2005 Volkswagen NEW Beetle

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/31/2019· POWER TRAIN

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE HARD SHIFTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRAIN VOLKSWAGEN OF FAYETTEVILLE (LOCATED AT 2011 WEST FOXGLOVE DR, FAYETTEVILLE, AR 72704, (479) 695-5900), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. *LN*JB

• 12/31/2014· VISIBILITY

  OUR REAR, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL UP AND WE DISCOVERED IT WOULD BE $1,200 TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE REGULATOR. THIS IS THE SECOND WINDOW TO FAIL. WE PAID AROUND $1,000 TO HAVE THE REAR, PASSENGER REGULATOR REPAIRED TWO YEARS AGO. THIS TIME, AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE, WE DISCOVERED THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME, RECURRING PROBLEM. READING REVIEWS ON EDMUNDS.COM, YOU'LL FIND PEOPLE SAYING THEY'D NEVER BUY A VW AGAIN, DUE TO THIS AND OTHER RECURRING ISSUES (E.G. SENSORS GOING BAD, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, CONVERTIBLE TOP LEAKAGE, ETC.). ONE INDIVIDUAL POSTED A RECALL LETTER FROM 2002 ON THE NEWBEETLE.ORG FORUM SAYING VW WOULD FIX THE FRONT, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR AND WARRANTY IT FOR 7 YEARS. BUT, THEY OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T SOLVE THE REGULATOR ISSUES, AND HAVE DENIED US A SIMILAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS MODEL CAR IS A MAINTENANCE NIGHTMARE, AND VW WON'T ADMIT THEIR UTTER FAILURE IN PRODUCING THIS LEMON AND TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE NUMEROUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. APPARENTLY, THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO PRACTICE CAVEAT EMPTOR TO THE FINANCIAL DETRIMENT OF THEIR NAIVE CUSTOMERS. THIS JUST ISN'T FAIR! *JS

• 12/29/2014· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  WHILE TRAVELING ON A LEVEL BUSY FREEWAY AT THE NORMAL SPEED LIMIT (55-60 MPH), THE ENGINE SPUTTERS THEN DIES OFF CAUSING ME TO IMMEDIATELY PUT MY RIGHT TURN SIGNAL ON AND TRY TO MANEUVER MY NOW COASTING VEHICLE 3 LANES (OF A 5 LANE ROADWAY) OVER TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER LANE. LUCKILY THE OTHER VEHICLES NOTICED THAT MY NOW SLOWED VEHICLE WAS IN TROUBLE SO THEY ALLOWED ME TO CUT IN FRONT OF THEM SO I COULD PULL OVER. AT FREEWAY SPEEDS THIS EASILY COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. AFTER GOT TO THE SIDE, THREE ATTEMPTS TO RESTART WORKED, GOT MYSELF HOME, TURNED IT OFF, TRIED TO RESTART AND IT WOULDN'T. GOT MY TOW TO THE REPAIR SHOP, INITIAL DIAGNOSIS INDICATED THAT THERE WERE NO FUEL PRESSURE WHICH INDICATED A POSSIBLE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE REPAIR SHOP ORDERED A REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP AND FILTER ($561.61), REPLACED BOTH; ALSO ORDERED ($27.88) AND REPLACED A DISCOVERED CRACKED OIL DIPSTICK TUBE. PARTS AND LABOR SUBTOTAL COST WAS $919.49, NOT INCLUDING STATE TAX. THIS COMPLAINT IS PROMPTED DUE TO THE REPAIR SHOPS COMMENT OF "NORMALLY FUEL PUMPS DOESN'T FAIL AT 32K MILES". THE CAR RUNS SMOOTHLY NOW, SO FAR SO GOOD AFTER DRIVING IT 100 MILES OR SO. REIMBURSEMENT OF MY EXPENSES CAN BE JUSTIFIED IF THIS IS AN ITEM OF RECALL. *TR

• 12/28/2010· POWER TRAIN

  I CURRENTLY OWN A 2005 VW BEETLE WITH 96,000 MILES. BEFORE ME, THE CAR WAS OWNED BY MY PARENTS SINCE IT WAS BOUGHT IN 2005. ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO, IT BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY JERK BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF CITY DRIVING. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE CAR WOULD STALL, THEN BUCK FORWARD AS IF I WAS BEING REAR-ENDED. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO AAMCO, PLUS 3 ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS IN THAT TIME. TO DATE, I HAVE SPENT $1,100 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED AND THE SHIFTER REPLACED. THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE AND THE CAR NOW VIOLENTLY JERKS FROM SECOND GEAR INTO THIRD GEAR AND HESITATES ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN FIFTH AND SIXTH GEAR. IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, I'VE NEARLY BEEN REAR-ENDED TWICE IN 2010 ALONE. THIS IS A DAILY OCCURRENCE. TO DATE, VOLKSWAGEN HAS ESSENTIALLY REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND ITS PRODUCT. THOUGH THE VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA HAS EXTENDED ME A 7-YEARS OR 100,000-MILES WARRANTY, DOUGLAS VOLKSWAGEN, THE DEALERSHIP FROM WHICH THE CAR WAS BOUGHT IN NEW JERSEY REFUSES TO REPLACE THE VALVE-BODY (THE PART COVERED UNDER WARRANTY) AND HAS RECOMMENDED I PUT A NEW $8,000 TRANSMISSION IN THE CAR. THEY CLAIM THE TRANSMISSIONS MADE AFTER 2008 DO NOT HAVE THE PROBLEMS 2003 THROUGH 2007 MODELS HAD. REGARDLESS, THEY HAVE NOT TRIED TO REPLACE THE CAR'S VALVE-BODY, WHICH IS A PART OF THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SEEM TO FIND IT APPROPRIATE THAT I REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION OUT OF POCKET AT A COST HIGHER THAN THE CAR IS PRESENTLY WORTH. FOR THAT REASON I HAVE REGISTERED A COMPLAINT WITH VOLKSWAGEN GROUP OF AMERICA. MANY NEW BEETLE OWNERS COMPLAIN THAT THEY HAVE ALSO ENCOUNTERED SIMILAR RESISTANCE FROM VOLKSWAGEN AND HAVE BEEN PUSHED TO PAY FOR NEW TRANSMISSIONS ONLY TO REALIZE THE PROBLEM PERSISTS AFTER THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS HAVE ALREADY BEEN SPENT. THE COMPANY HAS MADE FEEBLE EFFORTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HOPE NHTSA WILL ASSIST CONSUMERS PRESENTLY BEING POLITICKED BY VW. *TR

• 12/26/2009· POWER TRAIN

  THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ALWAYS JERKS BADLY, WHENEVER I ACCELERATE AND APPLY THE BRAKES. THERE IS ALSO A LOUD THUMPING NOISE THAT IS HEARD OFTEN FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE CONTACTED YOUR PHONE NUMBER TWICE AND LEFT MESSAGES, BUT NO ONE HAS EVER RETURNED MY CALLS OR LEFT MESSAGES, SO I DECIDED TO TRY TO CONTACT YOU ALL ON-LINE. *TR

• 12/24/2010· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFTING RECALL. TOOK CAR INTO DEALER IN DRIVING CONDITION. CAR DIAGNOSED AND VW REPLACED VALVE BODY CAUSING TRANS FAILURE. VW REFUSING TO REPLACE TRANS. DEALER FORCING ME TO PURCHASE NEW TRANS. WOULD NOT ATTEMPT ANOTHER VALVE BODY. *TR

• 12/24/2010· POWER TRAIN

  HARD SHIFTING TRANSMISSION. WV REPLACED VALVE BODY. CAUSED TRANS FAILURE. *TR

• 12/21/2010· VISIBILITY,AIR BAGS

  MY 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE HAS THE SAME BAD WINDOW REGULATORS AS THE REST OF THE RECALLED ONES. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ALSO ON WITHOUT ANY WRECKS TO MY AUTO VIN # [XXX]. I'VE REPORTED IT TWICE TO STEVENS VOLKSWAGEN OF WICHITA,KS AND ONCE TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REFERENCE NUMBER: 810010103. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY ANSWER FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA . THE ONLY REPLY I GOT FROM STEVENS VOLKSWAGEN OF WICHITA,KS IS THAT THEY WILL CHARGE ME 130.00 JUST TO DECIDE IF I'M COVERED UNDER THE WINDOW REGULATOR RECALLS AND OR THE AIRBAG LIGHT MALFUNCTIONS. *TR

• 12/20/2010· POWER TRAIN

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY LUNGED FORWARD AS IT ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY HESITATE WHILE ACCELERATING AT A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TIPTRONIC SWITCH WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR SO THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE HE WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

• 12/19/2014· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION POWER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AS MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE FUSE PANEL ON TOP OF THE BATTERY WAS ALSO MELTED. THE CONTACT INDEPENDENTLY REPLACED THE FUSE BOX BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

• 12/15/2025· AIR BAGSCrash

  The contact's son owned a 2005 Volkswagen Beetle Turbocharged. The contact stated that while her son was driving at 60 MPH during early evening hours, he traveled over black ice in the road, which caused the vehicle to spin around several times before crashing into the guardrail and concrete wall several times, striking the front and rear of the vehicle, where it eventually came to a stop. The air bags did not deploy. There was no reported fire. The front passenger side occupant sustained a severe concussion. The driver sustained a spinal curvature injury and a severe concussion. Medical attention was received, and both occupants were seen at a hospital. There were no warning lights illuminated before or after the failure. The police were on the scene, but it was unknown if a police report was filed. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V178000 (Air Bags). The contact spoke with the sheriff, who referred to a lawyer. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The contact was notified of the crash through the 360 app. A local dealer was able to be located. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The failure mileage was approximately 220,000. The VIN was not available.

• 12/15/2009· POWER TRAIN

  I HAVE A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. BETWEEN 2005- 2009 I HAD MANY REPAIR PROBLEMS. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS MY WINDOW REGULATOR WHICH COST ME $400 FOR THE PART AND LABOR. THEN I HAD ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND SENSOR PROBLEMS THAT THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED THEY HAVE FIXED BUT IT WILL DO THE SAME THING LIKE A WEEK OR SO LATER. NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION, WHICH COSTS THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX. SO FAR I HAVE BEEN TO 5 PLACES TRYING TO GET MY CAR FIXED. MY CAR IS THE ONLY TRANSPORTATION THAT I HAVE TO AND FROM SCHOOL AND WORK. IT CAN GO OUT ON ME ANY DAY. IT JERKS WILL HARD AND OFTEN CAUSES MY TIRES TO SPIN FROM THE FORCE OF THE JERK. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS. I HAVE GOT MY WINDOW REGULATOR REPLACED ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER THE MOTOR IN THE WINDOW WENT OUT WHICH COST ANOTHER $400 TO FITS. *TR

• 12/14/2011· POWER TRAIN

  MY 2005 VW BEETLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 49,000 MILES. VW HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ITEM ON THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE CAN FAIL WHICH HAD FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER I'M BEING TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAS ALSO FAILED. VW IS CLAIMING THAT THE FAILED VALVE BODY DID NOT CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT MYSELF. THIS IS A DEALER MAINTAINED, COMMUTER CAR THAT IS UNALTERED AND UNDER 50,000 MILES THAT I HAVE HAD OTHER PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS LOOK AT AND THEY DO NOT SEE HOW VW CAN CLAIM THE FAILED VALVE BODY WOULD NOT CAUSE THIS KIND OF DAMAGE AND EVENTUAL FAILURE. WE HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

• 12/12/2016· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE

  DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR STOPPED WORKING. WINDOW WAS STUCK DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. CAR WAS IN MOTION, HIT THE FRONT WINDOW BUTTON, BACK WINDOW ROLLED DOWN, WOULDN'T ROLL BACK UP.

• 12/09/2015· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 02/18/16*LJ UPDATED 05/09/18*JB *CN

• 12/08/2008· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  I OWN A 2005 VW BEETLE AND HAVE HAD THE CAR SINCE NEW. THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE CAR ARE COMING APART AT THE SEAMS. VW SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. I DON'T THINK IT IS NORMAL AT ALL. SEEMS LIKE FAULTY PARTS TO ME. HEADLIGHTS SHOULD NOT BE COMING APART AT THE SEAMS. *TR

• 12/06/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

  WINDOW HAS STOPPED WORKING FOR THE SECOND TIME. REPAIRS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE TO 1 REAR DRIVER S SIDE WINDOW. NOW IT'S THE PASSENGERS SIDE REAR WINDOW. *TR

• 12/06/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  CAR WOULD ON AGAIN OFF AGAIN LOSE LIGHTS RADIO SPEEDOMETER AND EVENTUALLY DIED IN A NOT NICE SECTION OF TOWN. REPLACED ALTERNATOR, BATTERY PRIOR TO THE BREAKDOWN. DUE TO A WEB SEARCH FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM. FUSE BOX MELTED, SMOKED. DANGEROUS. VW WILL NOT RECALL OR FIX. DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM. FIXED WITH PARTS SUGGESTED. NOW AGAIN TODAY........12-6-2013 THE FUSE BOX IS MELTED AGAIN. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000.00 AND DONE MY OWN REPAIRS AS VW DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THIS. IF THEY WOULD JUST DO A RECALL. I LOVE THE CAR BUT IT IS NOT RELIABLE AND SOMEWHAT DANGEROUS. THE CAR IS GREAT OTHERWISE. I JUST SPENT$2000.00 TO REPLACE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP AND NOW I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A LEMON! *TR

• 12/05/2011· POWER TRAIN

  MY VW BEETLE 2005, HAS A 2 TO 3 SECOND SHIFT DELAY WHETHER IN MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC. WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR TAKING OFF FROM A LIGHT OR DOWNSHIFTING TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR ACTS LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE REVS BUT THE CAR TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 3 SECONDS TO RESPOND. SOMETIMES IT WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 4TH GEAR AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER (IN TRAFFIC THAT IS GOING OVER 55) TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. I CONSIDER THIS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CARS ARE PILING UP BEHIND ME AND ICAN 'T GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO TURN IT OFF. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A CERTIFIED VW REPAIR SHOP OVER A 100 MILES AWAY BECAUSE I KNEW IT WOULDN'T MAKE IT. THEY INFORMED ME MY TRANSMISSION IS GONE. I NEED A NEW ONE. THEY CAN'T REBUILT IT. A NEW TRANSMISSION IS $4500. NOT INCLUDING LABOR. I GOT MY CAR IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I HAVE $8000. INVESTED IN IT ALREADY. MY CAR IS WORTHLESS. I AM 60 YEARS OLD. I HAVE NO STEADY INCOME AT THIS TIME AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY ANOTHER $6000. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND THEY INFORMED ME THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW IS ALSO ACTING UP AND THEY WILL PAY FOR THAT, BUT REALLY, BIG DEAL. I HAVE HEARD, UNFORTUNATELY TOO LATE, THAT VW'S WITH MY KIND OF TRANSMISSION ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND I THINK VW OF AMERICA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY STILL HAVE LOW MILES. MY CAR IS NOW CONSIDERED A THROWAWAY CAR BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO THROW AWAY. THIS HAS HURT ME DEEPLY FINANCIALLY AND ALL VW OF AMERICA WILL OFFER ME IS A LOYALTY CUSTOMER COUPON TOWARDS A NEW CAR. IF I COULD AFFORD A NEW CAR I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT A USED ONE. *TR

• 12/04/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

  TODAY, 12/3/13, I HAD MY 3RD WINDOW REGULATOR GO OUT IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS. EACH OCCURRENCE HAS BEEN ON A DIFFERENT WINDOW, AND EACH REPAIR HAS COST FROM $400 - $600. THE SERVICE ADVISORS I'VE SPOKEN TO HAVE ALL SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLES BECAUSE THE PART IS POORLY ENGINEERED AND THEY'RE SURPRISED A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN MADE. THIS POORLY ENGINEERED PART IS NOT ONLY A FINANCIAL ABUSE TO THE CONSUMER, BUT ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE IS DOWN, THEN ONE IS NOT ABLE TO PUT THE TOP BACK UP, WHICH NOW DOES NOT ONLY COST YOU A NEW WINDOW, BUT THE LOSS OF THE CAR IF IT'S STOLEN WHILE UNATTENDED. ADDITIONALLY WHAT COULD HAPPEN, AS IT DID IN MY CASE. THE WINDOW MADE A NOISE ON SUNDAY, THIS MORNING (TUESDAY) I TOOK MY CAR IN, THE PART WON'T BE IN UNTIL TOMORROW OR POTENTIALLY THURSDAY. IN THE MEAN TIME, IT'S RAINING IN MY CITY AND I LIVE IN APARTMENTS AND HAVE TO PARK ON THE STREET. THEREFORE, MY CAR RUNS THE RISK OF NOT ONLY GETTING STOLEN, BUT THE INTERIOR BEING DAMAGED IF THE PLASTIC ON THE OUTSIDE COMES OFF DURING THE HEAVY RAIN. AGAIN, MAJOR INCONVENIENCE TO THE CONSUMER, WHILE THE MANUFACTURER NOT ONLY POCKETS THE CUSTOMERS CAR PAYMENT ON A MONTHLY BASIS, BUT IS ALSO MAKING MONEY IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH A VEHICLE THAT WAS PRODUCED BY THEM WITH FAULTY PARTS IN THE FIRST PLACE. FINALLY, THE WINDOW AT ANY MOMENT CAN FALL INTO THE DOOR AND SHATTER, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE BROKEN WINDOW A HEALTH RISK IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE WINDOW SHATTERS; THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER COULD BE INJURED BY THE GLASS. IN CONCLUSION, THERE SEEMS TO BE MULTIPLE RISK AND CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE, IT IS LUDICROUS THAT A RECALL OR PERMANENT SOLUTION HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. *TR

• 12/02/2008· AIR BAGS

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG FAILED AND THE WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS INOPERABLE AND THE SENSOR FAILED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V178000 (AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 53,000.

• 11/30/2005· VISIBILITY

  DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED . *NM

• 11/26/2008· POWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY,AIR BAGS

  PURCHASED 2005 VW BEETLE WITH 7,300 MILES ASSURED FULL WARRANTY....GUARANTEED PAINT ON FRONT BUMPER WOULD BE CORRECTED...DID IT TWICE STILL PEELING OFF....ELECTRIC WINDOWS REPAIRED TWICE....BEGAN MAKING NOISES WHEN WEATHER WAS DAMP...TOOK IT TO BE CHECKED OUT AND WAS ASSURED IT WOULD NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN BUT NORMAL...TOLD THEM TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING....ONE HEADLIGHT HAD A SHORT, AND THEN RECALL ON BRAKELIGHT...THEY DID REPAIR THAT...BUT INFORMED ME THAT WAS ALL THEY HAD TIME TO DO THAT DO DUE TO RECALL...GAS CAP COVER WAS STICKING AS WELL...DIDN'T FIX IT EITHER....THEN MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON...TOOK IT IN FOR RECALL ON THAT ...AFTER IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED AIRBAG LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF, INSISTED IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SENSOR THAT WAS RECALLED...NOISE IN FRONT END BEGAN AND FLOORBOARD FLOODED DURING HEAVY RAIN....WITH NO OBVIOUS ENTRY POINT....DID SEARCH FOR PROBLEMS WITH VW BEETLES AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS HAVING THE VERY SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING....NOW HEAT GAUGE LIGHT COMES OFF AND ON, ALARM RANDOMLY SOUNDS.....BUT NOISE IN FRONT END CONCERNS ME GREATLY...WOULD NOT EVEN DIAGNOSE CAR WITHOUT $98 BUCKS AN HOUR LABOR CHARGE TO FIND PROBLEMS.... THIS CAR ONLY HAS 34,952 MILES ON IT AND IT IS FALLING APART...NO WAY CAN ALL THESE PROBLEMS BE FIXED AND ME MAKE PAYMENTS....BUT THOUSANDS ARE HAVING THESE VERY SAME PROBLEMS...WHY HAS OUR GOVERNMENT NOT INSISTED ON A RECALL..... *TR

• 11/25/2009· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  HEADLIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES A YEAR, CAN ONLY BE DONE AT A DEALER AND ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. *TR

• 11/24/2006· AIR BAGS

  AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON, 4 TRIPS TO TWO DIFFERENT VW DEALERS. THEY ARE UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, LEAVING ME WITHOUT FUNCTIONING AIR BAGS. *NM

• 11/21/2013· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

• 11/16/2015· AIR BAGS

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE (NA). WHILE PARKED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V178000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,495.

• 11/16/2010· POWER TRAIN

  BOUGHT 2005 VW BEETLE IN DECEMBER 2008. OCTOBER 2010, CAR SHIFTING HARD AND JERKING WHILE SHIFTING INTO GEARS. LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING DUE TO GEARS GETTING STUCK. MECHANIC SAYS I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 40,000 MILES ON VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

• 11/15/2012· STRUCTURE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN SUPER BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ADHESIVE AROUND THE REAR WINDOW FAILED AS THE WINDOW BEGAN TO SEPARATE. THERE WAS ONLY A PIECE OF CLOTH THAT WAS HOLDING THE WINDOW IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART COULD NOT BE REPAIRED AND THE ENTIRE CONVERTIBLE TOP WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT MECHANICS FOR DIAGNOSIS HOWEVER NONE COULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,624.

• 11/15/2011· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  THIS CAR IS HORRIBLE! AT 70,000 MILES THE CAR WOULD JERK WHILE IT WAS DRIVING. IT WAS ESPECIALLY SCARY IF IT STARTED TO JERK/KICK WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. I GOT A NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW ENGINE. THEN 20,000 MILES LATER, IT DID IT AGAIN AND NOW VOLKSWAGEN SAID IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION! AGAIN! MORE JERKING, AND IT BECAME WORSE AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED "UNDER WARRANTY" I WILL COMPLAIN TO THE BBB AS WELL. HORRIBLE THAT I PUT SO MUCH MONEY IN ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE CAR STILL WONT WORK. SAFETY PROBLEMS AS WELL. *TR

• 11/13/2009· POWER TRAIN

  I OWN A 2005 VW BEETLE, WITH A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER TODAY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALUE BODY IN BAD AFTER ONLY 67006 MILES, COSTING $2300 DOLLARS. THEY ARE AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. THE CARS DOESN'T SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND OR 3RD TO 4TH ON A IRREGULAR BASICS. LOOKING A VARIES WEB SITES. IT LOOKS LIKE THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT THOUSAND ARE HAVING WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE MAKE VOLKSWAGEN RECALL THESE CRAPPIE TRANSMISSIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE A ACCIDENT AT ANY TIME COSTING SOMEONE'S LIFE. THE COST TO REPAIR IS ABOUT $2400 DOLLARS. *TR

• 11/12/2009· POWER TRAIN

  I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM VOLKSWAGEN AROUND FEBRUARY OF 2008. MY CAR BEGAN TO SHOW SIGNS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE SHORTLY AFTER AND BEGAN TO GET WORSE IN JUNE OF 2008. IT BEGAN GRADUALLY FROM SKIPPING GEARS TO JUMPING INTO NEUTRAL AND LOSING POWER WHILE DRIVING. THE FAILURE OCCURS VERY OFTEN NOW. I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES WITHOUT BEING STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR A SHORT PERIOD. I NOTICED THAT AS SOON AS THE TRANSMISSION WARMS UP FROM DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL, AND THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS TURN ON. LUCKILY MY JOB IS REALLY CLOSE TO MY HOUSE. MY BOYFRIEND BEGAN DOING SOME RESEARCH INTO THIS PROBLEM AND NOTICED THAT THIS IS COMMON IN NEWER VOLKSWAGEN MODELS THAT INVOLVE THE DSG TRANSMISSION, WHICH RESULTED IN A RECALL. I HAVE A 6 SPEED TECHTONIC TRANSMISSION AND THE SAME SYMPTOMS TAKE PLACE. WE HAVE LOOKED FOR QUOTES ON REPLACEMENT OF SENSORS, REBUILT TRANSMISSIONS, BUT WE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT MAY BE BECAUSE TRANSMISSION WORK IS REALLY EXPENSIVE. THIS IS NOT NORMAL FOR A CAR WITH WAY LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THIS WOULD BE HAPPENING TO A CAR THAT HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. *TR

• 11/10/2015· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS

  3 OUT OF 4 OF MY POWER WINDOWS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS. 1 IS STUCK UP. ANOTHER HAS BEEN REPLACED, WHILE ANOTHER ROLLS DOWN, WHEN I'M PUSHING THE POWER UP!!! MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED.

• 11/10/2013· VISIBILITY

  2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, PUSHED THE BUTTON FOR ALL WINDOWS TO OPEN AT THE SAME TIME AND THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. MADE A GRINDING SOUND LIKE SCRATCHING NOISE ON GLASS. IT JUST STUCK THERE ABOUT HALF WAY OPENED. I HAVE SINCE TAPED IT UP WITH CARDBOARD AND DUCT TAPE FOR SECURITY REASONS AND NOT TO GET RAIN INSIDE. ASKED MECHANIC AT VW AND HE SAID IT IS $600 IF IT'S JUST THE REGULATOR MUCH MORE IF IT IS THE MOTOR. ALSO SAID THEY MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WINDOW. REALLY? I HAVE READ MANY, MANY REVIEWS ON THIS VERY SAME ISSUE, TOO MANY TO COUNT ACTUALLY. SOMETHING IS OBVIOUSLY WRONG, (LIKE THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT ISSUE). I WORRY EVERY DAY WHILE AT WORK SOMEONE WILL BREAK IN TO MY CAR, I'VE CLEANED OUT THE INSIDE OF EVERYTHING AND NOW RESORT TO LOCKING MY COMPARTMENTS WHICH I NEVER HAVE EVER DONE BEFORE. A RECALL IS NECESSARY FOR ALL OF US WHO LOVE OUR BEETLES, HAVE TAKEN SUCH GOOD CARE OF THEM ONLY TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH EVENTS. SAFETY ISSUES FOR THIS FEMALE BEETLE OWNER HAS BEEN COMPROMISED AND THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND SHOULD NOT BE BY THOSE WITH THE POWER TO CORRECT THIS FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE OF US SUFFERING FROM THE NEGLECT OF THE VW MANUFACTURER. I PRAY THIS FALLS ON THE EYES OF SOMEONE WITH A CONSCIOUS WHO PUTS PEOPLE AND THEIR SAFETY ABOVE PROFIT. A RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE IS NEEDED AND TO RETURN THOSE OF US TO A SAFER DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND LIFESTYLE. *TR

• 11/10/2006· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  MY 2005 TURBO VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IS GETTING 19 AND 20 MPG HIGHWAY AND SURFACE STREET DRIVING). THIS IS FAR BELOW THE MANUFACTURES ESTIMATE. THE DEALER CONTENDS THAT THE CAR NEEDS TO BE BROKEN IN, AND OR IT IS LOWER DUE TO CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS.*JB

• 11/09/2010· POWER TRAIN

  I HAVE A 2005 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, NEVER IN AN ACCIDENT - UP TO DATE ON ALL MAINTENANCE WITH ONLY 64,450 MILES ON IT. A WEEK OR SO THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC. HE WAS HOPING IT WAS A SOLENOID, AND AN EASY FIX BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS A REBUILD. HE CALLED HIS TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO SAID - 'I WON'T EVEN TOUCH A BEETLE, IT'S LIKE PUTTING ON ANOTHER WEDDING RING. YOU GET TIED TO THESE CARS' I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SMALL ISSUES WITH THE CAR, AND ONE BIG ISSUE WHICH MY DEALERSHIP TOOK CARE OF DURING MY WARRANTY PERIOD SO I HAD BEEN SATISFIED WITH VW'S RESPONSE AT LEAST IN THE PAST, BUT A LIGHTLY DRIVEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE FAILING 4500 MILES OUTSIDE THE CARS WARRANTY..AND THE FACT THAT TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS RECOGNIZE THIS AS A FREQUENT AND RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL MAKES ME THINK THERE IS CAUSE FOR RECALL. SEARCHING FOR BEETLE TRANSMISSION PROMPTS MESSAGE BOARDS WITH HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES ON THE TOPIC AND IN MANY CASES, PEOPLE ARE IN THE 'JUST OVER 60,000 MILE' CATEGORY I FALL UNDER. SOME EXAMPLES: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F124D77 (33 PAGES OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE) HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/VW_BEETLE.HTML (2004-2005 BEETLE OWNERS WHO DESCRIBE THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AS I'M HAVING). *TR

• 11/08/2017· AIR BAGS

  "TAKATA RECALL" THIS VEHICLE AIRBAG SIGNAL LIGHT SHOWS ON THE GAUGE AND DOES NOT GO OFF DURING DRIVING FOR THE PAST 4 MONTHS.

• 11/08/2010· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION IN 2005 VW BEETLE WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT IS SUDDENLY FAILING TO SHIFT. RESEARCH INDICATES THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE YET VW REFUSES TO STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I EXPLAINED THAT THE SAFETY ASPECT OF THIS WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE. THEIR RESPONSE WAS TO OVER TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF MORE THAN THE CURRENT VALUE OF THE CAR. *TR

• 11/06/2014· POWER TRAIN

  VW NEW BEETLE TIPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MANUFACTURER/DESIGN DEFECT: I EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE CLOSE CALLS IN THE FREEWAY WHILE THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME. I COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH THE TRAFFIC AFTER SLOWING DOWN IN A CONGESTED FREEWAY CONDITION DUE TO THIS TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO ALL DRIVERS, NOT JUST ME. ALTHOUGH I WAS DRIVING VERY CAREFULLY TO AVOID ANY ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THIS TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION PROBLEM; BUT NOT SO FOR OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME. THIS IS A KNOW POTENTIAL SAFETY-RELATED DEFECTS CAUSED BY TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION (CASE # 11-CV-02243, IN THE US DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS). ALTHOUGH THIS WAS DISMISSED IN ARKANSAS, BUT THE JUDGE SAID "OTHER CO-PLAINTIFFS IN THE CASE COULD PURSUE CLAIMS IN CA". TO ME, THIS MEANS THIS DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURE DEFECT OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS VALID. IT SHOULD BE ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY AND I AM ASKING NHTSA TO MAKE A SWIFT JUDGMENT BEFORE IT CAUSE ANY LIFE OR MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

• 11/06/2011· POWER TRAIN

  WHILE DRIVING THE CAR STOP AND GO-WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR-THE RPMS WOULD REV AND FINALLY THE NEXT GEAR WOULD "CATCH" REALLY SLAM INTO GEAR AND THE CAR WOULD SHIFT. I HAD MANY NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS DUE TO MY CAR FAILING TO MOVE FORWARD IN TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. I FINALLY DROVE IT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER WHILE THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AND THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO "WITNESS" THE PROBLEM, THE REPAIR WAS MADE-REPLACED TRANSMISSION PARTS AT 62,000 MILES. NOW AT 80,000 MILES, THE CAR DOES 2 THINGS-WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT HAS LOST POWER-THE CAR STAYS ON, BUT THERE IS NO POWER TO THE ENGINE-STEP ON THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS-NO RPMS, NOTHING, THE CAR SLOWS DOWN IMMEDIATELY, BUT BECAUSE IT HAPPENS SO SUDDENLY, CARS THAT ARE FOLLOWING ME DON'T ALWAYS REACT IN TIME AND I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED-AFTER A FEW SECONDS ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WILL REGAIN POWER. THE 2ND PROBLEM HAPPENS RANDOMLY-AS I AM DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH ON AND THE CAR DIES-NO POWER STEERING, NOTHING, JUST A DEAD CAR. I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, TURN EVERYTHING OFF (RADIO, AIR ETC), AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED DURING A LEFT TURN, AT A STOP SIGN, WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET. AGAIN VW MECHANIC FINDS NOTHING ON THE COMPUTER. THIS CAR IS A LEMON-I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 BATTERIES, SEVERAL HEADLIGHTS, TAIL AND TURN LIGHTS, AIR BAG SENSORS, ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS, PLUS 2 OF THE SAME WINDOW REGULATORS TWICE, TRUNK LATCH, REAR ASHTRAY HOLDER, CONVERTIBLE STRAPS, REAR CONVERTIBLE WINDOW CLIPS, AND NOW WHENEVER IT RAINS MY CAR LEAKS. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE CAR IN IT'S CURRENT CONDITION, AFRAID TO CAUSE OR BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE, PLEASE HELP. *TR

• 11/04/2013· POWER TRAIN

  I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND AS IT SHIFTED INTO 5TH I FELT A BANG. IT FELT AS THOUGH SOMEONE RAN INTO THE REAR OF MY CAR. IT SNAPPED MY NECK HARD. IT KEEPS DOING THIS. I TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. *TR

• 11/02/2016· ELECTRICAL SYSTEMFire

  ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTION CAUSED SEVER BURNING OF THE BATTERY TOP MOUNTED FUSE BOX ASSEMBLY. REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND FUSE BOX ASSEMBLY AND CAR STILL DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. BATTERY DRAINS OUT CONTINUOUSLY EVEN WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. DEALERSHIP HAS GIVEN UP OF REPAIRING THE CAR EVEN AFTER SPENDING 500$ IN DIAGNOSTICS, THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY A CORRECTIVE COURSE OF ACTION. I HAVE ALL BILLS AND REPAIR LISTS ON FILE IF NEEDED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 44,000 MILES AND WAS IN MINT CONDITION. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE 3 OF THE 4 WINDOW COMPONENTS ON THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS.

• 11/01/2010· POWER TRAIN

  2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING - LESS THAN 85,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 60K MILES I NOTICED A JERKING WHEN I WOULD SLOW. THE JERKING WOULD OCCUR WHILE THE CAR WAS SLOWING BETWEEN 3RD AND 2ND GEAR. THAT SEEMED TO IRON ITSELF OUT, BUT THEN A NEW PROBLEM SURFACED - THE CAR WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR SPORADICALLY. AT 80K MILES, I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC - HE TOLD ME IT COULD BE DUE TO LOW TRANSMISSION FLUID. HE CHECKED MY LEVELS AND SAID ALL SEEMED TO BE IN ORDER. NOW (A MONTH LATER) IT OCCURS MORE RECENTLY (DAILY AND MORE THAN ONCE A DAY), MY CAR WILL TRANSITION SMOOTHLY BETWEEN GEARS UNTIL TRANSMISSION WARMS UP. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 10 - 15 MINUTES WORTH OF DRIVING, ACCELERATING BETWEEN 2 AND 3RD GEAR, THE CAR REVS LIKE IT HAS SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL AND WILL JERK VIOLENTLY INTO 3RD GEAR. WHEN I CAN TELL THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, I REMOVE MY FOOT FROM THE GAS, ALLOW THE RPMS TO RETURN TO NORMAL AND THEN TRY ACCELERATING AGAIN, NORMALLY THIS WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO SMOOTHLY TRANSITION TO 3RD GEAR. TODAY, HOWEVER, THE CAR REMAINED IN NEUTRAL AND ALTHOUGH I TOOK MY FOOT FROM THE GAS, THE ENGINE SEEMED TO CONTINUE TO REV AS IF MY FOOT WAS STILL PRESSING ON THE GAS. I PRESSED THE BREAK TO STOP THE RPMS FROM CLIMBING HIGHER AND THEN THE CAR JERKED INTO 3RD - THIS WAS BY FAR THE SCARIEST BECAUSE I HAD A CAR RIGHT BEHIND ME. IMPROMPTU BREAKING AND LURCHING COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT HAD I BEEN IN TIGHTER TRAFFIC. I WAS ONLY GOING 25 MILES PER HOUR. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN AND FORMALLY SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT. I'VE ALSO GONE ON SEVERAL VEHICLE FORUMS AND FOUND I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF VW BEETLE THAT IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE. I TOOK MY CAR TO MY MECHANIC TODAY TO FIND OUT A DIAGNOSIS. HOPING SOMEONE ELSE HAS HEARD OF THIS AND FOUND A MORE VIABLE SOLUTION OTHER THAN SOAKING $6K INTO A 5-YEAR OLD CAR. *TR

• 11/01/2010· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A NOISE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND THE FLYWHEEL SUDDENLY EXPLODED AND LOCKED THE VEHICLE, DAMAGING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FLYWHEEL AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER A MECHANIC INSPECTED IT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

• 11/01/2010· POWER TRAIN

  AT APPROXIMATELY 75K MILES, 2005 VW BEETLE BEGAN VIOLENT LURCHING UPON SLOWING DOWN, RESULTING IN UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION. READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR - LOCAL DEALER DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM. VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND IS UNDERGOING A TRANSMISSION REBUILD QUOTED AT APPROXIMATELY $3,500.00. *TR

• 10/31/2006· VISIBILITY

  I OWN A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW "EXPLODED" MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE,WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT IN OUR SUBDIVISION. THIS SAME WINDOW HAD BEEN REPAIRED ABOUT 6 MONTHS PRIOR BECAUSE IT WAS RATTLING. IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MORNING THE WINDOW EXPLODED WAS THE COLDEST MORNING SINCE IT HAD BEEN REPAIRED-39 DEGREES. I CAR HAD BEEN PARKED IN OUR GARAGE THAT EVENING. THE GARAGE WAS MUCH WARMER THAN THE OUTSIDE AMBIENT AIR. WITHIN ONE MINUTE OF MY WIFE DRIVING THE CAR FROM THE GARAGE THE WINDOW EXPLODED. HAD SHE BEEN ON A MAJOR ROAD THIS COULD HAVE TURNED INTO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I THINK VOLKSWAGEN IS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR SIDE WINDOWS RATTLING ON THEIR CONVERTIBLE MODELS. THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW HAS STARTED TO RATTLE. THIS INCIDENT MAY HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE MANNER THE DEALER FIXED IT FROM RATTLING. *NM

• 10/30/2010· POWER TRAIN

  AUTO TRANSMISSION ON 2005 VW BEETLE SLIPS AND LEAVES ME WITH NO POWER ON THE INTERSTATE AND HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES IN TOWN. *TR

• 10/29/2013· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

  ROLLED DOWN BACK WINDOW ON DRIVERS SIDE WONT ROLL UP JUST MAKES A NOISE. *TR

• 10/28/2012· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS

  THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON THE DASHBOARD, MECHANICS HAVE SAID THEY CANNOT FIX IT, MAKES ME CONCERNED THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. *TR BOTH THE PASSENGER WINDOW AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATORS ARE BOTH BROKEN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN WHEN YOU PRESS THE WINDOW BUTTON, AND THE PASSENGER DOOR/ WINDOW RATTLES WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN YOU SHUT THE DOOR

• 10/28/2011· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY

  HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE FRONT AUTOMATIC WINDOWS IN THIS CAR SINCE AUGUST 2008. IN MAY 2010 THE REAR WINDOWS WOULD GO UP PART WAY AND THEN GO BACK DOWN. I HAD REPAIRS DONE (REINSTALLED WINDOW SEAL AT A COST OF $96.00) THEN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2011 THE OTHER REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP AND THE DEALER SAID THAT I NEEDED A "KIT" TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF THE CABLES BINDING UP AND KEEPING THE WINDOW FROM GOING UP. THIS REPAIR COST $800. TODAY THE OTHER REAR WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND IS MAKING THE FAMILIAR GRINDING SOUND. I SUSPECT THAT I WILL NEED TO GO TO THE DEALER AND GET A "KIT" FOR THIS WINDOW WHICH IS THE ONE THAT HAD THE SEAL REPLACED ON IT. ANOTHER $800.00 OR SO FOR SOMETHING THAT WILL ONLY TEMPORARILY FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE BACK WINDOWS DOWN ON THIS VEHICLE MAYBE A DOZEN TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. THIS IS CLEARLY A CHEAP AND FAULTY DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER. IF I DO NOT CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE REPAIRS I CANNOT PROPERLY SECURE MY VEHICLE AND RISK DAMAGE OR THEFT. *TR