NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Equipment complaints
9 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Aug 22, 2011
Air BagsElectrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A VW BEETLE IN MAY OF 2010, FOR MY BIRTHDAY FROM HOLLYWOOD AUTO BROKERS IN LOS ANGELES, CA. THE CAR RAN SMOOTH FOR ABOUT A COURSE OF FIVE TO SIX MONTHS, I HAD TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP EARLY ON BECAUSE MY HEAD LIGHTS WERE OUT WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR, A JERKING AND EXTRE…
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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A VW BEETLE IN MAY OF 2010, FOR MY BIRTHDAY FROM HOLLYWOOD AUTO BROKERS IN LOS ANGELES, CA. THE CAR RAN SMOOTH FOR ABOUT A COURSE OF FIVE TO SIX MONTHS, I HAD TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP EARLY ON BECAUSE MY HEAD LIGHTS WERE OUT WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR, A JERKING AND EXTREMELY WEIRD DECELERATION OF THE CAR WOULD BEGIN, BUT IT WOULD "POP BACK TO NORMAL" AFTER A WHILE, MAYBE THREE TO TEN SECONDS. THIS HAD GONE ON AND HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE FIVE MONTHS AFTER I BROUGHT IT. I FINALLY MADE IT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE RODE WITH ME ON A TEST DRIVE AROUND THE CORNER AND OF COURSE IT DIDN'T REPEAT THE PREVIOUS SHOW OF DEFECTS. HE ASSURED ME THE CAR IS JUST BEING BROKEN IN. A YEAR GOES BY AND I DECIDED I WANT TO TRADE IN MY CAR FOR ANOTHER CAR, SO I HEAD TO NISSAN. I TEST DRIVE A CAR AND LOVE IT AND THEN GO IN FOR THE PAPER WORK. THE GUY RUNS MY VIN TO SEE MY CAR VALUE AND COME BACKS AND TELL ME MY CAR TITLE IS SALVAGED. TO MY DISBELIEF AND DISGUST, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY FINANCIAL COMPANY, AL FINANCIAL OF GLENDALE, CA THAT I AM LEASING THE CAR FROM. THEY GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND AND ASSURE ME THAT THE TITLE IS CLEAN AND NOT A SALVAGE. I CONTINUE ON MY INVESTIGATION AND COME TO A CARFAX WEBSITE TO GET THE REAL FACTS ON MY DEFECTED VEHICLE. THE INFORMATION REVEALS THAT NOT ONLY IS THE TITLE SALVAGE BUT IT HAD BODILY DAMAGE AND HAD BEEN TOTALED OUT FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY FROM IT'S PREVIOUS OWNER. THE CAR HAD BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM MEXICO AND REGISTERED IN THE STATES AGAIN AS A NEW CAR I BELIEVE. I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS SITUATION ASAP AND GET SOME CLOSURE ON A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT IS MESSING WITH MY INCOME AS I AM A TRAVEL NURSE FOR HOSPICE PATIENTS. RECENTLY THE WATER PUMP HAS GONE OUT AND I'M NOT SURE YET IF I NEED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS. I HOPE I CAN HEAR AN RESPONSE IN A GOOD ENOUGH AMOUNT OF TIME SO I CAN WORK OUT AN REIMBURSEMENT OF SOME KIND WITH PAYMENT ON EITHER BEHALF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10420904
70,000 miles · Jul 4, 2011
EquipmentUnknown Or Other
NOTHING LED UP TO THE FAILURE. THE WINDOWS IN MY NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE NO LONGER FUNCTION. I HAVE HAD TWO OF THESE FIXED ALREADY, AND NOW ONE OF THE BACK WINDOWS IS BROKEN. I NOTICED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY OTHER NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE OWNERS AS WELL. I AM HOPING THAT THERE IS A RECALL TO THIS ISSUE AS IT EFFECTS …
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NOTHING LED UP TO THE FAILURE. THE WINDOWS IN MY NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE NO LONGER FUNCTION. I HAVE HAD TWO OF THESE FIXED ALREADY, AND NOW ONE OF THE BACK WINDOWS IS BROKEN. I NOTICED THAT THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR MANY OTHER NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE OWNERS AS WELL. I AM HOPING THAT THERE IS A RECALL TO THIS ISSUE AS IT EFFECTS SO MANY OTHER OWNERS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10410383
75,000 miles · Feb 1, 2011
Electrical SystemEquipment
THE REAR WINDOW REGULATORS WENT OUT ON BOTH WINDOWS, CONVERTIBLE TOP WON'T WORK 90% OF THE TIME. REPLACED HEADLIGHT 4 TIMES IN 2 YEARS. *LN
NHTSA ODI #10379817
44,646 miles · Aug 16, 2010
EquipmentPower Train
MY 2004 VW BEETLE AT 44,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPLACED, I ALLOWED THE VW DEALER TO DO ALL THE WORK.. THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURS IS IT JERKS AND WON'T SHIFT GEARS WHEN ON THE FREEWAY OR IN OTHER DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. OVER A YEAR LATER AT 54,000 MILES MY SAME CAR IS NOW DOING THE SAME THING ON THE FREEWAY. …
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MY 2004 VW BEETLE AT 44,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPLACED, I ALLOWED THE VW DEALER TO DO ALL THE WORK.. THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURS IS IT JERKS AND WON'T SHIFT GEARS WHEN ON THE FREEWAY OR IN OTHER DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. OVER A YEAR LATER AT 54,000 MILES MY SAME CAR IS NOW DOING THE SAME THING ON THE FREEWAY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND OCCURRING ON A SO-CALLED "BRAND NEW" TRANSMISSION VW CLAIMS TO HAVE PUT IN. MY PARTS WARRANTY FROM A YEAR AGO RECENTLY EXPIRED. A CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE TWO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS UNDER 54,000 MILES! I FOUND SEVERAL MESSAGE BOARDS FULL OF THE SAME COMPLAINT, SAME PROBLEM IN THE BEETLES FROM THIS TIME PERIOD. THE TRANSMISSION JERKS ON PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY OR ROAD. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I AM FILING MINE WITH YOU IN HOPES YOU WILL START INVESTIGATING THESE COMPLAINTS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED DRIVING FROM THEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10349727
Mileage unknown · May 4, 2010
EquipmentPower Train
MY 2004 VW CONV. BEETLE RECENTLY HAD TO BE SMOGGED FOR THE FIRST TIME,REQUESTED BY THE DMV. I HAVE SUBMITTED ALL DMV FEES BUT WAS UNABLE TO SEND A SMOG CERTIFICATE BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG TEST DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SMOGGED TWO SEPARATE TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER N…
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MY 2004 VW CONV. BEETLE RECENTLY HAD TO BE SMOGGED FOR THE FIRST TIME,REQUESTED BY THE DMV. I HAVE SUBMITTED ALL DMV FEES BUT WAS UNABLE TO SEND A SMOG CERTIFICATE BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG TEST DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SMOGGED TWO SEPARATE TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS TOLD I CAN ONLY BUY A CATALYTIC CONVERTER FROM A VW DEALER ONLY FOR APPROXIMATELY $1000.00 VW AMERICA AGREED TO EXTEND MY EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEMS WARRANTY FOR A CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT TO 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES. I TOOK IT INTO A V W DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED & REPLACED BUT WAS UNABLE TO BECAUSE THE MECHANIC REFUSED TO REPLACE THE CONVERTER BECAUSE HIS DIAGNOSIS SUPPOSEDLY FOUND TROUBLES WITH THE TRANSMISSION TO BE THE PROBLEM, AND HE STATES THAT ALL PRIOR DIAGNOSIS ARE INCORRECT AND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS TESTING NORMAL. THIS DIAGNOSIS COST ME A FEE OF 110.00 BECAUSE THEY FOUND THERE TO BE NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAT. CONV, AND THE FEE WAS CHARGED DUE TO THEM FINDING A SEPARATE PROBLEM. MEAN WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON AND THE CAR IS RUNNING TERRIBLE, I AM TOLD I HAVE NO HOPE OF RECEIVING ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY HELP FROM VW , AND NOT TO MENTION THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A RECALL ON MY TRANSMISSION BACK IN 2007 WHICH ALREADY REQUIRED MAJOR REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIRS ,NOW ONLY 3 YEARS LATTER AND HERE I AM ONCE AGAIN WITH MAJOR TRANSMISSION TROUBLE WITH NO WARRANTY. I FIND IT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THIS YEAR OF CAR IS SUPPOSE TO GO THROUGH TWO TRANSMISSIONS IN ONLY SIX YEARS. I ALSO FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE TWO PRIOR SMOG STATIONS AND THERE MACHINES COULD BE WRONG ABOUT THERE DIAGNOSIS AND FOUND THERE TO ONLY BE CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM AND MIL LIGHT ON. THE BOTTOM LINE IS I CANT GET MY TAGS FROM DMV BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO EMISSIONS(FUNCTIONAL) FAILING. AND MY CAR HARDLY RUNS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10328880
73,247 miles · Sep 22, 2008
Equipment
AIR-CONDITIONER HAS GONE OUT. FAILURE OCCURS AFTER PARKING VEHICLE. VW OF AMERICA CANT SEEM TO FIND OUT WHY IT FAILS TO OPERATE CORRECTLY. HAVE COME UP WITH VARIOUS SOLUTIONS WITHOUT RESOLVE. ALREADY SPENT MONIES FOR SERVICE OF PROBLEM AND THEY CANT RESOLVE PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10243025
8,322 miles · Aug 8, 2006
Equipment
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT OFF, FOLLOWED BY AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE STEREO AMPLIFIER WAS FAULTY AND HAD BURNED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10164911
53,166 miles · Jan 25, 2006
Electrical SystemEquipment
MAJOR ELECTRICAL, MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION (SEE 10148507, 10148481) 5TH ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL SAFETY ISSUES/4TH AIRBAG LIGHT/MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE 2ND X TOWED IN 10 DAYS FOR SAME ISSUES FOR FREEWAY BREAKDOWN ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL MALFUCTION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10148521
18,000 miles · Jun 24, 2005
Air BagsElectrical SystemEquipment
DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS; THE SPEAKERS DIDN'T WORK/WINDOWS KEPT GOING UP AND DOWN, AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN A ONE YEAR OLD. *AK THE REPLACED TRANSMISSION STILL PERFORMS POORLY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES. *TT *NM
NHTSA ODI #10124075
Official recalls
3Apr 17, 2008
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.
Feb 20, 2007
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.
Dec 15, 2004
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN 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 ↗