2001 Volkswagen Beetle Complaint Log

MOST OF THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED DURING THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY. ON JAN 22ND, TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, ENGINE LOST POWER AND WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND THE POWER CUT FROM 55 TO ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR IN THE MATTER OF SECONDS. OTHER CARS WERE SWERVING AROUND ME AND I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED OUT. ON JAN 30TH THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, ONLY THIS TIME I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY BUT A SIDE STREET. CAR WAS TOWED AWAY AGAIN ANDIS IN THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR REPAIRS. DURING THIS MONTH NOT ONLY WAS AN ENGINE REPLACED BUT IT MALFUNCTIONED TWICE. IT IS DANGEROUS TO TRAVEL ON ANY HIGHWAY WITH THIS CAR. THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED TWICE IN ONE WEEK. I CAN NOT SAFELY RETURN TO DRIVING THIS CAR. I WAS ALMOST KILLED ONCE AND WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIUOS ACCIDENT. THE BEETLE HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS AND VERY MAJOR ONES. FOR A CAR THAT IS 8 MONTHS OLD, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.

HEADLIGHT IS BURNED OUT. TO REPLACE IT YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE FENDER OFF OF THE VEHICLE. A COWORKER OF MINE ALSO HAS A NEW BEETLE AND HIS HEADLIGHT BURNT OUT WITHIN A YEAR. ALSO DRIVING AROUND YOU CONSTANTLY SEE NEW BEETLES WITH BURNED OUT HEADLIGHTS. I THINK THIS MUST BE A MANUFACTUERER DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE TO NOTE THE DEALERSHIP WILL REPAIR IT FOR FREE SINCE THE CAR IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, HOWEVER I DON'T BELIEVE THE HEADLIGHTS SHOULD BURN OUT THIS FREQUENTLY.*AK

I HAVE A 2001 BEETLE WITH THE 1.8T ENGINE. MY CAR HAS BEEN DISABLED TWICE DUE TO DEFECTIVE COIL PACKS. RESEARCH ON THE VWVORTEX.COM WEBSITE REVEALED THERE IS A LARGE HISTORY OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE COIL PACKS WHICH CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME RENDERING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A SHORTAGE OF THIS PART (PART # 06B-905-115-J COIL) DUE TO THE VOLUME OF VEHICLES THAT HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. VWVORTEX IS RECOMMENDING OWNERS CONTACT NHTSA TO FACILITATE A RECALL OF COIL PACKS AS VW IS UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE AT THIS TIME. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THEY CAN FAIL WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

I USED THE SWITCH TO LOWER THE WINDOW ,HEARD A CLUNK,WINDOW FELL ALL THE WAY INSIDE THE DOOR.THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR VW AND THEY CONTINUE NOT TO REMEDY IT.ALL WINDOW REGULATORS ARE ON BACKORDER FOR 4 WEEKS SO THAT TELLS YOU SOMETHING. *AK

THE CONSUMER HAD A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN A SERIOUS INJURY TO THE PASSENGER. *YH THE CONSUMER STATED THE BELT TENSIONER DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED HIS INCREASED ACCELERATION OVER THE NORMAL FORCES .

HIT, WHILE STOPPING FOR STOPPED TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY, IN THE REAR BY A CAR TRAVELING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ($7800+) DONE TO REAR AND SIDE OF CAR. SIDE AIRBAG CURTAIN DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. FRONT DRIVERS AIRBAG ALSO DID NOT INFLATE. DRIVER SUFFERED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN CONSUMER OFF THE ROAD, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN OVER A CURB, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CLAIM 43-R829-345. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG THEN DEPLOYED, THERE WAS A SCRATCH ON THE WHEEL, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN, CLAIM 53-C850-661. *SLC

I RECEIVED THIS 2001 BEETLE AFTER SPEAKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP AND A VOLKSWAGEN REPRESENTATIVE, BECAUSE MY 2000 BEETLE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS WHICH COULD NOT BE FIXED. AFTER ABOUT 5 MONTHS, THIS 2001 BEETLE HAS HAD MANY PROBLEMS AND CONTINUES TO HAVE MANY PROBLEMS. I TOOK IT IN THE FIRST TIME ON JULY 26, 2001 FOR ENGINE PROBLEMS. THE DEALERSHIP THAT I TOOK IT TO FOR SERVICE SAID IT WAS A DEFECT AND THEY ORDERED MEPARTS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY DID ALSO FIND FAULTS WITH P1200 AND P0411 TECH BULLETINS. IT WAS ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE SECONDARY AIR INJECTION PUMP MOTOR WAS INOPERATIUVE. THEY REMOVED AND INSTALLED AN OVVERRUN CUT-OFF VALVE. THAT SAME DAY, THE WINDOW GLASS WAS FOUND OFF TRACK SO THEY REMOVED AND INSTALLED A FRONT DOOR TRIM PANEL AND THE WINDOW GLASS. THE CAR WAS BACK IN FOR THE ORDERED PARTS FOR THE ENGINE DEFECT ON A LATER DATE. ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER THOSE REPAIRS, MY AUTOMOBILE WAS IN FOR A FAULTY TRUNK LATCH AND MOTOR AND A MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRBAGS. THEY HAD TO ORDER PARTS FOR THAT AND SO MY CAR WAS IN ON A LATER DATE FOR THAT. THEY REPLACED THE LOWER TRUNK LATCH BINDING AND REMOVED AND INSTALLED LIFTGATE TRIM AND A REAR LOCK. THEY ALSO REPLACED THE AIR BAG MODULE, AS WELL AS REMOVING AND INSSTALLING AN AIR BAG CONTROL UNIT. THE CAR HAS OTHER PROBLEMS AS WELL. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND VIBRATES THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR. THE CAR HAS TROUBLE STARTING. IT HAS A HUM SOUND WHILE DRIVING. THE TURBO WING LIGHT COMES ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES. IT'S HAVING THE ALMOST ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS AS MY LAST BEETLE. I'M VERY ANGRY WITH THIS CAR AND I CAN'T SEEM TO GET ANY RELIEF. IT'S A LEASED AUTOMOBILE, THAT'S MY ONLY THING TO LOOK FORWARD TO, IS GETTING RID OF IT.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES DELAYS IN ACCELERATION ALMOST CAUSING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS. DEALER #1, LASHER VOLKSWAGON STATED PROBLEM WAS WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND REPLACED IT. VEHICLE STILL EXPERICENCED DELAYS IN ACCELERATION. DEALER #2, ROSEVILLE VOLKSWAGON STATED PROBLEM IS CONTAINED WITHIN THE VEHICLES SOFTWARE AND WILL TAKE 1 TO 3 MONTHS TO CORRECT. THIS VEHICLE IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK

THE BACK GLASS JUST EXPLODED INTO A MILLION PIECES WHILE IT WAS IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT.*AK

THERE IS A MAJOR DISTORTION IN THE CENTER OF THE REAR WINDOW. IT MAKES FRONT END OF OTHER VEHICLES LOOK LIKE CRUMBLED UP. FRONT WINDSHIELD AT BOTTOM HAS A MAJOR DISTORTION WHICH EXTENDS VISION 15 FEET IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER WILL BE CONTACTNG MANUFACTURER. *AK THE DEFECT IN REAR WINDOW WAS NOTICABLE ONLY TO TALLER PERSONS ACCORDING TO THE CONSUMER. *YH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE DROVE 35 MPH OR MORE AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THEY ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE; YET, THE ONE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS AIMED LOWER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS AIMED HIGHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY WHO ADJUSTED THE HEADLIGHTS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

VEHICLE WILL START OFF OKAY, BUT THEN IT WOULD DIE/STALL. PROBLEM WAS INTREMITTENT. IT SHUT OFF FOR ABOUT10 SECONDS OR MORE. *AK DEALER REPLACED RELAY, HOWEVER VEHICLE HAS STALLED 4 MORE TIMES, POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK

HEADLIGHTS STARTED BROWNING OUT ON DECELERATION AT 100 MILES. DEALER COULD NOT VERIFY. AT 35,000 MILES, HEADLIGHTS FLASHED ALL THE TIME. AT COLD START ENGINE FAN WOULD COME ON, THEN HEADLIGHTS WOULD DIM AND FAN WOULD RUN, THEN HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME BACK NORMAL AND FAN WOULD STOP. THIS HAPPENS AT 3 SECOND INTERVALS. DEALER REPLASED GROUNDS AND HARNESS. FAN STOPPED CYCLING BUT HEADLIGHTS STILL DIMMED, UNTIL ONE MORNING THE COLD LIGHT WENT OUT AND ALSO BLEW A HEADLIGHT. NOW NO DIMMING AND NO FAN TROUBLE. DEALER REPLACED HEADLIGHT BULB AND THE PROBLEM STARTED AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS THE FLASHING LIGHTS MEZMORIZE YOU WHEN YOU DRIVE. PROBLEM 2: CAR WILL START AND DIE THREE TIMES , RUNNING ROUGH BEFORE IT WILL STAY RUNNING. DEALER SAYS TO USE 87 OCTANE FUEL. CAR MANUAL SAYS 93 OCTANE AND HAS USED 93 SINCE NEW. DEALER SUGGESTED ADDITIVES AT MY COST!!! SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN LOW TEMPS AND AT HIGH TEMPS, 70 DEGREES IS OK!. I LIVE IN MAINE, NO SUCH LUCK.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 10MPH ON A SIDE STREET AT A TRAFFIC STOP, AND WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN, HE APPLIED GAS AND STEERING WHEEL COLUMN LOCKED UP. HE COULDN'T TURN STEERING LEFT OR RIGHT. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. ALSO, TRANSMISSION LEAKS COOLANT, AND WHEELS LOCKED UP. *AK

MASS AIRFLOW SENSOR FAILURE. I HAVE HAD 4 FAIL, AND THE DEALER HAS JUST BEEN REPLACING THESE. I HAVE COME TO THE POINT OF JUST DISABLEING THIS SENSOR AND RUNNING OFF OF THE MANIFOLD ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR. SEVERAL CARS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. *AK

WAS DRIVING 40MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED IN FRONT OF VOLKSWAGEN. OTHER VEHICLE WAS "T" BONED. UPON IMPACT, NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES & HAD EMERGENCY TREATMENT. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT DRIVER SIDE OUTSIDE MIRROR IS POSITION TO HIGH. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES DELAY IN ACCELERATION ALMOST CAUSING SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN USING A STEPPING MOTOR THAT CAN CREATE A LAG TIME DURING ACCELERATION. *SLC

2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNAL /HAZARD WARNING SWITCH RELAY. CUSTOMER STATES THAT HIS TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE. HE ALSO STATES HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE TO SEND THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH TO FOR ENGINEERING ANALYSIS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ON HIS VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO A RECALL, HOWEVER THE RECALL PERTAINS TO OTHER 2001 VOLKSWAGENS. *JB

2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH TURN SIGNAL PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH RENDERED THE TURN SIGNALS INOPERATIVE OR INTERMITTENT**CC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO HIGH CURRENT LOADS FROM THE BULBS USED THAT WERE OVERHEATING THE RELAY. *JB

WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHES FORWARD. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY AND SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES CONSECUTIVELY. IN ONE INSTANCE, THE CAR THRUST FORWARD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.*AK

EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON///CAR LOSES POWER......EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS MOST OF MY DRIVE TO WORK IS ON FREEWAY...HAPPENED 7/4 AND 7/5..TAKEN INTO METRO VW 7/5....TOLD OT PROBLEMS FOUND....HAPPENED AGAIN 7/9 RETURNED TO METRO VW/CHECKED/NOTHING WRONG....HAPPENED AGAIN 7/12/13...ETURNED TO METRO VW....THROTTLE REPLACED....HAPPENED AGAIN 7/12 7/13 AGAIN TO METRO VW THROTTLE BODY REPLACED......HAPPENED AGAIN 7/30 THROTTLE BODY REPLACED.....AGAIN 9/10 9/11...CONTROL MOD. REPLACED AGAIN 9/12...THOUGHT I WAS GOIN TO DIE THIS TIME....WHEN LOST POWER 18 WHEELER WAS TURNIN MY WAY.....AGAIN TO METRO VW.....WORKED ON WIRING OVERLAY....WAITIN TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!!*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE THROTTLE PEDAL SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *NLM

THE BRAKE BOOSTER SPRING FAILED CAUSING THE BRAKES TO BE ENGAGED WHILE DRIVING. THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER UNIT HAD TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH

VEHICLE IS PULLING TO THE LEFT WHEN BRAKING. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE EQUIPMENT ON 2001 BEETLE. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED WITH THE FACT THAT THE SERVICE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 17 DAYS TO FIX THE BRAKE PROBLEM. *SCC *JB

THE VEHICLES DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS/HEADLIGHT HAVE ONE SWITCH WHICH CONTINUOUSLY BURNED OUT AND RESULTED IN NO HEAD LIGHTS. *NLM

WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE BEGAN TO MISFIRE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH THEN IT STAYED ON. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RIDE VERY ROUGH. TOOK TO DELAER AND DEALER STATED COIL PACKS HAD FAILED. TS

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ACROSS A BRIDGE, ONE OF HIS ENGINES DIED LEAVING HIM WITH VERY LITTLE POWER. HE STATES THAT THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED TO HIM. HE HAD IT REPAIRED UNDER THE WARRANTY, BUT IT MAY HAPPEN AGAIN, OR WITH OTHER PEOPLE, WHICH IS A HIGH RISK FOR AN ACCIDENT IF THE AUTO STOPS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. TS

CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN SLOWLY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED ON A HILL. ALSO THE BRAKES CAUSE A JOLTING STOP. *YH

DEALER SAYS AIR BAG MUST BE REPLACED. NEVER DEPLOYED. SHOULD IT NOT LAST LONGER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON A BRIDGE AT 50 MPH WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND REQUESTED CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO RECEIVE A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK.*AKL

WHILE DRIVING 40MPH THE CAR HIT GRAVEL/ SPET OFF THE SIDE OF ROAD, AND CAUSED PASSENGER'S SIDE TO HIT A TREE. NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED TOTALED.*AK

REAR SEATBELTED PASSENGERS HIT THEIR HEADS ON NON-CUSHIONED REAR PILLARS DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ON A BUMPY ROAD, BOTH REAR PASSENGERS CAN GET PAINFUL BUMPS ON THEIR HEADS. AT THE VERY LEAST THE PILLARS SHOULD BE CUSHIONED. I SPOKE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY UNFORTUNATELY COULD NOT RECOMMEND A SOLUTION. THIS REMINDS ME OF THE OBSOLETE HARD/RIGID DASHBOARDS ON OLD CARS.

CONSUMER STATES THE REAR WINDOW CAN NOT BE CLEARED OF RAIN, DEW, FOG OR MOISTURE THAT ACCUMULATES ON THE WINDOW WHEN THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN MOTION, EVEN AFTER THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION UNDER CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS, THE REAR WINDOW VISION REMAINS OBSCURED, CONSUMER HAS DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER AND THEY SUGGESTED THAT A CHEMICAL BE APPLIED TO THE REAR WINDOW THAT WILL FACILITATE REMOVAL OF MOISTURE FROM THE WINDOW, BUT THAT SOLUTION IS EFFECTIVE ONLY AFTER THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT A WIPER BE INSTALLED FOR THE REAR WINDOW AT HIS EXPENSE, BUT DEALER REFUSED TO DO SO.*ET

FUEL LEAKAGE DUE TO A PUNCTURE IN PLASTIC FUEL TANK. THERE IS NO PROTECTION OR BARRIER FOR LOW POSITIONED FUEL TANK . *AK