2001 Volkswagen Beetle Complaint Log

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2001 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 71,854, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 74,036.

The contact owns a 2001 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that there was an abnormal exhaust odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the odor was abnormally strong. The contact stated that exhaust fumes were entering the vehicle through the vents. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a local dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the rear latch for the hatchback was not locking securely and was also allowing exhaust fumes inside the vehicle. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to Manufacturer Emissions Recall Circular Code: WA000 Reprograming of Engine Control Module and Replacement of Oxygen Sensor (Engine and Engine Cooling). The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Car caught on fire 2 times it was electrical and fuel problem the fire department was present. I reported this once already and the company acted like they didnt care

A HUGE AMOUNT OF 2.0L ENGINES (1998-2006) SEEM TO STALL WHEN DRIVING OR STATIONARY AFTER 20 MIN FROM COLD START IN HIGH TEMPS (+75F) . LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER ASSIST BRAKES. IT HAPPENED TO ME 2X WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. SCARY. DEALERS AND MECHANICS CAN'T LOCATE ISSUES BECAUSE ITS INTERMITTENT. CARS OPERATE NORMAL AGAIN AFTER 10-20 MINS. SEE HTTP://NEWBEETLE.ORG/FORUMS/2-0-LITER-GAS/139065-HOT-WEATHER-STOP-GO-CAR-STALLS-DANGEROUS-2.HTML#POST1508562 FOR A LIST OF DIFFERENT SITES ALL LISTING SIMILAR ISSUES. APPARENTLY, AND ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, THE ISSUE STOPPED ON MODEL YR 2007 AND HIGHER.

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON 3 DIFFERENT MY OCCASIONS CAR OVERHEATED NOW IT WON'T START.

CAR WAS ILLEGALLY REPOSSESSED (I OWN THE VEHICLE BUT USED IT AS COLLATERAL IN A SMALL LOAN) NOVEMBER 29, 2016 WHILE I WAS IN ANOTHER STATE. I THEN RECEIVED A EMAIL FROM CARFAX THAT THE ODOMETER WAS CHANGED AND GAVE ME THE NEW MILEAGE. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN MARCH OF 2015 AND THE MILEAGE WAS OVER 155,000 MILES BUT NOW IT REPORTS 124, 685 MILES WHICH IS NOT AN ERROR BUT INTENTIONAL AND OBVIOUS ODOMETER FRAUD! I HAVE ATTACHED SEVERAL PHOTOS SHOWING THE DEALERSHIP WEBSITE'S LOG OF MILEAGE WHEN I BOUGHT IT, THE PICTURE OF MY ODOMETER AS OF OCTOBER 2015 (WHEN IT WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE DUE TO OIL LEAK FROM VALVE COVER), AND THE EMAIL SCREENSHOT FROM CARFAX SHOWING THE ODOMETER FRAUD. THE NEW OWNERS OF THE VEHICLE ARE PETER LANDRY OF FOR FINANCIAL IN DONALDSONVILLE, LOUISIANA 225 473 7652

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. CAR SHOP SAID THE SEAT BELT SWITCH ASSEMBLY FAILED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IF THERE WAS A CRASH, THE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LOCK AND THE DRIVER WOULD BE THROWN INTO THE AIR BAG.

COOLANT SYSTEM CAN NOT BE FIXED. WHEN DRIVING, SOMETIMES THE COOLANT WILL BE BOILING. SOMETIMES THE COOLANT LEVEL IS LOW LEAD THE COOLANT SYSTEM LIGHT ON. WHEN ADD MORE COOLANT TO THE WATER TANK, AFTER SEVERAL MILES DRIVING, THE COOLANT LEVEL WILL BE HIGHER THAN NORMAL. IT RUNS WELL THEN THE COOLANT SYSTEM/OVERHEATING LIGHT WILL BE ON. KEEP DRIVING THEN THE LIGHT WILL BE OFF. THEN IT WILL BE OFF. MECHANICS TRIED TO CLEAN AND REPLACE THE WHOLE COOLANT SYSTEM. BUT THE OVERHEATING ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN AND AGAIN. THEN AFTER THEY TRIED FOUR TIMES, I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED TO GET RID OF THE CAR CAUSE THEY CANNOT FIX IT. AND THEY KNEW OTHER PEOPLE'S VW NEW BEETLE(2000) HAS THE SAME ISSUE. SEEMS LIKE NOT ONLY MY BEETLE BUG'S PROBLEM.

I THINK THERE ARE AIR BUBBLES IN THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP. I HAVE NO MONEY TO REPAIR IT. I NEED IT TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO WORK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, ALL THE GAUGES DROPPED TO ZERO AND FAILED TO FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE TEMPERATURE AND OIL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE TEMPERATURE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED, BUT THE OIL WARNING LIGHT WAS NOT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.

FORUMS CONCERNING THIS VW MODEL, AND OTHER MODELS BOTH OLDER AND NEWER, ARE REPLETE WITH REPORTS OF THE CARS STALLING WITH SYMPTOMS OF STARVED FUEL, USUALLY ARISING WHEN THE TANK IS LESS THAN HALF FULL. SEE, E.G., HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?4971876-CAR-STALLING-WHILE-AT-SPEED-IS-LOW-FUEL-THE-PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS. OTHER OWNERS ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY (1) CLEANING THE FUEL TANK; (2) REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP; (3) REPLACING THE SPEED SENSOR; (4) REPLACING THE CRANK SENSOR; (5) REPLACING THE FUEL FILTER; (6) REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP RELAY; AND (7) CLEANING THE FUEL TANK. IN MOST CASES, BASED ON REVIEW FROM THESE FORUMS, THE PROBLEM IS NOT PERMANENTLY SOLVED AND RECURS WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL AND CREATING A THREAT TO LIFE SAFETY. I CANNOT BELIEVE VW IS UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BASED ON THE MULTITUDE OF REPORTS. YET, I HAVE SEEN NOTHING FROM VW THAT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. IF NO INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED ON THIS ISSUE, NHTSA SHOULD LAUNCH ONE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION. IN ADDITION, THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD, THE WINDSHIELD, AND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED BY FLAMES. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OR WHO EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT AND OTHER LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER CHECKED WITH THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 02V031000 (SERVICE BRAKES); HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I AM THE 2ND OR 3RD THIRD OWNER, AND I SHOULD HAVE CHECKED THIS CAR OUT FURTHER, SINCE WHOMEVER ('S) SOLD IT TO ME DIDN'T TELL ME A [XXX] THING WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I AM SO DISGUSTED ABOUT THIS INCIDENT OF BUYING BASICALLY A LEMON FROM DISHONEST CREEPS. I ONLY DROVE IT ONCE BEFORE I HANDED OVER EVERY HARD EARNED PENNY I HAD SAVED OVER SUCH A LENGTHY TIME DUE TO THE FACT I AM A STRUGGLING SINGLE MOTHER. I DON'T GET CHILD SUPPORT NOR WELFARE, THANK YOU! I PAID ALL I HAD LITERALLY EVER SAVED UP EVER IN MY WHOLE LIFE. (YES I AM THAT POOR TO BE QUITE FRANK) I PAID $4500 FOR A 2001 VW NEW BEETLE. I HAVE ALWAYS ONLY EVER HEARD EXCELLENT THINGS OF VW'S, THERE FOR I JUST PRAY AND WISH THAT VW WOULD HELP!!!!!!!!!!!! NOW I AM WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO AND FROM WORK, AS WELL AS MY CHILDREN TO AND FROM SCHOOL. I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE TO GET GROCERIES OR ANYTHING! HELP!! WHY CAN'T VW AT LEAST PAY TO HAVE IT FIXED? I AM JUST TO POOR. I AM LOOKING INTO A LAW SUIT. DISHONEST VW, WHY CAN'T YOU JUST BE HONEST AND FIX YOUR ERROR AND WRONG DOING? THEY SELL THESE BEETLES KNOWINGLY TO INNOCENT TRUSTING FAMILIES, SINGLE MOMS, ETC: ETC;, AND THAT ALONE I BELIEVE SHOULD BE GROUNDS ENOUGH FOR A HELL OF A LAW SUIT. THEY KNOWINGLY PUT WOMEN, CHILDREN, AND INNOCENT PEOPLE'S LIVES IN SERIOUS DANGER WITH NO CONSCIENCE WHAT SO EVER. BUYING A VW IS LIKE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE. FOR YOU, YOUR CHILDREN, YOUR FAMILY, LOVED ONES AND FRIENDS. [XXX] EVEN INNOCENT BY STANDERS AND PASSER BYES. FIX MY BEETLE EVIL CREEPS. MAY GOD DEAL WITH YOU EVENTUALLY EITHER WAY AMEN! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)*JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEATS AUTOMATICALLY SLID TO THE REAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE SEAT LOOP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,205.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. A POLICE AND A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.

I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2001 BEETLE WITH 11,8450 MILES. ON AUG 27, 2014, THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT SUDDENLY LOSS TENSION AND WENT LIMP WHILE I WAS DRIVING! THE SEAT BELT CAN NOT BE RETRACTED. THE VW SERVICE THE WAY THE SEAT BELT BECAME LOOSE IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD, AND IT SHOULD BE ON OFFICIAL RECORD. VW DENIED RESPONSIBILITY AND MY REQUEST FOR THE REPAIR COST. *TR

LEFT TURN INDICATOR RAPID BLINKS EVEN WITH ALL NEW BULBS

CONTINUE OVER HEATING BLOWING HEAD TWICE ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON BRAKE LIGHTS ON LEFT SIDE DON'T WORK ALARM WONT LOCK LEFT SIDE DOESN'T WORK AND BACK SEAT IS TOTALLY UNSAFE FOR KIDS. FRONT IS VARY UNSTABLE IT FEEL LIKE IT GOING TO FALL OFF TO LOW TO THE GROUND , ETC......IT GOES ON AND ON. *TR

PULLED OVER FOR RIGHT BRAKE LIGHT BEING OUT.. HAD REPLACED THE BULB THE MONTH BEFORE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. REPLACED THE BULB AGAIN AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS STILL DO NOT COME ON... *TR

THE BRAKE LIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE, REMAIN OFF. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. PREVIOUS RECALL 06V183000: BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH DEFECT MAKE/MODELS: MODEL/BUILD YEARS:VOLKSWAGEN/JETTA 1999-2002VOLKSWAGEN/NEW BEETLE 1998-2002MANUFACTURER: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC.NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V183000 MFG'S REPORT DATE: MAY 24, 2006COMPONENT: EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH. VW IS NOT INTERESTED TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM SAYING THAT HAVE COMPLETED THE RECALL AND THIS IS MY PROBLEM NOT THEIRS EVEN THOUGH BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEM IS BACK. *TR

FIRST OF ALL< YOUR FORM WON"T LET ME SELECT TRANSMISSION< THAT IS WHY I SELECTED ENGINE> THE PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION>>>>> I WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH, SUDDENLY TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL. PRESSING ACCELERATOR DID NOT HELP. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD. MOVED TRANSMISSION SELECTOR THRU GEARS INCLUDING REVERSE. CAR DID NOT MOVE, THEN SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED INTO GEAR AND LURCHED FORWARD. VERY SCARY! I WAS POINTING TOWARDS THE ROAD WHEN THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD FROM A STOP, MY QUICK RESPONSE AVOIDED ME LURCHING INTO PASSING TRAFFIC. I KEPT MOVING,ALONG THE SHOULDER, BUT THE CAR WASN'T UPSHIFTING UNTIL I REACHED APPROX 45 MPH, THEN IT SLAMMED INTO THE NEXT GEAR. JUMPED BACK INTO NEUTRAL, THEN SLAMMED INTO NEXT GEAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPROCKET FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE TIMING BELT TO FRACTURE. IN ADDITION, THE WATER PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14E007000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.

FIRST NOTICED IT WHEN STARTING IT UP IN THE MORNING.ROUGH AND STALLING WHEN PUTTING IT IN REVERSE. NEVER DID THAT BEFORE. IT HAS TO WARM UP BEFORE I CAN DRIVE IT BECAUSE IT WILL EITHER STALL IN REVERSE, OR IN DRIVE THE CAR WILL SHUDDER AND TAKE OFF, IT WILL NOT IDLE.WHEN IN PARK IT IS FINE WHEN IN DRIVE AT STOPLIGHTS IT WILL SURGE FORWARD. I HAVE TO EITHER PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I CAN AND THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK,OR PUT IT IN PARK OR NEUTRAL!!!! THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF MY TROUBLES.IT GRADUALLY OVER TIME STOPPED SHIFTING EITHER BEFORE IT REACHES 3RD GEAR OR AFTER. I ONLY HAVE 60,000 PLUS MILES ON IT AND IT STILL SHOULD BE IN THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. THAT IT IS 2013 IT IS 12 YEARS AFTER I PURCHASED IT !! THAT'S AN AVERAGE OF 5,000 MILES A YEAR DRIVING! AND IT STILL HAS A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION!! I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS! THEY SAY IT IS THE VALVE BODY THAT IS THE CULPRIT! THEN VW BETTER ISSUE ME A FREE REPLACEMENT! I CANNOT BELIEVE I HAVE TO SHELL OUT MY HARD EARNED MONEY FOR THEIR SCREW UP! IF THIS VALVE BODY HAS DONE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO MY TRANNY THEY WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION AS WELL! LESS THAN 65,000 MILES AND HAVING A DEFECTIVE PART THEY KNOW ABOUT THEY HAVE TO HONOR THAT POWERTRAIN WARRANTY! I WILL NEED SAFERCAR.GOV AND OR NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HAS PROBLEM AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING DOES NOT ADVANCES, THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

AFTER ONLY HAVING THIS CAR FOR ONE YEAR, THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME I HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE. THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS AND JERKS TERRIBLY. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THIS HAS HAPPENED IN INTERSECTIONS AND I WAS ALMOST T BONED IN THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR THE LAST TIME. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AND AM TOLD "WE HAVE HAD NO COMPLAINTS OR ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THESE CARS". YET, A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH FINDS HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE "NEW" VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. MORE PEOPLE END UP GETTING KILLED IF VW IS NOT HELD RESPONSIBLE. CORRECTIVE ACTIONS THAT INCLUDE ACKNOWLEDGING THEY HAVE A PROBLEM AND PUBLICLY ISSUING A FIX AND CONTACTING ALL OWNERS SHOULD BE AT A MINIMUM. I CAN TELL YOU THAT MY CAR IS NOW WORTHLESS, NO REPAIR SHOPS WILL WORK ON IT, AND VW WONT' ADMIT TO A PROBLEM. I AM THINKING OF CONTACTING A LAWYER. *TR

APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK AGO I NOTED THAT WHEN I PUT MY 2001 BEETLE INTO DRIVE, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT CATCH. AS I PUSHED THE GAS PEDDLE DOWN, IT WAS NECESSARY TO REV THE ENGINE AND THEN IT WOULD FINALLY CATCH. THE PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF THE WEEK AND WILL GO INTO THE SHOP THIS WEEK. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT IT IS NECESSARY TO REV THE ENGINE TO GET IT INTO GEAR. I HAVE ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME ON 2 OCCASIONS, BUT WAS ABLE TO HIT THE BRAKE IN TIME. I NOW PUSH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR AT THE SAME TIME TO AVOID THIS POSSIBILITY. I HAVE READ OF SIMILAR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON THE NEW BEETLE AND WANT TO ADD MY EXPERIENCE AT A PALTRY 41,000 MILES TO THE LIST. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN OTHER POSTINGS SUCH AS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND OR 2ND TO 3RD. I ALSO HAVE NOT HAD THE CAR DOWNSHIFT OR SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AS OTHERS HAVE DESCRIBED. THE MAJOR REASON FOR POSTING THIS IS THE TWO EPISODES OF ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGED. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2001 VW BEETLE AND I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS THE DAY I BROUGHT IT HOME. WITHIN 45 MIN MY EPC LIGHT CAME ON, MY ABS LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR STALLED. I LOST POWER STEERING, BREAKS, AND CAR WOULD NOT IDLE. CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE THROTTLE BODY HAD WENT OUT. THEY REPLACED IT WITH NO CHARGE, BECAUSE I THREATENED TO RETURN THE CAR UNDER THE LEMON LAW, EVER SINCE I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. STARTING IN NOV. OF 2010 I HAD A LOT OF MISS FIRE. TOOK IT TO THE VW DEALER THEY SAID THAT THE COILS WERE RECALLED AND THEY REPLACED THEM FOR FREE. SINCE THEN MY COILS AND SPARK PLUGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING. ABOUT TWO WEEKS (JULY 2011) I WENT OUT AND STARTED MY CAR, ONCE AGAIN MY EPC LIGHT, MY ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ONCE AGAIN I LOST MY POWER STEERING, BRAKES, CAR WOULDN?T IDLE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS THE MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR. CHANGED IT CAR RAN FINE FOR ONE DAY. THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER THEY SAID IT?S THE COILS AND SPARKS PLUGS. HAD THEM CHANGED LESS THAN A MONTH AGO (JUNE 2001) WHEN I HAD THE TIMING BELT CHANGED. TOOK IT BACK AGAIN NOW THEY ARE SAYING IT?S THE THROTTLE BODY AGAIN. LAST TIME I CHECKED A THROTTLE BODY SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 2 YEAR. I WAS LOOKING FOR A USED THROTTLE BODY AND WAS AT A PARTS STORE THE GUY SAID THAT THERE HAS BEEN A HUGE ISSUE WITH THE WIRING HARNESS AND IT COST ABOUT $2000 HOPING THIS IS NOT MY PROBLEM?. WITHIN THE LAST TWO YEARS I HAVE SUNK 3500 IN TO THIS CRAP CAR. *TR

2001 VW BEETLE. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, FREE OF CHARGE REPAIRS. I HAVE LOW MILEAGE SO I THOUGHT THAT BY THE TIME THESE ITEMS WERE REPAIRED IT WOULD BE FINE WHEN THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND IN PARTICULAR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS GOING OFF. THE SAFETY ISSUE COMES IN WITH ITS CURRENT PROBLEM. I HAD A FUEL INJECTION FLUSH WHICH INCLUDED THE CARBON DEPOSITS REMOVAL KNOWN AS INDUCTION, AIR FILTER REPLACED, ENGINE FUEL FILTER REPLACED, AND A BRAKE FLUID FLUSH PLUS 4 NEW SPARK PLUGS. PRIOR TO THIS SERVICE, MY CAR WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING WITH MAJOR SHAKING. I HAD TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GET IT GOING WHILE STARTING. NOW AFTER THE SERVICE IT RUNS MUCH BETTER BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT NOW STALLS WHEN I COME TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND STOP FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE OTHER MALFUNCTIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS ARE AN EXPENSE BUT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I COULD SOMEHOW MANAGE. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND THE GENERATOR COMES ON WHEN I STOP, IT IS WORSE WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGES FAST AND THEN I HAVE TO STOP EVEN MORE SUDDENLY. IMAGINE IF I AM ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT STOPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE, A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THE CLEANING SERVICE. NOW, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THAT VEHICLE. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AT MESSAGE BOARDS FROM OTHER VW BEETLE OWNERS AND HAD READ SIMILAR STORIES OF SUCH DISSATISFACTION, INCREDIBLE FINANCIAL EXPENSE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF CARS. I HAVE EVEN READ THAT THESE CARS CAN BECOME INFLAMED , NECESSITATING THE FIRE DEPT. TO PUT IT OUT. THIS IS A LEMON AND SO MANY OTHER VW OWNERS HAVE WRITTEN SIMILAR ACCOUNT MESSAGE BOARDS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED IVOQ 07/07/11. *JB *TR

CAR IS STALLING, SPUTTERING, BUT NOT DYING COMPLETELY. COIL PACKS HAVE BEEN DETERMINED TO BE THE ISSUE. THERE IS AN OPEN RECALL ON THE COIL PACKS, BUT I NEVER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE. THE COIL PACKS ON THIS CAR NEED TO BE REPLACED, FREE OF CHARGE, FREE LABOR AND DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES. PLEASE SEND DETAILS ON HOW TO ACCOMPLISH THIS FOR MY 2001 VW NEW BEETLE GLX 1.8T. *TR

THE HAZARD LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR DO NOT WORK. I'VE TAKEN IT IN TO AN AUTO SHOP AND THEY CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. HOPING MAYBE THERE IS A RECALL THAT I HAVE MISSED. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2001 NEW BEETLE GLS TURBO WITH 42K MILES ON IT IN 2008 FOR MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER. I HAVE HAD THIS CAR GARAGED, OIL CHANGED, AND HAVE ONLY PUT 8K MILES ON IT IN THE THREE YEARS I'VE OWNED IT. AT MY MOST RECENT OIL CHANGE, I EXPLAINED TO THE VW DEALERSHIP OF THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE WHICH THEY BRUSHED OFF AS BEING THE WAY VW TRANSMISSION'S DO IN AND THAT THEY ARE NOT SMOOTH RUNNING TRANSMISSIONS. DURING THIS 8K MILES, I HAVE WENT THROUGH TWO NEW BATTERIES UNTIL THE DEALERSHIP MADE ME AWARE OF THE NEED FOR A NEW ALTERNATOR. AFTER GETTING THE NEW ALTERNATOR FIXED THIS WEEK AT THE TUNE OF $500, THE TECH INFORMED ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING AT A COST BETWEEN $4K-$6K. I HAD BEEN NOTICING WHEN I STOP AND THEN ACCELERATE AGAIN, THE ENGINE HESITATES AND THEN SLINGS FORWARD SO FAST THE TIRES WILL BARK. IT'S HESITATION ALMOST COST ME A REAR-END ACCIDENT NOT LONG AGO. THANKFULLY, EVERYONE WAS JUST SHAKEN UP A BIT. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE CABIN AIR FILTER WHEN IT DISINTEGRATED AND STARTED BLOWING FILTER IN HER FACE AS SHE WAS DRIVING. ALL THESE REPAIRS IN THE 8K MILES I'VE PUT ON IT. THE CAR AT THIS MOMENT NOW HAS ONLY 50K MILES AND SITS IN MY GARAGE AS I AM AFRAID FOR MY TEENAGE DAUGHTER TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE OF IT'S UNRELIABILITY AND SAFETY ISSUES. ALSO, THE CONSOLE HAS BROKEN, THE CLEAR COAT IS PEALING OFF THE INTERIOR DOORS, HANDLES AND DASH. PLEASE HELP US BECAUSE THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT DEPEND ON THE VW'S AND CANNOT AFFORD NEW, SAFER CARS. *TR

THE HEADLAMPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. ACCORDING TO A VW DEALERSHIP WHO SERVICED THE VEHICLE, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE'S WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENTATION CLUSTER TO FAIL. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE WIREING HARNESS PROBLEM, BUT ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY SERVICE RECALLS.

2001 VW BEETLE: 189944 MILES. SUDDEN PERMANENT FAILURE OF SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES. WILL INVESTIGATE REPAIR/REPLACEMENT COST. *TR

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO A FAULTY SEAT BELT BUCKLE. *TR

THE STATE OF VIRGINIA REQUIRES VEHICLE INSPECTIONS, ONE ITEM REQUIRES THAT DASH WARNING LIGHTS FOR SEAT BELT AND AIRBAGS OPERATE CORRECTLY. OUR 2001 VW BEETLE HAS AN AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT THAT WOULD NOT GO OUT. THE VW DEALER CHARGED $100 TO DIAGNOSE THE FACT THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT (MICRO CHIP) WAS THE CULPRIT AND FOR ANOTHER $500 THE PROBLEM COULD BE CORRECTED. FEELING THIS DEALER WAS TRYING TO "RIP ME OFF" I SEARCHED THE INTERNET FOR INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM. THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF COMMENTS FROM OWNERS OF VW CARS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, CUSTOMER CARE ADVOCATE, FOR INFORMATION ON THIS SAFETY ITEM AND INQUIRED WHY THE EXCESSIVE CHARGE FROM THEIR DEALERS. A SIMPLE REPLY WAS RETURNED SAYING THEY DID NOT SEE A NEED FOR A RECALL TO CORRECT A RECURRING PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IF THE SENSOR DOES NOT BELIEVE THE SEAT BELT IS FASTENED, THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH. I WISH TO ADD MY VOICE TO THE MANY COMPLAINTS I FOUND IN THE NHTSA WEB SITE REGARDING VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA'S DISREGARD FOR THE LIVES OF THEIR CUSTOMERS, SO THEIR DEALERS CAN MAKE MONEY FROM A REPEATED CORRECTION TO THIS PROBLEM. AT YOUR REQUEST I WILL PROVIDE FACTS, DOCUMENTS, AND EVIDENCE CONCERNING MY COMPLAINT. *TR

SUDDEN LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE IN TIRE(S) ON 2001 NEW BEETLE WITH 17 INCH ALUMINUM WHEELS. CAUSED BY CORROSION ON THE BEAD AREA OF THE RIM. CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO TIRE, HAD TO REPLACE ONE EXPENSIVE TIRE BECAUSE OF DAMAGE TO SIDEWALL. 3 TOTAL OCCURRENCES ON 2 DIFFERENT RIMS. TIRE DEALER "CLEANED UP" THE BEAD AREA AND REMOUNTED THE TIRE. LUCKILY ALL FAILURES EITHER OCCURRED AT LOW SPEEDS OR NOTICED WITH CAR PARKED. COULD NOT REINFLATE TIRE AS RIM WOULD NOT RESEAL WITHOUT REMOUNTING. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE HAS MANY ISSUES INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SLIPPING INTO NEUTRAL WHILE ACCELERATING, HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS, AND NOT GOING INTO THE CORRECT GEAR CAUSING SLOW TO NO ACCELERATION WHICH CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE GLS . WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND HEARD A CLICKING SOUND BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY START WHEN IT WAS JUMP STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED A SECOND TIME AND WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC STATED THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ALTERNATOR WAS REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MECHANIC STATED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE CONTINUED AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ALTERNATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,500. UPDATED 08/24/11*LJ UPDATED 3/05/2012 *LN

SUDDEN FAILURE OF ALL "POINTER GAUGES" IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $550 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, BUT SO FAR HAVE NOT FOLLOWED THROUGH. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS OR IDLING, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY HESITATE AND WOULD ATTEMPT TO STALL. THE DIGITAL CLOCK WOULD INDEPENDENTLY RESET TO MIDNIGHT AND THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE NEEDLE WOULD DROP TO ZERO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FUEL LEVEL GAUGE HAD NOT MOVED BACK UP SO THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF HOW MUCH FUEL WAS IN THE TANK. THE CONTACT SCHEDULED ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION IN WHICH THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACTS RESIDENCE AND HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

SUDDEN PERMANENT FAILURE OF SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER AND FUEL GAUGES. *TR

THE LIGHT ON MY DASH CAME ON FOR THE DRIVERS AIRBAG AND HAD IT CHECKED BY THE DEALER MARCH, 2010 FOR MY 2001 VW BEETLE 1.9 DIESEL. I WAS TOLD THE CHIP IN THE SEAT BELT HAD GONE BAD NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. APPROX. $175.00 THE SERVICE DEPT. CALLED VW AND THEY COULD NOT TELL ME IF MY DEFECTIVE CHIP IN THE SEATBELT WILL DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. 50% CHANCE IT MIGHT. I HAVE NOTICED ALL THE $ I HAVE PUT INTO THIS CAR VW GENERALLY IS NOT ON THE RECALL LISTS FOR ANYTHING. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHT BULBS GENERALLY BURN OUT EVERY YEAR AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED. VW DOESN'T TELL HOW TO CHANGE THE BULBS IN THE MANUAL. HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER TO SHOW HOW TO CHANGE A LIGHT BULB WHICH I FEEL IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER VW BECAUSE THEY DO NOT BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT. ALSO I KNOW THIS MY BE OLD INFORMATION BUT I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE I COULD REPORT THIS UNTIL I SAW SOMETHING IN THE PAPER. I DON'T KNOW MANY OTHER VW'S OUT THERE ARE WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM BUT I HAVE TALKED TO VW COMPLAINT DEPT. AND ALL THEY TOLD ME IS THAT THEY GO OFF OF DEALERS RECORDS. I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE IT BECAUSE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD EITHER DOES N'T CHANGE FOR FIXING OR VW FIXES SOME OF THE PROBLEMS IN THE NEXT MODELS COMING OUT OF WHICH I AM STUCK WITH THE PROBLEM. NO HELP FROM VW. *TR

EPC LIGHT ON,CAR LOOSING POWER. I HAVE CHANGE EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT COULD BE CHANGE TO FIX IT AND NOTHING. NOBODY KNOWS HOW TO FIX IT, NOBODY WANTS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.VW CORPORATION DON'T HAVE RECALLS FOR IT, AND NO DEALER OR MECHANIC KNOWS HOW TO FIX IT. *TR

WHY DON'T YOU HAVE A CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM FOR THE 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE COMPANY IS REPLACING THEM. I JUST HAD ONE INSTALLED AFTER HAVING THE ENGINE LIGHT INDICATE I HAD A PROBLEM. *TR

2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS!!!!!! *TR

I HAVE A 2001 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND TOOK TO A SHOP AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2001 VW BEETLE NEW AND I HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE SHOP 4 TIMES DUE TO SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHT. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ON-GOING PROBLEM EVEN AFTER VW MADE A RECALL AND SUPPOSEDLY "FIX" THE SEAT BELT PROBLEM. THIS VERY FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED THE CAR HAD LESS 1500 MILES ON IT. *TR

WHILE BEETLE DRIVEN BY MY WIFE IT WILL JUST SHUT DOWN!!! IT WILL ONLY CRANK BACK ON ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT WILL SHUT DOWN WHEREVER!!! I ALREADY SPEND 1350.00 DOLLARS. AND NOT YET FIXED! THE CAR HAS BEING PARK OUTSIDE OF MY HOUSE FOR LAS YEAR! AND STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT!!!! DEALER WILL NOT DO ANYTHING! *TR