Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Volkswagen Beetle submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
The driver was driving the speed limit (55 mph) and tried to slow down as they approached a red light. The brakes failed to work, and the driver rear-ended the vehicle waiting at the stoplight. The airbags did not deploy.
DON'T WORK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE DRIVER AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD, THE DRIVER NOTICED AN 18-WHEELER HEADING TOWARDS THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO AVOID A CRASH. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE DRIVER REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND AN INSURANCE AGENT INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
SINCE I PURCHASED MY BEETLE IN 2001, IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING MONEY DRAIN. IN 6 YRS. I HAVE REPLACED THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION TWICE, HAD THE BRAKES WORKED ON A NUMBER OF TIMES, BEEN UNABLE TO OPEN THE GAS "DOOR" ON THE CAR W/ THE GAS CAP LATCH, HAD TO REPLACE THE HOOD OPENING LATCH, HAD REPEATED ELECTRICAL FAILURES, PROBLEMS W/ FRONT & REAR LIGHT WIRING, HAD DOOR LOCKS/ALARM FAIL & SUBSEQUENTLY HAD MY LAPTOP STOLEN FROM THE CAR, THE RADIO HAS NOT WORKED FOR 1+ YEAR, & IT'S COVER PANEL IS LOOSE & FALLING BACK INTO THE DASH, THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR SWITCHES HAVE FAILED, THE POWER WINDOW SWITCHES HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR FELL OFF (!) OF ITS TOP HINGE WHEN THE HINGE BROKE WHILE OPENING THE DOOR NORMALLY AT A GAS STATION, THE AIR COMPRESSOR HAS FAILED MANY TIMES, THE A/C IS CURRENTLY NOT WORKING, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LOCK FELL OUT OF THE HANDLE(!!!!), THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, & THE LIST GOES ON. CURRENTLY I HAVE NOT BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR SEVERAL WKS B/C THOUGH ONLY A WEEK OR TWO OUT OF THE SHOP, AGAIN IT IS HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I AM AT MY WITS END WITH THIS CAR & HAVING RECENTLY GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE, AM NOT IN THE GREATEST POSITION TO HAVE TO BUY A NEW CAR. MOREOVER, I AM SO DISPLEASED W/ THE CAR THAT I WOULD LITERALLY FEEL GUILTY ABOUT TRADING IT IN TO BE SOLD TO SOME OTHER UNSUSPECTING PERSON. VW SHOULD BE SO ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES, & SHOULD BE REIMBURSING OWNERS OF THE 1998 BEETLE IN FULL FOR ALL OF THE STRIFE & TROUBLE THAT THEY HAVE CAUSED. IN FACT, AFTER WRITING THIS & REALIZING HOW MANY PROBLEMS THIS CAR HAS HAD, I MAY TRY TO TAKE LEGAL ACTION - THIS IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE! FINALLY, OUR LOCAL VW DEALER IS TERRIBLE, KEEPING MY CAR FOR WKS. LONGER THAN EXPECTED, ONE TIME LEAVING A CANDY BAR STUCK TO MY PASSENGER SIDE SEAT!!!, AND ACTING LIKE THEY COULD CARE LESS ABOUT THE POOR QUALITY OF THEIR PRODUCTS & LABOR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE PLASTIC TUBE THAT EXTENDS FROM THE VACUUM PUMP TO THE VACUUM BRAKE BOOSTER IS CRACKED AND DEFECTIVE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WITHOUT THIS PIECE, BRAKE FAILURE IS LIKELY TO OCCUR. AS A RESULT, HE WOULD HAVE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD IN ORDER FOR THEM TO WORK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,957. THE CONSUMER STATED PLASTIC LINE REPLACED WITH 3/8" VACUUM LINE. UPDATED 07/26/07 *TR
I AM REPORTING THE SECOND FAILURE OF A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON MY 1998 VW BEETLE. THE FIRST SWITCH WAS REPLACED LESS THAN A YEAR AGO UNDER A FACTORY RECALL -- IT FAILED, LEAVING THE BRAKE LIGHTS INOPERATIVE. THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED WITH A "REVISED" PART WHICH HAS ALSO FAILED, LEAVING THE BRAKE LIGHTS STUCK ON. I HAVE HEARD OF COUNTLESS REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE WITH THESE CARS; SOME USERS ARE REPORTING THAT THEIR SWITCHES HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR OR MORE TIMES. I WILL BE SEEKING ANOTHER REPLACEMENT AND WILL KEEP THE OLD PART. *NM
IN EARLY MAY I HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH OUR 1998 VW BEETLE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PART. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE, AND I PUSHED DOWN THE BRAKE PETAL. THEN I CHANGED GEARS TO REVERSE AND GENTLY STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY AT AN ACCELERATED SPEED AND HIT A TRAILER AT MY PLACE OF WORK CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH THE BEETLE AND TRAILER. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICING AT VALLEJO VOLKSWAGEN (1401 SONOMA BLVD, VALLEJO CA) THE PREVIOUS FRIDAY, SO IT WAS SURPRISING THAT THE CAR WOULD MALFUNCTION SO DANGEROUSLY AFTER HAVING JUST BEEN SERVICED. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT BACK TO VALLEJO VOLKSWAGEN MONDAY AFTERNOON. THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHTS SWITCH AND THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. I LEFT THE CAR THERE OVERNIGHT AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE MALFUNCTION WAS INDEED THE FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. THE PART IN QUESTION WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL AND HAD APPARENTLY BEEN REPLACED IN MY CAR IN DECEMBER OF 2003. VALLEJO VOLKSWAGEN DISAVOWED ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCIDENT AND ATTRIBUTED THE MALFUNCTION TO NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OF THE BREAK LIGHT SWITCH. HOWEVER, IF THIS PART IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO BREAKDOWN DUE TO NORMAL WEAR AND TARE THEN IT SHOULD BE INSPECTED WHEN THE CAR WAS SERVICED. VALLEJO VOLKSWAGEN REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH AND HAD THE AUDACITY TO CHARGE ME FOR DOING SO. NEEDLESS TO SAY I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THIS SITUATION AND FEEL LIKE BOTH VALLEJO VOLKSWAGEN AND VOLKSWAGEN ARE LIABLE FOR THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE ACCIDENT AND ARE LIABLE FOR PLACING ME IN SUCH A DANGEROUS AND UNCONTROLLED SITUATION. INDEED, I AM EXTREMELY RELIEVED THAT THE CAR HIT THE TRAILER, AND GOD FORBID NOT ANOTHER HUMAN BEING WHICH COULD HAVE EASILY OCCURRED HAD I BEEN IN A CROWDED PARKING LOT. ADDENDUM: I RECENTLY FOUND OUT THAT AS OF MAY 30TH 2006 THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL OF THE RECALLED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *NM
I"VE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH MY 1998 BEETLE. THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING--FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE FUSES WERE MELTED OVER THE BATTERY TERMINAL. MY REVERSE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING--NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THAT YET, MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DON'T USUALLY WORK, BUT SOMETIMES WILL COME ON ALL BY THEMSELVES. GOT LOCKED IN MY CAR TWICE. THE ALARM SOMETIMES GOES OFF FOR NO REASON. THE CAR PERIODICALLY DOESN'T START. HAD IT TOWED TO VW TWICE FOR THIS. THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS. ALSO, SOMETHING IN THE CAR'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS IS DROWNING THE BATTERY--HAVE TO BUY A NEW BATTERY EVERY SIX MONTHS. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH WINDOWS ONCE . I HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED THREE TIMES AND WAS REAR -ENDED ONCE BEFORE VW FINALLY DID A RECALL ON THAT PART. I'M SURE I HAVE LEFT SOMETHING OUT--THERE IS SO MUCH IT'S HARD TO REMEMBER. BOTTOM LINE--THIS CAR IS A HAZARD ON THE ROAD FOR THE PERSON DRIVING AND OTHER MOTORISTS. *JB
DT: HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINING ON. THIS OCCURRED WHEN BOTH BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED AND EVEN WHEN IT WAS NOT. CONSUMER REMOVED BRAKE LIGHT FUSE ON HIS OWN. ALSO, REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BUT STILL PROBLEM RECURRED. . CONSUMER WAS C WITHOUT ANY BRAKE LIGHTS . CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. *AK
1998 BEETLE.*MR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IT WAS DRIVER 120 MILES TO THE CONSUMER'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT EH VEHICLE'S BRAKES AND CLUTCH WERE BAD. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT THE REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM
CONSUMER REPLACED BRAKE LIGHTS/HEADLIGHTS/REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS/ ENGINE SHIELD AND COOLING SYSTEM. *AK *JB
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE, WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLES BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED AND THE DRIVER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP VEHICLE. *MR THE HEAD LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED AND THE VEHICLES IS FLLING APART AFTER ONE MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX IT. *YH
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE EPC INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE DEALER STATED THE SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND A NEW BRAKE SWITCH WAS INSTALLED, HOWEVER WHEN CONSUMER RECEIVED THE VEHICLE BACK AND PROCEEDED TO DRIVE, SHE NOTICED THAT IT FELT DIFFERENT, IT FELT TIGHT, CONSUMER SOON DISCOVERED THAT THE BRAKES HAD FROZE AND WOULD NOT MOVE, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE NEW BRAKE SWITCH THAT WAS INSTALLED HAD CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*JB
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACED FIVE TIMES FROM DEALERSHIP . WHEN BACKING UP THERE WAS NO LIGHT SHOWING UP. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION OPERATION AND SHIFTING, REPLACEMENT OF THE SPEED SENSOR,THROTTLE CABLE AND TCM WIRING RECTIFIED PROBLEMS. *MJS
CENTER CONSOLE REPLACED DUE TO BLISTERING.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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