10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
83,590 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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.

2005 Volkswagen Beetle engine problems

engine problem

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2005 Volkswagen Beetle Owner Comments

problem #6

May 312018

Beetle

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My VIN number on car is different from the VIN number on motor. I just found this out about one month ago. I wasn't told this when I bought the vehicle.. so, I don't know if this is a big problem or not. Its a 2005 VW, with a 2004 engine from a slavage yard, bandb, or B and R?? this caused me great alarm. The wiring since had to be done about 2 weeks ago. Also, the belly pan had been missing. I had it fixed. And the headlights had to be repaired too. This car has cost me thousands in repairs since purchase. And I don't have more thousands to put in it. Please help I hope the car in excellent shape now. Also, I noticed the dip stick broke to oil check and hadn't been prior to my acknowledgement. Also, the car has a soft top and I was told was newly replaced in 5/2018. But it seems to have a different look inside then a tight shape regarding top, and I don't know if this should be or not.

- Wilsonville, OR, USA

problem #5

May 172018

Beetle

  • 200,000 miles
The contact owned a 2005 Volkswagen Beetle. While driving 73 mph, the vehicle hesitated and stalled without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into a ditch and smoke appeared from the front of the vehicle. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed and towed to a towing lot. The contact called bill marine Volkswagen at (937) 210-4257 (located at 415 E North St, springfield, oh 45503) and was advised to bring the vehicle in for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000. The VIN was not available.

- Urbana, OH, USA

problem #4

Jun 082010

Beetle 4-cyl

  • 50,742 miles
I purchased this vehicle used with original warranty still going and I also purchased an extended warranty (high tech) with it. Within a few months the car started to jerk and then shift into gear or sometimes it wouldn't shift into gear or it would barely move. My malfunction lights different ones were coming on and the car started to overheat. Sometimes it would leak all the water out and others you would see it boiling the car also made different noises as I drove and the drivers side window would make this piercing noise and the passenger side would go down and up by itself. Well the following has been replaced plus more.....(2) head gaskets, a few waterpumps, coolant flange melted a few times, a couple thermostats, impellor, timing belt tensioner needless to say this vehicle has had on going problems with overheating numerous times and several things have been replaced several times along with other items. This vehicle has been in to VW capo for repair over 40 + times I stopped counting. VW capo is the only place that has serviced this car since my purchase. I have been stranded on ortega hwy in 103 degrees with no cell coverage due to vehicle overheating I think I've been towed in 4 or 5 times. Something is not right here....the dealership said it's my fault that I must have put something in the car to clog it. I now have replaced the radiator at my cost of $1600 plus. Has anyone else had all these problems?? I have had alot of problems with the struts, mount, cv boots, control arms etc.........

- Trabuco Canyon, CA, USA

problem #3

Feb 112013

Beetle

  • 80,801 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When gearing down or starting up at redlight, car downshifts and gears-up with a jerk; took to VW dealer; says it is valve body defect which could utimately cause transmission to go bad; was told at dealership VW knows about the problem and extended a warranty on valve cover only which went out last yr on my vehicle. I never got a notice. VW admits the problem was there when manufactured in Mexico. I believe that this could be a safety issue for many VW owners. Also have had numerous problems with window regulators malfuctioning - affecting locking of doors and window closings- even when these costly regulators are replaced, the problems return... my car value is now -0- thanks to VW manufacturing issues.

- Lincolnton, GA, USA

problem #2

Jul 102012

Beetle

  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 2005 Volkswagen Beetle. While driving approximately 10 mph, the engine stalled without warning. The vehicle was restarted with the illumination of the check engine warning light. The warning light remained illuminated until the engine was turned off. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the catalytic converter was replaced. One month later, the failure recurred five times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer each time the failure recurred. In addition to the previous repair, the cv booster was also replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.

- Mcdonough, GA, USA

problem #1

Jul 242010

Beetle 4-cyl Diesel

  • 50,000 miles
The first time I drove my used over 50 mph along coastal road (within 24 hours of purchase from a Toyota dealer), the engine cut power and rolled to a stop. From first gear, it began to drive again. I took the car to the dealer and they determined that the valve body was defective. I am scared to drive the car over 55 on the freeway for fear of cutting power. In August 2011, the same cut of power occurred after driving 4 miles in the far right lane on the 405 freeway. I rolled off the freeway offramp and came to a stop. The transmission reset itself and drove up to 40 mph to my destination on side streets. Again the dealer accused the valve body. In July 2012, I decided to let the dealer check the car out again because I had a strange cut in power upon acceleration from a left turn traffic light the previous day. The dealer determined that my fuel pump was defective. After these three fixes, I trust the car to drive around town. But I suffer extreme anxiety about driving the car on a freeway. This week, I need to move the car from California 300 miles to Nevada. I am not certain if the transmission can drive that distance without a cut in power. Not dependable, not worth $15,000 price tag. Embarrassment!

- Manhattan Beach, CA, USA

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