Page 7 of 7 · complaints 301–349 of 349

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 →

Air Bags
Filed Jul 21, 200832,000 milesNJ

RE: ILLUMINATION OF AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS REPAIRED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. CAME ON AGAIN 1 WEEK LATER AND A CRASH SENSOR WAS REPLACED, AGAIN UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. CAME ON AGAIN ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER AND WAS CHARGED DUE TO EXPIRATION OF FACTORY WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THIS MANUFACTURER. *TR

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Jul 10, 2008AL

APPROX 2-3 WEEKS AGO MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN CONVERTIBLE BACK WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP. THE REGULATOR/MOTOR IS THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS UNDER A RECALL, BUT I CANNOT FIND THE RECALL ANYWHERE ON INTERNET. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN CUSTOMER CARE 800-822-8987 AND REPORTED THIS. THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS. MY WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JANUARY. I HAVE BEEN TO DEALER SHIP 3 TIMES BEFORE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED FOR PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR. NOW THE BACK WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK. *TR

Structure › Body › Roof and Pillars
Filed Jul 2, 2008500 milesAZ

CONVERTIBLE ROOF DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT DOES NOT GO COMPLETELY UP OR DOWN. THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE ROOF. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE ROOF IN ANY POSITION OTHER THAN COMPLETELY UP OR DOWN. THE ROOF BLOCKS THE FIELD OF VIEW AND THEREFORE MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ADDITIONALLY THE WIND CATCHES ON THE ROOF AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HAVE CONTROL ISSUES. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED MANY TIMES EACH YEAR AT THE DEALERSHIP. *TR

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Jun 16, 200855,100 milesAL

REAR WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP. WAS TOLD IT IS THE WINDOW REGULATOR & IT IS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Jun 4, 200824,600 milesVA

AIR BAG SENSOR ON MY 2004 VW BEETLE DIAGNOSED AS DEFECTIVE BY VW DEALER. DEFECT IDENTIFIED ONLY 20 DAYS PAST THE EXPIRATION OF NEW CAR WARRANTY. DEALER AND VW - AMERICA DECLINED TO REPAIR VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. I ADVISED VW AMERICA THAT THE NHTSA WEBSITE INFORMS THAT A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE BEGINS ON 7/31/08. THEY STILL REFUSED TO OFFSET OR PARTIALLY OFFSET THE COST OF THE REPAIR. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed May 6, 200830,000 milesMN

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND DEALER FOUND THAT FRONT CRASH SENSOR FAILED AND THAT THERE WAS A RELATED COMPUTER PROBLEM AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES AND THIS WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE. AT 40,000 THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE DEALER FOUND THAT THE OTHER SIDE FRONT CRASH SENSOR HAD FAILED ALSO AND THAT THE AIRBAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I WAS CHARGED $505 TO REPLACE THIS. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THEY "SEE THIS ALL THE TIME WITH THE BEETLE", AND THAT "AFTER ONE SIDE FAILS THE OTHER SIDE USUALLY DOES TOO". *TR

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Mar 28, 200854,115 milesVA

PURCHASED THE CAR NEW ON JAN 2, 2004. THE AIR BAG LIGHT 1ST CAME ON IN SEPT 2004 AND WAS REPAIRED. SINCE THAT POINT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED NEARLY EVERY 6 MONTHS, AND REPAIRED. EVERY, TIME, THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP, IT HAS BEEN A CRASH SENSOR OR SEAT MODULE REPLACEMENT. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT VW SEVEN TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. IN NOVEMBER 2007, OUR CAR WAS AT 54,000 MILES, THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AT 50,000 MILES, THE LIGHT ONCE AGAIN ILLUMINATED. AFTER A PROTRACTED BATTLE WITH THE DEALER AND VW REGIONAL, THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE CONTROL MODULE. AND AGAIN, WE WERE TOLD BY THE DEALER, "THIS SHOULD DO IT". JUST THIS PAST WEEK, THE AIR BAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. ONLY THIS TIME, THE DEALER CLOSED THEIR DEALERSHIP AT THE START OF THE YEAR AND WE'RE STARING AT A $1200 REPAIR BILL. CERTAINLY, TO DRIVE AROUND WITHOUT AN AIR BAG ISN'T EXACTLY A SMART THING TO DO, BUT I DON'T HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE THIS WON'T COME BACK ON 6 MONTHS AFTER THE REPAIR, BASED ON THE HISTORY ABOVE. IN MY EYES, THERE IS A SYSTEMIC DEFECT IN THE SYSTEMS THAT CONTROL THE AIR BAG. *TR CRASH SENSOR.*PCO

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Mar 26, 200839,000 milesMI

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. REPAIRED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY, RIGHT FRONT CRASH SIDE SENSOR REPLACED ON 11 SEP 2007, DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE FIRST INCIDENT. NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN. *TR CRASH SENSOR.PCO

Electrical System › Wiring › Front Underhood
Filed Mar 11, 2008FL

WIRING HARNESS INSIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WIRES CRACK AND CORRODE AND CAUSES HEADLIGHT TO PERIODICALLY GO ON AND OFF. CORROSION SEEMS TO BE DUE TO THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF METALS IN THE WIRING. WHEN THE SAME TYPE OF METAL IS USED TO RECONNECT THE WIRES THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Feb 28, 200880,000 milesME

2004 VW NEW BEETLE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ON. *TR CRASH SENSOR.PCO

Seat Belts
Filed Feb 24, 20088,000 milesPA

THE AIRBAG LIGHT, AMONG OTHER THINGS, IN OUR 2004 NEW BEETLE HAS COME ON APPROXIMATELY 10 TIMES IN THREE YEARS. EACH TIME, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND SUPPOSEDLY FIXED, BUT WITHOUT FAIL, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON EACH TIME. THE SEATBELT BUCKLE WAS CHANGED, CONNECTIONS WERE SECURED, THEY SAID IT WAS SHORTED (GUIDED FAULT FINDINGS, BUMPER COVER REMOVED, SEAT REMOVED), AND OTHERS. I HAVE ALL COPIES OF SERVICE RECORDS. AFTER ALL THESE SERVICE VISITS, THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON AND WE ARE VERY CONCERNED THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE AND MAY NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY DURING AN ACCIDENT. I HEARD THERE WAS AN INVESTIGATION BEING CONDUCT ON THE 2004 NEW BEETLES AND WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW OF OUR EXPERIENCE. *TR CRASH SENSOR.PCO

Visibility › Rear Window Wiper/Washer › Motor
Filed Feb 21, 200827,000 milesCA

BACK WINDOW BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT ON 2004 CONVERTIBLE NEW BEETLE DO NOT GO UP. FAILURE PUTS CAR AT RISK FOR VANDALISM AND DAMAGE TO INTERIOR DUE TO WEATHER CONDITIONS. COST TO REPAIR $900. CAN'T JUSTIFY A $900 REPAIR ON A CAR WORTH $18,000. MANY OTHERS AT THE DEALERSHIP REPORT THE SAME FAILURES. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Jan 17, 200822,925 milesFL

OUR AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. UPON TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRONT CRASH SENSORS WERE NOT OPERATIONAL. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO EITHER SENSOR. THEY BOTH HAD JUST FAILED. THERE IS A CONCERN THAT THE BAGS WOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 22,925 ORIGINAL MILES. IT SEEMS ODD THAT BOTH SENSORS WOULD FAIL AT THE SAME TIME. *TR SRS.PCO

Electrical System
Filed Oct 26, 2007330,000 milesTX

I HAVE HAD MY 2004 VW BEETLE AT BOARDWALK DEALERSHIP IN RICHARDSON, TX 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR WILL LOSE ALL POWER THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL COME ON I WILL HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON INTERSTATES AS WELL AS ON BUSY STREETS. I AM VERY FEARFUL THAT I AM GOING TO BE IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. I TAKE MY 76 YEAR OLD MOTHER TO THE DOCTOR SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH. SHE HAS HAD 2 MAJOR BACK SURGERIES THIS YEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP ON 9-4-07, 9-18-07, 9-21-0. ALL FOR THE SAME THING. ON 9-27-07, I WAS IN DOWN TOWN DALLAS AND IT HAPPENED AT LEAST 7 TIMES. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD A WRECKER TO PUT ME AND THE CAR UP. THEY ARE TELLING ME TODAY 10-26-07 TO PICK THE CAR UP THAT THEY CAN'T GET THE CAR TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A BAD PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR NOT HAVING ANY POWER AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Sep 4, 2007NY

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON +/- 52,000 MILES AND IS A CONSTANT LIGHT (ORIGINAL CAR WARRANTY EXPIRED 50,000 MILES) I WAS INFORMED BY NEW COUNTRY VOLKSWAGEN OF GREENWICH CT (VW SERVICE) AND FIDELITY WARRANTY SERVICES THAT MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WON'T COVER REPAIR OR DIAGNOSTIC COSTS (ESTIMATED AT $750 PLUS TAX). TECH FOUND "PASSENGER FRONT AIR BAG CRASH SENSOR NO SIGNAL." THIS CAR IS BARELY 3 YEARS OLD AND HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS AT ALL. VW CUSTOMER CARE DID NOT PROVIDE ASSISTANCE DESPITE THE FACT THAT ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE IT APPEARS THAT AIR BAG LIGHTS ARE A NOTED ISSUE ON THE 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS, JUST NOT MY VIN NUMBER YET. VW SHOULD CONTACT ME AND PAY FOR THIS REPAIR. *TR SRS.PCO

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 25, 200752,000 milesNJ

ON AUGUST 22, 2007 THE DSG 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 TDI VW BEETLE STARTED TO DISINTEGRATE. SMALL PIECES OF COIL SPRINGS AND METAL FRAGMENTS FELL ONTO THE BELLY PAN AND A GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. FROM RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH VW'S WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. *TR

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Aug 16, 200741,000 milesWA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT HAS REMAINED ILLUMINATED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE CONTACT HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED HER TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INFORMED HER TO CALL THEM BACK AFTER THE DIAGNOSIS WAS PERFORMED. THE CONTACT HAS ALL OF THE REPAIR ORDERS FOR EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Filed Jul 24, 200790,000 milesMN

MECHATRONIC UNIT FAILURE IN TRANSMISSION. FAILURE CAUSED CAR TO GO INTO "LIMP MODE" (ONLY ABLE TO TRAVEL IN 1ST AND 3RD GEARS, REVERSE INOPERABLE, CAR NEARLY STALLED AT 20 MPH GOING FROM 1ST TO 3RD GEAR). REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE: $1800 FOR PART, $400 FOR LABOR, $200 FOR RENTAL CAR DURING TIME CAR WAS IN THE SHOP. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 18, 200744,300 milesMO

I PURCHASED A USED 2004 VOLKSWAGON CONVERTIBLE NEW BEETLE TURBO IN APRIL 2005 . I NOTICED THE OIL LIGHT KEPT COMING ON , SO I SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT SERVICED. THEY INDICATED THAT THERE WAS SLUDGE BUILDUP, AND STATED THAT UNLESS I HAD RECEIPTS ON RECENT OIL CHANGE, THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. I WAS FRUSTRATED BECAUSE I WAS PAYING ON A FAIRLY NEW VOLKSWAGEN, AND COUD NOT EVEN DRIVE IT. THEY HAD QUOTED ME A PRICE OF $5,000 TO REPAIR IT . *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed May 16, 2007TX

I OWN A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE THAT I BOUGHT NEW. LAST YEAR ONE OF THE LENS COVERS ON THE HEADLIGHT FELL OFF. I HAD TO REPLACE THE WHOLE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY DUE TO THE PART FALLING OFF AS I WAS DRIVING. I REPLACED IT THROUGH EBAY. A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO THE OTHER FACTORY HEADLIGHT LENS COVER FELL OFF . IT SEEMED THE SEALANT THAT WAS BEING USED WAS DRYING OUT, CAUSING THE LENS TO COME LOOSE AND FALL OFF THE ASSEMBLY. LAST WEEK, THE HEADLIGHT , THAT I REPLACED THROUGH EBAY, ALSO FELL APART, WITH THE LENS COVER COMING OFF. IF I GO THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP TO REPLACE THE LENS COVERS IT WOULD BE IN EXCESS OF $ 250.00 A PIECE FOR THEM. I AM NOW LOOKING AT HAVING TO REPLACE TWO OF THEM AT A COST OF MORE THAN $500.00. THIS TO ME SEEMED TO BE A FACTORY DEFECT AS IT KEPT HAPPENING.*AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed May 14, 200755,000 milesSC

BOTH FRONTAL CRASH SENSORS FAILED IN A SIX MONTH PERIOD. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER, ONE OF THE REPLACED SENSORS FAILED. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED. THE DIAGNOSIS WAS ALERTED BY AIR BAG LIGHT INDICATING PROBLEM. *AK SRS.PCO

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control ModuleCrash
Filed Apr 3, 200755,000 milesSC

I HAVE TWO CRASH SENSORS THAT HAVE FAILED WITHIN 6 MONTHS ON MY 2004 VW BEETLE. THIS A MAJOR SAFETY DEVICE THAT VW US HAS FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IS A MANUFACTUE DEFECT. *JB SRS.PCO

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Mar 26, 200735,851 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED. IN ADDITION, THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS WOULD SHUT OFF, BUT THE DEALER REPLACED THE BULBS. THE CONTACT HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE AIR BAG INDICATOR DIAGNOSED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 35851. *AK

Air Bags
Filed Nov 18, 200651,574 milesOR

OUR 2004 VW NEW BEETLE HAS HAD TWO AIR BAG SWITCH FAILURES. THE FIRST ONE WAS WITHIN THE FIRST COUPLE THOUSAND MILES AND WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE SECOND ONE JUST HAPPENED AND WAS NOT COVERED BY OUR ORIGINAL WARRANTY, OR OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY. IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND WE DID NOTHING TO PROMOTE THE FAILURE, IS THE $535 REPAIR OUR RESPONSIBILITY? *JB SRS.PCO

Visibility
Filed Nov 16, 2006TX

PURCHASED BRAND NEW. PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR: 1. REAR POWER WINDOWS HAVE BOTH TAKEN TURNS FALLING DOWN INTO THE BODY. WILL NOT POWER UP. ONE HAS BEEN REPLACED. DEALER NOW WON'T FIX SECOND ONE BECAUSE THEY 'DON'T SEE IT AS A KNOWN PROBLEM.' 2. HEADLINER AROUND REAR WINDOW HAS COME UNDONE. 3. HEADLIGHTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED CONSTANTLY. FOR EXAMPLE; A LIGHT BULB WAS INSTALLED ON A SATURDAY, AND HAD STOPPED WORKING BY THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY. 4. RUBBER COATING ON GLOVE BOX AND ON INTERIOR DOORS IS PEELING OFF. DEALER WOULD NOT EVEN CONDSIDER FIXING OR ADDRESSING. 5. KEY ASSEMBLY FOR ARM CONSOLE BROKE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS, AND SEVERAL REMINDERS, TO GET DEALER TO REPLACE. 6. SOMETIMES RADIO STAYS ON AFTER KEY HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM IGNITION. 7. AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. WON'T GO OFF. 8. HAND RELEASE ON FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OFTEN GETS 'STUCK' AND WILL NOT WORK. 9. CUP HOLDER HAS COME OFF TRACK. I ONLY DRIVE THIS CAR TO-AND-FROM WORK. NO KIDS/PASSENGERS RIDE IN IT. IT HAS NOT HAD ANY OWNER ABUSE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN PRODUCT. *JB

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Oct 26, 200637,221 milesVA

CAR WAS IN FOR A RECALL ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2006 FOR THE EGR COOLER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE FLYWHEEL WAS GOING BAD. I TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE MASTER CYLINDER. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE FLYWHEEL AND NOT THE MASTER CYLINDER. A MONTH LATER THE FLYWHEEL WENT BAD CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO GO BAD. THIS WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND MADE THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. DEALER WAS AWARE THE FLYWHEEL WAS GOING BAD BUT DID NOT OFFER TO REPAIR IT FOR ME OR INFORM ME IT WAS A WARRANTY ITEM. WHEN THE CAR WAS REPAIRED THE FLYWHEEL AND THE CLUTCH WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE FLYWHEEL (PARTS ONLY) BECAUSE THEY HAD NOTICED IT WAS GOING BAD BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. BUT THEY DID NOT COVER THE LABOR. IN ORDER TO GET TO THE FLYWHEEL, YOU HAVE TO GET TO THE CLUTCH. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR AND THE FLYWHEEL. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE IN REGARDS TO THIS FLYWHEEL PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW IF THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WOULD PROBABLY KNOW THIS.

Equipment › Electrical › Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
Filed Aug 8, 20068,322 milesFL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT OFF, FOLLOWED BY AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEREO AMPLIFIER WAS FAULTY AND HAD BURNED. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Tail Lights
Filed Aug 7, 200611,000 milesTX

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR AN INSPECTION STICKER WHEN THE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THAT BOTH TAIL LIGHTS BULBS WERE BURNED OUT. A RECALL WAS OBSERVED IN A MAGAZINE FOR THE 2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE PERTAINING TO TAIL LIGHTS FAILURE (REFERENCE #60253822) AND THE MANUFACTURER CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 20, 200626,000 milesIL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PLACING A CUP OF COFFEE INTO THE CUP HOLDER, COFFEE WAS SPILLED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CUP HOLDER IS LOCATED RIGHT ABOVE THE CLUTCH. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, THE TRANSMISSION HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. OTHER THAN GOING INTO THE PARK, DRIVE AND REVERSE MODE, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT OPERATE. THE CONSOLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS DUE TO EXTERNAL FACTORS, NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERNS OF THE LOCATION OF THE CUP HOLDER AND THE TRANSMISSION PLAYING A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE CURRENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS..

Electrical System › Wiring
Filed May 2, 200668,000 milesTX

HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY SHORTING OUT AND BURNING ASSEMBLY BEYOND REPAIRABLE. HEAT BEING PRODUCED BY HEADLAMP TOO HIGH AND SHORTS OUT HEADLIGHT. REPLACEMENT OF ASSEMBLY IS AN OPTION, BUT CAUSE OF ASSEMBLY SHORTING OUT IS NOT REMOVED, WITH HIGH PROBABILITY OF A REPEAT SHORT. *JB

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Apr 17, 200625,276 milesCA

I PURCHASED A USED 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE FROM TOYOTA OF ORANGE, ORANGE, CA THIS YEAR, JANUARY, 2006. WITHIN A WEEK OF THE PURCHASE, THE AIRBAG WARNING CAME ON. I TALKED TO THE SALES MANAGER, BILL ABOUT THIS IN PERSON...(CONCERNED THAT THE SAFETY CHECK WAS NOT THOROUGH), AND HE WAS NOT THE LEAST BIT CONCERNED AND TOLD ME THAT SINCE THE MILEAGE WAS ONLY ABOUT 25,000 THAT IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK IT TO MCKENNA VW IN HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA FOR THE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT OF SENSOR. THE LIGHT WAS OFF WHEN I PICKED IT UP BUT THEN CAME ON AGAIN ONLY ONE MONTH LATER. THIS TIME I TOOK IT TO FLADEBOE VW, IRVINE CA. A PART HAD TO BE ORDERED FOR ANOTHER SENSOR, SO I RETURNED AFTER THE PART WAS IN AND HAD IT PLACED MID-MARCH, 2006. IT IS NOW APRIL 2006 AND THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON FOR THE 3RD TIME SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED 3 MONTHS AGO!! HELP!! *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 25, 200653,167 milesCA

10 DAYS AFTER HAVING VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE SERVICED FOR OIL LIGHT MALFUNCTION ISSUES AND WHILE DRIVING THE OIL SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN, WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND MAKING A STRANGE NOISE. AIRBAG LIGHT WAS BACK ON FOR THE 4TH TIME IN ONE YEAR!! SO I TURNED OFF CAR, CALLED VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE VALENCIA, AND THEY TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE AND TO HAVE IT TOWED IN. THIS WAS THE 2ND TOW IN 10 DAYS. AT THIS POINT, I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE TORN DOWN, THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM BEYOND JUST A SENSOR LIGHT, THAT VOLKSWAGEN WAS NOT GOING TO COVER THE OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM IF THAT WAS THE DIAGNOSIS. I SPOKE WITH VOLKSWAGEN CARLSBAD WARRANTY DEPARTMENT THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SOLD ME MY PLATNIUM FACTORY EXTENDED 100000 MILES WARRANTY, AND THEY SAID IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER DRIVE TRAIN WARRANTY, SO I HAD MY CAR TOWED 150 MILES TO CARLSBAD, WHERE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH OIL SLUDGE. NOW THE CAR WAS SEEN 10 DAYS BEFORE, AND I WAS TOLD THE OIL LOOKED FINE AND IT PASSED ALL INSPECTION, JUST A SENSOR. I HAVE CHANGED OIL AT SERVICE DEPARTMENTS. I WAS TOLD EITHER INFREQUENT OIL CHANGES OR FAULTY OIL PRODUCT. VOLKSWAGEN HAS AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH ENGINES, AND WERE DELIBERATELY USING INFERIOR PRODUCTS, AND BLAMMING THE CONSUMER FOR THERE FAULTS. A CAR WITH 53000 MILES SHOULD NOT BE HAVING OIL SLUDGE PROBLEMS. THISWAS FAULTY MANUFACTURING. WHEN I CALLED CUSTOMER CARE 800 NUMBER AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE SHE STATED, VOLKSWAGEN HAS AN OIL SLUDGE PROBLEM WITH THE 1.8L TURBO ENGINES." WELL MY

Seats › Front Assembly › Power Adjust
Filed Jan 25, 200632,785 milesCA

2ND MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SINCE CAR PURCHASE. SAFETY ISSUE REGARDING SEAT OCCUPIED LIGHT MODULE AND AIRBAG LIGHT ON/MALFUNCTIONED. LEFT BRAKE LIGHT BURNT OUT. *AK

Electrical System
Filed Jan 25, 200644,963 milesCA

3RD ELECTRICAL FAILURE, 2ND AIRBAG LIGHT/MALFUNCTION. CONTINUED ISSUE WITH AIRBAG LIGHT ON/MALFUNCTIONING SPONTANEOUSLY. *AK

Electrical System
Filed Jan 25, 20061,048 milesCA

4 DAYS AFTER PURCHASING VOLKSW BEETLE 1.8L TURBO I HAD A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE WHILE DRIVING . NO READOUTS, ENGINE WILL CRANK, BUT DOES NOT TURN OVER. NO ELECTRICAL LIGHTS OR READOUTS. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO BOB BAKER VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED FOR SERVICE. REPEATED ELECTRICAL ISSUES/REPAIRS TO CURRENT DATE. *AK

Electrical System
Filed Jan 25, 200653,166 milesCA

MAJOR ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION (SEE 10148507, 10148481) 5TH ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL SAFETY ISSUES/4TH AIRBAG LIGHT/MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE 2ND X TOWED IN 10 DAYS FOR SAME ISSUES FOR FREEWAY BREAKDOWN ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL MALFUCTION. *AK

Electrical System
Filed Jan 25, 200644,959 milesCA

4TH ELECTRICAL FAILURE, 3RD AIRBAG LIGHT/MALFUCTION. 5 DAYS AFTER SERVICING CAR FOR AIRBAG SAFETY ISSUE, SAME REPEATED PROBLEM. (SEE COMPLAINT 10148516, 10148511). *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 24, 200652,197 milesCA

OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. STOPPED CAR IMMEDIATELY. CHECKED OIL AND IT LOOKED FINE. CALLED VOLKSWAGEN , AND WAS TOLD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. AAA TOWED VEHICLE TO CHAPMAN SCOTTSDALE AUTOPLEX VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT 6601 EAST MC DOWELL ST, SCOTTSDALE AZ 85257. 480-949-7600. WAS TOLD OIL SENDING UNIT HAD AN INTERNAL SHORT, PRESURE TESTING PASSED. NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH OIL SYSTEM WAS STATED BY VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SENSOR REPLACED. OIL/FILTER CHANGED. MILEAGE 52197.*AK

Air Bags
Filed Jan 22, 200620,500 milesNC

AIRBAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME WHILE CAR WAS ON AND IN IDLE AND REMAINS ON. *JB

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Sep 21, 2005CA

AIR BAG LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED FIRST ON 2/2005 , WAS BROUGHT IN 4 TIMES TO BE FIXED AND WAS NOT FIXED UNTIL SEPT. LET ME DRIVE AROUND WITH AIR BAG LITE ON.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 18, 2005AE

IN APRIL 2005, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE NEAREST VW DEALER/SHOP. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEEDED TO ORDER A PART, BUT THAT ALL WAS FINE. IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS I CALLED MANY TIMES AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAD COME BACK ON. BY AUGUST 2005 THEY FINALLY RECEIVED THE PART (PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSORS UNDER/IN THE SEAT). THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIX IT EVEN WHEN THEY RECEIVED THE PART (THREE MORE ERRORS CAME UP AND THE WIRES DID NOT CONNECT PROPERLY) AND THEY SENT THE INFORMATION TO THE MANUFACTURE FOR ASSISTANCE. ON 12 SEPTEMBER 2005, THEY HAD ME BRING THE CAR BACK IN BECAUSE THEY HAD RECEIVED REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE MANUFACTURE. I WAS TOLD THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS FIXED AND WOULD HAVE NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH IT. I DO NOT KNOW IF THE OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, I WILL ASK. ON 17 SEPTEMBER 2005 (FIVE DAYS LATER), THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME BACK ON. *NM

Electrical System
Filed Jun 24, 200518,000 milesCA

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS; THE SPEAKERS DIDN'T WORK/WINDOWS KEPT GOING UP AND DOWN, AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN A ONE YEAR OLD. *AK THE REPLACED TRANSMISSION STILL PERFORMS POORLY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES. *TT *NM

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Jun 8, 20055,000 milesCA

DIGITAL ODOMETER "GOES OUT" AND THE CHARACTERS CHANGE WHILE THE CAR IS SITTING OR WHILE STARTING. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS BAD OR NOT, BUT IT DOESN'T SEEM NORMAL. I'VE BEEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 5 TIMES WITH NO FIX OR URGENCY TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE. CLUSTER WAS REPLACED ONCE.

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed May 29, 20053 milesFL

WHEN I CLOSE MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, THERE IS CONSISTENTLY A GAP BETWEEN THE GLASS AND SOFT TOP CONVERTABLE. ALSO WHEN I USE THE BUTTON TO CLOSE MY WINDOW IT GOES UP BUT COMES RIGHT BACK DOWN REPEATIDLY, I HAVE COMPLAINED TO VW AND I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALERSHOIP , I HAVE TAKEN IT THERE NUMBEROUS TIMES AND THEY HAVE "FIXED" IT BUT IT CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME THING REPEATIDLY... I AM VERY FUSTRATED .... I LOVE MY CAR BUT HATES IT WHEN IT DOES NOT FUNTION PROPERLY.

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Apr 28, 200512,240 milesNV

THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN BACK FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. ON ONE OCCASION WE NEVER EVEN LEFT THE DEALERSHIP. THE LAST TIME WE PICKED IT UP THE VEHICLE THEY TOLD US IT WAS A SOFTWARE ISSUE, AND THE SOLUTION SHOULD BE IN TWO WEEKS, AND IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST FIVE MONTHS AND STILL NO SOLUTION AS OF YET. THEY WERE STILL SAYING TWO WEEKS.*AK

Air BagsCrash
Filed Apr 4, 2005KY

BOUGHT NEW 2004 VW BEETLE IN 9/04, 2 WEEKS LATER, AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK TO DEALER. THEY HAD THE CAR OVER 8 WEEKS TRYING TO FIX. FINALLY AGREED TO REPLACE WITH IDENTICAL NEW ONE. LESS THAN 2500 MILES LATER, AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AGAIN. THEY RESET BUT DID NOT DO ANY REPAIRS. DON'T KNOW IF THAT FIXED THE PROBLEM AS SHORTLY AFTER, STEERING WENT OUT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN OFF ROAD AND HIT GUARD RAIL. VW HAS NOW, WAITING TO SEE IF THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY, IT DOESN'T APPEAR AS THEY WILL FROM WHAT I AM HEARING FROM SERVICE MANAGER. FINAL VERDICT NOT IN YET.*AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Feb 2, 200598,000 milesWA

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE ACCELERATING FORWARD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Dec 30, 2004CA

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE, AND WAS NEARLY REAR ENDED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR REPAIRS. THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

Air BagsCrash
Filed Dec 14, 2004OR

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON, AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE AND ABS LIGHTS. CONSUMER WENT TO DEALERSHIP TO GET VEHICLE SERVICED, BUT DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK

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 →