2005 Volkswagen Beetle Complaint Log

INTERMITTENT HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH GEAR WITH OCCASIONAL SLIPPING BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH GEAR AND ALSO GETTING STUCK IN 4TH GEAR WHICH REQUIRED STOPPING ON SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT. TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. DEALER TOLD US THAT VALVE BODY REPLACEMENT WAS NOT AN OPTION BECAUSE THE HARD SHIFTS WERE BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH, NOT 1ST AND 2ND. CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP. THE WEEK PRIOR TO TAKING OUR BEETLE IN FOR SERVICING, WE TOOK OUR 2002 JETTA IN AND WAS TOLD IT ALSO NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION! *TR

REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR JUST STOPPED WORKING AS THE WINDOW WAS GOING DOWN. IT WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE BUTTON AND MADE A GRINDING NOISE. I HAD TO MANUALLY RETURN IT TO THE CLOSED POSITION AND NOW IT WILL NOT OPERATE AT ALL. WHEN CHECKING ONLINE FOR THIS ISSUE AND SPEAKING TO THE VW DEALER I FOUND THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE ALREADY SETTLED A SUIT FOR THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR BUT IT DID NOT INCLUDE THE REAR ONE. THE DEALER ADVISED ME THAT VW WOULD REPLACE THE PART BUT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THE LABOR. SO THEY ARE AWARE OF THE ISSUE YET ARE NOT WILLING TO INCLUDE THE REAR WINDOW PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSED IN THE SETTLEMENT OF THE SUIT. *TR

PREMATURE CAMSHAFT AND LIFTER WEAR AT 118,000 MILES ON A VW TDI DIESEL WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE CAMSHAFT LIFTERS BEARINGS AND BOLTS AT A COST OF $3,400. DIESEL ENGINES SHOULD LAST 300,000 MILES. ALL MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN DONE ACCORDING TO VW GUIDELINES AND AT A VW DEALER. *TT

PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING BETWEEN 3RD & 4TH GEARS, LURCHING, AND LAGGING. I CALLED THE DEALER, GAVE THE SYMPTOMS AND ASKED WHAT THEY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM COULD BE, THEY INSISTED THEY HADN'T HEARD OF VW'S DOING THAT. MY CAR CONTINUED TO DECLINE, BECOMING STUCK IN A GEAR, VIOLENTLY LURCHING, STALLING, AND ALL GEARS LIT UP(BRACKETED) ON THE DASH. WHEN I TOOK CAR TO VW NOV 2011, 80,000 MILES, FIRST THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE, BUT I PERSISTED EXPLAINING MY HORRIBLE, LURCHING DRIVE INTO WORK, WHERE I STALLED SEVERAL TIMES ALMOST GETTING HIT, AND HOW I COULDN'T PUT THE CHILDREN I CARE FOR IN MY CAR FOR FEAR OF SOMEONE HITTING MY STALLED VEHICLE. THE VW MECHANIC TALKED ME INTO FLUSHING OUT THE TRANS AND CHECKING THE MAGNET($560). HE SAID 80% CHANCE IT WAS MY TRANS(QUOTED $6,000), EVEN AFTER THERE WERE NO METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN, OR SAID IT COULD BE THE VALVE BODY(QUOTED $1,600), BUT THEY WOULDN'T KNOW UNTIL AFTER THE REPAIR. I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER CARS WELL BEYOND 200,000 MILES WITHOUT HAVING A TRANS ISSUE, SO WAS SHOCKED THE TRANS COULD BE BAD AT 80,000 MILES! I TOOK GOOD CARE OF MY CAR, AND DROVE HER KINDLY. THE MECHANIC DENIED TRANS ISSUES BEING COMMON FOR BEETLES. I PAID THE $560, AND THERE WASN'T AN IMPROVEMENT. I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE VALVE BODY TOO LATE(EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN EFFECT WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE!) I WAS SCARED EVERY TIME I DROVE, AND IRATE ONCE I LEARNED THROUGH ONLINE SEARCH THAT FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS ARE A HUGELY KNOWN PROBLEM AND VW WON'T FESS UP AND FIX THEIR PROBLEM!! AFTER THE TRANS BLEW ON THE INTERSTATE(THAT WAS TERRIFYING HAVING A TRANS GO AT 70MPH AND I AM SO THANKFUL I WAS ABLE TO GUIDE MY CAR TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD BEFORE I WAS HIT!!), THE BEETLE SAT IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE I STILL MADE PAYMENTS ON IT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND FORCE VOLKSWAGEN TO RECALL THESE DANGEROUS TRANSMISSIONS!!

LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDS REPLACED. $675 FOR THE REPAIR. LEFT FRONT WINDOW SQUEALS WHEN RAISING/LOWERING AND SOMETIMES WHEN RAISING IT - WHEN IT GETS TO THE TOP IT JUST POPS BACK DOWN AND YOU HAVE TO RAISE IT AGAIN. SUSPECT THE REGULATOR TO BE AT FAULT ON THIS WINDOW AS WELL. THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON VW PRODUCTS SEEM TO HAVE A PRETTY BAD TRACK RECORD. WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HAVE VW STEP UP AND FIX THESE SHODDY PARTS? I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE THIS FIXED! NOW I JUST HAVE TO KEEP DRIVING WITH MY WINDOW PARTIALLY UP. *TR

I HAVE 2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH ONLY 43,351 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY I HAD TO REPLACE WATER PUMP DUE TO THE IMPELLER BEING MADE OF PLASTIC ATTACHED TO METAL AND NOW MY REAR WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BROKEN AND WONT ROLL UP OR DOWN THE WINDOWS. I PAID $650.00 TO FIX WATER PUMP AND WAS TOLD I COULD EXPECT TO REPLACE IT AGAIN IN 40000 MILES DUE TO ITS POOR MANUFACTURING. THIS FROM A VOLKSWAGEN MECHANIC. A WEEK LATER THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON MY BEETLE ALSO BROKE. LOOKING THROUGH THE INTERNET I FOUND ALOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH VOLKSWAGEN FOR THE SAME THING THAT IM EXPERIENCING WITH MY CAR. I CAN UNDERSTAND NOTHING IS PERFECT IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT EVERYONE EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE PROBLEMS WITH SIMILAR VEHICLES BOTH YEAR MODEL AND MAKE AND SOMEONE NEED TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER NOW. I HOPE ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN TO INSTITUTE A RECALL FOR VOLKSWAGEN TO ACT UPON. *TR

AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILURE - LIGHT ILLUMINATED, REPLACED CONTROL MODULE IN DASHBOARD, DID NOT CORRECT THE ERROR. VW DEALER AND COMPANY REFUSE TO DISCOUNT REPAIRS EVEN AFTER BEING PROVIDED 100'S OF DOCUMENTS PROVING THE SAME ISSUE ON OTHER SIMILAR CARS. THIS FAILURE IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V178000, BUT MY VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. *TR

FIRST LOST THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR, THEN THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR, NOW THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR. *TR

HAD A VERY HARD TIME GETTING THE TOP TO COME UP ENOUGH TO LATCH NUMEROUS TIMES ON A ROAD TRIP. AS SUDDENLY AS THE PROBLEM STARTED IT WENT AWAY. BUT WHEN THAT PROBLEM STOPPED, I WAS LEFT WITH A SEVERE RATTLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND A QUARTER BACK WINDOW ON THE SAME SIDE THAT LOOKS MIS-ALIGNED WITH THE FRONT WINDOW AND LEAVES A GAP, LETS WIND IN AND QUITE OFTEN DOESN'T COME COMPLETELY SHUT. ON OCTOBER 6, I PUT MY TOP DOWN TO DRIVE ABOUT 5 MILES HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME, THE TOP WOULDN'T COME UP. I GOT OUT AND GENTLY PULLED ON THE TOP, GOT BACK IN AND EVENTUALLY IT CAME UP. EXACTLY ONE WEEK LATER, I PUT THE TOP DOWN AND I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK 1/4 WINDOW WAS STUCK HALFWAY DOWN. TRIED TO PUT IT UP AND HEARD A NASTY LITTLE SOUND WHICH CONTINUED WHENEVER I PRESSED THE BUTTON FOR THAT WINDOW. I HAD TO FINALLY GET A GENTLEMAN TO HELP ME PULL IT UP. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I REPLACED THE BATTERY (A REAL WHIPPING TO GET IN AND OUT) FOLLOWED A WEEK LATER BY A DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT LIGHT BULB FOR WHICH I WAS CHARGED $100 AND THE MECHANIC DID THE CHANGE IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. I'VE REPLACED BACK-UP LIGHTS SO MANY TIMES I'VE ACTUALLY LEARNED HOW TO DO IT MYSELF. VW OF AMERICA NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE WINDOW REGULATORS, TOP PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ETC. ETC. I AM A SINGLE FEMALE WITH NO GARAGE TO PARK IN IF THE QUIRKY TOP AND WINDOWS DECIDE NOT TO COME UP. I AM ALSO LIMITED ON BUDGET AND THE DESIGN OF THIS CAR CAUSES LABOR CHARGES THAT ARE ASTRONOMICAL TO DO THE SIMPLIST OF THINGS. PRETTY SURE I HAVE THE WINDOW REGULATOR PROBLEM WHERE THEY WANT TO CHARGE $900 PER SIDE. THE LABOR CHARGE TO REPLACE A BATTER IS OVER $100. THE WINDOW PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH VW FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I'VE HAD 3 AND HAD NUMEROUS WINDOW PROBLEMS IN EVERY ONE OF THEM. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING ABNORMALLY HARD. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM BUT THE VEHICLE COMPUTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

* HARD GEAR SHIFTING - LED TO A COMPLETE INABILITY TO SHIFT OR BREAK - LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO "ROLL" OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE BEING HIT. ADDITIONALLY I HAVE EXPERIENCE THE SUDDEN LURCHING ON ABOUT 5 OCCASIONS. * THE CAR ALSO LOVES TO ROLL EVEN ON FLAT GROUND. NEED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ALWAYS AND LEAVE IN GEAR. ROLLED ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS - ONCE WITH MAJOR DAMAGE. * REPAIRING THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 1 YEAR. IT JUST GETS STUCK - I HAVE READ IT IS A REGULATOR ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME THE WINDOW JUST WOULD NOT GO UP ALL THE WAY AND SHATTERED. THIS TIME IT IS STUCK DOWN. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS $642! * FRONT LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I THINK IT HAS BEEN 5X NOW IN 7 YEARS. *TT

SLIPPAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR CAUSING JERKING AND SLOWING. THIS CAUSES UNPREDICTABLE VEHICLE PERFORMANCE WHICH IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DEATH. REPLACING THE VALVE BODY AS VW HAS INDICATED IT "MIGHT"--IF YOUR VEHICLE MEETS CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS--WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM PERMANENTLY. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION IS AT FAULT AND MUST BE COMPLETELY REPLACED TO ENSURE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS.

PLASTIC LENS ON HEADLIGHT FELL OFF THE SEALANT WAS STILL ATTACHED BUT EVERY TIME YOU PARK THE LENS WOULD FALL OFF WENT TO AUBURN VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY SAID COULDN'T REPLACE SEALANT I HAD TO BUY A WHOLE ASSEMBLY WHICH COST ME $525.59 WHICH THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS WHICH WE DID NOT RECEIVED AND I CAN'T GET AHOLD OF SABERSPORTS WHO WAS THE CONTACT, IN 2009 WE PURCHASE THE CAR 2/16/09 AND ONLY HAVE 20,626 MILES ON IT, AND I FEEL THE LIGHT WAS ONE OF THE RECALLS AND MY OTHER HEADLIGHT LOOKS LIKE ITS STARTING WITH THE SAME SEALANT PROBLEM. I FEEL I SHOULD GET MY MONEY BACK AND MY LIGHTS REWORKED ON THE RECALL WHICH THE DEALER DIDN'T MENTION ANY THING ABOUT A RECALL,AND WE NEVER GOT NOTICE ABOUT RECALL. *TR

BOTH REAR WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. (SECOND ONE IS COMPLETELY DOWN AND DOES NOT GO UP) VW DEALER ADVISES THAT THE REGULATORS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND DUE TO THE "DESIGN" OF THE CAR TO HAVE THIS DONE WOULD REQUIRE TAKING OUT THE BACK SEAT FOR A TOTAL OF $1085 WITH PARTS & LABOR. I HAVE SEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND HAVE READ NUMEROUS ARTICLES WHERE OTHER VW BEETLE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. A RECALL FOR THIS COSTLY AND REPEATED ISSUE SHOULD BE PASSED. PLEASE HELP. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY GEAR. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED FOR $4000. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR RELATED WARRANTIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

I HAVE A 2005 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH $40,000 MILES. THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR IS BROKEN. THE WINDOW IS UP, BUT I CAN'T USE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE IF THE WINDOW WILL OPERATE PROPERLY. ALSO THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY. I HAVE NOT PRICED A REPAIR YET. THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP IS 100 MILES AWAY. *TR

RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION VALVE, BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP, REPLACED VALVE AND THEN TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. VW SAID THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE VALVE BEING REPLACED AND WOULD NOT COVER THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WAS 6500 IN ADDITION TO ANOTHER 1500. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE CAR IS NOW JUST SUDDENLY LOSING ALL POWER AT RED LIGHTS OR WHENEVER STOPPED, THIS IS A REAL ROAD HAZARD, IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THESE 2005 VW ARE DANGEROUS CARS ON THE ROAD. VW NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REIMBURSE FOLKS FOR THE TRANSMISSION SO THAT THEY CAN GO AND GET NEW CARS. IT'S DIFFICULT IN THESE TIMES TO BE ABLE TO GO AND GET A NEW CAR WHEN I HAVE JUST SOCKED 8000 INTO THIS ONE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT VW IS GETTING AWAY WITH THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE, JUST UNBELIEVABLE. AND THE CAR WILL GO BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN NEXT WEEK. I AM REALLY ASKING FOR THIS GOVERNMENT AGENCY TO INVESTIGATE AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR ALL VW BEETLE OWNERS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THIS. THE RECALL IS SURELY A COVER UP FOR THE REAL ISSUE, A "FAULTY" TRANSMISSION. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2005 VOLKWAGEN BEETLE IN 2005. I EXPERIENCED HARD DOWN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 1ST WITHIN THE 1ST YEAR OF OWNING THE CAR. I TOOK IT IN TO [XXX] IN SNELLVILLE GEORGIA WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL. YEAR AFTER YEAR, THE SHIFTING GOT WORSE. IT WOULD HAPPEN RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING. NOW AFTER 100,000 MILES, THE SHIFTING IS SO BAD, I CAN BARELY DRIVE THE CAR. IT NOW SHIFTS HARD FROM EVERY GEAR. EVERY TIME MY CAR HAS TO SLOW DOWN OR SPEED UP FROM A STOP LIGHT, IT JERKS SO HARD IT THROWS ME FORWARD. IT'S RIDICULOUS AND SCARY. SOMETIMES, WHILE ACCELERATING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION, IT WILL JUST STOP, AND I HAVE TO LET OFF THE GAS AND JUST PAUSE AND WAIT A SECOND AND THEN SPEED UP AGAIN. IT'S DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AT THIS POINT, BUT I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION. I RECENTLY GOT A LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA STATING THAT THEY'RE FIXING CERTAIN BEETLE'S TRANSMISSIONS, AND MY 2005 WAS ONE OF THEM! I WAS SO EXCITED, BUT AS I READ ON, THE LETTER EXPLAINED THAT THE BEETLE HAD TO BE UNDER 100,000 MILES OR UNDER 7YEARS OLD. WELL OF COURSE MY BUG WAS 400 MILES OVER 100,000 MILES!!!! I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA FAXED THEM DOCUMENTATION THAT MY CAR HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AT 50,000 MILES, AND I WAITED 6 WEEKS TO HEAR ANYTHING BACK. FINALLY, THEY SENT ME A LETTER DENYING ME OF A NEW TRANSMISSION BECAUSE I WAS 400 MILES OVER 100,000 MILES! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS! THEY CANNOT GET AWAY WITH THIS. WE NEED TO FILE A LAWSUIT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA!!!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

MY 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WAS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION, AND THE "REGULATOR" HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $331.55. THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED WITH BOTH REAR WINDOWS IN FEB. OF 2008, BUT VW HAD A RECALL ON THOSE WINDOWS, AND FIXED THEM "FREE". THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR FRONT WINDOWS, EVEN THOUGH INTERNET FORUMS SHOW MANY OTHER BEETLE OWNERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM WITH FRONT WINDOWS. ALSO, MY PREVIOUSLY OWNED 2001 BEETLE HAD A STUCK PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW, AND COST ABOUT $300 TO REPAIR. *TR

VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, 2005 MODEL WITH 105,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILING CAUSING HARD SHIFTING AND SLIPPING GEARS RESULTING IN CAR LURCHING, SUDDEN DOWN SHIFTS AND PAUSING UNEXPECTEDLY IN TRAFFIC. CAUSED REAREND IMPACT WHEN VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. AS TOLD BY THE VW DEALER THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEW BEETLE 6SPD TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION, ONE THAT VW WILL NOT ADMIT NOR CORRECT. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME FINDING THAT THERE IS NO QUESTION AS TO WHETHER A NEW BEETLE OWNER WILL HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RATHER WHEN THE PROBLEM WILL BEGIN. WHILE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MANY IF ANY ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS ISSUE I DO KNOW THERE IS A GREAT CONCERN AMONGST THESE VEHICLE OWNERS THAT ACCIDENTS WILL OCCUR. VW SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE [XXX] PURCHASED IN THE FALL OF 2004; MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR SERVICE TO DEALER GOSSETT VOLKSWAGEN / MEMPHIS, TN REGARDING HARD SHIFTING TIPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED REPORTING THIS JAN 2005 AT 198 MILES BUT I HAVE RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THE SERVICE ADVISOR WAS NOT RECORDING MY COMPLAINT, DESCRIBING VISITS AS "30 DAY INSPECTION"; ONLY DOCUMENTATION OF PROGRAMMING OF SHIFT POINTS AT 59860 MILES ACCORDING TO THEIR RECORDS DATED 7/17/08; NOTHING HELPED; MULTIPLE REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM DEALER IGNORED DEALER CLAIMING COULD NOT DUPLICATE ISSUE. PROBLEM CAUSED HESITATION IN TRAFFIC; INVOLUNTARY JERKING AND SOMETIMES SUDDEN FORWARD MOTION OF CAR. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION HAD TO PULL CAR OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD TO SHUT IT DOWN. PROBLEM RESOLVED WHEN CAR BELOW NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE THEN MANIFESTS AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. DEALER STATED "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE" UNTIL AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED THEN DECLARED TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITHOUT OPENING SO-CALLED SEALED UNIT TO DIAGNOSE. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA ISSUED RECALL ON TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY LATE LAST YEAR; REFUSED TO REPAIR MY VEHICLE THIS JANUARY AFTER 6 YEARS OF VISITS TO DEALER FOR NUMEROUS ISSUES INCLUDING THIS ONE. I ALLEGE THAT THE DEALER AND VOA KNOWINGLY SOLD THIS MODEL YEAR WITH A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AS MANY OWNERS OF PREVIOUS AND SAME MODEL YEARS HAVE FREQUENTLY POSTED ACCOUNTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON VARIOUS CONSUMER WEBSITES INCLUDING YOUR OWN; APPEALING FOR YOUR INTERVENTION IN THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE CAR IS NOW PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAVE ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT AT THE STATE OF TENNESSEE CONSUMER AFFAIRS AGENCY ALLEGING THAT GOSSETT VOLKSWAGEN AND VOA HAVE ENGAGED IN A FRAUDULENT PATTERN OF AVOIDING RESPONSIBILITY FOR A VERY DANGEROUS ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE EXPENSE OF NECESSARY REPAIRS. THIS CAR IS PARKED AND IS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN BECAUSE IT WILL STALL, LURCH, AND ACCELERATE AND DECELERATE ERRATICALLY BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *TR

WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE DURING REGULAR USAGE. CAR HAS ONLY 30,000 MILES. *TR

TRANSMISSION IS JUMPING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND SLOWING DOWN. VOLKSWAGEN HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BUT NOT IF THE VEHICLE IS OLDER THAT 7 YEARS FROM THE INSERVICE DATE. I REPORTED MY PROBLEM JAN. 2012 AFTER I HAD LEARNED OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAD BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY MONTHS EARLIER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE INSERVICE DATE WAS NOV. 2004 THEREFORE I WAS INELIGIBLE BY ABOUT 6 WEEKS. *TR

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2005 VW BEETLE WITH 72,000 MILES. ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO, IT BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY JERK BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF CITY DRIVING. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE CAR WOULD STALL, THEN BUCK FORWARD AS IF I WAS BEING REAR-ENDED. THE LEVEL OF UNRELIABILITY IS REALLY DANGEROUS, BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO SPEED UP LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO. I'M IN CONSTANT FEAR THAT I WILL GET REAR ENDED OR STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I'VE TAKEN IT TO TWO MECHANICS AND TALKED TO TWO TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS AND ALL OF THEM HAVE SAID THAT THEY WON'T WORK ON A VW BEETLE'S TRANSMISSION AND THAT I NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I'VE TRIED AIDING THE PROBLEM WITH A NEW BATTERY, BUT THAT HASN'T HELPED. OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE (300 ON TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM) HAVE STATED THAT REPAIRS FOR THIS PROBLEM ARE $5,000-$7,000 AND THAT IT HASN'T ALWAYS FIXED THE PROBLEM.

TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFTING RECALL. TOOK CAR INTO DEALER IN DRIVING CONDITION. CAR DIAGNOSED AND VW REPLACED VALVE BODY CAUSING TRANS FAILURE. VW REFUSING TO REPLACE TRANS. DEALER FORCING ME TO PURCHASE NEW TRANS. WOULD NOT ATTEMPT ANOTHER VALVE BODY. *TR

HARD SHIFTING TRANSMISSION. WV REPLACED VALVE BODY. CAUSED TRANS FAILURE. *TR

MY 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE HAS THE SAME BAD WINDOW REGULATORS AS THE REST OF THE RECALLED ONES. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALSO ON WITHOUT ANY WRECKS TO MY AUTO VIN # [XXX]. I'VE REPORTED IT TWICE TO STEVENS VOLKSWAGEN OF WICHITA,KS AND ONCE TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REFERENCE NUMBER: 810010103. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY ANSWER FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA . THE ONLY REPLY I GOT FROM STEVENS VOLKSWAGEN OF WICHITA,KS IS THAT THEY WILL CHARGE ME 130.00 JUST TO DECIDE IF I'M COVERED UNDER THE WINDOW REGULATOR RECALLS AND OR THE AIRBAG LIGHT MALFUNCTIONS. *TR

THE LIGHT SOCKETS ON THE CAR ARE LOOSE AND WILL ALLOW THE BULB TO COME LOOSE AND NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CONNECTOR AND THE LIGHT HAS TO BE RE-INSERTED, THIS CONSTANT REMOVAL AND FIXING OF THE LIGHTS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL OF THE COMPONENTS TO BREAK AND NOW MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX. THE EFFECTED LIGHTS ARE: TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, HEAD LIGHT, REVERSE LIGHTS... MAINLY THE REAR LIGHTS, BUT THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE HARD SHIFTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRAIN VOLKSWAGEN OF FAYETTEVILLE (LOCATED AT 2011 WEST FOXGLOVE DR, FAYETTEVILLE, AR 72704, (479) 695-5900), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. *LN*JB

2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING - LESS THAN 85,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 60K MILES I NOTICED A JERKING WHEN I WOULD SLOW. THE JERKING WOULD OCCUR WHILE THE CAR WAS SLOWING BETWEEN 3RD AND 2ND GEAR. THAT SEEMED TO IRON ITSELF OUT, BUT THEN A NEW PROBLEM SURFACED - THE CAR WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR SPORADICALLY. AT 80K MILES, I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC - HE TOLD ME IT COULD BE DUE TO LOW TRANSMISSION FLUID. HE CHECKED MY LEVELS AND SAID ALL SEEMED TO BE IN ORDER. NOW (A MONTH LATER) IT OCCURS MORE RECENTLY (DAILY AND MORE THAN ONCE A DAY), MY CAR WILL TRANSITION SMOOTHLY BETWEEN GEARS UNTIL TRANSMISSION WARMS UP. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 - 15 MINUTES WORTH OF DRIVING, ACCELERATING BETWEEN 2 AND 3RD GEAR, THE CAR REVS LIKE IT HAS SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND WILL JERK VIOLENTLY INTO 3RD GEAR. WHEN I CAN TELL THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS, ALLOW THE RPMS TO RETURN TO NORMAL AND THEN TRY ACCELERATING AGAIN, NORMALLY THIS WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO SMOOTHLY TRANSITION TO 3RD GEAR. TODAY, HOWEVER, THE CAR REMAINED IN NEUTRAL AND ALTHOUGH I TOOK MY FOOT FROM THE GAS, THE ENGINE SEEMED TO CONTINUE TO REV AS IF MY FOOT WAS STILL PRESSING ON THE GAS. I PRESSED THE BREAK TO STOP THE RPMS FROM CLIMBING HIGHER AND THEN THE CAR JERKED INTO 3RD - THIS WAS BY FAR THE SCARIEST BECAUSE I HAD A CAR RIGHT BEHIND ME. IMPROMPTU BREAKING AND LURCHING COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAD I BEEN IN TIGHTER TRAFFIC. I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MILES PER HOUR. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN AND FORMALLY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT. I'VE ALSO GONE ON SEVERAL VEHICLE FORUMS AND FOUND I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF VW BEETLE THAT IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC TODAY TO FIND OUT A DIAGNOSIS. HOPING SOMEONE ELSE HAS HEARD OF THIS AND FOUND A MORE VIABLE SOLUTION OTHER THAN SOAKING $6K INTO A 5-YEAR OLD CAR. *TR

AT APPROXIMATELY 75K MILES, 2005 VW BEETLE BEGAN VIOLENT LURCHING UPON SLOWING DOWN, RESULTING IN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR - LOCAL DEALER DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND IS UNDERGOING A TRANSMISSION REBUILD QUOTED AT APPROXIMATELY $3,500.00. *TR

I HAVE A 2005 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT - UP TO DATE ON ALL MAINTENANCE WITH ONLY 64,450 MILES ON IT. A WEEK OR SO THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE WAS HOPING IT WAS A SOLENOID, AND AN EASY FIX BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS A REBUILD. HE CALLED HIS TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO SAID - 'I WON'T EVEN TOUCH A BEETLE, IT'S LIKE PUTTING ON ANOTHER WEDDING RING. YOU GET TIED TO THESE CARS' I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SMALL ISSUES WITH THE CAR, AND ONE BIG ISSUE WHICH MY DEALERSHIP TOOK CARE OF DURING MY WARRANTY PERIOD SO I HAD BEEN SATISFIED WITH VW'S RESPONSE AT LEAST IN THE PAST, BUT A LIGHTLY DRIVEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE FAILING 4500 MILES OUTSIDE THE CARS WARRANTY..AND THE FACT THAT TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS RECOGNIZE THIS AS A FREQUENT AND RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL MAKES ME THINK THERE IS CAUSE FOR RECALL. SEARCHING FOR BEETLE TRANSMISSION PROMPTS MESSAGE BOARDS WITH HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES ON THE TOPIC AND IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE ARE IN THE 'JUST OVER 60,000 MILE' CATEGORY I FALL UNDER. SOME EXAMPLES: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F124D77 (33 PAGES OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE) HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/VW_BEETLE.HTML (2004-2005 BEETLE OWNERS WHO DESCRIBE THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS I'M HAVING). *TR

TRANSMISSION IN 2005 VW BEETLE WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT IS SUDDENLY FAILING TO SHIFT. RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE YET VW REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I EXPLAINED THAT THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THIS WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO OVER TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF MORE THAN THE CURRENT VALUE OF THE CAR. *TR

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2005 VW BEETLE. AT APPROXIMATELY 89,000 MILES I NOTICED A LURCHING BETWEEN GEARS. THIS WOULD OCCUR ONLY AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. I AM NOT A MECHANIC BUT SUSPECTED THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN MY CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A FEE OF $95.00 I WAS TOLD THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. SINCE THE 2005 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WAS BUILT WITH A NON-SERVICEABLE TRANSMISSION THE VW MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT I COULD HAVE DONE TO PREVENT THE TRANSMISSION FROM 'GOING UP' EARLY. THE MECHANIC ALSO SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD HAVE LASTED SEVERAL MORE YEARS BEFORE HAVING ANY ISSUES. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN APRIL 2005, AND I DO NOT HAVE THE $6,000.00 IT WILL COST TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY COMPLAINTS OUT THERE FOR THE SAME ISSUE ON THE SAME MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR SHOULDN'T THIS BE SOMETHING THAT VW IS REQUIRED TO FIX? ONE OTHER INCIDENT I WANT TO MENTION IS THAT WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YEARS OF OWNING MY 2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. SINCE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD THEM LOOK AT IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE SWITCH HAD TO BE RESET AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. HOWEVER, THEY NEVER DOCUMENTED THIS COMPLAINT AT ALL SO WHEN I WENT BACK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM JUST A FEW DAYS AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. I WAS TOLD THEY HAD NO RECORD OF THE COMPLAINT AND THEY WOULD CHARGE ME OVER $100.00 JUST TO LOOK AT IT. NOW THAT I AM RESEARCHING THE TRANSMISSION I SEE THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VERY THING AND I WAS NEVER INFORMED, NOR WAS THE LIGHT EVER FIXED. AFTER ALL THE DEALER TOLD ME IT WAS JUST A TRIPPED SWITCH AND THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG, JUST A FEW MONTHS BEFORE THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN SO I DIDN'T WORRY ABOUT IT ' UNTIL NOW. *TR

2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE - WINDOW REGULATOR PROBLEM, ALREADY HAD BACK WINDOW REPLACED LAST YEAR, NOW FRONT GETTING REPLACED. *TR

SHIFTING AND JERKING OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE JERKING GETS SO BAD THAT IT CAN DELAY ACCELERATION AND MIMIC GETTING REAR ENDED, YET SERVICE STATES NOTHING WAS WRONG. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THE RPMS WOULD INCREASE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ANY FASTER CAUSING IT TO HESITATE. SHE ALSO NOTICED THAT WHEN TRYING TO PARALLEL PARK IT WOULD HESITATE BEFORE GOING INTO GEAR AND IT WAS HARDER TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION BODY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 39,900 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

BOUGHT 2005 VW BEETLE IN DECEMBER 2008. OCTOBER 2010, CAR SHIFTING HARD AND JERKING WHILE SHIFTING INTO GEARS. LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING DUE TO GEARS GETTING STUCK. MECHANIC SAYS I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

MY 2005 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH TRIPTONIC TRANSMISSION, WITH ONLY 68,300 MILES, LURCHES IN THE LOWER GEARS AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY BETWEEN THE LOWER GEARS AND OFTEN REVS UP TO 5000 RPM BEFORE IT "SLAMS" INTO HIGHER GEAR. I'M AFRAID TO GO ON ANY HIGHWAYS WITH THIS - WHAT HAPPENS IF IT GET STUCK IN GEAR AND I CAN'T STOP? *TR

AUTO TRANSMISSION ON 2005 VW BEETLE SLIPS AND LEAVES ME WITH NO POWER ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN TOWN. *TR

2005 VW BEETLE WITH MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE TRANNY WILL NOT SHIFT ON TIME AND WHEN IT DOES IT JERKS THE CAR. IT WILL ALSO STALL DURING ACCELERATION AND LEAVES ME STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE CAR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN YOU NEED IT TOO. THE ISSUE SEEMS TO GET WORSE MORE AND MORE. *TR

COMPONENT: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DETAILS: ISSUE HAS NOT YET CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT WILL. VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, 2005 MODEL WITH FEWER THAN 57,00.00 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILING CAUSING HARD SHIFTING AND SLIPPING GEARS RESULTING IN CAR LURCHING AND PAUSING UNEXPECTEDLY. FROM MY INVESTIGATION THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEW BEETLE, ONE THAT VW WILL NOT ADMIT NOR CORRECT. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME FINDING THAT THERE IS NO QUESTION AS TO WHETHER A NEW BEETLE OWNER WILL HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RATHER WHEN THE PROBLEM WILL BEGIN. WHILE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MANY IF ANY ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS ISSUE I DO KNOW THERE IS A GREAT CONCERN AMONGST THESE VEHICLE OWNERS THAT ACCIDENTS WILL OCCUR. VW SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES THAT USE THESE 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *DT *TR

JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE'S COMPLAINT. I HAVE A 2005 CONVERTIBLE BEETLE THAT IS JERKING, THRUSTING, GETTING STUCK IN GEARS. I DRIVE THE CAR FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MIN AND THEN IT STARTS LIKE CLOCKWORK. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP FOR 2 WEEKS AND SPENT $1400 REPLACING EVERYTHING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NOTHING SHOWS UP ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE (NO CODES) THEY TELL ME. I AM ASTOUNDED AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS I'M SEEING ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION DEFECT. MY CAR HAS 83,000 MILES AND I CANNOT PAY $4000 - $5000 TO FIX. I WILL BE OUT OF TRANSPORTATION AND OUT OF A JOB. WHAT IS BEING DONE BY VOLKSWAGEN TO FIX THIS DEFECT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!! *TR

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2005 VW BEETLE WITH 56,000 MILES ON IT. I'M HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT HAVE PUT MY LIFE IN DANGER. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM GEAR TO GEAR THERE IS A LONG DELAY IN BETWEEN, THIS THEN MAKES THE ENGINE REV TO HIGH RPM'S. ONCE IT REACHES A HIGH RPM IT'LL ENGAGE THE NEXT GEAR CAUSE THE CAR TO JUMP. WHEN THE GEAR DROPS INTO A HIGH RPM IT ALSO CAUSES THE TIRES TO SLIP AND SKID AS WELL AS MAKING THE CAR HARD TO STEER. MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL GET STUCK IN BETWEEN GEARS WHICH MAKES THE CAR IN NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH IT'S IN DRIVE. I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY DO TO THE TRANSMISSION NOT CHANGING INTO GEAR. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO VW SERVICE CENTER AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME IT'S BECAUSE OF LOW TRANSMISSION FLUID AND A BAD VALVE BODY. THESE TWO PROBLEMS ALONE COST OVER 2,000 DOLLARS. VW CLAIMS TO HAVE A CLOSED TRANSMISSION THAT DOES NOT NEEDS SERVICE, BUT MY BEETLE HAVING 56,000 MILES ON IT NEEDS ALL THESE WORK DONE. THEY ARE STILL NOT COMPLETELY POSITIVE IF THAT WILL FIX THE PROBLEM. VW NEEDS TO FIX THIS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION THAT HAS CAUSED THOUSANDS OF BEETLE OWNERS TO PUT THEIR LIFE IN DANGER AND OTHER LIFE'S IN DANGER. VW MAKING BEETLE OWNERS PAY FOR REPAIRS ON A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THEY NEED TO FIX THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY PRODUCED A DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE PRODUCT. *TR

LURCHING IN SHIFT OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WE BOUGHT AN OFF LEASE CONVERTIBLE 05 NEW BEETLE. IT DROVE FINE AT FIRST BUT WE CONTINUALLY NOTICED A LURCHING OR BUCKING SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND. THIS OCCURRED AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. AFTER LOOKING UP THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET WE FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. WE WERE JUST OUT OF THE MONTHLY WARRANTY BUT UNDER THE MILEAGE WARRANTY. WE TOOK IT TO OUR CERTIFIED VW MECHANIC AND HE SAID WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER DOING A DRAIN AND FILL. WE CONTACTED VW AND THEY SAID WE NEEDED A DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS FOR THEM TO GET INVOLVED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. VW OFFERED A GOODWILL REMEDY OF $1000 OFF A NEW BEETLE. WE TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALTY SHOP AND THEY FIXED THE VEHICLE WITH AN AFTERMARKET THROTTLEBODY KIT WITH A TOTAL COST OF $1025.00. THE KIT THEY USED ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM OF THE SHIFT PRESSURE. I DON'T BELIEVE THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. SO FAR NO PROBLEMS. *TR

REAR WINDOW REGULATOR, WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP. FIRST OCCURRENCE ON 8/26/2010. WAITING TO HEAR RESPONSE FROM SHOP ON REPAIR OPTIONS. *TR

2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC HAS TROUBLE GOING FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR AROUND 20MPH. JERKS HARD WHEN CHANGING GEARS AND SOMETIMES MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS. WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO STALL AT TIMES. OTHER TIMES IT STAYS STUCK BETWEEN GEARS AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES BEFORE I CAN START DRIVING AGAIN. *TR

FAULTY WINDOW MECHANICS, BOTH REAR WINDOWS HAVE BROKEN IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS, CHEAP MADE AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2005 VW NEW BEETLE GLS TDI FAILED. THE AUTO SHOP CANNOT FIND AN EXTERNAL CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THEY SAY THE FLYWHEEL "EXPLODED" THE INTERNAL PART OF THE TRANSMISSION AND EVEN BROKE THE TRANSMISSION CASE OPEN. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE IN TERMS OF NOISES OR PERFORMANCE. THE CAR HAS ONLY 86,000 MILES ON IT AND IS DRIVEN MAINLY ON THE HIGHWAY. I AM HAVING THE CAR REPAIRED AT A COST OF ABOUT $6,500. DESPITE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BY OTHER CUSTOMERS, VW HAS NOT YET RECALLED THIS CAR, BUT DEFINITELY SHOULD! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A NOISE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND THE FLYWHEEL SUDDENLY EXPLODED AND LOCKED THE VEHICLE, DAMAGING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FLYWHEEL AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER A MECHANIC INSPECTED IT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.