2004 Volkswagen Beetle Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE ALTERNATOR BURNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.

2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATOR ARE DEFECTIVE AND DON'T WORK

I STRONGLY FEEL THAT WE OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACING AN EXPENSIVE TRANSMISSION WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS A RECOGNIZABLE "PRE-EXISTING CONDITION" THAT COULD VERY WELL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MY 2004 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TURBO BEGAN SHIFTING GEARS ROUGHLY, JERKING AND SLIPPING ON UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING A FEW MONTHS AGO AT 52K MILES. ONLY AFTER WARMING UP. SOUND FAMILIAR? YES, MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $6000, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND A PRIVATE AUTO TRANS SHOP. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED ON TIME BY THE SAME DEALER. NEVER ABUSED. SINCE MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THESE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS, AND SINCE IT MIGHT LEAD TO AN ABRUPT GEAR FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE. WEB SEARCHES REVEAL THE PROBLEM TO BE ACROSS MODEL YEARS. WEAR & TEAR? NO, I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN IN NO.CAL. AND DRIVE MOSTLY FREEWAY MILES IN LIGHT TRAFFIC WITH FEW GEAR CHANGES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR

THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY AT AROUND 60,000 MILES. WE HAVE OUR 04 VW AT A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND I AM BEING TOLD THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH OF A PROBLEM THAT VW CHANGED THE DESIGN FROM 2004 TO 2005. VW DOES NOT ADMIT ANYTHING AND SAYS THAT THE CAR MUST BE TAKEN TO A VW DEALERSHIP IN ORDER THAT THEY CAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, I DO NOT BELIEVE THEM. *TR

MY 2004 VW BEETLE SHOWED AN AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT. I TOOK IT TO VW UNDER A RECALL AND THEY FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR FREE. 3 MONTHS LATER THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. VW SAID THE CAR HAD A BAD DRIVERS SEAT BELT BUCKLE. COST WOULD BE $ 331.07 PLUS TAX. I STILL HAVE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ON. IT STAYS ON CONSTANTLY. I WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT A BAD SEAT BELT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CAR COMPANY. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY HAS TROUBLE UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. IT JERKS, HESITATES AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD. IT STARTS OCCURRING AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MIN DRIVE. IT IS ESPECIALLY UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. THE CAR SLOWS DOWN, THE PANEL SHOWS DOWNSHIFTED GEAR, CAR ALMOST STOPS, THEN MAKES A SHARP SUDDEN MOVEMENT FORWARD. IT IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT INTERSECTIONS, BECAUSE OF UNCONTROLLABLE JERKS. *TR

HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP THE TRANSMISSION STICKS FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN JERKS INTO GEAR, CAUSING A DANGEROUS LURCH FORWARD. IT IS MY DAUGHTERS CAR AND SHE IS SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE SHE HAS ALMOST WRECKED ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDOW MOTORS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED AT HER EXPENSE. THE SEAT BELTS LATCHES HAD ALSO FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD INTERMITTENTLY JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO UP SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHENEVER HE STARTED HIS VEHICLE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF AND THEN REMAINS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS AND HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR A MONTH AND A HALF. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING; NOW, WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES, IT IS SLIPPING CONSTANTLY, RESULTING IN INCREASED DRIVING DANGER. ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS WEBSITES, THIS APPEARS TO BE AN UNCOMFORTABLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM FOR MANY OWNERS OF NEW BEETLES, 2003 - 2005. THIS WILL BE AN EXPENSIVE FIX, REQUIRING A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS MY CAR'S GEARS HAVE BEEN ACTING UP, SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR; AND IN MORE THEN 10 CASES COMPLETELY GOING OUT OF GEAR AND LEAVING MY CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE IM DRIVING (IN SOME CASES ON THE FREEWAY). THE CAR JERKS WHEN IT DOWN SHIFTS, AND ALSO JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING INTO CERTAIN GEARS. AT FIRST, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED RARELY. NOW IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ----- I BOUGHT A 2004 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, IT IS SO CUTE AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A LOT OF FUN. WHEN RUNNING COLD THE CAR WAS FINE, AFTER WARMING UP, IT STARTED JERKING AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. *TR BY THE WAY, WHY TRANSMISSION IS NOT ONE OF THE COMPONENT IN YOUR SITE? I HAVE TO CHOOSE UNKNOWN/OTHER INSTEAD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE GLS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ABNORMALLY JERKING WHILE SWITCHING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN ONE MONTH. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION GEAR BOX. SHORTLY AFTER, THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED WHICH WERE ALSO REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND JERKING ON HI WAYS AND STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. MY VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS APPROX 68,000 MILES AT THE TIME. I HAVE HAD A FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE CAR DID NOT MOVE ON THE FREEWAY SINCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THIS PROBLEMS OCCURS EVERYDAY AFTER THE CAR IS RAN FOR AROUND 5 MILES. MY VW IS A 2004 VW BEETLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO VW THINKING IT WAS DUE FOR AN ADJUSTMENT OR AN OIL CHANGE. I WAS GIVEN RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE OIL MAY NEEDED TO BE TOPPED OFF OR THE COMPUTER MAY NEEDED TO BE CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THAT FOR 120.00 I COULD HAVE THE CAR DIAGNOSED. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO COME BACK IN A FEW HOURS. AFTER CALLING BACK I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS COOLING OFF AND THAT THE DEALER WAS GOING TO TOP OFF THE OIL FOR 40 DOLLARS MORE. I PAID A TOTAL OF 160.00 AND THAN WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD POSSIBLY NEED TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR 7,000 DOLLARS. THE SERVICE REP SAID I COULD PURCHASE A PART FOR 2,000 DOLLARS AND SEE IF THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT HE ALREADY HAS 5 TRANSMISSIONS HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. I FELT THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEW THIS WAS NOT GOING TO HELP BUT SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME SINCE I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE. I THAN CHECKED THE BLOGS FOR VW TRANSMISSION AND TO MY SURPRISE FOUND 240+ REASONS WHY I WAS NOT ALONE ON THIS ISSUE. PLEASE READ THE COMPLAINTS OF OTHER CONSUMERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THESE PEOPLE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS WHO CAN NOT AFFORD TO SPEND THEIR MONEY ON THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX?14@@.F124D77/0 PLEASE HELP US IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. AS ON BLOGGER SAID, WE DIDN'T BUY A VW SO WE COULD PAY EXPENSIVE MAINTENANCE COST. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. GOD BLESS HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX?14@@.F124D77/0. *TR

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AFTER DRIVING MY 2004 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE FOR ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES, MY CAR STARTS TO SHIFT (IT FEELS AS IF I HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED) AND MY CAR IS JERKED FORWARD. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RISK TO ME, MY PASSENGERS AND THE VEHICLES AROUND ME. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION ($7,000). AFTER MUCH THOUGHT AND SEVERAL WEEKS, I MOVED MY VEHICLE TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BEETLE CONVERTIBLES HAD A SPECIAL TRANSMISSION AND THAT REPLACING ONE WOULD BE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND THAT I SHOULD PUT IN A SALVAGED TRANSMISSION. COSTS BETWEEN $4000-$5000. THIS TRANSMISSION WILL ALSO HAVE THE RISK OF DEFECTION. I VOICED MY COMPLAINT WITH VOLKSWAGEN CORP. AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME SINCE MY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET ABOUT THIS. *TR

PASSENGER REAR WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BROKEN. I READ THAT MANY OTHER VW BEETLE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND TO REPORT MY PROBLEM HERE. MY CAR IS A 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. *TR

DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW GLASS DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, IT IS WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN BY USING THE AUTO GLASS OPERATOR

THE REAR WINDOWS ON MY VW CONVERTIBLE KEEP BREAKING AND THE DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE ME $600 FOR THE PART THAT INCLUDES THE MOTOR AND WILL NOT SELL THE REGULATOR SEPARATELY FOR $70. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND ONE BROKEN IN LESS THAN 1 YEAR. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT WILL NOT SHIFT OUT AND THEN JERK REAL BAD. DOWNSHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT COME OUT OF GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN TAKING OFF THE CAR WILL STALL AND THEN ENGAGE IN GEAR ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

THE PROBLEM IS REGARDING MY 2004 VW BEETLE - TRANSMISSION. I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY VW AT 86,000 MILES WITH NO HELP FROM VW...THE CAR WAS RUNNING VERY HARD, IT WOULD STAY IN 2 OR 3RD GEAR (THOUGH AN AUTOMATIC) AND THEN WOULD GO INTO "NEUTRAL"....THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 95 WITH HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS CHECKED BY A VW DEALER AND THEN TRIED A FEW THINGS, BUT COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT...THEN FINALLY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION - $6500 WITHOUT LABOR! I THEN BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL AAMCO AND THEN CONFIRMED THE NEED FOR A TRANSMISSION(FOR A LOT LESS) AND THEY ALSO NEEDED TO REBUILT SOME OTHER PARTS THAT WERE FAULTY. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN ISSUE FOR VW BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND A REFUND FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE ALREADY SPENT THE MONEY. *TR

HAVE NOTICED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS, AND GETTING WORSE, A STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR. IT CAUSES BAD HEADACHES, ALLERGIES, WORSENS MY ASTHMA. IT SEEMS LIKE A FILM OF IT COATS MY HAIR, SKIN AND CLOTHES, EVEN AFTER BEING IN THE HEAT FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME. IT ISN'T AS BAD DURING COLDER MONTHS, BUT SMELL IS STILL THERE. IT IS UNBEARABLE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE TO AVOID BEING IN THE VW AT THAT POINT. I HAVE READ MANY FORUMS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND IT SEEMS LIKE A HEALTH RISK. I CALLED VW LAST FALL TO REPORT IT AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD PUT COMPLAINT ON FILE BUT HAD NOT HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2004 AUTOMATIC VW BEETLE LAST YEAR FROM A DEALER. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN TO GO INTO NEUTRAL IN BETWEEN SHIFTING, AND SOMETIMES LOCKS INTO 3RD GEAR UNTIL I DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT ALMOST ALL THE 6 SPD. AUTOMATIC VOLKSWAGEN CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT 80,000 MILE, MINE HAS 84,000 ON IT NOW. I HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAY "THERE ARE NO ENGINE CODES, WE CAN'T FIX IT", BUT IT IS A HAZARD TO DRIVE BECAUSE IF YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY, IT WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL SOMETIMES, AND THE ENGINE JUST REVS UNTIL IT FINALLY SLAMS INTO GEAR. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED, BUT THAT HAS NO EFFECT. *TR

1. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING ACCELERATION. ON DE-ACCELERATION DOWNSHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION JERKS. 2. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND IS VERY DANGEROUS IF TRYING TO SPEED UP TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT OR PEDESTRIAN. 3. CURRENTLY OBTAINING ESTIMATE TO REPAIR VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE HAS 80,000 MILES AND I NOTICED OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. REPAIR COST OF $4,000 TO $6,000. *TR

LEFT REAR WINDOW IS STUCK IN DOWN POSITION. THE COMPONENT PART IS UNAVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND HAS TO BE ORDERED FROM THE FACTORY IN MEXICO. IT WILL TAKE 2-3 WEEKS FOR IT TO ARRIVE. COST OF REPAIR IS $800 FOR ONE SIDE. COMPLAINTS TO MANUFACTURER WHO WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AS THERE ARE NO RECALLS FILED EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE IS A CONVERTIBLE. THE HYDRAULIC TOP HAS MALFUNCTIONED SINCE THE DATE IT WAS PURCHASED. IT FINALLY SNAPPED OFF PORTIONS OF THE HYDRAULIC MECHANISMS AND PORTIONS OF THE INTERIOR FLAPS WHICH ARE NOW ALL OVER THE BACK SEAT. THE TOP HAD TO BE MANUALLY RAISED AND SECURED AND DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. ALTHOUGH THEY REPAIRED IT PREVIOUSLY, MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. DRIVER'S SEAT SPRING POKED THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A TERRIBLE BLIND SPOT WHILE BACKING OUT. THE RAG TOP COMPLETELY BLOCKS VISION ON THE RIGHT REAR. I HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERS NOTHING. I BELIEVE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED. I FEEL RIPPED OFF BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

REAR WINDOW MOTOR AND OR REGULATOR BREAKS LEAVING THE REAR WINDOW IN THE DOWN POSITION. *TR

MY VW BEETLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AND GETS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. IT SHIFTS HARD AND SURGES AT TAKE OFF . HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET HIT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN LEAVING A REDLIGHT. THE LATEST WAS TODAY WHEN TRYING TO TURN AND IT WAS STUCK IN 6TH GEAR. I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF IT RESET THE COMPUTER TO GET IT BACK IN FIRST GEAR. THIS OCCURS ONCE THE CAR HEATS UP AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT SHOW YOU WHAT GEAR IT IS IN AND WILL NOT SHIFT DOWN. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANT A NEW TRANSMISSION. HAVE LOOKED AT EDMONDS.COM AND MY VW IS NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2004 VW NEW BEETLE AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE GOING BAD. IT IS A SEALED SYSTEM SO NO ONE HAS TAMPERED WITH IT. AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WILL JERK VERY HARD WHEN TRYING TO DOWNSHIFT FROM A HIGHER SPEED TO A LOWER SPEED (ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO STOP). AT TIMES, IT WILL NOT SHIFT UP WHEN TRYING TO GO FROM A LOWER SPEED TO A HIGHER SPEED, THEREBY CAUSING A JERKING IN THE VEHICLE. THE PEOPLE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE ARE ALSO BEING JERKED FORWARD AND BACKWARD AS IN A WHIPLASH MOTION. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH A VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE THAT CLAIM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS A WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED/BLOGGED ABOUT THEIR PROBLEMS AND VW IS CLAIMING NO LINKAGE TO ANY OF THE EFFECTED VEHICLES. CAN YOU ASSIST IN THIS MATTER OR TELL ME WHERE I CAN GO TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE? *TR

2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2.0 LITER ENGINE. WHEN SLOWING DOWN, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS FROM 5TH GEAR DOWN TO 3RD GEAR, SEVERELY AFFECTING BRAKING. VW DEALERSHIP, WHERE PURCHASED THE CAR, AND WHICH HAS PROVIDED ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE, ADVISED TRANSMISSION IS SEALED, CAN'T REPLACE FLUIDS, CAN'T FIX, AND THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. ONLY 121K HIGHWAY MILES. REPLACEMENT WILL COST OVER $6K. ACCORDING TO EDMUNDS CARSPACE.COM THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPANT WITH VW BEETLES. DANGEROUS SITUATION DESERVES A RECALL BY VW AMERICA. *TR

REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NO LONGER COME UP. THE REGULATOR IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH LESS THAT 30K MILES. HAS 2 BROKEN REAR WINDOW MOTORS WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1700.00 TO FIX! MOTORS BLEW WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. *TR

I HAVE A 04 VOLKS.BEETLE THAT HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT JERKS REAL HARD WHEN YOU BREAK AND SWITCHING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR THEN FROM 4TH TO 3RD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GO TO STOP AND IT SEEMS NOT TO CATCH THEN JERK. MY CAR HAS ONLY 53,000 MILES AND ALREADY NEEDS A TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY QUOTED ME $5000.00 TO REBUILD THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT HAVE A COOLANT SENSOR AND THAT'S WHY IS JERKING CAUSE ITS HOT. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $7000.00. I'M A SINGLE PARENT OF 4 WHO TRULY CANNOT AFFORD THIS. *TR

A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY 2004 VW BEETLE CONV STARTED EXPERIENCING ERRATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING-IT WOULD "CLUNK" INTO 1ST/2ND/3RD GEARS, SOMETIMES TO THE POINT OF "SCREECHING" OFF AND ALMOST LAYING RUBBER. THIS HAPPENS AFTER ENGINE IS WARM--AFTER GETTING OFF A FREEWAY OR DRIVING FOR A FEW MILES. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO MY MECHANIC, AND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX PROBLEM, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE VW NEW BEETLE AFTER 60,000 MILES AND THAT THE ONLY FIX IS A NEW VALVE AND ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION COSTING FROM $4000 TO $7000. THIS INFO IS FROM MY TRUSTED MECHANIC OF OVER 30 YEARS. VW WILL NOT ADMIT TO ANY ENGINEERING FLAWS AND WILL NOT PAY TO FIX VEHICLE. IT DOES THIS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AT STOPLIGHTS AND INTERSECTIONS AND HAS NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH VW TO GET THIS FIXED AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR

I HAVE A 04 VW BEETLE CONV. THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. IT SHIFTS LATE & BANGS INTO GEAR OR DOESN'T SHIFT AT ALL. THE DEALER SAY THE TRANS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED @ A COST OF 6K. I BROUGHT IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP & THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER HAVING THE VEH FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. IN READING THE WEB PAGES I FIND MANY OTHERS WITH THIS VEH HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH LOW & HIGHER MILEAGE. VW KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. I ENDED UP HAVING THE TRANS REBUILT, BUT ITS STILL DOING THE SAME THING, NO CHANGE. THE TRANS SHOP IS BAFFLED. *TR

I HAVE 2004 VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE, MY TWO BACK WINDOWS DO NOT WORK AND NOW MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT WORK. WHEN WILL THIS EXISTING PROBLEM BE RECALLED FOR MYSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE WINDOWS NEED TO BE RECALLED. *TR

RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED, VW PAID FOR REGULATOR BUT CHARGED $389.00 LABOR TO FIX (WINDOW UP AND DOWN LESS THEN 20 TIMES UP TO THIS POINT. LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED JUNE 2011, LABOR CHARGE $403.05 VW PAID FOR REGULATOR. LEFT DRIVER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED AUG 2011. VW WILL NOT COVER REGULATOR, OR LABOR OF $375.00 TO REPAIR. VW KNEW THESE PARTS WOULD FAIL AND HAD ISSUED A TECH BULLETIN TO THIS EFFECT WITH NO NOTICE TO OWNER! FAILED PARTS ARE KNOWN BY VW AS FAILURE PARTS, COST TO CUSTOMER FOR KNOWN BAD PARTS IS EXTREME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. WHEN HE TRIED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN "DRIVE" OR SHIFT GEARS THEY LOCKED BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST SPEED WHILE DRIVING AND THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED DISPLAYING ALL OF THE GEARS AT ONCE ( P, R, N, D, S,). A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION OR THE TIP TRONIC SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS, THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 124,000.

2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TURBO...2.0 LITER ENGINE...THE TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING DOWN OR UP....FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HAS REARENED IT IN THE BACK....HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP AND COUPLE OF OTHER TRANSMISSION PLACES...THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY THING WRONG WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY...NOW THAT IT HAS 94000 MILES AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY DECIDE IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION.....WE HAVE HAD IT SERVICED JUST LIKE WE SHOULD...IT DOESN'T MATTER...WE DON'T HAVE 6000.00 TO GET IT FIXED...SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE...I'VE TALKED WITH MANY, MANY VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM..HOW MANY DOES IT TAKE BEFORE YOU GUYS DO A RECALL? *TR

THE MODEL IS THE NEW VW BEETLE. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I HAVE THE ACCELERATOR FLOORED, AND MOSTLY IT ACCELERATES FINE, ALBEIT SLOW; HOWEVER, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE TIME, I CAN LEAVE THE ACCELERATOR ON THE FLOOR, AND THE ENGINE HAS NOT EVEN REGISTERED THAT IT IS DEPRESSED. THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IS TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR UNTIL IT KIND OF "CATCHES". VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE [XXX] AIR BAG LIGHT HAS CAME ON TWICE AND VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADVISES ANYTIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVE & PASSENGER SEAT BELT LATCH TO MAKE THE AIR BAG LIGHT GO OFF AT A COST OF $600.32. IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL? *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AT ALL TIMES. PLEASE REFER TO COMPLAIN ODI 10279199. CALLED VW RECALL CENTER 800.822.8987, THERE IS A RECALL #08V178000 FOR EXACT SAME ISSUE. VW SAID MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED FOR THAT ISSUE. ASKED IF THEY WOULD TAKE MY CAR FOR INSPECTION, REQUEST DENIED UNLESS I PAID FOR THE INSPECTION. MY CONCERN IS THAT AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT TO MY FAMILY, BESIDES THE ACTUAL ISSUE OF NOT DEPLOYING PROPERLY. EVEN IF MY VEHICLE HAS NO DUAL STAGE AIRBAG, THE ISSUE OF AN AIRBAG LIGHT ON MAY BE CAUSED BY THE SAME QUALITY/POOR DESIGN ROOT CAUSE. BELOW IS THE ACTUAL RECALL DESCRIPTION AND REMEDY: "VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 76,900 MY 2004-2005 NEW BEETLE AND MY 2003-2005 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED (DUAL-STAGE) AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM MAY HAVE AIR BAG FRONTAL CRASH SENSORS THAT CONTAIN A SOLDER JOINT ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. IF THIS OCCURS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE FALLBACK ALGORITHM WILL ENSURE THAT THE FRONT AIR BAGS ALWAYS DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH IN WHICH THE VEHICLE'S DECELERATION IS HIGH ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS. CONSEQUENCE: IN LOW-SEVERITY FRONTAL IMPACTS, THE FRONT AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY MORE FORCEFULLY THAN DESIGNED, INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO OUT-OF-POSITION FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSPECT EACH VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE SPECIFIC DEFECT CRASH SENSOR IS PRESENT ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THE DEFECT CRASH SENSORS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 31, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987". *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, DOES NOT TURN OFF. *TR

2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. IT STARTED AROUND 67000 MILES AND HAPPENS JUST AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHES OPERATING TEMPERATURE. DEALERSHIP SAYS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT $7000. I HAVE ALSO READ ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE NOTED THERE HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR YR MODEL BEETLE WITH THE SAME TYPE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. DEALER WILL NOT HELP, BUT STATED THEY KNOW OF THE ISSUE BUT ARE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL VW TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE ISSUE, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED YET ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE PURCHASED IN 2008. I'M PUTTING IN THIS COMPLAINT ALONG WITH THOUSAND OF OTHER VW BEETLE OWNERS. THE PROBLEM IS THE 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION. IT JERKS REAL HARD WHEN DOWN SHIFTING AND THEN AGAIN WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. NOW IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE IT WON'T PULL AT ALL. I HAVE TRIED TO CALL VW OF AMERICA TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM BUT NO WILL RETURN MY CALLS SO I WENT ON EDMUNDS.COM AND REALIZED THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND VW. I ALSO CALLED VW CREDIT WHO I STILL OWE FOR THIS CAR THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, AND TO CALL VW OF AMERICA. MY QUESTION IS WHAT AM I TO DO WITH A VEHICLE THAT I CAN'T DRIVE AND I OWE $9,000 ON. THAT HAS A TRANSMISSION THAT THEY ARE TELLING ME I GOING TO COST $6,000 TO REPLACE. PLEASE! IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN HELP MY SITUATION ? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE REAR WINDOW REGULATORS WENT OUT ON BOTH WINDOWS, CONVERTIBLE TOP WON'T WORK 90% OF THE TIME. REPLACED HEADLIGHT 4 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. *LN

I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH 80K AND A TRANSMISSION THAT IS JERKING AND SHIFTING TERRIBLY FOR MONTHS, AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING IT. I'VE SPENT TOO MUCH ON THIS CAR ALREADY, AND 7500 TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION THAT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IS AWFUL. THERE ARE MANY OF US OUT THERE WITH PROBLEM TRANSMISSIONS WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP! *TR

2004 VW NEW BEETLE AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT REMAINS ON. SENSOR WAS REPLACED IN NOV. 2004, SEPT. 2006 AND MARCH 2007. VW SAYS THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER THE RECALL # 08V178000. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL VW APPROVES IT AND DEALERSHIP WANTS US TO PAY FOR *ANOTHER* EVALUATION. LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR 1 YEAR, HAD IT EVALUATED JULY 2009. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 80,000. MILEAGE WHEN LIGHT CAME ON WAS 71,000. *TR

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT AND SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. AND FRONT HEADLIGHT GOES OFF AND ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN JERKING FORWARD AND HESITATING TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VALVE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE VALVE WAS REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE X 2. *TR

2004 VW BEETLE DOWNSHIFTS WITHOUT REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN CITY TRAFFIC TWO TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE CAR WAS DRIVEN, BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, IT DOWNSHIFTED FROM 6TH GEAR TO 2ND GEAR WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR