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.
The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen bettle. While driving approximately 25 mph the vehicle began to decelerate and there was an increase in the rpms. The failure occurred constantly after driving the vehicle for approximately ten minutes. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated the transmission had to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 71,000.
I couldn't wait for the new Beetle convertible to come out. I bought it brand new from the dealership. Now, after only 60,000 miles, I am told I need a new transmission. The car is completely unsafe to drive--it will get stuck in first gear, it will kick between gears one and two, and it will jolt suddenly and without warning. These vehicles are unsafe for the road.
The six speed transmission shifts at random I got this car for my 16 year old daughter and im scared to let her drive it. Got a notice in the mail from VW about it they drove it and said it was ok but obviously its not. They need to address this situation before some one gets injured.
Recall on airbag crash sensor back in 2008, which we had replace. However this problem constantly happen were the air bag crease sensor lights comes on and stays on. When you call the dealership they wants to charge the consumer. There is always a jerking in the power transmission while driving. This is dangerous you would think the car is going to stop going up hill. I made a complaint back in 2009 complaint #102868 never received a response.
The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen new Beetle convertible. When decelerating to approximately 5 mph, the vehicle would jerk before switching gears. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic and after inspection the contact was advised that the transmission failed. The replacement of the transmission would be at the owners expense at a cost of $6,000. In addition, the contact stated that the rear passenger window would open and close independently. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 123,000.
- Nebo, NC, USA
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While driving one evening the car lost the ability to shift into higher gears on highway, thus limiting the speed to less than 35 miles per hour in a posted zone of 55 mph. Third -sixth gears failed.
Drove 600 miles to purchase this vehicle-my dream car. Had it for 2 days, put the top down twice and the cable to the convertible top snapped. Couldn't afford to have it fixed right away (missed the whole first season of using the convertible). Finally got enough $$ together to have it repaired and found out a piece of something must have fallen down into the channel of the rear window and broke a part inside so added that to the expense, around $800. Replaced the brakes next (O.K. with that, normal repair of any vehicle). But, not too long after, noticed transmission had a tiny "slip". ignored that since I didn't want to think something else was going wrong already. Progressed to where I am now, slamming down into the lower gears when slowing to a stop. Received a letter from VW stating if any repairs had been incurred during the warranty/extended warranty, it would be covered as 7 years or 100,000 miles, whichever came first. Well, as it happens, my car has just under 83,000 miles on it and the warranty had expired in April of 2010. I took it to my local dealership and they quoted me $2490 for repair. The service manager said he had a rep he could call to see if "there was anything they could do" since it was such a short time after my warranty expired. After it was all said and done, they would deduct $750 from the total repair if I would show good faith and purchase new tires ($500), new battery ($195 or $165) and an exhaust clamp ($58) from their dealership. I'm no math wizard, but that put me right back to almost the original repair cost. I am at my wit's end with this car. I don't feel safe driving it but have no choice as it is my only mode of transportation. I have been reading several other comparable complaints, so I know I am not alone. I feel that a 100,00 mile warranty should be just that, not 7 years/or.......
The electronic automatic transmission became stuck in third gear while driving in traffic. I had to turn the car off while in heavy traffic for the transmission to reset. This is a perilous maneuver, but I didn't have many options. The transmission had been experiencing some problems shifting both up and down. The upshifts are problematic in that the car can suddenly lurch forward when the automatic transmission re-engages. For example, when accelerating from a stop, the car will not immediately shift from 1st to 2nd. The rpms will go to @5000, then the shift will cause the car to squeal tires and lurch forward.
Vehicle would lurch when down or upshifting between 2nd and 3rd and 3rd to 4th at just over 90,000 miles. It would also stick in neutral for a few seconds before engaging. We took it to our local shop for repair in December 2010. This is a well known issue with the transmission valve body causing a number of accidents. While the our bug was in the shop we received a letter dated November 2010 from VW about extended warranty to 100,000 miles or 7 years from date of purchase. Our bug was purchased August 2003 putting it out of warranty. Considering the number of incidents VW should have been doing a general service recall on the transmission long before November 2010..
I purchased my VW 2003 new Beetle convertible new in 2003. I have kept vehicle maintained- mostly at dealership according to the schedule. I have about 115,000 miles. Over the past month it has begun "revving up" or "jerking"- especially when slowing to a stop or accelerating from stop. This happens very sporadically, but is very scary when it occurs. I am not sure what the problem is, but have an amateur guess that it is transmission related.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Bowling Green, KY, USA