2004 Volkswagen Beetle Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE GLS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE THERE WAS A BRIEF DELAY ON THE VEHICLE ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD A THREE SECOND DELAY WHICH WAS CONSIDERED NORMAL BUT AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

BACK WINDOW BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT ON 2004 CONVERTIBLE NEW BEETLE DO NOT GO UP. FAILURE PUTS CAR AT RISK FOR VANDALISM AND DAMAGE TO INTERIOR DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS. COST TO REPAIR $900. CAN'T JUSTIFY A $900 REPAIR ON A CAR WORTH $18,000. MANY OTHERS AT THE DEALERSHIP REPORT THE SAME FAILURES. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY 2004 VW BEETLE AT BOARDWALK DEALERSHIP IN RICHARDSON, TX 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR WILL LOSE ALL POWER THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL COME ON I WILL HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON INTERSTATES AS WELL AS ON BUSY STREETS. I AM VERY FEARFUL THAT I AM GOING TO BE IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. I TAKE MY 76 YEAR OLD MOTHER TO THE DOCTOR SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH. SHE HAS HAD 2 MAJOR BACK SURGERIES THIS YEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP ON 9-4-07, 9-18-07, 9-21-0. ALL FOR THE SAME THING. ON 9-27-07, I WAS IN DOWN TOWN DALLAS AND IT HAPPENED AT LEAST 7 TIMES. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD A WRECKER TO PUT ME AND THE CAR UP. THEY ARE TELLING ME TODAY 10-26-07 TO PICK THE CAR UP THAT THEY CAN'T GET THE CAR TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A BAD PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR NOT HAVING ANY POWER AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *TR

ON AUGUST 22, 2007 THE DSG 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 TDI VW BEETLE STARTED TO DISINTEGRATE. SMALL PIECES OF COIL SPRINGS AND METAL FRAGMENTS FELL ONTO THE BELLY PAN AND A GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. FROM RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH VW'S WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED HER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED HER TO CALL THEM BACK AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT HAS ALL OF THE REPAIR ORDERS FOR EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,000.

MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, AND LAST SUMMER SHE WENT TO PUT THE CONVERTIBLE DOWN AND THE REAR WINDOW MOTORS STOPPED WORKING. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SINCE THE CAR HAD 52,000 MILES THEY TOLD MY DAUGHTER THAT IT WOULD COST HER $1500.00 TO FIX THE MOTORS. WE HAVE TWO MORE FRIENDS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS VW BEETLES CONVERTIBLE WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING TOO. I REALLY DON'T FEEL THAT THIS IS RIGHT. ELECTRIC MOTORS SHOULD NOT BREAK AFTER 50,000 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. "HOW DO I GO ABOUT GETTING THEM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR CAR. *TR

THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" ABOUT 12 MILES FROM HOME. IT DROPPED INTO FIRST GEAR AND LIMPED HOME AT 15 MPH. NEXT MORNING IT PERFORMED NORMALLY. THAT NIGHT STARTED INTO TOWN, IT DUMPED AGAIN DOWN TO LIMP MODE, THEN REFUSED TO MOVE AT ALL. HAD TO DOLLY IT HOME. DOLLIED IT TO DEALER A WEEK LATER. THEY DID THE COMPUTER SCAN AND SAID IT WAS THE "VALVE BODY" ON THE TRANSMISSION. WANTED $1700 TO REPLACE IT. DOLLIED IT BACK HOME. TRIED TO GET SOMEONE TO LOOK AT IT FOR A SECOND OPINION. NO ONE WOULD TOUCH IT. A GERMAN IN THE GERMAN AIR FORCE WHO WORKED FOR VW IN GERMANY AGREED TO WORK ON IT. SCAN HE DID INDICATED "VALVE BODY", SO HE REMOVED THAT AND WE TRIED TO ORDER ONE FROM THE SAME DEALER. THE DEALER NOW TELLS US THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND A NEW VALVE BODY WON'T FIX IT ANYWAY. THAT TELLS US THEY HAVE OTHER BEETLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY COULDN'T FIX THOSE EITHER. TALKED TO VW OF AMERICA SEVERAL TIMES. THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL AT ALL AND BASICALLY WOULD NOT COOPERATE IN ANY WAY. NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING. WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT IT HAS A UNIQUE TRANSMISSION USED ONLY DURING 2004 AND ALMOST EVERYONE WHO HAS A BEETLE WITH THAT TRANSMISSION HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN'T GET PARTS. NO ONE WILL WORK ON IT. VW OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS AND MAKE NO EFFORT TO HELP. WE WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT HOW TO START A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT! BASICALLY, WE HAVE A $16,000 PIECE OF JUNK THAT WE DROVE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND IT IS NOW COMPLETELY WORTHLESS! RECENTLY THEY TOLD US THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

I OWN A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE THAT I BOUGHT NEW. LAST YEAR ONE OF THE LENS COVERS ON THE HEADLIGHT FELL OFF. I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DUE TO THE PART FALLING OFF AS I WAS DRIVING. I REPLACED IT THROUGH EBAY. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THE OTHER FACTORY HEADLIGHT LENS COVER FELL OFF . IT SEEMED THE SEALANT THAT WAS BEING USED WAS DRYING OUT, CAUSING THE LENS TO COME LOOSE AND FALL OFF THE ASSEMBLY. LAST WEEK, THE HEADLIGHT , THAT I REPLACED THROUGH EBAY, ALSO FELL APART, WITH THE LENS COVER COMING OFF. IF I GO THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE LENS COVERS IT WOULD BE IN EXCESS OF $ 250.00 A PIECE FOR THEM. I AM NOW LOOKING AT HAVING TO REPLACE TWO OF THEM AT A COST OF MORE THAN $500.00. THIS TO ME SEEMED TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT AS IT KEPT HAPPENING.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED SHE DROVE AND ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A TRANSMISSION RECALL REMEDY IN APRIL 2007 FOR THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND WAS ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED SINCE THE RECALL REMEDY WAS ALREADY PERFORMED, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

2004 NEW BEETLE CONV TURBO . ALWAYS IN SHOP. ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS. IN THE SHOP MORE THAN AT HOME. ELEC ISSUES,WINDOWS NOT WORKING, AIR BAG LIGHTS FLASHING, TOP STAYING DOWN WONT GO UP ONE REPAIR AFTER ANOTHER. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. WHAT A PIECE OF [XXX]. JUST HOPE SOME ONE READS THIS AND TALKS THEIR DAUGHTER OR WIFE OUT OF MAKING A 20,000 DOLLAR MISTAKE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON +/- 52,000 MILES AND IS A CONSTANT LIGHT (ORIGINAL CAR WARRANTY EXPIRED 50,000 MILES) I WAS INFORMED BY NEW COUNTRY VOLKSWAGEN OF GREENWICH CT (VW SERVICE) AND FIDELITY WARRANTY SERVICES THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WON'T COVER REPAIR OR DIAGNOSTIC COSTS (ESTIMATED AT $750 PLUS TAX). TECH FOUND "PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR NO SIGNAL." THIS CAR IS BARELY 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AT ALL. VW CUSTOMER CARE DID NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE DESPITE THE FACT THAT ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE IT APPEARS THAT AIR BAG LIGHTS ARE A NOTED ISSUE ON THE 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS, JUST NOT MY VIN NUMBER YET. VW SHOULD CONTACT ME AND PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR SRS.PCO

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED. IN ADDITION, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS WOULD SHUT OFF, BUT THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULBS. THE CONTACT HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE AIR BAG INDICATOR DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 35851. *AK

I PURCHASED A USED 2004 VOLKSWAGON CONVERTIBLE NEW BEETLE TURBO IN APRIL 2005 . I NOTICED THE OIL LIGHT KEPT COMING ON , SO I SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE BUILDUP, AND STATED THAT UNLESS I HAD RECEIPTS ON RECENT OIL CHANGE, THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I WAS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I WAS PAYING ON A FAIRLY NEW VOLKSWAGEN, AND COUD NOT EVEN DRIVE IT. THEY HAD QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $5,000 TO REPAIR IT . *AK

MECHATRONIC UNIT FAILURE IN TRANSMISSION. FAILURE CAUSED CAR TO GO INTO "LIMP MODE" (ONLY ABLE TO TRAVEL IN 1ST AND 3RD GEARS, REVERSE INOPERABLE, CAR NEARLY STALLED AT 20 MPH GOING FROM 1ST TO 3RD GEAR). REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE: $1800 FOR PART, $400 FOR LABOR, $200 FOR RENTAL CAR DURING TIME CAR WAS IN THE SHOP. *TR

OUR 2004 VW NEW BEETLE HAS HAD TWO AIR BAG SWITCH FAILURES. THE FIRST ONE WAS WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE THOUSAND MILES AND WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND ONE JUST HAPPENED AND WAS NOT COVERED BY OUR ORIGINAL WARRANTY, OR OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY. IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WE DID NOTHING TO PROMOTE THE FAILURE, IS THE $535 REPAIR OUR RESPONSIBILITY? *JB SRS.PCO

CAR WAS IN FOR A RECALL ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2006 FOR THE EGR COOLER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE FLYWHEEL WAS GOING BAD. I TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE MASTER CYLINDER. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE FLYWHEEL AND NOT THE MASTER CYLINDER. A MONTH LATER THE FLYWHEEL WENT BAD CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO GO BAD. THIS WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND MADE THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. DEALER WAS AWARE THE FLYWHEEL WAS GOING BAD BUT DID NOT OFFER TO REPAIR IT FOR ME OR INFORM ME IT WAS A WARRANTY ITEM. WHEN THE CAR WAS REPAIRED THE FLYWHEEL AND THE CLUTCH WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE FLYWHEEL (PARTS ONLY) BECAUSE THEY HAD NOTICED IT WAS GOING BAD BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. BUT THEY DID NOT COVER THE LABOR. IN ORDER TO GET TO THE FLYWHEEL, YOU HAVE TO GET TO THE CLUTCH. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR AND THE FLYWHEEL. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE IN REGARDS TO THIS FLYWHEEL PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW IF THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WOULD PROBABLY KNOW THIS.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT OFF, FOLLOWED BY AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEREO AMPLIFIER WAS FAULTY AND HAD BURNED. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN INSPECTION STICKER WHEN THE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THAT BOTH TAIL LIGHTS BULBS WERE BURNED OUT. A RECALL WAS OBSERVED IN A MAGAZINE FOR THE 2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE PERTAINING TO TAIL LIGHTS FAILURE (REFERENCE #60253822) AND THE MANUFACTURER CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

BOTH FRONTAL CRASH SENSORS FAILED IN A SIX MONTH PERIOD. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, ONE OF THE REPLACED SENSORS FAILED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS ALERTED BY AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATING PROBLEM. *AK SRS.PCO

HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY SHORTING OUT AND BURNING ASSEMBLY BEYOND REPAIRABLE. HEAT BEING PRODUCED BY HEADLAMP TOO HIGH AND SHORTS OUT HEADLIGHT. REPLACEMENT OF ASSEMBLY IS AN OPTION, BUT CAUSE OF ASSEMBLY SHORTING OUT IS NOT REMOVED, WITH HIGH PROBABILITY OF A REPEAT SHORT. *JB

I PURCHASED A USED 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE FROM TOYOTA OF ORANGE, ORANGE, CA THIS YEAR, JANUARY, 2006. WITHIN A WEEK OF THE PURCHASE, THE AIRBAG WARNING CAME ON. I TALKED TO THE SALES MANAGER, BILL ABOUT THIS IN PERSON...(CONCERNED THAT THE SAFETY CHECK WAS NOT THOROUGH), AND HE WAS NOT THE LEAST BIT CONCERNED AND TOLD ME THAT SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS ONLY ABOUT 25,000 THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO MCKENNA VW IN HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA FOR THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF SENSOR. THE LIGHT WAS OFF WHEN I PICKED IT UP BUT THEN CAME ON AGAIN ONLY ONE MONTH LATER. THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO FLADEBOE VW, IRVINE CA. A PART HAD TO BE ORDERED FOR ANOTHER SENSOR, SO I RETURNED AFTER THE PART WAS IN AND HAD IT PLACED MID-MARCH, 2006. IT IS NOW APRIL 2006 AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON FOR THE 3RD TIME SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED 3 MONTHS AGO!! HELP!! *NM

I HAVE TWO CRASH SENSORS THAT HAVE FAILED WITHIN 6 MONTHS ON MY 2004 VW BEETLE. THIS A MAJOR SAFETY DEVICE THAT VW US HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IS A MANUFACTUE DEFECT. *JB SRS.PCO

AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME WHILE CAR WAS ON AND IN IDLE AND REMAINS ON. *JB

MAJOR ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION (SEE 10148507, 10148481) 5TH ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL SAFETY ISSUES/4TH AIRBAG LIGHT/MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE 2ND X TOWED IN 10 DAYS FOR SAME ISSUES FOR FREEWAY BREAKDOWN ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL MALFUCTION. *AK

10 DAYS AFTER HAVING VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE SERVICED FOR OIL LIGHT MALFUNCTION ISSUES AND WHILE DRIVING THE OIL SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND MAKING A STRANGE NOISE. AIRBAG LIGHT WAS BACK ON FOR THE 4TH TIME IN ONE YEAR!! SO I TURNED OFF CAR, CALLED VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE VALENCIA, AND THEY TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE AND TO HAVE IT TOWED IN. THIS WAS THE 2ND TOW IN 10 DAYS. AT THIS POINT, I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE TORN DOWN, THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM BEYOND JUST A SENSOR LIGHT, THAT VOLKSWAGEN WAS NOT GOING TO COVER THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM IF THAT WAS THE DIAGNOSIS. I SPOKE WITH VOLKSWAGEN CARLSBAD WARRANTY DEPARTMENT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SOLD ME MY PLATNIUM FACTORY EXTENDED 100000 MILES WARRANTY, AND THEY SAID IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY, SO I HAD MY CAR TOWED 150 MILES TO CARLSBAD, WHERE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH OIL SLUDGE. NOW THE CAR WAS SEEN 10 DAYS BEFORE, AND I WAS TOLD THE OIL LOOKED FINE AND IT PASSED ALL INSPECTION, JUST A SENSOR. I HAVE CHANGED OIL AT SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. I WAS TOLD EITHER INFREQUENT OIL CHANGES OR FAULTY OIL PRODUCT. VOLKSWAGEN HAS AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH ENGINES, AND WERE DELIBERATELY USING INFERIOR PRODUCTS, AND BLAMMING THE CONSUMER FOR THERE FAULTS. A CAR WITH 53000 MILES SHOULD NOT BE HAVING OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS. THISWAS FAULTY MANUFACTURING. WHEN I CALLED CUSTOMER CARE 800 NUMBER AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE SHE STATED, VOLKSWAGEN HAS AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH THE 1.8L TURBO ENGINES." WELL MY VOLKSWAGENWAS S A 1.8L TURBO. SO, VOLKSWAGEN ADMITTED TO A SLUDGE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF RESOLVING THE PROBLEM AND CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE INFERIOR PRODUCTS AND SELLING THEM TO UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMER. THIS IS NOT ONLY A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. TWICE I BROKE DOWN ON THE FREEWAY WHICH WERE BOTH AUTO FAILURES WITH THE POTENTIAL OF INJURY TO MYSELF AND OTHER ON THE ROAD. *AK

OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED CAR IMMEDIATELY. CHECKED OIL AND IT LOOKED FINE. CALLED VOLKSWAGEN , AND WAS TOLD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. AAA TOWED VEHICLE TO CHAPMAN SCOTTSDALE AUTOPLEX VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT 6601 EAST MC DOWELL ST, SCOTTSDALE AZ 85257. 480-949-7600. WAS TOLD OIL SENDING UNIT HAD AN INTERNAL SHORT, PRESURE TESTING PASSED. NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH OIL SYSTEM WAS STATED BY VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SENSOR REPLACED. OIL/FILTER CHANGED. MILEAGE 52197.*AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PLACING A CUP OF COFFEE INTO THE CUP HOLDER, COFFEE WAS SPILLED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CUP HOLDER IS LOCATED RIGHT ABOVE THE CLUTCH. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, THE TRANSMISSION HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. OTHER THAN GOING INTO THE PARK, DRIVE AND REVERSE MODE, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT OPERATE. THE CONSOLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS DUE TO EXTERNAL FACTORS, NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERNS OF THE LOCATION OF THE CUP HOLDER AND THE TRANSMISSION PLAYING A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE CURRENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS..

PURCHASED BRAND NEW. PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR: 1. REAR POWER WINDOWS HAVE BOTH TAKEN TURNS FALLING DOWN INTO THE BODY. WILL NOT POWER UP. ONE HAS BEEN REPLACED. DEALER NOW WON'T FIX SECOND ONE BECAUSE THEY 'DON'T SEE IT AS A KNOWN PROBLEM.' 2. HEADLINER AROUND REAR WINDOW HAS COME UNDONE. 3. HEADLIGHTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED CONSTANTLY. FOR EXAMPLE; A LIGHT BULB WAS INSTALLED ON A SATURDAY, AND HAD STOPPED WORKING BY THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY. 4. RUBBER COATING ON GLOVE BOX AND ON INTERIOR DOORS IS PEELING OFF. DEALER WOULD NOT EVEN CONDSIDER FIXING OR ADDRESSING. 5. KEY ASSEMBLY FOR ARM CONSOLE BROKE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS, AND SEVERAL REMINDERS, TO GET DEALER TO REPLACE. 6. SOMETIMES RADIO STAYS ON AFTER KEY HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM IGNITION. 7. AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. WON'T GO OFF. 8. HAND RELEASE ON FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OFTEN GETS 'STUCK' AND WILL NOT WORK. 9. CUP HOLDER HAS COME OFF TRACK. I ONLY DRIVE THIS CAR TO-AND-FROM WORK. NO KIDS/PASSENGERS RIDE IN IT. IT HAS NOT HAD ANY OWNER ABUSE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN PRODUCT. *JB

4TH ELECTRICAL FAILURE, 3RD AIRBAG LIGHT/MALFUCTION. 5 DAYS AFTER SERVICING CAR FOR AIRBAG SAFETY ISSUE, SAME REPEATED PROBLEM. (SEE COMPLAINT 10148516, 10148511). *AK

3RD ELECTRICAL FAILURE, 2ND AIRBAG LIGHT/MALFUNCTION. CONTINUED ISSUE WITH AIRBAG LIGHT ON/MALFUNCTIONING SPONTANEOUSLY. *AK

THE AIRBAG LIGHT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, IN OUR 2004 NEW BEETLE HAS COME ON APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES IN THREE YEARS. EACH TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, BUT WITHOUT FAIL, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON EACH TIME. THE SEATBELT BUCKLE WAS CHANGED, CONNECTIONS WERE SECURED, THEY SAID IT WAS SHORTED (GUIDED FAULT FINDINGS, BUMPER COVER REMOVED, SEAT REMOVED), AND OTHERS. I HAVE ALL COPIES OF SERVICE RECORDS. AFTER ALL THESE SERVICE VISITS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE AND MAY NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY DURING AN ACCIDENT. I HEARD THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCT ON THE 2004 NEW BEETLES AND WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW OF OUR EXPERIENCE. *TR CRASH SENSOR.PCO

IN APRIL 2005, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE NEAREST VW DEALER/SHOP. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO ORDER A PART, BUT THAT ALL WAS FINE. IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS I CALLED MANY TIMES AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD COME BACK ON. BY AUGUST 2005 THEY FINALLY RECEIVED THE PART (PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSORS UNDER/IN THE SEAT). THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT EVEN WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE PART (THREE MORE ERRORS CAME UP AND THE WIRES DID NOT CONNECT PROPERLY) AND THEY SENT THE INFORMATION TO THE MANUFACTURE FOR ASSISTANCE. ON 12 SEPTEMBER 2005, THEY HAD ME BRING THE CAR BACK IN BECAUSE THEY HAD RECEIVED REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE MANUFACTURE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS FIXED AND WOULD HAVE NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH IT. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, I WILL ASK. ON 17 SEPTEMBER 2005 (FIVE DAYS LATER), THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON. *NM

BOUGHT NEW 2004 VW BEETLE IN 9/04, 2 WEEKS LATER, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK TO DEALER. THEY HAD THE CAR OVER 8 WEEKS TRYING TO FIX. FINALLY AGREED TO REPLACE WITH IDENTICAL NEW ONE. LESS THAN 2500 MILES LATER, AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. THEY RESET BUT DID NOT DO ANY REPAIRS. DON'T KNOW IF THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM AS SHORTLY AFTER, STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN OFF ROAD AND HIT GUARD RAIL. VW HAS NOW, WAITING TO SEE IF THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, IT DOESN'T APPEAR AS THEY WILL FROM WHAT I AM HEARING FROM SERVICE MANAGER. FINAL VERDICT NOT IN YET.*AK

2ND MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SINCE CAR PURCHASE. SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING SEAT OCCUPIED LIGHT MODULE AND AIRBAG LIGHT ON/MALFUNCTIONED. LEFT BRAKE LIGHT BURNT OUT. *AK

AIR BAG LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED FIRST ON 2/2005 , WAS BROUGHT IN 4 TIMES TO BE FIXED AND WAS NOT FIXED UNTIL SEPT. LET ME DRIVE AROUND WITH AIR BAG LITE ON.

THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION WE NEVER EVEN LEFT THE DEALERSHIP. THE LAST TIME WE PICKED IT UP THE VEHICLE THEY TOLD US IT WAS A SOFTWARE ISSUE, AND THE SOLUTION SHOULD BE IN TWO WEEKS, AND IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST FIVE MONTHS AND STILL NO SOLUTION AS OF YET. THEY WERE STILL SAYING TWO WEEKS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR REPAIRS. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND OBD DEVISE FAILED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE ALL THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.

WHEN CHANGING THE OIL, A FRAME SUPPORT PAN FOUND ONLY ON CONVERTIBLE CATCHES THE MOTOR OIL. THIS SUPPORT PEN IS CONCAVED AND TRAPS A LARGE MOUNT OF OIL. IF NOT WIPED OUT WITH RAGS IT STAYS THERE CAUSING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD FROM A SPARK. *AK *NM

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE ACCELERATING FORWARD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON, AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS. CONSUMER WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO GET VEHICLE SERVICED, BUT DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

THE CONVERTIBLE TOP HAS BEEN A MAJOR FAILURE POINT. IT HAS BEEN "FIXED" SEVERAL TIMES NOW AND IS STILL FAILING.*AK

MY CAR IS A 2004 VW BEETLE. IT ONLY HAS OVER 48,000 MILES. THE CAR BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHIFT GEARS. VW SERVICE STATED IT NEEDED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND QUOTED ME $7,000.00. I NOW HAVE IT AT A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO IS REBUILDING IT AND IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $3,000. I HAVE A RENTAL CAR THAT WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $400.00. VW HAS A MONOPOLY ON THEIR CARS. I HAVE READ ON-LINE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. HOW IS IT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER IN THIS ECONOMY FOR VOLKSWAGEN NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR DEFECTIVE CARS AND SHIFT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE UNKNOWING CONSUMER? *TR

2004 VW BEETLE BUY 8-19-04. RANSMISSION FAILURE 4 SINCE 9-8, LETTER 9-18 SENT CERTIFIED *VW TECH HOTLINE GAVE NO CASE # SERVICE MGR GAVE CUSTOMER TWO 800#S & CUSTOMER SPOKE W/3 MEN BUT NO CASE #S & SAID THEY WOULD CALL BACK IN 10-15 DAYS. A/O 9-29, NO RETURN CALL & CAR BACK IN SHOP FOR 4TH TIME SAME THING. DEALER WANTS CUSTOMER TO DRIVE AROUND, LEAVE SERVICE TICKET OPEN IN CASE HAPPENS AGAIN. CUSTOMER REQUESTED FULL REFUND UNDER LEMON LAW, BUT NO RESPONSES TO REQUEST. INCIDENTS: 1. 9-8 TRIED DIFFERENT GEARS AND MOVED INTO FIRST GEAR ONLY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD NOT LIGHT UP. SALESMAN ADVISED TO DRIVE TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH TOOK OVER 45 MINUTES AT A TOP SPEED OF 10 MPH. WORK ORDER #87669 INDICATES POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL CONTACT AND READS: HOOK-UP VAS 5051 CODES PO1626 DATA-BUS POWER-TRAIN MISSING MESSAGE FROM TCM, CODES 01315 AND 01315 INST CLUSTER AND DATA BUS GEARBOX CONTROL UNIT NO COMMUNICATION. PERFORMED ALL TEST WITH VAS 5051 AND PER TECH HOTLINE, NO FAULTS FOUND ADVISE TO CLEAR CODES AND TEST DRIVE. IF NO FURTHER PROBLEM OR CODES, RETURN VEHICLE TO CUSTOMER. VW TECH HELP CONTACT NO CASE #. FURTHER OVERNITE ROAD TEST-ALL OK ON TEST. DISCREPANCY-MILEAGE WO #87669 READS 143 MILES IN, BUT MILEAGE CHANGED TO 561 IN AND 602 OUT WHEN CAR PICKED UP. 2. 9-16 SEPTEMBER 16 SAME HAPPENED AROUND LUNCH, DROVE TO DEALER SALESMAN SAID IT WAS FINE 3. 9-16 EVE OUT OF GEAR-TOWED, SERVICE ORDERED CLUSTER TO INSTALL 4. 9-27 VEHICLE WOULDN'T ENGAGE. STILL AT SHOP. THEY SAY THEY REPLACED MORE STUFF, CUSTOMER DOESN'T TRUST AFRAID OF SAFETY-SELF, FAMILY, OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED OR CLOSED. THE CLIPS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUOUSLY RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,569.

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO DEALER. MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. *AK

WHENEVER THE PASSENGER/DRIVER SEATS ARE MOVED WITHIN 10 SECONDS OF STARTING THE CAR AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON IN THE CONSOLE AND DOES NOT TURN OFF UNTIL DONE SO MANUALLY BY A MECHANIC. THE "POD" DEVICE IS THEN DISABLED. IF LIGHT IS ON, THEN AIRBAG MIGHT NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT, INJURIES OR DEATH MAY OCCUR. ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, ONE IN AUGUST AND ONE IN OCTOBER THE LIGHT WAS RESET BY A MECHANIC AND TOOK 3 DAYS EACH TIME. I HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO HAVE THE COMPUTER IN THE CAR REPROGRAMMED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP'S MECHANICS HAVE NOT DONE SO, ASSUMING THAT IS WHY THE LIGHT KEEPS APPEARING.*AK

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS; THE SPEAKERS DIDN'T WORK/WINDOWS KEPT GOING UP AND DOWN, AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN A ONE YEAR OLD. *AK THE REPLACED TRANSMISSION STILL PERFORMS POORLY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES. *TT *NM

DIGITAL ODOMETER "GOES OUT" AND THE CHARACTERS CHANGE WHILE THE CAR IS SITTING OR WHILE STARTING. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS BAD OR NOT, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM NORMAL. I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 5 TIMES WITH NO FIX OR URGENCY TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE. CLUSTER WAS REPLACED ONCE.

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ON SINCE CAR WAS NEW DESPITE NUMEROUS REPAIRS *TR