 3 TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED WHERE THE REAR WINDOW WONT ROLL UP. 3 TIMES VW DEALERSHIP CHARGED US CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX BECAUSE OF THERE DESIGN FLAW. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM ITS TIME TO INVESTIGATE...PLEASE! I HAVE PUT THE LATEST DATE THIS OCCURRED, BUT AS I SAY THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. *TR

TRANSMISSION BAD. *TR