2003 Volkswagen Beetle complaints

THE AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. *TR

I AM THE THIRD OWNER AND I SHOULD HAVE CKED THIS CAR OUT SINCE THE PERSON WHO SOLD IT TOO ME DIDNT TELL ME A THING ABOUT THE CAR.I AM SO DICUSTED ABOUT THIS ADORABLE LOOKING CAR. I ONLY DROVE IT ONCE AND TOOK IT TOO OUR MECHANIC. WISHED I HAD TAKEN IT THERE FIRST$800.00 LATER AND JUST THE BEGINNING! I PAID TOO MUCH TO BEGIN WITH. IPAID $4500 FOR A 2003 VW BECAUSE IT WAS CUTE! SO I WISH VW WOULD HELP US AMERICAN PEOPLE. I WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR BUT HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT ONCE.! HELP !! STILL AT THE MECHANICS! WISH PEOPLE COULD BE HONEST ! THIS WOULD NOT HAPPENED IN THE 60"S . WE HAVE A GOOD MECHANIC! THANK GOD! *TR

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS MY 2003 VW BEETLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE CHANGING GEARS (IT'S AN AUTOMATIC) AND HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. IT WILL JERK AND LUNGE WHEN SLOWING DOWN. EACH TIME THE MECHANIC HAS "RESET THE CODES" AND THE TEST DRIVE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ANYMORE TROUBLE. IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE AND NOW AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 25 OR 30 MINUTES IT BEGINS THE JERKING AND LUNGING. AFTER RESEARCHING, I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I LOVE MY CAR, BUT NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND I CERTAINLY CANNOT RELY ON IT. I NOW FEEL THAT I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT I CANNOT DRIVE NOR CAN I SELL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT AND WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL BANGING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,200. *TR

MY DAUGHTERS 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE SHIFTS VERY HARD AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF POSSIBLE CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT! I'VE READ MESSAGE BOARDS AND HAVE REALIZED THAT THIS YEAR OF BEETLE NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE SOMEONE LOSSES THEIR LIFE! IT SHIFTS THE WORST BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. SHE IS SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS CAR! *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE HAS STARTED HARD SHIFTING WHEN WARM, CAUSING ERRATIC SPEED CHANGES AND POSSIBLE LACK OF TRACTION. VWOA ISSUED A RECALL AROUND A YEAR AGO HOWEVER ONLY WITHIN A VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF MILES DONE, SHOWING THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT TAKE ADEQUATE ACTION TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

THIS VEHICLE PERMEATES AN ODOR OF CRAYON WAX IN HEAT OR COLD. MORE SO IN HEAT AND WHEN THE HEAT OR A/C IS BEING USED. THE ODOR STICKS TO YOU HAIR AND CLOTHING AND IS EXTREMELY NAUSEATING. IN RESEARCH IT IS A WAX THAT COATS THE UNDERLAY OF THE CARPET. IF YOU GOOGLE "CRAYON SMELL IN VW OR HOW TO REMOVE CRAYON SMELL IN VW" YOU WILL FIND SEVERAL FORUMS. I BELIEVE IT IS A HEALTH HAZARD. MY DAUGHTER DRIVES THE VEHICLE PRIMARILY & REFUSES TO USE THE A/C OR HEAT DUE TO THE SMELL MAKING HER SICK &STICKING TO HER HAIR AND CLOTHES. I DROVE IT FOR A WEEKEND AND HAD A NAUSEATING MIGRAINE ALL WEEKEND LONG. WHO KNOWS WHAT LONG TERM AFFECT THIS CAN HAVE ON ONES HEALTH. I CALLED VW, THEY SAID ITS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS ISNT DUE TO LACK OF CARE OR MAINTENANCE, THIS IS A POOR QUALITY MATERIAL USED TO MANUFACTURE THE VEHICLE THAT IS CAUSING THE ODOR THAT IS MAKING PEOPLE SICK. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 VW BEETLE THAT I PURCHASED ON MAY 18, 2003 OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR OF MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. IT CURRENTLY IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE AS I HAVE EXPERIENCE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMSSION SLIPPING HARD INTO GEAR OR JERKING TO A HARD STOP WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THIS STARTED IN APRIL, 2012, I TOOK IT IN TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I ONLY HAVE 85,000 MILES. WELL, I TOOK IT TOO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR LOCATIONS AND THEY SAID THE SAME WITH A COST UP TO AROUND $6,000. I WORKED HARD TO PAY MY CAR OFF AND NOW IT SITS COVERED IN MY GARAGE AS I HAVE READ THEIR ARE POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST VW FOR THIS ISSUE. I DID RECEIVE A NOTICE FROM VW IN NOVEMBER OF 2010 REGARDING WARRANTY EXTENSION - TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. IT COVERS THE VALVE BODY IN YOUR VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, FROM THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL IN-SERVICE DATE. WELL, I BOUGHT MY CAR IN MAY OF 2003, SO MY 7 YEARS WAS UP IN MAY OF 2010...SO VW SENDS OUT A WORTHLESS NOTICE IN NOVEMBER 2010 AND I AM STUCK WITH THE BILL. I HAVE BEEN GETTING CALLS AND EMAILS FROM MY VW DEALEARSHIP THAT I CAN TRADE IN MY CAR AND THEY WILL GIVE ME TOP $$. I DON'T WANT ANOTHER VW CAR, I JUST WANT THIS ONE FIXED BY VW. PLEASE HELP DIRECT ME TO THE APPROPRIATE GROUP, PERSON SO THAT I CAN BE INCLUDED IN ANY LAWSUIT OR SETTLEMENT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY AND ERRATICALLY DOWN SHIFTS OR HARD UP SHIFTS, CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. *TR

WAS DRIVING MY BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AT AROUND 40MPH THERE WAS A CAR THAT STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND I STARTED SLOWING DOWN AS THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED IT JERKED SO HARD IT MADE ME GO INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ALMOST HAVE A HEAD ON COLLISION VW IS AWARE OF THESE CARS DOING THIS AND WARRANTIED THE VALVE BODY'S BUT WHEN I CALLED AND TOLD THEM ABOUT MINE THEY SAID I WAS TO LATE THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OVER!!! THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND COULD RESULT IN PEOPLE BEING KILLED VW DIDN'T EVEN OFFER ME THE PART TO PAY SOMEONE TO FIX MY CAR SO NOW IT SITS IN THE YARD AND I CAN NOT DRIVE IT DUE TO I HAVE CHILDREN AND I'M SCARED IT WILL GETS US IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT AND HARM US! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS BEFORE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HURT!!!! STEP UP VW AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT! *TR

THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND WHEN WE TOOK IT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP WE WERE TOLD THAT THE AIR BAG HAD FAILED AND THAT IT MAY OR MAY NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT, AND THAT IT COULD DEPLOY WITHOUT CAUSE WHILE DRIVING. CALLED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE NUMBER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN ADDRESSED IN 2008 WITH THE VECHICLE AND THAT IT WAS NOT NECESSARLY REPAIRED "IT WAS JUST ADDRESSED". I COULD NOT GET ANY FURTHER RESPONSE. I HAVE NEVER HAD OR READ ABOUT A CAR HAVING TO HAVE AIRBAGS REPLACED AS A SCHEDULED SERVICE OR MAINTANCE. AIRBAG FAILURE SHOWES THAT IT WAS NOT DONE RIGHT TO BEGAIN WITH. THE CAR WAS PURCHACED WITH 34,000 MILES AND NOW HAS 60,111 MILES. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE AIRBAG POSSIBLITY DEPLOYING WHILE DRIVING MORE THAN NOT DEPLOYING DURING A CRASH. ANY HELP IN UNDERSTANDING THIS MATTER IS MUCH APPRICIATED. *TR

I JUST BOUGHT A VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE, 03. THE SMELL MAKES ME PHYSICALLY ILL TO BE IN IT. THE DAY AFTER I BOUGHT IT, I HAD THE CABIN FILTER CHANGED AND IT STILL SMELLS. THIS SMELL IS A CHEMICAL SMELL AND MY THROAT STARTED HURTING AND SWELLED UP. I SAW A DOCTOR AND SHE COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM BUT ADDED THAT MY THROAT WAS FILLED WITH PUSS. I STOPPED DRIVING IT AND ASKED MY HUSBAND TO DRIVE IT. HE IS NOW COMPLAINING THAT HE IS HAVING HEADACHES AND HAVING NEW ALLERGIES AFTER JUST ONE WEEK. WE CALLED VW WHO SAID IT WAS A RUST PROOFING MATERIAL THAT THEY USED TO PUT ON THE CAR AND THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. BUT I HAVE BEEN READING MANY WEBSITES THAT SAY IT IS A PARAFIN SOUND PROOFING MAT UNDER THE CARPET. THIS MATERIAL IS BEING REMOVED BY VW FOR SOME PEOPLE AFTER CONTACTING NHTSA. THERE ARE MANY POSTS ONLINE CONCERNING THIS CHEMICAL SMELL (LIKE BURNED CRAYONS). I AM CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILY'S HEALTH. I HAVE 3 KIDS WHO HAVE TO RIDE IN THE CAR AS WELL. I WANT VW TO REMOVE THE PARAFIN SOUND PROOFING MAT AT VW COST. *TR

TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED! *TR

MY VEHICLE'S RADIO SHUT OFF, WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND VEHICLE POWERED DOWN WHILE DRIVING. COULD NOT EVEN STEER VEHICLE COMPLETELY TO SHOULDER OF ROAD. POLICE OFFICER DRIVING BY STOPPED AND CHASTISED ME FOR NOT MOVING MY CAR COMPLETELY OUT OF TRAFFIC'S WAY. CREATED A VERY HAZARDOUS TRAFFIC SITUATION. POLICE OFFICER HAD TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AROUND MY VEHICLE FOR THE HOUR IT TOOK TO GET VEHICLE HOME. THE BATTERY WAS CHECKED AND WAS FINE. NO CHARGE ON ALTERNATOR. A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH LED TO CHECKING FUSE BOX NEAR BATTERY. ONE FUSE WAS COMPLETELY MELTED/BURNT AS WELL AS THE ALTERNATOR CABLE CONNECTION ON VEHICLE. THE GOOGLE SEARCH MADE IT SEEM AS THOUGH THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE, YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. FROM MY ASSESSMENT, THE DAMAGE INCLUDED THE FUSE-BOX ASSEMBLY, ONE OF THE FUSES, AND ALTERNATOR CABLE RING-TERMINAL; HOWEVER, MULTIPLE WEB FORUMS SUGGEST THAT FAN ASSEMBLIES AND OTHER COMPONENTS MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL, LEADING TO COSTLY REPAIRS. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE ISSUE CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO MANUFACTURER'S FAULTY DESIGN. MY INTERNET SEARCH ALSO REVEALED THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WAS FILLED IN FLORIDA, 2011, BUT I CANNOT FIND ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE MATTER. *TR

ON THE SOFT TOP CONVERTIBLE THE WINDOWS DROP WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED AND RAISED WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. WINDOW STILL ROLLS UP AND DOWN HOWEVER THE WINDOW DOESN'T RESPOND TO THE DOOR OPENING OR CLOSING ANYMORE. THIS IS A COMMON AND POPULAR PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED! EXPENSIVE DEFECT FOR UNSUSPECTING OWNERS. *TR

THE VEHICLE STARTS UP FINE AND ACCELERATES NORMAL AT FIRST. JUST BEFORE THE VEHICLE SWITCHES TO SECOND GEAR IT GETS STUCK. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO PROPERLY SHIFT TO SECOND GEAR IS TO GIVE IT MORE GAS, WHICH MAKES THE RPMS GO UP TO 7,000. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE CHANGES TO SECOND GEAR AND LUNGES FORWARD. I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED MULTIPLE PEOPLE DO THIS PROBLEM. ONCE THE VEHICLE GETS INTO SECOND GEAR IT ACCELERATES NORMALLY AGAIN, JUST UNTIL IT CHANGES TO THIRD GEAR AND DOES THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I DESCRIBED ABOVE. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS, BUT ALSO FINANCIAL HURTFUL. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF REVIEWS ON THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ALL DESCRIBE THE SAME THING, ALONG WITH THEIR VEHICLES BEING VERY LOW IN MILEAGE. *TR

THE WINDOW REGULATOR HAS FAILED. WHEN I ROLL THE WINDOW UP IT STARTS GOING SLOWLY WHEN IT'S ALMOST ALL THE WAY UP AND THEN IT MAKES A SQUEALING NOISE AND THEN ONCE IT REACHES THE TOP IT ROLLS BACK DOWN BY ITSELF WITHOUT ME TOUCHING ANYTHING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IF THERE IS INCLEMENT WEATHER, I CANNOT GET MY WINDOW TO STAY ROLLED UP. MY CAR IS NOT SAFE LEFT WITH THE WINDOW ROLLED ALL THE WAY DOWN. THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING. THERE A FORUMS FILLED WITH PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS ALL WITH 2003 VW BEETLES. IT IS A CHEAPLY MADE PART THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED PROFESSIONALLY. IT IS NOT FAIR THAT EVERYONE HAS TO PAY $300+ FOR REPAIR THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN THIS OFTEN IN THE FIRST PLACE. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2003 VW BEETLE A FEW MONTHS AGO FROM A PRIVATE SELLER. IN THE PAST WEEK, THE SHIFTING HAS GOTTEN REALLY DIFFICULT AND IT VERY OFTEN WILL NOT ACCELERATE EASILY. MY HUSBAND DROVE THE CAR AND REPORTED HAVING NO PROBLEMS, SO HE DIDN'T BELIEVE ME. YESTERDAY, I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND COULDN'T GET THE CAR TO ACCELERATE PAST 50 MPH. IT WAS ESPECIALLY SCARY WHEN I TRIED TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR DIDN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE AT ALL. THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT. AFTER CROSSING THE HIGHWAY, I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE PAST 20 MPH. I PARKED THE CAR AT A RELATIVES HOME AND HAD HER DRIVE ME HOME AS I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN. I STARTED DOING RESEARCH AND WAS BLOWN AWAY BY THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE FACING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. *TR

I OWN A 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. RECENTLY , AT RANDOM TIMES, WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP PAST 4000 RPM AND JUMP INTO GEAR. ESSENTIALLY A VERY HARD SHIFT. WITH PLANS TO KEEP THIS VEHICLE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRUSTED MECHANIC. AFTER TEST DRIVING AND EXPERIENCING THE "HARD SHIFT", I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS MOST DEFINITELY TRANSMISSION RELATED, HOWEVER, ONLY VW CAN ACCESS THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS COMPLETELY SEALED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DAVID MAUS VOLKSWAGEN OF ORLANDO FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS "COMING APART FROM THE INSIDE" AND THAT IT WAS A "TICKING TIME BOMB". BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OVER 100000 MILES , IT DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY RECALL. THE REPAIR COST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION IS $6000.00. I FEEL THAT THIS IS GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, TO KNOWINGLY PLACE THIS VEHICLE WITH SUCH A MAJOR DEFECT ON THE MARKETPLACE. I NOW HAVE AN UNUSABLE HUNK OF SCRAP METAL SITTING IN MY GARAGE FOR FEAR OF THE TIME BOMB UNDER THE HOOD. I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND POTENTIALLY PUT OTHERS LIVES AT RISK. VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWINGLY PUTTING A CAR WITH SUCH A MAJOR DEFECT ON THE ROAD. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE GLX CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW SEPARATED FROM THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

THIS PARTICULAR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH VW NEW BEETLES HAS BEEN REPORTED IN ONLINE VW FORUMS HUNDREDS OF TIMES. THERE IS A SMALL PLASTIC FUSE BOX THAT IS ATTACHED AT THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE BATTERY IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IT CONTAINS A SERIES OF FLAT METAL FUSES OF VARIOUS AMPERAGE, AND IS ELECTRICALLY FED BY A CABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE ALTERNATOR. ONCE AT THE FUSE BOX, THE ELECTRICITY IS BRANCHED TO OTHER CIRCUITS BY CONNECTION TO A BUS. BUT THE MAIN FEED FROM THE FUSE BOX IS TO THE BATTERY BY AN AUXILIARY CABLE, BRANCHING OUT FROM THE FUSE BOX, CONNECTED BY THE ALTERNATOR CABLE/FLAT FUSE AT ONE END (IN THE FUSE BOX), AND DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERY POSITIVE AT THE OTHER END. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ENTIRE FUSE BOX ASSEMBLY FREQUENTLY MELTS INTO A GLOB OF PLASTIC, AND REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE OWNED TWO NEW BEETLES (2003 & 2004), AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM FOUR TIME BETWEEN THE TWO. MY OWN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE(S) HAS SHOWN ME THAT IF THE VEHICLE BATTERY IS DISCHARGED, AND THE ALTERNATOR ATTEMPTS TO RECHARGE THE BATTERY AT A HIGH RATE, THAT ONCE THE ELECTRICAL CHARGE ENTERS THE FUSE BOX VIA THE ALTERNATOR CABLE, THE AUXILIARY CABLE IS INCAPABLE OF ALLOWING THE ELECTRICITY TO PASS ON THROUGH TO THE BATTERY. THE EXCESS ELECTRICAL BUILD UP IS DISSIPATED AS HEAT, AND THE FUSE BOX MELTS. IT IS ANALOGOUS TO BRINGING IN WATER THROUGH A FIRE HOSE (THE ALTERNATOR CABLE), AND THEN TRYING TO FUNNEL ALL OF THE WATER INTO A STRAW (THE AUXILIARY CABLE). IT WON

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE ALL FOUR POWER WINDOW REGULATORS. I AM NOW HAVING TO REPLACE ONE OF THE REPLACEMENTS. THIS VEHICLE ONLY HAS 83000 MILES ON IT. THE PARTS TO REPAIR THIS WINDOW ARE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE - OVER $500. I'VE ALREADY INVESTED WELL OVER $1500 REPLACING THE REGULATORS ALREADY. VOLKSWAGEN IS MAKING DEFECTIVE PARTS AND WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I FILED A COMPLAINT EARLIER ON THIS VEHICLE FOR A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. THIS CAR HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED. I'VE TAKEN GOOD CARE OF IT. THE AIRBAG WAS NEVER DEPLOYED OR DAMAGED IN ANY WAY. IF THE AIRBAG IS DEFECTIVE IT IS BECAUSE VW PUTS DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS IN THEIR VEHICLES. *TR

THE 2003 VW BEETLE HAS STARTED TO SLIP AT 96,500 MILES GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. I HAVE DONE ALOT OF ONLINE RESEARCH AND THERE ARE SEVERAL FORUMS AND THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR CASES AS THE ONE I AM HAVING. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA CUSTOMER CARE AND TALKED TO TIM AND HE SAID BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I MENTIONED THAT THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE VALVE BODY AND HE AGREED BUT STILL COULD NOT HELP ME. FURTHER RESEARCH LED TO ME FINDING A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINS VW AMERICA FOR EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY DOCUMENTED CASES, I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY AS THIS CAN LEAD TO A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ON THE ROAD. WORSE YET, VW KNOWS ABOUT IT AND IS NOT DOING ANYTHING! PLEASE HELP. *TR *JS

THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS ON ITS OWN AT ANY GIVING TIME. WAS CLOSE TO GETTING REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES.. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH WHEN THE REAR CONVERTIBLE WINDOW BECAME LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 18,452.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED AUTOMATICALLY AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN THERE WAS A SHIFT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SLID OUT OF GEARS BY ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

WHEN THIS CAR SHIFTS INTO THIRD GEAR, IT IS VERY HARD AND VIOLENT WITH AN AWFUL LUNGE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR IN CONTROL. I AM STILL DRIVING IT, BUT WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN. *TR

MY VEHICLE WILL DOWN SHIFT REALLY HARD FROM 3RD TO 2ND WITH A LOUD CLUNK NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION AT TIMES WILL GET STUCK IN A GEAR AT A INTERSECTION AND NOT MOVE AT ALL..THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL TAKE OFF REALLY FAST. IT HAS DONE THIS ON THE FREEWAY AS WELL. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS CAR AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY KNOW THAT THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS BUT FAIL TO FIX IT. THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION A LOT OF THESE CAR OWNERS ARE YOUNG (NEW ) DRIVERS AND THIS IS NOT A SAFE CAR! *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE OWNER BLOGS, FAILED TRANSMISSION IS A COMMON AND FREQUENT OCCURRENCE. *05/31/12*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE CAR AND SHIFTING IT MOVED FORWARD FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN STOPPED. THE ENGINE STILL RAN FINE BUT, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT TO HIGHER GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. UPDATED 06/06/12 *JS

AT 70,000 MILES, MY VW STARTING SHIFTING HARD CAUSING IT TO BE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. VW STATES THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN THIS EARLY BUT THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD CLICKING SOUND IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE ROLL OVER BAR SUDDENLY DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,600.

MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHERE IT WILL JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN IT SHIFTS UP OR DOWN AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT SHIFT AT ALL. IT WILL GET STUCK IN A GEAR AND I HAVE TO STOP IT AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART IT. IT WILL JERK EVEN WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I AM FAR AWAY FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I NO LONGER DRIVE IT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF ALSO, SO I'M NOT SURE IF IT WILL EVEN WORK IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD NOT BE JERKING THAT WAY AT ALL AND IF SOMEONE WAS TO WALK IN FRONT OF MY CAR AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, IT COULD JERK FORWARD AND HIT THEM. NOT A SAFE CAR. *JS

AS I TURNED OFF THE 4 LANE HIGHWAY ONTO OUR LOCAL STREET I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, I THOUGHT I HAD BLOWN A TIRE. I PULLED INTO OUR DRIVEWAY, ABOUT 30 YARDS FURTHER, AND SAW NOTHING. FORTUNATELY, WE HAVE A NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHOSE PARKING LOT HAS AN ENTRY ACROSS THE STREET FROM OUR DRIVEWAY. I DROVE TO THEM VERY SLOWLY AS CAR WAS MAKING TERRIBLY NOISES. I ALSO FOUND A BROKEN OFF BOLT ABOUT 1/2 INCH DIAMETER IN THE ROAD JUST BEFORE OUR DRIVEWAY AND TOOK IT TO NISSAN. NISSAN FOUND THAT BOTH ENGINE MOUNTS WERE BROKEN. THEY FELT ONE HAD BROKEN AND THE WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE FALLING HAD BROKEN THE SECOND. MY ENGINE WAS "SITTING ON TOP ON MY EXHAUST" IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON A HIGH SPEED ROAD -- THE HIGHWAY I HAD JUST TURNED OFF OF --- I MAY HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH FATALITIES. I HAVE REPORTED TO BOTH MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED AS WELL AS THE VW NATIONAL OFFICE. NEITHER WOULD PAY FOR MY $800 REPAIR, BOTH SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON MY MODEL. I MAINTAIN MY CAR AND FEEL THIS IS TERRIBLE THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN HAPPEN. IF THE BOLTS ARE BROKEN --WHICH IS WHAT NISSAN SAYS/ NOT RUSTED --- THEN THE BOLTS ARE DEFECTIVE!!!! IT WAS SO FORTUNATE THAT THE ENGINE DROPPED WHEN IT DID AND NOT ON A HIGHWAY!!! *TR

MY FUSE PANEL HAS BURNT OUT FOUR TIMES IN A YEAR AND A HALF AT A COST OF $100.00 EACH TIME PLUS ALL THE OTHER PARTS IT RUINED WHEN IT BURNED. I HAD TO GET A NEW A/C COMPRESSOR A NEW BATTERY. I KNOW FROM LOOKING ONLINE TRYING TO FIND OUT INFO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT ITS HAPPENING TO ALOT OF PEOPLE AND THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL A LONG TIME AGO. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO DOWN SHIFT CONTINUOUSLY INTO LOWER GEARS. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY IS FAULTY, BUT VW'S EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY COVERS VEHICLES AFTER 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. MY CAR WAS JUST 4 MONTHS TOO OLD TO QUALIFY AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE ANYTHING, DESPITE IT BEING A MAJOR ISSUE AFFECTING DRIVE PERFORMANCE. OTHER CARS IN MY SAME MODEL YEAR QUALIFIED, BUT MINE DID NOT. HOW IS THIS FAIR? *TR

MY 2003 BEETLE HAS BEEN VIOLENTLY JERKING AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES OF DRIVING (WHEN IT WARMS UP). IF I'M AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND ACCELERATE - IT VIOLENTLY JERKS INTO GEAR !! IF I BABY IT AND BARELY MOVE (WHERE TRAFFIC IS PRACTICALLY RUNNING INTO ME FROM BEHIND), IT IS NOT SOOOO BAD, BUT STILL BAD AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. VW ALSO EXTENDED THE WARRANTY UNTIL 2010 OR 100,000 WHICH EVER CAME FIRST, AND UNFORTUNATELY 2010 CAME FIRST AND THEY REFUSE TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO BE USED UNDER THE 100,000 MILES RULE. THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, I'VE READ THOUSANDS OF THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINTS IN THIS CAR -- THOUSANDS, THE VERY SAME THING AND VW WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO CHANGE IT TO 100,000 MILES AND NOT JUST 2010 (WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS PAST 2 YEARS AGO). THIS IS DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE. IT IS A DEFECT AND VW SHOULD PAY FOR THIS. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO GET KILLED BEFORE THEY OFFER THE EXTENSION UP TO 100,000 MILES??? THANK YOU *TR

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND AS I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR SHIFTED DOWN VERY HARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED CAUSING ME TO HIT A GUARDRAIL. I TOOK MY CAR TO A SHOP AND HAD THE BODY REPAIRS DONE ($3910.00), AND UPON TAKING MY CAR, IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. I HAD IT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THOSE VW'S AND THEY HAD A RECALL ON IT. MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME BECAUSE THE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE WAS UP. I WAS HOPING THAT SOMEONE THERE COULD HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE REPAIR IS 5900.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE BODY DAMAGE WAS 3910.00. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FROM DAY ONE THIS CAR HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHICH WERE DENIED BY THE DEALER ON 5 VISITS, AFTER I SOLD THE CAR I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM VW, NOW THAT I AM LOOKING AT BLOGS THEY HAVE APPARENTLY RECALLED THIS RECALL TO SUIT THEM. OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS VEHICLE ARE WINDOW TROUBLES, CONVERTIBLE ROOF TROUBLES, ELECTRONIC TROUBLES, SEATBELT TROUBLES, AIRBAG TROUBLES. I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYONE WILL ALLOW THIS CAR TO STILL BE SOLD OR ON THE ROAD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD ON WHEELS. *TR

THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND WITHIN THREE MONTHS HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. RECENTLY IT STARTED TO LURCH AT STOPS AND STARTS, AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAILED VALVE BODY ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSITION COMPANY REFERRED ME TO WEBSITES WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN IN MI AND WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A WARRANTY EXTENSION, OF WHICH I WAS NOT INFORMED, BUT THAT IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO ME NOW. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM WARRANTS A LOOK AT THIS MODEL AND ITS TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER WARNED MY TRANSITION SPECIALIST THAT THE REPAIR WHICH HAS BEEN FREQUENT ONLY WORKS ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. I ASKED IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE AS IS AND WAS WARNED ONLY FOR SHORT DISTANCES. IT APPEARS TO E THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED A RECALL OR A CLASS ACTION SUIT. *TR

I PURCHASED MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE BRAND SPANKING NEW IN DEC 2002. THE CAR HAD 32 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT; THE CAR NOW HAS 77K MILES AS OF TODAY. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT VW IS ACUTELY AWARE OF. THE CAR IS A 6 SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION WITH TRIP TRONIC. THE CAR HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION AND BEFORE SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR. INSTEAD, THE TRANSMISSION LURCHES FROM 1ST INTO 2ND, CAUSING THE TIRES TO SCREECH. WHEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD IT CAUSES THE FRONT DRIVE/STEERING TIRES TO LOSE GRIP ON THE PAVEMENT WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES WHEN IT JUMPED SO HARD IT ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND SOMETIMES THE LURCH IS SO STRONG IT FEELS LIKE ANOTHER CAR HIT ME FROM BEHIND. THE TRANSMISSION WORKS FINE WHEN IT IS COOL BUT GETS WORSE AS THE CAR WARMS UP - AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES. THE OTHER GEARS HAVE SHIFTING PROBLEMS TOO; JUST NOT AS HARSH AS GOING INTO 2ND. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS DOWNSHIFTING AS WELL. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE CAR GETTING STUCK IN 2ND GEAR WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC WHICH CREATED A DANGER FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THE ONLY WAY TO CURE THE PROBLEM IS TO SAFELY MAKE MY WAY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN THE ENGINE OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES, THEN TURN IT BACK ON. THIS DOESN'T COMPLETELY MAKE THE LURCHING GO AWAY BUT IT GIVES ME SEVERAL TRAVEL MILES BEFORE GETTING STUCK IN GEAR AGAIN. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO LOOKED UP MY VIN. THEY TOLD ME I WAS OVER MY YEARS FOR THE RECALL ON THE

THREE YEARS AGO WHEN THE CAR HAD ONLY 55,000 MILES ON IT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THERE WAS NEVER ANY DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS AND I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR. VW SAID IT WAS A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG, BUT REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND IT. THEY WANT $750 TO FIX IT. IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE EACH WINDOW MOTOR. THEY COST $400 TO REPLACE. THE DRIVER SIDE MOTOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR THE SECOND TIME. THAT MEANS THE FIRST REPLACEMENT LASTED LESS THAN FOUR YEARS. THE CAR HAS ONLY 77,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH THERE WAS AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE TIMING BELT BROKE WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THE VEHICLE EXCEEDED THE SERVICE WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000. UPDATED 10/31/11 *BF UPDATED 11/14/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BETTLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RPMS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

AIR BAG LIGHT AS OF 1/1/11, THESE WERE RECALLED FOR 2004-2006 BEETLES AND 2003-2005 BEETLE CONVERTIBLES. NO RECALLS YET FOR 2003 BEETLES, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A GROWING PROBLEMS THAT ARE YET TO BE FIXED BY VW!!! SEEMS LIKE THEY ARE JUST DELAYING THE RECALL UNTIL THEY RECEIVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS/INJURIES. 2 RECALLS OF A FRONTAL SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE IN 4/2008 & A PASSENGER OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (POD) DEALER REPROGRAM REPAIR IN 12/2004 BUT AGAIN NOTHING FOR 2003 MODELS EVEN THOUGH IT STARTED IN LATE 2003. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

I COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TO COME OUT. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. NOW, AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES, I AM TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE--IT WILL GET STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, IT WILL KICK BETWEEN GEARS ONE AND TWO, AND IT WILL JOLT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD. *KB

THE SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AT RANDOM I GOT THIS CAR FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND IM SCARED TO LET HER DRIVE IT. GOT A NOTICE IN THE MAIL FROM VW ABOUT IT THEY DROVE IT AND SAID IT WAS OK BUT OBVIOUSLY ITS NOT. THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOME ONE GETS INJURED. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. WHEN DECELERATING TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK BEFORE SWITCHING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND AFTER INSPECTION THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE AT A COST OF $6,000. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.