2003 Volkswagen Beetle Interior & seats Problems

PASSENGERS SIDE HEADLIGHT SHORTING OUT FOR 7TH BULB REPLACEMENT AND NEW ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. STRANGE, ALL WITHIN 6 MONTHS. MY 21 YR OLD NURSING STUDENT OF ECU UNIVERSITY HAS HAD THE EXACT SAME ISSUE WHILE ON HER 4 HOUR TRIP HOME 7 TIMES NOW. THE WIRING CONTINUES TO FRY ITSELF IN THE MAIN FUSE BOX , NOW AFFECTING THEABS BRAKING SYSTEM. I PAID $9K IN CASH AND HAVE ELECTRICAL RECEIPTS, SEAT BELT, CONVERTIBLE TOP, BLOWER DOOR, FRONT END REPLACEMENT, RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, TRUNK LATCH, HYDRO LICKS ON CONVERTIBLE, TIMING BELT, 4 BATTERIES, AIR BAGS! I COULD CONTINUE WITH A LONGER LIST. I ADDED UP TO $17,000.00 I HAVE IN THIS PIECE OF CRAP THAT CONTINUES TO BREAK MONTHLY . I WOULD BE ECSTATIC TO PROVIDE ALL RECEIPTS. ISN'T PROBLEMS OF THIS GREAT NATURE UNREASONABLE FOR A CAR WITH 70,000 MILES ALSO CONSIDERED A LEMON? ALL INCIDENTS HAVE LEFT MY DAUGHTER STRANDED ON INTERSTATE 85 WHERE SHE HAS FEARED HER LIFE FIGHT OFF THE HOMELESS PSYCHOTIC PEOPLE. IT HAS LEFT ME UNABLE TO BUY HER A NEW CAR WITH NO SAVINGS DUE TO FIXING SOMETHING NEW EACH MONTH. AND 27 DEGREES OUTSIDE WITH NO ABILITY TO START IT. THE SEAT LEVERS BACK AND FORTH HAVE HAD TO BE BOLTED IN ONE POSITION TO PREVENT SEAT BELT ELECTRICAL TOO SHORT ELECTRICAL CORD SO THE FAULTY AIRBAGS MAY BY CHANCE DEPLOY IF SHE EVER GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. LATEST IS. SHE NEEDS ANOTHER WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT FROM JUST BEING DONE 2 YEARS AGO!! SOMETHING MAJOR DEFECTS WITH THIS CAR. I FEAR FOR HER LIFE! LAST TRIP HOME A CAR DID NOT SEE HER PULLED OVER ON INTERSTATE AND SIDE SWIPED HER BUMPER. WATER PUMP AGAIN.SEE PHOTO OF IT LEAKING MORE WHEN WE HAD IT TOWED HOME IN GARAGE. ALSO REAR BUMPER OF INCIDEN

NHTSA ID

11170075

Incident

Dec 9, 2018

Mileage

76,000 mi

ELECTRICAL MAIN FUSE BOX UNDER HOOD BURNT AND MELTED INTO BATTERY. SEE PICS OF BURNT FUSE BOX, AND INDENTION OF MELTED BATTERY. CAR CUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY, CAUSING MY 19 YEAR OLD COLLEGE DAUGHTER TO ALMOST WRECK IN ROUTE TO SCHOOL LAST WEEK AT 8PM EST. HER MAJOR IS NURSING. I WANT TO MAKE SURE SHE'S ALIVE TO SEE HER GRADUATE. OUTSIDE AIR TEMP WAS 65 DEGREES. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, NOT TO MENTION THE COST THAT WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH PAYING FOR VOLKSWAGONS POOR DESIGN ELECTRICAL MISENGINEERING FLAW, A NEW ALTERNATOR, ALL ELECTRICAL WIRING, A NEW BATTERY, AND POSSIBLY NEW CONVERTIBLE TOP MOTOR. HER VW IS/WAS IN MINT CONDITION WITH FEWER THAN 80K MILES. VW ESTIMATES COSTS TO FIX OVER $5K TO 6K. KBB VALUE IS MUCH LESS. MY DAUGHTERS LIFE IS PRICELESS. ALSO, THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE SEATBELTS UNDERNEATH THE SEAT ARE TOO SHORT!! IF YOU SLIDE THE SEATS BACK, IT BREAKS ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS WHICH TRIGGERS SEATBELTS LIGHT TO COME ON, WHICH DISENGAGES AIRBAGS TO WORK IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE 2 FRONT SEATS ALSO MUST SLIDE FORWARD IN ORDER FOR BACK SEAT PASSENGERS TO ENTER VEHICLE. IS THIS HOW VW SAVES MONEY, BY SHORTENING ELECTRICAL WIRE TO CONNECT SEATBELTS? PERHAPS IT'S ON PURPOSE TO AVOID MILLIONS OF ELECTRICAL LAWSUITS?

NHTSA ID

11131113

Incident

Sep 19, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

REGARDING/RELATED TO CLAIM 0484819107 69 COMPLAINTS: 2003 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA SEATS: FRONT ASSEMBLY: SEAT ... I OWN A 2003 VW JETTA 1.8T WITH FRONT HEATED SEATS. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE SEATS HEATER 2 DAYS AGO ON 12/13/2005 AFTER THE HEATER WAS ON FOR LESS THAN 2 MINUTES. BURNING A SMALL HOLE TROUGH THE SEAT TO THE BOTTOM AREA OF MY LEFT SIDE (BUTTOCK) I HAVE COME TO FIND SINCE THIS HAPPENED, MY NHTSA HAS ... HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/VOLKSWAGEN/.../SEATS-FRONT_ASSEMBLY-SEAT_ HEATER_COOLER.SHTML 29 COMPLAINTS: 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE ENTIRE FUSE BOX ASSEMBLY FREQUENTLY MELTS INTO A GLOB OF PLASTIC, AND REPRESENTS A SIGNIFICANT FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE OWNED TWO NEW BEETLES ( 2003 & 2004), AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM FOUR TIME BETWEEN THE TWO. MY OWN INVESTIGATION INTO THE CAUSE(S) HAS SHOWN ME THAT IF THE VEHICLE BATTERY IS ... HTTPS://WHTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/SEARCH/?CX=PARTNER-PUB-6745124734283845%3A6PV4IH4BRAD&COF=FORID%3A10&IE=ISO-8859-1&Q=VW+FIRE&SA=SEARCH&SITEURL=HTTPS%3A%2F%2FWWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM%2FVOLKSWAGEN%2FBEETLE%2F2002%2FSEAT_BELTS_AIR_BAGS%2FWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/VOLKSWAGEN/.../ELECTRICAL_SYSTEM.SHTML WASN'T IN THE VEHICLE PERSONAL ASSISTANT/PROJECT CONSULTANT HELPING HARD WORKING PEOPLE LIKE YOU FOR MORE THAN 25 YEARS! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).? *PM

NHTSA ID

11055838

Incident

Dec 9, 2017

Mileage

152,000 mi

2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE :DRIVERS SIDE WINDOWS REGULATOR AND MOTOR AND BROKEN HINGE. ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SAYS IT NEED COIL PACK AND TEMPERATURE SENSOR. SEAT BELT LIGHT SAYS IT NEED SEAT BELT SENSOR. ALSO DOOR LATCH REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10366693

Incident

Nov 11, 2010

Mileage

45,020 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN SHE CHANGED GEARS. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR MOTORS FAILED; THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED AND WERE REPAIRED AT A REPAIR SHOP. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS BEGINNING TO DETACH FROM THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,347 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,800.

NHTSA ID

10365120

Incident

Jul 1, 2009

Mileage

75,347 mi

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 2.8 TURBO AUTOMATIC ENGINE, DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM OR DOOR LATCH. THE PROBLEM STARTS WITH THE DOOR STICKING WHEN YOU OPEN R CLOSE. THEN OCCASIONALLY WILL NOT SHUT THE FIRST TIME AND WILL BOUNCE BACK. AFTER THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENS, IF YOU ARE DRIVING THE DOOR CAN SWING OPEN ON ITS OWN. THE DOOR WILL NOT STAY CLOSED, OR WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. VERY QUICKLY THE PROBLEM ESCALATES. IT WILL NOT SHUT AT ALL. IT BOUNCES BACK OVER AND OVER. IF YOU LEAVE IT ALONE FOR A FEW HOURS AND TRY AGAIN IT WILL EVENTUALLY SHUT. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BROKE FIRST, GOT FIXED, COST ABOUT $500.00. A MONTH LATER THE PASSENGER DOOR DID THE SAME THING. LESS THEN A YEAR LATER THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BROKE AGAIN. 3 OF THE SAME PART BROKE IN A SPAN OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MONTHS. CALLED THE COMPANY (VOLKSWAGEN) THEY INSIST THAT THIS IS NOT RECALLED OR A REPORTED PROBLEM. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10360817

Incident

Aug 30, 2010

Mileage

119,000 mi

THE DOOR HINGES ON MY DRIVERS' SIDE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN CONVERTIBLE BEETLE HAS BROKEN FOR THE SECOND TIME. VOLKS OF AMERICA AND VW OCONNOR IN AUGUSTA MAINE ARE VERY UNHELPFUL. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM SINCE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOUR YEARS AND TURNS OUT BEFORE I OWNED THE VEHICLE. I WENT TO GET INTO MY CAR ON SAT 6/6/09 AND MY DOOR HINGE SNAPPED AND THE DOOR IS ABOUT TO FALL OFF. NOW MY ALARM SYSTEM WILL NOT GO ON. SOMEONE NEED TO FIX MY CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10273516

Incident

Jun 6, 2009

Mileage

99,000 mi

AIR BAG LIGHT AND THE WARNING LIGHT FOR MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP COMES ON AND DOES NOT GO OUT ALSO DRIVER SEAT IS STUCK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN ON 11/15/2005 AT THAT TIME IT WAS ONLY THE AIR BAG CAUSE; 00591. DRIVERS SEAT BELT SWITCH FAULTY IT WAS REPLACED ON 12/12/2007 THE SAME PROBLEM AND MORE BUT,THIS TIME I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE FOUND A ALOT OF PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND NHTSA IS AWARE OF IT.THE CAR IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY I HAVE HAD REPAIR DRIVER SEAT SLIDER. IT HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING, NEVER PURCHASE ANOTHER VW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10264967

Incident

Nov 15, 2005

Mileage

49,491 mi

DRIVERS SEAT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED TO THE FLOOR OF THE CAR, AND SEAT BOUNCES AS I DRIVE. WAS REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP IN DEC 2007, BROKE AGAIN IN JUNE 2008. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. SUGGESTS REPLACING THE SEAT FRAME FOR $700. NORMAL USE OF A DRIVERS SEAT SHOULD NOT CAUSE THIS TYPE OF AN ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10237014

Incident

Oct 15, 2007

Mileage

70,000 mi

DOOR HANDLE LOCKING MECHANISM ON THE BODY OF THE 2003 VW BEETLE WHICH MY DAUGHTER, KIMBERLY FREISNER HAS OWNED SINCE IT WAS NEW HAS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THE SCREWS WHICH HOLD THESE MECHANISMS IN PLACE AND THE DOOR CLOSED KEEP LOOSENING SEVERAL TURNS. I HAVE TIGHTENED THESE UNITS BEFORE ONLY TO HAVE THEM LOOSEN UP OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. IF THE CAR WAS HIT I THINK THE DOORS WOULD OPEN DURING THE CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10222240

Incident

Mar 11, 2008

Mileage

24,400 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE WELDING HAS FAILED ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT TRACK. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH AND, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT WOULD DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT WERE NOT OBLIGATED TO MAKE THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,000. UPDATED 01-11-08. *KB UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA ID

10209134

Incident

Oct 1, 2007

Mileage

38,000 mi