2004 Volkswagen Beetle complaints

BOUGHT MY VW NEW. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH JERKY SHIFTING FROM EARLY ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". THEY ACTED LIKE THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH HAS TO BE A LIE CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HERE. I'M NOW PAST THE WARRANTY, THE CAR IS PAID FOR, AND I WORRY EVERY TIME I GET IN IT THAT I'LL GET STUCK IN A GEAR. VOLKSWAGEN KNEW THE TRANSMISSIONS WERE BAD IN THESE CARS AND THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

PASSENGER REAR WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. BROKEN. I READ THAT MANY OTHER VW BEETLE OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND TO REPORT MY PROBLEM HERE. MY CAR IS A 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. *TR

1. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING ACCELERATION. ON DE-ACCELERATION DOWNSHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION JERKS. 2. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND IS VERY DANGEROUS IF TRYING TO SPEED UP TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT OR PEDESTRIAN. 3. CURRENTLY OBTAINING ESTIMATE TO REPAIR VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE HAS 80,000 MILES AND I NOTICED OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. REPAIR COST OF $4,000 TO $6,000. *TR

2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2.0 LITER ENGINE. WHEN SLOWING DOWN, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS FROM 5TH GEAR DOWN TO 3RD GEAR, SEVERELY AFFECTING BRAKING. VW DEALERSHIP, WHERE PURCHASED THE CAR, AND WHICH HAS PROVIDED ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE, ADVISED TRANSMISSION IS SEALED, CAN'T REPLACE FLUIDS, CAN'T FIX, AND THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. ONLY 121K HIGHWAY MILES. REPLACEMENT WILL COST OVER $6K. ACCORDING TO EDMUNDS CARSPACE.COM THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPANT WITH VW BEETLES. DANGEROUS SITUATION DESERVES A RECALL BY VW AMERICA. *TR

2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TURBO...2.0 LITER ENGINE...THE TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING DOWN OR UP....FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HAS REARENED IT IN THE BACK....HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP AND COUPLE OF OTHER TRANSMISSION PLACES...THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY THING WRONG WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY...NOW THAT IT HAS 94000 MILES AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY DECIDE IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION.....WE HAVE HAD IT SERVICED JUST LIKE WE SHOULD...IT DOESN'T MATTER...WE DON'T HAVE 6000.00 TO GET IT FIXED...SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE...I'VE TALKED WITH MANY, MANY VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM..HOW MANY DOES IT TAKE BEFORE YOU GUYS DO A RECALL? *TR

VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE '04 (APPROX. 80K MILES) - SLIPPING AND BANGING TRANSMISSION. SLAMS AND BANGS HARD WITH EACH DOWNSHIFT (AUTOMATIC) AFTER ABOUT 15 MILES OR DRIVING. SLIPS OR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER SLAMMING AND BANGING BEGINS. CANNOT DRIVE CAR IN TRAFFIC FOR FEAR OR BEING REAR ENDED OR BROADSIDED, THEREFORE, CANNOT SAFELY OR DEPENDABLY DRIVE THE CAR. EXPECTED THOUSANDS TO REPAIR IF A MECHANIC WHO UNDERSTANDS THE PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND. MANY OF THE KNOW ISSUES WITH CAR HAVE ALSO OCCURRED; BROKEN PLASTIC WATER PUMP, REAR WINDOW SEAL BROKEN, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LIGHT MALFUNCTION, HEADLIGHTS UNEVEN BRIGHTNESS, SHORT IN DASH, HEATED SEAT TOO HOT TO USE (FEAR OF FIRE) AND INCREDIBLE DOOR RATTLES. *TR

2004 VW NEW BEETLE: THE CAR WOULD SHIFT TO "NO" GEAR WHILE DRIVING, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT IN "NEUTRAL." WHEN AFTER A STOP THE CAR WOULD NOT GO RIGHT INTO A GEAR....CARS BEHIND WOULD HAVE TO SLAM ON BRAKES BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE INTO GEAR. HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY AT LEAST TWO MECHANICS - ONE WHO WORKS WITH EUROPEAN CARS; AND MY VW DEALERSHIP. AFTER A MIS-DIAGNOSING BY VW - I AM TOLD INDEED A NEW TRANSMISSION!! 88,000 MILES! I NEED A CAR - COULDN'T AFFORD THE $6000 + THAT VW WAS GOING TO CHARGE, SO BROUGHT IT TO A AAMCO AND HAD IT FIXED FOR JUST OVER $4000.00...THIS IS A RECALL PROBLEM...I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT ALL THIS MONEY INTO THE CAR, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT CANNOT BE TRADED IN FOR ANY OTHER CAR. IT WAS CERTAINLY A SCARY RIDE WHEN THE CAR WOULD GO OUT OF GEAR(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). PLEASE HELP. *TR

LEFT REAR WINDOW IS STUCK IN DOWN POSITION. THE COMPONENT PART IS UNAVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND HAS TO BE ORDERED FROM THE FACTORY IN MEXICO. IT WILL TAKE 2-3 WEEKS FOR IT TO ARRIVE. COST OF REPAIR IS $800 FOR ONE SIDE. COMPLAINTS TO MANUFACTURER WHO WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AS THERE ARE NO RECALLS FILED EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE IS A CONVERTIBLE. THE HYDRAULIC TOP HAS MALFUNCTIONED SINCE THE DATE IT WAS PURCHASED. IT FINALLY SNAPPED OFF PORTIONS OF THE HYDRAULIC MECHANISMS AND PORTIONS OF THE INTERIOR FLAPS WHICH ARE NOW ALL OVER THE BACK SEAT. THE TOP HAD TO BE MANUALLY RAISED AND SECURED AND DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. ALTHOUGH THEY REPAIRED IT PREVIOUSLY, MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. DRIVER'S SEAT SPRING POKED THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A TERRIBLE BLIND SPOT WHILE BACKING OUT. THE RAG TOP COMPLETELY BLOCKS VISION ON THE RIGHT REAR. I HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERS NOTHING. I BELIEVE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED. I FEEL RIPPED OFF BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

I HAVE A 04 VW BEETLE CONV. THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. IT SHIFTS LATE & BANGS INTO GEAR OR DOESN'T SHIFT AT ALL. THE DEALER SAY THE TRANS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED @ A COST OF 6K. I BROUGHT IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP & THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER HAVING THE VEH FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. IN READING THE WEB PAGES I FIND MANY OTHERS WITH THIS VEH HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH LOW & HIGHER MILEAGE. VW KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. I ENDED UP HAVING THE TRANS REBUILT, BUT ITS STILL DOING THE SAME THING, NO CHANGE. THE TRANS SHOP IS BAFFLED. *TR

REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILURE X 2. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT WILL NOT SHIFT OUT AND THEN JERK REAL BAD. DOWNSHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT COME OUT OF GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN TAKING OFF THE CAR WILL STALL AND THEN ENGAGE IN GEAR ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

REAR WINDOW MOTOR AND OR REGULATOR BREAKS LEAVING THE REAR WINDOW IN THE DOWN POSITION. *TR

I HAVE A 04 VOLKS.BEETLE THAT HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT JERKS REAL HARD WHEN YOU BREAK AND SWITCHING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR THEN FROM 4TH TO 3RD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GO TO STOP AND IT SEEMS NOT TO CATCH THEN JERK. MY CAR HAS ONLY 53,000 MILES AND ALREADY NEEDS A TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY QUOTED ME $5000.00 TO REBUILD THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT HAVE A COOLANT SENSOR AND THAT'S WHY IS JERKING CAUSE ITS HOT. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $7000.00. I'M A SINGLE PARENT OF 4 WHO TRULY CANNOT AFFORD THIS. *TR

2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH LESS THAT 30K MILES. HAS 2 BROKEN REAR WINDOW MOTORS WITH AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1700.00 TO FIX! MOTORS BLEW WITHIN A MONTH OF EACH OTHER. *TR

MY VW BEETLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AND GETS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. IT SHIFTS HARD AND SURGES AT TAKE OFF . HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET HIT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN LEAVING A REDLIGHT. THE LATEST WAS TODAY WHEN TRYING TO TURN AND IT WAS STUCK IN 6TH GEAR. I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF IT RESET THE COMPUTER TO GET IT BACK IN FIRST GEAR. THIS OCCURS ONCE THE CAR HEATS UP AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT SHOW YOU WHAT GEAR IT IS IN AND WILL NOT SHIFT DOWN. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANT A NEW TRANSMISSION. HAVE LOOKED AT EDMONDS.COM AND MY VW IS NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NO LONGER COME UP. THE REGULATOR IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

PASSENGER FRONT WINDOW DOES NOT RETRACT WHEN CLOSING THE DOOR. IT STAYS UP AND GETS CAUGHT ON THE TOP. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT WONT GO OFF. WAS TOLD THE SEATBELT SENSOR CAME LOOSE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED COSTING $350. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. WHEN HE TRIED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN "DRIVE" OR SHIFT GEARS THEY LOCKED BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST SPEED WHILE DRIVING AND THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED DISPLAYING ALL OF THE GEARS AT ONCE ( P, R, N, D, S,). A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION OR THE TIP TRONIC SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS, THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 124,000.

2004 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

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT AND SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. AND FRONT HEADLIGHT GOES OFF AND ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *TR

THE MODEL IS THE NEW VW BEETLE. THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I HAVE THE ACCELERATOR FLOORED, AND MOSTLY IT ACCELERATES FINE, ALBEIT SLOW; HOWEVER, A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE TIME, I CAN LEAVE THE ACCELERATOR ON THE FLOOR, AND THE ENGINE HAS NOT EVEN REGISTERED THAT IT IS DEPRESSED. THE ONLY WAY TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE IS TO PUMP THE ACCELERATOR UNTIL IT KIND OF "CATCHES". VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, DOES NOT TURN OFF. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AT ALL TIMES. PLEASE REFER TO COMPLAIN ODI 10279199. CALLED VW RECALL CENTER 800.822.8987, THERE IS A RECALL #08V178000 FOR EXACT SAME ISSUE. VW SAID MY CAR HAS NEVER BEEN RECALLED FOR THAT ISSUE. ASKED IF THEY WOULD TAKE MY CAR FOR INSPECTION, REQUEST DENIED UNLESS I PAID FOR THE INSPECTION. MY CONCERN IS THAT AIRBAG MAY DEPLOY UNEXPECTEDLY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT TO MY FAMILY, BESIDES THE ACTUAL ISSUE OF NOT DEPLOYING PROPERLY. EVEN IF MY VEHICLE HAS NO DUAL STAGE AIRBAG, THE ISSUE OF AN AIRBAG LIGHT ON MAY BE CAUSED BY THE SAME QUALITY/POOR DESIGN ROOT CAUSE. BELOW IS THE ACTUAL RECALL DESCRIPTION AND REMEDY: "VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 76,900 MY 2004-2005 NEW BEETLE AND MY 2003-2005 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED (DUAL-STAGE) AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM MAY HAVE AIR BAG FRONTAL CRASH SENSORS THAT CONTAIN A SOLDER JOINT ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. IF THIS OCCURS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE FALLBACK ALGORITHM WILL ENSURE THAT THE FRONT AIR BAGS ALWAYS DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH IN WHICH THE VEHICLE'S DECELERATION IS HIGH ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS. CONSEQUENCE: IN LOW-SEVERITY FRONTAL IMPACTS, THE FRONT AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY MORE FORCEFULLY THAN DESIGNED, INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO OUT-OF-POSITION FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS. REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSPECT EACH VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE SPECIFIC DEFECT CRASH SENSOR IS PRESENT ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES O

2004 VW BEETLE 27,660 MILES VW DEALER - KELLY MOTOR, SCRANTON, PA AIR BAG LIGHT WENT ON AND I TOOK CAR TO VW. PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPIED CONTROL MODULE DEFECTIVE. TOLD PART WILL TAKE 8 WEEKS TO ARRIVE. CAR SIDE AIRBAG NOW DOES NOT WORK. 2ND TIME AIRBAG LIGHT HAS LIGHTED AND BEEN IN SHOP, THIS ON TOP OF RECENT RECALL FOR ANOTHER AIRBAG SENSOR FIXED EARLIER THIS YEAR. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING WITHOUT AN AIRBAG FOR 8 WEEKS; VW HAS NO REASON FOR THE DELAY. I CALLED THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN CALIFORNIA WITH NO SUCCESS. SECOND CONCERN IS GENERAL RELIABILITY FOR THIS AIRBAG SYSTEM DUE TO REPAIRS PLUS RECALL. VW WON'T RESPOND IN GETTING THIS PART IN EARLIER, CAN YOU HELP GET THIS PART TO MY VW DEALER SO THEY CAN MAKE THIS CAR SAFE? THANK YOU *TR

HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT ON MY 2004 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT AND WAS PULLED OVER AND GIVEN A TICKET. VW REPLACED THE WIRING THE NEXT DAY. *TR

TRANSMISSION HARD TO SHIFT AND JERKING AT ALL SPEEDS THEN LOCKS IN 5TH GEAR. REPAIR SHOP WANTS $6,000. TO REPAIR. HAVE SEARCHED FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER WENT TO VW DEALERSHIP BUT WAS TOLD DON'T WORRY THAT JERKING WAS NORMAL. NOW I HAVE LOST THE USE OF MY 2004 VW RED CONVERTIBLE BEETLE. MY WIFE IS HEART BROKEN. THE CAR IS USELESS WITHOUT A TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE PROBLEMS ON THE ONSET WHEN WE FIRST TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM. SHE WAS SO IMPRESSED WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS BOUGHT ON THE INSET WITH THE CAR. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WE FOUND OUT THAT THE WARRANTY COMPANY HAS SINCE WENT OUT OF BUSINESS THE YEAR BEFORE IN 2008 AND WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS FACT. *TR

THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $100 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND DETERMINED THAT THE REGULATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I PURCHASED THE PREMIUM VW EXTENDED WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T REPAIR THE WINDOW (THEY CLAIMED THEY DIDN'T KNOW IF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR - THEY WANTED ME TO PAY APPROXIMATELY $450 AND THEN SEE IF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WOULD COVER IT!) I HAD ALREADY HAD THE PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW REGULATOR REPLACED A FEW YEARS AGO - THAT WAS UNDER THE FIRST WARRANTY. IF THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM, THE REGULATORS SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPLACED FOR FREE! *TR

THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON WITHOUT APPARENT REASONS. NO COLLISION OR BUMPS. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT REMAINS ON (CONCERNED ABOUT NOT WORKING PROPERLY IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT) POSSIBLE WIRE THAT IS TOO SHORT UNDER THE SEAT BREAKING WHEN IT IS MOVED FORWARD TO ALLOW ACCESS TO REAR SEAT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE INDICATOR DID NOT DIM ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT LATCH FOR THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A FAILED WIRE BY THE LATCH OF THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,888 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,858.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONTAL AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR AND REPROGRAMMED THE AIR BAG SYSTEM; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IF THE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN, THE AIR BAG MODULE WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBERS 08V178000 (AIR BAGS: FRONTAL: SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE OR RECALL) AND 03V3560000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 06/23/09. *LJ A DIAGNOSTIC INDICATED FAILURE OF THE DRIER SEAT BUCKLE WHICH HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/24/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V178000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE); UPDATED 03-04-09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED AROUND 50,000 MILES THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS A FAULTY AIR BAG SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH RENDERED THE AIR BAG INOPERATIVE. 6 MONTHS LATER, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN. VW STATED THE AIR BAG SENSOR/MODULE WAS FAULTY AGAIN. UPDATED 03/05/09. *JB

2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. VEHICLE HAS 39,000 MILES AND IS RECENTLY OUT OF WARRANTY. DEALER SERVICE TOLD ME ME THAT DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR IS BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ENTERED REGARDING THESE WINDOW REGULATORS, THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE! HOW DOES A WINDOW REGULATOR FAIL ON A FOUR-YEAR-OLD CAR WITH 39000 MILES?!?!?!? *TR

MY DAUGHTER HAS A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, AND LAST SUMMER SHE WENT TO PUT THE CONVERTIBLE DOWN AND THE REAR WINDOW MOTORS STOPPED WORKING. WE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND SINCE THE CAR HAD 52,000 MILES THEY TOLD MY DAUGHTER THAT IT WOULD COST HER $1500.00 TO FIX THE MOTORS. WE HAVE TWO MORE FRIENDS AND THEIR DAUGHTERS VW BEETLES CONVERTIBLE WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING TOO. I REALLY DON'T FEEL THAT THIS IS RIGHT. ELECTRIC MOTORS SHOULD NOT BREAK AFTER 50,000 MILES. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. "HOW DO I GO ABOUT GETTING THEM TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR CAR. *TR

SAFETY LATCH ON FRONT HOOD MECHANISM NOT DURABLE AND HAS BROKEN JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. CAR UNDER 30K MILES. ONLY USED 6 MONTHS OUT OF EVERY YEAR. MODEL YEAR 2004. DESIGN FLAW ON A MAJOR SAFETY ITEM. DEALER CLAIMS ENTIRE ASSEMBLY NEEDS REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT. UNDER MY EXAMINATION I FOUND THAT THE COMPONENT FAILURE WAS A SPRING ON INNER SIDE OF ASSEMBLY. SPRING DEFINITELY NOT HEAVY ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND NORMAL USAGE. HOOD COULD BECOME UN-LATCHED AND SAFETY LATCH WILL NOT CATCH IT CAUSING HOOD TO FLY UP AND ONTO WINDSHIELD. PROPERLY DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURY/CRASH HIGHLY POSSIBLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2004 NEW BEETLE TDI WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION FOR MY DAUGHTER. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CAR HAD BEEN MAINTAINED AT A VW DEALER AND WAS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL SELF DESTRUCT AND TOOK OUT THE TRANSMISSION WITH IT. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE IT WAS JUST MY BAD LUCK UNTIL I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY VW'S WITH THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL HAVE SUFFERED FROM THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. VW OF AMERICA STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE VW TDI'S ARE NOT RACE CARS AND THIS TYPE OF FAILURE SHOULD NOT OCCUR ON A CAR THAT OPERATES AT THE LOWER RPM RANGE AS THESE CARS DO. THIS IS EITHER A DESIGN FLAW OR A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND IS LEAVING PEOPLE WITH HUGE REPAIR BILLS, $6600 IN MY CASE. *TR

AFTER RETURNING VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR AIRBAG LIGHT IN WHICH TIME THE SENOR UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT WAS REPLACED, THE AIRBAG SENSORS REPROGRAMMED, FINALLY THERE WAS A RECALL OF THE AIRBAG SENSORS AND THEY WERE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH AFTER REPLACEMENT, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON. NOW IT IS THE AIRBAG SENSOR IN THE DRIVERS SEAT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE IS AN INTRINSECT PROBLEM WITH THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM. WHEN I ASKED IF WE COULD JUST NOT HAVE IT REPAIRED, I WAS TOLD THAT NOT HAVING IT REPAIRED COULD CAUSE THE SEAT BELT TO NOT WORK, AND THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY. *TR

THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" ABOUT 12 MILES FROM HOME. IT DROPPED INTO FIRST GEAR AND LIMPED HOME AT 15 MPH. NEXT MORNING IT PERFORMED NORMALLY. THAT NIGHT STARTED INTO TOWN, IT DUMPED AGAIN DOWN TO LIMP MODE, THEN REFUSED TO MOVE AT ALL. HAD TO DOLLY IT HOME. DOLLIED IT TO DEALER A WEEK LATER. THEY DID THE COMPUTER SCAN AND SAID IT WAS THE "VALVE BODY" ON THE TRANSMISSION. WANTED $1700 TO REPLACE IT. DOLLIED IT BACK HOME. TRIED TO GET SOMEONE TO LOOK AT IT FOR A SECOND OPINION. NO ONE WOULD TOUCH IT. A GERMAN IN THE GERMAN AIR FORCE WHO WORKED FOR VW IN GERMANY AGREED TO WORK ON IT. SCAN HE DID INDICATED "VALVE BODY", SO HE REMOVED THAT AND WE TRIED TO ORDER ONE FROM THE SAME DEALER. THE DEALER NOW TELLS US THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND A NEW VALVE BODY WON'T FIX IT ANYWAY. THAT TELLS US THEY HAVE OTHER BEETLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY COULDN'T FIX THOSE EITHER. TALKED TO VW OF AMERICA SEVERAL TIMES. THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL AT ALL AND BASICALLY WOULD NOT COOPERATE IN ANY WAY. NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING. WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT IT HAS A UNIQUE TRANSMISSION USED ONLY DURING 2004 AND ALMOST EVERYONE WHO HAS A BEETLE WITH THAT TRANSMISSION HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN'T GET PARTS. NO ONE WILL WORK ON IT. VW OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS AND MAKE NO EFFORT TO HELP. WE WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT HOW TO START A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT! BASICALLY, WE HAVE A $16,000 PIECE OF JUNK THAT WE DROVE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND IT IS NOW COMPLETELY WORTHLESS! RECENTLY

DEALER STATES THAT THE SAFETY BELT LATCH SENSOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDS REPLACED. RENDERING THE AIRBAG INOPERATIVE! *TR

2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONV. 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION FAILS AND SLIPS CAUSING ERRATIC SHIFTING AFTER ONLY 65000 MILES. VW SUGGESTS TO REPLACE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION FOR $6500. *TR

DEALER PERFORMED RECALL ON CRASH TEST SENSORS ON 2004 NEW BEETLE TDI, ON THE WAY HOME AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON, VW WANTS US TO PAY OVER $1000.00 TO REPAIR. *TR

AIR-CONDITIONER HAS GONE OUT. FAILURE OCCURS AFTER PARKING VEHICLE. VW OF AMERICA CANT SEEM TO FIND OUT WHY IT FAILS TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. HAVE COME UP WITH VARIOUS SOLUTIONS WITHOUT RESOLVE. ALREADY SPENT MONIES FOR SERVICE OF PROBLEM AND THEY CANT RESOLVE PROBLEM. *TR

2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE TURBO GLS HAS A DEFECTIVE PART PRODUCING HIGH VOLTAGE. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES AND DEPRECIATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. *NJ THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW WINDOW MOTOR. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO HAVE THE WORK DONE SOMEWHERE ELSE, SO THEY GAVE HER A CABLE KIT AND NOT A REGULATOR. THE OTHER REPAIR SHOP STATED IT WAS THE REGULATOR THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SECOND OPINION AFTER THE ORIGINAL DEALER IMPLIED SHE HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SOMETHING WAS OVERCHARGING THE ALTERNATOR, WHICH TURNED OUT THAT A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE WINDOW MOTOR WAS CAUSING HIGH VOLTAGE EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF; IT WAS DRAINING THE POWER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEAVING THE DEFECTIVE WINDOW MOTOR IN THE VEHICLE. *JB

2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. IN MY VEHICLE IT STARTED AROUND 66500 MILES AND HAPPENS JUST AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHES OPERATING TEMPERATURE EVERY DAY. I HAVE MADE AN APPT WITH DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE NOTED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR YR MODEL BEETLE AND THE SAME TYPE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL YET ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON DASH IN LATE JULY. VW DEALER CONTACTED TO SEE IF SAFETY HAZARD, TOLD NO. RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FROM VW ONE MONTH LATER FOR AIRBAG SENSOR. CALLED DEALER TO SEE IF URGENT SAFETY MATTER. TOLD NO, COME IN AT OUR LEISURE. ONE WEEK LATER, AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN HIT MINOR BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR

2004 VW NB CONVERTIBLE WITH RECENTLY EXPIRED WARRANTY AND THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. LEFT SIDE REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I WAS TOLD THAT THE REPLACEMENT WAS AN UPGRADED REGULATOR...ORIGINAL WITH PLASTIC CLIPS IS SUBJECT TO FREQUENT BREAKAGE. DEFECTIVE REGULATORS SHOULD BE AFFORDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY PERIOD FOR REPLACING WITH THE UPGRADED REGULATOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL UP. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT LEAST TWICE. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE OCCURRED ON AUGUST 26, 2008. DURING THE FIRST FAILURE, SOMEONE ASSISTED THE CONTACT WITH ROLLING UP THE WINDOW. THE WINDOW WAS UNSUCCESSFULLY ABLE TO BE ROLLED UP AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT PUTS HER AT RISK OF BEING CARJACKED OR STOLEN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000.

WINDOW REGULATORS ARE MADE WITH CHEAP PLASTIC CLIPS THAT BREAK IN ABOUT 3 TO 4 YEARS. SOME MULTIPLE TIMES ONCE WARRANTY IS UP, COST CONSUMER MANY DOLLARS TO FIX AND SOME DON'T FIX AND LEAVE THE WINDOWS BROKEN. *TR

AIRBAG SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ON. *TR