2007 Volkswagen Beetle

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SWITCHED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO DRIVE. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE AND COAST TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER AT THE END OF THE EXIT. THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE PUT INTO SPORT MODE AND WOULD MOVE FORWARD SOMEWHAT IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS FLOORED, BUT DRIVE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. WHEN IN DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD ONLY REV AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED IT AND SAID THE FRONT DRIVE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FELL APART. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION IS A SEALED SYSTEM, MAKING REBUILDING IT OR REPLACING SPECIFIC PARTS VERY DIFFICULT.

MANY OWNERS OF VWS INCLUDING THE BEETLE AND OTHER MODELS HAVE REPORTED COLD SOLDER JOINT ON THE DOOR LOCK SENSORS. THESE COLD SOLDER JOINTS CAUSE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WHERE THE DOORS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK, AND THE WINDOWS WILL ROLL DOWN AND BACK UP. THE WINDOWS FUNCTION IS RELATED TO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP, SO THAT THE WINDOW WILL ROLL DOWN A BIT WHEN THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED SO THAT IT WILL COME OUT FROM THE LIP OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.

AFTER DEPARTING MY HOME, AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 23 MILES, I HAD A BRIEF SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING, HOWEVER, ALL THE WINDOWS WERE OPEN AND I WAS ON A HIGHWAY OF 12 LANES OF TRAFFIC, AND FELT IT COULD BE FROM ANY WHERE, NOT NECESSARILY MY VEHICLE. MOMENTS LATER, I CAUGHT A FLASH IN MY RIGHT EYE, THAT DREW MY ATTENTION TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD, BUT WHEN I LOOKED I THOUGHT PERHAPS IT WAS A SUN REFLECTION. DIRECTING MY ATTENTION BACK TO THE HIGHWAY, SECONDS LATER, I CAUGHT A SECOND FLASH AND THIS TIME WHEN LOOKING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD, THERE WAS FLAMES INSIDE THE CAR NEAR THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT TOWARDS THE FLOOR AND DOOR, AND BLACK SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY, TURNED OFF THE CAR, EVACUATED WITH MY BELONGINGS, AS THE CAR BECAME TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 AND ASSISTANCE ARRIVED TO INCLUDE THE STATE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND TURNPIKE STAFF. THE CAR WAS PICKED UP ON CAMERA BY THE TURNPIKE DISPATCHER ONCE I CALLED IN. NOTE: THIS VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED 35 DAYS PRIOR FROM THE VW DEALER WHERE PURCHASED 4 YEARS AGO! I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AT ALL, AND HAVE A CAR FAX THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME WHEN PURCHASED THAT SHOWS NO PREVIOUS RECALL EITHER. SOMETHING WENT SERIOUSLY WRONG ON 25 JUL 2015. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY MORE TRAGIC DAMAGE, TO INCLUDE MY LIFE, OTHER VEHICLES, AND POSSIBLY OTHER LIVES.

WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND FROM 2ND TO 3RD THERE IS A PAUSE BETWEEN GEARS AND THEN IT BANGS WHEN IT FINALLY CATCHES. IT SEEMS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VW. I'M PICKING MY CAR UP TOMORROW AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS INCLUDING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT THE VW AGREED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALER THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST $1800 TO REPLACE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT AND VW NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE REPAIRS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT REMAINED RETRACTED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO BUCKLE THE SEAT BELT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 7/9/15*CN

GAS LEAKAGE FROM UNDER HOOD IDENTICAL TO RECALL #20I4 BUT WAS TOLD BY VW DEALERSHIP CAR WAS CHECKED 3 YEARS EARLIER AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM IN THE LOCATION OF PARTS AND THAT THIS LEAKAGE HAPPENED AT ANOTHER AREA OF THE FUEL LINE AND VW OF AMERICA CONCURRED WITH DEALERSHIP. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO FIRE BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING BAD AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AFTER SMELLING GAS ODOR INSIDE CAR. IT SEEMS VW WON'T OWN UP TO ANYTHING UNLESS THERE IS A CASUALTY. AFTER HAVING BOUGHT THREE BEETLES I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IN VW OF AMERICA AND THIS DEALERSHIP ANYMORE. ALSO THE HEADLINER HAS TO BE REPLACED AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NEVER WORKED PROPERLY AFTER DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT WHEN IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. VERY LOW MILEAGE TO BE INCURRING DESIGN PROBLEMS. *TR

2007 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE SHIFTS HARD (VIOLENTLY) FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO 3RD GEAR IN STANDARD MODE AND SPORT MODE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM WHILE THE VEHICLE IS WARM. CONTACTED LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD SINCE THERE WEREN'T ANY CODES PRESENT, THAT I DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. LAST WEEK THE CAR STALLED WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. I MANAGED TO STEER OFF THE HIGHWAY ONTO THE SHOULDER TO AVOID A COLLISION. VW OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT RESOLVE THEIR MANUFACTURING ISSUES. THIS ISSUE POSES A SERIOUS THREAT TO OCCUPANT SAFETY. *TR