2003 Volkswagen Beetle complaints

RECALL ON AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR BACK IN 2008, WHICH WE HAD REPLACE . HOWEVER THIS PROBLEM CONSTANTLY HAPPEN WERE THE AIR BAG CREASE SENSOR LIGHTS COMES ON AND STAYS ON. WHEN YOU CALL THE DEALERSHIP THEY WANTS TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER. THERE IS ALWAYS A JERKING IN THE POWER TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING . THIS IS DANGEROUS YOU WOULD THINK THE CAR IS GOING TO STOP GOING UP HILL. I MADE A COMPLAINT BACK IN 2009 COMPLAINT #102868 NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *TR

REAR DRIVER SIDE WINDOW- REGULATOR. *TR

MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH A 2.0 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CODE: GGZ) HAS A BAD TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND I SEE MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I CANNOT AFFORD $6,000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND $3,500 FOR USED. THE USED TRANSMISSIONS HAVE MORE MILES THAN MY POOR CAR. I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST VW. *TR

BOTH REAR WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. ONE IS ALL THE WAY DOWN THER OTHER 3/4 THE WAY DOWN. COULD BE UP TO $2000 TO REPAIR BOTH WINDOWS. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE WAX FUMES UNDERNEATH THE CARPET THAT WERE IN THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS LIQUID WAX THAT HELD THE CARPET IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS HOT AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON THE WAX FUMES CIRCULATE BACK INTO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED HE SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE PER THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY THE REPAIR COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 10/14/11 *BF VW TOOK REPSONSIBILITY AND FIXED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/21/11

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS. SHE ALSO NOTICED DEBRIS ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WHICH WAS A GREASY SUBSTANCE THAT CAUSED HER EYES TO BURN AND COULD HAVE OBSTRUCTED HER VIEW. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,700. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,100. UPDATED 10/18/11*LJ THE DEALER INDICATED THE DEBRIS WAS A RESULT OF THE A/C UNIT PROTECTION WITH A FOAM SUBSTANCE WHICH WAS PEELING OFF THE A/C UNIT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE MAIN VALVE FOR THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED

BEGINNING AROUND SEPTEMBER 2010, MY 2003 VW NEW BEETLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING HARD SHIFTING AND ENGINE REVVING DURING NORMAL DRIVING. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, AND FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR, THE CAR IDLES AT VERY HIGH RPMS WHILE FAILING TO ACTUALLY SHIFT FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN SHIFTS VERY HARD INTO GEAR FORCING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN, JERK AND BUCK. VW DID ISSUE A WARRANTY EXTENSION SOME TIME AGO BUT THE EXTENSION WAS ONLY TO 100,000 MILES AND AT THE TIME, MY CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 104,000 MILES ON IT AND VW WOULDN'T DO THE WORK - WHICH INVOLVES REPLACING A FAULTY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. SINCE THAT TIME, THE RPMS HAVE GOTTEN STUCK IDLING ALMOST TO RED ZONE LEVELS WHILE I'M DRIVING, THOUGH THE CAR IS NOT ACTUALLY ACCELERATING. IT'S AS IF THE CAR IS IN NEUTRAL WITH THE FOOT ON THE GAS. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 10 TIMES AND IS REMEDIED IF I PULL OVER AND TURN THE CAR OFF, THEN RESTART IT. IN ADDITION, WHEN DOWNSHIFTING TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY OR UPSHIFTING TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY, OR SIMPLY WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE CAR HAS A TENDENCY TO SKIP A GEAR OR SHIFT SO HARD IT JERKS AND BUCKS AND REVS VERY HIGH UNTIL THE GEAR ENGAGES (LIKE IT DOES WHEN A KID IS LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT, ONLY IT'S AN AUTOMATIC). THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR AND HAS CONTINUALLY WORSENED. I HAVEN'T HAD AN ACTUAL ACCIDENT BUT BELIEVE IT IS IMMINENT IF THE CONDITION KEEPS GETTING WORSE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF AROUND 45+ MPH MY WIFE'S VW BEETLE RANDOMLY DOWNSHIFTED TO THE POINT THAT IT SQUEALED THE TIRES AND THREW HER FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEIR ESTIMATE IS $4900 FOR A USED TRANSMISSION OR $6000+ FOR A NEW ONE FROM VW. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS A "KNOWN" PROBLEM WITH THIS SPECIFIC TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP SAID WE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION TO 100,000 MILES FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE THE LETTER BUT MY WIFE'S CAR HAS 128,000 MILES SO VW HAS REFUSED TO HELP AT ALL WITH THE PROBLEM. I ALSO CHECKED WITH TWO OTHER VW DEALERSHIPS IN THE KC METRO AND THEY IMMEDIATELY STARTED NODDING THEIR HEAD IN AGREEMENT ABOUT THIS BEING A "KNOWN" PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. AS I WAS TRYING TO LOCATE A USED TRANSMISSION ONLINE AT A CHEAPER PRICE I WAS ABSOLUTELY IN SHOCK AT THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. THAT RANDOM DOWNSHIFT IS GOING TO CAUSE A WRECK IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. IF SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE, THE PAVEMENT IS WET, SNOW ON THE GROUND, GRAVEL ROADS, WHATEVER SCENARIO YOU CAN IMAGINE - A DOWNSHIFT OF THAT NATURE COULD EASILY RESULT IN A WRECK. I ALSO CHECKED WITH A NATIONAL TRANSMISSION COMPANY (CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION) AND THEY SAID THAT DUE TO A "DESIGN FLAW" WITH THAT TRANSMISSION THEY WILL ONLY WARRANTY THEIR WORK TO 12MOS/12,000 MILES INSTEAD OF THEIR NORMAL 3YR/50,000. VW'S OWN LETTER ACKNOWLEDG

I HAVE A 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATORS CONTINUALLY BREAK. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS AN ACTIVE CAMPAIGN GOING ON WITH YOUR AGENCY TO GET THIS ITEM COVERED AS A RECALL BY VOLKSWAGEN. THE ITEM OR COMPLAINT NUMBER THAT WAS GIVEN ME IS 10282664. THESE WINDOW REGULATORS ARE OF A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY VW. I DON'T FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD PROSPER BY SELLING THE REGULATOR KITS THAT ARE NECESSARY DUE TO THEIR FAULTY DESIGN. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME THAT I AM REPLACING THESE ITEMS IN A 7 YEAR OLD CAR. *TR

BOUGHT CAR FOR DAUGHTER FEB.2011. THE GEAR SEEMS TO GET HUNG UP BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD THEN THE CAR WILL BARELY MOVE. SOMETIMES WHEN IT GOES IN TO GEAR IT LUNGES FORWARD. MY DAUGHTER ALMOST HAD A WRECK TRYING TO TURN AND THE GEAR GOT HUNG UP AND STALLED IN TRAFFIC. *TR

2003 BEETLE CONV TIPTRONIC SWITCH FAILURE TO DOWN SHIFTS ON THE BEETLE LEADS TO FALSE READING AS TO REPLACING OF THE WHOLE TRANSMISSIONS ON THE BEETLES. NOT SAFE WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY UP- HILL JERKS LIKE LOSING SPEED IN SHIFTING. TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE GOING OUT AT 93, 000 MILES DO TO TIPRONIC SHIFTER OVER $592.00 TO FIX 6, 792.00 FOR REBUILT TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD BY VW TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION DUE TOTIPRONIC SHIFTER FAILURE EST 6,792.00 DOLLARS FOR TRANSMISSION 592.00 FOR TIPRONIC SHIFTER. REPLACE SHIFTER TILL HAVE OLD PART. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOONROOF WAS SEPERATING AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE DRIVING. THE WIRES UNDER THE SEAT BEGAN EMITTING SMOKE AND THE PLASTIC COATING WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,610.

ON APRIL 25, 2008 WE TOOK OUR 2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TO OUR VW DEALER FOR SERVICE AND A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING HARD OR CLUNKING AT TIMES. THEY SAID THE NOISE WAS THE EXHAUST AND ADJUSTED IT AND SIGNED OFF. THAT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. THE HARD SHIFTING CONTINUED OCCASIONALLY FOR SOME TIME. THEN IT STARTED TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN AND BE MORE SEVERE. ON OCTOBER 23, 2009, WE RETURNED TO OUR DEALER FOR SERVICE AND TOLD THEM AGAIN ABOUT OUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE HARD SHIFTING AS WE HAD ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN THE PAST. AT THIS TIME THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC ($90.00) ON THE TRANSMISSION. THEY HAD TO ORDER A PART AND WE RETURNED ON NOVEMBER 5, 2009 TO HAVE THE CABLE INSTALLED. ($1406.36) THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE AND WE RETURNED NOVEMBER, 10, 2009 FOR ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC AND ANOTHER CABLE INSTALL.($179.78) STILL NOT FIXED THE CAR GOES INTO LIMP MODE WHEN YOU TRY TO DRIVE IT. WE LEFT THE CAR WITH OUR DEALER FOR THEM TO TRY TO FIND A USED TRANSMISSION. NO LUCK. ON DECEMBER 2, 2009 WE DECIDED TO CONTACT A TRANSMISSION SHOP A FRIEND TOLD US ABOUT. I CALLED A TRANSMISSION SHOP TO PICK UP THE CAR AT OUR DEALER AND TAKE IT TO THEIR SHOP TO LOOK INTO REBUILDING THE TRANSMISSION. ALL TO NO AVAIL THEY COULD NOT GET PARTS FOR THAT TRANSMISSION. THE NEXT STEP WAS TO LOOK FOR A USED ONE AGAIN. STILL UNABLE TO LOCATE A USED TRANSMISSION WE DECIDED TO HAVE A VW REBUILT TRANSMISSION INSTALLED. ($5469.60) THIS WAS DONE AND THE CAR WAS PICKED UP ON JANUARY 7, 2010. NOW ON DECEMBER 14, 2010 WE RE

2003 VW BEETLE... TRANSMISSION "LURCHES" FORWARD... NOT SAFE. VW EXTENDED WARRANTY BY ONLY 7 YEARS. THAT EXCLUDED ANY 2003'S SOLD DURING NORMAL MODEL YEAR. ONLY HAD 54,000 MILES. COST OVER $3,000.00 TO FIX. HOW CAN VOLKSWAGEN KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THEN EXCLUDE VEHICLES LIKE THIS? *TR

MY CAR WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND MY FIANCE, WHO WAS DRIVING, SUSTAINED A SPRAINED NECK AND A CONCUSSION AS A RESULT OF HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR

NEAR-MISS BUT NO TRAFFIC COLLISION DUE TO UNEXPECTED JERKINESS, LOSS OF POWER TRANSFER TO DRIVE WHEELS, WITH ASSOCIATED REVVING OF ENGINE OF 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHILE I TRIED ENTERING TRAFFIC STREAM ON A BUSY STREET. SYMPTOMS WERE INTERMITTENT FOR 9 MONTHS; NOW PRESENT WHENEVER VEHICLE WARMED UP AFTER 3 MILES DRIVING; VEHICLE NOT USED FOR PAST 9 MO. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER ADVISES "REPLACE TRANSMISSION". VALVE BODY FAILURE IN 6-SPEED TIPTRONIC (AISIN-WARNER 09G) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAUSES HARD UPSHIFTS AND DOWNSHIFTS AND LAPSES IN POWER TRANSFER, RESULTING IN UNSAFE SITUATIONS WHEN MERGING ONTO FREEWAY OR INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC, FOR EXAMPLE. THE 6 ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED VALVES AND ASSOCIATED SOLENOIDS IN THIS TRANSMISSION GRADUALLY WEAR OUT, TYPICALLY SOON AFTER THE VOLKSWAGEN 5-YEAR, 60000-MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRES. THE PROBLEM IS TRACEABLE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE COMBINATION OF ALUMINUM VALVE BORES, SHIFT VALVES WHICH CAUSE WEAR IN THE BORES, FAULTY SOLENOIDS, AND SHIFT PROGRAMMING WHICH RELIES ON FREQUENT ELECTRICALLY ACTIVATED MOVEMENT OF THE VALVES TO MODULATE AND PRODUCE SMOOTH SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS. THE CONSEQUENCE OF CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE CAR CAN BE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WHICH MAY OCCUR UNEXPECTEDLY AND PLACE THE DRIVER IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF UNABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROADWAY, OR IF FAILURE OCCURS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE OR EXECUTE NORMAL DRIVING MANEUVERS. IN MY CASE, THE TRANSMISSION OPERATES WELL FOR THE FIR

I TOOK THE TOP DOWN THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME THE REAR RIGHT SIDE WINDOW WENT DOWN BUT WOULD NOT GO UP TRIED TO GET IT FIXED AT THE DEALER THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE MORE THEN $600.00 WENT SOMEWHERE ELSE THEY TOOK IT APART AND IT STARTED WORKING FINE THEN LESS THEN A WEEK LATER IT WAS STUCK DOWN AGAIN AND TWO DAYS LATER WENT UP WITH SOME WORK NOW I DON'T EVEN WANT TO PUT IT DOWN AT ALL! *TR

THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT TO SAFERCAR.GOV AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY CONTACT FROM ANYONE ON THIS MATTER. ALL I WANT IS FOR MY AIR BAG SYSTEM TO BE FIXED FOR FREE BY VW IN STOCKTON CA. MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN FOUR YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD THE 03 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND EVERY TIME, VW HAS FOUND THAT THE SENSOR IS AT FAULT. NOW THIS TIME, VW WANTS TO CHARGE ME 678.00 TO FIX IT. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS. IT IS 00003 CONTROL MODULE DEFECTIVE. I AM EXTREMELY ANGRY THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS KNOWING THAT THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. VW KNOWS THAT MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIX THE SENSORS FREE OF CHARGE EACH TIME, BUT THIS TIME, THEY WILL NOT. THEY NEED TO MAKE A RECALL ON THIS THING. IM SICK AND TIRED OF HAVING TO HAVE MY CAR SERVICED OVER A LIGHT. PLEASE HELP ME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE AND JERK FORWARD AND SHIFT HARD BETWEEN GEARS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 79,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. UPDATED 05/05/11*LJ UPDATED 05/13/11

WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND STAYS ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT GOES OFF AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED EVEN WHEN NO SEATBELTS ARE PUT ON. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V178000, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE SYMPTOMS SEEM SIMILAR.

2003 VOLKSWAGON BEETLE CONVERTABLE..TRANSMISSION COMPANY STATING I NEED A NEW VALVE BODY..VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. RECEIVED THE EXTENSION LETTER BUT WAS A LITTLE TO LATE. MY YOUNG DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HAS BEEN STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DOEN ABOUT THIS..

I HAD PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED ABOUT MY 2003 BEETLE ON THIS WEBSITE. SOMEHOW MY CAR SEEMS TO HAVE SOMEHOW REPAIRED IT SELF !! IT IS NO LONGER SHIFTING HARD WHEN IT SHIFTS AND ITS NO LONGER LURCHING OR PAUSING AS IT SHIFTS. IM NOT SURE WHY, IM JUST REALLY RELIEVED! *TR

2003 NEW VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE PASSENGER SIDE REAR QUARTER WINDOW. WINDOW FAILS TO FULLY RAISE AND WILL AUTOMATICALLY OPEN WHEN IT REACHES 2/3 RAISED POSITION. FAULTY WINDOW REGULATOR. A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR

2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, REAR WINDOW SEPARATION FROM CONVERTIBLE TOP. FAILURE OF ADHESIVE. NO REPAIR CAN BE MADE BY THE DEALER, ONLY SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TOP! EXPENSIVE REPAIR! *TR

WHILE DRIVING ONE EVENING THE CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEARS ON HIGHWAY, THUS LIMITING THE SPEED TO LESS THAN 35 MILES PER HOUR IN A POSTED ZONE OF 55 MPH. THIRD -SIXTH GEARS FAILED.

1) I DRIVED MY CAR AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN MARCH 2007. THE FOLLOWING THREE TIMES THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, WAS WHEN I WOULD START MY CAR UP. 2) MARCH 2007-FIRST TIME AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON:HAMMER LANE VW CHARGED ME FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. DECEMBER 2007-AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN:ELK GROVE VW DID NOT CHARGE ME JAN 2008-AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN:ELK GROVE VW DID NOT CHARGE ME JUNE 2008-AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN:ELK GROVE VW DID NOT CHARGE ME SEPTEMBER 2009-AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN:ELK GROVE VW WANTS TO CHARGE ME 230.00 FOR LABOR AND 678.63 FOR PARTS TO FIX AIR BAG LIGHT AND KERRY FROM VW STATES THAT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. THE SELF DIAGNOSIS PROTOCOL SAYS 00003 CONTROL MODULE DEFECTIVE AND 00532 SUPPLY VOLTAGE LOWER LIMIT NOT REACHED SPORADIC. THE SOFTWARE PART NUMBER IS 6Q0909605E 3)BOB FROM BOB'S GERMAN AUTO REPAIR REPLACED AIR BAG SENSOR PASS SIDE FRONT THE FIRST TIME. SECOND TIME: ELK GROVE REPLACED AND REPLACED SEAT BELT DRIVERSIDE AND RESET FAULTS. THIRD TIME:ELK GROVE VW REPLACED SENSOR IN PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. FOURTH TIME: I DECLINED SERVICE FROM ELK GROVE VW AND THEY CHARGED ME 115.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS FAIR AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS HASSLE AND PAY UNFAIR FEES WHEN THERE IS RECALLS ON THIS BEETLES ALL OF THE TIME. IM YOUNG AND I AM GOING TO COLLEGE. I DON'T HAVE THE TIME AND THE MONEY TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS. *TR

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD TO 4TH. HAS EVEN STALLED ON OCCASION. HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION HITS SO HARD IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT WILL FALL OUT OF THE CAR. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING IT DUE TO THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. CAN NOT AFFORD THE 4,000 - 7000 DOLLARS QUOTED TO REPLACE. *TR

AS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE BEGAN TO BANG VERY HARD WHEN SHIFTING AND LOCKED UP PERIODICALLY IN THIRD GEAR. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP IN THIRD GEAR WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE CAR WAS VERY SLOW TO MOVE. THIS LEFT ME NEARLY STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF MAJOR BUSY INTERSECTIONS SEVERAL TIMES. I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CARS WHIZZING PAST. THIS DEFECT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS A KNOWN FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THROUGH SEVERAL YEAR MODELS. IT COST ME OVER $3000 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FIXED. VW IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTROL VALVE IN THIS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION AND HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY, BUT HAS LEFT OUT CARS SOLD AT THE TIME MINE WAS. *TR

AFTER STARTING THE CAR, AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN ONE YEAR THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS FIRST TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DRIVER SIDE SENSOR UNDER THE SEAT WAS REPLACED AT DEALER. *TR

2003 VW NEW BEETLE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. ROUGH SHIFTING UP AND DOWN. 1ST AND 2ND.. COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFLEY. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT AAMCO. VW IS RUFUSING TO REIMBURSE ME. 4K +. *TR

AFTER AROUND 36000 MILES WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD SHIFT ROUGH. THE DEALER TOLD US IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAD A LEAK. THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED AND WE WERE TOLD BY A TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS. IT NOW SHIFTS SO ROUGH THAT WHEN IT GOES INTO GEAR IT PULL HARD LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN IT ENGAGES. UPON DOWNSHIFTING IT ACTUALLY LUNGES FORWARD AND HAS CAUSED MANY CONCERNS WITH ME AND MY WIFE. *TR

DROVE 600 MILES TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE-MY DREAM CAR. HAD IT FOR 2 DAYS, PUT THE TOP DOWN TWICE AND THE CABLE TO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP SNAPPED. COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY (MISSED THE WHOLE FIRST SEASON OF USING THE CONVERTIBLE). FINALLY GOT ENOUGH $$ TOGETHER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND FOUND OUT A PIECE OF SOMETHING MUST HAVE FALLEN DOWN INTO THE CHANNEL OF THE REAR WINDOW AND BROKE A PART INSIDE SO ADDED THAT TO THE EXPENSE, AROUND $800. REPLACED THE BRAKES NEXT (O.K. WITH THAT, NORMAL REPAIR OF ANY VEHICLE). BUT, NOT TOO LONG AFTER, NOTICED TRANSMISSION HAD A TINY "SLIP". IGNORED THAT SINCE I DIDN'T WANT TO THINK SOMETHING ELSE WAS GOING WRONG ALREADY. PROGRESSED TO WHERE I AM NOW, SLAMMING DOWN INTO THE LOWER GEARS WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW STATING IF ANY REPAIRS HAD BEEN INCURRED DURING THE WARRANTY/EXTENDED WARRANTY, IT WOULD BE COVERED AS 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. WELL, AS IT HAPPENS, MY CAR HAS JUST UNDER 83,000 MILES ON IT AND THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED IN APRIL OF 2010. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY QUOTED ME $2490 FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD A REP HE COULD CALL TO SEE IF "THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO" SINCE IT WAS SUCH A SHORT TIME AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. AFTER IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE, THEY WOULD DEDUCT $750 FROM THE TOTAL REPAIR IF I WOULD SHOW GOOD FAITH AND PURCHASE NEW TIRES ($500), NEW BATTERY ($195 OR $165) AND AN EXHAUST CLAMP ($58) FROM THEIR DEALERSHIP. I'M NO MATH

OCCASIONAL VIOLENT SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO THIRD GEAR - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VERY DANGEROUS IN INTERSECTIONS. VW HAD A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THEM LAST MONTH- VW SAID MY CAR WAS 1 YEAR TOO OLD - CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX ON MY OWN - CAR IS WORTHLESS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

OCCASIONAL VIOLENT SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO THIRD GEAR - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VERY DANGEROUS IN INTERSECTIONS. VW HAD A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THEM LAST MONTH- VW SAID MY CAR WAS 1 YEAR TOO OLD - CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX ON MY OWN - CAR IS WORTHLESS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

SIX MONTHS AGO THE LEFT REAR WINDOW IN MY VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE BROKE, IT WOULD NOT GO UP OR DOWN. I DO NOT USE THE REAR WINDOWS VERY OFTEN SO I WAS QUITE SURPRISED WHEN THE WINDOW BROKE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER TO GET REPAIRED. IT COST ME NINE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY EIGHT DOLLARS OUT OF POCKET. CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO HAVE JUST THE WINDOW REPAIRED. I THOUGHT THIS WAS RIDICULOUS FOR JUST ONE SMALL WINDOW. NEEDLESS TO SAY I WAS VERY VERY UPSET BUT I HAD NO ALTERNATIVE I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. NOW SIX MONTHS LATER THE LEFT REAR WINDOW HAS BROKEN. ONCE AGAIN I DO NOT USE THE REAR WINDOWS VERY OFTEN ESPECIALLY SINCE THE THOUSAND DOLLAR CHARGE THERE IS NO WAY I WAS GOING TO CHANCE THAT HAPPENING. HERE IT IS WINTER TIME SO THERE IS NO REASON TO BE USING THOSE WINDOWS. ANYWAY LAST WEEK I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK AND I HEARD A TERRIBLE POPPING SOUND, ONE WHICH I HAVE HEARD BEFORE AND I THOUGHT OH NO NOT AGAIN. WELL ONCE I GOT TO WORK AND CHECKED SURE AS HECK THE LEFT WINDOW WAS BROKEN. IT IS DOWN ABOUT EIGHT INCHES AND ONE GO UP OR DOWN. WHAT A DISAPPOINTMENT IT WILL COST ME ANOTHER THOUSAND DOLLARS JUST TO FIX A WINDOW. I DO NOT HAVE A THOUSAND DOLLARS LAYING AROUND TO GET IT REPAIRED. MY PARENTS ALSO OWN A VW BEETLE AND THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL WINDOW PROBLEMS. WE HAVE BOTH DECIDED WE WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW BECAUSE WE JUST CANNOT AFFORD THE REPAIR COSTS FOR ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE GONE WRONG WITH THESE CARS. I CANNOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH IT COSTS FOR REPAIRS. I KEEP CH

MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, WITH UNDER 50,000 MILES ON IT WILL SHIFT DANGEROUSLY HARD. WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR, IT SHIFTS WITH A SLAM AND LURCHES FORWARD. THERE IS A PAUSE BEFORE IT SHIFTS WHICH MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, INSTEAD OF MOVING FORWARD WHEN IT SHOULD THERE IS THAT PAUSE WHILE IT LURCHES DOWN AND SLAMS INTO GEAR. IT DOES THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS. *LN

THE ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN THIRD GEAR WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO RESET. THIS IS A PERILOUS MANEUVER, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE MANY OPTIONS. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME PROBLEMS SHIFTING BOTH UP AND DOWN. THE UPSHIFTS ARE PROBLEMATIC IN THAT THE CAR CAN SUDDENLY LURCH FORWARD WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGES. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CAR WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND. THE RPMS WILL GO TO @5000, THEN THE SHIFT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO SQUEAL TIRES AND LURCH FORWARD.

2003 TDI BEETLE (AUTO) JERKS ABRUPTLY WHEN UPSHIFTING. THE CAR ALMOST STALLS IN FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC, CREATING A LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION. DEALER SERVICE DEPT. STATES A TEMPERATURE SENSOR FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID IS NOT FUNCTIONING, AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD FAIL AS IT THREATENS LIVES, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY VW. *TR

2003 VW NEW BEETLE HAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION WHICH IS PRESENTING A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. CAR DOES NOT SHIFT RIGHT, HARD SHIFTS, BUCKING, ETC. AND NOW STALLING, PROBABLY A TOTALLY FAILED TRANSMISSION FOR WHICH VW IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

VW BEETLE 2003, 61,000 MILES, I NOTICED IT SHIFTED HARD SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED IT THIS PAST APRIL; JERKS WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND, SECOND AND THIRD, ETC; WENT TO VW AFTER I RECEIVED THE WARRANTY EXTENSION - TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY LETTER (RECEIVED IN DECEMBER 2010, BUT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO COVER THE COST BECAUSE THE EXTENSION IS TO COVER 7 YEARS, AND MY CAR IS 6 MONTHS TOO OLD; THEY'VE ADMITTED THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT. *TR

2003 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WINDOW REGULATORS. *TR

VEHICLE WOULD LURCH WHEN DOWN OR UPSHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD AND 3RD TO 4TH AT JUST OVER 90,000 MILES. IT WOULD ALSO STICK IN NEUTRAL FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL SHOP FOR REPAIR IN DECEMBER 2010. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY CAUSING A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS. WHILE THE OUR BUG WAS IN THE SHOP WE RECEIVED A LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 2010 FROM VW ABOUT EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES OR 7 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. OUR BUG WAS PURCHASED AUGUST 2003 PUTTING IT OUT OF WARRANTY. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS VW SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING A GENERAL SERVICE RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION LONG BEFORE NOVEMBER 2010..

VW BEETLE 2003, 98,000 MILES, STARTED SHIFTING HARD ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO; JERKS WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND, SECOND AND THIRD, AND 4TH TO 3RD TO 2ND TO 1ST; CALLED VW AFTER I RECEIVED THE WARRANTY EXTENSION - TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY LETTER (DEC 11, 2010) BUT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO COVER THE COST (5 MONTHS TOO OLD); THEY'VE ADMITTED THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT. *TR

AFTER WARMING UP, THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION JERKS VERY BADLY, AND RUNS WILDLY BEFORE SHIFTING. THE MILEAGE IS JUST 75K. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE HARD SHIFT. MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. VW MUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS HORRIBLE DEFECT. *TR

VOLKSWAGEN, 2003 NEW BEETLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2003 VW BEETLE, THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAS WIRES CONNECTED TO IT, THIS WIRES SNAPPED ON THEIR OWN. MY AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON, FOR APPROXIMATELY 4 MONTHS I HAD THIS LIGHT ON IN MY CAR. THROUGH RESEARCH IN THE INTERNET, I FOUND OUT THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, LOTS OF BEETLE OWNERS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED VW AND THEY REFUSED TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY. INFORMATION PROVIDED INDICATES THAT WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE LOOK IN TO THIS MATTER. THANK YOU. *TR

DEFECTIVE VALVE BODY FOR 09G ENGINE THAT VW CORPORATE HAS KNOWN ABOUT AND FIXED IN LATER MODELS. *TR

FAULTY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ACTIVITY. LOW MILEAGE TRANSMISSION FAILURES CAUSING HAZARDOUS DRIVING. DOWNSHIFTING CAUSES JOLTING GEAR CHANGES, ACCELERATING CAUSES SLIP INTO NEUTRAL NEARLY CAUSING REAR-END COLLISIONS. COMPUTER CODES FAIL TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE FAILURE, CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING HAZARD. *TR

2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE :DRIVERS SIDE WINDOWS REGULATOR AND MOTOR AND BROKEN HINGE. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SAYS IT NEED COIL PACK AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR. SEAT BELT LIGHT SAYS IT NEED SEAT BELT SENSOR. ALSO DOOR LATCH REPLACED. *TR