2006 Volkswagen Beetle Complaint Log

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE FAILURE BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2008 AND OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ONLY ONCE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY CLEANED THE CARBURETOR, CHECKED THE FUEL LINE, AND POWER FLUSHED THE COOLANT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE DIAGNOSTIC COULD NOT PRODUCE A FAILURE CODE. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,500. UPDATED 01/08/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED VOLVO FIXED THE PROBLEM AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED. UPDATED 01/12/09. *JB

MY 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE HAS HAD 4 FAILURES OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO VOLKSWAGEN CERTIFIED DEALERSHIPS, THE PART THAT KEEPS FAILING IS A SENSOR IN THE SEATBELT. WHEN THIS SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS RENDERED USELESS. IT GOES OFF RANDOMLY, WITH NO TRAUMA OR INCIDENT TO THE VEHICLE. THE PART COSTS MORE THAN $600 TO FIX. I HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED IN 2008, 2010, 2013 AND NOW THE SAME PART HAS FAILED AGAIN. EACH TIME IT WENT OUT IT WAS WITHIN A YEAR OF THE PREVIOUS FAILURE, ALTHOUGH UNTIL RECENTLY I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS DISABLED - I WAITED TO TAKE IT IN BECAUSE OF THE INCONVENIENCE. THE LIGHT ALSO RANDOMLY TURNS OFF ONE OUT OF EVERY 10-15 DRIVES. THE VOLKSWAGEN REGIONAL CASE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT - DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PART IS CLEARLY FAULTY AND HAS CONTINUOUSLY FAILED DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN OR ANY FACTORS I COULD CONTROL - THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT AND EXPECT ME TO PAY THE COST FOR THE YEARLY/BI-YEARLY FAILURE BECAUSE MY CAR HAS 102,000 MILES ON IT. THE FAILURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MILEAGE AND THE SAME PROBLEM WAS FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN THE CAR HAD LOWER MILEAGE. (PLUS, I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000) THIS PART CLEARLY NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS FROM OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN IS STICKING THE CONSUMER WITH THE BILL FOR THEIR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP. WHEN I ASKED "IF I PAY TO FIX IT NOW, WILL YOU BE COVERING THE REST OF THE REPLACEMENTS IT WILL OBVIOUSLY NEED DOWN THE LINE?" THE ANSWER WAS A "NO." IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE HANDLED BY SOME BODY WITH AUTHORITY OVER THIS COMPANY. THE VEHICLE IS NOT MEETING BASIC SAFETY STANDARDS. I MAINTAIN THE PARTS OF MY VEHICLE EACH YEAR THAT I AM REQUIRED TO - VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO DO THEIR PART TO MAKE THEIR VEHICLES WORK PROPERLY. *TR

I WROTE VOLKSWAGEN THREE TIMES AND HAD THREE PHONE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE/SPLASH GUARD. I CONSIDER THE PROBLEM TO BE NOT ONLY A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT, BUT ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. THE GUARD HAS COME LOOSE TWICE FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR, WITH VW SUGGESTING THAT ONE TIME WAS DUE TO THE PIECE BEING IMPROPERLY PUT BACK AFTER AN OIL CHANGE FROM AN AUTO REPAIR GARAGE AND THE OTHER INSTANCE DUE TO MY PARKING TOO CLOSELY TO A PARKING SPACE CONCRETE END-BLOCK. IT IS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE PIECE DID NOT COME COMPLETELY OFF AND GO FLYING INTO TRAFFIC. VW TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD PROBABLY BACK INTO PARKING SPACES SO AS TO AVOID THAT PROBLEM OR PARK FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM PARKING SPACE CONCRETE BARRIERS SO IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE IS NO MENTION OF THIS "FEATURE" IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED THAT I AM PROBABLY NOT ACCUSTOMED TO DRIVING A LOW RIDING CAR AND WOULD HAVE TO GET USED TO IT - MY PREVIOUS CAR RODE JUST AS LOW, BUT WAS ENGINEERED WELL ENOUGH THAT THE BUMPER WOULD NEVER GET CAUGHT ON A PARKING BLOCK . ISN'T THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE BLOCKS - TO LIGHTLY TAP THEM TO KNOW THE CAR IS CLOSE ENOUGH IN THE SPACE TO BE KEPT FROM BEING HIT FROM BEHIND? I HAVE ASKED OTHER BEETLE OWNERS IF THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND SO FAR, THE FOUR PEOPLE I ASKED HAVE SAID YES, BUT THEY HAVE NOT CONTACTED VW OR MADE ANY OTHER ENTITIES AWARE OF THE PROBLEM - THEY ARE JUST LIVING WITH IT. THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL MENTIONS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM ON CAR/VW/COMPLAINT FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, WHICH I DOCUMENTED IN MY CORRESPONDENCE WITH VW. THE FINAL WORD FROM VW WAS THAT THEY MEET THE US AUTOMAKER GUIDELINES/SPECIFICATIONS AND THE PROBLEM IS "DUE TO BE TO AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE, AND NOT A MANUFACTURER'S SHORTCOMING" .. AND SO IT EVEN, "DID NOT FALL WITHIN WARRANTY PARAMETERS." THE FIRST REPAIR, VW WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE GUARD BACK INTO PLACE AND SECURE IT; THE SECOND COST ME $340. THANK YOU FOR ANY CONSIDERATION AND FOLLOW-UP. *TR

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY GOES INTO 2ND GEAR WHERE IT REMAIN UNTIL THE KEY IS REMOVED. THE DEALER INDICATES THE 'MEGATRONIC' SHIFTING CONTROLLER IS BAD. HOWEVER THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER FROM THE FACTORY AND THERE IS A 7-10 DELAY IN SHIPMENT FROM THE FACTORY. IT SEEMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PART FAILURE. *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHTS TURN THEMSELVES OFF WHILE DRIVING, LEADING TO DISTRESSING CONDITIONS AT NIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, CONTINUING TODAY.THE HEADLIGHTS MUST BE MANIPULATE FROM INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO 'RE-LOCK' THEM INTO POSITION FOR THEM TO WORK AGAIN. VW OFFERED TO SELL NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, BUT OFFERED NO REASON FOR THEM TURNING THEMSELVES OFF EXCEPT TO SAY THAT THEY SEE THIS ISSUE A LOT. I HAVE ALSO HAD TREMENDOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOWS, BOTH FRONT AND BACK WINDOWS NOT OPERATING AND NOT FULLY MOVING UP TO THE STOP POSITION. AGAIN, VOLKSWAGEN SAYS THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE WINDOWS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY. THESE HAVE BEEN ONGOING PROBLEMS, FIRST ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOT REPLACE, AND LATER AFTER WARRANTY THE DEALER OFFERED TO SELL NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AND WINDOW CONTROLLERS TO ME TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WHY WOULDN'T THEY REPLACE THEM WHEN THEY WERE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN DRIVING AND THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A U-SHAPED BAR ATTACHED TO THE SEAT BELT, WHICH ALLOWS THE SEAT BELT TO MOVE TO THE BACK WHEN NOT IN USE. HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. IT WOULD PROVIDE THE CONTACT APPROXIMATELY EIGHT INCHES OF "EXTRA" SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT WOULD POP TO THE BACK POSITION WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE COME TO THE FRONT. SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE BAR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND COULD REDUCE THE PROTECTION NEEDED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,142 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN MY VW BEETLE VIN:[XXX] APPEAR TO BE ENGINEERED FOR A RIGHT SIDE DRIVER VEHICLE; AND, ON ROTATION, THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER STOPS FOR RETURN SWING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S FACE, FURTHER IMPAIRING VISION WHILE RAIN CONDITIONS EXIST. THIS IS AN EASILY REMEDIED SITUATION FOR THE MANUFACTURER.*CN *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN DRY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE ON ITS OWN AND THEN ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHILE WAITING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR, BUT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE HIM WITH ANY INFORMATION. THE CONTACT HAS CALLED THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED ANY CALLS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000. UPDATED 4/23/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

CAR CUT OFF AND ALMOST KILLED ME WITH WITNESS. *TR

06 VW BEETLE HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT SO MANY TIMES AND THE COST TO REPAIR EACH TIME IS AROUND $100. AFTER EACH REPAIR IT COULD BE A DAY A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE THE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. I NOW DRIVE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS SO THAT I AM VISIBLE AT NIGHT. *TR

FAILING DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL. SYMPTOMS ARE VIBRATION, RATTLING. SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING SINCE VEHICLE WAS DETECTED WITH UNKNOWN VIBRATION AT 17K. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AFTER REPLACING EGR, MAF, FUEL PUMP AND CHECKING FLYWHEEL FOR GREASE DEPOSITS. RESULTS OF FAILURE ARE IMMEDIATE LOCKUP OF TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE IF OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE ARE PROBABLE. WELL KNOWN DOCUMENTED FAILURES HAVE BEEN RECORDED AND FIXED BY VW, BUT MOST FAILURES ON MANUAL CARS HAVE BEEN BLAMED ON DRIVER AGRESSIVENESS EVEN THOUGH DMF MAKERS HAVE RELEASED DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOW THAT FAILING DMF WILL SHOW THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS A FAILURE DUE TO AGRESSIVE DRIVING. VW HAS ACTIVE RECALL CAMPAINS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FOR THE SAME DMF FAILURES.

I WAS THE PASSENGER IN MY PARENTS' 2006 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE YESTERDAY AND WE WERE STOPPED AT A 4 WAY STOP WHEN WE WERE HIT FROM BEHIND BY A DELIVERY VEHICLE. I HAD MY SEATBELT FASTENED SECURELY, HOWEVER, THE MECHANISM FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY, SOMEHOW COMING UNLATCHED, WHICH CAUSED ME TO HIT THE DASH OR WINDSHIELD WITH MY FACE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY FRONT TEETH. I WENT TO THE DENTIST THIS MORNING AND WAS TOLD THAT MY TEETH COULD HAVE LONG TERM DAMAGE, SOME OF WHICH MIGHT NOT SHOW UP FOR WEEKS, MONTHS, OR EVEN YEARS FROM NOW. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE SEATBELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT RETRACT LIKE IT DID ON THE DRIVERS' SIDE AND YOU COULD DEFINITELY SEE DAMAGE AROUND THE AREA WHERE THE SEATBELT RETRACTS. *TR

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD DISTORTED THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THE FAILURE OCCURED IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD AND WAS VERY DISTRACTING. THE DEALER COMPARED OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE CONTACT'S STATING THAT THE DISTORTION IN THE WINDOW WAS NORMAL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200. *AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF ONE FORCED THE SWITCH ON AND OFF THE HEATER WOULD OPERATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGEWAS 996. THE CONTACT HAS AN APPOINTMENT AT A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. *AK

SINCE THE BEGINNING WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND TOLD THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES THEY ALWAYS ADVISED THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS IT STUCK HARD UNTIL IT REACHED 4TH GEAR IT RAN OK. ALL DURING THE TIME UNTIL PRESENT DATE THE TRANNY SLIPPED I WAS FINALLY TOLD IN EARLY 2012 THE TRANNY WAS GONE AND IT WOULD COST 6000K TO REPLACE THE WARRANTY HAD JUST ELAPSED. BUT DURING THE TIME PRIOR IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR STANDARD SERVICING INCLUDING DIAGNOSTICS AND I ALWAYS NOTIFIED THEM OF THE TRANSMISSION AND WAS TOLD NO PROBLEMS. TODAY I WAS ADVISED THAT THE ORIGINAL HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE OF AN AUTO TRANS VALVE BODY ISSUE, BUT WAS TOLD I WAS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE. THE CAR IS AT ABOUT 114060 MILES. I WOULD LIKE HELP IN GETTING VW AMERICA TO REPLACE THIS VALVE BODY BECAUSE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEMS ON THESE CARS PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. WHEN ORIGINALLY PURCHASED I HAD EVEN PAID AN EXTRA 3000K FOR THE PLATINUM WARRANTY. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME TO HAVE VW AMERICA AT THE VERY LEAST CHANGE OUT THIS AUTO TRANS VALVE BODY THIS QUITE POSSIBLY COULD BE THE MAIN PROBLEM, AT THE TIME WHEN I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE 6000K I COULD NOT AFFORD THE COST SO I OPTED TO TAKE THE CAR OFF THE ROADS AND SET MYSELF BACK IN THE WHOLE BY BUYING ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH PAYMENTS, IN THE MEANTIME ALL THIS TIME I NEVER KNEW ABOUT THAT TRANS VALVE BODY PROBLEMS THESE CARS WERE HAVING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN OFFER. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE RAN OVER TWO SPEED BUMPS AT 25 MPH THEN JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED INTO AN APARTMENT BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - A WITNESS STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WERE ULLIMINATED AND THAT HE HEARD A REVVING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. *NM

MY 2006 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE CONTINUES TO HOWL WITH THE A/C FAN MOTOR ON. IT ACTUALLY SOUNDS LIKE A JET MOTOR TRYING TO LAND. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE HAD 3 OTHERS COME IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. IN FACT THEY SAID THEY REPLACED ONE CUSTOMERS CAR FAN AND IT WAS EVEN LOUDER THAN BEFORE. THEY CANNOT TELL ME WHEN THEY WILL HAVE A SOLUTION BUT VW IS "WORKING ON IT". I HAVE 9000 MILES ON MY CAR. I LIVE IN TEXAS. DOES THIS QUALIFY FOR THE LEMON LAW? THIS IS NOW OCT AND NO OTHER ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO REPAIR IT. HAS BEEN GOING ON AT LEAST SINCE MAY. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. SHE NOTICED RED MARKS ALONG THE BACK OF HER LEGS AND BACK. AFTER SEEING A DOCTOR SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE RED MARKS WERE A RASH FROM A HEATING BURN CAUSED BY THE HEATED CAR SEATS. SHE WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE RASH MAY NEVER GO AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER EXAMINED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

2006 VW BEETLE WITH 10,200 MILES...REAR ENGINE MOUNT FALLING APART. TRANS ENGINE MOUNT..BROKEN BOLTS. *JB

DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL BLEW APART AT 2200 MILES THEN AT 7,800 MILES ON A 2006 BEETLE TDI. I AM NOW ON BOTH TIMES HAPPENED DOWN SHIFTING FROM 5TH TO 4TH GEAR. HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL SHIFTS ALL MY LIFE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT DMF HAS A HARD TIME HANDLING TORQUE. I WAS STILL LESS THAN 3000 RPM WHEN DROPPING INTO 4TH GEAR WHEN THE FLYWHEEL BROKE. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AS IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS AMOUNT OF TORQUE AS A STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS ALL MY TRANSMISSION OPERATION WAS LOST. *NM

A/C COMPRESSOR OR FAN MOTOR HOWLS VERY LOUDLY. TAKEN TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED AT FIRST THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM . INSISTED THEY LISTEN AGAIN SINCE SERVICE WRITER COULD HEAR NOISE WHEN WE DROVE IN. THEN STATED THAT CAR HAD TOO MUCH FREON IN UNIT AND THAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED. DROVE OUT OF LOT AND HOWLING WAS AS LOUD AS EVER. AFRAID COMPRESSOR OR FAN WILL BLOW OUT OF HOOD OF CAR. THE LONGER THE CAR IS DRIVEN THE LOUDER THE HOWL BECOMES. *JB

ENGINE MAKES LOUD HUMMING NOISE WHEN A/C IS TURNED ON. *NM

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE. MUST BE AN OXYGEN SENSOR THEY SAY. THEY ORDER ONE AND I GO BACK. NOT THE SENSOR. ENGINE COOLANT LEAKED ON WIRING HARNESS CAUSING WIRING DAMAGE. THEY REPLACE HARNESS HOWEVER DO NOT KNOW WHERE COOLANT IS COMING FROM. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT ALL SPEEDS, THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE NORMAL UP POSITION. THE DRIVER HAD TO PULL UP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO MAINTAIN ENGAGED WHEN INCLINED. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER WAS ALERTED NO INSPECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.

DT:THE CONTACT PURCHASED A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM STOPPED FUNCTIONING, RESULTING IN A FAILURE OF ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH WITH A LOSS OF POWER. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER SAID THE IP CONTROLLER WAS FAULTY, AND IT WAS AN ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAW. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT VOLKSWAGEN ATTEMPTED TO REDESIGN. IN THE MEANTIME, NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS COULD BE MADE. *AK