TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE DRIVING. THE WIRES UNDER THE SEAT BEGAN EMITTING SMOKE AND THE PLASTIC COATING WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY WARNING WHILE DRIVING. THE WIRES UNDER THE SEAT BEGAN EMITTING SMOKE AND THE PLASTIC COATING WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,610.
NHTSA ODI #10402974
Mileage unknown · May 14, 2011
Air BagsCrashInjury
MY CAR WAS REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. NONE OF MY AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND MY FIANCE, WHO WAS DRIVING, SUSTAINED A SPRAINED NECK AND A CONCUSSION AS A RESULT OF HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10400876
69,896 miles · Apr 15, 2011
Air Bags
THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT TO SAFERCAR.GOV AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY CONTACT FROM ANYONE ON THIS MATTER. ALL I WANT IS FOR MY AIR BAG SYSTEM TO BE FIXED FOR FREE BY VW IN STOCKTON CA. MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN FOUR YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD THE 03 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND EVERY TIME, VW HAS FOUND THAT THE SENSO…
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THIS IS MY SECOND COMPLAINT TO SAFERCAR.GOV AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY CONTACT FROM ANYONE ON THIS MATTER. ALL I WANT IS FOR MY AIR BAG SYSTEM TO BE FIXED FOR FREE BY VW IN STOCKTON CA. MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN FOUR YEARS THAT I HAVE HAD THE 03 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND EVERY TIME, VW HAS FOUND THAT THE SENSOR IS AT FAULT. NOW THIS TIME, VW WANTS TO CHARGE ME 678.00 TO FIX IT. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS. IT IS 00003 CONTROL MODULE DEFECTIVE. I AM EXTREMELY ANGRY THAT THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS KNOWING THAT THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. VW KNOWS THAT MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON AND THEY SUPPOSEDLY FIX THE SENSORS FREE OF CHARGE EACH TIME, BUT THIS TIME, THEY WILL NOT. THEY NEED TO MAKE A RECALL ON THIS THING. IM SICK AND TIRED OF HAVING TO HAVE MY CAR SERVICED OVER A LIGHT. PLEASE HELP ME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10395963
136,300 miles · Apr 5, 2011
Air BagsSeat Belts
WHEN THE ENGINE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND STAYS ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT GOES OFF AFTER THE CAR IS STARTED EVEN WHEN NO SEATBELTS ARE PUT ON. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V178000, ALTHOUGH THE FAILURE SYMPTOMS SEEM SIMILAR.
NHTSA ODI #10394951
69,896 miles · Mar 5, 2011
Air Bags
1) I DRIVED MY CAR AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN MARCH 2007. THE FOLLOWING THREE TIMES THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, WAS WHEN I WOULD START MY CAR UP. 2) MARCH 2007-FIRST TIME AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON:HAMMER LANE VW CHARGED ME FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. DECEMBER 2007-AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN:ELK GROVE VW DID NOT CHARGE ME JAN 2008-AIR BAG …
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1) I DRIVED MY CAR AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON IN MARCH 2007. THE FOLLOWING THREE TIMES THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, WAS WHEN I WOULD START MY CAR UP. 2) MARCH 2007-FIRST TIME AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON:HAMMER LANE VW CHARGED ME FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. DECEMBER 2007-AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN:ELK GROVE VW DID NOT CHARGE ME JAN 2008-AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN:ELK GROVE VW DID NOT CHARGE ME JUNE 2008-AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN:ELK GROVE VW DID NOT CHARGE ME SEPTEMBER 2009-AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN:ELK GROVE VW WANTS TO CHARGE ME 230.00 FOR LABOR AND 678.63 FOR PARTS TO FIX AIR BAG LIGHT AND KERRY FROM VW STATES THAT THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL. THE SELF DIAGNOSIS PROTOCOL SAYS 00003 CONTROL MODULE DEFECTIVE AND 00532 SUPPLY VOLTAGE LOWER LIMIT NOT REACHED SPORADIC. THE SOFTWARE PART NUMBER IS 6Q0909605E 3)BOB FROM BOB'S GERMAN AUTO REPAIR REPLACED AIR BAG SENSOR PASS SIDE FRONT THE FIRST TIME. SECOND TIME: ELK GROVE REPLACED AND REPLACED SEAT BELT DRIVERSIDE AND RESET FAULTS. THIRD TIME:ELK GROVE VW REPLACED SENSOR IN PASSENGER SIDE SEAT. FOURTH TIME: I DECLINED SERVICE FROM ELK GROVE VW AND THEY CHARGED ME 115.00 FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. I DON'T THINK THAT THIS IS FAIR AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS HASSLE AND PAY UNFAIR FEES WHEN THERE IS RECALLS ON THIS BEETLES ALL OF THE TIME. IM YOUNG AND I AM GOING TO COLLEGE. I DON'T HAVE THE TIME AND THE MONEY TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THIS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10386523
46,900 miles · Feb 13, 2011
Air Bags
AFTER STARTING THE CAR, AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUES TO STAY ON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN ONE YEAR THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS FIRST TIME THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON THE DRIVER SIDE SENSOR UNDER THE SEAT WAS REPLACED AT DEALER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10381729
75,347 miles · Nov 9, 2010
Air BagsLatches/locks/linkagesPower Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN SHE CHANGED GEARS. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT ALSO …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN SHE CHANGED GEARS. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR MOTORS FAILED; THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED AND WERE REPAIRED AT A REPAIR SHOP. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS BEGINNING TO DETACH FROM THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,347 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,800.
NHTSA ODI #10365120
93,000 miles · Oct 22, 2010
Air Bags
TURNED ON MY CAR AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF ON THE DASH BOARD PANEL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10361836
60,000 miles · Jul 2, 2010
Air Bags
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO ILLUMINATE APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. THE DEALER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS ALSO REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS RECEN…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO ILLUMINATE APPROXIMATELY 2 YEARS AGO. THE DEALER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS ALSO REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE LIGHT WOULD CONTINUE TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS RECENTLY TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE AIR BAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THAT REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 95,000.
NHTSA ODI #10341219
65,000 miles · Apr 15, 2010
Air BagsStructure
THE PLASTIC WINDOW IS SEPARATING FROM THE CLOTH TOP OF MY CONVERTIBLE VW. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BLOWING BULBS AND THE SENSOR LIGHT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG STAYS ON. AFTER FIXING THE LIGHT ONE TIME, THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS SAID IT WAS THE SEATBELT CONNECTOR PROBLEM. THEY JUST WANT MONEY, MONEY , MONEY AND I AM…
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THE PLASTIC WINDOW IS SEPARATING FROM THE CLOTH TOP OF MY CONVERTIBLE VW. ALSO, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BLOWING BULBS AND THE SENSOR LIGHT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG STAYS ON. AFTER FIXING THE LIGHT ONE TIME, THE DEALERSHIP MECHANICS SAID IT WAS THE SEATBELT CONNECTOR PROBLEM. THEY JUST WANT MONEY, MONEY , MONEY AND I AM STUCK WITH A VOLKSWAGEN THAT IS NOT FUNCTIONAL FOR DAILY USE. *TR
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 76,900 MY 2004-2005 NEW BEETLE AND MY 2003-2005 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED (DUAL-STAGE) AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM MAY HAVE AIR BAG FRONTAL CRASH SENSORS THAT CONTAIN A SOLDER JOINT ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. IF THIS OCCURS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE FALLBACK ALGORITHM WILL ENSURE THAT THE FRONT AIR BAGS ALWAYS DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH IN WHICH THE VEHICLE'S DECELERATION IS HIGH ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN LOW-SEVERITY FRONTAL IMPACTS, THE FRONT AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY MORE FORCEFULLY THAN DESIGNED, INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO OUT-OF-POSITION FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT EACH VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE SPECIFIC DEFECT CRASH SENSOR IS PRESENT ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THE DEFECT CRASH SENSORS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 31, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE08012 · Front Air Bag Crash Sensor Failure
Opened Feb 15, 2008 · Closed Apr 24, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
CERTAIN SUBJECT VEHICLES, MODEL YEAR (MY) 2003 CONVERTIBLE AND MY 2004 SEDAN AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED DUAL-STAGE AIR BAG SYSTEM.THE AIR BAG CRASH SENSORS (#1F0 909 606) CONTAIN A SOLDER JOINT ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS.IF THIS OCCURS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE CONTROL MODULE WILL ENABLE A FALLBACK ALGORITHM THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE FRONT AIR BAG ALWAYS DEPLOYS IN A FRONTAL CRASH IN WHICH THE VEHICLE'S DECELERATION IS HIGH ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS.HOWEVER, IN LOW-SEVERITY FRONTAL IMPACTS, THE FRONT AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY MORE FORCEFULLY THAN DESIGNED, INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO OUT-OF-POSITION FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSPECT FOR THE DEFECTIVE CRASH SENSOR AND REPLACE WITH AN UPDATED DESIGN.IN ADDITION, 16,177 EARLY-MY 2005 NEW BEETLE SEDAN AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES (BUILT THROUGH OCT 31, 2004) ARE ALSO INCLUDED IN THE RECALL CAMPAIGN.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS CLOSED (SEE RECALL 08V-178)
2003 Volkswagen Beetle Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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