2006 Volkswagen Beetle complaints

CPSC:I1380279A. 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER STATED THE CAR IS EMITTING STRONG FUMES THAT SMELLS LIKE BURNING WAX OR CRAYONS. ALSO STATED IT IS MAKING HER SICK. *LN UPDATED 09/25/13*LJ

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY PARTIALLY MOVE WHEN TURNED ON OR STOP PART WAY THROUGH THE CYCLE. *TR

TRANSMISSION CHECK FOR VALVE ASSEMBLY BODY-JERKING-INSTABILITY. VOLKSWAGEN WON'T FIX. AIRBAG LIGHT WON'T GO OFF. WINDOWS DON'T WORK. HEADLIGHT WON'T WORK. REPAIRED OVER & OVER. PLEASE GOOGLE VW BEETLE ISSUES OR GO TO EDMUNDS.COM AND CHECK. THOUSANDS OF VW BEETLE OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. VW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. *TR

SINCE THE BEGINNING WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND TOLD THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES THEY ALWAYS ADVISED THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS IT STUCK HARD UNTIL IT REACHED 4TH GEAR IT RAN OK. ALL DURING THE TIME UNTIL PRESENT DATE THE TRANNY SLIPPED I WAS FINALLY TOLD IN EARLY 2012 THE TRANNY WAS GONE AND IT WOULD COST 6000K TO REPLACE THE WARRANTY HAD JUST ELAPSED. BUT DURING THE TIME PRIOR IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR STANDARD SERVICING INCLUDING DIAGNOSTICS AND I ALWAYS NOTIFIED THEM OF THE TRANSMISSION AND WAS TOLD NO PROBLEMS. TODAY I WAS ADVISED THAT THE ORIGINAL HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE OF AN AUTO TRANS VALVE BODY ISSUE, BUT WAS TOLD I WAS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE. THE CAR IS AT ABOUT 114060 MILES. I WOULD LIKE HELP IN GETTING VW AMERICA TO REPLACE THIS VALVE BODY BECAUSE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEMS ON THESE CARS PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. WHEN ORIGINALLY PURCHASED I HAD EVEN PAID AN EXTRA 3000K FOR THE PLATINUM WARRANTY. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME TO HAVE VW AMERICA AT THE VERY LEAST CHANGE OUT THIS AUTO TRANS VALVE BODY THIS QUITE POSSIBLY COULD BE THE MAIN PROBLEM, AT THE TIME WHEN I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE 6000K I COULD NOT AFFORD THE COST SO I OPTED TO TAKE THE CAR OFF THE ROADS AND SET MYSELF BACK IN THE WHOLE BY BUYING ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH PAYMENTS, IN THE MEANTIME ALL THIS TIME I NEVER KNEW ABOUT THAT TRANS VALVE BODY PROBLEMS THESE CARS WERE HAVING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN OFFER. *TR

WE PURCHASED A USED, ONE OWNER, 2006 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE (45,000 MILES) FOR OUR DAUGHTER IN COLLEGE, FOUR MONTHS AGO. SINCE THEN SHE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS CONSTANTLY. SHE DROVE IT HOME OVER EASTER BREAK AND I HAD MY HUSBAND DETAIL THE CAR TO SEE IF HE COULD FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ODOR. WHEN WE TOOK THE FLOOR MATS OUT THEY WREAKED OF TOXIC NOSE BURNING CRAYONS. I THREW THE OLD MATS OUT, SPRAYED THE CARPETS WITH A NONTOXIC CLEANER AND LEFT THE HOOD DOWN IN THE GARAGE FOR 3 DAYS. THE SMELL DIDN'T GO AWAY. THIS WEEK-END SHE DROVE HOME AND BY THE TIME SHE CAME IN THE DOOR SHE WREAKED OF CRAYONS, HAD A STOMACH AND HEAD ACHE SO BAD SHE HAD TO GO TO BED. THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR HER. I BROUGHT IN ALL OF HER LUGGAGE AND IT SMELLED JUST AS BAD. WE REMOVED THE NEW MATS BECAUSE THE SMELLED AS BAD AS THE OLD ONES. I PHONED THE DEALERSHIP IN SAVANNAH AND THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SMELL. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT, YET WHEN I CALLED VW THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. WE WERE TOLD TO CONTACT THE HILTON HEAD DEALERSHIP AND PAY A $115.00 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WHEN I PHONE THEM THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE COULD LOOK AT IT BUT HE'D NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE AND THE BEST THING WOULD BE TO BUY HER A NEW CAR. I'M SORRY, THIS IS A COLLEGE KID AND $10,000 IS PLENTY TO PAY FOR A CAR. I'M NOT LOOKING TO CAUSE PROBLEM OR GET ANY HANDOUTS BUT THIS IS OUR ONLY CHILD AND HER HEALT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,100.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SITTING IDLE OR WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 1-10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 SECONDS BEFORE RAPIDLY ACCELERATING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND RESET THE COMPUTER IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR UNTIL FIVE WEEKS AFTER THE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY SEVERAL AUTHORIZED DEALERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE FAILURE OCCURRING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A DIAGNOSIS MACHINE HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO FAILURE CODES GENERATED. THE FAILURE NEVER OCCURRED WHEN TRAVELING OVER 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.....UPDATED 12/20/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND SENSOR WAS REPLACED. BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. UPDATED 12/27/2012 *JS

WINDOW CABLE BROKE AND WHOLE FRAME HAD TO BE REPLACED INSTEAD OF CABLE ALONE TO THE COST OF $500 DEALER SAID THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. WHY SHOULD THEY NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ITEM THAT IS DEFECTIVE? *TR

VEHICLE ROLLS FREELY WHEN PUT IN PARK. VEHICLE NOT STATIONARY WHEN GEAR SHIFTER PUT IN PARK. VW SAY IT IS NOT WEAR AND TEAR BUT A FAULTY MECHANISM. CRTICAL SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

DEFECTIVE REAR POWER WINDOW REGULATORS. REAR WINDOW STUCK HALF OPEN,UNABLE TO LOCK CAR. *TR

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS GEARS ERRATICALLY. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS CAUSE ERRATIC ENGINE SPEED DURING SHIFTS RESULTING IN TIRES BREAKING TRACTION AND UNPREDICTABLE ACCELERATION. DRIVING IN TRAFFIC IS HAZARDOUS DUE TO SUDDEN OR DELAYED GEAR SHIFTS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTED PERIOD FOR THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY DUE TO KNOWN DEFECTS IN THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY PRODUCES ERRATIC DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS AND POSES A RISK TO PERSONS AND PROPERTY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID A DEER ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WAS A REPID INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE DEER. THE DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE RELATED TO THE MEGATRONIC UNIT IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MILES. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE BECOME MORE SEVERE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

RIGHT SIDE HEAD LIGHT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION COMES LOOSE AND THE HEADLIGHT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY I HAD SIX FAILURES OF THE HEADLIGHTS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AS THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO WOULD INSPECT AND PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOWN-SHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS ON THE 2006 BEETLE ARE TIED INTO THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS. IF THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS GO OUT, THEN THERE ARE NO LOW-BEAM HEAD LIGHTS AND GENERALLY I DON'T KNOW UNTIL I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS BUT HIGH-BEAMS. IF THE RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE TO BE TIED INTO ANY HEADLIGHT THEN IT SHOULD BE THE HIGH-BEAMS. I CAN DRIVE WITHOUT THEM BUT NOT WITHOUT THE LOW-BEAMS. I HAVE HAD MY RUNNING LIGHTS GO OUT TWICE SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR NEW IN 12/2005. LOST THE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS BOTH TIMES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND A BAD DESIGN. *JS

OUR 2006 VW BEETLE TDI, WITHOUT WARNING, SUFFERED A SUDDEN REDUCTION OF BRAKING ABILITY DUE TO A CRACK IN THE VACUUM SUPPLY HOSE TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE CAR BECAME DANGEROUSLY DIFFICULT TO STOP. LUCKILY WE WERE IN THE FLATLANDS, NOT IN HILLY TERRAIN. THE COMPONENT IS AN ASSEMBLY COMPRISED OF A SHORT, STRAIGHT SECTION OF RUBBER HOSE, A CHECK VALVE AND A LONGER SECTION OF PLASTIC TUBING WITH A 90 DEGREE BEND. THIS BRIDGES BETWEEN THE VACUUM PUMP ON THE ENGINE AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER ON THE FIREWALL. THE PLASTIC TUBING SECTION TAKES THE BRUNT OF THE VIBRATION AND FLEXURE. APPARENTLY, THE PLASTIC TUBING BECOMES EMBRITTLED OVER TIME FROM ENGINE HEAT AND EVENTUALLY CRACKS. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMMON TO MULTIPLE VW MODELS ACCORDING TO WEB FORUMS THAT LED ME TO FIND THE PROBLEM WITH MY OWN CAR. ON THE TDI (DIESEL) MODEL, THE LOSS OF VACUUM IS NOT INDICATED BY POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE BECAUSE THE VACUUM SOURCE IS A PUMP, NOT ENGINE VACUUM. *TR

THE IGNITION SWITCH (ELECTRICAL PART, NOT LOCKING CYLINDER) AFTER TIME GOT VERY HOT, MELTED SOME OF WIRES CONNECTING TO THE SWITCH AND SHORTED THE SWITCH OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS (NOT BRAKE LIGHTS), TURN SIGNALS, AND WIPERS. ALSO A FEW NON SAFETY RELATED TIMES AS IN THE HEATER. IF THIS WOULD HAPPENED AT NIGHT, YOU COULDN'T SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO COME TO A SAFE STOP OR WORSE IF GOING AROUND A CURVE. WOULD ALSO NOT ALLOW DRIVER TO SIGNAL TO OTHER DRIVERS OF A LANE CHANGE. ALSO, NO WIPERS WOULD IMPAIR THE DRIVER EVEN MORE WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE IN RAIN/SNOW CONDITIONS. WE WERE IN A PARKING LOT AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY WHEN IT HAPPENED TO US. THIS BEING MY WIFE'S CAR, IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING HER TRIP HOME AT NIGHT FROM WORK. I JUST DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT. VW WILL CHARGE YOU TO REPLACE THIS PART IF NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PART INCLUDING DIFFERENT VW MODELS (JETTA, GOLF, ETC.) HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS SWITCH FAILURE. SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT WERE TAKEN ARE PRETTY BAD AND COULD ALSO POSE AS A FIRE HAZARD. THIS NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH ASAP. *KB

2006 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION, PURCHASED NEW BY MYSELF AS SOLE OWNER. DRIVING DOWN ROAD ON 12/4/11 LATE AT NIGHT SUDDENLY COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS; CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO COAST IN NEUTRAL THROUGH DANGEROUS INTERSECTION IN A MAJOR URBAN CITY. CAR WAS DISABLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO SHOP. "TRANSMISSION FAILURE" DIAGNOSED AT ONLY 31,800 MILES? (DAMAGED TRANSMISSION PARTS DISCOVERED - BUT VW DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY). THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD IN BEETLES, HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS ON PUBLIC INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS, AND SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT. PERSONALLY I WAS LUCKY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME OR APPROACHING AT A NORMAL SPEED HEAD ON; HAD THAT BEEN THE CASE I WOULD CLEARLY HAVE BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY OPERATED IN DRY CONDITIONS AND WERE INOPERABLE DURING RAINY WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE INSPECTED DURING RAINY WEATHER WHEN THE FAILURE WAS PRESENT IN ORDER FOR A PROPER DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

THE SEAT HEATER GOT EXTREMELY HOT VERY QUICK WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS SO HOT, THAT IT BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND BURNED MY BOTTOM. THIS ALSO NEARLY CAUSED ME TO GET INTO A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT AS I TRIED TO NOT GET BURNED. *TR

CAR HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS AND SURGES WHEN IT FINALLY SHIFTS. MULTIPLE DEALER VISITS IN JUNE 2011 AND OCTOBER 2011 INDICATE IT WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION. LOCAL MECHANIC THOUGHT MAYBE COMPUTER ISSUE. RESET OF COMPUTER DID NOT FIX. REVIEW OF INTERNET COMPLAINTS INDICATES SIMILAR ISSUES FOR HUNDREDS OF OTHER 2006 NEW BEETLE OWNERS WITH A VARIETY OF FIXES SUGGESTED, TRIED AND FAILED. NO RECALLS LISTED DESPITE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. *KB

CAR TRANSMISSION DIS-ENGAGES AND THEN HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS AS WELL AS BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH GEARS. THE MOST DANGEROUS INCIDENT INVOLVED MY DAUGHTER STARTING THROUGH A SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION, AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DIS-ENGAGED, SHE WAS ALMOST REARENDED. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND WERE ADVISED BOTH TIMES THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF ~$5,500. AT THE MOST RECENT TRIP TO THE MECHANIC, THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. I RECEIVED A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM VW DATED NOV 2010 (A YEAR AGO) INDICATING THAT THE VALVE BODY MAY BE THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT MY PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO THE VALVE BODY, BUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THEY DID NOT OPEN THE TRANSMISSION TO CHECK THE PARTS TO MAKE THIS DETERMINATION, BUT MERELY RAN A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I'M AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO, AND FEAR OTHER NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER'S MECHANICS, THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT CONSIDERABLE COST. I EXPECT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT IRREPARABLY MALFUNCTION WITH SO FEW MILES. SHORT OF A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT, I SEE NO RELIEF OR REMEDY. *TR

THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THE BEETLES. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN HIS SHOP RECENTLY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHILE SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE VALVE BODY WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

DEFECTIVE WINDOW REGULATOR: I HAVE A 2006 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW. NO ACCIDENTS, NOTHING OF THE SORT. I WAS ROLLING UP THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND HEARD A POP. THEN THE WINDOW WOULD NOT MOVE, AND I COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE IN THE DOOR. THE WINDOW REGULATOR HAD BROKEN OUT OF NO WHERE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, BUT ONE THAT COSTS UP TO $800 TO FIX AT THE DEALERSHIP. I THOUGHT I COULD FIX IT MYSELF, SO I BOUGHT THE REPAIR KIT FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR $110, BUT IT REQUIRE A SPECIAL TOOL THAT ONLY THE DEALERS HAVE. HOW AM I ON THE HOOK FOR SUCH A POORLY DESIGNED MECHANISM? *TR

THE BACK WINDOW IN MY CONVERTIBLE 2006 NEW BEETLE SEPARATED FROM THE FABRIC. THE ENTIRE TOP HAD TO BE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE UPHOLSTERY SHOP THAT REPLACED THE TOP, IF THE SEPARATION HAD BEEN CAUGHT EARLY ENOUGH IT COULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED WITH AN ADHESIVE GLUE. MY CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE AND I ASKED FOR THE TOP TO BE CHECKED BECAUSE I HAD EXPERIENCED AN INCIDENT OF THE TOP NOT OPENING PROPERLY. TWO WEEKS LATER WE HAD A HEAVY THUNDER STORM AND MY CAR WAS FULL OF WATER. *TR

DSG 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. DASH PANEL DRIVE DISPLAY ILLUMINATES AS A SINGLE BAR. ESP INDICATOR FLASHES AND STAYS ON. MUST PULL OFF ROAD AND TURN ENGINE OFF, WAIT AND START ENGINE AGAIN. MAY OR MAY NOT ALLOW CAR TO SHIFT PROPERLY AFTERWARDS. USED ROADI RDT45 SCAN TOOL TO CHECK FOR FAULT CODE. TRANSMISSION FAULT CODE 18262/P1854 "DATA BUS POWER TRAIN HARDWARE DEFECTIVE" CAME UP REPEATEDLY. VW DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED SAME FAULT CODE, CLEARED FAULT AND TOLD CAR OWNER IF TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN THE MECHATRONICS ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2,000. THE VW DEALERSHIP TOLD CAR OWNER THAT THERE IS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY NOR RECALL ON THIS MODEL YEAR AND TRANSMISSION. THE CAR OWNER MUST PAY THE REPAIR COST.

I OWN A 2006 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW IT ALWAYS REMAINS LIT. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO MY VW DEALERSHIP A FEW TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE. AT FIRST,THEY WERE ABLE TO RESET THE CODE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OUT. HOWEVER, THE LAST TIME I WENT IN THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESET THE LIGHT. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE VW DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT I NEED TO PAY THEM A SIGNIFIICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO TROUBLESHOOT AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER BEFORE HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ON ANY OF MY OTHER VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS CAUSED BY THE UNRELIABILITY OF VW'S DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR AIR BAG SAFETY SYSTEM. PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT THEIR SAFETY SYSTEMS WILL BE UTRA RELIABILITY THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO EXPECT TO PAY ADDITIONAL FOR THAT ASSURANCE. MY DAUGHTER WAS JUST IN A MINOR REAR END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER BECAUSE THE COLLISION WAS INSUFFICIENT TO SET OFF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM OR BECAUSE THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WAS ON. THANKFULLY, MY DAUGHTER WAS NO SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

2006 NEW BEETLE TDI TRANSMISSION (DSG) FAILURE. CAN SUDDENLY SLOW AND OPERATED AT HIGH REV'S. LUCKY I DID NOT GET REAR ENDED. *TR

I HAVE OWNED A 2003 AND 2006 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLES AND HAVE HAD 3 WINDOW REGULATORS FAIL. ALL ON THE BACK SIDE WINDOWS. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY FAIL FOR NO REASON. THE LAST FAILURE WAS 02/26/2011. I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AND PUT THE WINDOW DOWN AND IT WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP. I WAS 50 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO HAPPEN FOR THE 3RD TIME BUT DIFFERENT WINDOW EACH TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH WHEN THE FLY WHEEL DISINTEGRATED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FLY WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.

HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY DOES NOT FULLY ENGAGE WITH HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR (SOCKET) WHEN REPLACING HEAD LAMPS AND RE-INSTALLING ASSEMBLY. HEAD LIGHT CAN GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO ROAD VIBRATION. WE HAD DRIVERS SIDE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY (6/24/09, 37,779 MILES). PASSENGER SIDE FAILED AFTER I REPLACED LOW BEAM LAMP (1/15/11, 54,000 +/- MILES). I HAD (HAVE TO- DEPENDING ON TIMING AND MY ABILITY-) TO REPLACE THE "RETAINER", THE DEVICE THAT SECURES THE HEAD LIGHT MODULE/ASSEMBLY WITHIN THE FENDER. *TR

I TOOK MY VW DIESEL WITH AN AUTOMATIC DSG TRANSMISSION FOR 90,000 MILE SERVICE. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH BEING DIAGNOSE WITH A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED SINCE NEW BY AUTO BAHN VW OF FORTH WORTH. THE FIRST INDICATOR OF A PROBLEM WAS THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPING AROUND. *TR

GAS TANK LEAK. WHEN INSPECTED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC, A CRACK IN THE TANK WAS DISCOVERED. WHEN THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO ORDER A NEW TANK, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE GAS TANK IS ON BACK ORDER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. HE THEN REMOVED THE TANK AND WELDED THE CRACK. HE STATED TO ME THAT THE TANK SEEMS TO BE EXTRAORDINARILY THIN AND FLAWED IN ITS DESIGN. IT SEEMS PECULIAR TO ME THAT THERE IS SUCH A DEMAND FOR A GAS TANK UNLESS THERE IS IN FACT A DESIGN FLAW. OBVIOUSLY, THE DANGER OF A FIRE IS GREAT. UPDATED IVOQ/ 12/21/10.*JB *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT ON. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP FOR THE BRAKES HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ALSO ABNORMALLY LOW. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE FAULTY BRAKE VACUUM PUMP UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE AN OIL LEAKAGE. THE LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP BRAKE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THEY STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR CRASH WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF UPDATED 03/24/11

06 VW BEETLE HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT SO MANY TIMES AND THE COST TO REPAIR EACH TIME IS AROUND $100. AFTER EACH REPAIR IT COULD BE A DAY A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE THE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. I NOW DRIVE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS SO THAT I AM VISIBLE AT NIGHT. *TR

2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

2006 VW BEETLE LOSES POWER WHEN DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST FIFTEEN TO TWENTY TIMES. CAR TAKEN TO VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE SIX TIMES FOR REPAIR. TWICE WHILE UNDER THE NEW CAR MANUFACTURES WARRANTY. THEY HAVE TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NOT AS IT STILL HAPPENS. WE NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR. VW OF AMERICA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. FORTUNATELY NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED AS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL OFF ON TO THE SHOULDER. JUST HIRED A LAWYER AS VW'S POSITION IS IT'S MY PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. SHE NOTICED RED MARKS ALONG THE BACK OF HER LEGS AND BACK. AFTER SEEING A DOCTOR SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE RED MARKS WERE A RASH FROM A HEATING BURN CAUSED BY THE HEATED CAR SEATS. SHE WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE RASH MAY NEVER GO AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER EXAMINED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A SENSOR WITHIN THE SEAT BELT RECEPTOR THAT WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

OWN A 2006 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR HAVE BEEN OUT TWICE. REAR WINDOW REGULATORS AND CABLE SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AT MY COST BOTH TIMES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TDI. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE STARTING SLOWING DOWN, CAUSING HER TO DRIVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE WAITED A FEW MINUTES, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING TO HER DESTINATION AT A LOWER SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MECHANTRONIC UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A FOUL, OVERPOWERING ODOR IN THE INTERIOR CABIN. THE CONTACT STATED HE AND PASSENGERS HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE HEADACHES AFTER RIDING IN THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED TIME. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM DEODORIZATION TREATMENTS TO THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT PERFORMED RESEARCH ON THE ODOR IN THE VEHICLE AND BELIEVED AN ASPHALT BASED CHEMICAL WAS USED TO REDUCE THE NOISE IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS CAUSING THE ADVERSE ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE THE CHEMICAL WAS REACTING TO THE PLASTIC USED IN THE CABIN ONE REMEDY WAS TO HAVE ALL THE PLASTIC REMOVED. THE CONTACT DID NOT BELIEVE THAT TO BE AN ADEQUATE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK FORWARD AND THROW ME FORWARD ON THE HIGHWAY AS IT DOWNSHIFTS. *TR

I BOUGHT A 2006 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. IT IS A 5 SPEED. AT APPROX. 10,000 MILES IT JERKED, WOULDN'T SHIFT AND THEN WAS DISABLED IN THE FAST LANE OF TRAFFIC. IT WAS PUSHED ONTO THE SHOULDER, TOWED BACK TO DEALER. I WAS THEN GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DRIVE A 5 SPEED (AFTER APPROX. 35 YEAR OF IT). I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT YOU CANNOT DRIVE THIS 5 SPEED IN TRAFFIC - YOU CANNOT LET IT GET HOT. I WAS ALSO TOLD I MUST BE "DRIVING MY CLUTCH". ALL IN ALL - IT WAS MY FAULT IT BECAME A BUCKING BRONCO OUT THERE. THANK GOD I'M A DRIVER. VW HAS A WONDERFUL 100,000 WARRANTY ON THEIR DRIVE TRAIN BUT THEY DO NOT CONSIDER THE CLUTCH A PART OF THE DRIVE TRAIN. I HAVE ALWAYS SAID "GO AHEAD - DRIVE YOUR CAR WITHOUT YOUR CLUTCH FELLAS". AT ANY RATE - I HAVE BEEN PAINFULLY LOYAL TO VW ALL MY LIFE. THIS WAS AND IS MY FIRST DOG. I WAS TOLD TO GIVE THEM $3,500 TO FIX MY FAULTY FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY. I SAID NO. TOOK IT TO 3 OTHER PLACES AND THEY SAID "DRIVE IT". I DID. I TOTALLY CHANGED MY DRIVING HABITS TO ACCOMMODATE THE CAR. NO HILLS - NO TRAFFIC. GOD FORBID I WAS IN TRAFFIC. GOT OFF THE ROAD - ON THE SHOULDER. STOPPED THE CAR. MIND YOU - THIS IS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY OWNERSHIP. EVERYONE IS ALL OWNER THE CONSUMER WEBSITES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I AM SO INSULTED BY WHAT VW DID TO US. IN THE MEANTIME THEY QUIETLY STOPPED MAKING 5 SPEEDS. OH NO KIDDING? WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WAS?? SO - NO TRAFFIC, NO HILLS - NO HOT DAYS. IT FINALLY TOOK IT'S LAST BREATH LAST WEEK. AND THAT $3000 IS NOW DUE PLUS THE $1

I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON MY 2006 VW BEETLE WHICH ONLY HAD 90,000 MILES. BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR IT WOULD SLIP AND THEN JUMP INTO THE GEAR. THIS HAPPENED WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. I HAD TO STAY AT LEAST A CAR LENGTH BACK WHEN STOPPING AT A SIGNAL LIGHT JUST IN CASE IT JUMPED AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO SPEND $6000.00 TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

FAILING DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL. SYMPTOMS ARE VIBRATION, RATTLING. SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING SINCE VEHICLE WAS DETECTED WITH UNKNOWN VIBRATION AT 17K. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AFTER REPLACING EGR, MAF, FUEL PUMP AND CHECKING FLYWHEEL FOR GREASE DEPOSITS. RESULTS OF FAILURE ARE IMMEDIATE LOCKUP OF TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE IF OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE ARE PROBABLE. WELL KNOWN DOCUMENTED FAILURES HAVE BEEN RECORDED AND FIXED BY VW, BUT MOST FAILURES ON MANUAL CARS HAVE BEEN BLAMED ON DRIVER AGRESSIVENESS EVEN THOUGH DMF MAKERS HAVE RELEASED DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOW THAT FAILING DMF WILL SHOW THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS A FAILURE DUE TO AGRESSIVE DRIVING. VW HAS ACTIVE RECALL CAMPAINS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FOR THE SAME DMF FAILURES.