This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Car caught on fire 2 times it was electrical and fuel problem the fire department was present. I reported this once already and the company acted like they didnt care
A huge amount of 2.0L engines (1998-2006) seem to stall when driving or stationary after 20 min from cold start in high temps (+75F). Loss of power steering and power assist brakes. It happened to me 2X while driving 45 mph. Scary. Dealers and mechanics can't locate issues because its intermittent. Cars operate normal again after 10-20 mins. See newbeetle.org/forums/2-0-liter-gas/139065-hot-weather-stop-go-car-stalls-dangerous-2.html#post1508562 for a list of different sites all listing similar issues. Apparently, and according to my research, the issue stopped on model yr 2007 and higher.
I read the recall announcement in the paper (NHTSA 17V-509, VW 20ae) regarding the fuel pump cut out. I have complained to VW a number of times over the years that my VW engine stops when driving between 55 and 65 mph. The service writers response was that the fuel pump needs to be replaced - a $1000 item. Other mechanics that I've asked have said that if that was the case the engine would not get fuel and not work and that it was probably something else. When I read the symptoms reported in 20ae, they were exactly what I have experienced many times, but not consistently. At 65 mph when the engine cuts out, the deceleration is almost immediate to 50 mph. The symptoms started about 8-10 years ago. I have not driven the car on the freeway since because I was nearly run over by a cement truck. The article I read said that no known crashes or injuries were caused by the problem. Please consider expanding the investigation to include the 2001 new Beetle to see if there were any serious injuries due to this issue. I believe my issue is exactly the same as the issue reported in the press.
Forums concerning this VW model, and other models both older and newer, are replete with reports of the cars stalling with symptoms of starved fuel, usually arising when the tank is less than half full. See, e.g., forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?4971876-car-stalling-while-at-speed-is-low-fuel-the-problem. My vehicle suffers from identical symptoms. Other owners attempt to solve the problem by (1) cleaning the fuel tank; (2) replacing the fuel pump; (3) replacing the speed sensor; (4) replacing the crank sensor; (5) replacing the fuel filter; (6) replacing the fuel pump relay; and (7) cleaning the fuel tank. In most cases, based on review from these forums, the problem is not permanently solved and recurs while driving causing the car to stall and creating a threat to life safety. I cannot believe VW is unaware of this problem based on the multitude of reports. Yet, I have seen nothing from VW that addresses this issue. If no investigation has been launched on this issue, NHTSA should launch one.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Langley, SC, USA