2004 Volkswagen Beetle Complaint Log

2004 VW BEETLE DOWNSHIFTS FROM HIGHER GEAR DOWN TO 2ND GEAR WITHOUT REASON OR WARNING. TWICE I WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH AND THE 3RD TIME HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE 26 AT 60 MPH. VERY DANGEROUS. EACH TIME THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. WHEN THE CAR COOLED DOWN, IT COULD BE DRIVEN 8-10 MILES WITH NO PROBLEM AND THEN IT WOULD DOWNSHIFT AGAIN. THIS CAR HAS BEEN AT THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR 8 MONTHS. VW WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM.

2004 VW BEETLE 27,660 MILES VW DEALER - KELLY MOTOR, SCRANTON, PA AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND I TOOK CAR TO VW. PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED CONTROL MODULE DEFECTIVE. TOLD PART WILL TAKE 8 WEEKS TO ARRIVE. CAR SIDE AIRBAG NOW DOES NOT WORK. 2ND TIME AIRBAG LIGHT HAS LIGHTED AND BEEN IN SHOP, THIS ON TOP OF RECENT RECALL FOR ANOTHER AIRBAG SENSOR FIXED EARLIER THIS YEAR. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING WITHOUT AN AIRBAG FOR 8 WEEKS; VW HAS NO REASON FOR THE DELAY. I CALLED THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN CALIFORNIA WITH NO SUCCESS. SECOND CONCERN IS GENERAL RELIABILITY FOR THIS AIRBAG SYSTEM DUE TO REPAIRS PLUS RECALL. VW WON'T RESPOND IN GETTING THIS PART IN EARLIER, CAN YOU HELP GET THIS PART TO MY VW DEALER SO THEY CAN MAKE THIS CAR SAFE? THANK YOU *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN MY 2004 VW BEETLE. BEGAN SHIFTING VERY HARD AFTER ENGINE WARMED UP. IT WILL SHIFT SO HARD THE TIRES BURN RUBBER ON THE PAVEMENT BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. IT ALSO RANDOMLY SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE '04 (APPROX. 80K MILES) - SLIPPING AND BANGING TRANSMISSION. SLAMS AND BANGS HARD WITH EACH DOWNSHIFT (AUTOMATIC) AFTER ABOUT 15 MILES OR DRIVING. SLIPS OR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER SLAMMING AND BANGING BEGINS. CANNOT DRIVE CAR IN TRAFFIC FOR FEAR OR BEING REAR ENDED OR BROADSIDED, THEREFORE, CANNOT SAFELY OR DEPENDABLY DRIVE THE CAR. EXPECTED THOUSANDS TO REPAIR IF A MECHANIC WHO UNDERSTANDS THE PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND. MANY OF THE KNOW ISSUES WITH CAR HAVE ALSO OCCURRED; BROKEN PLASTIC WATER PUMP, REAR WINDOW SEAL BROKEN, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LIGHT MALFUNCTION, HEADLIGHTS UNEVEN BRIGHTNESS, SHORT IN DASH, HEATED SEAT TOO HOT TO USE (FEAR OF FIRE) AND INCREDIBLE DOOR RATTLES. *TR

PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW DOES NOT RETRACT WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR. IT STAYS UP AND GETS CAUGHT ON THE TOP. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE W/60,000. MILES ON IT. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM A STOP, IT WON'T GO INTO PROPER GEARS. IT JERKS REALLY BAD AFTER BOGGING DOWN (NOT GOING INTO GEAR). I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES IN GETTING REAR-ENDED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON & THE VW DEALER JUST SAYS THEY NEED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM SO TO START IT IS $150. & I WAS TOLD IT COULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION; BUT, I SEE OTHER POSTING OF SIMILAR ISSUES ON WEB SITES WHEN I DID A SEARCH ABOUT IT. THAT IS WHERE I FOUND THIS LINK, I THINK THIS IS A DANGEROUS & COSTLY ISSUE! I BELIEVE IT IS A RECALL ISSUE FOR VOLKSWAGEN. *TR

2004 VW NEW BEETLE: THE CAR WOULD SHIFT TO "NO" GEAR WHILE DRIVING, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT IN "NEUTRAL." WHEN AFTER A STOP THE CAR WOULD NOT GO RIGHT INTO A GEAR....CARS BEHIND WOULD HAVE TO SLAM ON BRAKES BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE INTO GEAR. HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY AT LEAST TWO MECHANICS - ONE WHO WORKS WITH EUROPEAN CARS; AND MY VW DEALERSHIP. AFTER A MIS-DIAGNOSING BY VW - I AM TOLD INDEED A NEW TRANSMISSION!! 88,000 MILES! I NEED A CAR - COULDN'T AFFORD THE $6000 + THAT VW WAS GOING TO CHARGE, SO BROUGHT IT TO A AAMCO AND HAD IT FIXED FOR JUST OVER $4000.00...THIS IS A RECALL PROBLEM...I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT ALL THIS MONEY INTO THE CAR, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT CANNOT BE TRADED IN FOR ANY OTHER CAR. IT WAS CERTAINLY A SCARY RIDE WHEN THE CAR WOULD GO OUT OF GEAR(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). PLEASE HELP. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH 71314 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT NEEDS A NEW ONE. THEY WANT $4500 TO $6000 FOR A TRANSMISSION. THEY ALSO SAID THAT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO BUY A USED ONE SINCE THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I ASKED TO THE GUY WHO WAS HELPING ME AFTER 3 HOURS WITH HIM; IF THE TRANSMISSION ON THESE CARS WERE THAT BAD? HE SAID 'YES THEY ARE'. THAT WAS BETTER TO SELL IT AND GET ANOTHER YEAR. IT WAS THE SAME FOR ALL THE TRANSMISSIONS (TRIPTRONIC) FOR VW AND AUDI. VW KNOWS THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD ON THESE CARS AND ALL THE ONES THAT CARRY THIS TRANSMISSION. EVEN IF THEY FIX IT THERE IS NO WARRANTY THAT IS GOING TO LAST BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND YOU WILL FIND THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO BE MAINTENANCE FREE. WELL, THAT IS NOT TRUE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE GOING BAD AROUND 30K, 40K, 50K. THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE VALVE BODY OVERHEATING. THE DUCTS FOR THE COOLING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH WHICH CAUSE THE VALVE BODY TO GET HOT AND IT START BENDING MAKING THE HOLD CAR TO SHAKE, HIT INSIDE, IT FEELS VERY HARD AND ROUGH. DEALERS KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY IT CAN TAKE 30MIN TO 2 HOUR FOR THE CAR TO ACT UP. THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE AND SELL YOU THE CAR ANYWAY BECAUSE THE CAR IS SOLD AS IS AND THERE IS NO WARRANTY. THERE IS NO REAL WAY TO FIX THIS TRANSMISSION ONLY TO PUT A DIFFERENT ONE. NO THE SAME WITH THE UPGRADE. THAT IS WHAT THEY DO. THEY SELL YOU ONE WITH ANOTHER VALVE BODY KIT AND NEW SOFTWARE FOR $6000. HOWEVER THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. YOU WILL FIND THAT AFTER SOMETIME A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. THERE IS THOUSAND OF COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN THE GOVERNMENT DO SOMETHING? THE TRANSMISSION CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING AND CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. AGAIN DEATH. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $100 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND DETERMINED THAT THE REGULATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I PURCHASED THE PREMIUM VW EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T REPAIR THE WINDOW (THEY CLAIMED THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR - THEY WANTED ME TO PAY APPROXIMATELY $450 AND THEN SEE IF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD COVER IT!) I HAD ALREADY HAD THE PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO - THAT WAS UNDER THE FIRST WARRANTY. IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM, THE REGULATORS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED FOR FREE! *TR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON WITHOUT APPARENT REASONS. NO COLLISION OR BUMPS. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON (CONCERNED ABOUT NOT WORKING PROPERLY IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT) POSSIBLE WIRE THAT IS TOO SHORT UNDER THE SEAT BREAKING WHEN IT IS MOVED FORWARD TO ALLOW ACCESS TO REAR SEAT. *TR

TRANSMISSION HARD TO SHIFT AND JERKING AT ALL SPEEDS THEN LOCKS IN 5TH GEAR. REPAIR SHOP WANTS $6,000. TO REPAIR. HAVE SEARCHED FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER WENT TO VW DEALERSHIP BUT WAS TOLD DON'T WORRY THAT JERKING WAS NORMAL. NOW I HAVE LOST THE USE OF MY 2004 VW RED CONVERTIBLE BEETLE. MY WIFE IS HEART BROKEN. THE CAR IS USELESS WITHOUT A TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE PROBLEMS ON THE ONSET WHEN WE FIRST TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM. SHE WAS SO IMPRESSED WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS BOUGHT ON THE INSET WITH THE CAR. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WE FOUND OUT THAT THE WARRANTY COMPANY HAS SINCE WENT OUT OF BUSINESS THE YEAR BEFORE IN 2008 AND WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS FACT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR DID NOT DIM ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT LATCH FOR THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A FAILED WIRE BY THE LATCH OF THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,888 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,858.

2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. VEHICLE HAS 39,000 MILES AND IS RECENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALER SERVICE TOLD ME ME THAT DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ENTERED REGARDING THESE WINDOW REGULATORS, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE! HOW DOES A WINDOW REGULATOR FAIL ON A FOUR-YEAR-OLD CAR WITH 39000 MILES?!?!?!? *TR

I WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND MY FRONT BUMPER HIT A PARKED CAR, AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND RENDERED ME UNCONSCIENCE IT CAUSED $12,000 TO MY TEETH AND POSSIBLE HEAD INJURY AND 18 MONTHS AT A SPECIALIST DENTAL, HAD TO HAVE A BONE GRAPH AND STINT IN MY MOUTH, LIVER AND ABDOMINAL CONTUSION HAD TO PAY AN ATTORNEY $9,000 TO AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT ME IN COURT, I LOST MY JOB AND AM NOW ON SSD

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V178000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE); UPDATED 03-04-09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AROUND 50,000 MILES THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH RENDERED THE AIR BAG INOPERATIVE. 6 MONTHS LATER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. VW STATED THE AIR BAG SENSOR/MODULE WAS FAULTY AGAIN. UPDATED 03/05/09. *JB

DRIVE TRAIN ON 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, VEHICLE WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT WHEN STOPPED UNLESS VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, THEN WHEN PUT IN GEAR JUMPS FORWARD. SEALED TRANSMISSION, DEALER SAID IT HAPPENS A LOT BUT VW OF AMERICA WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TR

TRANS SHIFTING BADLY, PROBLEM STARTED SHORTLY AFTER VEHICLE PURCHASE TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND NOTHING WAS DONE.TODAY VEHICLE HAS 94000 MILES AND LOOKS LIKE TRANS AND VALVE BODY WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WISH SOMEONE WOULD GET ON VW OF AMERICA SO THEY WOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE. THEY COME TO THISCOUNTRY SELL A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GET TAKEN HOPE THE GOVERNMENT WILL STEP IN. I AM AN AMERICAN VET AND CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING. *TR

AFTER RETURNING VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR AIRBAG LIGHT IN WHICH TIME THE SENOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS REPLACED, THE AIRBAG SENSORS REPROGRAMMED, FINALLY THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE AIRBAG SENSORS AND THEY WERE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AFTER REPLACEMENT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON. NOW IT IS THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS AN INTRINSECT PROBLEM WITH THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM. WHEN I ASKED IF WE COULD JUST NOT HAVE IT REPAIRED, I WAS TOLD THAT NOT HAVING IT REPAIRED COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TO NOT WORK, AND THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY. *TR

SAFETY LATCH ON FRONT HOOD MECHANISM NOT DURABLE AND HAS BROKEN JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. CAR UNDER 30K MILES. ONLY USED 6 MONTHS OUT OF EVERY YEAR. MODEL YEAR 2004. DESIGN FLAW ON A MAJOR SAFETY ITEM. DEALER CLAIMS ENTIRE ASSEMBLY NEEDS REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT. UNDER MY EXAMINATION I FOUND THAT THE COMPONENT FAILURE WAS A SPRING ON INNER SIDE OF ASSEMBLY. SPRING DEFINITELY NOT HEAVY ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND NORMAL USAGE. HOOD COULD BECOME UN-LATCHED AND SAFETY LATCH WILL NOT CATCH IT CAUSING HOOD TO FLY UP AND ONTO WINDSHIELD. PROPERLY DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURY/CRASH HIGHLY POSSIBLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2004 NEW BEETLE TDI WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION FOR MY DAUGHTER. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CAR HAD BEEN MAINTAINED AT A VW DEALER AND WAS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL SELF DESTRUCT AND TOOK OUT THE TRANSMISSION WITH IT. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE IT WAS JUST MY BAD LUCK UNTIL I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY VW'S WITH THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL HAVE SUFFERED FROM THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. VW OF AMERICA STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE VW TDI'S ARE NOT RACE CARS AND THIS TYPE OF FAILURE SHOULD NOT OCCUR ON A CAR THAT OPERATES AT THE LOWER RPM RANGE AS THESE CARS DO. THIS IS EITHER A DESIGN FLAW OR A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND IS LEAVING PEOPLE WITH HUGE REPAIR BILLS, $6600 IN MY CASE. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT WONT GO OFF. WAS TOLD THE SEATBELT SENSOR CAME LOOSE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED COSTING $350. *TR

DEALER STATES THAT THE SAFETY BELT LATCH SENSOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDS REPLACED. RENDERING THE AIRBAG INOPERATIVE! *TR

AIR-CONDITIONER HAS GONE OUT. FAILURE OCCURS AFTER PARKING VEHICLE. VW OF AMERICA CANT SEEM TO FIND OUT WHY IT FAILS TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. HAVE COME UP WITH VARIOUS SOLUTIONS WITHOUT RESOLVE. ALREADY SPENT MONIES FOR SERVICE OF PROBLEM AND THEY CANT RESOLVE PROBLEM. *TR

2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. IN MY VEHICLE IT STARTED AROUND 66500 MILES AND HAPPENS JUST AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHES OPERATING TEMPERATURE EVERY DAY. I HAVE MADE AN APPT WITH DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE NOTED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR YR MODEL BEETLE AND THE SAME TYPE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL YET ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

IN 2008 I TOOK MY VW BEETLE TO THE VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN MURRIETA, CA ON DATE STREET AND THEY HAVE RECORD THAT THEY FIXED THE AIR BAG LIGHT/ AND REPLACE THE SWITCH WHICH WAS LIT UP ON MY DASH INSTRUMENT PANEL. WELL I TOOK THE SAME CAR 2004 VW BEETLE BACK ON 08/17/2015 AT 8:15 AM SO THEY COULD TAKE CARE OF MY AIRBAG LIGHT WHICH CAME ON AGAIN AT 107,000 MILES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL SWITCHES FROM THE SEATBELTS TO THE FRONTEND AND ALSO BEHIND THE CARS DASH THAT CAN CAUSE THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON BUT, BEING THIS IS A LIFE SAVING PART ON MY CAR I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A RECALL SERVICE AND PART ON MY RETURN VISIT. AS I SEE IT THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY HAZARD AND I SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED A $126.00 TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND PAY MORE FOR THE PART AND SERVICE TO FIX A DEFECTIVE ITEM. IF I'M INCORRECT PLEASE ADVISE ME SO I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS MY FAULT. I THOUGHT IF YOU FIXED THE PROBLEM THEN IT SHOULD BE ON THE COMPANY OR PERSONS WHO REPAIRED THE RECALL ISSUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE TO MY FRUSTRATION WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON DASH IN LATE JULY. VW DEALER CONTACTED TO SEE IF SAFETY HAZARD, TOLD NO. RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FROM VW ONE MONTH LATER FOR AIRBAG SENSOR. CALLED DEALER TO SEE IF URGENT SAFETY MATTER. TOLD NO, COME IN AT OUR LEISURE. ONE WEEK LATER, AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN HIT MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR

WINDOW REGULATORS ARE MADE WITH CHEAP PLASTIC CLIPS THAT BREAK IN ABOUT 3 TO 4 YEARS. SOME MULTIPLE TIMES ONCE WARRANTY IS UP, COST CONSUMER MANY DOLLARS TO FIX AND SOME DON'T FIX AND LEAVE THE WINDOWS BROKEN. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST TWICE. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON AUGUST 26, 2008. DURING THE FIRST FAILURE, SOMEONE ASSISTED THE CONTACT WITH ROLLING UP THE WINDOW. THE WINDOW WAS UNSUCCESSFULLY ABLE TO BE ROLLED UP AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT PUTS HER AT RISK OF BEING CARJACKED OR STOLEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

DEALER PERFORMED RECALL ON CRASH TEST SENSORS ON 2004 NEW BEETLE TDI, ON THE WAY HOME AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, VW WANTS US TO PAY OVER $1000.00 TO REPAIR. *TR

2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONV. 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION FAILS AND SLIPS CAUSING ERRATIC SHIFTING AFTER ONLY 65000 MILES. VW SUGGESTS TO REPLACE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION FOR $6500. *TR

2004 VW NB CONVERTIBLE WITH RECENTLY EXPIRED WARRANTY AND THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. LEFT SIDE REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT WAS AN UPGRADED REGULATOR...ORIGINAL WITH PLASTIC CLIPS IS SUBJECT TO FREQUENT BREAKAGE. DEFECTIVE REGULATORS SHOULD BE AFFORDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD FOR REPLACING WITH THE UPGRADED REGULATOR. *TR

2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE TURBO GLS HAS A DEFECTIVE PART PRODUCING HIGH VOLTAGE. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES AND DEPRECIATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. *NJ THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW WINDOW MOTOR. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO HAVE THE WORK DONE SOMEWHERE ELSE, SO THEY GAVE HER A CABLE KIT AND NOT A REGULATOR. THE OTHER REPAIR SHOP STATED IT WAS THE REGULATOR THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SECOND OPINION AFTER THE ORIGINAL DEALER IMPLIED SHE HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SOMETHING WAS OVERCHARGING THE ALTERNATOR, WHICH TURNED OUT THAT A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE WINDOW MOTOR WAS CAUSING HIGH VOLTAGE EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF; IT WAS DRAINING THE POWER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEAVING THE DEFECTIVE WINDOW MOTOR IN THE VEHICLE. *JB

RE: ILLUMINATION OF AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS REPAIRED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. CAME ON AGAIN 1 WEEK LATER AND A CRASH SENSOR WAS REPLACED, AGAIN UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. CAME ON AGAIN ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER AND WAS CHARGED DUE TO EXPIRATION OF FACTORY WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS MANUFACTURER. *TR

CONVERTIBLE ROOF DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT DOES NOT GO COMPLETELY UP OR DOWN. THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE ROOF. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE ROOF IN ANY POSITION OTHER THAN COMPLETELY UP OR DOWN. THE ROOF BLOCKS THE FIELD OF VIEW AND THEREFORE MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ADDITIONALLY THE WIND CATCHES ON THE ROOF AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HAVE CONTROL ISSUES. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED MANY TIMES EACH YEAR AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

APPROX 2-3 WEEKS AGO MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN CONVERTIBLE BACK WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP. THE REGULATOR/MOTOR IS THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS UNDER A RECALL, BUT I CANNOT FIND THE RECALL ANYWHERE ON INTERNET. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE 800-822-8987 AND REPORTED THIS. THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JANUARY. I HAVE BEEN TO DEALER SHIP 3 TIMES BEFORE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED FOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. NOW THE BACK WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK. *TR

REAR WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP. WAS TOLD IT IS THE WINDOW REGULATOR & IT IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. *TR

AIR BAG SENSOR ON MY 2004 VW BEETLE DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE BY VW DEALER. DEFECT IDENTIFIED ONLY 20 DAYS PAST THE EXPIRATION OF NEW CAR WARRANTY. DEALER AND VW - AMERICA DECLINED TO REPAIR VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. I ADVISED VW AMERICA THAT THE NHTSA WEBSITE INFORMS THAT A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BEGINS ON 7/31/08. THEY STILL REFUSED TO OFFSET OR PARTIALLY OFFSET THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *TR

HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ON MY 2004 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND WAS PULLED OVER AND GIVEN A TICKET. VW REPLACED THE WIRING THE NEXT DAY. *TR

2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. REAR WINDOWS REGULATOR/MOTORS BROKE. VW ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FRONT WINDOWS (7 YEARS) REAR WINDOWS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER WANTS $700.00 PER SIDE TO FIX. WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN ON COMMAND. OFTEN FALL ON THEIR OWN AFTER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DEALER FOUND THAT FRONT CRASH SENSOR FAILED AND THAT THERE WAS A RELATED COMPUTER PROBLEM AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES AND THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. AT 40,000 THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE OTHER SIDE FRONT CRASH SENSOR HAD FAILED ALSO AND THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I WAS CHARGED $505 TO REPLACE THIS. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THEY "SEE THIS ALL THE TIME WITH THE BEETLE", AND THAT "AFTER ONE SIDE FAILS THE OTHER SIDE USUALLY DOES TOO". *TR

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. REPAIRED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY, RIGHT FRONT CRASH SIDE SENSOR REPLACED ON 11 SEP 2007, DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST INCIDENT. NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. *TR CRASH SENSOR.PCO

AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ON. *TR

2004 VW NEW BEETLE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ON. *TR CRASH SENSOR.PCO

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED OUT SHIFTING ROUGH. THEN IT PROGRESSED TO A POINT THAT IT WILL SHIFT SO HARD THAT IT WILL THROW YOU FORWARD IN YOU SEAT. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THEN LAST YEAR THE VW SENT US A LETTER SAYING THE WARRANTY HAD BEEN EXTENDED AS THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, THEY SENT IT TO US A MONTH AFTER THE EXTENSION EXPIRED. WE COMPLAINED TO VW AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. *TR

OUR AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS WERE NOT OPERATIONAL. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO EITHER SENSOR. THEY BOTH HAD JUST FAILED. THERE IS A CONCERN THAT THE BAGS WOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 22,925 ORIGINAL MILES. IT SEEMS ODD THAT BOTH SENSORS WOULD FAIL AT THE SAME TIME. *TR SRS.PCO

WIRING HARNESS INSIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WIRES CRACK AND CORRODE AND CAUSES HEADLIGHT TO PERIODICALLY GO ON AND OFF. CORROSION SEEMS TO BE DUE TO THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF METALS IN THE WIRING. WHEN THE SAME TYPE OF METAL IS USED TO RECONNECT THE WIRES THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONTAL AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR AND REPROGRAMMED THE AIR BAG SYSTEM; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN, THE AIR BAG MODULE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 08V178000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL: SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE OR RECALL) AND 03V3560000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 06/23/09. *LJ A DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED FAILURE OF THE DRIER SEAT BUCKLE WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/24/09.*JB

PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ON JAN 2, 2004. THE AIR BAG LIGHT 1ST CAME ON IN SEPT 2004 AND WAS REPAIRED. SINCE THAT POINT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED NEARLY EVERY 6 MONTHS, AND REPAIRED. EVERY, TIME, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP, IT HAS BEEN A CRASH SENSOR OR SEAT MODULE REPLACEMENT. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT VW SEVEN TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. IN NOVEMBER 2007, OUR CAR WAS AT 54,000 MILES, THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AT 50,000 MILES, THE LIGHT ONCE AGAIN ILLUMINATED. AFTER A PROTRACTED BATTLE WITH THE DEALER AND VW REGIONAL, THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE CONTROL MODULE. AND AGAIN, WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER, "THIS SHOULD DO IT". JUST THIS PAST WEEK, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. ONLY THIS TIME, THE DEALER CLOSED THEIR DEALERSHIP AT THE START OF THE YEAR AND WE'RE STARING AT A $1200 REPAIR BILL. CERTAINLY, TO DRIVE AROUND WITHOUT AN AIR BAG ISN'T EXACTLY A SMART THING TO DO, BUT I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE THIS WON'T COME BACK ON 6 MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, BASED ON THE HISTORY ABOVE. IN MY EYES, THERE IS A SYSTEMIC DEFECT IN THE SYSTEMS THAT CONTROL THE AIR BAG. *TR CRASH SENSOR.*PCO