Vehicle does not shift properly, vehicle does not shift to drive correctly and either shifts down or stays in neutral

- Sioux Falls , SD, USA

. gets stuck randomly in 1st gear... some of the time it shifts but if I leave it running in park for a few minutes (especially then) or when it warms up nicely and I then have to slow down into 1st like at a light after I exit the highway and then try to drive again it won't shift out of first. And. I know when it's about to start this because it starts shifting so hard the car lurches (sometimes so roughly that if I hadn't made sure to be extra far away from any vehicles in front of me then my car would have leaped right into theirs - even if I am braking) very scary:( and I feel unsafe especially when it lurches badly and also when the car stops gaining speed because it got stuck in 1st and the cars behind me almost run right over me ) from what I've read while researching this, this issue is a well known defect. V w made a minuscule effort to address it... an extended warranty which is useless because it doesn't cover fixing the damage to the transmission that this defect causes, leaving us owners to have buy a new transmission basically because of this known defect. VW should fix it since they clearly know about this as a defect. It effects new Beetles years 2003 to 2007! and in my research it is clear that many many '03-'07 new Beetle owners have very similar problems and most feel like I do...that these cars are scary and unsafe to drive.VW is aware of this but doesn't care so I implore you to please take a deep and serious look into this problem and help make VW take responsibility and fix this dangerous and unpredictable defect. Thank you very much and look forward to hearing from you. Respectfully, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Concord, NC, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle. While the vehicle was at a stop light, the brake pedal was applied; however, the vehicle failed to stop and rolled back. In addition, while driving at unknown speeds, the accelerator pedal was applied; however, the vehicle failed to respond and the safe mode engaged. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 133,437.

- Huntsville, TX, USA

On 11/3/2018 at around 11:00pm, I was driving my 2003 Volkswagen Beetle on the highway (90E towards cleveland) going 65mph. Suddenly, my automatic transmission popped out of gear and hard downshifted. This caused a drastic reduction in speed, and I was almost hit by a semi-truck which was behind me. Luckily, the driver of the semi was alert and swerved out of the way just in time. This isn't the first time that this auto trans has acted up either. However, this is the first time where I really could have been seriously hurt or killed as a result of it. This transmission is faulty, the symptoms point to a malfunctioning valve body unit, and there needs to be an investigation or a recall. How many people have gotten into accidents, hurt, or even killed because of this bad automatic transmission (jerking/popping out of gear at random) not shifting properly? enough is enough!

- Parma, OH, USA

The car runs fine while it is cold but when it warms up then it begins to "jerk", shift up and down "hard". we were told it was a tiptronic switch was bad so we replaced it and now we are told that the valve body transmission is bad. The car has less then 100K miles on it. This is a safety concern as we have almost been rear-ended when the car began jerking.

- Mount Perry, OH, USA

Once the car warms up, the transmission begins to shift very erratically. This includes while upshifting - the transmission slips causing the engine to rev up and suddenly shift into the next higher gear without warning. Sometimes the upshift is so sudden that it causes the tires to break free. It also occurs when slowing down to come to a stop - the transmission downshifts into low gear unexpectedly at too high of a speed causing everything in the vehicle (including occupants) to lurch forward. The sudden deceleration could cause rear end collisions from following vehicles. Edmunds.com has a forum full of this exact problem - forums.edmunds.com/discussion/7375/Volkswagen/new-Beetle/Volkswagen-Beetle-transmission-problems/P2

- Portage, WI, USA

My daughter was driving her 2003 VW Beetle on the highway and noticed that she was having an issues with her RPM's revving very high. She pulled off the highway and shut the car off and restarted it after awhile. She got back on the highway and continued to drive home, her speed was roughly 65. All of a sudden her vehicle dropped her speed down to 50 causing her to almost be rear ended on the highway. This has happened at least 3 times. As she is away at college so her car is not driven much, so we are unsure if this is a constant issues. This is a safety issue with the vehicle and was taken to a car repair shop and we where told the transmission is having issues.

- Gloucester Point, VA, USA

We have purchased this 2003 Beetle bug for my daughter and the transmission is hard shifting and down shift really bad. After doing research on this model and year. There as been nothing but complaints about the transmission (valve body). My understanding the extended the warranty for 7 years and 100,000 miles. This Beetle bug only has 86560. We can't even drive this car. I can't believe with all the issue that Volkswagen has had with transmission there is no recall on this. This is a major safety issue while driving this car.

- Moseley, VA, USA

We just bought a 2003 Beetle bug and only has 86560 and shifting and jerking really hard after driving the car for a couple miles. It shift hard and down shift thru 1, 2, 3 gears. After reading several reports there is a known issue with the transmission for this year and model. Every where I read, they extended the warranty until 2010 and 100,000 miles. We are under the mileage by far. I feel the dealer need to fix this issue since this is a know issue for this year. You don't know you have an issue until you hit around 80,000 miles mark. I need some help and direction what can be done for this car,

- Moseley, VA, USA

Vehicle engine stopped while driving. Battery dead, no power in vehicle at all. Found melted battery fuse box under hood. Root cause determined to be corrosion on alternator power supply cable that created heat enough to melt plastic (~450F) and burn the protective cover off the alternator supply wire back 2 inches. Poor contact due to corrosion caused battery to drain, which eventually could no longer sustain engine ignition. No warning lights prior to engine stopping. No battery power also means no power steering, no power brakes, no airbags during collision. Online forums indicate this is happening to a lot of people. It would appear to be as deadly as the GM ignition switch issue, but it is not being taken seriously by VW.

- Plainfield, IN, USA

I was out driving my 2003 Beetle on the freeway and the vehicle begin to stall and slow down. I pressed the accelerator and the engine just rev very high and started jerking. I immediately got off the freeway as soon as I can. This problem appears to be on going. After driving for approximately 20 to 30 minutes the transmission will rev high as though I put the car in neutral and eventually jerks and lunges. If I stop at a red light the car will stall and lurch forward upon acceleration. I have approximately 106,000 miles on this vehicle. This car is unsafe and should be repaired by Volkswagen.

- Laveen, AZ, USA

My car was purchased as a used car. I purchased it with 100000 miles (approx.), and I have put on 31000 additional miles since (within 5 years). My car has always been routinely maintained/serviced. I take excellent care of my Beetle. In November 2013, my automatic transmission began to slip. It has become worse, and it lurches forward will in drive, and at a controlled intersection my car either hesitates to take off or it rocks back and forth. This is a very expensive fix, having consulted two mechanics and receiving their estimates. I feel that this transmission issue poses a safety hazard for myself, other drivers, and pedestrians who may be crossing in front of my lurching vehicle. I think that with the multitude of 2003 transmission issues/failures, VW needs to stand behind their faulty product with a recall.

- Eau Claire, WI, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that while driving 20 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact took the vehicle to a local mechanic for a diagnostic test and the mechanic stated that the power train had failed. The contact had the transmission replaced. The contact did not call the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 36,000. Updated 11/15/13

- Durham, NC, USA

The automatic 6 speed transmission fails to work properly.

- Ventura, CA, USA

I am the third owner and I should have cked this car out since the person who sold it too me didnt tell me a thing about the car.I am so dicusted about this adorable looking car. I only drove it once and took it too our mechanic. Wished I had taken it there first$800 later and just the beginning! I paid too much to begin with. Ipaid $4500 for a 2003 VW because it was cute! so I wish VW would help us american people. I want to drive my car but have only driven it once.! help !! still at the mechanics! wish people could be honest ! this would not happened in the 60"S. we have a good mechanic! thank god!

- Pismo Bch, CA, USA

Over the last couple of years my 2003 VW Beetle has been in and out of the garage. It seems to have trouble changing gears (it's an automatic) and has gotten stuck in 3rd gear. It will jerk and lunge when slowing down. Each time the mechanic has "reset the codes" and the test drive showed no signs of anymore trouble. It has gotten much worse and now after driving for about 25 or 30 minutes it begins the jerking and lunging. After researching, I see that this is a common problem with this car. I love my car, but no longer feel safe driving it and I certainly cannot rely on it. I now feel that I am stuck with a car that I cannot drive nor can I sell.

- Appomattox, VA, USA

The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that the transmission would not shift and would exhibit an abnormal banging sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that there was an internal problem and the transmission would need to be replaced. The failure mileage was 79,000 and the current mileage was 82,200.

- Plattsburgh, NY, USA

My daughters 2003 Volkswagen Beetle shifts very hard after driving for about 10 minutes, almost to the point of possible causing a severe accident! I've read message boards and have realized that this year of Beetle needs to have a recall on this before someone losses their life! it shifts the worst between 2nd and 3rd gears. She is scared to death to drive this car!

- Round Lake, IL, USA

The transmission on this vehicle has started hard shifting when warm, causing erratic speed changes and possible lack of traction. Vwoa issued a recall around a year ago however only within a very limited number of miles done, showing they acknowledge there is a problem but will not take adequate action to resolve the issue.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

I have a 2003 VW Beetle that I purchased on May 18, 2003 off the showroom floor of my local dealership. It currently is sitting in my garage as I have experience issues with the transmssion slipping hard into gear or jerking to a hard stop when slowing down. This started in April, 2012, I took it in to the VW dealership and was told I need a new transmission and I only have 85,000 miles. Well, I took it too several independent repair locations and they said the same with a cost up to around $6,000. I worked hard to pay my car off and now it sits covered in my garage as I have read their are possible class action lawsuits against VW for this issue. I did receive a notice from VW in November of 2010 regarding warranty extension - transmission valve body. It covers the valve body in your vehicle's transmission to 7 years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first, from the vehicle's original in-service date. Well, I bought my car in may of 2003, so my 7 years was up in may of 2010...so VW sends out a worthless notice in November 2010 and I am stuck with the bill. I have been getting calls and emails from my VW dealearship that I can trade in my car and they will give me top $$. I don't want another VW car, I just want this one fixed by VW. Please help direct me to the appropriate group, person so that I can be included in any lawsuit or settlement.

- Lilburn, GA, USA