2005 Volkswagen Beetle Visibility & Wipers Problems

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

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

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

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

REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP. AUTOMATICALLY WENT BACK DOWN, AND THEN I HEAR WHAT SOUNDS LIKE GLASS BREAKING! THINK THERE ARE PLASTIC PARTS DOWN IN WINDOW THAT WERE ACTUALLY TEARING UP! HAD SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND WAS HOPING MY BUG WAS NOT A LEMON LIKE SO MANY OTHERS! VW HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM REPEATEDLY, BUT STILL CONTINUES TO DO NOTHING BUT CHARGE AN ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT TO "FIX" (PUT A BANDAGE ON IT) ! LOVE MY BUG, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS! SERIOUSLY THINKING OF GETTING RID OF IT BEFORE SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS! *TR

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW WON'T ROLL UP ENTIRELY. SOUNDS LIKE THE MOTOR STILL WORKS, BUT WHEN IT WOULDN'T ROLL UP, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE, LIKE GLASS BREAKING. HAVE SEEN THIS BE AN ISSUE ON MULTIPLE FORUMS. IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE A RECALL? *TR

DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW FELL DOWN. I'M TOLD THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR SNAPPED AND THEY HAVE TO REPAIR IT. FOR $600! FROM WHAT I'VE READ ONLINE, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 05 MODEL. IT'S A SHAME THAT VOLKSWAGEN DOESN'T STAND BEHIND THIS AND PUT OUT A RECALL. *TR

REAR POWER WINDOWS NOT BEHAVING. ON PASSENGER SIDE, IT DOESN'T MOVE AT ALL - LOTS OF SCRATCHING NOISES. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHEN POWERED 'UP' THE WINDOW GOES UP HALFWAY, THEN IMMEDIATELY BACK DOWN. THE REGISTER APPEARS TO WORK BUT HAS A WILL OF ITS OWN. AT PRESENT, THE FIRST WINDOW CAN BE CLOSED MANUALLY, THE SECOND (DRIVER'S SIDE) WILL NOT CLOSE AT ALL. THERE APPEARS TO BE A GREAT DEAL OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THE REAR WINDOWS ON SEVERAL YEARS OF THE VW NB - THAT'S WHY I'M GOING IN THE RECALL DIRECTION. THERE IS CLEARLY A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM IN THIS AREA OF THE CAR. *TR

THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR WINDOWS AND REAR WINDOW REGULATORS IN THE NEW BEETLES FROM 2003-2010. I HAVE EXPERIENCED AND READ NUMEROUS TESTIMONIALS THAT INDICATE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT VW IS MAKING MONEY REPAIRING. *TR

THE DRIVERS REAR WINDOW WENT DOWN AND WOULD NOT COME BACK UP. *TR

DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW DROPPED AND COULD NOT BE RAISED. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO THE DRIVER FRONT WINDOW DID THE SAME THING. *TR

2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. REAR WINDOWS REGULATOR/MOTORS BROKE. VW ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FRONT WINDOWS (7 YEARS) REAR WINDOWS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER WANTS $700.00 PER SIDE TO FIX. WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN ON COMMAND. OFTEN FALL ON THEIR OWN AFTER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR

ACCORDING TO ALL THE INFO I HAVE GATHERED. IT SEEMS MY CAR ,ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS WAY TOO OFTEN FOR IT NOT TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE OWNERS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. WHEN IT IS A FAULT OF THE VW MAKERS. MY REAR PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATOR IS BROKEN. SOMETHING SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. VW IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BAD MECHANICAL DESIGN OF THE WINDOWS IN THESE VEHICLES. WHY SHOULD WE (AS CONSUMERS)HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR SCREW UP?[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR STOPPED WORKING IN JULY 2012. IN OCTOBER 2012 THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR STOPPED WORKING. BOTH HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED BUT WAS BOUGHT USED. VW DEALER COVERS NOTHING BUT CHARGES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT TO FIX. READING OTHER BLOGS THERE ARE MANY, MANY WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND VW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE REAR WINDOW REGULATORS. THE REAR WINDOWS NOT WORKING MEANS YOU CAN NOT PUT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DOWN WITHOUT RISKING FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR. *TR

REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT AND WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP. *TR

REAR QUARTER WINDOWS ON NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE (NBC): FAILURE TO PROPERLY RAISE/LOWER, GRINDING NOISE FROM INSIDE PANEL BEHIND SPEAKERS, DISASSEMBLY FOUND BROKEN CABLE RETAINER COMPONENT, COMPONENT MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC, KNOWN PROBLEM AMONG NBC OWNERS, $600+ REPAIR FOR EACH SIDE, SIMPLE CORRECTION WOULD BE TO MAKE THIS COMPONENT OUT OF AIRCRAFT GRADE ALUMINUM, BOTH SIDES HAVE FAILED ON MY DAUGHTER'S CAR------------ LIGHTING: FREQUENT REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM BULBS (DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE), CONSISTENTLY FAILING, HAVE REPLACED FIVE BULBS IN LAST 1.5 YEARS, NO FAULT CODES THROWN, MECHANIC HYPOTHESIZED IT MAY BE DUE TO A VOLTAGE SURGE, PROBLEM NOT ASSOCIATED WITH TOUCHING THE BULB (CAUSING THEM TO FAIL DUE TO OILS ON FINGERS) AS I USE NITRILE GLOVES WHEN HANDLING AND INSTALLING THE BULBS. *TR

REAR WINDOW REGULATORS WENT OUT. *TR

MY PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDS TO BE FIXED $400-500. OK, BUT I ALREADY REPLACED THE ONE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WINDOW. I AM READING THIS IS A PROBLEM. SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *TR

WE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT MY GRANDDAUGHTERS 2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE VIN/[XXX] CURRENTLY IN SHOP FOR FRONT DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW RELAY PROBLEM. WAS ADVISED THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON SOME VW BEETLES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THIS WAS NOT ONE OF THE RECALLED ONES. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT APPEARS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN , SEEMS THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WE HAVE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TR

LEFT REAR WINDOW REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY 3/11, WARRANTY ENDED 5/11, RIGHT REGULATOR GOES OUT 8/11. EVERY TIME THE DOORS OPEN ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS ACTIVATE. APROX 100 TO 200 CYCLES SEPARATE THE FAILURES. *TR