2004 Volkswagen Beetle Complaint Log

VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD WHEN STARTING FROM STOP. LURCHING IS SEVERE AND BECOMES WORSE AND TRANSMISSION WARMS. TRANSMISSION IS DSG TYPE OF AUTOMATIC. *TR

THE BACK PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR WAS REPLACED. TODAY 12/09/14 NOT THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR NEEDS REPLACED. I THINK THIS IS FAULTY. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL VW REPAIR DEALERSHIP. *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WIRING HAS FAILED THUS ILLUMINATING THE AIR BAG LIGHT. THE SEAT BELT WIRING IS OF MINUTE DIAMETER WITH LITTLE SHIELDING AND POOR CONDUIT. BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT MUST FLEX WHEN MOVING THE SEAT FORWARD, THE STRAIN ON THE WIRING IN THE SEAT BELT RIPS THE WIRING FROM IT'S SOLDERED JOINT. THIS CAUSES THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND CAUSES THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TO REVERT TO A BACKUP ALGORITHM THAT PUTS THE DRIVER IN A DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT. THIS "BACKUP" ALGORITHM WILL NOT MONITOR VEHICLE SPEED AND WILL AUTOMATICALLY DEPLOY THE AIRBAG AT A DEFAULT AMOUNT OF FORCE REGARDLESS OF IMPACT FORCE. THIS MEANS THAT A MINOR FENDER BENDER THAT REACHES THE AIRBAG FORCE THRESHOLD COULD DEPLOY THE AIRBAG AT A FORCE TOO GREAT AND CONVERSELY A HIGH SPEED IMPACT MAY DEPLOY THE AIRBAG WITH INSUFFICIENT FORCE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH WILL ALERT YOU AS TO HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM IS. AFTER CALLING MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME "WE REPLACE A TON OF THOSE SEATBELTS." VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THIS EGREGIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART BEFORE FATAL CONSEQUENCES FURTHER PROVE THIS IS A DEADLY AND EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

REAR WINDOW WENT UP AND THEN DOWN BY ITSELF...THEN A CRACKING NOISE ENSUED AND NOW WINDOW IS STUCK OPEN. HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF BEETLE CONVERTIBLES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, WHICH IS DUE PRIMARILY TO POOR ENGINEERING. VW MAKES $500-600 FOR EVERY REPAIR. (SEE: HTTP://NEWBEETLE.ORG/FORUMS/NEW-BEETLE-CONVERTIBLE/38354-BACK-WINDOW-REGULATOR-MOTORS-VW-RECALL.HTML). *TR

I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT MY 2004 VW BEETLE HAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. UPON RESEARCHING IT MORE, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT VW WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, VW CONTINUED TO PRODUCE CARS FOR YEARS WITH THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 2011, WHICH WAS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL LAST MONTH WHEN IT STARTED LURCHING AND SHIFTING HARD. MY CAR HAS FEWER THAN 55,000 MILES, AND IS ONLY DRIVEN TO WORK AND BACK (9 MILES A DAY). IT WAS NOT UNTIL I READ THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS THAT I FOUND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT ISOLATED TO MY CAR. I AM SHOCKED THAT VW WILL NOT CORRECT AN EXPENSIVE AND DEBILITATING ISSUE WITH THEIR CARS THAT CAUSES TRANSMISSIONS TO SHUT DOWN. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A CAR WITH LOW MILES AND IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. VW REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND BASICALLY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP. I AM HOPING THIS COMPLAINT WILL FORCE THEM TO CORRECT THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ANY VW BEETLE PRODUCED IN THE YEARS (2003-2010) THAT HAS THIS DEFECT. IT IS THE SAFE AND RIGHT THING TO DO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 05/28/14*LJ UPDATED 8/17/17*CN

AIR BAG MODULE LITE STAYS ON. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST 800 TO REPLACE MODULE. THIS VEHICLE AT THIS HAS ONLY 71802 MILES AS OF JUNE 26,2013. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY A VW DEALERSHIP FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

CAR WOULDN'T EXCEL WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY 1 MILE FROM TOWN SUDDENLY TRAFFIC SLOWED FROM SNOW STORM IN TOWN,THE VEHICLE SMELL WAS FUNNY BLACK SMOKED SLOWLY LEAKED INSIDE THE CAR WINDOWS UP HEARD A MISFIRE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON BLINKED THEN I HEARD LOUD BLAST LIKE I THOUGHT IT WAS A PLOW TRUCKS MUFFLER LOUDNESS REALIZED IR WAS MY VEHICLE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY LESS 1/3 MILE AT BANK. SHUT OFF MOTOR M NOW SEEING SMOKE SLOWLY ENTERED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 2 FRONT SEATSAND CONSOLE. FEELING HOT UNDER BELLY OF FLOORS. ORANGE GLOW THROUGH ELECTRICAL OUTLET IN BACK OF CONSOLE APPEARED TO BE HOTWITH PLASTIC CASING IN AND UNDER FLOORS HOT SIZZLING CRACKLING UNDER CENTER CASING/I TRY TO CALL 911 MISUSED THE CELL WOULDN'T OPERATE EFFECTIVELY FLAGGED DOWN A MAN N WOMAN AT THE CORNER LIGHT OF BANK THEY DECLINED TO HELP SO I WENT TO CAR PUT SNOW ON COMPARTMENT AND WET IT DOWN AND AIRED OUT SMOKE WITH PASSENGER DOOR OPEN .I WENT IN BANK FOR ASSISTANCE .THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR SAFETY ISSUES BY MANUFACTURER IN THE PAST .WERE SAID TO BE CORRECTED BY REPAIRMAN ALSO SAID SEATBELT HARNESS WAS A ISSUE HEATED SEATS WERE A ISSUE AND AIRBAGS TRANNY ALSO RECALLED FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND OR TRANSMISSION AND AIR BAGS ON SOME 2004 VW VEHICLE BEETLES RECALLS SO FAR OCCURRED TO THIS VW WERE AIRBAG SENSORS/ ALSO THE SEATBELT HARNESS CASES WERE BREAKING REPEATEDLY ONCE PURCHASED DUE TO PUTTING THE SEATS UP AND BACK TO GET IN THE VEHICLE. NOW THIS MYSTERIOUS FIRE AND HEADLAMP ISSUE.. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V178000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. *TR

MY CAR WAS FINE AND IT STARTED RUNNING A LIL FUNKY SO I TOOK IT TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND TURNS OUT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY AIR BAGS ! TRANSMISSION AND BODY VALVE ? IT ABSOLUTELY DOESN'T WANT TO GO IN REVERSE ANYMORE AND I BARLEY BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY OF 2012 AND THIS INCIDENT HAPPENS JUST 5 MONTHS LATER. VERY DISAPPOINTED PLEASE HELP I AM A WORKING NURSING STUDENT THAT STILL MAKES PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR. I KNOW MY RIGHTS AND I FEEL YOU CAN HELP ME OUT PLEASE AND THANK YOU. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICLE THAT HAS A KNOW ISSUE. THE TIPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING GEAR CHANGING. VW REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF THE 4 YEAR WARRANTY BUT THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAT 50000 MILES. THERE IS A KNOW ISSUE FOR THIS BUT I WILL HAVE TO PAY $6500 FOR THE REPAIRS>??? NOT FAIR FOR NEW BUYERS WHO ARE KEPT IN THE DARK ABOUT A KNOW ISSUE.. *TR

THE CAR JOLTS AFTER IT IS WARMED UP. USUALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS. TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. *TR

THE BACK WINDSHIELD HAS POPPED AWAY FROM THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. *TR

TRANSMISSION SLIPS SECOND GEAR THROUGH FIFTH GEAR. CONTACTED 2 VW DEALERS AND WAS TOLD BY THEM VW MADE BAD TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS YEAR. THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND WANT 6000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT! *TR *JS

CAR WAS SHIFTING VERY HARD, TIRES WOULD SQUEAL AS SHIFTING BETWEEN 1-2 AND 2-3RD GEARS. TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IT WILL BE BETWEEN 2-5000.00 DOLLARS WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE WINDOW REGULATORS, THERMOMETER. *TR

ERRATIC SHIFTING UP AND DOWN BETWEEN 1ST AND 3RD GEARS. CAR LURCHES TO THE POINT THAT A NATURAL REACTION IS TO RELIEVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE WHICH COULD CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION IN SOME CASES. PROBLEMATIC PART IS INTERNAL VALVE BODY WHICH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH VW'S OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL. WE HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED THEN CALLED VW CUSTOMER CARE TO SEE ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT AND WERE TOLD THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS ISSUED FOR 7 YEARS OR 2010. SINCE MY CAR HAD LOW MILEAGE THE INTICATION OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD BY VW THAT IT IS NOW MY PROBLEM TO TAKE CARE OF IT TO THE TUNE OF $2300 PARTS AND LABOR. INCIDENTALLY, I ALSO DID NOT RECEIVE THE WARRANTY AS I WAS TOLD IT WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER ANYWAY. CONSIDERING THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY VW TO BE PROBLEMATIC UP TO 70,000 MILES I FEEL THAT VW SHOULD OFFER UP COMPENSATION IN THAT IT IS THEIR FAULTY PART. ANY HELP IN RECOUPING COSTS INCURRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,888. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

VEHICLE JUST STARTED DOWNSHIFTING VERY HARD (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). BROKE TWO MOTOR MOUNTS WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING THIS HARD. *TR

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR FROM A LOW SPEED, WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR, THE ENGINE REVS TO A VERY HIGH RPM, AND I HAVE NO POWER AND NO ACCELERATION. IF I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, IT WILL THEN SHIFT WITH A HARD CLUNK. SHIFTING IN OTHER GEARS IS STARTING TO BE CLUNKY AS WELL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH A CAR DRIFTING TO A LOWER VELOCITY, WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCELERATE! *TR

MY CAR LURCHES FORWARD WHEN I STOP. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY RAN IT ON THE COMPUTER STATED FOUND NOTHING. MECHANIC SAID HE TOOK IT OUT FOR A DRIVE AND NO PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WHILE DRIVING. WHEN VEHICLE LUNGES FORWARD ;I FEEL LIKE I AM GOING TO BE REARENDED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME BECAUSE IT IS SO SUDDEN; NO WAY TO WARN THE CAR BEHIND ME. PLEASE HELP ME AND OTHERS THAT HAVE POSTED THE SAME PROBLEMS ON INTERNET. THANK-YOU. *JS

THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND N FLARING. THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN LUNGES FORWARD UPON ACCELERATION. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN PROCESS FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

THIS THE 3RD WINDOW REGULATOR TO FAIL. ONE DOOR AND NOW BOTH REAR REGULATORS. *TR

I HAVE HAD THE REGULATOR REPLACED IN MY REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND MY FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS. IT SEEMS THAT THERE MIGHT BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THE REGULATORS/WINDOWS. THANK YOU. *TR

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ONLY WHEN AT USE FOR 20MIN STARTS TO THUMP IN ALL GEARS. BUT MOSTLY NOTICEABLE AT 3 AND 4. SOMETIME LOCKS AT 3 AND HAVE TO TURN OFF AND LET REST TO ENGAGE 1 AGAIN. *TR

1) INFERIOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PUMP VALVE ASSEMBLY CAUSED VERY HARD DOWN AND UP SHIFTING THAT COULD STARTLE THE DRIVER. IT WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. 2) LEFT SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT TIME OF PURCHASE (FEB. 2012). RIGHT SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR HAS FAILED JULY 2012 AND MUST BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.

THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DIPLAYED AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE ALSO JUMPED GEARS WHEN SHIFTING. IT IS A TRIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. WHEN LOOKING ON THE WEBSITE WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/NEW+BEETLE+CONVERTIBLE/AUTOMATIC+TRANSMISSION I FIND MANY VW BEETLE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THESE TRANMISSIONS SHOULD BE RECALLED. FAULTY AND DANGEROUS. *TR

THIS VW BEETLE A SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC. ANY TIME I DRIVE SLOWER THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR (AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP - 15 MINUTES OR SO) IT STARTS TO LURCH BETWEEN GEARS - BOTH WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. SPEEDING UP, IT REVS HIGH AND THEN FEELS LIKE IT JUMPS INTO THE NEXT GEAR. SLOWING DOWN, IT JERKS SO HARD IT FEELS LIKE I'M BEING REAR-ENDED. ONE TIME, AS I WAS PARKING IT, IT CLUNKED SO LOUDLY WHEN I SHIFTED FROM R TO D, I THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING TO DROP TO THE GROUND! IT SEEMS THE WORST GOING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. I FEEL LIKE I'M BEING DRIVEN AROUND BY SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT. BUT IT'S AN AUTOMATIC. I'M BEING CHARGED TO REMANUFACTURE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. IT WILL COST $6,700! I ONLY BOUGHT THE CAR FOR $8,400. THIS 2004 CAR WILL COST ME $16,100 BY THE TIME IT'S DRIVABLE. (BY THE WAY - YOUR DROP DOWN FOR VEHICLE COMPONENTS DOESN'T WORK IN IE 9.) *JS

MY AUTOMATIC 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE JERKS SO HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, IT FELLS LIKE I HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED, OR POPPED THE CLUTCH. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE JERKING, AND HAVE HAD THE WHEELS ACTUALLY SQUEAL. THE CAR WORKS FINE FOR THE FIRST 20-30 MINUTES, BUT THEN GETS SO BAD I FEAR I MAY GET WHIPLASH. IT IS NOW BEGINNING TO REV TO 6000 RPM WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO 6TH GEAR, OR HESITATES AND I LOSE POWER. HAVE BEEN TOLD I WILL NEED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION, BUT THAT WILL COST ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE CAR IS WORTH. *JS

EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED OUR USED 2004 BEETLE CONVERITBLE, THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1-3 GEARS THE CAR JUMPS AND HALTS. IT IS HORRIBLE. WE HAD THE TRIP TRON SWITCH REPLACED AND STILL NO HELP. I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS FROM 2003 TO 2008. A NEW TRANSMISSION IS OVER $6000. APPARENTLY, IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TT

MY REAR PASSENGER WINDOW IS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. AFTER READING MANY FORUMS I CAN CONCLUDE THAT IT IS THE REGULATOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE CARS. I AM MOST LIKELY GOING TO HAVE TO PAY UPWARDS OF $1000.00 TO GET THIS FIXED. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS. IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT ON VOLKSWAGENS PART. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES THIS TAKE TO GET A RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED SECONDS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD TO INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE ENGINE BLEW SHORTLY AFTER THE HOOD WAS OPENED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP, RADIATOR AND VEHICLE REGULATOR SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING BUT THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD STILL BE DRIVEN. EIGHT MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE LEAK FROM THE HEAD GASKET SEALS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 28,000. UPDATED 5/16/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS OIL IN THE ANTI-FREEZE AND THE SEAL ON THE OVERFLOW TANK WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 05/23/12

BOUGHT MY CAR IN 2011 AUGUST. STARTED NOTICING PROBLEMS IN NOVEMBER 2011. GEARS SHIFTING PROBLEMS IN JAN 2012. MY MILEAGE WAS ONLY 77,000 COULD NOT DRIVE CAR. VW SAID MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND WANTED $3,500 FOR NEW TRANSMISSION. PAID MONEY AND IN 2 WEEKS WAS BACK IN SHOP WITH SAME PROBLEM. BUT I ALMOST GOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT, MY GEARS STALLED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME OR IN BACK. SCARED ME AND I WOULDN'T DRIVE IT ANYMORE. FRIEND TOOK IT BACK IN AND THEY REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWO TIMES. (THIS WAS ALL VW TRANSMISSIONS). AND ITS STILL IN THE SHOP BECAUSE IT TOOK OUT THE CAR COMPUTER NOW. ITS BEEN 2 MONTHS WITHOUT A CAR AND IM A SINGLE WORKING MOTHER. GETTING RIDES. THEY ALSO WANTED TO CHARGE ME LABOR FOR THE ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION ERRORS!!!!! ITS BEEN A NIGHTMARE! VW HAS BEEN RUDE AND NOT SENSITIVE TO PROBLEMS AT ALL. THEY COULD CARE LESS. *TR

THE CAR JERKS BETWEEN GEARS AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. THE PROBLEM IS THE VALVE BODY. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. (HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET COMPLAINING.) VW HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 100,000 AND WE ARE ONLY AT 69,000, BUT IT ENDED IN OCTOBER 2010. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM NOR DID THE MECHANIC TELL US OF THE PROBLEM. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOW SUDDENLY JAM UP AND THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC. THE VW DEALERSHIP NOW WANTS $2,317 FOR THE REPAIR! CLEARLY THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY VW. *TR

CAR OCCASIONALLY STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING. TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES TO RESTART. MECHANIC SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. USED CAR WARRANTY REQUIRES EXPENSIVE TESTING ON TRANSMISSION BEFORE GIVING A DECISION AS TO WHETHER THEY WILL PAY FOR IT OR NOT. IF THEY WON'T PAY FOR IT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT OURSELVES. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN SEPT. 2011. THE MILEAGE IS TOO HIGH TO BE PART OF THE RECALL ON MANY OF THE BEETLES BUILT DURING THAT TIME. VW IS VERY CAGEY ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THIS ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN 1.8 TURBO CONVERTIBLE BEETLE. THE CAR IS JUMPING BACK AND FORTH WHEN IT TRIES TO SHIFT GEARS. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE LOCAL VW DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS IN ORDER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. BY LOOKING ON LINE WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD IDEA THAT IT WAS THE VALVE BODY OR THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER THEY RAN THE DIAGNOSTICS THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE VALVE BODY. THEY HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FROM 5 YEARS 70,000 TO 7 YEARS 100000 MILES. WE WHERE THEN ADVISED THAT THE CAR HAD MISSED THE WARRANTY BY A FEW MONTHS BUT THAT WE SHOULD STILL PROCESS DIAGNOSTICS AS VW NORMALLY ASSISTS WHEN SO CLOSE TO WARRANTY EXPIRING. THEY KNOW THESE CARS HAVE THIS DEFECT. THE DEALER CONTACTED VW AMERICA AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE I WAS THE THIRD OWNER OF THE CAR. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2007 FROM A VW DEALER AND IT WAS A CERTIFIED VEHICLE. I AM THE 2ND OWNER. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT THE WAY THE CAR THRASHES BACK AND FORTH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS. I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED AS I AM PREGNANT. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT VW IS UNWILLING TO MAKE THIS REPAIR WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS WAS OUR THIRD VOLKSWAGEN. THE CAR ONLY HAS 72000 MILES. *KB

REPLACE ALL IGNITION COILS. *TR

VEHICLE IS SEVEN YEARS OLD WITH 59,100 MILES AND ALREADY NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO INCORRECT GEAR RATIO FAULT 17114, AND PO330. ALSO, NEEDS A CATALYTIC CONVERTER, HAS AIR LEAK FROM BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM PIPE. VW CORPORATION ADVISED CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY AND OFFERED $1,000 TOWARD A NEW OR USED VW. THE TRANSMISSION IS APPROXIMATELY $4,000. I DECLINED THEIR OFFER. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THREE WINDOW REGULATORS. ...UPDATED 01/30/12 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE THAT HAS COMPLAINED...IDENTICAL PROBLEMS! ALL TOLD THE COST, WITH A RENTAL CAR IS $6,500.00, SO FAR. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP AND I AM HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION TO BE DELIVERED. THIS IS INSANITY AND I WON'T EVEN BEGIN WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUES THE CAR HAS HAD AND STILL HAS! THE TRANSMISSION IS/WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. WAKE UP PEOPLE! I KNOW A FEW OF US MUST DIE FOR YOU TO WAKE UP...GET REAL... WE ARE MAD AS [XXX]. I WANT VW TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

THE VEHICLE HAD A CATASTROPHIC BRAKE LINE FAILURE ON THE STEEL BRAIDED LINE OFF THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE FRONT BRAKES DURING A PANIC STOP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE LINE HAS A RUBBER ANTI VIBRATION RING PLACED ON THE HOSE , THIS WAS SAID TO BE "OUT OF LOCATION" AND THE STEEL BRAIDED LINE WORE AGAINST THE "AIR BOX" IN THE AREA THAT BURST. THE ANTI VIBRATION RING EITHER VIBRATED OUT OF LOCATION OR WAS POSSIBLY MOVED/MISS-INSTALLED. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUS WORK DONE AT A CERTIFIED VW DEALERSHIP ON THE MASTER CYLINDER 2 YEARS PRIOR TO CORRECT A FAILED BREAK POWER ASSIST UNIT. THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTORY FACTOR BUT THE DEALERSHIP DECLINED RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE. DURING THE ACCIDENT THE REAR BRAKES CONTINUED TO WORK CORRECTLY , THE VEHICLE SLOWED SUBSTANTIALLY AND THE ANTI-LOCK COULD BE "HEARD" TO ENGAGE, THE VEHICLE DID NOT SKID OR LOSE CONTROL BUT WAS NOT SLOWED ENOUGH TO KEEP FROM HITTING THE REAR OF THE CAR AHEAD OF ME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE ENGAGED IN ORDER TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO WAS TOLD THAT THE CONTROL VALVES CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD INCREASE IN SPEED AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN TO 5TH GEAR. UPDATED 12/02/11

WINDOW REGULATOR FAULTY ON ALL WINDOWS. *TR

THE BATTERY FUSE BOX THE FUSE TO THE ALTERNATOR HAS MELTED 3 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 2 MONTHS COSTING ME OVER 1000.00 IN REPAIRS. BATTERY REPLACED,ALTERNATOR REPLACE VOLTAGE REGULATOR REPLACED, ALTER. HARNESS REPLACED AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS BUT FUSE KEEPS BLOWING AND MELTS FUSE BOX AND CAR DIES LOSES COMPLETE POWERWITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS A POTIENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THERE ARE DOZEN OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *TR

THIS IS FOR A CONVERTIBLE BEETLE: THE REAR WINDOW ROLLED DOWN WHILE OPENING THE TOP, MADE A GRINDING SOUND, AND NOW WILL NOT GO UP EITHER WITH THE CONVERTIBLE TOP CLOSE BUTTON, NOR WITH THE INDIVIDUAL WINDOW BUTTON - THE WINDOW MOTOR WORKS, BUT THE REGULATOR MECHANISM MAKES A GRINDING SOUND AND THE WINDOW STAYS IN OPEN POSITION (ON-LINE ENTRY SYSTEM WON'T ACCEPT CORRECT PHONE # SO I LIST IT HERE: CORRECT DAYTIME PHONE IS [XXX]) . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

BOTH REAR WINDOW CONTROL MECHANISMS HAVE GONE BAD. I HAVE DONE A SEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. *TR

ENGINE COMPUTER RANDOMLY DETECTS FAULT IN TURBO SYSTEM AND REDUCES ENGINE POWER TO UNSAFE LEVEL. THEN ANY TRAFFIC MANEUVER THAT REQUIRES ACCELERATION, I.E. MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY, ETC., BECOMES EXTREMELY UNSAFE. VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD THE CAR FOR THREE WEEKS AND WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IT. *TR

ALL THE WINDOWS APPEAR TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS, THE BACK RIGHT MAKES A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND WON'T BUDGE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MAKES A WEIRD NOISE BUT MOVES, AND THE OVERALL PLACEMENT OF THE WINDOWS IS ODD AND LEAKS AIR. *TR

6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING VERY ROUGH AFTER 45,000 MILES. I AM CONCERNED THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FATAL ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. VW DEALER SAYS THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST $7200! THE TRANSMISSION VALVLE BODY ON THIS MODEL CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN DECLARED DEFECTIVE BY VW. *TR

AT LESS 60K MILES, I'VE BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD BY 2 REPAIR SHOPS THAT IT NEED TO BE REPLACED . BOTH REPAIR SHOPS ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW BEETLE. I PURCHASE THE CAR NEW AND MAINTAINED AND SERVICE AT SUGGESTED TIMES AT SAME PLACE OF PURCHASE. I PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAVE COMPLAINED IN THE PAST. THE PROBLEM THEN WAS INTERMITTENT AND SHOP NEVER FOUND THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED A MONTH LATER. I HAVE READ SIMILAR PROBLEM FROM SEVERAL OWNERS AND SOME WERE REPAIRED FREE WHILE OTHER WERE TURNED AWAY. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS INCONSISTENT WITH MANY OWNERS AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE, THIS PROBLEM QUALIFIES UNDER LEMON LAW. I REQUEST THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND CONSIDER A RECALL BASED ON MANY COMPLAINTS. EVEN REPAIR SHOPS KNOW THIS PROBLEM EXISTED AND WE NEED HELP FORM THIS GOVERNMENT BODY TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT CONTINUES TO COMPROMISED SAFETY. *TR

IN CITY TRAFFIC, MY VEHICLE HAS A VIOLENT JERKY DOWN-SHIFT WHEN APPROACHING A STOP, APPROXIMATELY 25MPH TO 20 MPH. IT FEELS LIKE THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR IS FALLING OUT. WHEN THESE OCCURRENCES FIRST HAPPENED, THEY WERE OCCASIONAL. ON THE HIGHWAY I BELIEVE IT SLIPS FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. TODAY, A FEW MONTHS LATER THE OCCURRENCES ARE MORE FREQUENT AND I AM FORCED TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL CARE FOR MY VEHICLE. I HAVE REGULARLY MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE WITH CARE AND ATTENTION TO THE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. MY ONLINE RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT THIS EVENT IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT, BUT THIS OCCURRENCE DESCRIBES A TYPICAL VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION WITH MILEAGE BETWEEN 50K AND 70K; THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF LIKE COMPLAINTS. I HAVE FOUND TWO SEPARATE FORUMS ONLINE SUPPORTING THIS VERY COMPLAINT. THIS IS VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR A FAILED TRANSMISSION, ESPECIALLY WHEN MANY SIMILAR SMALL VEHICLES ARE OFFERING WARRANTIES FOR 100K MILES OR MORE. THE VW CUSTOMER CARE HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO MY INQUIRIES. I BELIEVE MY CAR HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I AM FEARFUL THAT IT WILL BREAK DOWN ON THE FREEWAY OR A POTENTIALLY DARK ROAD OR IN BAD WEATHER. I WOULD ASK THAT THE NHTSA PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE RECURRENT ISSUES WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND MAKE VOLKSWAGEN ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FAILING TRANSMISSION, OR, AT THE VERY LEAST LOOK INTO THE VALVE BODIES AND WHETHER THEY ARE UP TO STANDARDS, STANDARDS THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS VEHICLE FROM FAILING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSING POTENTIAL HAZARDS TO DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. THANK YOU, *TR