2004 Volkswagen Beetle complaints

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED IN THE DOWN POSITION ON MY 2004 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE REGULATOR HAS FAILED ON MANY NEW BEETLES. THE WINDOW REGULATOR HAS BEEN COVERED FOR 2003 - 2005 NEW BEETLE SEDANS BUT NOT CONVERTIBLES. I WANT TO DOCUMENT THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS ON THE CONVERTIBLES AS WELL. *TR

WINDOW REGULATOR ON OUR 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE FAILED ON THE SECOND REAR WINDOW ON DECEMBER 18, 2010. THE FIRST OCCURRED ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2010. ACCORDING TO OUR REPAIRMAN, THIS WINDOW REGULATOR IS A VERY POOR DESIGN AND HAPPENS ON MANY BEETLES, EVEN NEW 2010 VERSIONS. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL OR WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR ITS DESIGN PROBLEM. OUR COST TO REPAIR WILL BE $850 TO $1,000. *TR

2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. IT STARTED AROUND 67000 MILES AND HAPPENS JUST AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHES OPERATING TEMPERATURE. DEALERSHIP SAYS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT $7000. I HAVE ALSO READ ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE NOTED THERE HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR YR MODEL BEETLE WITH THE SAME TYPE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. DEALER WILL NOT HELP, BUT STATED THEY KNOW OF THE ISSUE BUT ARE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL VW TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE ISSUE, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED YET ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND SLIPS IN LOWER GEARS. *TR

MY 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH TRIPTONIC TRANSMISSION, WITH ONLY 55,000 MILES, LURCHES IN THE LOWER GEARS AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY BETWEEN THE LOWER GEARS AND OFTEN REVS UP TO 5000 RPM BEFORE IT "CLUNKS" INTO HIGHER GEAR. THE VW DEALER MECHANIC WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, AT A COST TO ME OF $6800. MY RESEARCH HAS LEARNED THAT THE FIRST GENERATION OF VW?S DOUBLE CLUTCH TRANSMISSIONS HAD A CHRONIC WEAK POINT. THEY COMBINE A WET CLUTCH (AS IN TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC) AND A GEAR PART (AS IN TRADITIONAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION), HOWEVER BOTH ARE LUBRICATED OUT OF SAME OIL SUMP. THE GEAR PART CAUSES THE OIL TO BE MORE CONTAMINATED WITH WEAR PARTICLES (VS. TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THIS CONTAMINATED OIL IS USED ALSO IN THE VALVE BODY AND THE WET CLUTCH, AND THESE WEAR PARTICLES CAN DETERIORATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WET CLUTCH (CLUTCH MATERIAL, RESULTING IN SLIPPAGE, OR CLUTCH AND GEAR CHANGE HYDRAULIC CONTROLS, RESULTING IN DEFECTIVE SHIFT STRATEGIES). ONCE THAT HAPPENS, DAMAGE IS USUALLY IRREVERSIBLE. VW CHANGED THE OIL SERVICE RECOMMENDATION RECOMMEND FROM (FILL FOR LIFE) OR 100,000 MILES TO 40,000 MILES. EVEN AT THIS REDUCED AMOUNT, THEY CLEARLY STILL HAD A PROBLEM. THEY PROBABLY MODIFIED THE DESIGN SINCE BUT HAVE NOT ADMITTED IT. VW HAS NOT BEEN ETHICAL IN THEIR HANDLING OF THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION DESIGN. THE TRANSMISSION CAN FAIL AT ANYTIME CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE FREEWAY, TURNING ACRO

MY VEHICLE HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT AND IS A 2004 NEW BEETLE. IT IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE AND THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME IT IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $5,000 TO $7,000 TO REPAIR. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, I CAN SEE THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2004 NEW BEETLES. I AM CURRENTLY NOT DRIVING IT BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY BUCKS SO BADLY THAT IT CAUSES MY CAR TO JUMP ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 5 FEET AND IT COULD HIT A VEHICLE OR A PEDESTRIAN. *TR

2004 NEW BEETLE CONV TURBO . ALWAYS IN SHOP. ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS. IN THE SHOP MORE THAN AT HOME. ELEC ISSUES,WINDOWS NOT WORKING, AIR BAG LIGHTS FLASHING, TOP STAYING DOWN WONT GO UP ONE REPAIR AFTER ANOTHER. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. WHAT A PIECE OF [XXX]. JUST HOPE SOME ONE READS THIS AND TALKS THEIR DAUGHTER OR WIFE OUT OF MAKING A 20,000 DOLLAR MISTAKE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WAS BROKEN ON THE REAR WINDOWS TWICE. THE CONTACT ORIGINALLY HAD TO REPLACE THE PARTS IN JULY OF 2010. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A REASON FOR THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS A DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65000.

AT 64,000 MILES MY 2004 VW , AUTOMATIC, BEGIN TO "JUMP" GEARS BETWEEN THE 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AFTER IT WARMED UP. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER. AFTER BEING TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OUT, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE CERTAIN IT WAS THE GEAR BOX BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHOW UP IN THE DIAGNOSTIC AS THE PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE GEAR BOX WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I DID NOT AUTHORIZE THE WORK AND TOOK IT TO ANOTHER VW REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT NOT SHOWING UP IN THE DIAGNOSTIC. I HAVE NO CONFIRMATION OF THE PROBLEM AND THE WORK IS EXPENSIVE, THE ESTIMATE FOR THE GEAR BOX REPLACEMENT (WITHOUT GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM WAS IN EXCESS OF $2,000. THE OTHER GAMBLE WAS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF $5,000 PLUS LABOR. I STILL DON'T HAVE CONFIRMATION OF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT THE REPAIR OPTIONS ARE COSTLY AND A GAMBLE AT BEST. *TR

I OWN A 04 BEETLE CONV. AND AT AROUND 78,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING SLUGGISH AND WOULD MAKE A LOUD POPPING SOUND AS IT SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND JOLTED U FORWARD, NOW IT IS AT AROUND 81,000 AND WILL ONLY SHIFT THROUGH FIRST AND SECOND GEARS SAFELY. WHEN IT HITS 35MPH THE RPM'S RAISE RAPIDLY AND THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY COME TO REST AT 25 MPH AND GO NO FASTER. IF I SLAM ON THE BREAKS IT GETS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR AND WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO REACH 50 MPH MAX AT 5,500 RPM'S.. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AND THEY JUST TELL ME THAT A MY ONLY OPTION IS TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF 5,813.00+LABOR OR TRADE IT IN FOR A VALUE SOMEWHERE AROUND 1,500.00 AND REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM BETWEEN BEETLES, JETTAS, GOLFS, AND GTI'S. WITH CAR TRANSMISSIONS COMPLETELY GOING OUT OR ACTING LIKE THIS ON THE ROAD, IM A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO WHY VW HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO DEAL WITH THIS AND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED? *TR

2004 VW BEETLE SLIPPING BANGING TRANSMISSION 4500-7000 DOLLAR FIX SEEMS TO BE ON MOST CARS. SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM VW. *TR

I OWN A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE THAT HAS A TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION WITH ALMOST 69,000 MILES. IT STARTED JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT VW/AUDI REPAIR SHOP HAD DIAGNOSTICS RUN AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD, AND THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM FREQUENTLY SEEN WITH 2004 BEETLES THAT HAVE THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. THE COST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE $5700.00 PLUS TAX, AND A USED TRANSMISSION WOULD BE $4400.00 PLUS TAX. I CALLED THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TO ASK ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF THE PROBLEM AND WHETHER VW WAS PLANNING ANY TYPE OF RECALL DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION, AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM DIDN'T WARRANT A RECALL AT THIS TIME. I THINK A $6200.00 REPAIR FOR A CAR THAT IS WORTH AROUND $10,000.00 IS INSANE. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2004 BEETLES AND THE EXCESSIVE COST OF REPAIR, VW SHOULD RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH 2004 VW BEETLE TURBO, ABRUPT SHIFTING, AND ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEED TO A SUDDEN STOP DEALERSHIP CANT FIND SOLUTION IT IS FRUSTRATING MIGHT NEED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR IS ONLY 68000 MILES, NO WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM. ALREADY PAID VW DEALERSHIP 500DLLS WITHOUT A DIAGNOSE, CAR IS GETTING WORSE HAS ENGINE LIGHT ON, ESP AND ASR LIGHTS ON, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, YET THEY CANT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, IT STARTED TO JUST JERK RIGHT AROUND THE TIME I WOULD BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKES BUT HAD THEM CHECKED OUT AND THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. THEN THE CAR STARTED GETTING WORSE. WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS IN LOW GEARS WHETHER SHIFTING UP OR DOWN THE CAR JERKS AND SOMETIMES STALLS. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE TURBO, AUTOMATIC CONVERTIBLE, WITH 77,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSIONS DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS PROPERLY, AND AT WILL NOT OPERATE AT ALL. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $6,800. THE VEHICLE IS NOT WORTH MUCH MORE THAN THAT!! IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.. *TR

MY CAR IS A 2004 VW BEETLE. IT ONLY HAS OVER 48,000 MILES. THE CAR BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHIFT GEARS. VW SERVICE STATED IT NEEDED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND QUOTED ME $7,000.00. I NOW HAVE IT AT A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO IS REBUILDING IT AND IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $3,000. I HAVE A RENTAL CAR THAT WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $400.00. VW HAS A MONOPOLY ON THEIR CARS. I HAVE READ ON-LINE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. HOW IS IT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER IN THIS ECONOMY FOR VOLKSWAGEN NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR DEFECTIVE CARS AND SHIFT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE UNKNOWING CONSUMER? *TR

PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION, GEAR STUCK IN LOW. *TR

THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC DRIVING UP THE DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC...WHEN I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE SO I FINALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PULL OVER AND LET THE CAR COOL DOWN. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS AGAIN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD THEM I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM...SAD THING IS I HAVE HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP ON 3 OTHER TIMES SINCE LATE MAY FOR THEM TO 1) REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, 2) REPLACE THE COMPUTER TRANSMISSION CHIP, 3) REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION...ALL IN ALL I HAVE BEEN OUT ABOUT $7K INCLUDING RENTALS AND EVERYTHING. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT IN THE OTHER CASES I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IT WAS WHEN I WAS GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AFTER DRIVING A BIT THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP. THIS TIME HOWEVER COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT SINCE IT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS IN MAJOR TRAFFIC. IN TOTAL THE VW DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 10 WEEKS SINCE LATE MAY...THIS IS TERRIBLE. I AM NOT THE ONLY CONSUMER WITH VW BEETLE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SEVERAL OUT THERE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS. CAN SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF THE CONSUMER SUFFERING?? OR DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE WORST CASES SIMILAR TO TOYOTA OR FORD? *TR

DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW FAILED 9-22-10. I PUT THE WINDOWS DOWN. I TRIED TO PUT THE WINDOWS BACK UP AS IT WAS STARTING TO RAIN. THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW WILL ONLY GO HALF WAY UP AND THEN STOPS AND GOES BACK DOWN. *TR

THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON THE 2004 NBC ARE DEFECTIVE. BOTH OF MY REAR WINDOWS HAVE BROKEN. ACCORDING TO VW, THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT WHERE THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THESE PARTS FOR 7 YEARS. WHEN I CALLED TO SEE ABOUT MINE THEY SAID THE CONVERTIBLES WERE NOT COVERED, EVEN THOUGH THE SAME PARTS WERE USED. THE WINDOWS BROKE WHEN I ROLLED THEM DOWN TO GET THE MORNING CONDENSATION OFF OF THEM. AN OUTSIDE MECHANIC WILL CHARGE ME $260 PER WINDOW VERSUS THE $500 PER WINDOW QUOTED BY VW. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND IT BEGAN CLANKING, JERKING AND SOMETIME IT FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE SHE WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE VALVE BODY THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT REPAIRING THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND ADVISED HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING SO THAT THEY COULD DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,900.

2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 77K MILES. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED/REBUILT AT A COST OF $4,500. *TR

I OWN A 2004 VW NEW BEETLE, GLS 2.0 AUTOMATIC, WITH 56,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS MAKING A QUICK TRIP DOWN THE STREET AT AROUND 30MPH WHEN MY GEARS SUDDENLY STARTED SLIPPING, CAUSING MY RPM TO SHOOT DANGEROUSLY HIGH AND MY CAR TO SLOW DOWN. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE THE CAR UNDER 30MPH TO WORK (1.5 MILES AWAY) AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE ONLY WAY I COULD DRIVE SAFELY WAS TO LET OFF OF THE GAS EVERY TIME THE GEAR CHANGED AND SLIPPED. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. THE GENTLEMAN I SPOKE WITH AT THE SHOP SAID HE HAD SEEN A LOT OF VW BEETLES COMING IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, ALL UNDER 100K MILES. UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE $4,000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR AND AM NOW LEFT WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION INDEFINITELY. I AM EXTREMELY ANGERED BY THE FACT THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO A CAR AT ONLY 56,000 MILES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH UPHILL WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE FLY WHEEL AND CLUTCH WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 12/15/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/27/10

I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY JERKING AND STALLING. I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY THROUGH A DOCTOR'S OFFICE PARKING LOT VERY MINDFUL OF PEDESTRIANS WHEN THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY JERKED FORWARD AND I NEARLY HIT A PEDESTRIAN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT A CROSS WALK WHERE I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO STOP BUT BEFORE I DID STOP THE CAR DOWNSHIFTED ABRUPTLY AND HAD I NOT HAD A FIRM GRIP ON THE BREAK I WOULD HAVE HIT CHILDREN IN THE CROSS WALK. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE AND VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PAGES ONLINE OF SIMILAR CASES. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE VW TRANSMISSIONS ARE THE CAUSE OF A SERIOUS INJURY IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. VERY FRIGHTENING AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *TR

DRIVE TRAIN ON 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, VEHICLE WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT WHEN STOPPED UNLESS VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, THEN WHEN PUT IN GEAR JUMPS FORWARD. SEALED TRANSMISSION, DEALER SAID IT HAPPENS A LOT BUT VW OF AMERICA WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE W/ 85K MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN "CLUNKING" ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. I WAS TOLD I WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION COSTING MORE THAN $4000. I CAME TO THIS SITE AND SAW TIME AND TIME AGAIN THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING. MANY HAVE RESEARCHED FURTHER AND IT APPEARS TO BE AN OBVIOUS DEFECT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A FORMAL RECALL. *TR

2004 VW NEW BEETLE WITH DSG TRANSMISSION. CAR DROPS INTO LIMP MODE. HAPPENED ON EXPRESSWAY RESULTING IN LOW SPEED TO GET TO MEDIAN. HAPPENS WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM INTERSECTION AND GOES INTO NEUTRAL. CAR WILL NOT MOVE UNTIL ENGINE IS STOPPED AND RESTARTED. ABOVE ISSUES HAPPENED 4 TIMES OVER A 3 DAY PERIOD. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. DSG TRANSMISSION WITH THE MECHATRONICS UNIT IS RARE IN 04 BEETLES. NOT INCLUDED IN FACTORY RECALLS OF 07 AND UP. HAD MECHATRONICS UNIT REPLACED FOR $2250.00 MY EXPENSE. 80,000 MILES ON CAR. 07 AND UP HAVE WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 100,000 MILES. 04 NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE OF LOW FREQUENCY OF EVENT. LOW FREQUENCY BECAUSE NOT MANY AROUND. CAR IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY SAME AS O7 VW & AUDI CARS. *TR

TRANSMISSION HAS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, WONT SHIFT SMOOTHLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND INITIALLY, THEN WHEN IN TRAFFIC THE TRANSMISSION KICKS IN LIKE I WAS REAR-ENDED CAUSING MY HEAD TO SNAP. I CANNOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WITHOUT THE VEHICLE NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR CAUSING A DELAY DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. I ALMOST HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND FLUID REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THIS IS VERY ALARMING BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT GOING TO SHIFT, THE RPMS REV TO 6 AND 7 BEFORE THE SHIFT TAKES PLACE. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HAS SUDDENLY REVVED INTO THE 7 AND 8. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, THE RECALL COVERED THE DEFECT IN 2008 BUT, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND IS NOT COVERED UNLESS I GET A DIAGNOSTIC FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHICH THEY WANT ME TO PAY 150.00 THEN THEY WILL CONSIDER ON A CASE BASES. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 2.0L GLS AND BOTH FRONT WINDOW REGULATORS ARE BROKEN AT THE SAME TIME. I PULLED ONE OF THE DOORS APART TO SEE WHAT WAS BROKEN AND IT IS A PLASTIC PIECE THAT HOLDS THE MOTOR TO THE REGULATOR. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THIS PART TO BREAK AND ESPECIALLY FOR BOTH SIDES TO BREAK ABOUT THE SAME TIME. THE PLASTIC PART THAT IS NEEDED IS NOT SOLD SEPARATE, THE WHOLE WINDOW REGULATOR ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE PURCHASED, SO TO FIX THE WINDOWS WILL COST A LOT OF MONEY. *TR

VW 2004 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE REAR WINDOW INOPERABLE. THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILS AND VW WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER THE EXTENDED 7 YEAR WINDOW WARRANTY. I HAD BOTH DOOR WINDOWS REPLACED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE DRIVER REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. BUT THE PASSENGER REAR WINDOW DIDN'T FAIL UNDER THE CAR'S WARRANTY. HOWEVER, VW HAS AN EXTENDED 7 YEAR WARRANTY THAT THEY IMPLEMENTED ONLY FOR THE FRONT REGULATORS (WHY WERE THE REAR WINDOW REGULATORS EXCLUDED? IT IS CLEAR THEY FAIL JUST LIKE THE FRONT ONES DO). THE EXTENDED WARRANTY SHOULD COVER ALL WINDOW REGULATORS AS ALL OF THEM HAVE FAILED ON MY CAR AND MANY OTHERS. *TR

POWER WINDOW REGULATORS FAIL ON 2004 VW BEETLE CONERTIBLE REAR WINDOWS. I HAVE REPLACED 2 OF TM SO FAR IN 50,000 MILES. THE FIRST ONE WAS $375 FOR THE PARTS ONLY AND NOW THEY HAVE DECIDED TO INCREASE THAT PRICE TO $672! IT IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS THAT THEY CHARGE THAT MUCH FOR A FAULTY PART AND THE NEW ONES ARE NO BETTER. IF I PAY THE DEALERSHIP TO INSTALL IT, IT IS AT LEAST $1,200. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE! *TR

I HAVE A 2004 VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE THAT I HAVE HAD LESS THAN 2 YEARS. OBVIOUSLY I BOUGHT IT USED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE VW DEALER FOR A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG, DROVE IT 5 DAYS AND LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. AT THE SAME TIME THAT LIGHT CAME BACK ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & HAD TO REPLACE AN 0-2 SENSOR. DROVE IT ANOTHER APPX. 8 MO. & HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP. THE LAST FEW MO. HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THE TRANSMISSION, IT ALL STARTED WITH IT NOT SHIFTING OUT OF 3RD GEAR AFTER STOPPING. I WOULD HAVE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND SIT AND WAIT FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES, START IT UP AND CONTINUE ON MY WAY. THIS IS REALLY DIFFICULT IN TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE AND DANGEROUS!! IT ALSO BEGAN TO SHIFT VERY HARD FROM 2ND, TO 3RD AND 4TH. IT JERKS SO HARD I'M AMAZED I DON'T HAVE WHIPLASH! ANYWAY, I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND IT NEEDS A NEW $6000 TRANSMISSION. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT VW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING FAULTY PARTS. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. ONE LAST THING IS THAT BOTH MY REAR WINDOWS SEEM TO BE STICKING, I'M AFRAID TO ROLL THEM DOWN. I'M NOT DRIVING IT NOW ANYWAY, IT CAN'T SAFELY BE DRIVEN. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THESE ISSUES. WE BOUGHT THE CAR WITH EARLY WITHDRAWAL RETIREMENT MONEY, BECAUSE WE NEEDED A RELIABLE CAR. NOW IT JUST SITS! THANK YOU *TR

MY 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH TRIPTONIC TRANSMISSION, ONLY 53,800 MILES, LURCHES IN THE LOWER GEARS AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY BETWEEN THE LOWER GEARS AND OFTEN REVS UP TO 5000 RPM BEFORE IT "CLUNKS" INTO HIGHER GEAR. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY, LEFT TURNS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ARE DANGEROUS. THE CAR MAY DECIDE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL RATHER THAN LURCH INTO GEAR. AFTER STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, I AM OFTEN TAILGATED BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT GET UP TO SPEED QUICKLY. LUCKILY I HAVE NOT BEEN REAR-ENDED AS SOME OTHERS HAVE. THE VW DEALER MECHANIC WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST TO ME OF $6800. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL AT ONLY 53,800 MILES UNLESS THERE IS A MAJOR DESIGN DEFECT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS IN VARIOUS CAR FORUMS, IN PARTICULAR HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM WHERE THERE ARE MORE POSTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR THE NEW BEETLE THAN ANYTHING EXCEPT MAINTENANCE. MY RESEARCH HAS LEARNED THAT THE FIRST GENERATION OF VW'S DOUBLE CLUTCH TRANSMISSIONS HAD A CHRONIC WEAK POINT. THEY COMBINE A WET CLUTCH (AS IN TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC) AND A GEAR PART (AS IN TRADITIONAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION), HOWEVER BOTH ARE LUBRICATED OUT OF SAME OIL SUMP. THE GEAR PART CAUSES THE OIL TO BE MORE CONTAMINATED WITH WEAR PARTICLES (VS. TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE CONTAMINATED OIL IS USED ALSO IN THE VALVE BODY AND THE WET CLUTCH, AND THESE WEAR PARTICLES CAN DETERIORATE THE PERFORMANC

MY LEFT FRONT HEADLAMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING. I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE JUST A BULB. I WENT TO PULL THE BULB AND THE HEADLAMP HARNESS WAS MELTED AND FUSED. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL VW DEALER AND THEY CLAIMED THIS CAN HAPPEN AND I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY. THIS IS A $400.00 REPAIR. WHY DOES THE HARNESS MELT , THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD UNDER THE HOOD. PLUS WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS TO BOTH HEADLIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME ?? *TR

I HAVE A 2004 VW BUG WITH 51,000 MILES . THE CAR STARTED JERKING SO HARD ITS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS TO ME AND OTHERS ! VW SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW 7000 DOLLAR TRANSMISSION! THEY WONT ADMIT THE PROBLEM IS OF EPIC PROPORTIONS WITH THIS MODEL . IT'S ALL OVER THE INTERNET. MY CAR HAS ALSO HAD THE WINDOW MOTOR GO OUT AND MANY PARTS JUST FALL OFF SUCH AS SEATBELT LATCH COVER. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR SAFETY!PLEASE HELP ME GET VW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDOW MOTORS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED AT HER EXPENSE. THE SEAT BELTS LATCHES HAD ALSO FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD INTERMITTENTLY JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO UP SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

I BOUGHT A USED 2004 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND LOWERED THE BACK WINDOW AND WOULD NOT RAISE AGAIN WAS TOLD THE BACK WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT AND IS COSTING ME 1200.00. NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY OR BY VOLKSWAGON. I AM FINDING OUT THIS WAS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS AFTER THE FACT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

MY 2004 VW BEETLE AT 44,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPLACED, I ALLOWED THE VW DEALER TO DO ALL THE WORK.. THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURS IS IT JERKS AND WON'T SHIFT GEARS WHEN ON THE FREEWAY OR IN OTHER DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. OVER A YEAR LATER AT 54,000 MILES MY SAME CAR IS NOW DOING THE SAME THING ON THE FREEWAY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND OCCURRING ON A SO-CALLED "BRAND NEW" TRANSMISSION VW CLAIMS TO HAVE PUT IN. MY PARTS WARRANTY FROM A YEAR AGO RECENTLY EXPIRED. A CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE TWO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS UNDER 54,000 MILES! I FOUND SEVERAL MESSAGE BOARDS FULL OF THE SAME COMPLAINT, SAME PROBLEM IN THE BEETLES FROM THIS TIME PERIOD. THE TRANSMISSION JERKS ON PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY OR ROAD. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I AM FILING MINE WITH YOU IN HOPES YOU WILL START INVESTIGATING THESE COMPLAINTS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED DRIVING FROM THEM. *TR

PURCHASED A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 2 DAYS AGO. DROVE IT HOME, DROVE IT TO AND FROM WORK (FOR ONE DAY), TODAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE AND THEY TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $6500. THE CAR ONLY HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS INSANE. I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD AND THIS CAR COULD AND PROBABLY WILL LEAVE US STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

2004 VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE NEEDS THE VALVE BODY REPLACED. CAR ONLY HAS 61,900 MILES ON IT. REAR WINDOWS BOTH HAVE BROKEN AIR BAG SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH MY 2004 NEW BEETLE. ON 5/12/10, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS A FAULTY "TURBO RECIRCULATION VALVE" AND REPLACED THE PART (PICKED UP SAME DAY-$250). ON 5/18/10, I TOLD THEM I WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHERE THE RPMS GOES UP BUT THE SPEED OF THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE..CLOSE TO REDLINE. THIS TIME THE DEALER TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED (PICKED UP ON 5/25/10-$4,269). WHEN I RECEIVED THE CAR I TOLD THEM THE CAR STILL DID NOT PERFORM LIKE IT SHOULD. ON 5/26/10, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND NOW THEY TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER UNIT AND CIRCUIT WAS FAULTY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED...THIS TIME IT TOOK A WHILE (PICKED CAR UP ON 6/29/10 - $1,888). AROUND THE WEEK OF JULY 9TH I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE CAR STILL FELT IT WAS SLIPPING AT TIME WHEN THE WEATHER WAS HOT AND I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN IT. ON, 7/14/10 I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN TO DEALER AND THEY HAD IT FOR A DAY...NOW THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO I PICKED UP THE CAR ON 7/15/10...NO COST THIS TIME. THEY MAY HAVE MADE A FEW TWEAKS AS THE CAR LASTED TILL NOW 8/07/10 WHERE I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR AT A LOCAL POST OFFICE AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN A 105 DEGREE HEAT IN TEXAS (I DROVE ABOUT 37 MILES). IT IS JUST AS I SUSPECTED I WAS ABLE TO ASK MY BROTHER TO TAKE ME TO THE CAR IN THE EVENING AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. I LEFT A MESSAG

2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE HATCHBACK INTERMITTENTLY LOSES POWER. I WAS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY WHEN IT LOST POWER. IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE WHEN TRAVELING 60 MPH ON FREEWAY. I BROUGHT CAR TO DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THE NEAR STALL THAT HAPPENED THAT MORNING AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES WHEN MOVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. THEY DID DIAGNOSTIC TESTS AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. CALLED INDEPENDENT VW SHOP AND THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND HAD REPORTED IT TO VW AND HAVE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THERE IS NO FIX. THE PROBLEM IS DIFFICULT TO REPLICATE AND WHEN IT IS REPLICATED THE MECHANICS CANNOT IDENTIFY THE CAUSE. SITTING ON THE FREEWAY WITH NO POWER IS FRIGHTENING AND COULD PROVE FATAL. *TR

REAR WINDOW REGULATOR ISSUE WITH 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. AFTER READING HUNDREDS OF BLOG COMPLAINTS ONLINE IN REGARDS TO THE ISSUE OF THE REAR WINDOW REGULATORS DEFAULTING ON THESE VEHICLES MINE HAS ALSO BECOME INOPERABLE. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. *TR

MY TRANSMISSION SLAMS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR TO FIX IT EITHER NEED A NEW VALVE BODY OR A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

I OWN A 2004 VW NEW BEETLE AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE GOING BAD. IT IS A SEALED SYSTEM SO NO ONE HAS TAMPERED WITH IT. AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WILL JERK VERY HARD WHEN TRYING TO DOWNSHIFT FROM A HIGHER SPEED TO A LOWER SPEED (ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO STOP). AT TIMES, IT WILL NOT SHIFT UP WHEN TRYING TO GO FROM A LOWER SPEED TO A HIGHER SPEED, THEREBY CAUSING A JERKING IN THE VEHICLE. THE PEOPLE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE ARE ALSO BEING JERKED FORWARD AND BACKWARD AS IN A WHIPLASH MOTION. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH A VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE THAT CLAIM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS A WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED/BLOGGED ABOUT THEIR PROBLEMS AND VW IS CLAIMING NO LINKAGE TO ANY OF THE EFFECTED VEHICLES. CAN YOU ASSIST IN THIS MATTER OR TELL ME WHERE I CAN GO TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE? *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ON SINCE CAR WAS NEW DESPITE NUMEROUS REPAIRS *TR

VW NEW BEETLE WITH TRANSMISSION ISSUES THAT ARE DANGEROUS. IT WILL JUMP UNEXPECTEDLY AND AT ONE POINT I ACTUALLY REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE UNCONTROLLABLE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. IT WILL ALSO HESITATE IN AN INTERSECTION MAKING FOR A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. *TR