2000 Volkswagen Beetle Airbags Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE DRIVER FELL ASLEEP BEHIND THE WHEEL AND CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WALKED A FEW YARDS AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR INJURY THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

11042541

Incident

Oct 29, 2017

Mileage

170,000 mi

I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY GRANDSON TO DRIVE TO WORK..THE GUY I BOUGHT IT FROM SWORE IT WAS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE, THAT HIS DAUGHTER DROVE IT TO SCHOOL ETC......WHEN WE GOT IT, I TOOK IT TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER TO MAKE SURE IT WAS SAFE FOR MY GRANDSON TO DRIVE, THEY BEGAN TO FIND THINGS WRONG AND THE COST WAS MOUNTING UP AND UP AND THEY EVEN HAD US TAKE IT HOME ONLY TO TAKE IT RIGHT BACK BECAUSE IT HAD NO HEAT (AND ITS VERY COLD HERE) SO THEY WORKED ON IT SOME MORE...BOTTOM LINE IS SO FAR THEY HAVE CHARGED ME 3 TIMES WHAT I PAID FOR IT AND WHEN I LOOKED IT UP ON LINE, EVERY THING THEY DID WAS A RECALL....MY QUESTION TO YOU IS..HOW LONG ARE THE RECALLS GOOD FOR AND I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THE GUY WAS APPRAISED OF THEM OR HE WOULDN'T HAVE LET HIS DAUGHTER DRIVE IT LIKE THAT ....I HAVE THE PAPERWORK RIGHT HERE WHERE IT SHOWS 9 RECALLS AND 62 SERVICE BULLETINS...PLEASE ADVISE ME OF MY OPTION AS I COULD HAVE BOUGHT HIM A MUCH NICER CAR FOR WHAT I HAVE IN THIS!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10689767

Incident

Feb 10, 2015

I'VE HAD MY BEETLE SINCE 2005, AND THE AIRBAG LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY COME ON AS WELL AS ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I'VE TAKEN IT TO VW ONCE FOR REPAIR, AND THEY COME BACK ON MONTHS LATER. I'VE READ SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER VW OWNERS CONCERNING THE AIRBAG AND TRANSMISSION. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ISN'T A RECALL ISSUE PARTICULARLY SINCE THERE WAS A DEATH IN 2007 WITH ANOTHER OWNER. THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. THE WEB PAGE BELOW VOICES THE FRUSTRATIONS OF MANY OWNERS, AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THESE COMPLAINTS AREN'T BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY. THE REPAIRS COST OVER $1600. HOW IS THIS FAIR WHEN HAVING TO GET IT REPAIRED EVERY YEAR? ARE YOU PROTECTING VW? TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE TO CLEAR THE CODES IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO UNDER THE SEAT TO ADJUST WIRES AND USING THE COMPUTER TO CLEAR THEM, BUT THEY COME BACK ON A DAY OR TWO LATER. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2000/VOLKSWAGEN/BEETLE/AIR_BAGS/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR

NHTSA ID

10667382

Incident

Dec 19, 2014

I TURNED ON MY CAR AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT TURNED ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10520596

Incident

May 10, 2013

Mileage

185,143 mi

I PURCHASED MY VW BEETLE IN 2005 WITH THE CARFAX - NO ACCIDENTS OR MAJOR REPAIRS. WITHIN MONTHS, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. I'VE PROBABLY SPENT MORE THAN WHAT I PAID FOR IT. I JUST SPENT OVER $1800 AT VW SPRINGFIELD IN VIRGINIA AND THE ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON AGAIN AFTER ONLY A FEW MONTHS. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION CODES WERE DISCOVERED BY OTHER REPAIR SHOPS, BUT THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE REPAIR. NEITHER VW SPRINGFIELD OR VW WOODBRIDGE EVER CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION. IN FACT, WOODBRIDGE TOLD ME TO TRADE IT IN AND PURCHASE A NEW ONE FROM THEM.SOME KIND OF LIGHT OR PROBLEM OCCURS IN MY CAR EVERY TIME I'VE TAKEN MY CAR TO THIS DEALERSHIP AND VW WOODBRIDGE IN VIRGINIA. THEY CONTINUE TO CLAIM THAT IT IS A DIFFERENT PROBLEM EVERY TIME WITH THE SAME COMPONENTS. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE FOR DIAGNOSTICS? EVERY TIME I TAKE MY CAR TO ANY OF THE VW DEALERSHIP, I WILL HAVE TO BRING THE CAR IN MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN MONTHS. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES, AND NO ONE IS INVESTIGATING THIS. IT APPEARS THAT VW IS BEING PROTECTED FROM SELLING US POORLY MADE VEHICLES WITH HEFTY REPAIR COSTS, BECAUSE IT DOESN'T MAKE SINCE THAT IT'S THE SAME PROBLEM FOR HUNDREDS, PERHAPS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. IS IT THAT THESE REPAIRS ARE MAJOR AND BRAKE LIGHTS AREN'T. A RECALL FOR THESE VEHICLES FROM 99 ON SHOULD BE PROCESSED. THE FACT THAT VW WAS IN THE NEWS RECENTLY AS SELLING PEOPLE CARS THEY KNEW HAD ENGINE, AIRBAG, ABS, TRANSMISSION, ELECTRICAL, AND WINDOW MAJOR PROBLEMS IS ASTONISHING, BECAUSE NOTHING IS BEING DONE. I'M DISGUSTED WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL THIS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE ECONOMIC SITUATION, BUT PEOPLE ARE IN JUST AS MUCH A SITUATION AS MANUFACTURING COMPANIES. WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP GIVING AWAY TO VW. IT'S A MORAL SHAME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447220

Incident

Aug 17, 2006

SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE HAS OCCURRED IN THIS 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE MULTIPLE TIMES. VOLKSWAGEN RESPONDED BY REPLACING THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE DRIVER'S SEAT THE FIRST TIME THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED BUT REFUSED TO ACTUALLY CORRECT THE ENGINEERING ISSUE CAUSING THE FAILURE TO RETURN. THE WIRING HARNESS IS TOO SHORT UNDER THE SEAT AND FEEDING TO THE SWITCH IN THE SEAT BELT OF THE DRIVER. THE CAR IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY AND FAILED YET AGAIN. IF YOU WILL NOTICE, THERE ARE MANY ISSUES WITH THE 2000 NEW BEETLE BUT ONLY 4 RECALLS OF THIRD PARTY LIGHTING PRODUCTS AND NO ACTUAL VOLKSWAGEN RECALLS. VOLKSWAGEN IS BEING ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH ABUSE TO THE CONSUMER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10382627

Incident

Jul 13, 2010

Mileage

46,000 mi

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYS ON CONSTANTLY ON A 2000 BEETLE. THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM WIRING UNDER THE SEAT CAUSING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO STAY ON...THIS SHOULD BE THE SUBJECT OF A RECALL INVESTIGATION! *TR

NHTSA ID

10375552

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

Mileage

80,000 mi

1. 2000 VW BEETLE WORKED FINE. 2. ONE DAY I STARTED THE CAR UP AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. IT DIDN'T COME ON THE NEXT TIME I STARTED IT, BUT IT DID THE TIME AFTER THAT AND IT COMES ON AND STAYS ON NOW EVERY TIME I START THE CAR. 3. TRIED TO HAVE A MECHANIC CHECK IT OUT BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO READ THE CODE. I WENT ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT. (ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, ALMOST ALL THE BEETLES HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AS THE WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE SEATS THAT CONNECTS THE SIDE AIRBAGS TO THE BUCKLES ON THE SEAT BELT WAS MADE ABOUT 3" TOO SHORT AND GETS PULLED FORWARD OR OUT COMPLETELY WHEN THE SEATS ARE BROUGHT FORWARD TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE BACK.) THIS OBVIOUSLY SHOULD BE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10370595

Incident

Aug 15, 2010

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP AND IF THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH THE AIR BAGS WOULD NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT REFUSED TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED DUE TO THE COST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10357142

Incident

Apr 10, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STARTED THE IGNITION AND THE "AIR BAG " WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE PASSENGER SIDE WIRING HARNESS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON EIGHT SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES WITH REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVER SIDE WIRING HARNESS. THERE HAVE BEEN NO RESOLUTIONS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,218. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,564.

NHTSA ID

10298964

Incident

Jul 19, 2001

Mileage

12,218 mi

FOR THE FIFTH TIME IN 10 YEARS, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON IN MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE (LESS THAN 50,000 MILES AND NEVER IN A CRASH). ACCORDING TO MANUFACTURER WHEN THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON THE AIRBAGS ARE DEACTIVATED PROVIDING NO PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. DEALER HAS TWICE PREVIOUSLY REPLACED DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG HARNESS AND RECOMMENDS DOING SO AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10297454

Incident

Nov 1, 2009

Mileage

49,000 mi

2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE RECENTLY MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE HAD THE AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON. I SCOURED THE INTERNET TO FIND POSSIBLE CAUSES AND TO MY AMAZEMENT, MANY PEOPLE SUFFER FROM THE SAME PROBLEM. IT APPEARS THAT THE SENSORS AND WIRE HARNESSES IN THE NEW BEETLES FREQUENTLY FAIL TRIGGERING THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON. I WAS TOLD BY AN SERVICE TECH. THAT WHEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, THE AIRBAGS BECOME DEACTIVATED, WHICH SEEMS TO POSE AN EXTREMELY HUGE SAFETY CONCERN, SEEING AS THE NEW BEETLE SUFFERS MANY DEFECTS REGARDING THE AIRBAGS. THANKFULLY, THE PROBLEM IN MINE IS THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG WIRE HARNESS LOCATED UNDER THE DRIVER SEAT. THE WIRE LENGTH IS NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH TO WITH STAND A LOT OF SEAT MOVEMENT. MOVING THE SEATS FORWARD TOO MANY TIMES CAN ACTUALLY CAUSE THESE WIRES TO BREAK IN HALF, WHICH HAPPENED IN MY CASE, DEACTIVATING ALL THE AIRBAGS AND BRINGING UP AN ERROR IN THE SYSTEM. THE DEALERSHIP DOESN'T MAKE THE MATTER ANY BETTER, BY SAYING THAT I WILL HAVE TO PAY $600.00 TO REPLACE NOT ONLY THE WIRE HARNESS, BUT THE SIDE AIRBAG AS IT COMES AS A COMPLETE PACKAGE AND THE HARNESS IS NOT SOLD SEPARATELY. IN THIS ECONOMY, I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE AN ENTIRE PERFECTLY GOOD AIRBAG FOR A SIMPLE WIRE, SO I AM STUCK HAVING TO DRIVE AROUND KNOWING THAT MY AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT OR POSSIBLY DEPLOY PREMATURELY WITHOUT ANY CAUSE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE LOOKED AT, SINCE IT NOT ONLY AFFECTS THE 2000 MODEL, BUT ALL MODELS UP TO 2006. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR SELLING A PRODUCT DESIGNED FOR OCCUPANT SAFETY, THAT FAILS BEFORE THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10274943

Incident

Jun 15, 2009

Mileage

135,000 mi

PROBLEM: CHRONIC FAILURE OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG CIRCUIT PURCHASED FEBRUARY 2000. SINCE JULY 2004 WE HAVE HAD REPEATED (EIGHT) REPAIRS DONE IN RESPONSE TO THE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING CONTINUOUSLY, INDICATING THE AIR BAG CIRCUIT IS FAULTY AND THE AIR BAG WON'T FIRE SHOULD AN ACCIDENT OCCUR. DESPITE REPEATED REPAIRS, TWICE COMPLETELY REPLACING THE WIRING HARNESS, AND ONCE REPLACING THE AIRBAG ITSELF, THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED AGAIN THIS WEEK AND A NINTH REPAIR IS NEEDED. ALL REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE AND DOCUMENTED BY OUR VW DEALER. TO DATE REPAIR COSTS EXCEED $1500. THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10249698

Incident

Nov 21, 2008

Mileage

40,800 mi

AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTION: AIRBAG (SRS) SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL, ORIGINALLY ON 9/24/2001. VW DEALER STATED DRIVER'S SEAT SIDE AIRBAG NEEDED REPLACEMENT DUE TO AN INTERNAL CAUSE AND WAS REPLACED ON 10/2/2001 AT 15365 MILES. AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND SYSTEM WAS SERVICED ON 4/8/2003 WHERE VW DEALER REPAIRED CONNECTION UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT AT 36405 MILES. RECENTLY, AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND WAS SERVICED ON 10/13/2008. THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS REMOVED AND DEALER REPAIRED CONNECTION TO DRIVER'S SEAT SIDE AIRBAG AT 111370 MILES. IF THIS PROBLEM WERE NOT REPAIRED, THE DRIVER'S SEAT SIDE AIRBAG WOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED IN THE EVENT OF A SIDE COLLISION. VW DEALER STATED THAT NUMEROUS VW NEW BEETLES HAVE HAD AIR BAG CONNECTION REPAIRS FOR THE DRIVER'S SEAT SIDE AIRBAG. VW DEALER STATED THEY PUT AN "EXTENSION" ON THE CONNECTING WIRE AND THIS PROBLEM SHOULDN'T OCCUR AGAIN. AGAIN, VW DEALER STATED THE AIR BAG SYSTEM CONNECTION UNDER THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM. THIS CONCERNS ME BECAUSE THERE IS A RECURRING CONNECTION PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, WHICH DIMINISHES THE AIR BAG SYSTEM?S SAFETY AND RELIABILITY DURING A COLLISION. VW SHOULD RECALL AND REPAIR NEW BEETLES WITH THIS AIRBAG CONNECTION PROBLEM SO THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WILL NO LONGER MALFUNCTION DUE TO A FAULTY WIRE CONNECTION. MY LOCAL VW DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS REMEDIED WITH A NEW ?EXTENSION? PART AND THE PROBLEM SHOULD NO LONGER OCCUR. IF I HAD THREE MALFUNCTIONS WITH MY VEHICLE?S AIRBAG SYSTEM AND MY LOCAL DEALER RECOGNIZED THIS IS A PROBLEM IN MY AREA, THIS MAY BE A WIDESPREAD, RECURRING PROBLEM AMONG NEW BEETLES. VW NEW BEETLE OWNERS SHOULD BE OFFICIALLY NOTIFIED OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG SYSTEM SO THAT THE PROPER REPAIR CAN BE MADE TO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER IN THE EVENT OF A SIDE COLLISION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10245472

Incident

Oct 13, 2008

Mileage

111,370 mi

2000 VW BEETLE HAS HAD 3 AIRBAGS INSTALLED SINCE 2002. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THEREFORE WILL NOT PASS THE VIRGINIA STATE INSPECTION PROCESS.. THREE LETTERS SENT TO VW WITH NO SUCCESS. VW CUSTOMER CARE REPRESENTATIVE WILL NOT LOOK INTO THE AIRBAG SYSTEM ON THE 2000 VW BEETLE SINCE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FIRST AIRBAG ISSUE STARTED UNDER WARRANTY. THE THREE AIRBAGS REPLACED TO DATE HAS BEEN 2 DRIVERS AND 1 PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN RESET NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS WITHOUT REPLACING AN AIRBAG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229267

Incident

Oct 10, 2007

Mileage

22,000 mi

I HAVE A VW NEW BEETLE AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY IT'S NOT THEIR PROBLEM AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE 700 DOLLARS TO FIX IT BUT THE CAR IS EXPENSIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10226727

Incident

May 1, 2008

Mileage

12,000 mi

I GOT IN MY CAR ONE DAY AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. NO CONSEQUENCES OTHER THAN IT IS PROBABLY THE SENSOR RATHER THAN THE AIR BAG THAT IS DAMAGED. IT HAS TO BE REPAIRED OR REPLACED. NOT SURE IF THAT MEANS THE SENSOR OR THE AIR BAG AS WELL TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE. I AM DRIVING WITH THE LIGHT ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10218714

Incident

Jun 13, 2007

Mileage

29,000 mi

ON THE 2000 BEETLE, YOU CAN TELESCOPE THE DRIVER STEERING COLUMN. WELL, THE AIRBAG SPRING COIL UNCOILED ON MY CAR WHEN I TELESCOPED THE COLUMN AND THE ONLY WAY I KNOW THIS IS BECAUSE THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER AND OTHER MECHANICS ARE SAYING THE WHOLE AIRBAG NEEDS TO BE REPLACED WHICH WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $600 TO $800. NOW, I DON?T FEEL AS IF THIS IS A PROBLEM I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR. THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED TO HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN TELESCOPE SO WHY WOULD THE COIL UNCOIL WHEN I USE THE FEATURE? ALSO, THEY HAVE TOLD ME THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK IF SOMETHING WHERE TO HAPPEN. IS THIS SOMETHING VW SHOULD LOOK INTO AND REPLACE FOR ME FREE OF CHARGE? *TR

NHTSA ID

10208080

Incident

Nov 6, 2007

I TURN ON MY CAR AND SUDDENLY THE AIRBAG SENSOR TURN ON WITHOUT REASON. *JB

NHTSA ID

10202524

Incident

Sep 8, 2006

AIR BAG FAULT LIGHTS HAS BEEN COMING ON AND GOING OFF FOR OVER A YEAR,,, EVERYTIME I GET TIME TO GO BY AND GET IT FIXED, IT GOES OFF, HOOKED THE COMPUTER UP AND IT SHOWS NO FAULT... NOW IT IS ON ALL THE TIME, I WAS TOLD THAT IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BUT AT GREAT EXPENSE TO ME,,, HOWEVER IT WAS NOT REALLY HURTING ANYTHING.. I WAS TOLD THAT IT DOES NOT AFFECT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING, BUT I WONDER... THE ONLY WAY TO FIND OUT IS HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND I DO NOT WANT TO DO THAT, SO WE , THE OWNERS ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE VW CORPORATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10197075

Incident

Jul 3, 2007

WHILE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 65 MILES PER HOUR, I ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. IT DID NOT GO OFF. THEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR WITH NO TENSION. THERE WAS NO BRAKING ACTION AT ALL. I DROVE ALONG SOME GRASSY AREAS ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TO SLOW THE CAR, TURNED OFF THE IGNITION BECAUSE THE CAR WAS NO DECELERATING, AND HIT A TREE AT ABOUT 50 MPH. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED. THE CAR WAS SOLD TO A JUNK YARD BECAUSE THE REPAIR COSTS WERE TOO HIGH AND BECAUSE THE REPAIR FACILITY SAID THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE CRUISE CONTROL AND BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ID

10193906

Incident

Apr 24, 2007

AIRBAG SYSTEM DEFECTIVE, REQUIRING REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS, INCLUDING AIRBAG REPLACEMENTS, 11 DIFFERENT TIMES. SINCE SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK AND AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY WHEN SENSORS ARE ON, THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10187992

Incident

Jan 3, 2002

Mileage

30,000 mi

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. ON JULY 30, 2001 (MILEAGE 20013) I COMPLAINED TO MY DEALERSHIP THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. THEY RECONNECTED THE WIRE UNDER THE DRIVERS SEAT STATING IT WAS LOOSE, POOR FIT. ON NOVEMBER 15, 2002 (MILEAGE 33164) I COMPLAINED AGAIN THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME. THEY INSPECTED AND FOUND TWO MISC. CODES RESET AND TESTED, SAID ALL IS OK AT THIS TIME. ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2003 (MILEAGE 41463)I COMPLAINED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME, AGAIN. DEALERSHIP TESTED AND SAID I NEEDED D/D AIR BAG, HARNESS AND SEAT BELT REPLACED AT A COST OF $675.00. I DECLINED REPAIR AND CALLED VOLKSWAGEN. ON NOVEMBER 5, 2003 VW SAID THEY WOULD REPAIR THIS PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE FOR CUSTOMER "GOODWILL". ON JULY 19, 2005 (MILEAGE 61130) I COMPLAINED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ONCE AGAIN ON ALL THE TIME. DEALERSHIP REPOSITIONED CONNECTOR FOR DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG AND STATED IF IT COMES ON AGAIN WILL NEED NEW AIR BAG. ON NOVEMBER 20, 2006 (MILEAGE 73661) ONCE AGAIN I COMPLAINED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON ALL THE TIME WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW DRIVERS SEAT AIR BAG, HARNESS WITH REWIRE TO CONTROL AT A COST OF $1040. ONCE AGAIN I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND THIS TIME I WAS TOLD SORRY, THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO HELP ME. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH MY VEHICLE AND SPECIFICALLY A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE IF THERE IS ANY HELP YOU ARE ABLE TO OFFER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10185216

Incident

Nov 20, 2006

Mileage

20,013 mi

THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON IN 2005. THE DEALER SAID THE DRIVER'S AIRBAG HAD TO BE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR LATER, THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THIS TIME THE DEALER SAID THEY "FIXED" IT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DID. IN JANUARY 2007, THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW. I'M WORRIED THAT MY AIRBAGS WON'T WORK IN A COLLISION BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE DEALER IS DOING AND THEY CAN'T TELL ME WHAT THE CONTINUING PROBLEM IS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10182459

Incident

Jan 20, 2007

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG DRIVER INFLATOR MODULE FAILED.

NHTSA ID

10175471

Incident

Jul 14, 2005

Mileage

54,241 mi