2004 Volkswagen Beetle Complaint Log

AIR BAG LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF, STARTED AT 33650 MILES, RIGHT AFTER MY MOM SIGNED OVER THE CAR TO ME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WHICH WAS A PART OF THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL SEAT BELT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

AIR BAG LIGHTS ON AND SEEMS THE DEALER CANNOT GET PARTS TO FIX ??

DRIVING MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE IS DANGEROUS. THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION IN THE 2004 VW BEETLE IS KNOWN BY VOLKSWAGEN TO BE DEFECTIVE. AT ANY POINT THE VALVE BODY CAN FAIL, WHICH CAUSES DELAYED SHIFTING, AND HARD JERKING BETWEEN GEARS. MY 2004 BEETLE FAILS TO SHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO COAST FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, SOMETIMES REQUIRING PULLING OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC. WHEN DOWNSHIFTING IT JERKS EXTREMELY HARD. YOU GET IN, START THE ENGINE, AND RECEIVE NO WARNINGS THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NO CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT PROVIDES ANY INDICATION THAT THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS. YOU DRIVE DOWN SOME CITY STREETS AND HOP ONTO THE FREEWAY TO GO TO YOUR FAVORITE GROCERY STORE. AFTER GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY THE CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP, AND AS IT DOWNSHIFTS FROM 4TH TO 3RD GEAR IT LURCHES. IT FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE IS TRYING TO JUMP OUT OF THE CAR! NO ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THEN YOU STOP AT THE END OF THE OFF-RAMP, AND WAIT FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT TO TURN. AFTER TURNING THE CAR SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THEN IT FAILS TO SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. THE GEAR DOESN'T ENGAGE, AND THE CAR COASTS DOWN THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY POWER. DRIVERS PASSING BY ARE STARING. THE SUV BEHIND YOU IS RIGHT ON YOUR BUTT; THEY BEGIN HONKING. THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO. FINALLY, AFTER 20 SECONDS OF COASTING THE CAR ENTERS 3RD GEAR WITH A GIANT LURCH. IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO EXPLODE! YOU PULL INTO THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, HEART RACING, KNOWING THAT THE CAR YOU'RE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD KILL A HALF A DOZEN PEOPLE. AND YOU KNOW TO GET HOME IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM IS REPORTED BY HUNDREDS OF OWNERS. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO RECALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AND PAY DAMAGES FOR THOSE WHOSE TRANSMISSIONS WERE DESTROYED BY THIS DEFECTIVE VALVE BODY AND TRANSMISSION.

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR SHUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY. 2 TIMES NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ONE TIME LIGHT CAME ON. MECHANIC IS NOT SURE WHY. I HAVE READ SEVERAL SIMILAR OCCURANCES ONLINE BY OTHER OWNERS. SOUNDS LIKE A RISK FOR FATALITY TO ME. MY DAUGHTER JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM ANOTHER PARTY.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED, THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING RUBBER AND THE VEHICLE'S RADIO STOPPED WORKING. AS THE CONTACT PROCEEDED DRIVING, SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS BEGAN FLASHING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE FUSE BOX REPLACED, YET THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT HEATER WAS LEFT ON POWER LEVEL 3 WITH A BAG OF CLOTHES IN THE SEAT. AN ODOR WAS DETECTED AND UPON MOVING THE BAG, AN APPROXIMATELY 6' X 10' BURN WAS DISCOVERED ON LOWER PORTION OF THE SEAT BACK.

2004 BEETLE WITH 85,000 MILES HARD SHIFTING DOWN - IT JERKS FROM GEAR TO GEAR UNTIL IT COMES TO FULL STOP. . NOW WHILE UPSHIFTING IT COULDN'T MAKE IT OUT OF 3RD GEAR AND HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED 3 TIMES. CAR JERKS ,SHUDDERS, LURCHES . TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT WITH LOW MILEAGE VW BEETLES

I BOUGHT MY VW BEETLE 2004 USED 3 MONTHS AGO. (EPC LIGHT ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON) SINCE THEN IVE HAD TO FIX THE TIMING BELT, COOLING, AND HOSES BECAUSE OF BACKFIRE. I GOT NOTIFIED THAT THERE IS A RECALL IN MY CAR, YET WENT TYPING THE VIN # IT SAYS IT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN FOUND FOR MY CAR. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW THE REPAIRS AND COSTS. I'M WONDERING WHO DO I CONTACT TO DETERMINATE IF MY CAR DOES HAVE A REAL OR NOT.

I BOUGHT THE NEW BEETLE NOT EVEN A MONTH AND I NOTICED A JERKING IN THE TRANSMISSION. I FOUND OUT USING SPECIALIZED WEBSITES FOR ENTHUSIASTS THAT VOLKSWAGEN ISSUE LETTERS TO OWNERS OF NEW BEETLES IN 2010 INFORMING THAT TONS OF OWNERS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HARD SHIFT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OFTHEIR NEW BEETLE. VOKSWAGEN OFFERED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. THE MODELS AFFECTED SPANS FROM 2003 TO 2008. IN OTHER WORDS, VOLKS SOLD FAULTY CARS WITHING THIS TIME RANGE AND ONLY RECOGNIZED LATER IN 2010 ABOUT THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE VALVE BODY FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION IS ACROSS THE BOARD AND A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE RANGE OF 2003-2008. THE COMPONENT WAS DESIGNED TO FAIL BY DESIGN. NOT EVEN THE REPLACEMENT WOULD FIX IT BECAUSE IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. IMAGINE THE DANGER WHEN THERE IS A HARD-SHIFT AND THE CAR STARTS TO JERK AND CHANGING GEARS ERRATICALLY ? IMAGINE THIS HAPPENING ON I95 OR ANY OTHER HIGHWAY. VW JUST EXTENDED THE WARRANTY BUT A RECALL IS NEEDED HERE. I CALLED VW AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT SAYING IT IS AN OLD CAR AND WARRANTY IS EXPIRED, BUT THE TRUTH IS SINCE 2003 THE HARD SHIFT CONDITION EXISTED. IT TAKES TIME FOR THE VALVE BODY TO FAIL BUT IT WILL FAIL. I HAVE OTHER CARS, BUT WHEN I NOTICED THE JERK I INVESTIGATED. I ATTACHED THE LETTER THAT I OBTAINED FROM THE NEW BEETLE.ORG SITE AND THERE THERE IS A DETAIL EXPLANATION HOW THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL DUE TO THE DESIGN

FEUL LEAK, REAR PASSANGER SIDE RIGHT. SAME SIDE THAT THE FUEL FILL IS ON.

CONTINUED HEADLAMP FAILURE RE: HEADLAMP COVER GLASS / LEXAN COMES OFF AND FLYS OFF OF CAR. SEVERAL OWNERS REPORT SAME PROBLEM. CREATES HAZERDOUS DEBRIS WHEN IT HAPPENS ON HIGHWAY AND ALSO EXPOSES HEADLAMP LIGHTS DIRECTLY TO WEATHER AND CAUSES FAILURE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER IN PARK AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE, AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPEAT THE SAME PROCEDURE FIVE TIMES UNTIL SHE REACHED HER DESTINATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PERRYSBURG AUTO MALL (26875 N DIXIE HWY, PERRYSBURG, OH 43551, PHONE NUMBER: (419) 874-4331) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

VW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, OBD SENSOR PORT NOT READING, BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON, NOW RADIO IS GOING ON AND OFF. STARTED YESTERDAY MORNING,WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE ABS STARTED AFTER WORK ON THE WAY HOME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BATTERY AND ABS INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND WAS MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUSE BOX WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. LEITH VOLKSWAGEN OF CARY (2300 AUTOPARK BLVD, CARY, NC 27511, (919) 842-5624) AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 157,000.

THE GEARBOX SLIPS, STUTTERS AND JERKS . AND WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND NOT GO BACK IN GEAR UNTIL ENGINE IS RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STARTING TO MOVE FROM A STOP.

WINDOW REGULATORS ARE EASY TO BREAK.

TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP, NOISY UPSHIFT AND DOWNSHIFTS. WHILE DRIVING UNPREDICTABLE GEAR SHIFTS.

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON LAST YEAR, RESOLVED. BACK ON, I SEE OLD RECALL? WHAT TO DO?

POWER PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW. STOPPED 3/4 OF WAY UP, HEARD A "CRACK". ROLLED DOWN AND NO LONGER WORKS.

THE FUSE BOX IS BURNING BECAUSE SOME CABLES ARE TOO SMALL AND ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS, IT IS SOMETHING EXTREMELY COMMON BUT ACCORDING TO ME, IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.

1. AIR BAG: THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING. 2. SUNROOF DRAIN SYSTEM CLOGGED: THERE IS LEAKAGE THROUGH THE SUNROOF OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. ALL RAIN WATER IS COMING IN FROM THE PASSENGER DOOR. AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS OF THUNDER STORMS THE CAR HAS WATER ALL OVER THE INSIDE AND THE CEILING AND SMELLS BAD. (AS SOON AS I FOUND OUT THE SUNROOF LEAKAGE PROBLEM OF THIS CAR, I FOUND THAT HE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT HAS APPROVED A $69 MILLION SETTLEMENT STEMMING FROM A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT THAT STARTED IN 2007 OVER LEAKING SUNROOFS. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2014/VOLKSWAGEN-SETTLES-LAWSUIT-LEAKING-SUNROOFS.SHTML)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING AND AN UNKNOWN HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE WATER PUMP KIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SWITCHED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2015, FEBRUARY 29, 2016 THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, HAD MY SONS JUMP IT AND DROVE IT TO WORK, AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF TRIED TO START AGAIN RIGHT AWAY, VEHICLE DEAD. MADE AN APPOINTMENT MARCH 4, 2016 WITH VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT THE ISSUE IS A BURNT ALTERNATOR CABLE AND MELTED FUSE BOX. AFTER READING NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS ONLINE, IT SEEMS THAT IS GOES OUT BETWEEN 70,000 - 80,000 MILES, MY VEHICLE HAD 79,000 MILES WHEN IT HAPPENED. VOLKSWAGEN ISN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT EVEN THOUGH IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT I'VE SEEN...WANTING VOLKSWAGEN TO PAY FOR REPAIR...VERY FRUSTRATED, DON'T THINK I WOULD OWN ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN!...IF THIS IS THE WAY THEY TREAT CUSTOMERS. THERE WASN'T A FIRE, BUT IT COULD'VE HAPPENED, ISN'T VOLKSWAGEN CONCERNED ABOUT INDIVIDUALS SAFETY, THINK THEY SHOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE BY PROVIDING A DIFFERENT SOLUTION TO HOW THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED PERTAINING TO THE FUSE BOX, ETC.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR CABLE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ALL AT ONCE MY AIRBAG/SEATBEILT LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME

FOR THE PAST 3-4 YEARS MY BEETLE HAS HAD WORSENING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. SOMETIMES IT JUST TURNS OFF ALL BY ITSELF. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL GOES OUT. IT HAS EVEN HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND IT SHUT OFF. I WAS NEARLY KILLED.

TRANSMISSION SLIPS, JERKS , DOWNSHIFTS , VEHICLE BECOMES DISABLED ON ROADWAY, DANGER TO DRIVER, PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROADWAYS. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION SUIT IN LOUISIANA REGARDING THIS PROBLEM . THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION 10-15 MINUTES AFTER IT IS IN MOTION .

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO APPROACH A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT, IT WOULD DOWNSHIFT INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE AND HAD TO BE PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

IT STARTED WITH THE BATTERY LIGHT COMING ON. I MADE IT HOME. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART, DEAD. I FIRST ASSUMED THE BATTERY NEEDED TO RECHARGE AND DID THAT. IT WOULDN'T HOLD A CHARGE. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE FUSE BLOCK ON TOP THE BATTERY, IT WAS MELTED! ALONG WITH THE WIRE GOING TO THE ALTERNATOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THESE VEHICLES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO NOTICED THE BATTERY FUSE BOX WAS HEATED AND POTENTIALLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,300.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V356000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,600.

ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE. VEHICLE ACTED AS IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND A PARTIALLY MELTED FUSE BOX FUSES, BURN MARKS AND MELTED WIRES. *TR

I HAVE NOTICED A QUARTER SIZE BURN STARTING TO HAPPEN ON THE SEAT SECTION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MY SON HAD THE SEAT HEATER ON THIS MORNING WHEN DRIVING TO SCHOOL NO BURN NOTICED ON HIS LEG THE CAR IS A CONVERT ABLE BEETLE 2003 THE SEAT IS IN REASONABLE CONDITION .LEATHER STILL SUPPLE WITH NO VISUAL DEFECTS APART FROM SLIGHT DISCOLORATION AND SOME PERIPHERAL CRACKING ON THE EXTERIOR SEAT SECTION. WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TURN ON HEATED SEAT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER ACTIVATING THE TURNING SIGNAL, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. ADDITIONALLY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHORTED AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

EXITING GARDEN STATE PARKWAY SB ENGINE CUT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXIT RAMP. HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF AND THEN TOWED. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT IT WAS THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY USED CAR WARRANTY HOWEVER THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2.0L TURBO MOTORS. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS OR TECHNICAL BULLETINS FOR THIS PART. I AM AWARE THAT THE PART THAT IS FAULTY ON THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WAS ONLY CORRECTED IN 2012. I PERSONALLY KNOW SOMEONE WHOSE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THIS PART . THE FAULTY PART BEING REPLACED IS A SPRING. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN WARRANTY HOWEVER THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY VW AND I SHOULD BE EITHER PARTIALLY OR ENTIRELY COVERED FOR THIS REPAIR. IF YOU WANT TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH, THIS PROBLEM IS VERY EASY TO FIND ON THE INTERNET. *TR

CAR HAS SUDDEN JERKY WHEN SHIFTING ALSO REAR WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. DEALERSHIP SAID NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION BUT HAVE ONLY HAD CAR 8 MONTHS. THE WINDOWS QUIT WORKING AFTER OWNING IT FOR ONE WEEK COST 400 JUST TO FIX ONE WINDOW. DEALERSHIP ESTIMATE TO FIX TRANSMITION 6700.00. *JS

THE WINDOWS ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT ROLL UP. THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VOLKSWAGEN PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE WINDOW SIDE AS OF THIS DATE. IF THERE IS A RECALL, PLEASE ADVISE. I NEED THIS FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE WINDOW REGULATOR. *TR

MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE AC STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR. I ALSO NOTICED A BEEP SOUND THAT WOULD COME ON WHEN I TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS ON BUT THE SOUND WOULD TURN OFF AND ON WHILE I DROVE. THEN THE ALARM STOPPED WORKING AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, THE RADIO ALSO GAVE OUT AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO HESITATE WHILE DRIVING IT. I CHECKED THE FUSE BOX ON THE BATTERY AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SLOT WHERE THE FUSE SLIPS INTO ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE BATTERY WAS MELTED AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ON THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP COVER LIKE SOME TYPE OF GAS OR FUMES HAD ESCAPED THE BATTERY AND SPRAYED THE HEADLAMPCOVER. I CHANGED THE FUSES AROUND AND GOT THE AC GOING AGAIN, THEN I CHANGED THEM ALL OUT, AND EVERYTHING WORKED GREAT FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS, THEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN, THE ALARM STOPPED WORKING, RADIO IS OUT, THE BEEPING SOUND IS BACK AND WHEN I CHECKED THE FUSE, IT WAS MELTING AGAIN. I AM AFRAID THAT WHILE IN THE VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN I WILL HAVE A MALFUNCTION AND BE INJURED. I JUST PAID OFF THE VEHICLE... WHAT A GIFT FOR PAYING OFF A VEHICLE... SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING IN AND ON THAT VEHICLE IS A HAZARD AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.. ITS SAD BECAUSE I USE TO LOVE MY NEW BEETLE. *TR

MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR. INITIALLY THE HEADLIGHT WAS BURNT OUT. ORDERED A NEW HEADLIGHT AND INSTALLED IT AND IT WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THEN MY DAUGHTER DROVE THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES. WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT HER DESTINATION SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CAR OFF BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. WHEN I ARRIVED I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AND THE CAR BATTERY WAS NOW DEAD. I HAD THE BATTERY JUMPED BUT NOW THE HEADLIGHT THAT I JUST REPLACED WAS NOT WORKING AGAIN, AND NOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE RUNNING LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE NEXT MORNING THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. WHEN WE FINALLY GOT OVER TO THE MECHANIC THE WIRING WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND THE HEADLAMP MODULATOR WAS BLOWN. THE WINDOW WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR WAS MELTED AND RUINED. AFTER ABOUT $1000 IN REPAIRS THE MECHANIC IS EXPLAINING THIS IS JUST THE ONE SIDE, THE WIRING FOR THE OTHER SIDE IS GOING TO NEED TO BE REPLACED IN NEXT 6 MONTHS OR SO. HE EXPLAINED THIS IS A COMMON OCCCURANCE WITH THESE CARS. I AM HONESTLY AFRAID TO ALLOW MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT SEEMS IT IS A FIRE HAZARD. *JS

THE BATTERY TO ALTERNATOR WIRE ON THESE CARS OVERHEATS AND CATCHES FIRE. I OWN A CAR DEALERSHIP AND JUST HAD IT HAPPEN TO ME. I WAS LUCKY AND STOPPED ANYTHING HORRIBLE FROM HAPPENING BUT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT KNOW ENOUGH TO STOP IT OR THAT IT WAS HAPPENING. THESE CARS ARE A HUGE FIRE HAZARD AND YOU NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL. CHECK THE PICTURES OF BURNED CARS ON GOOGLE. YOU WONT FIND ONE COMPLAINT BUT MANY AND PLENTY OF BURNED CARS. SO I ASK THAT YOU DO YOUR BEST TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE CAR I OWN HAS A HISTORY OF THE ALTERNATOR BEING SERVICED. OBVIOUSLY A RECALL ISSUE THAT MAYBE VW SHOULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX INSTEAD A BAND AID AND OUT THE DOOR. CHECK CAR FAX ON THIS CAR. IF SOMEONE LET THERE CAR WARM THEY COULD BURN DOWN THERE HOUSE. I AM GOING TO REROUTE THIS WIRE AND REPLACE IT WITH A BETTER GRADE OF WIRE. *TR

AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON. THIS MEANS THE AIRBAGS WERE DISABLED. DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED THE SEAT BELT CLASP ON THE DRIVER SEAT AS THE PROBLEM. THE ELECTRONICS IN THE CLASP WERE NOT COMMUNICATING CORRECTLY CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO BE DISABLED. THE SEATBELT AS A SAFETY MECHANISM ITSELF WAS NOT COMPROMISED. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN AND COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL AND THAT THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE SEATBELT CLASP AT A COST OF ABOUT $300.00. THE CAUSE OF THE SEATBELT CLASP TO FAIL WAS THE MOTION OF MOVING THE SEAT BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS. TO ACCESS THE REAR SEATS OF THE CAR THE SEAT MUST BE MOVED BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS AS IT IS A TWO DOOR CAR. OVERTIME, THIS ACTIVITY WORE OUT SOME ELECTRONICS IN THE CLASP CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO BE DISABLED. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ITEM THAT IS CUSTOMARILY REPLACED SUCH AS TIRES, BRAKE PADS OR WIPER BLADES. THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE AND OFFER TO VOLUNTARILY RECALL THE VEHICLES AND/OR OFFER TO PAY FOR A FIX IN OUR CASE. *TR

APRIL 2014, THE MECHATRONIC UNIT FOR MY 2004 VW NEW BEETLE TDI FAILED. IT WOULD SURGE IN AND OUT GEAR. THIS PART WAS RECALLED OVERSEAS BUT NOT IN THE USA. THIS JANUARY 2015 WHAT I HAD A TURBO FAILURE AND A DUAL MASS CLUTCH FLYWHEEL FAILURE. THIS IS THE DSG 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE SPECIAL FLYWHEEL HAS FAILED, IT HAS A HOLE IN THE OUT CASING AND THE INTERNAL SPRINGS INSIDE ARE SLOWING BREAKING UP AND WERE SHOOTING OUT THE ASSEMBLY. THESE PIECES THEN SOMEHOW MANAGED TO MACHINE THE TRANSMISSION BELLHOUSING CREATING AT LEAST 3 HOLES IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE. THE CAR SERIOUSLY VIBRATES AT IDLE BUT WHEN UNDER POWER THE CAR RUNS NORMAL. THERE IS A GRINDING SOUNDS ALSO WHEN AT IDLE. I AM AMAZED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HASN'T CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED YET. THIS WOULD BE A POTENTIAL CRASH IF NOT REPAIRED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER CASES SIMILAR TO THE AFOREMENTIONED PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP! *TR

MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON YET AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND WAS FIXED BY A VW DEALER BY CHANGING THE INFREQUENTLY USED PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS $360. THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER. IT WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER AND SCANNED AND FOUND TO BE A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. THE ESTIMATE FOR THE FIX WAS ABOUT $800 WITH THE ADVISORY THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE FIXED WITH THAT PART REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE REPORT READS, "AIRBAG CRASH SENSORS MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL IF SOFTWARE IS DIFFERENT FROM NEW MODULE." IT SOUNDS LIKE THE VW TECHNICIANS THEMSELVES ARE GUESSING ABOUT THE REPAIR. THERE IS REPORTEDLY A VW RECALL ON THE 2003-2005 BEETLE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE BUT THE VW DEALER AS WELL AS VW CUSTOMER SERVICE (800-374-8389) BOTH TELL ME THAT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. THE INTERNET VW BEETLE FORUMS ARE REPLETE WITH REPORTS OF AIRBAG SYSTEM PROBLEMS. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT TO ADD TO THE CURRENT LIST OF SUCH COMPLAINTS WITH THE HOPES THAT VW WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY RELATED DEFECT IN THEIR DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE 2004 VW BEETLE. *TR

THE CAR WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THE CAR TURNED OFF. THE CAR WAS STEERED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH INDICATING PRND2 ALL HAVE BRACKETS AROUND THEM AND DON'T INDICATE WHAT GEAR THE CAR IS IN. IT FEELS LIKE WE HIT A ROAD HAZARD EVERY TIME THE TRANSMISSION DOES CHANGE GEARS, THE DEALER TOLD US THIS IS NORMAL, BUT IT IS GETTING WORSE AND AFTER LOOKING THROUGH ONLINE FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON. LOSS OF POWER STEERING. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE LAST TIME WAS 7/8/2014, THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST. VOLKSWAGEN HAS BEEN CONTACTED THEY SAY NOT RECALLS ARE LISTED. *TR

CAR SLIPPED COMPLETELY OUT OF GEAR WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4TH GEAR. IT CONTINUES TO DO THIS WHEN THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY WARMED UP. GOING OUT OF GEAR ESSENTIALLY MAKES US A SITTING DUCK ON THE HIGHWAY FOR A REAR END COLLISION. VERY MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE CHILDREN RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR

SIMPLY WHAT HAPPEN WAS I BOUGHT THE WRONG CAR IT SEEMS.ONE NIGHT I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND ALL THE SUDDEN AS I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR I NOTICE THE CAR WAS JUST REVVING AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE AT ALL AND ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER THE PNRDS WAS FLASHING SO I PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND MOVED INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. *TR