2008 Volkswagen Beetle Lighting Problems

THE PASSENGER-SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED OVER THE 3 YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS CONVERTIBLE. I HAVE SPEND ALMOST A $1000 TO HAVE VARIOUS RELATED PARTS REPLACED AND THE LIGHT FAILS TO WORK (I.E. IT IS NEVER JUST A BLOWN BULB) WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. MOST RECENTLY JUNE 2016.

THE 2008 MODEL FOR THE VW BEETLE APPEARS TO HAVE A DESIGN FLAW REGARDING THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH ASSEMBLIES BECAUSE THE "HEADLIGHT BUCKETS" COME LOOSE FROM THE POWER SUPPLY INSIDE THE FENDER WHERE THE HOUSING UNITS ARE CONNECTED. THIS ISSUE MEANS THAT WHEN YOU HIT A BUMP, THE LIGHTING ASSEMBLY COMES LOOSE AND HEADLIGHTS FAIL TO OPERATE. AT NIGHT, THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! I HAVE CONTACTED VW ABOUT THE ISSUE AND I AM SUPPOSED TO HEAR BACK FROM THEM. I HAVE HAD BOTH ASSEMBLIES REPLACED WITH BRAND NEW UNITS AND THE SAME ISSUE OCCURS. MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY BELIEVE THEIR HEADLIGHT BURNED OUT AND HAVE IT REPLACED. WHEN THE HEADLIGHT IS REPLACED, THE UNIT IS REMOVED AND PLUGGED BACK IN AND CAN EASILY MASK THE REAL ISSUE. THERE IS A FLAW IN THE DESIGN AND A CONTINUOUS CONNECTIVITY ISSUE WITH THESE PARTS! VW NEEDS TO ISSUE A SAFELY RECALL AND FIX THIS SO OUR HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES REMAIN PLUGGED INTO THE POWER SOURCE! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GERALD JONES VOLKSWAGEN (4022 WASHINGTON RD, MARTINEZ, GA 30907, (706) 228-6900) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,600. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

REAR SUSPENSION MAKES SQUEAKING NOISE. TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR ON AFTER 2 HOURS OF DRIVING. HEAD LIGHTS TOO WEAK BULB FOR FRONT OR REAR OR REVERSE ALWAYS NEEDS REPLACEMENT INSIDE HAND REST TOO WEAK DESIGN ALWAYS BREAK. VW SERVICE STATION TOO EXPENSIVE AND WANTS MONEY ONLY. 2)FIX IT YOURSELF. KEEP DOING IT TILL I CANNOT SELL IT. 3) FIX IT YOUR SELF. YES WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE MANUAL SO I CAN DO IT PROFESSIONAL MYSELF. 4)IN LITTLE ROCK THE NORTH POINT SERVICE STATION IS THE WORST VW STATION.THEY ONLY WANT MONEY EVEN TO FIX OR IN INSPECT OR FIND OUT WHAT IS AT FAULT. BUYING VW MEANS DO THE REPAIRING YOURSELF. PARTS TOO EXPENSIVE. *TR

MY VW BEETLE IS A 2008. I JUST HAD THE 6TH LIGHT REPLACED ON 03/23/12. TOOK THE CAR TO BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED THE 7TH LIGHT ON 03/26/12!! I AM NOT SURE OF THE ACTUAL DATE OF THE FIRST BLOWN LIGHT. HOWEVER, I DO KNOW THAT 7 RUNNING/HEADLIGHTS IN LESS THAN 4 YEARS IS NOT NORMAL! *TR

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN INTO A DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR SIX HEADLAMP REPAIR/REPLACEMENTS IN 2 YEARS (OCT 2009, NOV 2009, APR 2012, FEB 2011, AND DEC 2011). THE LAST TIME, BOTH HEADLAMPS WENT OUT ALMOST AT ONCE, CREATING A REAL DRIVING HAZARD SINCE IT WAS AT NIGHT. THIS HEADLAMP IS NOT EASY TO REPAIR - EVIDENCE THE DAMAGE DONE IN REPLACEMENT OF THE RIGHT HEADLAMP BY ONE DEALERSHIP AND SUBSEQUENTLY REPAIRED BY ANOTHER DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT. VW OF AMERICA HAS OFFERED A ONE-TIME PAYMENT THAT SHOULD COVER UP TO FOUR ADDITIONAL HEADLAMP REPAIRS. TO ME, THIS REPRESENTS AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF A FUNDAMENTAL DESIGN FLAW, BUT WITHOUT FORMAL RECOGNITION OR PUBLICATION OF THE PROBLEM. SEVERAL PUBLIC BLOGS EXIST THAT HIGHLIGHT THIS CONDITION. I PURCHASED ANOTHER, NON-VW NEW VEHICLE ON THE SAME WEEK, AND IT HAS NEVER HAD A HEADLAMP OUTAGE. *TR

BOTH HEADLIGHTS EITHER BURNOUT OR LOSE CONNECTION. IT HAPPENED 4 TIMES DURING WARRANTY AND AN ADDITIONAL 8 TIMES AFTER WARRANTY PERIOD. NUMEROUS CONTACTS AT THE DEALER RESULTED IN CONVERSATION THAT VW WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM. IT IS CLEARLY EVIDENT TO ME AS AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER AND A REGISTERED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER THAT THE LOCKING ASSEMBLY IS NOT ADEQUATE TO LOCK THE ASSEMBLY INTO THE REQUIRED POSITION.