2004 Volkswagen Beetle Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE SHIFTING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP GEARS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VALVE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE BODY BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND HAD BECOME WORSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE BODY A SECOND TIME BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER RE-INSTALLED THE ORIGINAL VALVE BODY, ADVISING THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE INITIAL VALVE BODY. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE - DRIVER SIDE WINDOW ROLLED DOWN AND WILL NOT ROLL BACK UP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BROKEN REAR WINDOW REGULATOR- APPARENTLY UNDER RECALL BY VOLKSWAGEN BUT CAN'T GET CONFIRMATION. *TR

2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. REAR WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. REAR WINDOWS REGULATOR/MOTORS BROKE. DESIGN DEFECT. REVISED PART. DEALER WANTS OVER $700.00 PER SIDE TO FIX. PARTS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER!!!! *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS WERE INOPERABLE AND REMAINED OPEN. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

BOTH BACK WINDOW REGULATORS WENT OUT JUST THREE DAYS APART AND THE VW DEALERS WANTS $1,000.00 TO REPAIR. VW OF AMERICA EXTENDED THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATORS WARRANTY BUT REFUSE TO FIX MY BACK WINDOWS. I CAN NOT ROLL UP MY WINDOWS AT ALL. THEY ARE STUCK DOWN INSIDE THE CAR. *TR

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND ONLY HAS ABOUT 47,000 ACTUAL MILES. RECENTLY SHE HAS BEEN HAVING SOME VERY SCARY EXPERIENCES WITH THE VEHICLE AND WE ARE HIGHLY CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY, IT STARTS TO AUTOMATICALLY SLOW DOWN WHILE HER FOOT IS ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN AS SHE CONTINUES TO KEEP HER FOOT ON THE GAS, IT ALL THE SUDDEN VIOLENTLY JERKS INTO GEAR AND STARTS TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. SHE WAS ON FLAT TERANINE AND WAS NOT GOING UP A HILL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. SHE SAID THE EXPERIENCE TODAY LEFT HER TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE!! ALSO, SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, AND THE BREAKS AND STEERING WHEEL BOTH LOCKED. SHE COULDN'T STEER OR STOP THE CAR WITHOUT USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I ASKED HER IF SHE IS SURE THE CARE WAS NOT IN NEUTRAL AND SHE SAID IT WAS ABSOLUTELY 100% IN THE REVERSE POSITION. ALSO SHE STATED THE BRAKES ARE MAKING A HISSING SOUND LIKE WHEN YOU LET AIR OUT OF TIRES, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME AND HER BRAKES SEEM FINE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT ANY RECALLS THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AND ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO DO TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE FOR HER TO BE DRIVING AT THE MOMENT AND SHE HAS STATED THAT WHEN THE ISSUE HAPPENS, IT FEELS LIKE HER AND THE CAR JERK FORWARD WITH A VERY VIOLENT EXCESSIVE FORCE. I WOULD LIKE CORRESPONDENCE STARTED IN CASE IN CASE ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY DAUGHTER WHILE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE IS APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. THIS IS THE 3RD OF 4 WINDOW REGULATORS TO FAIL. REAR PASSENGER WINDOW FAILED TO ASCEND LEAVING CABIN OPEN TO WEATHER. POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENT INCREASED AS DRIVER WAS FORCED TO DIVIDE ATTENTION BETWEEN FAILED WINDOW AND DRIVING TASKS AT NEAR HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE - PUT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW DOWN (WINDOW OPEN). WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT UP, IT ONLY WENT HALF-WAY UP, THEN AUTOMATICALLY WENT BACK DOWN. AFTER TRYING TO GET IT TO GO UP TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES, THERE WAS A LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE AND A CRACKING NOISE, SO I STOPPED TRYING TO MOVE IT. CURRENTLY IN THE HALF-WAY POSITION. AFTER READING OTHER VW OWNER FORUMS ONLINE, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A VW BEETLE IN MAY OF 2010, FOR MY BIRTHDAY FROM HOLLYWOOD AUTO BROKERS IN LOS ANGELES, CA. THE CAR RAN SMOOTH FOR ABOUT A COURSE OF FIVE TO SIX MONTHS, I HAD TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP EARLY ON BECAUSE MY HEAD LIGHTS WERE OUT WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR, A JERKING AND EXTREMELY WEIRD DECELERATION OF THE CAR WOULD BEGIN, BUT IT WOULD "POP BACK TO NORMAL" AFTER A WHILE, MAYBE THREE TO TEN SECONDS. THIS HAD GONE ON AND HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE FIVE MONTHS AFTER I BROUGHT IT. I FINALLY MADE IT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE RODE WITH ME ON A TEST DRIVE AROUND THE CORNER AND OF COURSE IT DIDN'T REPEAT THE PREVIOUS SHOW OF DEFECTS. HE ASSURED ME THE CAR IS JUST BEING BROKEN IN. A YEAR GOES BY AND I DECIDED I WANT TO TRADE IN MY CAR FOR ANOTHER CAR, SO I HEAD TO NISSAN. I TEST DRIVE A CAR AND LOVE IT AND THEN GO IN FOR THE PAPER WORK. THE GUY RUNS MY VIN TO SEE MY CAR VALUE AND COME BACKS AND TELL ME MY CAR TITLE IS SALVAGED. TO MY DISBELIEF AND DISGUST, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY FINANCIAL COMPANY, AL FINANCIAL OF GLENDALE, CA THAT I AM LEASING THE CAR FROM. THEY GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND AND ASSURE ME THAT THE TITLE IS CLEAN AND NOT A SALVAGE. I CONTINUE ON MY INVESTIGATION AND COME TO A CARFAX WEBSITE TO GET THE REAL FACTS ON MY DEFECTED VEHICLE. THE INFORMATION REVEALS THAT NOT ONLY IS THE TITLE SALVAGE BUT IT HAD BODILY DAMAGE AND HAD BEEN TOTALED OUT FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY FROM IT'S PREVIOUS OWNER. THE CAR HAD BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM MEXICO AND REGISTERED IN THE STATES AGAIN AS A NEW CAR I BELIEVE. I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS SITUATION ASAP AND GET SOME CLOSURE ON A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT IS MESSING WITH MY INCOME AS I AM A TRAVEL NURSE FOR HOSPICE PATIENTS. RECENTLY THE WATER PUMP HAS GONE OUT AND I'M NOT SURE YET IF I NEED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS. I HOPE I CAN HEAR AN RESPONSE IN A GOOD ENOUGH AMOUNT OF TIME SO I CAN WORK OUT AN REIMBURSEMENT OF SOME KIND WITH PAYMENT ON EITHER BEHALF. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NOTHING LED UP TO THE FAILURE. THE WINDOWS IN MY NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE NO LONGER FUNCTION. I HAVE HAD TWO OF THESE FIXED ALREADY, AND NOW ONE OF THE BACK WINDOWS IS BROKEN. I NOTICED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY OTHER NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE OWNERS AS WELL. I AM HOPING THAT THERE IS A RECALL TO THIS ISSUE AS IT EFFECTS SO MANY OTHER OWNERS. *TR

MY CAR IS A CERTIFIED USED VW BEETLE. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING A FEW MONTHS AGO, ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR. THIS WAS AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD ON THE CAR, AND I KNOW IT IS USED, BUT I NOW COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED, IN FACT ARE BLATANTLY ON THIS WIKI FOR THE CAR (WHICH UNFORTUNATELY, EITHER WAS NOT UP WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR, OR I DID NOT READ IT CAREFULLY) HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/VOLKSWAGEN_NEW_BEETLE "THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FOR EXAMPLE, IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED ISSUE, OFTEN FAILING AFTER ONLY A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF USE." THERE ARE NUMEROUS PAGES WHERE THIS IS NOTED NOW ACROSS THE WEB: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F124D77 HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/VW_BEETLE.HTML SOME INCIDENTS NOTED SHOW THE DANGER OF THIS SITUATION. LUCKILY THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ME, BUT NOW I AM LOOKING AT REPLACING A WHOLE TRANSMISSION (ALONG WITH FAILED DOOR MOTORS AND SUCH). IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, HOW CAN VW GET AWAY WITH CERTIFYING THIS CAR, WITHOUT AT LEAST A WARNING OR A LONGER WARRANTY ON PARTS THEY KNOW WILL FAIL. I CONSIDER THIS A FRAUD PERPETRATED ON ME. UNFORTUNATELY THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH, AND YET, WE STILL OWE MONEY ON IT TO VW FOR OUR LOAN. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED HERE. THANK YOU. *TR

PURCHASED MY 2004 CONVERTIBLE BEETLE IN MAY OF 2011 WITH 83,000 MILES AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND JERKING. IT STARTED GETTING WORSE AS TIME WENT ON, SO WE HAD A MECHANIC PUT IN SOME LUCAS TRANS FIX, IT HELPED A LITTLE BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SLIPPING AND JERKING IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS TO BE RECALLED. NOTICED ON EDMUNDS.COM THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND JERKING. ALSO NOTICED THAT VW AMERICA HAS NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. SO I AM DOCUMENTING MY COMPLAINT AND I AM ASKING ALL 2004 BEETLE OWNERS TO DO THE SAME IN HOPES TO PUT PRESSURE ON VW TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THE ENGINEERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAILED THIS PROGRAM, I HOPE YOU IDIOTS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR MISTAKES. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAY ON(CONCERNED ABOUT NOT WORKING PROPERLY IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT) TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP FOR CODE READ: AIRBAG MODULE SHORTED. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND CARPET NEED TO BE REMOVED FOR REPLACEMENT OF AIRBAG BECAUSE WIRE UNDER THE SEAT IS TOO SHORT THAT IT TORN WHEN THE SEAT WAS MOVED FORWARD TO ALLOW ACCESS TO REAR SEAT. THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURED FAULT. *TR

BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT BOLT WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT; BROKE AFTER ACCELERATING ON A TRAFFIC LIGHT. ENGINE MOUNT WAS REPLACED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,631.

VEHICLE IS A 2004 VW NEW BEETLE - PROBLEM IS AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON DUE TO A BROKEN WIRE IN THE WIRING THAT LEADS INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH. I HAD THE CODE DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC AND I VISUALLY INSPECTED THE 4 WIRES UNDER THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND THE YELLOW WIRE IS BROKEN. AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING FLAW AS THIS PART GETS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT DUE TO THE SEATBACK MOVING FORWARD AND BACKWARD WHEN PUTTING THE SEAT UP TO GET INTO THE BACK SEAT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES ON IT SO IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN VERY MUCH IN THE 7 YEARS WE HAVE HAD IT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS - WE SELL ALOT OF THOSE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH ASSEMBLIES DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR FOR FREE AS THERE IS NO RECALL AND NO BULLETIN ON THE ISSUE. READ NUMEROUS SITES AND ENTRIES ALL OVER THE WEB AND IT APPEARS MANY OWNERS OF THESE CARS (MANY DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS) ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. CALLED VW AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD AT LEAST PROVIDE ME WITH A FREE PART AS I WOULD DO THE REPLACEMENT MYSELF. THEY CHECKED AND DENIED MY REQUEST. AS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. A RECALL SHOULD BE PLACED ON THE SEATBELT LATCHES AS THE WIRING USED AND THE DESIGN ARE NOT AT ALL INDUSTRIAL ENOUGH TO HOLD UP OVER TIME. *TR

THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG SENSORS. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD THE SENSORS REPLACED (THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY BASED ON TIME). VW REFUSED ULTIMATELY REIMBURSED US FOR THE REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSORS. IN JANUARY OF 2011 THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER CHARGED A FEE TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE LIGHT WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, AND THE FACT THAT THE BATTERY WAS DISCHARGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THEY WANTED APPROXIMATELY $480 TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, AND $245 TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. I CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE BUCKLE FOR NO CHARGE, BUT WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE BATTERY. VW OPENED A CASE # 110006836 AND REGIONAL MANAGER LISA WAS THE CONTACT. WE HAD AAA COME TO DO A TEST ON THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM BOTH PASSED THE TEST. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT A TRICKLE CHARGE WOULD BRING THE BATTERY TO A FULL CHARGE. IN ADDITION, VW AGREED TO DO A ONE TIME COURTESY REPLACEMENT OF THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF SINCE THE FABRIC HAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR WINDOW. A CLIP RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED, BUT THE HEADLINER WAS HANGING DOWN AND HAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR WINDOW. WE FEARED THAT THE WINDOW COULD SEPARATE FROM THE ROOF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. STATEMENT INDICATES THAT VW PERFORMED 61.07-02 TECH BULLETIN TO PERFORM MODIFICATIONS TO THE REAR WINDOW.

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN EARLIER RECALL DUE TO SENSORS. WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND NOT DUE TO SENSORS. WE WERE ALSO ORIGINALLY TOLD IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY BATTERY. HOWEVER, THE BATTERY WAS CHECKED BY AAA AND WAS NOT FAULTY. EVENTUALLY VW AGREED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *TR

MY 2004 VW NEW BEETLE WITH 81,000 MILES ON IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. HARSH SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS; DID A TRANS FLUSH; NOW IT WON'T COME OUT OF 3RD GEAR. BEEN SITTING SINCE JANUARY IN MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH IS $5,800 + TAX. MY DAUGHTER WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES! VW HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE FAILED TRANSMISSIONS. PURCHASE 2-1/2 YEARS AGO - STILL OWE ANOTHER 2-1/2 YEARS OF PAYMENTS AND I THOUGHT THIS CAR WOULD GET MY DAUGHTER THROUGH COLLEGE AND BEYOND - BOY WAS I WRONG. THEY CERTAINLY DON'T MAKE VWS THE WAY THEY USE TO. I HAD A BUG WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE AND THE FLOORBOARDS RUSTED OUT BEFORE THE MECHANICS OF THE CAR! *TR

HEADLIGHT BULBS BURN OUT EVERY THREE MONTHS OR SO. I AM AN ENGINEER, AND HAVE INSURED THAT THE CONNECTIONS ARE TIGHT, AND THE HOUSING IS FREE OF MOISTURE. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS!! *TR

THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE REAR WINDOW WAS SEPARATING FROM THE TOP. PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED MODIFICATION TO REAR WINDOW HEADLINER RING. CLIP RECALL ALREADY PERFORMED AND HEADLINER CONTINUED TO HANG DOWN AND WAS SEPARATING FROM THE WINDOW. WINDOW COULD SEPARATE FROM ROOF AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR

MY 2004 BEETLE RAN FINE FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER A PURCHASED IT FROM THE DEALER, NOW THE CAR STOPS RUNNING AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, DURING MY TRAVEL TO WORK. I HAVE READ SEVERAL POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET STATING THE SAME ISSUES FROM THOUSANDS OF VW OWNERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD MY CAR DIAGNOSIS STATING I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANS, BUT THERES NO INDICATION TRANS FAILURE. ONE WEEK THERE CAR RUNS GREAT THEN, NEXT IT STOPS DURING TRAVEL AND HAS JERKY FEELS DURING MOVEMENT. I'M SURE THERE HUNDRED OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUES AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY TOO MANY TO LIST. *KB

2004 VW BEETLE TURBO BEGAN JERKING, SURGING, ETC, SEPT/OCT OF 2010. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS, AS OBVIOUS. STAFF SAID NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, BUT PAID OVER $1000 FOR "OTHER" ISSUES. DEC. 2010 CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE. LOST ALL POWER! CAR WILL SURGE UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. UNABLE TO CONTROL AS CAR SHIFTS ITSELF INAPPROPRIATELY. THE HAPPENS EVERYDAY AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP. EVERY TIME YOU BRAKE OR ACCELERATE, IT JERKS, SURGES, STALLS, ETC. FINALLY, APRIL 19, 2011, (3 CAR SHOPS LATER), ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SHOP CONFIRMED MY PROBLEMS. ONLY 69,000 MILES ON MY CAR . . NEED NEW TRANSMISSION! VW DEALERSHIP HAS TURNED THEIR BACK ON ME AND "COVERED UP" THE FACT THAT THIS MODEL CAR HAS MAJOR TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS AND WAS MADE DEFECTIVE. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THIS HORRIFIC ORDEAL. A RECALL IS IMPERATIVE. I COULD HAVE HAD TWO CARS FOR THE PRICE THAT I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR. VERY UNSAFE AND SCARY RIDE. AN INJUSTICE AND INSULT TO THE PUBLIC, HARD-WORKING TAX-PAYERS!!! *TR

I HAVE A 2004 VW NEWBEETLE. MY CAR WAS SHIFTING FUNNY AND SHAKING AS IT DROVE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A TRIPTONIC SWITCH. THEY REPLACED IT. AFTER TEST DRIVING THE CAR WITH THIS NEW PART THEY DETERMINED THIS WASN'T THE PROBLEM AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF 5400.00. *TR

WINDOW REGULATOR ON OUR 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE FAILED ON THE SECOND REAR WINDOW ON DECEMBER 18, 2010. THE FIRST OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2010. ACCORDING TO OUR REPAIRMAN, THIS WINDOW REGULATOR IS A VERY POOR DESIGN AND HAPPENS ON MANY BEETLES, EVEN NEW 2010 VERSIONS. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR ITS DESIGN PROBLEM. OUR COST TO REPAIR WILL BE $850 TO $1,000. *TR

I DO NOT KNOW WHO TO TURN TO NOW. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. I PURCHASED THE CAR MARCH, 2010 AND A FEW WEEKS AGO IT STARTED ACTING UP. THE GEARS HAVE BEEN SHIFTING VERY VIOLENTLY, SO MUCH SO THAT IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE REAR ENDED ME EVERY TIME. MIND YOU, THIS ONLY HAPPENS AFTER I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR FOR MORE THAN 15 MILES, SO I FIGURE THAT IT'S ONCE THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY COOLED. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN IN NOVEMBER, 2010 FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS FIXED AND NOW THEY TELL ME THAT I WAS ONLY COVERED UNTIL SEPTEMBER, 2010. THE LETTER SAYS IT WILL COVER TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST FROM THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL IN-SERVICE DATE. THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO ME BECAUSE TECHNICALLY I'M STILL ON THE 7TH YEAR AND I'M CURRENTLY AT 54K MILES. I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE A LOT OF BEETLE OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME MISFORTUNE AND VOLKSWAGEN IS DOING NOTHING OF THE MATTER BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT WILL COST THEM MILLIONS. THIS IS VERY UPSETTING, SEEING THAT I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AND IT'S HAD 2 PREVIOUS OWNERS. I TRIED CALLING VOA AND THE "MANAGER" TELLS ME THAT THEY'RE LOOKING INTO THE MATTER BECAUSE THEY HAVE GOTTEN A HIGH VOLUME CALL THIS WHOLE WEEK REGARDING THIS. I CALL 2 DAYS LATER AND THEY TELL ME THAT I AM OUT OF LUCK. IT REALLY DOES SEEM THAT THIS IS A DESIGNER FLAW, AND VW IS FAILING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE. *TR

2007 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TRANSMISSION, VALVE BODY DEFECT. VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT AND ONLY SOLUTIONS IS REPLACING BOTH WITH A COST OF ABOUT 6000.00 FOR TRANSMISSION AND 2000.00 FOR VALVE BODY. VERY UNSAFE CONDITION WHEN YOU ARE ON THE FREEWAY AND YOUR CAR WILL NOT SHIFT. *TR

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND SLIPS IN LOWER GEARS. *TR

MY 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH TRIPTONIC TRANSMISSION, WITH ONLY 55,000 MILES, LURCHES IN THE LOWER GEARS AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY BETWEEN THE LOWER GEARS AND OFTEN REVS UP TO 5000 RPM BEFORE IT "CLUNKS" INTO HIGHER GEAR. THE VW DEALER MECHANIC WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, AT A COST TO ME OF $6800. MY RESEARCH HAS LEARNED THAT THE FIRST GENERATION OF VW?S DOUBLE CLUTCH TRANSMISSIONS HAD A CHRONIC WEAK POINT. THEY COMBINE A WET CLUTCH (AS IN TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC) AND A GEAR PART (AS IN TRADITIONAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION), HOWEVER BOTH ARE LUBRICATED OUT OF SAME OIL SUMP. THE GEAR PART CAUSES THE OIL TO BE MORE CONTAMINATED WITH WEAR PARTICLES (VS. TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THIS CONTAMINATED OIL IS USED ALSO IN THE VALVE BODY AND THE WET CLUTCH, AND THESE WEAR PARTICLES CAN DETERIORATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WET CLUTCH (CLUTCH MATERIAL, RESULTING IN SLIPPAGE, OR CLUTCH AND GEAR CHANGE HYDRAULIC CONTROLS, RESULTING IN DEFECTIVE SHIFT STRATEGIES). ONCE THAT HAPPENS, DAMAGE IS USUALLY IRREVERSIBLE. VW CHANGED THE OIL SERVICE RECOMMENDATION RECOMMEND FROM (FILL FOR LIFE) OR 100,000 MILES TO 40,000 MILES. EVEN AT THIS REDUCED AMOUNT, THEY CLEARLY STILL HAD A PROBLEM. THEY PROBABLY MODIFIED THE DESIGN SINCE BUT HAVE NOT ADMITTED IT. VW HAS NOT BEEN ETHICAL IN THEIR HANDLING OF THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION DESIGN. THE TRANSMISSION CAN FAIL AT ANYTIME CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE FREEWAY, TURNING ACROSS TRAFFIC, ETC. VW OF AMERICA ACTS LIKE THIS IS A NEW PROBLEM THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. SUGGESTS REPLACING A PRESSURE SENSOR AND REPLACING TRANSMISSION FLUID AT A COST OF $700 PLUS THE $150 FOR DIAGNOSING. LOCAL EUROPEAN REPAIR (WELL RESPECTED) SAYS PRESSURE SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION VALVE CASING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TOGETHER (COST $2000)...IF LUCKY THIS WILL DELAY FULL BLOWN TRANSMISSION SELF DESTRUCTION. VW OF AMERICA IS SCREWING LOYAL CUSTOMERS BY NOT REPAIRING DESIGN FLAW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM SECOND GEAR BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY HARD SHIFT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WELL IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. FIRST THING, THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE LIGHTS. THE TOP WILL NOT COME DOWN BY IT SELF. THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON ( AIR BAG, BRAKES, CHECK ENGINE, EMISSIONS). SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE HOLES IN THE MUFFLER. LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW FELL DOWN AND THEY WON'T 800 TO FIX, THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. *TR

AT 64,000 MILES MY 2004 VW , AUTOMATIC, BEGIN TO "JUMP" GEARS BETWEEN THE 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AFTER IT WARMED UP. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER. AFTER BEING TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OUT, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE CERTAIN IT WAS THE GEAR BOX BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHOW UP IN THE DIAGNOSTIC AS THE PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE GEAR BOX WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I DID NOT AUTHORIZE THE WORK AND TOOK IT TO ANOTHER VW REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT NOT SHOWING UP IN THE DIAGNOSTIC. I HAVE NO CONFIRMATION OF THE PROBLEM AND THE WORK IS EXPENSIVE, THE ESTIMATE FOR THE GEAR BOX REPLACEMENT (WITHOUT GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM WAS IN EXCESS OF $2,000. THE OTHER GAMBLE WAS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF $5,000 PLUS LABOR. I STILL DON'T HAVE CONFIRMATION OF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT THE REPAIR OPTIONS ARE COSTLY AND A GAMBLE AT BEST. *TR

[XXX] I RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IN NOVEMBER 2010 EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON MY 2004 VW BEETLE FOR HARD SHIFTING CAUSED BY THE VALVE BODY. MY BEETLE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER. I SUBMITTED THE FORM FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE TO THE VALVE BODY. MY CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS REFUSED BY MARTIN A. CUSTOMER CARE ADVOCATE. HE STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE THE EXTENSION COVER REPAIRS TO THE VALVE BODY ONLY. I AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE VALVE BODY ONLY. WHEN THE REPAIR SHOP INSPECTED MY BEETLE FOR THE HARD SHIFTING ISSUE, THEY ALSO INSPECTED THE TRANSMISSION AND FOUND EXCESSIVE METAL DEBRIS IN THE 'PAN'. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THEY RECOMMENDED REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION AT THE SAME TIME AS REPLACING THE VALVE BODY. I COULD HAVE ELECTED NOT TO HAVE REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION AT THAT TIME. I AM BEING TOLD THAT MY CLAIM IS BEING REFUSED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VALVE BODY WAS RELATED TO THE REPAIR OF THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IT CLEARLY WAS NOT. VW OFFERED THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND ANY EXCUSE TO NOT FULFILL THIS OFFER. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON FEBRUARY 25TH TO EXPLAIN THAT THE VALVE BODY REPLACEMENT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION AND WAS VERY FRUSTRATED WHEN THE ADVOCATE REPEATEDLY INTERRUPTED ME AS I ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN THIS TO HER. MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE PURCHASED MULTIPLE VEHICLES FROM VW OVER THE YEARS AND ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY VW IS DENYING THIS VALID CLAIM, WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO BE LOYAL VW OWNERS AND ARE HOPEFUL THAT VW WILL DO THE RIGHT THING FOR US. PLEASE REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS THAT I HAVE INCLUDED AND I'M SURE YOU WILL BE IN AGREEMENT THAT THIS CLAIM SHOULD BE APPROVED. PLEASE CONTACT THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

2004 VW BEETLE - FAULTY TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VIOLENTLY INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS CAUSING THE CAR TO JOLT FORWARD. AT OTHER TIMES IT BECOMES STUCK IN 1ST GEAR SO AS YOU ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO INCREASE SPEED ENOUGH TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC APPROACHING FROM BEHIND. A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE FOR SAME PROBLEM. VW ADMITS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND SHIFTING DIFFICULTY ON 1998 - 2006 AUTOMATIC'S. THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR REPAIRS, BUT ONLY COVER THE VALVE BOX, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL VW DEALER IS NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 04 BEETLE CONV. AND AT AROUND 78,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING SLUGGISH AND WOULD MAKE A LOUD POPPING SOUND AS IT SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND JOLTED U FORWARD, NOW IT IS AT AROUND 81,000 AND WILL ONLY SHIFT THROUGH FIRST AND SECOND GEARS SAFELY. WHEN IT HITS 35MPH THE RPM'S RAISE RAPIDLY AND THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY COME TO REST AT 25 MPH AND GO NO FASTER. IF I SLAM ON THE BREAKS IT GETS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR AND WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO REACH 50 MPH MAX AT 5,500 RPM'S.. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AND THEY JUST TELL ME THAT A MY ONLY OPTION IS TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF 5,813.00+LABOR OR TRADE IT IN FOR A VALUE SOMEWHERE AROUND 1,500.00 AND REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM BETWEEN BEETLES, JETTAS, GOLFS, AND GTI'S. WITH CAR TRANSMISSIONS COMPLETELY GOING OUT OR ACTING LIKE THIS ON THE ROAD, IM A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO WHY VW HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO DEAL WITH THIS AND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED? *TR

2004 VW BEETLE SLIPPING BANGING TRANSMISSION 4500-7000 DOLLAR FIX SEEMS TO BE ON MOST CARS. SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM VW. *TR

2004 VOLKSWAGEN 'NEW BEETLE' HAS SERIOUS DESIGN / OEM-COMPONENT FLAWS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, CREATING VERY-DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE 'STALLS' (STEP ON GAS, MOTOR REVS, BUT TRANSM. DOES NOT ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY) IN TRAFFIC. VW IS AWARE OF THIS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SENT A 'WARRANTY-EXTENSION / REPLACEMENT OFFER' LETTER FOR THE VALVE-BODY OF THE TRANSM., HOWEVER, DEALER 'COMPUTER' SAYS IT'S NOT THE VALVE-BODY, BUT RATHER A 'MECHANICAL ISSUE DUE TO AN INCORRECT GEAR RATIO' AND OFFERS A COMPLETE TRANSM. REPLACEMENT FOR $5500. (!) NOT A VERY 'HELPFUL' SOLUTION FOR A CAR WORTH THAT OR LESS. IT WOULD SEEM THERE IS A 'CONTROL' PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THEIR OEM COMPONENTS (IE: TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND/OR SOLENOID-PACK) AS THERE ARE *THOUSANDS* OF OWNERS WITH SUCH PROBLEMS, ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, AND IMHO, VW NEEDS TO RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX / REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS - HERE IS A LINK TO A 20-PAGE THREAD DETAILING OTHERS' EXPERIENCES: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F124D77/0?@704.H96PAXOBGWB@ - THIS IS *NOT* A 'SINGLE-CONSUMER' OR 'PERSONAL PERIODIC-MAINTENANCE ISSUE', AND MAY HAVE GRAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR SOMEONE / SOME FAMILY(IES) IF NOT RECALLED BY VW -PLEASE, HELP US! *TR

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED IN THE DOWN POSITION ON MY 2004 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE REGULATOR HAS FAILED ON MANY NEW BEETLES. THE WINDOW REGULATOR HAS BEEN COVERED FOR 2003 - 2005 NEW BEETLE SEDANS BUT NOT CONVERTIBLES. I WANT TO DOCUMENT THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS ON THE CONVERTIBLES AS WELL. *TR

I OWN A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE THAT HAS A TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION WITH ALMOST 69,000 MILES. IT STARTED JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT VW/AUDI REPAIR SHOP HAD DIAGNOSTICS RUN AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD, AND THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM FREQUENTLY SEEN WITH 2004 BEETLES THAT HAVE THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. THE COST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE $5700.00 PLUS TAX, AND A USED TRANSMISSION WOULD BE $4400.00 PLUS TAX. I CALLED THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TO ASK ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF THE PROBLEM AND WHETHER VW WAS PLANNING ANY TYPE OF RECALL DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION, AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM DIDN'T WARRANT A RECALL AT THIS TIME. I THINK A $6200.00 REPAIR FOR A CAR THAT IS WORTH AROUND $10,000.00 IS INSANE. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2004 BEETLES AND THE EXCESSIVE COST OF REPAIR, VW SHOULD RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SCRAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE CAUSED BY THE SEPARATION OF THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH THE FLYWHEEL AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000.

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, IT STARTED TO JUST JERK RIGHT AROUND THE TIME I WOULD BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKES BUT HAD THEM CHECKED OUT AND THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. THEN THE CAR STARTED GETTING WORSE. WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS IN LOW GEARS WHETHER SHIFTING UP OR DOWN THE CAR JERKS AND SOMETIMES STALLS. *TR

THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC DRIVING UP THE DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC...WHEN I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE SO I FINALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PULL OVER AND LET THE CAR COOL DOWN. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS AGAIN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD THEM I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM...SAD THING IS I HAVE HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP ON 3 OTHER TIMES SINCE LATE MAY FOR THEM TO 1) REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, 2) REPLACE THE COMPUTER TRANSMISSION CHIP, 3) REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION...ALL IN ALL I HAVE BEEN OUT ABOUT $7K INCLUDING RENTALS AND EVERYTHING. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT IN THE OTHER CASES I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IT WAS WHEN I WAS GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AFTER DRIVING A BIT THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP. THIS TIME HOWEVER COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT SINCE IT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS IN MAJOR TRAFFIC. IN TOTAL THE VW DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 10 WEEKS SINCE LATE MAY...THIS IS TERRIBLE. I AM NOT THE ONLY CONSUMER WITH VW BEETLE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SEVERAL OUT THERE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS. CAN SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF THE CONSUMER SUFFERING?? OR DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE WORST CASES SIMILAR TO TOYOTA OR FORD? *TR

DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW FAILED 9-22-10. I PUT THE WINDOWS DOWN. I TRIED TO PUT THE WINDOWS BACK UP AS IT WAS STARTING TO RAIN. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW WILL ONLY GO HALF WAY UP AND THEN STOPS AND GOES BACK DOWN. *TR

PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION, GEAR STUCK IN LOW. *TR

2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 77K MILES. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED/REBUILT AT A COST OF $4,500. *TR

I HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REGARDING MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AT 71,000 MILES, IT HAS HAD HARD SHIFTING ISSUES AND HAS ACTUALLY JERKED FORWARD WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AT A LIGHT, AND THEN HAS PROCEEDED TO GET STUCK IN 3RD GEAR UNTIL IT WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. VOLKSWAGEN HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY, BUT THEY HAVE DETERMINED, $300.00 LATER, THAT IT IS NOT THE VALVE BODY, BUT NEEDS THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT A COST OF $6,300.00. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS! *TR

I OWN A 2004 VW NEW BEETLE, GLS 2.0 AUTOMATIC, WITH 56,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS MAKING A QUICK TRIP DOWN THE STREET AT AROUND 30MPH WHEN MY GEARS SUDDENLY STARTED SLIPPING, CAUSING MY RPM TO SHOOT DANGEROUSLY HIGH AND MY CAR TO SLOW DOWN. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE THE CAR UNDER 30MPH TO WORK (1.5 MILES AWAY) AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE ONLY WAY I COULD DRIVE SAFELY WAS TO LET OFF OF THE GAS EVERY TIME THE GEAR CHANGED AND SLIPPED. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. THE GENTLEMAN I SPOKE WITH AT THE SHOP SAID HE HAD SEEN A LOT OF VW BEETLES COMING IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, ALL UNDER 100K MILES. UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE $4,000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR AND AM NOW LEFT WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION INDEFINITELY. I AM EXTREMELY ANGERED BY THE FACT THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO A CAR AT ONLY 56,000 MILES. *TR

THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON THE 2004 NBC ARE DEFECTIVE. BOTH OF MY REAR WINDOWS HAVE BROKEN. ACCORDING TO VW, THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WHERE THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS FOR 7 YEARS. WHEN I CALLED TO SEE ABOUT MINE THEY SAID THE CONVERTIBLES WERE NOT COVERED, EVEN THOUGH THE SAME PARTS WERE USED. THE WINDOWS BROKE WHEN I ROLLED THEM DOWN TO GET THE MORNING CONDENSATION OFF OF THEM. AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC WILL CHARGE ME $260 PER WINDOW VERSUS THE $500 PER WINDOW QUOTED BY VW. *TR

RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND WINDOW BECAME INOPERABLE. VW ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT NOT A RECALL. REPAIR IS $1200 FOR ONE WINDOW REGULATOR.