EN

2006 Volkswagen New Beetle 2-DR. w/SAB

4
Recalls
124
Complaints

Safety Ratings.

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings help consumers compare vehicle safety when searching for a car. More stars mean safer cars.

Frontal Crash
Side Crash
Rollover
Overall Front Star Rating

Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.

Front Driver Side
Front Passenger Side
Overall Side Star Rating

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Driver
Passenger
Overall Side Pole Star Rating

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Rollover Star Rating

The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.

Complaints
Recalls

124 Complaints

for 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE
04/30/2021
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 04/19/2021
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRW31C06M******
Summary

WHEN IN MOTION, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE GEARS AT APPROPRIATE ENGINE SPEEDS. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE REVS WAY TOO HIGH AND SLAMS INTO THE NEXT GEAR, PRODUCING DANGEROUS JOLTS. OTHER TIMES THE GEAR FAILS TO ENGAGE AT ALL, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER. MY VEHICLE WAS STRANDED IN CITY TRAFFIC DUE TO THIS TEMPORARY FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY QUALIFIED TECHNICIANS AND CERTAIN CONTROL PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO DISPLAY THIS DEFECTIVE BEHAVIOR SEEMINGLY AT RANDOM. I AND OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE'S DRIVETRAIN.

10/12/2020
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/02/2020
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPF31YX6M******
Summary

FUSE BOX ON TOP OF BATTERY MELTDOWN GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY

12/15/2019
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 12/14/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y06M******
Summary

THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND WE TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. IT LOOKS LIKE THE CAUSE WAS THE WIRING GOING INTO THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF THE BATTERY OVERHEATED AND MELTED. THE ALTERNATOR HARNESS AND FUSE BOX NEED TO BE REPLACED. WE ARE THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE SO DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

11/07/2019
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 11/05/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y06M******
Summary

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE JUST DISAPPEARED AND BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT BROKE BUT IT HAD TO HAVE JUST HAPPENED AS I NOTICED IT NOW MAKES AN AWFUL CRACKING NOISE WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED OR CLOSED. AFTER INSPECTING IT THE HINGE IS GONE OR BROKE OFF INSIDE THE DOOR THAT YOU CANNOT SEE; THEREFORE, IF THERE IS A WIND, IT COULD SWING CLEAR BACK AND BREAK THE DOOR OFF AS THERE IS NOTHING TO LET IT SWING ONLY A CERTAIN AMOUNT BACK. WE'VE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE 1.5 YEARS. WE'VE CHECKED AND ALOT OF BODY SHOPS DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. IT WILL TAKE SOME BODY WORK WITH WELDING AND TAKING THE DOOR OFF.....AND NO DOUBT PAINT REPLACEMENT . I CAN SEND A PHOTO IF NEED BE.

11/02/2019
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,ENGINE
Incident Date: 11/01/2019
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y96M******
Summary

FUSE BOX MELTED TWICE. THE LAST TIME TOTALLY SHUT THE CAR DOWN. VW DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. WILL SELL YOU NEW BOX BUT WILL NOT WARENTEE THE NEW BOX WILL NOT FAIL AGAIN AS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY IT HAPPENS. AS I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE AC STOPPED WORKING AND THE CAR SLOWED AND LOST SOME POWER. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND PULL INTO A REPAIR SHOP THAT JUST HAPPENED TO BE RIGHT THERE. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX HAD MELTED.

10/25/2019
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 08/22/2019
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRR31C76M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO A YARD. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A WATER METER AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE COVERT. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THIRD DEGREE BURNS FROM THE VOLKSWAGEN EMBLEM ON THE AIR BAG, AND CUTS AND BRUISES TO THE FACE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 190802695. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 260,000. *LN CONSUMER STATED FOUND CAR WAS SOLD TO TENNESSEE AUTO SALVAGE (KNOXVILLE,TN) SOLD 9/14/19. PHONE NUMBER 865-281-5420.*JB *LN PICTURES THAT VW (LARRY WEST) RECEIVED FROM COPART KNOXVILLE, TN. *JB*DT *TR

01/25/2019
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 12/04/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRW31C76M******
Summary

THIS VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IMMOBILIZER. THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WICH SHOULD BE RESPONSABILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER. AT WARM DAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM, BUT IN COLD DAYS THE IMMOBILIZER ACTIVATES AND THERE IS IMPOSSIBLE START THE CAR.

06/18/2018
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 06/09/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSF31YX6M******
Summary

I HAVE A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE THAT I BOUGHT ABOUT A YEAR AGO.THE BEETLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAS EXTREMELY LOW MILES. IT HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF TO SAY THE LEAST. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOTICED A VERY STRONG ODOR THAT SMELLS LIKE CRAYONS. THE ODOR IS SO STRONG THAT MY HAIR, CLOTHES AND SKIN SMELLS LIKE THIS SCENT. I HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD AND HE COUGHS AND SNEEZES THE WHOLE TIME WHILE RIDING. NOT TO MENTION BOTH OF US GET HORRIFIC HEADACHES AND OUR EYES WATER FROM THE ODOR. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS CRAYON SMELL IS TOXIC OR WHAT FUMES WE ARE BREATHING IN BUT IT CANNOT BE GOOD FROM THE SIDE EFFECTS WE ARE HAVING FROM IT. I HAVE TRIED TO SELL IT BUT NO ONE WILL BUY IT BECAUSE OF THE STRONG ODOR IT HAS. I HAVE HAD IT PROFESSIONAL CLEANED, CHANGED THE CABIN AIR FILTER ETC AND THE SMELL IS STILL THERE.

05/09/2018
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 04/02/2018
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y96M******
Summary

MY CAR SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR.

10/04/2017
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/04/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSF31Y36M******
Summary

EVERY YEAR WHEN IT GETS COLD THE WINDOW REGULATORS BREAK. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH SIDES TWICE NOW!

08/22/2017
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 08/08/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y06M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS EVERY DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY FAILURE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 12/13/2017 *LN *TR

08/02/2017
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 05/24/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPF31YX6M******
Summary

EPC WARNING LIGHT WANT TURN OFF. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AS WELL AS IN MOTION. SPEED DECREASES WHEN TRAVELING ON ROADWAY.

07/30/2017
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 07/15/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VRF31Y46M3******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE GOING 60MPH, THE LIGHTS TURN OFF. I HAD TO STOP AND HIT THE HEADLIGHTS TO GET THE LIGHTS TO COME ON. THEN THEY WOULD SHUT OFF AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND BROKE. IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY BREAKS AGAIN CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO FAIL.

07/14/2017
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 02/26/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRG31Y36M******
Summary

HARD SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND, AND SECOND TO THIRD AND WHEN CAR DOWNSHIFTS THRU 1-2 2-3 JUST HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACED BY DEALER. JUST FOUND OUT ON LINE THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SINCE 2003 TILL 2016 IN BEETLES

07/06/2017
Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 06/20/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSG31C86M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO THE ISSUE LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V621000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

07/03/2017
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 06/30/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSG31C86M******
Summary

MY 2006 VW BEETLE ONLY HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT, HAS RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THIS MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN IS PREMATURE FOR THE MILES AND CARE THIS CAR HAS.

05/30/2017
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 02/26/2017
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRG31Y36M******
Summary

AUTO TRANS SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1-2 AND 2-3 AND IT ALSO MAKES CAR JUMP FORWARD WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO GEAR MOVING FWD. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM VW HAS HAD SINCE 2003BUT DOES NOT ACCEPT BLAME FOR PROBLEM AT 87,000 HAD FLUID CHANGED AND PROBLEM STARTED IT SEEMS VW DOESN'T CARE JUST LIKE AIRBAG AND DIESEL PROBLEMS.

12/20/2016
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 04/15/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPW31C66M******
Summary

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RELATED TO THIS MODEL. CAR HESITATES WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING GEARS.

10/20/2016
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 07/01/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRG31Y76M******
Summary

A WELL DOCUMENTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEM UNDER 100,000 MILES THERE WAS A LAWSUIT THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF MY TRANSMISSION IS NOW HAVING THIS ISSUE. *TR

06/16/2016
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 05/23/2016
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWFP31Y06M******
Summary

BRAKE FAILURE RESULTED IN CRASH AND TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. TRAVELING ON FLAT STRAIGHT FOUR LANE ROAD WITH RAISED MEDIAN APPROXIMATELY 45MPH. VEHICLES TO THE RIGHT AND MEDIAN TO THE LEFT. BRAKES DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER STOPPED VEHICLE.

04/25/2016
Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 04/11/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y06M******
Summary

PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM USED CAR DEALER 5/2014. WITHIN 6 WEEKS A NOTICEABLE ODOR OF GAS BOTH IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND OUTSIDE THE CAR.WHEN STANDING WITHIN 5 FEET OF IT. REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED BUT LICENSED REPAIR SHOPS WERE UNABLE/UNWILLING TO FIND A CAUSE. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES WITHIN THE CITY OF TUCSON, AZ ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS TODAVIS-MONTHAN AFB FOR SERVICE AGAIN. THE TECHNICIAN IMMEDIATELY EVACUATED MY CAR'S DRIVER AWAY FROM IT AS HE SAW FUEL HAD SPILLED INTO THE TRUNK SPACE, TRAVELED THROUGH THE ACCESS PANEL, SPILLED INTO THE BACKSEAT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UNDER THE BACK SEAT, SATURATED THE CARPET AND FLOOR MATS, AND HAD BEGUN REACHING BENEATH THE FRONT SEATS. THE FUEL WAS HOSED UNTIL IT COULD SAFELY BE DRIVEN OFF THE MILITARY BASE THEN TOWED TO A VW DEALERSHIP. PER THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE MANAGER, THE FUEL PUMP HAD CRACKED AND CAUSED SEVERAL GALLONS OF GAS INTO THE CAR. NEITHER VW OF AMERICA OR IT'S AUTHORIZED DEALER ARE ABLE TO GIVE ME A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAD BEEN ADDRESSED IN 2011, PRIOR TO MY OWNERSHIP, REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM RECALL REFERENCE NHTSA #10V621000, AND VW WILL NOT FUND THE REPAIR OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. VW OF AMERICA REPORTS TO NHTSA THAT NO RECALL REPAIRS REMAIN TO BE DONE. ALL REPAIRS TO THE FUEL SYSTEM; GASOLINE DELIVERY HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED ON 2006-2010 CERTAIN MODELS JETTA, NEW. BEETLE, BEETLE CONVERTIBLES, JETTA SPORTWAGON, AND RABBIT VEHICLES. WITHOUT VW PROVIDING ME A RECALL REPAIR RECORD AND ACCEPTING NO RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE ME SUCH, I AM SCREWED!! AS A SINGLE, HARD WORKING MOTHER, I CAN NEITHER AFFORD 1K TO FIX IT OR A MONTHLY PAYMENT ON A CAR THAT CAN'T BE DRIVEN. VW ONCE AGAIN REVEALS IT'S REPREHENSIBLE PRACTICE OF DECEIVING AMERICAN CONSUMERS.

02/25/2016
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 02/22/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPG31C06M******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ABOUT 70 MPH, CAR BUCKED AND SEEMED TO BEGIN TO LOSE POWER. TACHOMETER DROPPED TO 0 THEN SWUNG BACK UP TO 2-3. EPC LIGHT CAME ON. I COULDN'T ACCELERATE BEYOND 65 MPH. DURING SLOWED TRAFFIC, CAR BEGAN IDLING EXTREMELY HIGH. HAD TO CONTROL IT WITH CLUTCH. (IT'S A MANUAL.) CAR IS DRIVABLE, BUT CONTINUES TO BUCK AND EPC CONTINUES ON. DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED REPLACE THROTTLE BOARD, BUT ALL MY RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT MOST DRIVERS WHO HAVE DONE SO SAY THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUGE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON MULTIPLE MESSAGE BOARDS, SO IT SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING, RECOGNIZED, CONSISTENT PROBLEM, AND PROBABLY A SAFETY HAZARD, AS A CAR STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY, OR IDLING TOO HIGH IN TRAFFIC IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION.

02/23/2016
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 02/10/2016
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPW31C96M******
Summary

IT IS ACCELERATING ON IT OWN WHEN STOPPED OR IN GEAR OR NOT. REALLY SCARY

01/25/2016
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 04/21/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN RATE OF SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP FRACTURED AND DETACHED WITHOUT NOTICE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP. THE CONTACT LATER NOTICED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP FRACTURED ON A ROADWAY. MONTHS LATER, BOTH LOW BEAMS FRACTURED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAD BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN TWICE BEFORE THE FRACTURES WITH THE PART DETACHING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

01/21/2016
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 05/03/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRR31C26M******
Summary

THERE IS A SENSOR THAT IS CONNECTED TO MY AIRBAG IN MY CAR THAT HAS GONE OUT 4 TIMES AND COUNTING. THIS "SENSOR" MAKES THE AIRBAG USELESS. WITHIN A YEAR TO 16 MONTHS OF FIXING THE PROBLEM, IT HAS REOCCURED EACH TIME. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO PAY FOR THE PARTS OR WARRANTY THEM PAST A YEAR. THE PART IS CLEARLY FAULTY AND ENDANGERS PEOPLES LIVES. THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO WEAR AND TEAR REPLACEMENT ON A YEARLY BASIS. ESPECIALLY WITH A PRICETAG OF AROUND $650 PER FIX. WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM ONLINE, THIS SHOULD CLEARLY BE A RECALL. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT ISN'T.

12/11/2015
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 12/08/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRR31C16M******
Summary

06 DIG TRANNY MAKING NOISE, VIBRATING BADLY. DEALER SAYS, 77000 MILES TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE 10 YR 10000 MILE WARRANTY IS FOR 2007 AND UP VEHICLES. 2006 IS NOT INCLUDED. ( MY TH400 TRANNY IN MY BUICK HAS LASTED 39 YEARS......)

10/01/2015
Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
Incident Date: 09/25/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y06M******
Summary

EPC AND ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CARS SHUTS OFF,NO POWER.HAVE TO RESTART AFTER A FEW MINUTE,ON INTERSTATE AND MAJOR ROAD.

06/18/2015
Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE
Incident Date: 06/01/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRW31C66M******
Summary

OIL LEAKING AND VACUUM PUMP NEEDED REPLACED WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES ON IT. FROM ONLINE RESEARCH THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH 5 CYL VOLKSWAGENS. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL ON THIS PART.

04/13/2015
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 04/13/2015
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y26M******
Summary

THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS GONE BAD IN A VEHICLE THAT IS UNDER 55,000 MILES AND BARELY OVER THE 8 YEAR WARRANTY TIME FRAME. I WANTED TO REPORT THIS ISSUE FOR A POSSIBLE EXTENSION TO THE YEAR TIME FRAME FOR VW. *TR

02/27/2015
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 11/10/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRG31C46M******
Summary

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE RPM'S WILL GO EXTREMELY HIGH FOLLOWED BY A THUMP SOUND AS IF THE CAR JUMPS BACK INTO GEAR. VW OF AMERICA ISSUED EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH EXPIRED IN FEBRUARY 2014. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT A VALVE IN THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD SO AN EXTENSION WAS ISSUED ON THE WARRANTY BUT OWNERS WERE NOT TOLD OF THIS AND HAD TO HAVE CAR PROBLEMS SINCE THERE WAS NO OTHER TO TAKE THE CAR IN FOR ANY REPAIR OF THE TRANSMISSION. A RECALL NOTICE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED SINCE NUMEROUS OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE WHICH IS COSTING THOUSANDS PER CAR TO CORRECT. *TR

01/15/2015
Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/15/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I AM INCLUDING MY COMPLAINT AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE UNFORTUNATELY BOUGHT THIS CAR. THIS CAR HAS BEEN A MONEY PIT AND ONE ISSUE AFTER ANOTHER. THEY ARE NOT SAFE CARS. WE GOT A TOTAL CLEAR INSPECTION FROM THE VW DEALER ( OF COURSE) AND THEN THERE WAS SOME SORT OF OIL LEAK, WHICH WE SPENT 2K FIXING, THEN THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW JUST DECIDED TO STOP WORKING AND THE ENTIRE WINDOW HAD TO BE DUCT TAPED UP IN THE DEAD OF WINTER UNTIL WE COULD ORDER A REPLACEMENT , THEN THE CONTROLLER NEED TO BE REPLACED ($500) THEN THE CAR STARTED LURCHING NON STOP AND NOW WE ARE TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. SERIOUSLY? VW NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES IN THIS CAR AND THEY NEED TO BE RECALLED. THEY ARE A SAFETY ISSUE. WE BOUGHT THE CAR FOR $5500 AND HAVE ABOUT ANOTHER 4K INTO IT. I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND THIS CAR TO ANYONE. PLEASE DO SOMETHING AND MAKE VW TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE LEMONS THEY ARE SELLING PEOPLE. I WILL NOW HAVE TO SCRAP THIS CAR, BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE. ESPECIALLY THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE......HOW CAN IT BE IGNORED WITH SO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION? *TR

12/29/2014
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 12/22/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPG31C36M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DECREASED AND FAILED TO ACCELERATE OVER 4 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION AND THE EPS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

12/13/2014
Components: POWER TRAIN,ENGINE
Incident Date: 11/28/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER BEETLE DOWN A CITY STREET WHEN IT WAS STOPPED GOING LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS IN DRIVE. SHE COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED OFF THE CAR AND WAITED. SHE THEN TRIED AGAIN AND IT WAS WORKING. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SHIP THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED IT IS TESTING WITH A TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 4TH AND 5TH. IT IS DRIVABLE BUT WE WILL NOT RISK HER LIFE OR TAKE A CHANCE THAT IT WILL STOP MOVING AGAIN WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR USED 5 MONTHS EARLIER THE CAR FAX SAID IT WAS EXCELLENT AND HAD ALL MAINTENANCE UP TO DATE. *TR

11/07/2014
Components: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Incident Date: 11/07/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y36M******
Summary

THIS CAR HAS A FUEL LEAK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE FUEL SUPPLY RAIL FOR THE FUEL INJECTOR SYSTEM. THERE IS A GASOLINE SMELL INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND VERY NOTICEABLE OUTSIDE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFTY. DEFECT. IT HAS TAKEN VOLKSWAGON MORE THAN A WEEK TO LOCATE PARTS FOR THE EXPENSIVE REPAIR WHICH MAY INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON SAFTY PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL CAR. I AM BEING CHARGED OVER $1,000 FOR THE REPAIR BUT FEEL THIS MAY BE A SERIOUS DEFECT IN THE CAR. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ADVISE. *TR

09/27/2014
Components: SERVICE BRAKES
Incident Date: 06/08/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRR31C76M******
Summary

WAS DRIVING AND REALIZED MY BRAKES DIDN'T FEEL RIGHT. HAD NEW BRAKES AND ROTORS PUT ON.. HAD THE BRAKES AND THE MASTER CYLINDER BLED.. STILL FELT FUNNY.. TOOK IT TO A GARAGE THIS AM AND HE FOUND THAT THE BOOSTER VACUUM IS BAD. MECHANIC TRIED TO CALL TO ORDER ONE AND THEY ARE SCARCE. HE BELIEVES THE SHORTAGE MAY BE BECAUSE THEIR IS A RECALL ON THIS. ALSO THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT LATCH FELL APART AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A USED ONE ANYWHERE BECAUSE THEY ARE IN DEMAND BY VW OWNERS. *TR

09/02/2014
Components: AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 06/10/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y06M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAL FROM THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS DETERIORATING AND CAUSED WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

06/22/2014
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 01/01/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPW31C56M******
Summary

MY BEETLE SMELLS LIKE MELTED CRAYONS SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. IT GIVES ME A MAJOR HEADACHE ON LONG TRIPS AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO THE CAR FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR GETS CONTAMINATED WITH THE CRAYON SMELL, HOPE ITS NOT TOXIC. GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM IN MOST 2006 BEETLES MADE IN MEXICO. I'M NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE DONE, BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR IF I HAD KNOWN. ITS THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WHEN I TEST DROVE THE CAR BUT THOUGHT MAYBE A CRAYON WAS STUCK IN THE DEFROSTER - NOT THE CASE. LET ONE OF THE VW EXECUTIVES TAKE A LONG ROAD TRIP AND SEE FOR THEMSELVES. ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY POORLY DESIGNED. BULBS BLOW REGULARLY AND ARE HARD TO CHANGE AND I EVEN HAD THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY POP OUT OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT COULD HAVE KILLED THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, EASILY. APPARENTLY THE WIND/AIR RUSHING THRU THE GRILL FORCED THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY TO POP OUT AND GO BOUNCING DOWN THE HIGHWAY LIKE A BOWLING BALL. IM SURE IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE DIFFICULTY OF INSTALLING THE ASSEMBLY AND IT NOT BEING SECURED CORRECTLY BY THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES. YOU SHOULDN'T NEED A PHD TO CHANGE A BULB. CUTE WILL ONLY GET YOU SO FAR VW! *TR

05/31/2014
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 05/18/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

WHEN DRIVING AT 65 M/H THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THANKFULLY NO ONE HIT THE BACK. IT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AT 20-30 M/H. TWO WEEKS PRIOR A WARNING SIGNAL WENT OFF FOR THE AIR COMPRESSOR. WHEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT AND IT WOULD COST $5,000. *TR

05/20/2014
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL,POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 05/15/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRR31CX6M******
Summary

SEVERE BURNED DIESEL FUMES INFILTRATING THE CABIN OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. *TR

05/07/2014
Components: SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Incident Date: 12/01/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRG31Y66M******
Summary

2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO UNSATISFACTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP AND ELECTRONIC STABILIZATION PROGRAM FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED A RED AND BLUE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE THEN BROKE DOWN, AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE. ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL, THE RED AND BLUE LIGHT MEANT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ELECTRONIC STABILIZATION PROGRAM OR ANTI-SLIP REGULATION. WHEN THE CONSUMER WENT TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE, SHE WAS INFORMED THE OIL PAN AND GASKET AND SHOCKS WERE LEAKING AND WORN AS WELL AS THE BALL JOINTS. *JB

04/22/2014
Components: ENGINE
Incident Date: 03/03/2014
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y66M******
Summary

THE CAM SHAFT ADJUSTER BOLT BECAME LOOSE AND FELL OFF. CAUSING CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE. I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS A COMMON FAILURE FOR MY MODEL YEAR AFTER SOME RESEARCH, BUT WAS TOLD NOTHING ABOUT IT FROM VOLKSWAGEN. I WAS DRIVING ON A 70 MILE PER HOUR HIGHWAY WHEN MY ENGINE FAILED. LOSING ALL POWER (BRAKES, POWER STEERING, ETC.) WITH NO WARNING. NEWER MODEL YEARS DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY REDESIGNED THE PART. HAD THEY TOLD ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM I COULD HAVE GOT IT FIXED BEFORE I ENDANGERED MY LIFE AND MY ENGINE. 2006 VW BEETLE 2.5L BPS ENGINE. *TR

04/01/2014
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 09/14/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

BOUGHT THE CAR BRAND NEW.IT STARTED FIRST BY GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE IT WOULD REV HIGH AND LURCH FORWARD AND I WOULD HAVE TO KEEP A HEAVY FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL RPM CAME BACK DOWN.ON THE INTERSTATE, REPEATEDLY,THE CAR WOULD HESITATE WHILE FOOT WAS ON GAS. I FIGURED OUT TO TAKE FOOT OF GAS PEDAL AND REAPPLY AND IT WOULD FIX THE DECELERATION ISSUE.NEXT, MY CAR WOULD BANG INTO 3RD GEAR SO HARD I THOUGHT I WAS REAR ENDED.IT WOULD OCCUR 15 MINUTES INTO DRIVING IT.GOT A LETTER ,VALVE BODY RECALL,AND I CALLED VW,TOLD ME IT WAS TRANSMISSION AND WOULD COST 5600. I TOLD THEM I RESEARCHED THESE SYMPTOMS AND CLEARLY STATES VALVE BODY. 2 WEEKS OF CALLING AND WAITING,DEALERSHIP REPAIRED VALVE BODY.LESS THAN A YEAR,3RD DOING SOMETHING FUNNY TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SHOP AND STATED 3 RD GEAR IS BAD AND SO IS VALVE BODY.CALLED DEALERSHIP BC ITS STILL UNDER WARRANTY TRIED TO SAY I COULDN'T GET A NEW ONE BC I DIDN'T GO TO THEIR MECHANIC.THE TRANSMISSION GUY CALLED THE PARTS MANAGER AND STATED ITS NOT THE JOB THAT'S WARRANTIED BUT THE PART AND AFTER WAITING 4 DAYS, GOT A NEW VALVE BODY. I'VE ALSO REPLACED HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS 5 TIMES,A WINDOW REGULATOR,A BATTERY EVERY 2 YEARS,AND NOW A CONTROL DOOR MODULE THAT CONTROLS MY TOPSIDE MIRRORS,DRIVER WINDOW AND DOOR LOCKS IS BAD.I'VE HAD THE AC AND HEAT STOP WORKING WHEN FOOT WAS OFF GAS.WINDOW COMING APART FROM CARTOP; THEY CLIPPED IT BC IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY.MY DOOR LOCK FELL OUT UNDER WARRANT.WHEN DOES AN INVESTIGATION OCCUR? I'VE WRITTEN SEVERAL NEWS INVESTIGATION SHOWS AND HEARD NOTHING.I HAVE SPENT7000 DOLLARS REPAIRING THIS CAR AND NO ONE IS LISTENING TO ALL THESE COMPLAINTS OUT THERE. HELP US GET OUR MONEY BACK AND BF SOMEONE DIES IN THIS VEHICLE. I TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER HE HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY OF THESE ISSUES; ITS JUST MY CAR! TOLD HIM TO LOOK ON THE INTERNET. *TR

03/24/2014
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 09/05/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y46M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE REGULATOR BAND REPAIR KIT WAS REPLACED. MOST RECENTLY, THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE POWER WINDOW FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS \BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,904.

03/12/2014
Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 08/11/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRR31C26M******
Summary

MY 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE HAS HAD 4 FAILURES OF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO VOLKSWAGEN CERTIFIED DEALERSHIPS, THE PART THAT KEEPS FAILING IS A SENSOR IN THE SEATBELT. WHEN THIS SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS THE ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS RENDERED USELESS. IT GOES OFF RANDOMLY, WITH NO TRAUMA OR INCIDENT TO THE VEHICLE. THE PART COSTS MORE THAN $600 TO FIX. I HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED IN 2008, 2010, 2013 AND NOW THE SAME PART HAS FAILED AGAIN. EACH TIME IT WENT OUT IT WAS WITHIN A YEAR OF THE PREVIOUS FAILURE, ALTHOUGH UNTIL RECENTLY I DID NOT REALIZE THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WAS DISABLED - I WAITED TO TAKE IT IN BECAUSE OF THE INCONVENIENCE. THE LIGHT ALSO RANDOMLY TURNS OFF ONE OUT OF EVERY 10-15 DRIVES. THE VOLKSWAGEN REGIONAL CASE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT - DESPITE THE FACT THAT THE PART IS CLEARLY FAULTY AND HAS CONTINUOUSLY FAILED DUE TO NO FAULT OF MY OWN OR ANY FACTORS I COULD CONTROL - THEY WILL NOT REPLACE IT AND EXPECT ME TO PAY THE COST FOR THE YEARLY/BI-YEARLY FAILURE BECAUSE MY CAR HAS 102,000 MILES ON IT. THE FAILURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH MILEAGE AND THE SAME PROBLEM WAS FIXED MULTIPLE TIMES WHEN THE CAR HAD LOWER MILEAGE. (PLUS, I PURCHASED THE EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000) THIS PART CLEARLY NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS FROM OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME ISSUE AND VOLKSWAGEN IS STICKING THE CONSUMER WITH THE BILL FOR THEIR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP. WHEN I ASKED "IF I PAY TO FIX IT NOW, WILL YOU BE COVERING THE REST OF THE REPLACEMENTS IT WILL OBVIOUSLY NEED DOWN THE LINE?" THE ANSWER WAS A "NO." IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE HANDLED BY SOME BODY WITH AUTHORITY OVER THIS COMPANY. THE VEHICLE IS NOT MEETING BASIC SAFETY STANDARDS. I MAINTAIN THE PARTS OF MY VEHICLE EACH YEAR THAT I AM REQUIRED TO - VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO DO THEIR PART TO MAKE THEIR VEHICLES WORK PROPERLY. *TR

02/08/2014
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 09/18/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y66M******
Summary

TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. THE GAS PEDAL ALSO FAILS TO RESPOND AT CERTAIN TIMES LEADING TO HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION AND ALSO WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED. WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REPLACED, AND THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY VARIOUS OWNERS AND VW HAS YET TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. *TR

02/08/2014
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 02/05/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y66M******
Summary

BOTH HEADLIGHTS TURN THEMSELVES OFF WHILE DRIVING, LEADING TO DISTRESSING CONDITIONS AT NIGHT. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, CONTINUING TODAY.THE HEADLIGHTS MUST BE MANIPULATE FROM INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO 'RE-LOCK' THEM INTO POSITION FOR THEM TO WORK AGAIN. VW OFFERED TO SELL NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, BUT OFFERED NO REASON FOR THEM TURNING THEMSELVES OFF EXCEPT TO SAY THAT THEY SEE THIS ISSUE A LOT. I HAVE ALSO HAD TREMENDOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOWS, BOTH FRONT AND BACK WINDOWS NOT OPERATING AND NOT FULLY MOVING UP TO THE STOP POSITION. AGAIN, VOLKSWAGEN SAYS THEY HAVE HAD A LOT OF ISSUES WITH THE WINDOWS NOT OPERATING CORRECTLY. THESE HAVE BEEN ONGOING PROBLEMS, FIRST ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER UNDER WARRANTY, BUT NOT REPLACE, AND LATER AFTER WARRANTY THE DEALER OFFERED TO SELL NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES AND WINDOW CONTROLLERS TO ME TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WHY WOULDN'T THEY REPLACE THEM WHEN THEY WERE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN DRIVING AND THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. *TR

11/15/2013
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 09/02/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y16M******
Summary

VEHICLE IS UNSAFE AND A POTENTIAL LIABILITY TO DRIVE DUE TO A FAULTY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND PURCHASED THE CERTIFIED VEHICLE THROUGH AN AUTHORIZED VW DEALER. VW FAILED TO NOTIFY ME OF AN AVAILABLE EXTENDED WARRANTY OF A RECOGNIZED ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE. I TRIED REACHING OUT TO VW BUT THEY REFUSE TO OFFER ANY REPAIRS AND NOTIFIED ME ON THE LETTER THAT "IT IS OUR HOPE THE PREVIOUS OWNERS PASS THE INFORMATION TO YOU". THIS IS AN UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE AND I AM APPALLED BY THEIR DECISION. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

10/24/2013
Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 10/21/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG COULD DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY OR WOULD NOT DEPLOY IF INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,141. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

09/25/2013
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 07/01/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRR31C36M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE PRNDL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND ONCE RESTARTED, THE WARNING LIGHT WAS OFF. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITH THE FLASHING PRNDL LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE MACHATRONIC SPEED SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

08/29/2013
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Incident Date: 08/15/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

CPSC:I1380279A. 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER STATED THE CAR IS EMITTING STRONG FUMES THAT SMELLS LIKE BURNING WAX OR CRAYONS. ALSO STATED IT IS MAKING HER SICK. *LN UPDATED 09/25/13*LJ

08/25/2013
Components: VISIBILITY/WIPER
Incident Date: 08/25/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRG31C46M******
Summary

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY PARTIALLY MOVE WHEN TURNED ON OR STOP PART WAY THROUGH THE CYCLE. *TR

07/29/2013
Components: POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 08/08/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y86M******
Summary

TRANSMISSION CHECK FOR VALVE ASSEMBLY BODY-JERKING-INSTABILITY. VOLKSWAGEN WON'T FIX. AIRBAG LIGHT WON'T GO OFF. WINDOWS DON'T WORK. HEADLIGHT WON'T WORK. REPAIRED OVER & OVER. PLEASE GOOGLE VW BEETLE ISSUES OR GO TO EDMUNDS.COM AND CHECK. THOUSANDS OF VW BEETLE OWNERS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS. VW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE. *TR

04/26/2013
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 12/01/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPG31C96M******
Summary

SINCE THE BEGINNING WHEN THE CAR WAS PURCHASED I NOTICED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND TOLD THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES THEY ALWAYS ADVISED THERE WAS NO PROBLEMS IT STUCK HARD UNTIL IT REACHED 4TH GEAR IT RAN OK. ALL DURING THE TIME UNTIL PRESENT DATE THE TRANNY SLIPPED I WAS FINALLY TOLD IN EARLY 2012 THE TRANNY WAS GONE AND IT WOULD COST 6000K TO REPLACE THE WARRANTY HAD JUST ELAPSED. BUT DURING THE TIME PRIOR IT WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR STANDARD SERVICING INCLUDING DIAGNOSTICS AND I ALWAYS NOTIFIED THEM OF THE TRANSMISSION AND WAS TOLD NO PROBLEMS. TODAY I WAS ADVISED THAT THE ORIGINAL HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE OF AN AUTO TRANS VALVE BODY ISSUE, BUT WAS TOLD I WAS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE. THE CAR IS AT ABOUT 114060 MILES. I WOULD LIKE HELP IN GETTING VW AMERICA TO REPLACE THIS VALVE BODY BECAUSE I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEMS ON THESE CARS PRIOR TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRATION. WHEN ORIGINALLY PURCHASED I HAD EVEN PAID AN EXTRA 3000K FOR THE PLATINUM WARRANTY. CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME TO HAVE VW AMERICA AT THE VERY LEAST CHANGE OUT THIS AUTO TRANS VALVE BODY THIS QUITE POSSIBLY COULD BE THE MAIN PROBLEM, AT THE TIME WHEN I WAS TOLD ABOUT THE 6000K I COULD NOT AFFORD THE COST SO I OPTED TO TAKE THE CAR OFF THE ROADS AND SET MYSELF BACK IN THE WHOLE BY BUYING ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH PAYMENTS, IN THE MEANTIME ALL THIS TIME I NEVER KNEW ABOUT THAT TRANS VALVE BODY PROBLEMS THESE CARS WERE HAVING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN OFFER. *TR

04/22/2013
Components: STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 04/19/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSF31Y46M******
Summary

WE PURCHASED A USED, ONE OWNER, 2006 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE (45,000 MILES) FOR OUR DAUGHTER IN COLLEGE, FOUR MONTHS AGO. SINCE THEN SHE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS CONSTANTLY. SHE DROVE IT HOME OVER EASTER BREAK AND I HAD MY HUSBAND DETAIL THE CAR TO SEE IF HE COULD FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ODOR. WHEN WE TOOK THE FLOOR MATS OUT THEY WREAKED OF TOXIC NOSE BURNING CRAYONS. I THREW THE OLD MATS OUT, SPRAYED THE CARPETS WITH A NONTOXIC CLEANER AND LEFT THE HOOD DOWN IN THE GARAGE FOR 3 DAYS. THE SMELL DIDN'T GO AWAY. THIS WEEK-END SHE DROVE HOME AND BY THE TIME SHE CAME IN THE DOOR SHE WREAKED OF CRAYONS, HAD A STOMACH AND HEAD ACHE SO BAD SHE HAD TO GO TO BED. THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR HER. I BROUGHT IN ALL OF HER LUGGAGE AND IT SMELLED JUST AS BAD. WE REMOVED THE NEW MATS BECAUSE THE SMELLED AS BAD AS THE OLD ONES. I PHONED THE DEALERSHIP IN SAVANNAH AND THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SMELL. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT, YET WHEN I CALLED VW THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. WE WERE TOLD TO CONTACT THE HILTON HEAD DEALERSHIP AND PAY A $115.00 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WHEN I PHONE THEM THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE COULD LOOK AT IT BUT HE'D NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE AND THE BEST THING WOULD BE TO BUY HER A NEW CAR. I'M SORRY, THIS IS A COLLEGE KID AND $10,000 IS PLENTY TO PAY FOR A CAR. I'M NOT LOOKING TO CAUSE PROBLEM OR GET ANY HANDOUTS BUT THIS IS OUR ONLY CHILD AND HER HEALTH IS IMPORTANT TO ME. SHE LOVES THE CAR AND DOESN'T WANT TO GET RID OF IT SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITHOUT PAYING AN ARM AND A LEG. HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS.? THANK YOU *TR

04/12/2013
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 04/10/2013
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSG31Y86M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. AFTER THE DIAGNOSTIC, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,100.

11/01/2012
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 01/24/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSF31Y06M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SITTING IDLE OR WHEN TRAVELING BETWEEN 1-10 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 2-3 SECONDS BEFORE RAPIDLY ACCELERATING WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND RESET THE COMPUTER IN AN ATTEMPT TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE DID NOT RECUR UNTIL FIVE WEEKS AFTER THE RESET. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY SEVERAL AUTHORIZED DEALERS WHO WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE FAILURE OCCURRING IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A DIAGNOSIS MACHINE HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO FAILURE CODES GENERATED. THE FAILURE NEVER OCCURRED WHEN TRAVELING OVER 10 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.....UPDATED 12/20/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND SENSOR WAS REPLACED. BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. UPDATED 12/27/2012 *JS

10/26/2012
Components: VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 10/25/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VVRF31Y46M******
Summary

WINDOW CABLE BROKE AND WHOLE FRAME HAD TO BE REPLACED INSTEAD OF CABLE ALONE TO THE COST OF $500 DEALER SAID THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. WHY SHOULD THEY NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ITEM THAT IS DEFECTIVE? *TR

09/21/2012
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 03/05/2012
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSR31C36M******
Summary

VEHICLE ROLLS FREELY WHEN PUT IN PARK. VEHICLE NOT STATIONARY WHEN GEAR SHIFTER PUT IN PARK. VW SAY IT IS NOT WEAR AND TEAR BUT A FAULTY MECHANISM. CRTICAL SAFETY DEFECT. *TR

08/04/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 08/03/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSF31Y46M******
Summary

DEFECTIVE REAR POWER WINDOW REGULATORS. REAR WINDOW STUCK HALF OPEN,UNABLE TO LOCK CAR. *TR

07/30/2012
Components: POWER TRAIN,WHEELS,ENGINE
Incident Date: 07/02/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y36M******
Summary

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS GEARS ERRATICALLY. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS CAUSE ERRATIC ENGINE SPEED DURING SHIFTS RESULTING IN TIRES BREAKING TRACTION AND UNPREDICTABLE ACCELERATION. DRIVING IN TRAFFIC IS HAZARDOUS DUE TO SUDDEN OR DELAYED GEAR SHIFTS IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VOLKSWAGEN AMERICA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTED PERIOD FOR THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY DUE TO KNOWN DEFECTS IN THE TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY PRODUCES ERRATIC DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS AND POSES A RISK TO PERSONS AND PROPERTY. *TR

06/25/2012
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 06/01/2011
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRR31C36M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE DRIVER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID A DEER ON THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WAS A REPID INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS, BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO THE DEER. THE DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED AND A REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE RELATED TO THE MEGATRONIC UNIT IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY THIRTY MILES. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE BECOME MORE SEVERE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

06/24/2012
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 06/24/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRG31C46M******
Summary

RIGHT SIDE HEAD LIGHT ELECTRICAL CONNECTION COMES LOOSE AND THE HEADLIGHT NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY I HAD SIX FAILURES OF THE HEADLIGHTS. *TR

06/04/2012
Components: AIR BAGS,SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 01/18/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG OFF WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SEAT BELT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.

04/30/2012
Components: STEERING
Incident Date: 04/28/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPF31YX6M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AS THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO WOULD INSPECT AND PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES ADDRESSING THE FAILURE. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

04/23/2012
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 04/02/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRG31C36M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOWN-SHIFTED INDEPENDENTLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

03/19/2012
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 02/14/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPW31C36M******
Summary

THE LOW BEAM HEAD LIGHTS ON THE 2006 BEETLE ARE TIED INTO THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS. IF THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS GO OUT, THEN THERE ARE NO LOW-BEAM HEAD LIGHTS AND GENERALLY I DON'T KNOW UNTIL I HAVE NO HEADLIGHTS BUT HIGH-BEAMS. IF THE RUNNING LIGHTS HAVE TO BE TIED INTO ANY HEADLIGHT THEN IT SHOULD BE THE HIGH-BEAMS. I CAN DRIVE WITHOUT THEM BUT NOT WITHOUT THE LOW-BEAMS. I HAVE HAD MY RUNNING LIGHTS GO OUT TWICE SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR NEW IN 12/2005. LOST THE LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS BOTH TIMES. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND A BAD DESIGN. *JS

02/21/2012
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 02/11/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPR31C96M******
Summary

OUR 2006 VW BEETLE TDI, WITHOUT WARNING, SUFFERED A SUDDEN REDUCTION OF BRAKING ABILITY DUE TO A CRACK IN THE VACUUM SUPPLY HOSE TO THE BRAKE BOOSTER. THE CAR BECAME DANGEROUSLY DIFFICULT TO STOP. LUCKILY WE WERE IN THE FLATLANDS, NOT IN HILLY TERRAIN. THE COMPONENT IS AN ASSEMBLY COMPRISED OF A SHORT, STRAIGHT SECTION OF RUBBER HOSE, A CHECK VALVE AND A LONGER SECTION OF PLASTIC TUBING WITH A 90 DEGREE BEND. THIS BRIDGES BETWEEN THE VACUUM PUMP ON THE ENGINE AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER ON THE FIREWALL. THE PLASTIC TUBING SECTION TAKES THE BRUNT OF THE VIBRATION AND FLEXURE. APPARENTLY, THE PLASTIC TUBING BECOMES EMBRITTLED OVER TIME FROM ENGINE HEAT AND EVENTUALLY CRACKS. THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE COMMON TO MULTIPLE VW MODELS ACCORDING TO WEB FORUMS THAT LED ME TO FIND THE PROBLEM WITH MY OWN CAR. ON THE TDI (DIESEL) MODEL, THE LOSS OF VACUUM IS NOT INDICATED BY POOR ENGINE PERFORMANCE BECAUSE THE VACUUM SOURCE IS A PUMP, NOT ENGINE VACUUM. *TR

02/03/2012
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 01/28/2012
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

THE IGNITION SWITCH (ELECTRICAL PART, NOT LOCKING CYLINDER) AFTER TIME GOT VERY HOT, MELTED SOME OF WIRES CONNECTING TO THE SWITCH AND SHORTED THE SWITCH OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE THE HEADLIGHTS, TAIL LIGHTS (NOT BRAKE LIGHTS), TURN SIGNALS, AND WIPERS. ALSO A FEW NON SAFETY RELATED TIMES AS IN THE HEATER. IF THIS WOULD HAPPENED AT NIGHT, YOU COULDN'T SEE WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO COME TO A SAFE STOP OR WORSE IF GOING AROUND A CURVE. WOULD ALSO NOT ALLOW DRIVER TO SIGNAL TO OTHER DRIVERS OF A LANE CHANGE. ALSO, NO WIPERS WOULD IMPAIR THE DRIVER EVEN MORE WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE IN RAIN/SNOW CONDITIONS. WE WERE IN A PARKING LOT AND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY WHEN IT HAPPENED TO US. THIS BEING MY WIFE'S CAR, IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING HER TRIP HOME AT NIGHT FROM WORK. I JUST DON'T EVEN WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT. VW WILL CHARGE YOU TO REPLACE THIS PART IF NOT UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS AND AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PART INCLUDING DIFFERENT VW MODELS (JETTA, GOLF, ETC.) HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS SWITCH FAILURE. SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT WERE TAKEN ARE PRETTY BAD AND COULD ALSO POSE AS A FIRE HAZARD. THIS NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH ASAP. *KB

12/27/2011
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 12/04/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y06M******
Summary

2006 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION, PURCHASED NEW BY MYSELF AS SOLE OWNER. DRIVING DOWN ROAD ON 12/4/11 LATE AT NIGHT SUDDENLY COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS; CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO COAST IN NEUTRAL THROUGH DANGEROUS INTERSECTION IN A MAJOR URBAN CITY. CAR WAS DISABLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO SHOP. "TRANSMISSION FAILURE" DIAGNOSED AT ONLY 31,800 MILES? (DAMAGED TRANSMISSION PARTS DISCOVERED - BUT VW DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY). THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD IN BEETLES, HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS ON PUBLIC INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS, AND SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT. PERSONALLY I WAS LUCKY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME OR APPROACHING AT A NORMAL SPEED HEAD ON; HAD THAT BEEN THE CASE I WOULD CLEARLY HAVE BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR

12/22/2011
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 07/01/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ONLY OPERATED IN DRY CONDITIONS AND WERE INOPERABLE DURING RAINY WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED TO BE INSPECTED DURING RAINY WEATHER WHEN THE FAILURE WAS PRESENT IN ORDER FOR A PROPER DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

12/14/2011
Components: SEATS
Incident Date: 12/14/2011
Crash: No
Fire: Yes
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRW31C86M******
Summary

THE SEAT HEATER GOT EXTREMELY HOT VERY QUICK WHILE DRIVING. IT WAS SO HOT, THAT IT BURNED A HOLE IN THE SEAT AND BURNED MY BOTTOM. THIS ALSO NEARLY CAUSED ME TO GET INTO A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT AS I TRIED TO NOT GET BURNED. *TR

11/30/2011
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 05/02/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

CAR HAS DIFFICULTY SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS AND SURGES WHEN IT FINALLY SHIFTS. MULTIPLE DEALER VISITS IN JUNE 2011 AND OCTOBER 2011 INDICATE IT WAS NOT THE TRANSMISSION. LOCAL MECHANIC THOUGHT MAYBE COMPUTER ISSUE. RESET OF COMPUTER DID NOT FIX. REVIEW OF INTERNET COMPLAINTS INDICATES SIMILAR ISSUES FOR HUNDREDS OF OTHER 2006 NEW BEETLE OWNERS WITH A VARIETY OF FIXES SUGGESTED, TRIED AND FAILED. NO RECALLS LISTED DESPITE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS. *KB

11/27/2011
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 08/15/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y66M******
Summary

CAR TRANSMISSION DIS-ENGAGES AND THEN HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS AS WELL AS BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH GEARS. THE MOST DANGEROUS INCIDENT INVOLVED MY DAUGHTER STARTING THROUGH A SIGNALIZED INTERSECTION, AND WHEN THE TRANSMISSION DIS-ENGAGED, SHE WAS ALMOST REARENDED. I'VE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND WERE ADVISED BOTH TIMES THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF ~$5,500. AT THE MOST RECENT TRIP TO THE MECHANIC, THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 80,000 MILES. I RECEIVED A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM VW DATED NOV 2010 (A YEAR AGO) INDICATING THAT THE VALVE BODY MAY BE THE PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC ADVISED ME THAT MY PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO THE VALVE BODY, BUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THEY DID NOT OPEN THE TRANSMISSION TO CHECK THE PARTS TO MAKE THIS DETERMINATION, BUT MERELY RAN A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. THE INTERNET IS FULL OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. I'M AT A LOSS AS TO WHAT TO DO, AND FEAR OTHER NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER'S MECHANICS, THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT CONSIDERABLE COST. I EXPECT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT IRREPARABLY MALFUNCTION WITH SO FEW MILES. SHORT OF A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT, I SEE NO RELIEF OR REMEDY. *TR

09/13/2011
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 08/01/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

THERE APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THE BEETLES. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THERE HAS BEEN SEVERAL OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURES IN HIS SHOP RECENTLY. *TR

08/29/2011
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 02/28/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y46M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK WHILE SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHERE THE VALVE BODY WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER, WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

08/10/2011
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 08/07/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRG31Y66M******
Summary

DEFECTIVE WINDOW REGULATOR: I HAVE A 2006 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, WHICH I BOUGHT NEW. NO ACCIDENTS, NOTHING OF THE SORT. I WAS ROLLING UP THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW AND HEARD A POP. THEN THE WINDOW WOULD NOT MOVE, AND I COULD HEAR A GRINDING NOISE IN THE DOOR. THE WINDOW REGULATOR HAD BROKEN OUT OF NO WHERE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE, BUT ONE THAT COSTS UP TO $800 TO FIX AT THE DEALERSHIP. I THOUGHT I COULD FIX IT MYSELF, SO I BOUGHT THE REPAIR KIT FROM THE DEALERSHIP FOR $110, BUT IT REQUIRE A SPECIAL TOOL THAT ONLY THE DEALERS HAVE. HOW AM I ON THE HOOK FOR SUCH A POORLY DESIGNED MECHANISM? *TR

06/14/2011
Components: VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 03/27/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y76M******
Summary

THE BACK WINDOW IN MY CONVERTIBLE 2006 NEW BEETLE SEPARATED FROM THE FABRIC. THE ENTIRE TOP HAD TO BE REPLACED. ACCORDING TO THE VEHICLE UPHOLSTERY SHOP THAT REPLACED THE TOP, IF THE SEPARATION HAD BEEN CAUGHT EARLY ENOUGH IT COULD HAVE BEEN REPAIRED WITH AN ADHESIVE GLUE. MY CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE AND I ASKED FOR THE TOP TO BE CHECKED BECAUSE I HAD EXPERIENCED AN INCIDENT OF THE TOP NOT OPENING PROPERLY. TWO WEEKS LATER WE HAD A HEAVY THUNDER STORM AND MY CAR WAS FULL OF WATER. *TR

04/30/2011
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 04/11/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPR31C36M******
Summary

DSG 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL WHILE DRIVING. DASH PANEL DRIVE DISPLAY ILLUMINATES AS A SINGLE BAR. ESP INDICATOR FLASHES AND STAYS ON. MUST PULL OFF ROAD AND TURN ENGINE OFF, WAIT AND START ENGINE AGAIN. MAY OR MAY NOT ALLOW CAR TO SHIFT PROPERLY AFTERWARDS. USED ROADI RDT45 SCAN TOOL TO CHECK FOR FAULT CODE. TRANSMISSION FAULT CODE 18262/P1854 "DATA BUS POWER TRAIN HARDWARE DEFECTIVE" CAME UP REPEATEDLY. VW DEALERSHIP ACKNOWLEDGED SAME FAULT CODE, CLEARED FAULT AND TOLD CAR OWNER IF TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN THE MECHATRONICS ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $2,000. THE VW DEALERSHIP TOLD CAR OWNER THAT THERE IS NO EXTENDED WARRANTY NOR RECALL ON THIS MODEL YEAR AND TRANSMISSION. THE CAR OWNER MUST PAY THE REPAIR COST.

04/01/2011
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 03/08/2011
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPG31Y46M******
Summary

I OWN A 2006 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STARTED TO LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY AND NOW IT ALWAYS REMAINS LIT. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO MY VW DEALERSHIP A FEW TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE. AT FIRST,THEY WERE ABLE TO RESET THE CODE AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WENT OUT. HOWEVER, THE LAST TIME I WENT IN THEY WERE UNABLE TO RESET THE LIGHT. TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, THE VW DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT I NEED TO PAY THEM A SIGNIFIICANT AMOUNT OF MONEY TO TROUBLESHOOT AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NEVER BEFORE HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTS ON ANY OF MY OTHER VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS CAUSED BY THE UNRELIABILITY OF VW'S DESIGN IMPLEMENTATION OF THEIR AIR BAG SAFETY SYSTEM. PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT THEIR SAFETY SYSTEMS WILL BE UTRA RELIABILITY THROUGHOUT THE LIFE OF THE CAR AND SHOULD NOT HAVE TO EXPECT TO PAY ADDITIONAL FOR THAT ASSURANCE. MY DAUGHTER WAS JUST IN A MINOR REAR END COLLISION. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER BECAUSE THE COLLISION WAS INSUFFICIENT TO SET OFF THE AIR BAG SYSTEM OR BECAUSE THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WAS ON. THANKFULLY, MY DAUGHTER WAS NO SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

03/06/2011
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 03/03/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPR31C76M******
Summary

2006 NEW BEETLE TDI TRANSMISSION (DSG) FAILURE. CAN SUDDENLY SLOW AND OPERATED AT HIGH REV'S. LUCKY I DID NOT GET REAR ENDED. *TR

02/27/2011
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 02/26/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y96M******
Summary

I HAVE OWNED A 2003 AND 2006 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLES AND HAVE HAD 3 WINDOW REGULATORS FAIL. ALL ON THE BACK SIDE WINDOWS. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY FAIL FOR NO REASON. THE LAST FAILURE WAS 02/26/2011. I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE AND PUT THE WINDOW DOWN AND IT WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP. I WAS 50 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO HAPPEN FOR THE 3RD TIME BUT DIFFERENT WINDOW EACH TIME. *TR

02/11/2011
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 02/06/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRR31C86M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MPH WHEN THE FLY WHEEL DISINTEGRATED AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO LOCK WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FLY WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.

02/10/2011
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 01/15/2011
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRG31Y56M******
Summary

HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY DOES NOT FULLY ENGAGE WITH HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR (SOCKET) WHEN REPLACING HEAD LAMPS AND RE-INSTALLING ASSEMBLY. HEAD LIGHT CAN GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY DUE TO ROAD VIBRATION. WE HAD DRIVERS SIDE REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY (6/24/09, 37,779 MILES). PASSENGER SIDE FAILED AFTER I REPLACED LOW BEAM LAMP (1/15/11, 54,000 +/- MILES). I HAD (HAVE TO- DEPENDING ON TIMING AND MY ABILITY-) TO REPLACE THE "RETAINER", THE DEVICE THAT SECURES THE HEAD LIGHT MODULE/ASSEMBLY WITHIN THE FENDER. *TR

12/05/2010
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 11/08/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSR31CX6M******
Summary

I TOOK MY VW DIESEL WITH AN AUTOMATIC DSG TRANSMISSION FOR 90,000 MILE SERVICE. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR OVER A MONTH BEING DIAGNOSE WITH A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE CAR HAS BEEN SERVICED SINCE NEW BY AUTO BAHN VW OF FORTH WORTH. THE FIRST INDICATOR OF A PROBLEM WAS THE SPEEDOMETER JUMPING AROUND. *TR

11/29/2010
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Incident Date: 11/18/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSG31C16M******
Summary

GAS TANK LEAK. WHEN INSPECTED BY A PRIVATE MECHANIC, A CRACK IN THE TANK WAS DISCOVERED. WHEN THE MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO ORDER A NEW TANK, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE GAS TANK IS ON BACK ORDER FROM THE MANUFACTURER. HE THEN REMOVED THE TANK AND WELDED THE CRACK. HE STATED TO ME THAT THE TANK SEEMS TO BE EXTRAORDINARILY THIN AND FLAWED IN ITS DESIGN. IT SEEMS PECULIAR TO ME THAT THERE IS SUCH A DEMAND FOR A GAS TANK UNLESS THERE IS IN FACT A DESIGN FLAW. OBVIOUSLY, THE DANGER OF A FIRE IS GREAT. UPDATED IVOQ/ 12/21/10.*JB *TR

11/24/2010
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 11/22/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRW31C46M******
Summary

AIR BAG LIGHT ON. *TR

10/27/2010
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Incident Date: 10/08/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPW31C76M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP FOR THE BRAKES HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ALSO ABNORMALLY LOW. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE FAULTY BRAKE VACUUM PUMP UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR WHAT WAS THOUGHT TO BE AN OIL LEAKAGE. THE LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP BRAKE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THEY STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY, THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR CRASH WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000. UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF UPDATED 03/24/11

10/21/2010
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 08/01/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

06 VW BEETLE HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT SO MANY TIMES AND THE COST TO REPAIR EACH TIME IS AROUND $100. AFTER EACH REPAIR IT COULD BE A DAY A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE THE HEADLIGHT GOES OUT AGAIN. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. I NOW DRIVE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS SO THAT I AM VISIBLE AT NIGHT. *TR

10/14/2010
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 10/12/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *TR

09/19/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Incident Date: 03/10/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y36M******
Summary

2006 VW BEETLE LOSES POWER WHEN DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST FIFTEEN TO TWENTY TIMES. CAR TAKEN TO VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE SIX TIMES FOR REPAIR. TWICE WHILE UNDER THE NEW CAR MANUFACTURES WARRANTY. THEY HAVE TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NOT AS IT STILL HAPPENS. WE NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR. VW OF AMERICA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. FORTUNATELY NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED AS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL OFF ON TO THE SHOULDER. JUST HIRED A LAWYER AS VW'S POSITION IS IT'S MY PROBLEM. *TR

09/03/2010
Components: SEATS
Incident Date: 09/03/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSF31Y76M******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. SHE NOTICED RED MARKS ALONG THE BACK OF HER LEGS AND BACK. AFTER SEEING A DOCTOR SHE WAS INFORMED THAT THE RED MARKS WERE A RASH FROM A HEATING BURN CAUSED BY THE HEATED CAR SEATS. SHE WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE RASH MAY NEVER GO AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER EXAMINED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

08/27/2010
Components: AIR BAGS
Incident Date: 08/06/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y66M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A SENSOR WITHIN THE SEAT BELT RECEPTOR THAT WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 43,000.

08/18/2010
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 02/18/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

OWN A 2006 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATOR MOTOR HAVE BEEN OUT TWICE. REAR WINDOW REGULATORS AND CABLE SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AT MY COST BOTH TIMES. *TR

08/11/2010
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 07/07/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRR31C36M******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TDI. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE LOST POWER TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE STARTING SLOWING DOWN, CAUSING HER TO DRIVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE WAITED A FEW MINUTES, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING TO HER DESTINATION AT A LOWER SPEED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MECHANTRONIC UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ORDERED THE PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

08/02/2010
Components: STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 05/09/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSF31Y06M******
Summary

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A FOUL, OVERPOWERING ODOR IN THE INTERIOR CABIN. THE CONTACT STATED HE AND PASSENGERS HAVE SUFFERED SEVERE HEADACHES AFTER RIDING IN THE VEHICLE FOR AN EXTENDED TIME. THE DEALER ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM DEODORIZATION TREATMENTS TO THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT PERFORMED RESEARCH ON THE ODOR IN THE VEHICLE AND BELIEVED AN ASPHALT BASED CHEMICAL WAS USED TO REDUCE THE NOISE IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS CAUSING THE ADVERSE ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE THE CHEMICAL WAS REACTING TO THE PLASTIC USED IN THE CABIN ONE REMEDY WAS TO HAVE ALL THE PLASTIC REMOVED. THE CONTACT DID NOT BELIEVE THAT TO BE AN ADEQUATE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000.

06/01/2010
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 01/01/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING CAUSING THE CAR TO JERK FORWARD AND THROW ME FORWARD ON THE HIGHWAY AS IT DOWNSHIFTS. *TR

05/03/2010
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 04/29/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y06M******
Summary

I BOUGHT A 2006 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. IT IS A 5 SPEED. AT APPROX. 10,000 MILES IT JERKED, WOULDN'T SHIFT AND THEN WAS DISABLED IN THE FAST LANE OF TRAFFIC. IT WAS PUSHED ONTO THE SHOULDER, TOWED BACK TO DEALER. I WAS THEN GIVEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO DRIVE A 5 SPEED (AFTER APPROX. 35 YEAR OF IT). I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT YOU CANNOT DRIVE THIS 5 SPEED IN TRAFFIC - YOU CANNOT LET IT GET HOT. I WAS ALSO TOLD I MUST BE "DRIVING MY CLUTCH". ALL IN ALL - IT WAS MY FAULT IT BECAME A BUCKING BRONCO OUT THERE. THANK GOD I'M A DRIVER. VW HAS A WONDERFUL 100,000 WARRANTY ON THEIR DRIVE TRAIN BUT THEY DO NOT CONSIDER THE CLUTCH A PART OF THE DRIVE TRAIN. I HAVE ALWAYS SAID "GO AHEAD - DRIVE YOUR CAR WITHOUT YOUR CLUTCH FELLAS". AT ANY RATE - I HAVE BEEN PAINFULLY LOYAL TO VW ALL MY LIFE. THIS WAS AND IS MY FIRST DOG. I WAS TOLD TO GIVE THEM $3,500 TO FIX MY FAULTY FLYWHEEL ASSEMBLY. I SAID NO. TOOK IT TO 3 OTHER PLACES AND THEY SAID "DRIVE IT". I DID. I TOTALLY CHANGED MY DRIVING HABITS TO ACCOMMODATE THE CAR. NO HILLS - NO TRAFFIC. GOD FORBID I WAS IN TRAFFIC. GOT OFF THE ROAD - ON THE SHOULDER. STOPPED THE CAR. MIND YOU - THIS IS RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY OWNERSHIP. EVERYONE IS ALL OWNER THE CONSUMER WEBSITES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I AM SO INSULTED BY WHAT VW DID TO US. IN THE MEANTIME THEY QUIETLY STOPPED MAKING 5 SPEEDS. OH NO KIDDING? WHY DO YOU THINK THAT WAS?? SO - NO TRAFFIC, NO HILLS - NO HOT DAYS. IT FINALLY TOOK IT'S LAST BREATH LAST WEEK. AND THAT $3000 IS NOW DUE PLUS THE $150 TO TOW IT FROM WHERE I WAS STRANDED. LITTLE DID I KNOW EVERYONE ALSO HAD THE HEADLIGHT ISSUES - SOMETIMES YES. SOMETIMES NO. THE CAR IS A DEATH TRAP. FOR SOMEONE AS ETHNOCENTRIC AS ME THE CAR IS QUITE A DISAPPOINTMENT. BUT FAR MORE DISAPPOINTING IS THE WAY VW TREATED ME. IT HAD A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THOUSANDS HAVE HAD IT. I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS. IT IS DISGRACEFUL. THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL. THEY KNEW ALL ABOUT IT. *TR

04/29/2010
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 04/02/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

I HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON MY 2006 VW BEETLE WHICH ONLY HAD 90,000 MILES. BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR IT WOULD SLIP AND THEN JUMP INTO THE GEAR. THIS HAPPENED WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. I HAD TO STAY AT LEAST A CAR LENGTH BACK WHEN STOPPING AT A SIGNAL LIGHT JUST IN CASE IT JUMPED AND HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO SPEND $6000.00 TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

03/25/2010
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 06/20/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPR31CX6M******
Summary

FAILING DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL. SYMPTOMS ARE VIBRATION, RATTLING. SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING SINCE VEHICLE WAS DETECTED WITH UNKNOWN VIBRATION AT 17K. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AFTER REPLACING EGR, MAF, FUEL PUMP AND CHECKING FLYWHEEL FOR GREASE DEPOSITS. RESULTS OF FAILURE ARE IMMEDIATE LOCKUP OF TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE IF OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE ARE PROBABLE. WELL KNOWN DOCUMENTED FAILURES HAVE BEEN RECORDED AND FIXED BY VW, BUT MOST FAILURES ON MANUAL CARS HAVE BEEN BLAMED ON DRIVER AGRESSIVENESS EVEN THOUGH DMF MAKERS HAVE RELEASED DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOW THAT FAILING DMF WILL SHOW THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS A FAILURE DUE TO AGRESSIVE DRIVING. VW HAS ACTIVE RECALL CAMPAINS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FOR THE SAME DMF FAILURES.

01/15/2010
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Incident Date: 01/07/2010
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRW31C86M******
Summary

WE HAVE A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS GONE OUT AT LEAST 8 TIMES SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW IN SPRING OF 2006. THE AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP HAS REPAIRED EACH TIME WITH SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE RAILS. VOLKSWAGEN ENCOURAGES ME TO CONTINUE BRING IT TO THEM FOR REPAIR. IT IS UNSAFE AS THE LIGHT WILL GO OUT ON NORMAL HIGHWAY DRIVEWAY, NOT BUMPY COUNTRY ROADS. I HAVE INCLUDED THE LATEST INCIDENT. *TR

01/09/2010
Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
Incident Date: 06/17/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSG31Y66M******
Summary

2006 VW BEETLE WITH DEFECTIVE DOOR LOCKING SYSTEM. *TR

10/13/2009
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 09/15/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPW31C46M******
Summary

2006 VW BEETLE, 6-SPD AUTOMATIC WITH 62,000 MILES. CAR BEGAN SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS ON A TYPICAL TRIP ALONG INTERSTATE 95. CAR WAS TOWED INTO A DEALERSHIP WHERE A TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS MOISTURE IN THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WOULD NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED FOR AN ESTIMATED $7,000. I'VE CALLED SEVERAL PRIVATE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS AND AM TOLD THAT NEITHER VW NOR ANY AFTERMARKET COMPANIES SELL PARTS TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS STILL NOT REPAIRED AS THE VALUE OF THE CAR, APPROX $9,000 DOES NOT WARRANTY $7,000 REPAIR. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT VIA ONLINE FORUMS WITH SEVERAL OWNERS FROM 2003 TO 2007 WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO MANY, VW DEALERSHIP TECH'S SEEM TO SYSTEMATICALLY BLAME THESE PROBLEMS ON MINOR DINGS AND DENTS TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CARS THAT "MAY" HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEMS. *TR

04/26/2009
Components: TIRES
Incident Date: 04/25/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

IN 2006, MY WIFE LEASED A NEW VW BEETLE FROM A DEALERSHIP IN SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. THE CAR CAME WITH A SET OF NEW GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES. MY WIFE COMMUTES 40 MILES ROUND TRIP FIVE TO SIX DAYS A WEEK TO WORK. THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 60K IN MILES ON IT. THE TIRES HAVE NOT BEEN MISTREATED- SURFACE STREETS AND FREEWAY USE ONLY. ON 4-25-09, MY WIFE DROVE TO WORK, PARKED IN A PUBLIC USE GARAGE, AND SPENT EIGHT HOURS WORKING. WHEN SHE RETURNED TO THE CAR, THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. A TOW SERVICE WAS CALLED AND THEY PUT ON THE SPARE TIRE. IT WAS AT THAT TIME THE TOW SERVICE DRIVER SHOWED MY WIFE THE INSIDE SIDEWALL OF THE REPLACED TIRE. IN BRIEF, ABOUT 90 PERCENT OF THE SIDEWALL HAD SEPARATED FROM THE MAIN TREAD TO THE POINT THE METAL BANDS WERE EXPOSED. WHEN MY WIFE GOT HOME, I CRAWLED UNDER HER CAR AND SAW THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE WAS ALSO IN THE SAME DEFECTIVE CONDITION. I TOOK PICTURES OF BOTH TIRES AND DOWNLOADED THEM ONTO MY COMPUTER. THE COST TO REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES WILL BE OVER $500.00 BASED ON A SEAR\'S ESTIMATE. I CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR RECALLS AND SAFETY BULLETINS ON GOODYEAR TIRES. I FOUND THERE WAS NO FORMAL RECALL OF THIS TIRE, BUT GOODYEAR WAS DOING A \"SILENT RECALL\" REPLACING TIRES FOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION. I FOUND MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE TIRES, THE EAGLE RS-A, SEPARATING AT THE SIDEWALL ON THE INTERNET. TODD MAYER *TR

04/24/2009
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 04/22/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPR31C76M******
Summary

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CLUTCH SEEMED TO BE DIFFERENT. IT IS HARD TO EXPLAIN HOW BUT WHEN YOU ARE THE DRIVER 99% OF THE TIME YOU KIND OF KNOW. ON WEDNESDAY APRIL 22 I DEPRESSED TO CLUTCH COMING TO A STOP AND HEARD A DEFINITE NOISE. THEN AS I WAS PULLING OFF FROM THE STOP IN 1ST GEAR THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO MOVE EASY. THERE WAS ANOTHER NOISE AS I WAS RELEASING THE CLUTCH, AS WELL. THERE IS JUST OVER 29000 MILES ON THE 2006 VW NEW BEETLE. I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE WITHOUT CAUSING AN INCIDENT. I THANK GOD FOR HELPING ME TO RECOGNIZE A PROBLEM AND MAKE SLOW EASY MOVES. I HOPE THERE DOES NOT NEED TO BE AN ACCIDENT, DEATH, FIRE TO SUSPECT A CONTINUING PROBLEM WITH A CAR TO LODGE A COMPLAINT TO REVIEW THE CAUSE. *TR

04/03/2009
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 03/31/2009
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRR31C16M******
Summary

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER 2006 VW NEW BEETLE ON HIGHWAY, WITHOUT WARNING THE CLUTCH HAD A SUDDEN FAILURE AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT GEARS AND ALMOST RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT ON THE EXPRESSWAY. VEHICLE HAD 30,000 MILES AND NO PREVIOUS TROUBLE NOTED ON THIS 1,9L TDI MANUAL TRANSMISSION. SAME ENGINE AND CLUTCH AS LISTED IN A VW SERVICE BULLETIN FOR 2005/2006 JETTA. BULLETIN STATES THAT CLUTCH FRICTION MATERIAL MAY HAVE A DEFECT CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR,BURNING,SHREDDING AND BREAKING AND WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED TO 4YR/50,000 MILES ON THE JETTA. DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR THE WARRANTY AND BLAMED THE SUDDEN FAILURE ON A WEAR AND TEAR ISSUE OR DRIVER ABUSE EVEN THOUGH THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT CONCERNING THE SACHS CLUTCH ASSEMBLY. REPAIR WAS OVER $2200. 6 MONTHS REMAINING ON ORIGINAL WARRANTY. THIS CLUTCH SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

02/05/2009
Components: STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 05/30/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSW31CX6M******
Summary

I WROTE VOLKSWAGEN THREE TIMES AND HAD THREE PHONE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE/SPLASH GUARD. I CONSIDER THE PROBLEM TO BE NOT ONLY A DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT, BUT ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. THE GUARD HAS COME LOOSE TWICE FROM THE UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR, WITH VW SUGGESTING THAT ONE TIME WAS DUE TO THE PIECE BEING IMPROPERLY PUT BACK AFTER AN OIL CHANGE FROM AN AUTO REPAIR GARAGE AND THE OTHER INSTANCE DUE TO MY PARKING TOO CLOSELY TO A PARKING SPACE CONCRETE END-BLOCK. IT IS VERY FORTUNATE THAT THE PIECE DID NOT COME COMPLETELY OFF AND GO FLYING INTO TRAFFIC. VW TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD PROBABLY BACK INTO PARKING SPACES SO AS TO AVOID THAT PROBLEM OR PARK FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM PARKING SPACE CONCRETE BARRIERS SO IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. THERE IS NO MENTION OF THIS "FEATURE" IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED THAT I AM PROBABLY NOT ACCUSTOMED TO DRIVING A LOW RIDING CAR AND WOULD HAVE TO GET USED TO IT - MY PREVIOUS CAR RODE JUST AS LOW, BUT WAS ENGINEERED WELL ENOUGH THAT THE BUMPER WOULD NEVER GET CAUGHT ON A PARKING BLOCK . ISN'T THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE BLOCKS - TO LIGHTLY TAP THEM TO KNOW THE CAR IS CLOSE ENOUGH IN THE SPACE TO BE KEPT FROM BEING HIT FROM BEHIND? I HAVE ASKED OTHER BEETLE OWNERS IF THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AND SO FAR, THE FOUR PEOPLE I ASKED HAVE SAID YES, BUT THEY HAVE NOT CONTACTED VW OR MADE ANY OTHER ENTITIES AWARE OF THE PROBLEM - THEY ARE JUST LIVING WITH IT. THERE ARE ALSO SEVERAL MENTIONS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM ON CAR/VW/COMPLAINT FORUMS ON THE INTERNET, WHICH I DOCUMENTED IN MY CORRESPONDENCE WITH VW. THE FINAL WORD FROM VW WAS THAT THEY MEET THE US AUTOMAKER GUIDELINES/SPECIFICATIONS AND THE PROBLEM IS "DUE TO BE TO AN OUTSIDE INFLUENCE, AND NOT A MANUFACTURER'S SHORTCOMING" .. AND SO IT EVEN, "DID NOT FALL WITHIN WARRANTY PARAMETERS." THE FIRST REPAIR, VW WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE GUARD BACK INTO PLACE AND SECURE IT; THE SECOND COST ME $340. THANK YOU FOR ANY CONSIDERATION AND FOLLOW-UP. *TR

11/28/2008
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 10/18/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRW31C06M******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE FAILURE BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2008 AND OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ONLY ONCE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY CLEANED THE CARBURETOR, CHECKED THE FUEL LINE, AND POWER FLUSHED THE COOLANT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE DIAGNOSTIC COULD NOT PRODUCE A FAILURE CODE. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,500. UPDATED 01/08/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED VOLVO FIXED THE PROBLEM AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED. UPDATED 01/12/09. *JB

09/23/2008
Components: SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 01/18/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPW31C76M******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A U-SHAPED BAR ATTACHED TO THE SEAT BELT, WHICH ALLOWS THE SEAT BELT TO MOVE TO THE BACK WHEN NOT IN USE. HOWEVER, THE SEAT BELT DID NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY. IT WOULD PROVIDE THE CONTACT APPROXIMATELY EIGHT INCHES OF "EXTRA" SEAT BELT BECAUSE IT WOULD POP TO THE BACK POSITION WHEN IT SHOULD HAVE COME TO THE FRONT. SHE WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE BAR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE AND COULD REDUCE THE PROTECTION NEEDED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,142 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,000.

06/04/2008
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 05/10/2008
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRR31C16M******
Summary

THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. AT TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY GOES INTO 2ND GEAR WHERE IT REMAIN UNTIL THE KEY IS REMOVED. THE DEALER INDICATES THE 'MEGATRONIC' SHIFTING CONTROLLER IS BAD. HOWEVER THE PART IS ON BACK ORDER FROM THE FACTORY AND THERE IS A 7-10 DELAY IN SHIPMENT FROM THE FACTORY. IT SEEMS THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PART FAILURE. *TR

02/06/2008
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 12/01/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPW31C46M******
Summary

CAR CUT OFF AND ALMOST KILLED ME WITH WITNESS. *TR

02/06/2008
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 12/08/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPW31C46M******
Summary

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN DRY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE ON ITS OWN AND THEN ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHILE WAITING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR, BUT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE HIM WITH ANY INFORMATION. THE CONTACT HAS CALLED THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED ANY CALLS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000. UPDATED 4/23/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

01/03/2008
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 12/15/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSR31C66M******
Summary

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IN MY VW BEETLE VIN:[XXX] APPEAR TO BE ENGINEERED FOR A RIGHT SIDE DRIVER VEHICLE; AND, ON ROTATION, THE PASSENGER SIDE WIPER STOPS FOR RETURN SWING DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S FACE, FURTHER IMPAIRING VISION WHILE RAIN CONDITIONS EXIST. THIS IS AN EASILY REMEDIED SITUATION FOR THE MANUFACTURER.*CN *TR

05/31/2007
Components: SEAT BELTS
Incident Date: 05/30/2007
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSF31YX6M******
Summary

I WAS THE PASSENGER IN MY PARENTS' 2006 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE YESTERDAY AND WE WERE STOPPED AT A 4 WAY STOP WHEN WE WERE HIT FROM BEHIND BY A DELIVERY VEHICLE. I HAD MY SEATBELT FASTENED SECURELY, HOWEVER, THE MECHANISM FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY, SOMEHOW COMING UNLATCHED, WHICH CAUSED ME TO HIT THE DASH OR WINDSHIELD WITH MY FACE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY FRONT TEETH. I WENT TO THE DENTIST THIS MORNING AND WAS TOLD THAT MY TEETH COULD HAVE LONG TERM DAMAGE, SOME OF WHICH MIGHT NOT SHOW UP FOR WEEKS, MONTHS, OR EVEN YEARS FROM NOW. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE SEATBELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD NOT RETRACT LIKE IT DID ON THE DRIVERS' SIDE AND YOU COULD DEFINITELY SEE DAMAGE AROUND THE AREA WHERE THE SEATBELT RETRACTS. *TR

03/13/2007
Components: VISIBILITY
Incident Date: 03/12/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPG31Y06M******
Summary

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD DISTORTED THE DRIVER'S VIEW. THE FAILURE OCCURED IN THE LOWER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD AND WAS VERY DISTRACTING. THE DEALER COMPARED OTHER VEHICLES WITH THE CONTACT'S STATING THAT THE DISTORTION IN THE WINDOW WAS NORMAL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200. *AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

02/06/2007
Components: SEATS
Incident Date: 02/01/2007
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRR31CX6M******
Summary

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEATED SEAT WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF ONE FORCED THE SWITCH ON AND OFF THE HEATER WOULD OPERATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGEWAS 996. THE CONTACT HAS AN APPOINTMENT AT A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. *AK

10/22/2006
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 05/15/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE. MUST BE AN OXYGEN SENSOR THEY SAY. THEY ORDER ONE AND I GO BACK. NOT THE SENSOR. ENGINE COOLANT LEAKED ON WIRING HARNESS CAUSING WIRING DAMAGE. THEY REPLACE HARNESS HOWEVER DO NOT KNOW WHERE COOLANT IS COMING FROM. *NM

10/10/2006
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Incident Date: 10/08/2006
Crash: Yes
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRG31C06M******
Summary

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES BUT VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE RAN OVER TWO SPEED BUMPS AT 25 MPH THEN JUMPED A CURB AND CRASHED INTO AN APARTMENT BUILDING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. UPDATED 10/25/2006 - A WITNESS STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT WERE ULLIMINATED AND THAT HE HEARD A REVVING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. *NM

10/02/2006
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT
Incident Date: 10/01/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

MY 2006 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE CONTINUES TO HOWL WITH THE A/C FAN MOTOR ON. IT ACTUALLY SOUNDS LIKE A JET MOTOR TRYING TO LAND. THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE HAD 3 OTHERS COME IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. IN FACT THEY SAID THEY REPLACED ONE CUSTOMERS CAR FAN AND IT WAS EVEN LOUDER THAN BEFORE. THEY CANNOT TELL ME WHEN THEY WILL HAVE A SOLUTION BUT VW IS "WORKING ON IT". I HAVE 9000 MILES ON MY CAR. I LIVE IN TEXAS. DOES THIS QUALIFY FOR THE LEMON LAW? THIS IS NOW OCT AND NO OTHER ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO REPAIR IT. HAS BEEN GOING ON AT LEAST SINCE MAY. *NM

07/28/2006
Components: STRUCTURE
Incident Date: 07/20/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y86M******
Summary

2006 VW BEETLE WITH 10,200 MILES...REAR ENGINE MOUNT FALLING APART. TRANS ENGINE MOUNT..BROKEN BOLTS. *JB

07/07/2006
Components: POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 06/22/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWSR31C06M******
Summary

DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL BLEW APART AT 2200 MILES THEN AT 7,800 MILES ON A 2006 BEETLE TDI. I AM NOW ON BOTH TIMES HAPPENED DOWN SHIFTING FROM 5TH TO 4TH GEAR. HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL SHIFTS ALL MY LIFE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT DMF HAS A HARD TIME HANDLING TORQUE. I WAS STILL LESS THAN 3000 RPM WHEN DROPPING INTO 4TH GEAR WHEN THE FLYWHEEL BROKE. THIS SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN AS IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS AMOUNT OF TORQUE AS A STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS ALL MY TRANSMISSION OPERATION WAS LOST. *NM

06/05/2006
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 05/26/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

ENGINE MAKES LOUD HUMMING NOISE WHEN A/C IS TURNED ON. *NM

05/28/2006
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Incident Date: 05/27/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWRF31Y06M******
Summary

A/C COMPRESSOR OR FAN MOTOR HOWLS VERY LOUDLY. TAKEN TO DEALER AND DEALER STATED AT FIRST THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM . INSISTED THEY LISTEN AGAIN SINCE SERVICE WRITER COULD HEAR NOISE WHEN WE DROVE IN. THEN STATED THAT CAR HAD TOO MUCH FREON IN UNIT AND THAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED. DROVE OUT OF LOT AND HOWLING WAS AS LOUD AS EVER. AFRAID COMPRESSOR OR FAN WILL BLOW OUT OF HOOD OF CAR. THE LONGER THE CAR IS DRIVEN THE LOUDER THE HOWL BECOMES. *JB

04/26/2006
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN
Incident Date: 04/25/2006
Crash: No
Fire: No
Vehicle Identification Number: 3VWPR31C36M******
Summary

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE AT ALL SPEEDS, THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE NORMAL UP POSITION. THE DRIVER HAD TO PULL UP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO MAINTAIN ENGAGED WHEN INCLINED. ALTHOUGH THE DEALER WAS ALERTED NO INSPECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE.

11/03/2005
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Incident Date: 10/29/2005
Crash: No
Fire: No
Summary

DT:THE CONTACT PURCHASED A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM STOPPED FUNCTIONING, RESULTING IN A FAILURE OF ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH WITH A LOSS OF POWER. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER SAID THE IP CONTROLLER WAS FAULTY, AND IT WAS AN ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAW. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT VOLKSWAGEN ATTEMPTED TO REDESIGN. IN THE MEANTIME, NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS COULD BE MADE. *AK

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