Volkswagen Beetle

Save up to $379 on Your Auto Insurance. Compare Quotes from Top Providers Now! Find the Best Deal and Apply! - Adv.

Volkswagen • Beetle • Cabrio • Jetta • Jetta Windows • Passat • Toureg • Windows - All Models --- • Engine Sludge • Ignition Coils • Oil Burning • Engine Fires • Paint • Automan's Advice --- News • VW Rabbit Tops Affordable Hatchback Tests • VW Fined $1.1 Million for Clean Air Violations • VW Admits Sludge Problems

Diane of Lake Forest, CA September 2, 2009

In 2006, I purchased a previously leased 2004 VW New Beetle Convertible from Toyota of Orange. It has been a nightmare ever since. Not even 1 week after the purchase, the airbag sensor warning light came on. It was still under the factory warranty and I thought it should be handled by a VW dealership, so I took it in for repair. This happened 2 more times before the problem went away.

I took my complaints to the sales manager of Toyota of Orange because I felt this was a safety issue of a car they sold me. I got nowhere with that. So much for "you won't get a lemon at Toyota of Orange!" That's just a drop in the bucket.

A couple of valves to the turbo exhaust system needed replacing... the glass windows had to be adjusted to meet the sealing points becuas the front windows were hitting exterior door handle pivots... the cd changer had to be replaced because it had an "error" message and froze...the transmission needed about3,000 worth of repair.. the car was surging forward when I would slow down preparing to stop. I needed drive shaft, core return, valve body, cv boot, bolts, gasket and a washer.

NOW onto December of 2008 my car was overheating, but wasn't using coolant up. it needed a new water pump and thermostat and since it was over 60,000 miles and the engine was pulled up anyway had the timing belt changed. (710)

Now just 8 months later the overheat warning came on. this time the coolant was low. I added coolant and got it looked at. the "phalange" that connects the hoses together had a leak which was repaired but the VW dealership said the the low speed fan wasn't coming on. so I needed ANOTHER water pump and thermostat! (1,100)

Oh by the way they also told me that I needed another timing belt because 8 month old one had ridges in it. To add insult to injury...just yesterday the driver side rear window made some crackling noises and refuses to come out of the panel. Based on what I've read on the complaints I'm thinking it's the regulator.

I called my local VW dealership about the extended window regulator warranty, but they said this didn't apply to the rear windows. Time for a class action lawsuit, guys! I will never purchase another VW even it they are cute. And yes... my rear window is separating from the inner liner too. Repeated repair of the water pump/thermostat system. Excessive cost in upkeep.

terri of Nederland, TX August 29, 2009

VW BUG....same thing. spent fortune in window regulators, and wing replaced on convertible and now the back window pulling away from canvas. I can not WAIT to trade this in and get something reliable. The engine is fine...for now. HEY VW are you listening? probably 3-4 thousand spend on ficing the poor quality of BUG.

S of Annandale, VA August 24, 2009

I have almost been rear ended 3 times, and have taken my car into the dealer 6 or 7 times and they still can not fix the slipping in the transmission, I have taken pictures of brackets to show the dealer, they said it was a computer fault. My car has gotten stuck in third gear (not changing to 4th) many times. When slowing down to come to a stop it jams between 3rd and 2nd. When taking off after being stopped the car will not move past 2nd gear and sometimes just stops. Since Volkswagon just did a recall on 2009 and 2010 models of the EOS, with the exact same problem I don't understand why they can not recall the 2003 Volkswagon Convertible Beetle. I can deal with the top no longer retracting, and the rear windows tracks broken.. But I feel my life is in danger with the transmission being faulty and the dealership not acknowledging the problem.

Jacee of Groves, TX August 23, 2009

I have a 03 VW Beetle Convertible and like many others complaining, all four of my window regulators have have been replaced (luckly under warranty), my carburetor and air bag sensor needs to be replace (both have been recalled but have a 200 fee attached to guarantee this is the only thing wrong with the car), my transmission shifts very hard as i sow down and the dealer says it performs correctly, my "wings" for the convertible have broken and on top of it all my convertible top have lifted off the window allowing water to leak in to the car.

I had brought the car in four times for a water leak, it was never found, and now they refuse to fix the top that seems to me had been leaking the entire time. I want to help the other convertibles out there that cannot afford to replace their top. I was told that the top could not be repaired, but i tried anyway and it has worked for the past 4 months. I used Gorilla glue and glued the top in segments (using strips of duct tap to secure it while drying) It looks pretty good and no longer leaks! I am happy and then we topped it off with a black silicon seal and everything looks very good. It was tedious, but it saved me 3000 for now.

Lisa of Sterling, OK August 18, 2009

I purchased a 2003 VW Beetle in February 2009. On March 11, 2009 I was involved in a major single car accident. My car hit an embankment on a freshly grated gravel road. The car basically did a nose dive into the embankment then launched my car airborne into a pasture. The car flipped end over end, and landed on all 4 wheels, only to burst into flames. Air bags NEVER deployed!!!! Both front seats broke on impact, and I was thrown into the back seat with my seat belt still on.

Megan of Ridgefield, WA July 30, 2009

I own a 2004 convertible Beetle. I have replaced three window regulators. If a part is defective, it should be recalled. The first two window regulators cost about 550 each. The third broke yesterday and the estimate is 850.

Melanie of San Diego, CA July 21, 2009

I have a 2004 VW Beetle Convertible Turbo with 52,000 miles on it.

Last weekend when I put my top up it made a horrible crunching sound and it turns out that one of the "wings" that retracts during operation has cracked and it is going to cost me nearly 500 to replace it. This car has been meticulously serviced and cared for so this blows my mind. I did some research and found that this has been a very common problem and they abandoned this design on the 2006 model. I asked my dealer to call VW Corporate on this repair since I don't intend to pay for their flawed and abandoned design. No word yet on that but I am furious.

I have already had it in to repair the rear driver's side window which broke and cost me 250. Unfortunate since it is the same problem that VW has lost two class action suits on and my car was two months out of warranty and missed the class action coverage by one year.

betty of san angelo, TX July 21, 2009

I received a recall notice for faulty brake light switch for my 1998 VW Beetle. The auto had to be returned to nearest dealer for repair. The nearest dealer is in Abilene, TX - 90 miles away. They are opened Mon. thru Fri. I work Mon. thru Fri. and could not get there for the repair. The brake light failed. It came on and would not go off. The battery died. I had to get the car jumped off, took it in to Ric Henry Auto Service here in San Angelo. Ric Henry Auto is recommended by Sterling Motors in Abilene for repairs. Ric Henry Auto told me to send the receipt and proof of repair to VW for reimbursement. They said they should take care of reimbursement because there is not an "authorized" dealer in San Angelo.

I mailed in the receipt along with proof of payment, a total of 94.92. VW called me and said they could not reimburse me because an authorized dealer did not do the repair. Ric Henry Auto got the part from Sterling Motors in Abilene. The rep at VW would not let me speak to another person and said their decision was final and could not be reversed. I believe VW should reimburse me for this repair since they are the one's responsible for the faulty brake light. Had I driven to Abilene, I would have lost a day's wages plus gasoline and it would have cost me more to go to Abilene than the repair made here in San Angelo. This is not the first problem I have had with this VW - radiator fans, air conditioning, faulty window, faulty door locks - all of which I have paid for amounting to almose 2,000.00. Now VW will not reimburse me for something that they know is their problem. Your help in getting them to reimburse me for their mistake will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Veronica of Lighthouse Point, FL July 19, 2009

2003 Volkswagen Beetle, Rear Window detaching from fabric, Will call vw but from what I read here it might be useless. My daughter does not have 3000.00 for a new top sounds like its devestating cant sell would go under in loan dont know what to do

James of Houston, TX July 17, 2009

2001 VW 1.8 Turbo Beetle. My elderly relative bought the car new. At about 40K miles, the plastic waterpump failed, timing belt broke, and the car stopped running. He had it towed to VW and was told the engine was sludged, the oil pump had failed, and the car needed a new cylinder head at a cost of 5000. It was under powertrain warranty. They asked for oil change receipts, and these were provided. VW rejected the claim at all levels with no explantion.

The orignal owner died from an extended illness and I inherited the car. It had sat at the VW dealer for 14 months. I recovered the car and had it repaired at a private shop. I researched the problem and found numerous complaints and similar stories from other owners. The car now has 48,000 miles. The engine runs fine now, but I rarely drive it, because it is generally a piece of junk, for a variety of reasons. What's the point of a warranty, when proven maintenance records can be dismissed by VW?

Report Your Experience
If you've had a bad experience -- or a good one -- with a consumer product or service, we'd like to hear about it. All complaints are reviewed by class action attorneys and are considered for publication on our site. Knowledge is power! Help spread the word. File your consumer report now.

Share		Follow us on Twitter.

Back to the top |