2003 Volkswagen Beetle

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. I WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE AND AVOID A SEMI-TRUCK THAT WAS IN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED BETWEEN 30-40 MPH BUT DID LOSE CONSCIENCE SO AM NOT SURE IF REMEMBER EXACTLY HOW FAST I WAS GOING. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK CAUSING MY FACE TO SLAM DIRECTLY INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WHICH CONTAINED NO PASSENGERS NOR ITEMS DID DEPLOY. I SUFFERED FACIAL FRACTURES AND A BROKEN NOSE. MY FRACTURES HAVE HEALED BUT MY NOSE NEEDS TO BE RECONSTRUCTED. MY CAR WAS SERVICED AT A COLLISION CENTER AND THEN SENT TO THE AUTOBARN IN COUNTRYSIDE, IL WHERE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT USED IN AUGUST OF 2006. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME ON DEC 27 BUT NO EXPLANATION WAS GIVEN FOR THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO NOT WORKING PROPERLY SO I RETURNED THE CAR FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICE A FEW DAYS LATER. THE CAR WAS FINALLY RETURNED TO ME 2 WEEKS LATER WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION BUT STILL NO EXPLANATION FOR THE AIRBAG. UPON LEAVING THE AUTOBARN ON JANUARY 17 WITH MY CAR, THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON AND STAYED ON WHILE I DROVE ABOUT 10 MILES. I RETURNED THE CAR THE NEXT DAY AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THE LIGHT DID NOT GO ON FOR THEM AND OFFERED AGAIN NO EXPLANATION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE WELDING HAS FAILED ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH AND, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT WOULD DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07

HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE STARTING THE CAR. DEALER FOUND A BURNED WIRING HARNESS TO BE THE CAUSE. COST TO REPAIR $ 159.31. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM IF BOTH HEAD LIGHTS WOULD HAVE GONE OUT WHILE TRAVELING ON A DARK HWY AT HIGH SPEED. BURNED WIRING HARNESS IS IN MY POSSESSION. SECOND PROBLEM WAS WITH A BRAKE LIGHT THAT WENT OUT DATE 10/30/07. CAUSE AS PER DEALER WAS A FAULTY LIGHT SOCKET. COST TO REPAIR $ 73.61. *TR

THE ALTERNATOR CABLE IS BURN ALSO THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF BATTERY IS BURN. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY SEE THIS HAPPEN ON DIFFERENT VOLKSWAGEN IN THE HOUSTON AREA AND THE FUSE BOX NEEDS SOME KIND OF THERMAL PROTECTION BECAUSE THE BATTERY GETS TO HOT. IF I PLACE SOME KIND OF THERMAL PROTECTION I WILL BE HELD LIABLE. THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE MANUFACTURER ARE WILLING TO HELP, THEY JUST TOLD ME A HAD 12 MONTH WARRANTY AND IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN AFTER 12 MONTHS IT WILL BE MY EXPENSE. I HAD A 40,000 MILE SERVICE ON 10-3-07 WHICH INCLUDE INSPECTING BATTERY WHICH COST OVER $400.00. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEWS BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH OR GREATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE HOWEVER; THEY HAVE REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. AS OF OCTOBER 9, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONTAL DRIVER SIDE CRASH SENSOR CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER REPLACED THE CRASH SENSOR AND THERE HAD BEEN NO FURTHER OCCURRENCES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,268 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,278. UPDATED 01-15-08. *KB THE DEALER WOULD NOT COVER THE COST. UPDATED *JB SRS.PCO

REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HAS FALLEN DOWN AND THE DEALER WANTS AROUND $1,000 TO REPAIR IT. OUR THERMOSTAT WENT OUT LAST WEEK AND COST US $315 FOR JUST THAT, AND THEN THE NEXT DAY OUR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR HINGE BROKE. THE CAR HAS AROUND 70,000 MILES ON IT AND THINGS KEEP GOING WRONG EVERY WEEK! I LOVED THIS CAR BUT THE WAY IT IS GOING I WILL NOT BUY ANOTHER VW PRODUCT (EVEN THOUGH I OWNED 2 IN THE PAST). *TR