2001 Volkswagen Beetle Exterior lighting Problems

LEFT TURN INDICATOR RAPID BLINKS EVEN WITH ALL NEW BULBS

NHTSA ID

11083099

Incident

Mar 1, 2014

THE HAZARD LIGHTS, TURN SIGNALS AND HEADLIGHTS ON MY CAR DO NOT WORK. I'VE TAKEN IT IN TO AN AUTO SHOP AND THEY CANNOT FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. HOPING MAYBE THERE IS A RECALL THAT I HAVE MISSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10463442

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

THROTTLE BODY GOES OUT (02-03-2009) CV AXEL GOES OUT (03-31-2009 BRAKE LIGHTS GO OUT (02-18-2010) CV AXEL GOES OUT AGAIN (4-31-2010) ALTERNATOR GOES OUT (06-21-2010) IGNITION COILS FAIL (09-13-2010) IGNITION COILS FAIL AGAIN(01-21-2011) BRAKE SWITCH REPLACED AGAIN (01-21-2011) AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILS (01-21-2011) AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILS AGAIN (07-26-2011) TIMING BELT REPLACED (06-15-2011) THERMOSTAT REPLACED (06-15-2011) WATER PUMP REPLACED (06-15-2011) NOW HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THROTTLE BODY/ THROTTLE BODY SENSOR/ ELECTRICAL ISSUE. DEALER IS NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEMS IS AND WANTS TO THROW MONEY AT IT TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEMS IS. THIS CAR IS JUST ONE PROBLEM AFTER ANOTHER AFTER ANOTHER.

NHTSA ID

10435729

Incident

Mar 14, 2009

Mileage

69,890 mi

THE HEADLAMPS HAVE BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES. ACCORDING TO A VW DEALERSHIP WHO SERVICED THE VEHICLE, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE'S WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENTATION CLUSTER TO FAIL. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE WIREING HARNESS PROBLEM, BUT ARE NOT AWARE OF ANY SERVICE RECALLS.

NHTSA ID

10394504

Incident

Dec 20, 2010

Mileage

64,300 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE DROVE 35 MPH OR MORE AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THEY ARE NOT ADJUSTABLE; YET, THE ONE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS AIMED LOWER AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS AIMED HIGHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY WHO ADJUSTED THE HEADLIGHTS BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 168,000.

NHTSA ID

10382734

Incident

Feb 15, 2001

Mileage

168,000 mi

I HAVE A 2001 VW NEW BEETLE. I HAVE REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT, WHICH WAS DRAINS THE BATTERY, SERPENTINE BELT, REMOTELESS KEY WHICH IS STILL BROKEN- BASICALLY 6 DAYS AFTER BUYING THIS CAR- I SPENT $1200 ON REPAIRS- NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING FUNNY, AND BASICALLY- MY VW DEALERSHIP HAS A FIELD DAY WITH ME. TO TOP IT OFF- MY BATTERY DIED A MONTH AGO- AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN I TRIED TO JUMP IT. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS CAR WILL BLOW UP ON ME AT ANY TIME. PLEASE HELP ME! *TR

NHTSA ID

10235807

Incident

Apr 5, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DEFECTIVE TURN SIGNAL /HAZARD WARNING SWITCH RELAY. CUSTOMER STATES THAT HIS TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS DEFECTIVE. HE ALSO STATES HE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHERE TO SEND THE DEFECTIVE SWITCH TO FOR ENGINEERING ANALYSIS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM ON HIS VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN SUBJECTED TO A RECALL, HOWEVER THE RECALL PERTAINS TO OTHER 2001 VOLKSWAGENS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10203764

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH TURN SIGNAL PROBLEMS CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE HAZARD WARNING SWITCH RENDERED THE TURN SIGNALS INOPERATIVE OR INTERMITTENT**CC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED HIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PART OF THE RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO HIGH CURRENT LOADS FROM THE BULBS USED THAT WERE OVERHEATING THE RELAY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10199181

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

TURN SIGNALS OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY OR CEASE WORKING AFTER A FEW FLASHES. THE IMMEDIATE FAILURE MODE"VIOLATES THE FMVSS, AND SUBJECTS THE DRIVER TO CITATIONS FOR FAILING TO PROPERLY SIGNAL A TURN AND/OR DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. SAFETY HAZARD FOR SURROUNDING TRAFFIC PUTTING VEHICLE AT GREATER RISK. *AK

NHTSA ID

10187768

Incident

Mar 20, 2007

Mileage

64,500 mi

TURN SIGNALS AND OR HAZARD FLASHERS FAIL TO BLINK, OR FLASH. FIRST IT WOULD BLINK ONLY A FEW TIMES AND THEN STOP, AFTER 2 MORE DAY IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. THIS CASE IS SIMILAR TO RECALL #04V584000, BUT THE CAR TYPE IS VW NEW BEETLE 2001. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184113

Incident

Mar 1, 2007

Mileage

55,000 mi

2001 VW BEETLE - GASKET FOR HEADLIGHTS AND HEADLIGHT LENSES DETERIORATED. HAD TO HAVE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10183607

Incident

Jan 14, 2004

THE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD SOME TIMES WORK , OR THEY JUST STOP WORKING FOR DAYS AT A TIME AM GOING TO TAKE CAR IN TO DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HAVE IT FIXED. NOW THEY HAVE FAILED ALL TOGETHER AND AM AFRAID I AM GOING TO GET IN TO A ACCIDENT IF I DON'T GET THEM FIXED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10181513

Incident

Feb 3, 2007

Mileage

51,810 mi

EMERGENCY LIGHT SWITCH (HAZARD SWITCH) THERE WAS A VW RECALL ISSUED TO REPLACE THIS SWITCH THAT NOT ONLY CONTROLS THE HAZARD FLASHERS BUT ALSO THE TURN SIGNALS, IN THE JETTA, GOLF, & GTI. MY BEETLE USES THE SAME SWITCH I AM WONDERING WHY IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL (VW RECALL VX). MY SWITCH HAS THE SAME INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AS DESCRIBED IN THE MARCH 2005 RECALL LETTER, I WILL BE REPLACING THE SWITCH ON MY OWN ACCORD, BUT THIS BULLETIN SHOULD INCLUDE THE VW NEW BEETLE MODEL IN MY OPINION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10170901

Incident

Oct 12, 2006

Mileage

119,750 mi

THESE ARE SECONDARY SAFETY ISSUES: 1) GAS GAUGE REQUIRES $700 INSTRUMENT CLUSTER 2) HEADLIGHTS SHIPPED FROM FACTORY MISSING RETAINER BAND AND REQUIRE $650 FIX JUST TO ALIGN. VW SAN JOSE, CA INVOICE [XXX] ON 2001 VW BEETLE LEMON [XXX]. *NM UPDATED 07/17/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10151568

Incident

Feb 28, 2006

Mileage

62,738 mi

TURN SIGNAL/HAZARD FLASHER ON 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE FAILED IN SAME WAY AS DESCRIBED IN YOUR RECALL #04V584000-WHICH APPLIES TO OTHER MODELS BUT NOT NEW BEETLE. OCCURRENCE DATE: 12 JANUARY 2006, MILEAGE 64,200 APPROX. THIS IS SAME BEHAVIOR ALREADY IDENTIFIED BY YOU. I REQUEST THAT INVESTIGATION BE OPENED TO BROADEN THE RECALL TO THIS MODEL. I AM TRYING TO FIND REPLACEMENT PART. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147986

Incident

Jan 12, 2006

Mileage

64,260 mi

MULTIPLE REQUESTS TO HAVE OUR 2001 NEW BEETLE TDI HEADLIGHTS ADJUSTED PROPERLY HAVE NOT BEEN COMPLIED WITH BY GURLEY-LEEP VW SERVICE DEPARTMENT, SINCE THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, 2001 WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW.*AK SPECIFICALLY: LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE SET FAR, FAR TOO LOW; I ESTIMATE THE HEADLIGHTS ILLUMINATE ABOUT 60 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, LIMITING TRAVEL AT NIGHT TO ~35 MPH; THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY HAZARD FOR TWO REASONS: 1) WE CAN'T SEE HAZARDS SOON ENOUGH, AND 2) OUR LOWER SPEEDS PRESENT A HAZARD TO OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING AT HIGHER (NORMAL) SPEEDS. WHEN I ASK WHY THE HEADLIGHTS ARE SET TOO LOW, I'M TOLD BY SERVICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL THAT "THEY'RE SET TO SPEC". LATEST, 12/14/04: SERVICE DEPARTMENT AGAIN TOLD US THEY SET THE HEADLIGHTS "TO SPEC", BUT THE RIGHT LIGHT ASSEMBLY DOESN'T STAY IN ADJUSTMENT, I.E., IT "DROPS", AND WE NEED TO BUY A NEW ASSEMBLY AT ABOUT $330.00. THIS IS A STRANGE SITUATION BECAUSE THE LEFT HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATES THE ROAD AT THE SAME DISTANCE AS THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT, AND THE GURLEY LEEP SERVICE DEPARTMENT PEOPLE DID NOT TELL US THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LEFT. BOTTOM LINE: THIS IS APPARENTLY EITHER A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR A POORLY MANAGED MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT; EITHER WAY IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND MUST BE CORRECTED BY VW AT NO CHARGE.

NHTSA ID

10103013

Incident

Dec 14, 2004

THE VEHICLES DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS/HEADLIGHT HAVE ONE SWITCH WHICH CONTINUOUSLY BURNED OUT AND RESULTED IN NO HEAD LIGHTS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10017226