There are 31 stored owner reports matching the electrical system leading-label group for the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle in our NHTSA-sourced dataset. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
This group counts stored reports whose component label starts with one of this site's matching prefixes, ignoring case. Each matching report counts once within the group. Components mentioned later in the label or only in the narrative are not searched. How component counts work
Loaded 31 of 31 matching reports. The list controls page through the loaded reports only.
Open the full vehicle complaint log (all categories)CONTINUED HEADLAMP FAILURE RE: HEADLAMP COVER GLASS / LEXAN COMES OFF AND FLYS OFF OF CAR. SEVERAL OWNERS REPORT SAME PROBLEM. CREATES HAZERDOUS DEBRIS WHEN IT HAPPENS ON HIGHWAY AND ALSO EXPOSES HEADLAMP LIGHTS DIRECTLY TO WEATHER AND CAUSES FAILURE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BATTERY AND ABS INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND WAS MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUSE BOX WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. LEITH VOLKSWAGEN OF CARY (2300 AUTOPARK BLVD, CARY, NC 27511, (919) 842-5624) AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 157,000.
POWER PASSENGER SIDE REAR WINDOW. STOPPED 3/4 OF WAY UP, HEARD A "CRACK". ROLLED DOWN AND NO LONGER WORKS.
THE FUSE BOX IS BURNING BECAUSE SOME CABLES ARE TOO SMALL AND ACCORDING TO THE MECHANICS, IT IS SOMETHING EXTREMELY COMMON BUT ACCORDING TO ME, IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2015, FEBRUARY 29, 2016 THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T START, HAD MY SONS JUMP IT AND DROVE IT TO WORK, AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF TRIED TO START AGAIN RIGHT AWAY, VEHICLE DEAD. MADE AN APPOINTMENT MARCH 4, 2016 WITH VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP, THEY STATED THAT THE ISSUE IS A BURNT ALTERNATOR CABLE AND MELTED FUSE BOX. AFTER READING NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS ONLINE, IT SEEMS THAT IS GOES OUT BETWEEN 70,000 - 80,000 MILES, MY VEHICLE HAD 79,000 MILES WHEN IT HAPPENED. VOLKSWAGEN ISN'T DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT EVEN THOUGH IT IS A COMMON COMPLAINT I'VE SEEN...WANTING VOLKSWAGEN TO PAY FOR REPAIR...VERY FRUSTRATED, DON'T THINK I WOULD OWN ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN AGAIN!...IF THIS IS THE WAY THEY TREAT CUSTOMERS. THERE WASN'T A FIRE, BUT IT COULD'VE HAPPENED, ISN'T VOLKSWAGEN CONCERNED ABOUT INDIVIDUALS SAFETY, THINK THEY SHOULD RESOLVE THE ISSUE BY PROVIDING A DIFFERENT SOLUTION TO HOW THE VEHICLE IS DESIGNED PERTAINING TO THE FUSE BOX, ETC.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR CABLE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
IT STARTED WITH THE BATTERY LIGHT COMING ON. I MADE IT HOME. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART, DEAD. I FIRST ASSUMED THE BATTERY NEEDED TO RECHARGE AND DID THAT. IT WOULDN'T HOLD A CHARGE. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE FUSE BLOCK ON TOP THE BATTERY, IT WAS MELTED! ALONG WITH THE WIRE GOING TO THE ALTERNATOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT WITH THESE VEHICLES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO NOTICED THE BATTERY FUSE BOX WAS HEATED AND POTENTIALLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,300.
ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE. VEHICLE ACTED AS IF THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. OPENED HOOD AND FOUND A PARTIALLY MELTED FUSE BOX FUSES, BURN MARKS AND MELTED WIRES. *TR
MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE AC STOPPED BLOWING COLD AIR. I ALSO NOTICED A BEEP SOUND THAT WOULD COME ON WHEN I TURNED THE HEADLIGHTS ON BUT THE SOUND WOULD TURN OFF AND ON WHILE I DROVE. THEN THE ALARM STOPPED WORKING AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED, THE RADIO ALSO GAVE OUT AND THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO HESITATE WHILE DRIVING IT. I CHECKED THE FUSE BOX ON THE BATTERY AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SLOT WHERE THE FUSE SLIPS INTO ON TOP OF THE VEHICLE BATTERY WAS MELTED AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ON THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP COVER LIKE SOME TYPE OF GAS OR FUMES HAD ESCAPED THE BATTERY AND SPRAYED THE HEADLAMPCOVER. I CHANGED THE FUSES AROUND AND GOT THE AC GOING AGAIN, THEN I CHANGED THEM ALL OUT, AND EVERYTHING WORKED GREAT FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS, THEN THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WENT OUT AGAIN, THE ALARM STOPPED WORKING, RADIO IS OUT, THE BEEPING SOUND IS BACK AND WHEN I CHECKED THE FUSE, IT WAS MELTING AGAIN. I AM AFRAID THAT WHILE IN THE VEHICLE WITH MY CHILDREN I WILL HAVE A MALFUNCTION AND BE INJURED. I JUST PAID OFF THE VEHICLE... WHAT A GIFT FOR PAYING OFF A VEHICLE... SEEMS LIKE EVERYTHING IN AND ON THAT VEHICLE IS A HAZARD AND AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.. ITS SAD BECAUSE I USE TO LOVE MY NEW BEETLE. *TR
MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR. INITIALLY THE HEADLIGHT WAS BURNT OUT. ORDERED A NEW HEADLIGHT AND INSTALLED IT AND IT WORKED FINE FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. THEN MY DAUGHTER DROVE THE CAR APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES. WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT HER DESTINATION SHE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CAR OFF BUT THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. WHEN I ARRIVED I COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING AND THE CAR BATTERY WAS NOW DEAD. I HAD THE BATTERY JUMPED BUT NOW THE HEADLIGHT THAT I JUST REPLACED WAS NOT WORKING AGAIN, AND NOW THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND THE RUNNING LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. THE NEXT MORNING THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AGAIN. WHEN WE FINALLY GOT OVER TO THE MECHANIC THE WIRING WAS COMPLETELY MELTED AND THE HEADLAMP MODULATOR WAS BLOWN. THE WINDOW WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR WAS MELTED AND RUINED. AFTER ABOUT $1000 IN REPAIRS THE MECHANIC IS EXPLAINING THIS IS JUST THE ONE SIDE, THE WIRING FOR THE OTHER SIDE IS GOING TO NEED TO BE REPLACED IN NEXT 6 MONTHS OR SO. HE EXPLAINED THIS IS A COMMON OCCCURANCE WITH THESE CARS. I AM HONESTLY AFRAID TO ALLOW MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE THE CAR AS IT SEEMS IT IS A FIRE HAZARD. *JS
THE BATTERY TO ALTERNATOR WIRE ON THESE CARS OVERHEATS AND CATCHES FIRE. I OWN A CAR DEALERSHIP AND JUST HAD IT HAPPEN TO ME. I WAS LUCKY AND STOPPED ANYTHING HORRIBLE FROM HAPPENING BUT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT KNOW ENOUGH TO STOP IT OR THAT IT WAS HAPPENING. THESE CARS ARE A HUGE FIRE HAZARD AND YOU NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL. CHECK THE PICTURES OF BURNED CARS ON GOOGLE. YOU WONT FIND ONE COMPLAINT BUT MANY AND PLENTY OF BURNED CARS. SO I ASK THAT YOU DO YOUR BEST TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE CAR I OWN HAS A HISTORY OF THE ALTERNATOR BEING SERVICED. OBVIOUSLY A RECALL ISSUE THAT MAYBE VW SHOULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX INSTEAD A BAND AID AND OUT THE DOOR. CHECK CAR FAX ON THIS CAR. IF SOMEONE LET THERE CAR WARM THEY COULD BURN DOWN THERE HOUSE. I AM GOING TO REROUTE THIS WIRE AND REPLACE IT WITH A BETTER GRADE OF WIRE. *TR
THE BACK PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR WAS REPLACED. TODAY 12/09/14 NOT THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR NEEDS REPLACED. I THINK THIS IS FAULTY. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL VW REPAIR DEALERSHIP. *TR
THE BATTERY FUSE BOX THE FUSE TO THE ALTERNATOR HAS MELTED 3 TIMES WITHIN THE LAST 2 MONTHS COSTING ME OVER 1000.00 IN REPAIRS. BATTERY REPLACED,ALTERNATOR REPLACE VOLTAGE REGULATOR REPLACED, ALTER. HARNESS REPLACED AND NUMEROUS OTHER THINGS BUT FUSE KEEPS BLOWING AND MELTS FUSE BOX AND CAR DIES LOSES COMPLETE POWERWITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS A POTIENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THERE ARE DOZEN OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED. *TR
2004 VW TURBO BEETLE--AFTER LAST TWO DEALER SERVICING THE CAR DIES ON TURNS--DASH LIGHTS COME ON, NO POWER STEERING. CAR REGAINS POWER IN @ 2 SECONDS. A DEFINITE SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALER AND VW AMERICA WANT TO START REPLACING PARTS AND SEE WHAT WORKS AT MY EXPENSE. HAVE BEEN WITHOUT MY CAR FOR THREE WEEKS. *TR
MY 2004 VW BEETLE TURBO CONVERTIBLE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE THEN STALLED OUT, SMOKE CAME OUT OF ENGINE HOOD, EMBERS FELL BELOW CAR, SMOKE CONTINUED TO POOR OUT OF ENGINE HOOD, FLAMES CAME OUT OF ENGINE HOOD, 911 CALLED AND FIRE DEPT AND FIRE MARSHALL PUT OUT FIRE. I AM NOW WAITING TO HEAR FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE FUSE BOX AND THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE ALTERNATOR BURNED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 84,000.
THE REAR WINDOW REGULATORS WENT OUT ON BOTH WINDOWS, CONVERTIBLE TOP WON'T WORK 90% OF THE TIME. REPLACED HEADLIGHT 4 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. *LN
THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT AND SHUT DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. AND FRONT HEADLIGHT GOES OFF AND ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *TR
WIRING HARNESS INSIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WIRES CRACK AND CORRODE AND CAUSES HEADLIGHT TO PERIODICALLY GO ON AND OFF. CORROSION SEEMS TO BE DUE TO THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF METALS IN THE WIRING. WHEN THE SAME TYPE OF METAL IS USED TO RECONNECT THE WIRES THE PROBLEM IS SOLVED. *TR
Showing 1-20 of 31 loaded complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
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Vehicle import recorded: Apr 28, 2026. This is the stored import date, not confirmation that every source was successfully refreshed.