2003 Volkswagen Beetle Complaint Log

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

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

MY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY IS FAULTY, BUT VW'S EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY COVERS VEHICLES AFTER 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. MY CAR WAS JUST 4 MONTHS TOO OLD TO QUALIFY AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE ANYTHING, DESPITE IT BEING A MAJOR ISSUE AFFECTING DRIVE PERFORMANCE. OTHER CARS IN MY SAME MODEL YEAR QUALIFIED, BUT MINE DID NOT. HOW IS THIS FAIR? *TR

MY 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS APPROX 89K MILES ON IT. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD CAUSING A JERKING MOTION. IT HAS PROGRESSED FROM A MILDLY NOTICEABLE TO A MORE OBVIOUS JERKING UPON SHIFTING. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SITUATION ONLINE, IT SEEMS AS IF IT IS A WIDELY REPORTED COMPLAINT ABOUT THESE VEHICLES. I FEEL LIKE VW SHOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BEING EXPERIENCED BY SUCH A HIGH NUMBER OF OWNERS. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATORS CONTINUALLY BREAK. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN GOING ON WITH YOUR AGENCY TO GET THIS ITEM COVERED AS A RECALL BY VOLKSWAGEN. THE ITEM OR COMPLAINT NUMBER THAT WAS GIVEN ME IS 10282664. THESE WINDOW REGULATORS ARE OF A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY VW. I DON'T FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD PROSPER BY SELLING THE REGULATOR KITS THAT ARE NECESSARY DUE TO THEIR FAULTY DESIGN. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME THAT I AM REPLACING THESE ITEMS IN A 7 YEAR OLD CAR. *TR

ELECTRICAL FIRE IN FUSEBOX OF 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DISABLED VEHICLE AND MELTED FUSE HOUSING AND COVER. *TR

THE CAR SURGES WHEN SHIFTING CAUSING THE WHEELS TO SPIN OUT ON WET SURFACES. *TR

2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. REAR WINDOWS REGULATOR/MOTORS BROKE. VW ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FRONT WINDOWS (7 YEARS) REAR WINDOWS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER WANTS $700.00 PER SIDE TO FIX. WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN ON COMMAND. OFTEN FALL ON THEIR OWN AFTER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR

VW BUG 2003, 87,000 MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ROUGH. DEALER SAID WE NEEDED TO HAVE THE "VALVE BODY" CHECKED ($1413). IF THIS WASN'T THE PROBLEM WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ($5761). I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT COSTS SO MUCH BEFORE WE EVEN KNOW IF THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD, OR WHY THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING ON SUCH A RELATIVELY YOUNG CAR. *TR

REAR WINDOW WILL NOT COME UP. OTHER REAR WINDOW IS LOCKED IN UP POSITION AS IT BROKE 8 MO. AGO. THERE SEEMS TO BE ALOT OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE NEW BEATLE ALL YEARS. TIME FOR A RECALL? *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN MY CAR SEEMED TO HAVE LOST TRACTION ON THE ROAD AND I LOST CONTROL BUT DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. THE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE A WITH THE CIRCLE AROUND IT. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND I WAS INFORMED THAT MY ABS CONTROL UNIT WAS COMPLETELY FRIED. SO NOW I HAVE TO PAY ALMOST $2000 TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC WAS "HARD SHIFTING" AFTER WARMING UP FOR 15-20 MINUTES FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, AND DOWN FROM 4TH ALL THE WAY TO 1ST. THIS ISSUE STARTED AFTER 75,000 MILES. FIX = REPLACE VALVE BODY...AROUND $2000. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE, AND THAT VW HAS ADDRESSED THIS DEFECT IN NEWER MODELS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IF IT IS A KNOWN, COMMON, AND FIXED PROBLEM BY VW. *TR

I HAVE VW 03' BEETLE AND TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT EARLY. JERKS BETWEEN GEARS, AND FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON ROAD. *TR

VW BEETLE 2003, 98,000 MILES, STARTED SHIFTING HARD ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO; JERKS WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND, SECOND AND THIRD, AND 4TH TO 3RD TO 2ND TO 1ST; CALLED VW AFTER I RECEIVED THE WARRANTY EXTENSION - TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY LETTER (DEC 11, 2010) BUT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO COVER THE COST (5 MONTHS TOO OLD); THEY'VE ADMITTED THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT. *TR

2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, REAR WINDOW SEPARATION FROM CONVERTIBLE TOP. FAILURE OF ADHESIVE. NO REPAIR CAN BE MADE BY THE DEALER, ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TOP! EXPENSIVE REPAIR! *TR

I OWN A 2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, PURCHASED NEW. ONLY 42,000 MILES ON IT. THE FRONT MOTOR AND MODULE WENT OUR FEW DAYS AGO AND HAD REPLACED. NOW THE REAR REGULATOR IS BAD O THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE READ OF A WHOLE LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, WHY NO RECALL, OTHER MODEL YEARS HAVE BEEN, ALSO THE COIL PACK IS BAD AND HAS BEEN RECALL ON OTHER YEARS. WHY DON'T INCLUDE THE 2003 MODEL? THANKS *TR

ODI NUMBER: 10282664 HELLO, I HAVE A 2003 VW NEW BEETLE TURBO CONVERTIBLE WITH ONLY 26,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 5-6 REPAIRS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. I'M THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR AND PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2008 AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS UP. LIKE MANY, I HAVE HAD TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THE LAST REPAIR TO REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS OVER $1,000 DOLLARS AND NO THE OTHER SIDE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 6SP. TIPRTONIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED AT 78,500 MILES. I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND ONTO THE ROAD AND THE CAR ACCELERATED LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED, SHIFTER THROUGH FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD, THEN NEVER SHIFTED TO FOURTH JUST REVVED. WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED AND QUOTED $4,800 BY MECHANIC. HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ABOUT THIS TOPIC SINCE AND HAVE DISCOVERED SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE SAME SITUATION. I FEEL VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD AT LEAST HELP US OUT. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN ON MAY 12TH AND WAS TOLD BASICALLY THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE SEEN ON DISCUSSION FORUMS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION, I FEEL A RECALL MAY BE IN ORDER TO FORCE VOLKSWAGEN TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE. THANKS YOU FOR TIME AND CONSIDERATION ON THIS MATTER. *TR

WHILE THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS BEING LOWERED BY THE 20 YEAR OLD FEMALE DRIVER IT MADE A HORRENDOUS GRINDING NOISE WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO NEARLY LOSE CONTROL AS SHE TRIED TO STOP QUICKLY. SHE FEARED SOMETHING IN THE REAR WHEEL WAS BREAKING. A SHORT TIME LATER THE PASENGER SIDE WINDOW GROUND TO A STATE OF DISREPAIR. NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW NEEDS TO BE LOWERED VERY CAREFULLY TO AVOID ENGAGING THE AUTOMATIC FEATURE AS THIS CAUSES THE WINDOW TO MAKE A TERRIBLE NOISE. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO STOP THE WINDOW JUST BEFORE IT REACHES THE FULLY OPEN POSITION. THE REAR WINDOWS HAVE TO BE MANUALLY POSITIONED JUST RIGHT TO ALLOW THE CONVERTIBLE TOP TO BE LOWERED PROPERLY. ALSO, WHEN SMALL CHILDREN ARE IN THE BACK SEAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO CAUSE THE WINDOWS TO FALL DOWN ALL THE WAY SUBJECTING THEM TO EJECTION OR THE ABILITY TO FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON THEIR OWN. WHEN IT IS RAINING OR SNOWING THE ELEMENTS FLY IN THROUGHT THE WINDOWS BECAUSE THEY WON'T STAY UP. THIS IS ALSO VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. REPAIR ESTIMATES FOR THE REAR WINDOWS START AT $1500.00 WHICH THIS PARTICULAR OWNER/DRIVER CANNOT BEGIN TO AFFORD!. VW REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERVIBLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN 2003 VW BEETLE. WHILE BRAKING CAR JERKS AND JUMPS. CAR HAS 56K MILES AND HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY SERVICED BY VW. VW STATES CAR NEEDS NEW VALVE BODY AND TIPTRONIX SWITCH TOTALING $2500+ . *TR

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT THIRD GEAR, TRIPTRONTIC AUTOMATIC, LEAK IN TRUNK, TOP WILL NOT GO UP. *TR

2003 VW BEETLE, TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE ...ORIGINAL OWNER, REGULAR SERVICING,COMPLETED. AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED SPORT SHIFT. RUNS FINE WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. DRIVE 10 MILES OR SO AN THE CAR STARTS TO JERK AND FAILS TO SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR. YESTERDAY GOT STUCK IN 3RD GEAR WHILE ON HWY, CREATED A DANGER FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. TOOK IT TO A TRANY PLACE, NOT THE TRANSMISSION, BUT SUGGESTS IT IS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN THE CAR FAILS TO SHIFT THE RPMS GO TO 5K OR 6K THEN THE CAR JERKS AND TIRES SCREECH, I CALLED VW AND THE PARTS GUY SAID THAT A NEW TRANY RUNS7 K OR SO AND HE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS I DESCRIBED IT ABOVE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 CONV/NEW BEETLE 1.8T ENGINE 69,200 MI. IT'S HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES, GARAGED KEPT AND LOW MILEAGE LESS THAN 10,000 MIL PER YR. PER THE VW SERVICE DEPT IT HAS SLUDGE BUILD UP. TO MY UNDERSTANDING OTHER 2003 NEW BEETLE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. VERY COSTLY TO FIX. PER VW IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *TR

THE ALTERNATOR HARNESS HAS BURNT UP TWICE IN LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT MELTED EVERYTHING AND THEY REPLACED IT AND NOW IT HAS DONE IT AGAIN. IT HAS STRANDED ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS ON 2001 TO 2004 MODELS BUT THEN VW CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS NO. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL DO IT AGAIN AND THAT A FIRE WILL BE NEXT. *TR

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

TRANSMISSION ON THE VW NEW BEETLES ARE FAULTY. CARS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 45,000 MILES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION GOES. THIS HAS BEEN A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ON WEBSITE FORUMS LIKE NEWBETTLE.ORG AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

1) PUT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DOWN 2) REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WENT 1/2 WAY UP AND ALL THE WAY DOWN THREE TIMES AND THEN A GRINDING NOISE AND WINDOW WOULD NOT COME BACK UP AGAIN 3) TOOK TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS, REPAIR TO COST ABOUT $1000.00 AWAITING PARTS. *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. CAR ONLY HAS 74K MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BADLY. WHEN DOWNSHIFTING IT SHIFTS REALLY HARD AND LUNGES FORWARD. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN UPSHIFTING IN THE AUTO TRANS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE NEW BEETLES. THE ONLY FIX IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH COST ABOUT 6,000. THERE IS NO REASON FOR A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 74K MILES. *TR

THE EPC LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME, EVEN AFTER BEING FIXED. THE WINDOW REGULATORS BREAK. THE BATTERY HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE CV BOOT BROKE. *TR

2003 VW NEW BEETLE HAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION WHICH IS PRESENTING A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. CAR DOES NOT SHIFT RIGHT, HARD SHIFTS, BUCKING, ETC. AND NOW STALLING, PROBABLY A TOTALLY FAILED TRANSMISSION FOR WHICH VW IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS A TRANSMISSION FLAW WHICH RESULTS IN JERKY SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR CAUSING WHIPLASH TO THE DRIVER AS WELL AS A HESITATION (AND HIGH ENGINE REVVING) SHIFTING INTO 5TH GEAR. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH SOME KIND OF SHIFTING CONTROL PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION WORKS FINE WHEN IT IS COOL (FIRST START DRIVING) BUT GETS WORSE AS THE CAR WARMS UP. AFTER 15 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING IS VERY JERKY AND UNSETTLING. THERE IS A HESITATION AND THEN A VERY HARD CLANKING SOUND WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. HIGHWAY DRIVING IS VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO HESITATION BETWEEN GEARS 4 AND 5 AT AROUND 60 MILES PER HOUR. CITY STREET DRIVING IS DANGEROUS DUE TO THE JERKY SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AT AROUND 20 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS HAPPENING 1 DAY AFTER HAVING THE CAR IN THE VW SHOP FOR 4 DAYS HAVING THE TIPTRONIC GEAR SHIFT CONTROL MODULE REPLACED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO A LESSER DEGREE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE CAR HAS HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED 4 TIMES IN 5 YEARS TO ADDRESS THE ROUGH SHIFTING CONDITION. THE VW DEALERS\SERVICE PEOPLE REPORT THE TRANSMISSION IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOT DESIGNED TO JERK ROUGHLY BETWEEN GEARS NOR TO HESITATE BETWEEN UPPER GEARS. ANY HESITATION AT 55 TO 60 MPHS SHIFTING FROM 4TH TO 5TH GEAR (SIMILAR TO PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH BUT NOT SHIFTING GEARS IN A MANUAL TRANNY) CAN RESULT IN SOMEONE RUNNING INTO TEH REAR END OF THE CAR. IN A SMALL VEHICLE LIKE THE BEETLE, A REAR END COLLISION AT 60 MPH CAN RESULT IS FLIPPING THE CAR AND DEATHS. PLEASE TAKE ACTION AGAINST VW AMERICA TO ADDRESS AND RESOLVE THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. THANK YOU. *TW

I OWN A 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, 4 CYL, 6 SP AUTO. IT HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, IT'S STARTED JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FIND I'M NOT ALONE. THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF OTHERS IN THE SAME POSITION. ACCORDING TO VW, THE TRANSMISSION IS $6,800. WOW - I KNOW! YOU HAVE TO USE THE DEALER BECAUSE THE PARTS AREN'T AVAILABLE TO THE AFTER MARKET. IN ANY EVENT, THE CAR HESITATES WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO PULL OUT, JERKS WHEN YOU STOP. I'VE NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL REAR END COLLISIONS AS WELL AS SAID SEVERAL PRAYERS WHEN IT DIDN'T ACCELERATE AS QUICKLY AS IT SHOULD HAVE. I'M NOT A MECHANIC, BUT I'M NOT STUPID EITHER. THE TRANSMISSION IS FINE UNTIL THE ENGINE IS WARM. I CAN SHIFT GEARS WITH NO PROBLEM USING THE TIPTRONIC PART OF THE SYSTEM - BUT OTHERS HAVE SAID THIS ONLY WORKS FOR A SHORT PERIOD. THERE ARE NO METAL SOUNDS WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHIFTING. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. VW REFUSES TO PUT THE TIME AND EFFORT INTO DETERMINING WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS. THEY JUST REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS AND POCKET $6,800. BY THE WAY, THE BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE CAR IS $6,800. IRONIC, I KNOW. I'VE READ POST AFTER POST FROM PEOPLE WHO HAD THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY VW ONLY TO FIND THE PROBLEMS PERSIST. I UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T WANT TO FIND THE ISSUE, BUT I REALLY LOVE MY CAR AND WANT IT FIXED. CORRECTLY. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE VW TO DO THE RIGHT THING, FIND THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER IS APPRECIATED. *TR

PURCHASED 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IN JUNE 2003. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAD APPROX. 69 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THE CAR NOW HAS 39,038 MILES AS OF THIS WRITING. WITHIN THE LAST MONTH (WHEN THE CAR TURNED OVER TO 39,000), I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MAJOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, ACCELERATING, THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR. INSTEAD, THE TRANSMISSION GRINDS & THEN JUMPS (LURCHES) FORWARD, CAUSING THE TIRES TO SCREECH. WHEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD, THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES WHEN IT JUMPED SO AS TO ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT & SEEMS TO OCCUR ONCE I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR FOR 10 MILES OR MORE. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM, & I CANNOT PREDICT WHEN OR WHERE IT WILL HAPPEN. I WOULD SAY THAT IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. I HAVE READ ON LINE THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR OF CAR HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE HAVE INDICATED THAT AN ACCIDENT WAS BARELY AVOIDED - - SAME SCENARIO THAT I AM COMPLAINING OF IN THIS COMPLAINT. MY QUESTION - WHY IS VOLKSWAGEN NOT RECALLING THIS CAR FOR THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED BY THIS UNEXPECTED LURCHING PROBLEM. LIKE THE TOYOTA ACCELERATOR PROBLEM OF RECENT WEEKS, INJURIES COULD BE PREVENTED IF THE CAR MANUFACTURER WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD TO REPAIR MY CAR & HAVE AN AD ON CRAIGS LIST FULLY DISCLOSING THE PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING. HOPEFULLY, I WILL BE ABLE TO SELL THE CAR TO SOMEONE WHO CAN AFFORD THE $4,000+ REPAIR TO REPLACE/REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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

THE TRANSMISSION BANG INTO GEAR SOMETIME AND GETS STUCK IN GEAR BETWEEN 3TH AND 4TH. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT GOING TO HAPPEN, WHEN ACCELERATING ON TO THE INTERSTATE IT CAN BE DANGEROUS.*TR

MY 2003 WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND CERTIFIED MECHANICS. I ONLY HAVE 75,000 MILES ON MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. I HAVE SINCE FOUND MANY OF THE SAME YEAR CAR WITH THE IDENTICAL COMPLAINT OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. *TR

NORMAL DRIVING WITH RECOMMENDED SERVICE INTERVALS. TRANSMISSION STARTS HARD DOWNSHIFTS. TRANSMISSION WILL ALSO WIND OUT AND SLIP OR WIND OUT AND NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH AND 6TH GEAR. *TR

ROLLED THE BACK WINDOW DOWN ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THEN WHEN I WENT TO ROLL IT BACK UP IT FAILED AND THE WINDOW WENT DOWN ON ITS OWN. WINDOW IS NOW INOPERABLE. WILL HAVE TO REPLACE BACK WINDOW REGULATOR, NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION JERKS IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THIS HAPPENS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND IS VERY DANGEROUS! I HAVE READ FROM OTHER OWNERS THAT THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUES. MY AUTO REPAIR SHOP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING OTHER THAN REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

I PURCHASED MY VW 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE NEW IN 2003. I HAVE KEPT VEHICLE MAINTAINED- MOSTLY AT DEALERSHIP ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE. I HAVE ABOUT 115,000 MILES. OVER THE PAST MONTH IT HAS BEGUN "REVVING UP" OR "JERKING"- ESPECIALLY WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP OR ACCELERATING FROM STOP. THIS HAPPENS VERY SPORADICALLY, BUT IS VERY SCARY WHEN IT OCCURS. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT HAVE AN AMATEUR GUESS THAT IT IS TRANSMISSION RELATED. *TR

CAR JERKING, LURCHING, AND SHIFTING GEARS- TRANSMISSION- AS CAR STARTS AND STOPS IT JERKS REALLY BAD THIS MAKE IT HARD TO STOP THE CAR...VERY SCARED THAT I WILL HAVE AN INCIDENT. *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. 77315 MI. TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY. SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR...BANGS INTO GEAR SHIFTING FROM 3 TO 4. ENGINE REVS WHILE TRANSMISSION TRIES TO "FIND" THE NEXT GEAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS ! PLEASE DON'T WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED BEFORE FORCING VW TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT !! *TR

I STARTED EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION SHIFT PROBLEMS ON MY '03 VW BEETLE TURBO, JUST AROUND ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE FROM A VW DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS PRE-CERTIFIED AT THE TIME, SINCE I COULDN'T AFFORD THE WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALER HAD, I PRESUME, DECLARED IT FREE OF DEFECTS AND PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THE PROBLEM, UPON WHICH I WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $4200. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE GIVEN AS TO THE REASON OR POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THE PROBLEM, IN SPITE OF MY REQUESTS FOR A DESCRIPTION. THE SERVICE ADVISOR JUST STATED "IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED". I HAVE SINCE VISITED ONLINE AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS AND FOUND OUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS AS WELL. I AM CONCERNED NOW THAT EVEN IF I REPLACE IT, THE REPLACEMENT MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IN THE MEAN TIME THE TRANSMISSION UNPREDICTABLY STARTS SLIPPING, OR MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN SLIPPING AND AT OTHER TIMES WON'T EVEN SHIFT FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. *TW

VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS, MAY OTHER INDIVIDUALS ARE COMPLAINING ALSO. VERY UNSAFE AND THE COMPANY DOES NOT SEEM TO BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT. CONSUMERS NEED HELP. *TR

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY 2003 VW BEETLE WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN APRIL OF 2003. I HAVE JUST OVER 60K MILES AND IT APPEARS THAT MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. I HAVE TAKEN IT A REPUTABLE MECHANIC WHO TELLS ME IT COULD BE APPROX $3000 TO FIX IT. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VW'S AND I THINK THAT VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS AND PAY TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. *TR

2003 VW BEETLE, TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR ON UPSHIFT. VW 'REBUILT' THE TRANSMISSION LAST YEAR BUT PROBLEM RETURNED. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH AUTO AND TIPRONIC TRANSMISSION. AT ABOUT 64,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED "SLIPPING". AS IT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY CHANGE TO A HIGHER GEAR THE CHANGE WOULD SLIP AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO REV UP UNTIL IT CHANGED INTO THE NEXT GEAR THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO JUMP OR LURCH. WHEN IN THE TIPTRONIC MANUAL MODE THE GEAR WOULD SLIP ALSO. ALSO WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE IT JUMPS IN REVERSE AND WANTS TO ACCELERATE BACK QUICKLY. A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AND GETTING INTO TRAFFIC THE CAR WOULD TAKE SO LONG TO GET INTO GEAR THAT IT CAUSED TRAFFIC BEHIND TO ALMOST REAR END ME. NO CRASH BUT ALMOST. *TR

THE REAR WINDOWS ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE STOPPED WORKING FOR NO REASON. *TR

2003 VW NEW BEETLE WINDOW REGULATORS BREAK AND MOTORS GO OUT WAYYYY TOO EARLY. THE 2005 AND UP ARE DESIGNED TO POP DOWN WHEN YOU PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE KEYLESS ENTRY BUT ON THE PREVIOUS YEARS, THEY DO NOT. THEREFORE, THIS CAUSES STRESS ON THE WINDOW AND WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY MOST OF THE TIME. ALSO, SINCE THEY DO NOT POP DOWN WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY, WHEN THE TEMP DROPS BELOW FREEZING AND THE CAR IS OUTSIDE, THE WINDOWS FREEZE AND WILL NOT POP DOWN TO CLOSE THE DOOR UNTIL COMPLETELY THAWED OUT. MEANING YOU GET TO SPEND UP TO 45 MINS WITH THE DOOR CRACKED WAITING FOR THE '!@#$% THING TO UNFREEZE ENOUGH TO POP DOWN AND CLOSE. *TR