NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Power Train complaints
116 reportsClear category filter56,000 miles · Apr 23, 2010
Power Train
I PURCHASED A 2005 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IN 10/2009 AS A WAY TO "SAVE MONEY" AND TRADED IN MY SUV. IT HAD 48000 MILES AND NOW HAS 56000. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. I TOOK IT IN TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP TO HAVE MY TRANS FLUID CHANGED, THINKING THAT MIGHT SOLVE THE…
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I PURCHASED A 2005 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IN 10/2009 AS A WAY TO "SAVE MONEY" AND TRADED IN MY SUV. IT HAD 48000 MILES AND NOW HAS 56000. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. I TOOK IT IN TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP TO HAVE MY TRANS FLUID CHANGED, THINKING THAT MIGHT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY RUINED AND NEEDED TO BE REBUILT, WHICH COST $4600+ DOLLARS. MY HUSBAND STARTED LOOKING ONLINE AND THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF TESTIMONIALS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I TALKED TO THE VW CUSTOMER CARE DEPT, THEY DIDN'T KNOW OF ANY PROBLEMS OR COMPLAINTS AND BECAUSE I DIDN'T GO TO A DEALERSHIP FOR MY REPAIRS, OR PURCHASE THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY, I AM OUT OF LUCK. I'M AFRAID IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. AT LEAST I WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP, BECAUSE LOOKING AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE THAT HAD THEIR TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED AT THE VW DEALER, LOTS OF THEM ARE NEEDING THEM REPLACED AGAIN. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT, I AM THANKFUL THAT MY TRANSMISSION DIDN'T GO OUT OR ACT UP WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY OR SOMEWHERE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE MAKE VW BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, COME TO FIND OUT, COMMON DEFECT. THE PROBLEMS STARTED PROBABLY IN 1/2010 AND JUST HAD THE TRANS REBUILT 4/2010. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10327213
39,861 miles · Apr 13, 2010
Power Train
1. CAR IS 5 YEARS OLD / 40K MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING - HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR. READ ONLINE THAT OTHER VW HAD SAME ISSUE - CLEARLY MANUFACTURING FAILURE. 2. TRANSMISSION FAILURE 3. VALVE BODY REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10325449
45,000 miles · Apr 6, 2010
Power Train
MY 2005 VW BUG TURBO JERKS SO VIOLENTLY BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS THAT I'VE NEARLY HIT A HANDFUL OF CARS WHEN I'M TRYING TO MOVE SLOWLY AHEAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, HAVE SERVICED IT FAITHFULLY, IT IS A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC AND IT ONLY JUST TURNED 50K MILES. ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT SHIFTING ROUGHLY …
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MY 2005 VW BUG TURBO JERKS SO VIOLENTLY BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS THAT I'VE NEARLY HIT A HANDFUL OF CARS WHEN I'M TRYING TO MOVE SLOWLY AHEAD IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW, HAVE SERVICED IT FAITHFULLY, IT IS A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC AND IT ONLY JUST TURNED 50K MILES. ABOUT A YEAR AGO WHEN I FIRST NOTICED IT SHIFTING ROUGHLY BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR (BOTH UPSHIFTING AND DOWN SHIFTING) I MENTIONED IT TO MY VW SERVICE CENTER AND THEY SAID "THAT'S WHAT ALL BUGS DO," AND BRUSHED ME OFF. I'M WRITING YOU NOW BECAUSE THE JERKING HAS BECOME SO VIOLENT IT FEELS LIKE I'M BEING REAR ENDED EACH TIME IT MOVES FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. THANK YOU. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10324111
57,000 miles · Apr 6, 2010
Power Train
2005 VW NEW BEETLE AUTO 6 SPEED 57,000 MILES. HARD DOWNSHIFTING. THIS PROBLEM IS ONGOING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10324082
80,000 miles · Apr 3, 2010
Power Train
I BOUGHT A 2005 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IN 2005 WITH THE OPTIONAL 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CAR NOW HAS APPROX 80000 MILLES ON THE ODOMETER AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND SLIPS IN ALL GEARS. THE TACHMOMETER WINDS 3000 RPMS ABOVE WHAT THE ENGINE SHOULD RUNNING AT ANY PARTICULAR SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURS. DURING THESE CI…
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I BOUGHT A 2005 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IN 2005 WITH THE OPTIONAL 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE CAR NOW HAS APPROX 80000 MILLES ON THE ODOMETER AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKS AND SLIPS IN ALL GEARS. THE TACHMOMETER WINDS 3000 RPMS ABOVE WHAT THE ENGINE SHOULD RUNNING AT ANY PARTICULAR SPEED WHEN THIS OCCURS. DURING THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IN TRAFFIC I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE CAR WILL NOT RESPOND WHICH PLACES ME AT RISK OF A COLLISION.
NHTSA ODI #10323636
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2010
Power TrainUnknown Or Other
TRANSMISSION SLIPPING IN A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH 71,000 MILES, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEM BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR BECAME DEFECTIVE AT 59,000 MILES AND WHEN I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WAS TOLD IN ORDER F…
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TRANSMISSION SLIPPING IN A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH 71,000 MILES, I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY SEVERAL REPAIR SHOPS THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THEM BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR BECAME DEFECTIVE AT 59,000 MILES AND WHEN I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER WAS TOLD IN ORDER FOR THEM TO ASSIST WITH PROBLEM IT MUST BE DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. DROVE 60 MILES AND WAS CHARGED $100 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM (WHICH I ALREADY KNEW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS) AND THEN WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. MANUFACTURER KNEW THE MILEAGE PRIOR TO REQUESTING ME TO TAKE TO DEALER. COST OF REPLACING A WINDOW REGULATOR $600, THERE IS A KIT THAT CAN BE INSTALLED, BUT OF COURSE THAT INFORMATION IS NOT GIVEN TO THE CUSTOMER.
NHTSA ODI #10323426
56,500 miles · Mar 22, 2010
Power Train
ISSUE HAS NOT YET CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT WILL. VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, 2005 MODEL WITH FEWER THAN 57,00.00 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILING CAUSING HARD SHIFTING AND SLIPPING GEARS RESULTING IN CAR LURCHING AND PAUSING UNEXPECTEDLY. FROM MY INVESTIGATION THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEW BEETLE, ONE THAT VW WILL NOT ADMIT NOR …
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ISSUE HAS NOT YET CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BUT WILL. VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, 2005 MODEL WITH FEWER THAN 57,00.00 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILING CAUSING HARD SHIFTING AND SLIPPING GEARS RESULTING IN CAR LURCHING AND PAUSING UNEXPECTEDLY. FROM MY INVESTIGATION THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEW BEETLE, ONE THAT VW WILL NOT ADMIT NOR CORRECT. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME FINDING THAT THERE IS NO QUESTION AS TO WHETHER A NEW BEETLE OWNER WILL HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RATHER WHEN THE PROBLEM WILL BEGIN. WHILE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MANY IF ANY ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS ISSUE I DO KNOW THERE IS A GREAT CONCERN AMONGST THESE VEHICLE OWNERS THAT ACCIDENTS WILL OCCUR. VW SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL VEHICLES THAT USE THESE 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *DT
NHTSA ODI #10321442
62,000 miles · Mar 15, 2010
Power Train
OWNER OF A 05 BEETLE. TRANSMISSION ISSUES STARTED AT 60,000 MILES. PUT IN A LOT OF MONEY ON REPAIRS WITHOUT REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION TO BE TOLD AFTERWARDS THE TRANS HAD TO BE REPLACED. LOOKED ONLINE AND A LOT OF 05' BEETLES ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EFFECTS AS EARLY AS 30,000 MILES!! THE CAR IS FINE FOR THE FIRST 15 MINS THAN …
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OWNER OF A 05 BEETLE. TRANSMISSION ISSUES STARTED AT 60,000 MILES. PUT IN A LOT OF MONEY ON REPAIRS WITHOUT REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION TO BE TOLD AFTERWARDS THE TRANS HAD TO BE REPLACED. LOOKED ONLINE AND A LOT OF 05' BEETLES ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME EFFECTS AS EARLY AS 30,000 MILES!! THE CAR IS FINE FOR THE FIRST 15 MINS THAN IT JERKS VIOLENTLY INTO 3 & 4TH GEAR. THE JERKING GETS SO BAD IT FEELS AS IF I HAD BEEN REAR ENDED. I GET PANIC ATTACKS ESPECIALLY AT STALE GREEN LIGHTS OR INTERSECTIONS IN GENERAL. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL EVER ON MY CAR AND NOTICED ONLINE A RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS WENT INTO AFFECT ON APR 08 WHICH MY AIR BAG HAS BEEN OUT. I HAVE PAID $15,000 AND STILL HAVE $14,500 TO PAY OFF IN THE NEXT 3 YEARS WITH A PAYMENT OF $400 A MONTH!!! I CAN NOT AFFORD TO BUY A NEW TRANS FOR MY CAR. ALL THESE 05 BEETLES ARE DEFECTIVE AND VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE DUE TO THEIR TRANS FAILING AND VERY LOW MILEAGE. I HAVE ALWAYS KEPT UP WITH OIL CHANGES, TRANS FLUSHES, NEW FILTERS YOU NAME IT. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT THE "CAR OF MY DREAMS" GIVES ME ANXIETY ATTACKS JUST TO DRIVE IT. DRIVING IS ONE OF MY MANY MODES OF TRANSPORT EVERYDAY! PLEASE HELP VW OWNERS WITH 05' BEETLES GET OUR CARS FIXED, I AM PAYING A LOT OF MONEY FOR A CAR THAT I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10319692
55,403 miles · Mar 8, 2010
Power Train
I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2005 NEW BEETLE CONV. IN 12/08 I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR 40K MILE SERVICE AT WHICH TIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND FLUID LEVEL. IN 2/10 MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS NO GOOD. MY PROBLEMS STARTED ABOUT LATE NOVEMBER 2009 TO DECEMBER 2009. I STARTED TO HAVE HESITA…
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I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2005 NEW BEETLE CONV. IN 12/08 I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR 40K MILE SERVICE AT WHICH TIME THE TRANSMISSION WAS CHECKED FOR LEAKS AND FLUID LEVEL. IN 2/10 MY TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS NO GOOD. MY PROBLEMS STARTED ABOUT LATE NOVEMBER 2009 TO DECEMBER 2009. I STARTED TO HAVE HESITATION PROBLEMS FROM TAKE OFF AND COMING TO A STOP AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. I FIRST THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS BAD GASOLINE, HOWEVER THAT WAS NOT THE CASE. I WOULD BE GOING ALONG JUST FINE AND THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD JERK HARD SOMETIMES TO CHANGE GEARS WHEN COMING TO A STOP. AND WOULD WHINE AND HESITATE AND JERK TO CHANGE GEARS WHEN TAKING OFF. THIS PROBLEM GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN I WAS TOLD @ 55,000 MILES I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. SO A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED TO THE TUNE OF $5,700. THIS IS NOT WAS I BARGAINED FOR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10317883
55,000 miles · Feb 19, 2010
Power Train
2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE - SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR. I HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT DID THIS AND IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLES IN FONT OF ME AND BEHIND ME. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE INTO THE RIGHT LANE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT FOR NOW. READING OTHER FORUMS ABOUT VW, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A HUGE ISSU…
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2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE - SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR. I HAVE BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT DID THIS AND IT ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH THE VEHICLES IN FONT OF ME AND BEHIND ME. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO SWERVE INTO THE RIGHT LANE TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT FOR NOW. READING OTHER FORUMS ABOUT VW, IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE THAT VW IS HAVING WITH A LOT OF THEIR VEHICLES. YOUR JOB IS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, SO PLEASE DO YOUR JOB AND KEEP OUR HIGHWAYS SAFE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10312007
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 ↗