ALL THE WINDOWS APPEAR TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS, THE BACK RIGHT MAKES A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND WON'T BUDGE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MAKES A WEIRD NOISE BUT MOVES, AND THE OVERALL PLACEMENT OF THE WINDOWS IS ODD AND LEAKS AIR. *TR
2004 Volkswagen Beetle complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →
I HAVE 2004 VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE, MY TWO BACK WINDOWS DO NOT WORK AND NOW MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT WORK. WHEN WILL THIS EXISTING PROBLEM BE RECALLED FOR MYSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE WINDOWS NEED TO BE RECALLED. *TR
IN CITY TRAFFIC, MY VEHICLE HAS A VIOLENT JERKY DOWN-SHIFT WHEN APPROACHING A STOP, APPROXIMATELY 25MPH TO 20 MPH. IT FEELS LIKE THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR IS FALLING OUT. WHEN THESE OCCURRENCES FIRST HAPPENED, THEY WERE OCCASIONAL. ON THE HIGHWAY I BELIEVE IT SLIPS FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. TODAY, A FEW MONTHS LATER THE OCCURRENCES ARE MORE FREQUENT AND I AM FORCED TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL CARE FOR MY VEHICLE. I HAVE REGULARLY MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE WITH CARE AND ATTENTION TO THE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. MY ONLINE RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT THIS EVENT IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT, BUT THIS OCCURRENCE DESCRIBES A TYPICAL VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION WITH MILEAGE BETWEEN 50K AND 70K; THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF LIKE COMPLAINTS. I HAVE FOUND TWO SEPARATE FORUMS ONLINE SUPPORTING THIS VERY COMPLAINT. THIS IS VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR A FAILED TRANSMISSION, ESPECIALLY WHEN MANY SIMILAR SMALL VEHICLES ARE OFFERING WARRANTIES FOR 100K MILES OR MORE. THE VW CUSTOMER CARE HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO MY INQUIRIES. I BELIEVE MY CAR HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I AM FEARFUL THAT IT WILL BREAK DOWN ON THE FREEWAY OR A POTENTIALLY DARK ROAD OR IN BAD WEATHER. I WOULD ASK THAT THE NHTSA PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE RECURRENT ISSUES WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND MAKE VOLKSWAGEN ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FAILING TRANSMISSION, OR, AT THE VERY LEAST LOOK INTO THE VALVE BODIES AND WHETHER THEY ARE UP TO STANDARDS, STANDARDS THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS VEHICLE FROM FAILING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSING POTENTIAL HAZARDS TO DRIVERS AND P
RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED, VW PAID FOR REGULATOR BUT CHARGED $389.00 LABOR TO FIX (WINDOW UP AND DOWN LESS THEN 20 TIMES UP TO THIS POINT. LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED JUNE 2011, LABOR CHARGE $403.05 VW PAID FOR REGULATOR. LEFT DRIVER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED AUG 2011. VW WILL NOT COVER REGULATOR, OR LABOR OF $375.00 TO REPAIR. VW KNEW THESE PARTS WOULD FAIL AND HAD ISSUED A TECH BULLETIN TO THIS EFFECT WITH NO NOTICE TO OWNER! FAILED PARTS ARE KNOWN BY VW AS FAILURE PARTS, COST TO CUSTOMER FOR KNOWN BAD PARTS IS EXTREME. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM SECOND GEAR BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY HARD SHIFT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
AT LESS 60K MILES, I'VE BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD BY 2 REPAIR SHOPS THAT IT NEED TO BE REPLACED . BOTH REPAIR SHOPS ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW BEETLE. I PURCHASE THE CAR NEW AND MAINTAINED AND SERVICE AT SUGGESTED TIMES AT SAME PLACE OF PURCHASE. I PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAVE COMPLAINED IN THE PAST. THE PROBLEM THEN WAS INTERMITTENT AND SHOP NEVER FOUND THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED A MONTH LATER. I HAVE READ SIMILAR PROBLEM FROM SEVERAL OWNERS AND SOME WERE REPAIRED FREE WHILE OTHER WERE TURNED AWAY. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS INCONSISTENT WITH MANY OWNERS AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE, THIS PROBLEM QUALIFIES UNDER LEMON LAW. I REQUEST THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND CONSIDER A RECALL BASED ON MANY COMPLAINTS. EVEN REPAIR SHOPS KNOW THIS PROBLEM EXISTED AND WE NEED HELP FORM THIS GOVERNMENT BODY TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT CONTINUES TO COMPROMISED SAFETY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE ENGAGED IN ORDER TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO WAS TOLD THAT THE CONTROL VALVES CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD INCREASE IN SPEED AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN TO 5TH GEAR. UPDATED 12/02/11
WINDOW REGULATOR FAULTY ON ALL WINDOWS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED OR CLOSED. THE CLIPS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUOUSLY RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,569.
MY 2004 BEETLE RAN FINE FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER A PURCHASED IT FROM THE DEALER, NOW THE CAR STOPS RUNNING AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, DURING MY TRAVEL TO WORK. I HAVE READ SEVERAL POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET STATING THE SAME ISSUES FROM THOUSANDS OF VW OWNERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD MY CAR DIAGNOSIS STATING I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANS, BUT THERES NO INDICATION TRANS FAILURE. ONE WEEK THERE CAR RUNS GREAT THEN, NEXT IT STOPS DURING TRAVEL AND HAS JERKY FEELS DURING MOVEMENT. I'M SURE THERE HUNDRED OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUES AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY TOO MANY TO LIST. *KB
MY CAR IS A CERTIFIED USED VW BEETLE. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING A FEW MONTHS AGO, ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR. THIS WAS AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD ON THE CAR, AND I KNOW IT IS USED, BUT I NOW COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED, IN FACT ARE BLATANTLY ON THIS WIKI FOR THE CAR (WHICH UNFORTUNATELY, EITHER WAS NOT UP WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR, OR I DID NOT READ IT CAREFULLY) HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/VOLKSWAGEN_NEW_BEETLE "THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FOR EXAMPLE, IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED ISSUE, OFTEN FAILING AFTER ONLY A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF USE." THERE ARE NUMEROUS PAGES WHERE THIS IS NOTED NOW ACROSS THE WEB: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F124D77 HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/VW_BEETLE.HTML SOME INCIDENTS NOTED SHOW THE DANGER OF THIS SITUATION. LUCKILY THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ME, BUT NOW I AM LOOKING AT REPLACING A WHOLE TRANSMISSION (ALONG WITH FAILED DOOR MOTORS AND SUCH). IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, HOW CAN VW GET AWAY WITH CERTIFYING THIS CAR, WITHOUT AT LEAST A WARNING OR A LONGER WARRANTY ON PARTS THEY KNOW WILL FAIL. I CONSIDER THIS A FRAUD PERPETRATED ON ME. UNFORTUNATELY THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH, AND YET, WE STILL OWE MONEY ON IT TO VW FOR OUR LOAN. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED HERE. THANK YOU. *TR
THIS IS FOR A CONVERTIBLE BEETLE: THE REAR WINDOW ROLLED DOWN WHILE OPENING THE TOP, MADE A GRINDING SOUND, AND NOW WILL NOT GO UP EITHER WITH THE CONVERTIBLE TOP CLOSE BUTTON, NOR WITH THE INDIVIDUAL WINDOW BUTTON - THE WINDOW MOTOR WORKS, BUT THE REGULATOR MECHANISM MAKES A GRINDING SOUND AND THE WINDOW STAYS IN OPEN POSITION (ON-LINE ENTRY SYSTEM WON'T ACCEPT CORRECT PHONE # SO I LIST IT HERE: CORRECT DAYTIME PHONE IS [XXX]) . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
PURCHASED MY 2004 CONVERTIBLE BEETLE IN MAY OF 2011 WITH 83,000 MILES AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND JERKING. IT STARTED GETTING WORSE AS TIME WENT ON, SO WE HAD A MECHANIC PUT IN SOME LUCAS TRANS FIX, IT HELPED A LITTLE BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SLIPPING AND JERKING IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS TO BE RECALLED. NOTICED ON EDMUNDS.COM THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND JERKING. ALSO NOTICED THAT VW AMERICA HAS NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. SO I AM DOCUMENTING MY COMPLAINT AND I AM ASKING ALL 2004 BEETLE OWNERS TO DO THE SAME IN HOPES TO PUT PRESSURE ON VW TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THE ENGINEERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAILED THIS PROGRAM, I HOPE YOU IDIOTS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR MISTAKES. *TR
THE BATTERY FUSE BOX THE FUSE TO THE ALTERNATOR HAS MELTED 3 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 2 MONTHS COSTING ME OVER 1000.00 IN REPAIRS. BATTERY REPLACED,ALTERNATOR REPLACE VOLTAGE REGULATOR REPLACED, ALTER. HARNESS REPLACED AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS BUT FUSE KEEPS BLOWING AND MELTS FUSE BOX AND CAR DIES LOSES COMPLETE POWERWITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS A POTIENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THERE ARE DOZEN OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *TR
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A VW BEETLE IN MAY OF 2010, FOR MY BIRTHDAY FROM HOLLYWOOD AUTO BROKERS IN LOS ANGELES, CA. THE CAR RAN SMOOTH FOR ABOUT A COURSE OF FIVE TO SIX MONTHS, I HAD TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP EARLY ON BECAUSE MY HEAD LIGHTS WERE OUT WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR, A JERKING AND EXTREMELY WEIRD DECELERATION OF THE CAR WOULD BEGIN, BUT IT WOULD "POP BACK TO NORMAL" AFTER A WHILE, MAYBE THREE TO TEN SECONDS. THIS HAD GONE ON AND HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE FIVE MONTHS AFTER I BROUGHT IT. I FINALLY MADE IT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE RODE WITH ME ON A TEST DRIVE AROUND THE CORNER AND OF COURSE IT DIDN'T REPEAT THE PREVIOUS SHOW OF DEFECTS. HE ASSURED ME THE CAR IS JUST BEING BROKEN IN. A YEAR GOES BY AND I DECIDED I WANT TO TRADE IN MY CAR FOR ANOTHER CAR, SO I HEAD TO NISSAN. I TEST DRIVE A CAR AND LOVE IT AND THEN GO IN FOR THE PAPER WORK. THE GUY RUNS MY VIN TO SEE MY CAR VALUE AND COME BACKS AND TELL ME MY CAR TITLE IS SALVAGED. TO MY DISBELIEF AND DISGUST, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY FINANCIAL COMPANY, AL FINANCIAL OF GLENDALE, CA THAT I AM LEASING THE CAR FROM. THEY GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND AND ASSURE ME THAT THE TITLE IS CLEAN AND NOT A SALVAGE. I CONTINUE ON MY INVESTIGATION AND COME TO A CARFAX WEBSITE TO GET THE REAL FACTS ON MY DEFECTED VEHICLE. THE INFORMATION REVEALS THAT NOT ONLY IS THE TITLE SALVAGE BUT IT HAD BODILY DAMAGE AND HAD BEEN TOTALED OUT FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY FROM IT'S PREVIOUS OWNER. THE CAR HAD BEEN BROUGHT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THE SMELL OF FUEL. ALSO, THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE MECHANIC STATED THE FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A LEAK. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.
ENGINE COMPUTER RANDOMLY DETECTS FAULT IN TURBO SYSTEM AND REDUCES ENGINE POWER TO UNSAFE LEVEL. THEN ANY TRAFFIC MANEUVER THAT REQUIRES ACCELERATION, I.E. MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY, ETC., BECOMES EXTREMELY UNSAFE. VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD THE CAR FOR THREE WEEKS AND WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IT. *TR
6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING VERY ROUGH AFTER 45,000 MILES. I AM CONCERNED THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FATAL ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. VW DEALER SAYS THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST $7200! THE TRANSMISSION VALVLE BODY ON THIS MODEL CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN DECLARED DEFECTIVE BY VW. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE SHIFTING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP GEARS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VALVE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE BODY BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND HAD BECOME WORSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE BODY A SECOND TIME BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER RE-INSTALLED THE ORIGINAL VALVE BODY, ADVISING THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE INITIAL VALVE BODY. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,631.
2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE - DRIVER SIDE WINDOW ROLLED DOWN AND WILL NOT ROLL BACK UP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BROKEN REAR WINDOW REGULATOR- APPARENTLY UNDER RECALL BY VOLKSWAGEN BUT CAN'T GET CONFIRMATION. *TR
2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. REAR WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. REAR WINDOWS REGULATOR/MOTORS BROKE. DESIGN DEFECT. REVISED PART. DEALER WANTS OVER $700.00 PER SIDE TO FIX. PARTS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER!!!! *TT
NOTHING LED UP TO THE FAILURE. THE WINDOWS IN MY NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE NO LONGER FUNCTION. I HAVE HAD TWO OF THESE FIXED ALREADY, AND NOW ONE OF THE BACK WINDOWS IS BROKEN. I NOTICED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY OTHER NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE OWNERS AS WELL. I AM HOPING THAT THERE IS A RECALL TO THIS ISSUE AS IT EFFECTS SO MANY OTHER OWNERS. *TR
BOTH BACK WINDOW REGULATORS WENT OUT JUST THREE DAYS APART AND THE VW DEALERS WANTS $1,000.00 TO REPAIR. VW OF AMERICA EXTENDED THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATORS WARRANTY BUT REFUSE TO FIX MY BACK WINDOWS. I CAN NOT ROLL UP MY WINDOWS AT ALL. THEY ARE STUCK DOWN INSIDE THE CAR. *TR
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND ONLY HAS ABOUT 47,000 ACTUAL MILES. RECENTLY SHE HAS BEEN HAVING SOME VERY SCARY EXPERIENCES WITH THE VEHICLE AND WE ARE HIGHLY CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY, IT STARTS TO AUTOMATICALLY SLOW DOWN WHILE HER FOOT IS ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN AS SHE CONTINUES TO KEEP HER FOOT ON THE GAS, IT ALL THE SUDDEN VIOLENTLY JERKS INTO GEAR AND STARTS TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. SHE WAS ON FLAT TERANINE AND WAS NOT GOING UP A HILL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. SHE SAID THE EXPERIENCE TODAY LEFT HER TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE!! ALSO, SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, AND THE BREAKS AND STEERING WHEEL BOTH LOCKED. SHE COULDN'T STEER OR STOP THE CAR WITHOUT USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I ASKED HER IF SHE IS SURE THE CARE WAS NOT IN NEUTRAL AND SHE SAID IT WAS ABSOLUTELY 100% IN THE REVERSE POSITION. ALSO SHE STATED THE BRAKES ARE MAKING A HISSING SOUND LIKE WHEN YOU LET AIR OUT OF TIRES, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME AND HER BRAKES SEEM FINE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT ANY RECALLS THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AND ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO DO TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE FOR HER TO BE DRIVING AT THE MOMENT AND SHE HAS STATED THAT WHEN THE ISSUE HAPPENS, IT FEELS LIKE HER AND THE CAR JERK FORWARD WITH A VERY VIOLENT EXCESSIVE FORCE
WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. THIS IS THE 3RD OF 4 WINDOW REGULATORS TO FAIL. REAR PASSENGER WINDOW FAILED TO ASCEND LEAVING CABIN OPEN TO WEATHER. POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENT INCREASED AS DRIVER WAS FORCED TO DIVIDE ATTENTION BETWEEN FAILED WINDOW AND DRIVING TASKS AT NEAR HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE - PUT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW DOWN (WINDOW OPEN). WHEN I TRIED TO PUT IT UP, IT ONLY WENT HALF-WAY UP, THEN AUTOMATICALLY WENT BACK DOWN. AFTER TRYING TO GET IT TO GO UP TWO ADDITIONAL TIMES, THERE WAS A LOUD CRUNCHING NOISE AND A CRACKING NOISE, SO I STOPPED TRYING TO MOVE IT. CURRENTLY IN THE HALF-WAY POSITION. AFTER READING OTHER VW OWNER FORUMS ONLINE, THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR
RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND WINDOW BECAME INOPERABLE. VW ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT NOT A RECALL. REPAIR IS $1200 FOR ONE WINDOW REGULATOR.
2004 VW BEETLE TURBO BEGAN JERKING, SURGING, ETC, SEPT/OCT OF 2010. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS, AS OBVIOUS. STAFF SAID NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, BUT PAID OVER $1000 FOR "OTHER" ISSUES. DEC. 2010 CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE. LOST ALL POWER! CAR WILL SURGE UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. UNABLE TO CONTROL AS CAR SHIFTS ITSELF INAPPROPRIATELY. THE HAPPENS EVERYDAY AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP. EVERY TIME YOU BRAKE OR ACCELERATE, IT JERKS, SURGES, STALLS, ETC. FINALLY, APRIL 19, 2011, (3 CAR SHOPS LATER), ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SHOP CONFIRMED MY PROBLEMS. ONLY 69,000 MILES ON MY CAR . . NEED NEW TRANSMISSION! VW DEALERSHIP HAS TURNED THEIR BACK ON ME AND "COVERED UP" THE FACT THAT THIS MODEL CAR HAS MAJOR TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS AND WAS MADE DEFECTIVE. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THIS HORRIFIC ORDEAL. A RECALL IS IMPERATIVE. I COULD HAVE HAD TWO CARS FOR THE PRICE THAT I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR. VERY UNSAFE AND SCARY RIDE. AN INJUSTICE AND INSULT TO THE PUBLIC, HARD-WORKING TAX-PAYERS!!! *TR
2007 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TRANSMISSION, VALVE BODY DEFECT. VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT AND ONLY SOLUTIONS IS REPLACING BOTH WITH A COST OF ABOUT 6000.00 FOR TRANSMISSION AND 2000.00 FOR VALVE BODY. VERY UNSAFE CONDITION WHEN YOU ARE ON THE FREEWAY AND YOUR CAR WILL NOT SHIFT. *TR
MY 2004 VW NEW BEETLE WITH 81,000 MILES ON IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. HARSH SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS; DID A TRANS FLUSH; NOW IT WON'T COME OUT OF 3RD GEAR. BEEN SITTING SINCE JANUARY IN MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH IS $5,800 + TAX. MY DAUGHTER WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES! VW HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE FAILED TRANSMISSIONS. PURCHASE 2-1/2 YEARS AGO - STILL OWE ANOTHER 2-1/2 YEARS OF PAYMENTS AND I THOUGHT THIS CAR WOULD GET MY DAUGHTER THROUGH COLLEGE AND BEYOND - BOY WAS I WRONG. THEY CERTAINLY DON'T MAKE VWS THE WAY THEY USE TO. I HAD A BUG WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE AND THE FLOORBOARDS RUSTED OUT BEFORE THE MECHANICS OF THE CAR! *TR
I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT DROP DOWN IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE CANVAS TOP. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A REGULATOR ISSUE. NOW MY BACK PASSENGER WINDOW IS FROZEN IN HALF DOWN POSITION. IT CAN NOT BE PULLED UP OR PUSHED DOWN. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE WINDOW ON THESE MODELS. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE GLASS IN THE CANVAS TOP TO BECOME DETACHED. MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER THIS AS DURING THEIR INVESTIGATION THEY FOUND THAT IT IS SO COMMON WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE THAT THEY CAN DEEM IT "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR." THIS IS NOT RIGHT! MY CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS! I AM NOT ABLE TO REPLACE ANY PARTS AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF INCOME. THE CONSUMER IS MADE TO PAY THE BILL FOR VW'S FAULTY MANUFACTORING. *TR
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAY ON(CONCERNED ABOUT NOT WORKING PROPERLY IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT) TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP FOR CODE READ: AIRBAG MODULE SHORTED. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND CARPET NEED TO BE REMOVED FOR REPLACEMENT OF AIRBAG BECAUSE WIRE UNDER THE SEAT IS TOO SHORT THAT IT TORN WHEN THE SEAT WAS MOVED FORWARD TO ALLOW ACCESS TO REAR SEAT. THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURED FAULT. *TR
VEHICLE IS A 2004 VW NEW BEETLE - PROBLEM IS AIRBAG LIGHTS ARE ON DUE TO A BROKEN WIRE IN THE WIRING THAT LEADS INTO THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH. I HAD THE CODE DIAGNOSED BY A MECHANIC AND I VISUALLY INSPECTED THE 4 WIRES UNDER THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND THE YELLOW WIRE IS BROKEN. AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURING FLAW AS THIS PART GETS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT DUE TO THE SEATBACK MOVING FORWARD AND BACKWARD WHEN PUTTING THE SEAT UP TO GET INTO THE BACK SEAT. MY CAR ONLY HAS 14,000 MILES ON IT SO IT HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN VERY MUCH IN THE 7 YEARS WE HAVE HAD IT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS - WE SELL ALOT OF THOSE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH ASSEMBLIES DUE TO THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR FOR FREE AS THERE IS NO RECALL AND NO BULLETIN ON THE ISSUE. READ NUMEROUS SITES AND ENTRIES ALL OVER THE WEB AND IT APPEARS MANY OWNERS OF THESE CARS (MANY DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS) ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. CALLED VW AMERICA TO SEE IF THEY WOULD AT LEAST PROVIDE ME WITH A FREE PART AS I WOULD DO THE REPLACEMENT MYSELF. THEY CHECKED AND DENIED MY REQUEST. AS THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT WORK WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. A RECALL SHOULD BE PLACED ON THE SEATBELT LATCHES AS THE WIRING USED AND THE DESIGN ARE NOT AT ALL INDUSTRIAL ENOUGH TO HOLD UP OVER TIME. *TR
BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT BOLT WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT; BROKE AFTER ACCELERATING ON A TRAFFIC LIGHT. ENGINE MOUNT WAS REPLACED. *TR
[XXX] I RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IN NOVEMBER 2010 EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON MY 2004 VW BEETLE FOR HARD SHIFTING CAUSED BY THE VALVE BODY. MY BEETLE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER. I SUBMITTED THE FORM FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE TO THE VALVE BODY. MY CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS REFUSED BY MARTIN A. CUSTOMER CARE ADVOCATE. HE STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE THE EXTENSION COVER REPAIRS TO THE VALVE BODY ONLY. I AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE VALVE BODY ONLY. WHEN THE REPAIR SHOP INSPECTED MY BEETLE FOR THE HARD SHIFTING ISSUE, THEY ALSO INSPECTED THE TRANSMISSION AND FOUND EXCESSIVE METAL DEBRIS IN THE 'PAN'. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THEY RECOMMENDED REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION AT THE SAME TIME AS REPLACING THE VALVE BODY. I COULD HAVE ELECTED NOT TO HAVE REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION AT THAT TIME. I AM BEING TOLD THAT MY CLAIM IS BEING REFUSED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VALVE BODY WAS RELATED TO THE REPAIR OF THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IT CLEARLY WAS NOT. VW OFFERED THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND ANY EXCUSE TO NOT FULFILL THIS OFFER. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON FEBRUARY 25TH TO EXPLAIN THAT THE VALVE BODY REPLACEMENT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION AND WAS VERY FRUSTRATED WHEN THE ADVOCATE REPEATEDLY INTERRUPTED ME AS I ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN THIS TO HER. MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE PURCHASED MULTIPLE VEHICLES FROM VW OVER T
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE ALTERNATOR BURNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.
HEADLIGHT BULBS BURN OUT EVERY THREE MONTHS OR SO. I AM AN ENGINEER, AND HAVE INSURED THAT THE CONNECTIONS ARE TIGHT, AND THE HOUSING IS FREE OF MOISTURE. I HAVE GOOGLED THIS ISSUE AND FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS!! *TR
I DO NOT KNOW WHO TO TURN TO NOW. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. I PURCHASED THE CAR MARCH, 2010 AND A FEW WEEKS AGO IT STARTED ACTING UP. THE GEARS HAVE BEEN SHIFTING VERY VIOLENTLY, SO MUCH SO THAT IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE REAR ENDED ME EVERY TIME. MIND YOU, THIS ONLY HAPPENS AFTER I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR FOR MORE THAN 15 MILES, SO I FIGURE THAT IT'S ONCE THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY COOLED. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN IN NOVEMBER, 2010 FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS FIXED AND NOW THEY TELL ME THAT I WAS ONLY COVERED UNTIL SEPTEMBER, 2010. THE LETTER SAYS IT WILL COVER TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST FROM THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL IN-SERVICE DATE. THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO ME BECAUSE TECHNICALLY I'M STILL ON THE 7TH YEAR AND I'M CURRENTLY AT 54K MILES. I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE A LOT OF BEETLE OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME MISFORTUNE AND VOLKSWAGEN IS DOING NOTHING OF THE MATTER BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT WILL COST THEM MILLIONS. THIS IS VERY UPSETTING, SEEING THAT I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AND IT'S HAD 2 PREVIOUS OWNERS. I TRIED CALLING VOA AND THE "MANAGER" TELLS ME THAT THEY'RE LOOKING INTO THE MATTER BECAUSE THEY HAVE GOTTEN A HIGH VOLUME CALL THIS WHOLE WEEK REGARDING THIS. I CALL 2 DAYS LATER AND THEY TELL ME THAT I AM OUT OF
WELL IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. FIRST THING, THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE LIGHTS. THE TOP WILL NOT COME DOWN BY IT SELF. THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON ( AIR BAG, BRAKES, CHECK ENGINE, EMISSIONS). SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE HOLES IN THE MUFFLER. LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW FELL DOWN AND THEY WON'T 800 TO FIX, THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. *TR
THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG SENSORS. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD THE SENSORS REPLACED (THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY BASED ON TIME). VW REFUSED ULTIMATELY REIMBURSED US FOR THE REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSORS. IN JANUARY OF 2011 THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER CHARGED A FEE TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE LIGHT WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, AND THE FACT THAT THE BATTERY WAS DISCHARGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THEY WANTED APPROXIMATELY $480 TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, AND $245 TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. I CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE BUCKLE FOR NO CHARGE, BUT WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE BATTERY. VW OPENED A CASE # 110006836 AND REGIONAL MANAGER LISA WAS THE CONTACT. WE HAD AAA COME TO DO A TEST ON THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM BOTH PASSED THE TEST. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT A TRICKLE CHARGE WOULD BRING THE BATTERY TO A FULL CHARGE. IN ADDITION, VW AGREED TO DO A ONE TIME COURTESY REPLACEMENT OF THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF SINCE THE FABRIC HAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR WINDOW. A CLIP RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED, BUT THE HEADLINER WAS HANGING DOWN AND HAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR WINDOW. WE FEARED THAT THE WINDOW COULD SEPARATE FROM THE ROOF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. STATEMENT INDICATES THAT VW PERFORMED 61.07-02 TECH BULLETIN TO PERFORM MODIFICATIONS TO THE REAR WINDOW.
THE REAR WINDOW REGULATORS WENT OUT ON BOTH WINDOWS, CONVERTIBLE TOP WON'T WORK 90% OF THE TIME. REPLACED HEADLIGHT 4 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. *LN
THE CONVERTIBLE TOP WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE REAR WINDOW WAS SEPARATING FROM THE TOP. PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED MODIFICATION TO REAR WINDOW HEADLINER RING. CLIP RECALL ALREADY PERFORMED AND HEADLINER CONTINUED TO HANG DOWN AND WAS SEPARATING FROM THE WINDOW. WINDOW COULD SEPARATE FROM ROOF AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN EARLIER RECALL DUE TO SENSORS. WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND NOT DUE TO SENSORS. WE WERE ALSO ORIGINALLY TOLD IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY BATTERY. HOWEVER, THE BATTERY WAS CHECKED BY AAA AND WAS NOT FAULTY. EVENTUALLY VW AGREED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *TR
I HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REGARDING MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AT 71,000 MILES, IT HAS HAD HARD SHIFTING ISSUES AND HAS ACTUALLY JERKED FORWARD WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AT A LIGHT, AND THEN HAS PROCEEDED TO GET STUCK IN 3RD GEAR UNTIL IT WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. VOLKSWAGEN HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY, BUT THEY HAVE DETERMINED, $300.00 LATER, THAT IT IS NOT THE VALVE BODY, BUT NEEDS THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT A COST OF $6,300.00. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS! *TR
I HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA ABOUT MY 2004 AUTOMATIC NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TRANSMISSION. I RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR A SKIPPING TRANSMISSION. A YEAR AGO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WHICH I DID FOR $6,500.00. THE NEW EXTENDED WARRANTY SAID I COULD BE REIMBURSED FOR WORK DONE, I FILLED OUT ALL THE PAPERWORK AN HAD COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL WORK REQUESTS AND RECEIPTS AND SENT THEM IN AS INSTRUCTED. I HAVE SINCE RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT I DO NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE I HAD THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED (AS RECOMMENDED) AND NOT JUST THE VALVES. IT IS A CATCH 22 AND UNFAIR AS I JUST FOLLOWED THE DEALERS RECOMMENDATION IN GETTING THE CAR REPAIRED. *TR
2004 VW BEETLE - FAULTY TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VIOLENTLY INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS CAUSING THE CAR TO JOLT FORWARD. AT OTHER TIMES IT BECOMES STUCK IN 1ST GEAR SO AS YOU ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO INCREASE SPEED ENOUGH TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC APPROACHING FROM BEHIND. A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE FOR SAME PROBLEM. VW ADMITS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND SHIFTING DIFFICULTY ON 1998 - 2006 AUTOMATIC'S. THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR REPAIRS, BUT ONLY COVER THE VALVE BOX, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL VW DEALER IS NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR
2004 VOLKSWAGEN 'NEW BEETLE' HAS SERIOUS DESIGN / OEM-COMPONENT FLAWS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, CREATING VERY-DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE 'STALLS' (STEP ON GAS, MOTOR REVS, BUT TRANSM. DOES NOT ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY) IN TRAFFIC. VW IS AWARE OF THIS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SENT A 'WARRANTY-EXTENSION / REPLACEMENT OFFER' LETTER FOR THE VALVE-BODY OF THE TRANSM., HOWEVER, DEALER 'COMPUTER' SAYS IT'S NOT THE VALVE-BODY, BUT RATHER A 'MECHANICAL ISSUE DUE TO AN INCORRECT GEAR RATIO' AND OFFERS A COMPLETE TRANSM. REPLACEMENT FOR $5500. (!) NOT A VERY 'HELPFUL' SOLUTION FOR A CAR WORTH THAT OR LESS. IT WOULD SEEM THERE IS A 'CONTROL' PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THEIR OEM COMPONENTS (IE: TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND/OR SOLENOID-PACK) AS THERE ARE *THOUSANDS* OF OWNERS WITH SUCH PROBLEMS, ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, AND IMHO, VW NEEDS TO RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX / REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS - HERE IS A LINK TO A 20-PAGE THREAD DETAILING OTHERS' EXPERIENCES: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F124D77/[email protected]@ - THIS IS *NOT* A 'SINGLE-CONSUMER' OR 'PERSONAL PERIODIC-MAINTENANCE ISSUE', AND MAY HAVE GRAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR SOMEONE / SOME FAMILY(IES) IF NOT RECALLED BY VW -PLEASE, HELP US! *TR
I HAVE A 2004 VW NEWBEETLE. MY CAR WAS SHIFTING FUNNY AND SHAKING AS IT DROVE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A TRIPTONIC SWITCH. THEY REPLACED IT. AFTER TEST DRIVING THE CAR WITH THIS NEW PART THEY DETERMINED THIS WASN'T THE PROBLEM AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF 5400.00. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SCRAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE CAUSED BY THE SEPARATION OF THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH THE FLYWHEEL AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000.
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle → · Every Beetle year → · How the figures are calculated →