2003 Volkswagen Beetle complaints

FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS MY 2003 AUTOMATIC VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH 56K MILES HAS BEEN SHIFTING HARD (LURCH FEELING) INTERMITTENTLY GOING UP OR DOWN HILLS. WHEN THE MECHANIC INSPECTED IT THE TRANSMISSION READOUT SAID IT WAS FINE AND THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010 WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 15MPH, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED GRABBING AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT IT TO THE TIPTRONIC SYSTEM TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY OUT OF THE WAY. UPON INSPECTION THE VW DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW THE EXACT CAUSE AND ONLY DIRECTION THEY GOT FROM VW NATIONAL WAS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FOR $7K. *TR

GENERATOR PULLEY FAILURE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN SHE CHANGED GEARS. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR MOTORS FAILED; THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED AND WERE REPAIRED AT A REPAIR SHOP. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS BEGINNING TO DETACH FROM THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,347 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,800.

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IN 2003. A FEW YEARS AGO, I REPORTED A NUMBER OF INSTANCES OF A LURCHING PROBLEM TO MY SERVICE GUY AT THE VW DEALERSHIP, AND HE SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK FULL FORCE, AND HE SAID EVENTUALLY I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS BEGUN LURCHING AND SHUDDERING VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING, AND TODAY, MY RPM'S WERE HIGHLY ELEVATED, DESPITE MY LOW SPEED. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF, DESPITE BEING ON THE 101 FREEWAY IN LA. IT COULDN'T DRIVE. IT STARTED UP AGAIN, AND THIS EVENING THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I'M AFRAID TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE MY CAR. IT'S SEVEN YEARS OLD AND IT ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. THERE'S NO REASON FOR THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM TO OCCUR, AND THERE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE A RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR

TURNED ON MY CAR AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF ON THE DASH BOARD PANEL. *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC WAS "HARD SHIFTING" AFTER WARMING UP FOR 15-20 MINUTES FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, AND DOWN FROM 4TH ALL THE WAY TO 1ST. THIS ISSUE STARTED AFTER 75,000 MILES. FIX = REPLACE VALVE BODY...AROUND $2000. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE, AND THAT VW HAS ADDRESSED THIS DEFECT IN NEWER MODELS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IF IT IS A KNOWN, COMMON, AND FIXED PROBLEM BY VW. *TR

THE CAR SURGES WHEN SHIFTING CAUSING THE WHEELS TO SPIN OUT ON WET SURFACES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN MY CAR SEEMED TO HAVE LOST TRACTION ON THE ROAD AND I LOST CONTROL BUT DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. THE INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED THE A WITH THE CIRCLE AROUND IT. I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND I WAS INFORMED THAT MY ABS CONTROL UNIT WAS COMPLETELY FRIED. SO NOW I HAVE TO PAY ALMOST $2000 TO GET IT FIXED. *TR

I TOO HAVE FALLEN VICTIM OF THE LATEST TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAVE A 2003 VW BEETLE WITH 90,000 MILES IN IMMACULATE CONDITION AND EXPERIENCED JERKINESS IN THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL. WHEN I WOULD PRESS ON MY BRAKES I NOTICED THAT AS MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS TRYING TO SHIFT ITSELF DOWN, IT BEGIN TO JERK AS IT WAS SHIFTING DOWN. I MADE SURE I MAINTAINED THIS CAR AND WAS TOLD ALL WAS WELL. THEN ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE FREEWAY AND AS I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL IT WOULDN'T GO ANY MORE. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT IT OFF. WHEN I STARTED UP THE CAR AGAIN I PUT IT IN D (DRIVE) IT WOULD JERK FORWARD AND TURN ITSELF OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS STUCK IN 4TH GEAR. WHEN THE MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT I WAS TOLD THERE WERE LOTS OF METAL PIECES IN THE OIL AS IF POSSIBLY SOMETHING BROKE INSIDE. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN????????? MY WARRANTY WILL ONLY PAY $2,000. 00 AND THE COST IS APPROX. $6,000.00 TO REPAIR. WHY DO I HAVE TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE? I KNOW IT'S MINE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. *TR

MY CAR (2003 VOLKSWAGEN CONVERTIBLE BEETLE AUTOMATIC) JERKS SO HARD DANGEROUSLY. I FOUND SO MANY PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS ONLINE. FORTUNATELY I HAVEN'T HURT ANYONE YET. PLEASE HELP ME BEFORE I DO! *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 2.8 TURBO AUTOMATIC ENGINE, DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM OR DOOR LATCH. THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH THE DOOR STICKING WHEN YOU OPEN R CLOSE. THEN OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT SHUT THE FIRST TIME AND WILL BOUNCE BACK. AFTER THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENS, IF YOU ARE DRIVING THE DOOR CAN SWING OPEN ON ITS OWN. THE DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED, OR WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. VERY QUICKLY THE PROBLEM ESCALATES. IT WILL NOT SHUT AT ALL. IT BOUNCES BACK OVER AND OVER. IF YOU LEAVE IT ALONE FOR A FEW HOURS AND TRY AGAIN IT WILL EVENTUALLY SHUT. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BROKE FIRST, GOT FIXED, COST ABOUT $500.00. A MONTH LATER THE PASSENGER DOOR DID THE SAME THING. LESS THEN A YEAR LATER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BROKE AGAIN. 3 OF THE SAME PART BROKE IN A SPAN OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MONTHS. CALLED THE COMPANY (VOLKSWAGEN) THEY INSIST THAT THIS IS NOT RECALLED OR A REPORTED PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

VW NEW BEETLE,2003, WITH ONLY 75,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, RAMPING UP AND THE CAR WAS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. ITS AN AUTOMATIC. I WASN'T ABLE TO DOWN SHIFT. I HAD TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALERSHIP DECIDED I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. LUCKILY I WAS 13 MILES UNDER MY WARRANTY AND THEY FIXED IT WITHOUT CHARGE. I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THIS BECAUSE I SEE MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE VW 03' BEETLE AND TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT EARLY. JERKS BETWEEN GEARS, AND FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON ROAD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE GLS (N/A). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WAS BROKEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REGULATORS ON THE DIFFERENT WINDOWS HAD BEEN REPLACED FIVE TIMES. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD HAVE TO BE PERFORMED AT HER EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32,990.

THE CAR HAS A TRANSMISSION THAT IS NEEDING REPLACING AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES. *TR

NEAR COLLISION CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SOLENOID VALVE BODY PRODUCED AND INSTALLED ON THE VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE AND CABRIO CONVERTIBLE MODELS. THE TRANSMISSION IS A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TIP-TRONIC SHIFT STYLE SPECIFICALLY USED BETWEEN 2001 - 2004 MODEL YEARS. THE DEFECTIVE PART CAUSES A SUDDEN JUMP OR JERKING MOTION BETWEEN GEAR SHIFTING. IN OUR INSTANCE THE CAR JERKED AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A VEHICLE COLLISION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ON ONE OCCASION. FURTHER RESEARCH DISCOVERED THAT VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART AND THAT IT HAS CAUSED OR BEEN THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THESE VEHICLES AS WELL AS NUMEROUS AND CONSTANT COMPLAINTS TO VW DEALERS AND ON LINE COMPLAINT FORUMS. A REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE DESIGNED INTERNAL SOLENOID VALVE BODY IS NEEDED TO AVOID FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSIONS AND MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY AN ISSUE FOR LESSER EXPERIENCED DRIVERS AND WHEN HE VEHICLES ARE ENGAGED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. *TR

2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHOWING SIGNS OF TROUBLE WELL OVER A YEAR AGO. PROBLEM STARTS AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. DOWNSHIFTS HARD AROUND 30-25 MPH. ALSO SHOWS HESITATION COMING OUT OF 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. CAR HAS 75,000 MILES. HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED/FLUSHED TWICE IN PAST 6 MONTHS HOPING THAT WOULD HELP. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TODAY, QUOTED ME $1900 TO REPLACE VALVE BODY. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THIS CAR HAS HAD THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR GO OUT -COST $300 TO REPAIR. THE GLUE AFFIXING THE REAR GLASS WINDOW TO CONVERTIBLE TOP IS BREAKING DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF MALFUNCTION WITH THE GAS CAP...NO MATTER HOW OFTEN I TIGHTEN IT. THEN IT MYSTERIOUSLY GOES OFF. OH, AND SHOULD YOU EVER NEED A REPLACEMENT KEY, GOOD LUCK. WHY COULDN'T VW USE NORMAL SIZED/TYPE KEYS? VW IS MAKING CRAPPY PRODUCTS. NHTSA PLEASE DO SOMETHING. THIS MANUFACTURER SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO RELEASE ANOTHER VEHICLE OFF ITS ASSEMBLY LINE UNLESS IT FIXES THE MANY PROBLEMS AFFECTING INNOCENT, UNFORTUNATE VW OWNERS LIKE MYSELF. YIELD YOUR POWER AND ENFORCE SOME ACTION. VW NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JUNK THEY PRODUCE. MAYBE THEN THEY'LL THINK TWICE BEFORE TURNING OUT ANYMORE CRAPPY PRODUCTS. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER VW PRODUCT. *TR

TRANSMISSION BAD. *TR

MY 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS APPROX 89K MILES ON IT. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD CAUSING A JERKING MOTION. IT HAS PROGRESSED FROM A MILDLY NOTICEABLE TO A MORE OBVIOUS JERKING UPON SHIFTING. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SITUATION ONLINE, IT SEEMS AS IF IT IS A WIDELY REPORTED COMPLAINT ABOUT THESE VEHICLES. I FEEL LIKE VW SHOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BEING EXPERIENCED BY SUCH A HIGH NUMBER OF OWNERS. *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERVIBLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

I BOUGHT A USED 2003 VW BEETLE CONV. IN 2006. I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT IT THERE WAS SOME JERKING HAPPENING WHEN THE CAR CHANGED GEARS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR VW. RECENTLY THE JERKING GOT REALLY BAD, AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND THEN I COULD NOT REGAIN ANY SPEED. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO BEING HIT BY AN ONCOMING CAR. THE REPLACEMENT COST WILL BE AROUND 5800. MY MECHANIC TALKED TO VW AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FIXED IT IN THE NEWER MODELS. *TR

I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY 2003 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE FOR 7.5 YRS. BEEN TAKING IT IN FOR THE LAST 2 YRS ABOUT HESITATION/GRABBING WHILE DRIVING. WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THIS WEEK, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND I GET THE DIAGNOSTICS RUN AND FOUND OUT I HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE, WHICH IS WHAT THE GRABBING AND HESITATION IS. I ONLY HAVE 78K MILES ON A NEARLY 8 YEAR OLD CAR (AGAIN, ONLY OWNER) AND SHOULDN'T HAVE THIS ISSUE. FOUND OUT THAT VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THESE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION BUT WAITED UNTIL I WAS WELL OUT OF WARRANTY. NOW I'M LOOKING AT MINIMUM OF $5K, MOST LIKELY $6.5K IN REPAIRS. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 CONVERTIBLE VW AND MY BACK WINDOW HAS COME UNGLUED TO THE CANVAS. MY VW HAS LESS THAN 45K MILES.VW SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS BAD QUALITY IN MANUFACTURING THIS MAKE. I'VE INQUIRED AND IT WILL COST $1300 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE TOP. THIS IS RIDICULES - ANYONE KNOW OF A CLASS ACTION?? *TR

2003 VW BUG STALLS WHEN HITTING AROUND 35 MILES PER HOUR, ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED - TAKES A WHILE TO START BACK MOVING BUT IS SLUGGISH. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. I ONLY HAVE 80,000 MILES ON THIS CAR - HOW COULD THIS BE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

OVERHEAT LIGHT REMAINS ON AFTER REPLACING THERMOSTAT AND COVER AND TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP. THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED MULTIPLE TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE VW DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM ON 8/25/10 AFTER OVERHEATING LIGHT. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE COOLANT SENSOR MY PREVIOUS MECHANIC HAD REPLACED IN THE CAR. (A VW FACTORY PART). $244.00 REPAIR FROM COOLEY-MAZDA VW DEALER. I DROVE HOME 10 MILES AND THE OVERHEAT SENSOR WAS ON IN MY CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO DEALER AT MY EXPENSE THAT DAY. RENTED A CAR FOR THE WEEKEND. RETURNED ON MONDAY 8/30/10. CAR WASN'T WORKED ON. PICKED UP CAR ON WEDNESDAY, 9/1/10. PAID ADDITIONAL 170.00 FOR REPAIR, OF THERMOSTAT COVER WHICH WAS SAID TO BE LEAKING. DEALER HAD SAID THERE WERE NO LEAKS PRIOR TO THIS. SYSTEM FLUSHED. SAID THERE WAS AIR IN THE SYSTEM. CAR OVERHEAT SENSOR AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES. CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALER. CAR WAS PICKED UP ON 9/3/10. DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT GET THE OVERHEAT LIGHT TO GO ON. I DROVE CAR HOME 15 MILES. OVERHEAT LIGHT ON. I CALLED DEALER. SERVICE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE INCREASED CITY DRIVING I WAS DOING WAS CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT. INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT AND THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HE INFORMED ME THAT SINCE I SAID OKAY AT THE SHOP WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SENSOR WAS NOT GOING ON AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THAT I KNEW THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THAT IS MY FAULT AND MY PRIOR MECHANICS. I HAD

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TRANSMISSION. THE COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BEETLE IS WAY OUT OF LINE. AN VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WITH ALL THE OTHER HARD WORKING PEOPLE THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PART TO BREAK. PLEASE LOOK AT THIS AND DO SOMETHING. *TR

2003 NEW VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.... LOOK ON THE VW FORUMS AND EDMUNDS- THERE ARE 100S OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS CARS ISSUES. I HAVE A 2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND IT HARD SHIFTS DOWNWARDS FROM 3RD TO 2ND. I AM TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR OFF THE RECORD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH BEETLES IN GENERAL, AND HE HAS SEEN OVER 100 IN HIS ONE YEAR WITH THE COMPANY THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. MINE HAS WHAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED- BRACKETS AROUND ALL THE DRIVES (P,R,N,D,S) SO THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR IT IS IN, IT GETS STUCK IN 3RD SOMETIMES AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT, AND WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTS, THE CAR JERKS AND PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD (THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC, AND DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY). PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RECALL....PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND WE AS CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW TRANSMISSIONS WHEN THERE IS OBVIOUS FAULTS WITH THESE CARS. *TR

WHILE THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS BEING LOWERED BY THE 20 YEAR OLD FEMALE DRIVER IT MADE A HORRENDOUS GRINDING NOISE WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO NEARLY LOSE CONTROL AS SHE TRIED TO STOP QUICKLY. SHE FEARED SOMETHING IN THE REAR WHEEL WAS BREAKING. A SHORT TIME LATER THE PASENGER SIDE WINDOW GROUND TO A STATE OF DISREPAIR. NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW NEEDS TO BE LOWERED VERY CAREFULLY TO AVOID ENGAGING THE AUTOMATIC FEATURE AS THIS CAUSES THE WINDOW TO MAKE A TERRIBLE NOISE. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO STOP THE WINDOW JUST BEFORE IT REACHES THE FULLY OPEN POSITION. THE REAR WINDOWS HAVE TO BE MANUALLY POSITIONED JUST RIGHT TO ALLOW THE CONVERTIBLE TOP TO BE LOWERED PROPERLY. ALSO, WHEN SMALL CHILDREN ARE IN THE BACK SEAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO CAUSE THE WINDOWS TO FALL DOWN ALL THE WAY SUBJECTING THEM TO EJECTION OR THE ABILITY TO FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON THEIR OWN. WHEN IT IS RAINING OR SNOWING THE ELEMENTS FLY IN THROUGHT THE WINDOWS BECAUSE THEY WON'T STAY UP. THIS IS ALSO VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. REPAIR ESTIMATES FOR THE REAR WINDOWS START AT $1500.00 WHICH THIS PARTICULAR OWNER/DRIVER CANNOT BEGIN TO AFFORD!. VW REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR

2003 VW BEETLE REAR WINDOW ISSUES. 3 TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED WHERE THE REAR WINDOW WONT ROLL UP. 3 TIMES VW DEALERSHIP CHARGED US CLOSE TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO FIX BECAUSE OF THERE DESIGN FLAW. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM ITS TIME TO INVESTIGATE...PLEASE! I HAVE PUT THE LATEST DATE THIS OCCURRED, BUT AS I SAY THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES. *TR

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

2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. REAR WINDOWS REGULATOR/MOTORS BROKE. VW ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FRONT WINDOWS (7 YEARS) REAR WINDOWS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER WANTS $700.00 PER SIDE TO FIX. WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN ON COMMAND. OFTEN FALL ON THEIR OWN AFTER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR

REAR WINDOW WILL NOT COME UP. OTHER REAR WINDOW IS LOCKED IN UP POSITION AS IT BROKE 8 MO. AGO. THERE SEEMS TO BE ALOT OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE NEW BEATLE ALL YEARS. TIME FOR A RECALL? *TR

ELECTRICAL FIRE IN FUSEBOX OF 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DISABLED VEHICLE AND MELTED FUSE HOUSING AND COVER. *TR

VW BUG 2003, 87,000 MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ROUGH. DEALER SAID WE NEEDED TO HAVE THE "VALVE BODY" CHECKED ($1413). IF THIS WASN'T THE PROBLEM WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ($5761). I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT COSTS SO MUCH BEFORE WE EVEN KNOW IF THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD, OR WHY THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING ON SUCH A RELATIVELY YOUNG CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO ILLUMINATE APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. THE DEALER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS ALSO REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THAT REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.

I OWN A 2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, PURCHASED NEW. ONLY 42,000 MILES ON IT. THE FRONT MOTOR AND MODULE WENT OUR FEW DAYS AGO AND HAD REPLACED. NOW THE REAR REGULATOR IS BAD O THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE READ OF A WHOLE LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS, WHY NO RECALL, OTHER MODEL YEARS HAVE BEEN, ALSO THE COIL PACK IS BAD AND HAS BEEN RECALL ON OTHER YEARS. WHY DON'T INCLUDE THE 2003 MODEL? THANKS *TR

ODI NUMBER: 10282664 HELLO, I HAVE A 2003 VW NEW BEETLE TURBO CONVERTIBLE WITH ONLY 26,000 MILES. I HAVE HAD AT LEAST 5-6 REPAIRS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS. I'M THE SECOND OWNER OF THE CAR AND PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2008 AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS UP. LIKE MANY, I HAVE HAD TWO PROBLEMS WITH THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THE LAST REPAIR TO REPLACE THE RIGHT SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR WAS OVER $1,000 DOLLARS AND NO THE OTHER SIDE HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 6SP. TIPRTONIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED AT 78,500 MILES. I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND ONTO THE ROAD AND THE CAR ACCELERATED LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED, SHIFTER THROUGH FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD, THEN NEVER SHIFTED TO FOURTH JUST REVVED. WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED AND QUOTED $4,800 BY MECHANIC. HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ABOUT THIS TOPIC SINCE AND HAVE DISCOVERED SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE SAME SITUATION. I FEEL VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD AT LEAST HELP US OUT. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN ON MAY 12TH AND WAS TOLD BASICALLY THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE SEEN ON DISCUSSION FORUMS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION, I FEEL A RECALL MAY BE IN ORDER TO FORCE VOLKSWAGEN TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE. THANKS YOU FOR TIME AND CONSIDERATION ON THIS MATTER. *TR

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT THIRD GEAR, TRIPTRONTIC AUTOMATIC, LEAK IN TRUNK, TOP WILL NOT GO UP. *TR

2003 VW BEETLE, TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE ...ORIGINAL OWNER, REGULAR SERVICING,COMPLETED. AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED SPORT SHIFT. RUNS FINE WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. DRIVE 10 MILES OR SO AN THE CAR STARTS TO JERK AND FAILS TO SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR. YESTERDAY GOT STUCK IN 3RD GEAR WHILE ON HWY, CREATED A DANGER FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. TOOK IT TO A TRANY PLACE, NOT THE TRANSMISSION, BUT SUGGESTS IT IS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN THE CAR FAILS TO SHIFT THE RPMS GO TO 5K OR 6K THEN THE CAR JERKS AND TIRES SCREECH, I CALLED VW AND THE PARTS GUY SAID THAT A NEW TRANY RUNS7 K OR SO AND HE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS I DESCRIBED IT ABOVE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WAS SEPARATING FROM THE ROOF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ROOF WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ROOF WOULD NOT PROPERLY CLOSE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN SERVICED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,000. UPDATED 06/06/11 *BF UPDATED 12/29/2011 *LN *TR

I HAVE A 2003 CONV/NEW BEETLE 1.8T ENGINE 69,200 MI. IT'S HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES, GARAGED KEPT AND LOW MILEAGE LESS THAN 10,000 MIL PER YR. PER THE VW SERVICE DEPT IT HAS SLUDGE BUILD UP. TO MY UNDERSTANDING OTHER 2003 NEW BEETLE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. VERY COSTLY TO FIX. PER VW IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY AND IT'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *TR

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN 2003 VW BEETLE. WHILE BRAKING CAR JERKS AND JUMPS. CAR HAS 56K MILES AND HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY SERVICED BY VW. VW STATES CAR NEEDS NEW VALVE BODY AND TIPTRONIX SWITCH TOTALING $2500+ . *TR

TRANSMISSION ON THE VW NEW BEETLES ARE FAULTY. CARS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 45,000 MILES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION GOES. THIS HAS BEEN A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ON WEBSITE FORUMS LIKE NEWBETTLE.ORG AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NORMAL DRIVING WITH RECOMMENDED SERVICE INTERVALS. TRANSMISSION STARTS HARD DOWNSHIFTS. TRANSMISSION WILL ALSO WIND OUT AND SLIP OR WIND OUT AND NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH AND 6TH GEAR. *TR

THE PLASTIC WINDOW IS SEPARATING FROM THE CLOTH TOP OF MY CONVERTIBLE VW. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BLOWING BULBS AND THE SENSOR LIGHT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG STAYS ON. AFTER FIXING THE LIGHT ONE TIME, THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS SAID IT WAS THE SEATBELT CONNECTOR PROBLEM. THEY JUST WANT MONEY, MONEY , MONEY AND I AM STUCK WITH A VOLKSWAGEN THAT IS NOT FUNCTIONAL FOR DAILY USE. *TR

MY 2003 WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND CERTIFIED MECHANICS. I ONLY HAVE 75,000 MILES ON MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. I HAVE SINCE FOUND MANY OF THE SAME YEAR CAR WITH THE IDENTICAL COMPLAINT OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. *TR

THE ALTERNATOR HARNESS HAS BURNT UP TWICE IN LESS THAN 12,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME IT MELTED EVERYTHING AND THEY REPLACED IT AND NOW IT HAS DONE IT AGAIN. IT HAS STRANDED ME ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ALMOST CAUSED A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS ON 2001 TO 2004 MODELS BUT THEN VW CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS NO. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL DO IT AGAIN AND THAT A FIRE WILL BE NEXT. *TR

2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT ARE A SAFETY ISSUE THAT VW OF AMERICA DOES NOT WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT. CAR HESITATES AFTER STOP WITH TRANSMISSION JERKING AND CAUSING CARS BEHIND VW TO ALMOST REAREND VW. TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND, 3RD AND 4TH GEARS CAUSING FRONT DRIVE TIRES AND STEERING TIRES TO LOSE GRIP ON PAVEMENT. THIS HAPPENS AFTER CAR WARMS UP (APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES). THIS IS A LARGE SAFETY ISSUE. IF THE CAR JERKS WHEN IN A TURN IT WILL CRASH! MY FIANCEE DRIVES THIS CAR AND I AM CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY AND ANYONE ELSE DRIVING NEAR THIS CAR. THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE 6-SPEED TRANSMISSION THAT VW KNOWS ABOUT BUT DISAVOWS ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR. CAN MY GOVERNMENT HELP THE VW OWNERS? WILL YOU DO YOUR JOB AND FORCEE A SAFETY RECALL ONTO VW OF AMERICA OR WILL MORE OWNERS HAVE TO BE INJURED OR DIE FOR ANY CONCERN TO BE SHOWN? VW JUST SAYS THEY WANT TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AT OVER $6000. THE WHOLE CAR IS WORTH JUST $8000. *TR

THE EPC LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME, EVEN AFTER BEING FIXED. THE WINDOW REGULATORS BREAK. THE BATTERY HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE CV BOOT BROKE. *TR