2004 Volkswagen Beetle

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND OBD DEVISE FAILED. THE DEALER REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE ALL THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WERE DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND FILED A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 77,000.

AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES MY CAR STARTED SLIPPING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT WOULD JERK FORWARD AND SOMETIMES GET STUCK IN BETWEEN 1, 3, AND 4TH GEARS. THIS WAS NOT A HUGE PROBLEM AT THIS POINT AND DURING MY REGULAR CHECK UPS, VW DEALERSHIP ALWAYS SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM DETECTED. 2. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOW FAILING AT 60,000 MILES. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, ESPECIALLY AT INTERSECTIONS. PEOPLE ALMOST REAREND ME DAILY. NOT ONLY IS THE CAR JERKING FORWARD AND BACKWARD UPON GEAR SHIFTING, BUT NOW IT GETS STUCK PERIOD AND WILL NOT MOVE..THE RPM'S GOING ALL THE WAY TO 6-7. THE TIRES SPIN, THE CAR GROANS HORRIBLY, THE GEARS SHOW UP ON MY DASH IN BRACKETS. WHEN I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO, AND I EXPLAINED IN DETAIL THE TRANNY PROBLEM, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. NOW, I CAN TELL IT IS ALMOST UNDRIVABLE AT THIS PT. ON MY FIFTEEN MILE COMMUTE HOME TODAY, I HAD TO PULL OVER SEVEN TIMES BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I COULD NOT GET OUT OF FIRST GEAR THEN IT JUMPED TO SIX. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AT A RED LIGHT, ALMOST GETTING BACKENDED. THIS IS TERRIFYING. I HAD A PANIC ATTACK. I HAVE AN APPT. TOMORROW AT THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HOW MUCH MONEY THIS WILL COST ME. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN CHECKED UP REGULARLY. *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

2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE TURBO GLS HAS A DEFECTIVE PART PRODUCING HIGH VOLTAGE. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR EXPENSES AND DEPRECIATION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR. *NJ THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW WINDOW MOTOR. THE CONSUMER DECIDED TO HAVE THE WORK DONE SOMEWHERE ELSE, SO THEY GAVE HER A CABLE KIT AND NOT A REGULATOR. THE OTHER REPAIR SHOP STATED IT WAS THE REGULATOR THAT WAS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A SECOND OPINION AFTER THE ORIGINAL DEALER IMPLIED SHE HAD DONE SOMETHING WRONG. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT SOMETHING WAS OVERCHARGING THE ALTERNATOR, WHICH TURNED OUT THAT A NEW BATTERY WAS NEEDED. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AGAIN, THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE WINDOW MOTOR WAS CAUSING HIGH VOLTAGE EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF; IT WAS DRAINING THE POWER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEAVING THE DEFECTIVE WINDOW MOTOR IN THE VEHICLE. *JB

I HAVE HAD MY 2004 VW BEETLE AT BOARDWALK DEALERSHIP IN RICHARDSON, TX 3 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CAR WILL LOSE ALL POWER THE BATTERY LIGHT WILL COME ON I WILL HAVE TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND RESTART THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPEN ON INTERSTATES AS WELL AS ON BUSY STREETS. I AM VERY FEARFUL THAT I AM GOING TO BE IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. I TAKE MY 76 YEAR OLD MOTHER TO THE DOCTOR SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH. SHE HAS HAD 2 MAJOR BACK SURGERIES THIS YEAR. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP ON 9-4-07, 9-18-07, 9-21-0. ALL FOR THE SAME THING. ON 9-27-07, I WAS IN DOWN TOWN DALLAS AND IT HAPPENED AT LEAST 7 TIMES. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY HAD A WRECKER TO PUT ME AND THE CAR UP. THEY ARE TELLING ME TODAY 10-26-07 TO PICK THE CAR UP THAT THEY CAN'T GET THE CAR TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A BAD PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR NOT HAVING ANY POWER AND I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *TR

PURCHASED BRAND NEW. PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR: 1. REAR POWER WINDOWS HAVE BOTH TAKEN TURNS FALLING DOWN INTO THE BODY. WILL NOT POWER UP. ONE HAS BEEN REPLACED. DEALER NOW WON'T FIX SECOND ONE BECAUSE THEY 'DON'T SEE IT AS A KNOWN PROBLEM.' 2. HEADLINER AROUND REAR WINDOW HAS COME UNDONE. 3. HEADLIGHTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED CONSTANTLY. FOR EXAMPLE; A LIGHT BULB WAS INSTALLED ON A SATURDAY, AND HAD STOPPED WORKING BY THE FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY. 4. RUBBER COATING ON GLOVE BOX AND ON INTERIOR DOORS IS PEELING OFF. DEALER WOULD NOT EVEN CONDSIDER FIXING OR ADDRESSING. 5. KEY ASSEMBLY FOR ARM CONSOLE BROKE ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. IT TOOK APPROXIMATELY 8 MONTHS, AND SEVERAL REMINDERS, TO GET DEALER TO REPLACE. 6. SOMETIMES RADIO STAYS ON AFTER KEY HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM IGNITION. 7. AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. WON'T GO OFF. 8. HAND RELEASE ON FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OFTEN GETS 'STUCK' AND WILL NOT WORK. 9. CUP HOLDER HAS COME OFF TRACK. I ONLY DRIVE THIS CAR TO-AND-FROM WORK. NO KIDS/PASSENGERS RIDE IN IT. IT HAS NOT HAD ANY OWNER ABUSE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VOLKSWAGEN PRODUCT. *JB