2004 Volkswagen Beetle

VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE '04 (APPROX. 80K MILES) - SLIPPING AND BANGING TRANSMISSION. SLAMS AND BANGS HARD WITH EACH DOWNSHIFT (AUTOMATIC) AFTER ABOUT 15 MILES OR DRIVING. SLIPS OR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER SLAMMING AND BANGING BEGINS. CANNOT DRIVE CAR IN TRAFFIC FOR FEAR OR BEING REAR ENDED OR BROADSIDED, THEREFORE, CANNOT SAFELY OR DEPENDABLY DRIVE THE CAR. EXPECTED THOUSANDS TO REPAIR IF A MECHANIC WHO UNDERSTANDS THE PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND. MANY OF THE KNOW ISSUES WITH CAR HAVE ALSO OCCURRED; BROKEN PLASTIC WATER PUMP, REAR WINDOW SEAL BROKEN, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LIGHT MALFUNCTION, HEADLIGHTS UNEVEN BRIGHTNESS, SHORT IN DASH, HEATED SEAT TOO HOT TO USE (FEAR OF FIRE) AND INCREDIBLE DOOR RATTLES. *TR

LEFT REAR WINDOW IS STUCK IN DOWN POSITION. THE COMPONENT PART IS UNAVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES AND HAS TO BE ORDERED FROM THE FACTORY IN MEXICO. IT WILL TAKE 2-3 WEEKS FOR IT TO ARRIVE. COST OF REPAIR IS $800 FOR ONE SIDE. COMPLAINTS TO MANUFACTURER WHO WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AS THERE ARE NO RECALLS FILED EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN ON-GOING PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THEIR VEHICLES. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE IS A CONVERTIBLE. THE HYDRAULIC TOP HAS MALFUNCTIONED SINCE THE DATE IT WAS PURCHASED. IT FINALLY SNAPPED OFF PORTIONS OF THE HYDRAULIC MECHANISMS AND PORTIONS OF THE INTERIOR FLAPS WHICH ARE NOW ALL OVER THE BACK SEAT. THE TOP HAD TO BE MANUALLY RAISED AND SECURED AND DOES NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. ALTHOUGH THEY REPAIRED IT PREVIOUSLY, MANUFACTURER WILL NOT REPAIR BECAUSE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. DRIVER'S SEAT SPRING POKED THROUGH THE UPHOLSTERY A MONTH AFTER PURCHASE. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS A TERRIBLE BLIND SPOT WHILE BACKING OUT. THE RAG TOP COMPLETELY BLOCKS VISION ON THE RIGHT REAR. I HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERS NOTHING. I BELIEVE THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHOULD BE RECALLED. I FEEL RIPPED OFF BY THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

SAFETY LATCH ON FRONT HOOD MECHANISM NOT DURABLE AND HAS BROKEN JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. CAR UNDER 30K MILES. ONLY USED 6 MONTHS OUT OF EVERY YEAR. MODEL YEAR 2004. DESIGN FLAW ON A MAJOR SAFETY ITEM. DEALER CLAIMS ENTIRE ASSEMBLY NEEDS REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT. UNDER MY EXAMINATION I FOUND THAT THE COMPONENT FAILURE WAS A SPRING ON INNER SIDE OF ASSEMBLY. SPRING DEFINITELY NOT HEAVY ENOUGH TO WITHSTAND NORMAL USAGE. HOOD COULD BECOME UN-LATCHED AND SAFETY LATCH WILL NOT CATCH IT CAUSING HOOD TO FLY UP AND ONTO WINDSHIELD. PROPERLY DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURY/CRASH HIGHLY POSSIBLE AT HIGHER SPEEDS. *TR

CONVERTIBLE ROOF DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. IT DOES NOT GO COMPLETELY UP OR DOWN. THE VEHICLE CAN NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION OF THE ROOF. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE ROOF IN ANY POSITION OTHER THAN COMPLETELY UP OR DOWN. THE ROOF BLOCKS THE FIELD OF VIEW AND THEREFORE MAKES IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. ADDITIONALLY THE WIND CATCHES ON THE ROOF AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO HAVE CONTROL ISSUES. THE CAR HAS BEEN REPAIRED MANY TIMES EACH YEAR AT THE DEALERSHIP. *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