2003 Volkswagen Beetle

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY 2003 VW BEETLE WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN APRIL OF 2003. I HAVE JUST OVER 60K MILES AND IT APPEARS THAT MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. I HAVE TAKEN IT A REPUTABLE MECHANIC WHO TELLS ME IT COULD BE APPROX $3000 TO FIX IT. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VW'S AND I THINK THAT VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS AND PAY TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. *TR

MY COMPLAINT CONCERN OUR VW BEETLE AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR BACK IN JANUARY 2008 I RECEIVED A EMAIL FROM SAFETY ENGINEER STEVE CHAN REGARDING A INVESTIGATION WHICH SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS HAD BEEN FILED WITH THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMIN REGARDING THE SAME MATTER. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE SENSORS. WE DID HAVE OUR REPLACE ON OUR 2003 VW BEETLE WHICH WE GOT REIMBURSTMENT. HOWEVER NOW, AGAIN THE SAME (FRONT) CRASH AIRBAG SENSOR HAVE WENT OUT (FAIL) AGAIN. OUR VEHICLE IS BEEN SERVICE AT MURRITEIA VW SERVICE ADVISOR STEVE (951) 894-6555 EXT 1358 DUE TO CONSIST FAILURE OF THIS MANUFACTURER PART. I FEAR THAT MY LIFE IS IN DANGER EVERY TIME I DRIVE OUR VW BEETLE VEHICLE. I FEEL THIS GREAT BIG SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

OVER THE LAST MONTH OR TWO MY WIFE'S 2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT PROGRESSIVELY HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. DEALER SAYS TRANS IS BAD WITH ONLY 120K MILES. TRANS IS NON SERVICEABLE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING TRANS SLAMS BETWEEN GEARS MAKING CAR UNDRIVABLE. DEALER WANTS $6500 TO REPLACE. FORUMS ON THE INTERNET CLAIM THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR YEARS AND VW IS NOT DOING SQUAT ABOUT IT. $6500 TO FIX A '!@#$% TRANSMISSION IS RIDICULOUS. WHEN WILL THERE BE A RECALL. THIS IS UNSAFE! *TR

THE WINDOW REGULATOR ON THE 2003 AND 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLES DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT DOES NOT ALLOW THE WINDOW TO GO DOWN ENOUGH OR SOMETIMES NOT AT ALL. THIS CAUSES THE WINDOW TO RUB AGAINST THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. I NOW HAVE A SMALL TEAR IN MY TOP, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A LARGER TEAR OR POSSIBLE BREAKDOWN OF MY CONVERTIBLE TOP, RENDERING THE CAR UNDRIVEABLE IN MY MINNESOTA CLIMATE. THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME WITH THESE CARS AND VW REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESIGN FLAW. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AS THE REGULATOR CAN COST UP TO $700 PER SIDE TO FIX. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS FOR SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING TO VIRTUALLY EVERY 03, 04 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE--ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ENGINE COMPARTMENT FUSEBOX MELTED DUE TO A SHORT. THE CAR WAS MAINTAINED. IT JUST PASSED INSPECTION 2 WEEKS BEFORE MELTDOWN. THE BATTERY WAS CHECKED AS WELL. NO WARNING OR DASH LIGHTS INDICATING A PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS NEARLY NOT POSSIBLE TO START IN RECENT HOT HUMID WEATHER. I TOOK IT TO A GARAGE AND THEY FOUND THE MELTED FUSEBOX. THIS HAS TO BE CHANGED ASAP BECAUSE IT COULD AFFECT THE CAR'S COMPUTER AND THEY AREN'T SURE ABOUT THE ALTERNATOR YET AS IT WAS HAVING A HARD TIME STARTING THE CAR. THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST ME $400.00 OUT OF POCKET SO FAR. IF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW BY VW WHICH CAUSES DAMAGE BECAUSE THEY DON'T PROTECT THE ENGINE FUSE BOX OR ANY RELATED WIRING FROM HEAT FROM THE BATTERY, THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. I NOTICED A SIMILAR POST FROM HOUSTON, TEXAS ON THIS SITE. MY CAR SEEMS TO BE AMONG SEVERAL WHICH HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE MILEAGE OF THIS VEHICLE IS 66,417. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE BACK WINDOW OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP IS COMING APART FROM THE CLOTH TOP. I HAVE READ ONLINE SEVERAL POSTS OF MANY CONSUMERS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE IN THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL VEHICLE. THIS MAY BE RELATED TO A DEFECT IN THE GLUE OR SEALING THEY USE TO HOLD THE WINDOW IN PLACE.MY CONCERN IS THE BACK WINDOW MAY FALL OUT WHILE DRIVING OR EVEN FALL INTO THE BACKSEAT ONTO SOMEONE CAUSING SEVER INJURIES. *TR

REAR WINDOW IS DETACHING FROM CONVERTIBLE TOP CREATING OPEN SPACE INTO CAR, RAIN ENTRY AND POOR VISIBILITY THRU REAR VIEW MIRROR WHEN WATER IS COMING IN. FABRIC SHRINKING BACK FROM GLASS. CANNOT BE RE GLUED. WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED THE ENTIRE TOP MUST BE REPLACED. RESEARCHING THIS ON THE INTERNET AS WELL AS WITH A COMPANY THAT REPLACES CONVERTIBLE TOPS EVIDENTLY HIS IS COMMON ON THE 2003 MODEL. THE REAR CONVERTIBLE TOP WINDOW STARTED FALLING OUT LATE 2008. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. TOO MANY SAFETY CONCERNS DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER. *TR