RoadVitals

2004 Volkswagen Beetle Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
73
Latest Aug 31, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
21%
of 349 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 73 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.

Owner reports naming airbag

The 25 most recent of 73, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Aug 31, 2020

AIR BAG LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF, STARTED AT 33650 MILES, RIGHT AFTER MY MOM SIGNED OVER THE CAR TO ME.

NHTSA ID
11352371
Incident
Aug 24, 2020
Mileage
33,640 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 8, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WHICH WAS A PART OF THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL SEAT BELT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. A LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.

NHTSA ID
11297990
Incident
Jan 8, 2020
Mileage
94,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 15, 2019

AIR BAG LIGHTS ON AND SEEMS THE DEALER CANNOT GET PARTS TO FIX ??

NHTSA ID
11268768
Incident
Oct 10, 2019
Mileage
32,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Aug 12, 2017

VW CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, OBD SENSOR PORT NOT READING, BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON, AND ABS LIGHT CAME ON, NOW RADIO IS GOING ON AND OFF. STARTED YESTERDAY MORNING,WHILE DRIVING TO WORK THE ABS STARTED AFTER WORK ON THE WAY HOME.

NHTSA ID
11014835
Incident
Aug 11, 2017
Mileage
5 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 23, 2016

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON LAST YEAR, RESOLVED. BACK ON, I SEE OLD RECALL? WHAT TO DO?

NHTSA ID
10898011
Incident
Jul 1, 2016
Mileage
60,000 mi
AirbagsPowertrain (other)Seat belts
Filed Jul 28, 2016

MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ALL AT ONCE MY AIRBAG/SEATBEILT LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME

NHTSA ID
10889201
Incident
Dec 27, 2015
Mileage
118,000 mi
AirbagsVisibility
Filed Jun 23, 2016

1. AIR BAG: THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATING. 2. SUNROOF DRAIN SYSTEM CLOGGED: THERE IS LEAKAGE THROUGH THE SUNROOF OF THE PASSENGER SIDE. ALL RAIN WATER IS COMING IN FROM THE PASSENGER DOOR. AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS OF THUNDER STORMS THE CAR HAS WATER ALL OVER THE INSIDE AND THE CEILING AND SMELLS BAD. (AS SOON AS I FOUND OUT THE SUNROOF LEAKAGE PROBLEM OF THIS CAR, I FOUND THAT HE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT HAS APPROVED A $69 MILLION SETTLEMENT STEMMING FROM A CLASS-ACTION LAWSUIT THAT STARTED IN 2007 OVER LEAKING SUNROOFS. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2014/VOLKSWAGEN-SETTLES-LAWSUIT-LEAKING-SUNROOFS.SHTML)

NHTSA ID
10876204
Incident
Jun 4, 2016
Mileage
122,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 17, 2015

IN 2008 I TOOK MY VW BEETLE TO THE VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN MURRIETA, CA ON DATE STREET AND THEY HAVE RECORD THAT THEY FIXED THE AIR BAG LIGHT/ AND REPLACE THE SWITCH WHICH WAS LIT UP ON MY DASH INSTRUMENT PANEL. WELL I TOOK THE SAME CAR 2004 VW BEETLE BACK ON 08/17/2015 AT 8:15 AM SO THEY COULD TAKE CARE OF MY AIRBAG LIGHT WHICH CAME ON AGAIN AT 107,000 MILES. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL SWITCHES FROM THE SEATBELTS TO THE FRONTEND AND ALSO BEHIND THE CARS DASH THAT CAN CAUSE THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON BUT, BEING THIS IS A LIFE SAVING PART ON MY CAR I DO NOT FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A RECALL SERVICE AND PART ON MY RETURN VISIT. AS I SEE IT THIS IS A DEFECT AND A SAFETY HAZARD AND I SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED A $126.00 TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE AND PAY MORE FOR THE PART AND SERVICE TO FIX A DEFECTIVE ITEM. IF I'M INCORRECT PLEASE ADVISE ME SO I CAN UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS MY FAULT. I THOUGHT IF YOU FIXED THE PROBLEM THEN IT SHOULD BE ON THE COMPANY OR PERSONS WHO REPAIRED THE RECALL ISSUE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND I WOULD APPRECIATE A RESPONSE TO MY FRUSTRATION WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10749309
Incident
Aug 28, 2008
Mileage
2,500 mi
AirbagsBody & structureSeat belts
Filed May 27, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS DRIVING 25 MPH AND MY FRONT BUMPER HIT A PARKED CAR, AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND RENDERED ME UNCONSCIENCE IT CAUSED $12,000 TO MY TEETH AND POSSIBLE HEAD INJURY AND 18 MONTHS AT A SPECIALIST DENTAL, HAD TO HAVE A BONE GRAPH AND STINT IN MY MOUTH, LIVER AND ABDOMINAL CONTUSION HAD TO PAY AN ATTORNEY $9,000 TO AN ATTORNEY TO REPRESENT ME IN COURT, I LOST MY JOB AND AM NOW ON SSD

NHTSA ID
10721836
Incident
Jan 7, 2009
Mileage
45,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 6, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V356000 (AIR BAGS), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,600.

NHTSA ID
10714913
Incident
Apr 29, 2015
Mileage
117,600 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Oct 9, 2014

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WIRING HAS FAILED THUS ILLUMINATING THE AIR BAG LIGHT. THE SEAT BELT WIRING IS OF MINUTE DIAMETER WITH LITTLE SHIELDING AND POOR CONDUIT. BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT MUST FLEX WHEN MOVING THE SEAT FORWARD, THE STRAIN ON THE WIRING IN THE SEAT BELT RIPS THE WIRING FROM IT'S SOLDERED JOINT. THIS CAUSES THE AIR BAG LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE AND CAUSES THE AIR BAG SYSTEM TO REVERT TO A BACKUP ALGORITHM THAT PUTS THE DRIVER IN A DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENT. THIS "BACKUP" ALGORITHM WILL NOT MONITOR VEHICLE SPEED AND WILL AUTOMATICALLY DEPLOY THE AIRBAG AT A DEFAULT AMOUNT OF FORCE REGARDLESS OF IMPACT FORCE. THIS MEANS THAT A MINOR FENDER BENDER THAT REACHES THE AIRBAG FORCE THRESHOLD COULD DEPLOY THE AIRBAG AT A FORCE TOO GREAT AND CONVERSELY A HIGH SPEED IMPACT MAY DEPLOY THE AIRBAG WITH INSUFFICIENT FORCE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL YEAR VEHICLE. A QUICK INTERNET SEARCH WILL ALERT YOU AS TO HOW COMMON THIS PROBLEM IS. AFTER CALLING MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME "WE REPLACE A TON OF THOSE SEATBELTS." VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE THIS EGREGIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PART BEFORE FATAL CONSEQUENCES FURTHER PROVE THIS IS A DEADLY AND EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10643670
Incident
Oct 1, 2013
Mileage
85,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed May 20, 2014

AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT ON DASH CAME ON. THIS MEANS THE AIRBAGS WERE DISABLED. DEALERSHIP IDENTIFIED THE SEAT BELT CLASP ON THE DRIVER SEAT AS THE PROBLEM. THE ELECTRONICS IN THE CLASP WERE NOT COMMUNICATING CORRECTLY CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO BE DISABLED. THE SEATBELT AS A SAFETY MECHANISM ITSELF WAS NOT COMPROMISED. THE DEALERSHIP REPRESENTATIVE INDICATED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN AND COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE MAKE AND MODEL AND THAT THE FIX WAS TO REPLACE THE SEATBELT CLASP AT A COST OF ABOUT $300.00. THE CAUSE OF THE SEATBELT CLASP TO FAIL WAS THE MOTION OF MOVING THE SEAT BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS. TO ACCESS THE REAR SEATS OF THE CAR THE SEAT MUST BE MOVED BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS AS IT IS A TWO DOOR CAR. OVERTIME, THIS ACTIVITY WORE OUT SOME ELECTRONICS IN THE CLASP CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO BE DISABLED. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR ITEM THAT IS CUSTOMARILY REPLACED SUCH AS TIRES, BRAKE PADS OR WIPER BLADES. THE MANUFACTURE SHOULD RECOGNIZE THIS CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE AND OFFER TO VOLUNTARILY RECALL THE VEHICLES AND/OR OFFER TO PAY FOR A FIX IN OUR CASE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10592871
Incident
May 20, 2014
Airbags
Filed May 4, 2014

MY AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON YET AGAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THE PAST AND WAS FIXED BY A VW DEALER BY CHANGING THE INFREQUENTLY USED PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE COST OF THIS REPAIR WAS $360. THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN LESS THAN ONE YEAR LATER. IT WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THE DEALER AND SCANNED AND FOUND TO BE A DEFECTIVE AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. THE ESTIMATE FOR THE FIX WAS ABOUT $800 WITH THE ADVISORY THAT IT MIGHT NOT BE FIXED WITH THAT PART REPLACEMENT. THE SERVICE REPORT READS, "AIRBAG CRASH SENSORS MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL IF SOFTWARE IS DIFFERENT FROM NEW MODULE." IT SOUNDS LIKE THE VW TECHNICIANS THEMSELVES ARE GUESSING ABOUT THE REPAIR. THERE IS REPORTEDLY A VW RECALL ON THE 2003-2005 BEETLE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE BUT THE VW DEALER AS WELL AS VW CUSTOMER SERVICE (800-374-8389) BOTH TELL ME THAT IT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. THE INTERNET VW BEETLE FORUMS ARE REPLETE WITH REPORTS OF AIRBAG SYSTEM PROBLEMS. I AM SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT TO ADD TO THE CURRENT LIST OF SUCH COMPLAINTS WITH THE HOPES THAT VW WILL TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY RELATED DEFECT IN THEIR DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF THE 2004 VW BEETLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586404
Incident
Apr 1, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 7, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 05/28/14*LJ UPDATED 8/17/17*CN

NHTSA ID
10577872
Incident
Jun 26, 2013
Mileage
59,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 12, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V178000 (AIR BAGS). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568844
Incident
Dec 4, 2012
Mileage
75,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 26, 2013

AIR BAG MODULE LITE STAYS ON. TOOK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST 800 TO REPLACE MODULE. THIS VEHICLE AT THIS HAS ONLY 71802 MILES AS OF JUNE 26,2013. I FEEL THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY A VW DEALERSHIP FREE OF CHARGE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10521973
Incident
Jun 26, 2013
AirbagsElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Dec 29, 2012
Fire reported

CAR WOULDN'T EXCEL WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY 1 MILE FROM TOWN SUDDENLY TRAFFIC SLOWED FROM SNOW STORM IN TOWN,THE VEHICLE SMELL WAS FUNNY BLACK SMOKED SLOWLY LEAKED INSIDE THE CAR WINDOWS UP HEARD A MISFIRE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON BLINKED THEN I HEARD LOUD BLAST LIKE I THOUGHT IT WAS A PLOW TRUCKS MUFFLER LOUDNESS REALIZED IR WAS MY VEHICLE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY LESS 1/3 MILE AT BANK. SHUT OFF MOTOR M NOW SEEING SMOKE SLOWLY ENTERED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 2 FRONT SEATSAND CONSOLE. FEELING HOT UNDER BELLY OF FLOORS. ORANGE GLOW THROUGH ELECTRICAL OUTLET IN BACK OF CONSOLE APPEARED TO BE HOTWITH PLASTIC CASING IN AND UNDER FLOORS HOT SIZZLING CRACKLING UNDER CENTER CASING/I TRY TO CALL 911 MISUSED THE CELL WOULDN'T OPERATE EFFECTIVELY FLAGGED DOWN A MAN N WOMAN AT THE CORNER LIGHT OF BANK THEY DECLINED TO HELP SO I WENT TO CAR PUT SNOW ON COMPARTMENT AND WET IT DOWN AND AIRED OUT SMOKE WITH PASSENGER DOOR OPEN .I WENT IN BANK FOR ASSISTANCE .THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR SAFETY ISSUES BY MANUFACTURER IN THE PAST .WERE SAID TO BE CORRECTED BY REPAIRMAN ALSO SAID SEATBELT HARNESS WAS A ISSUE HEATED SEATS WERE A ISSUE AND AIRBAGS TRANNY ALSO RECALLED FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND OR TRANSMISSION AND AIR BAGS ON SOME 2004 VW VEHICLE BEETLES RECALLS SO FAR OCCURRED TO THIS VW WERE AIRBAG SENSORS/ ALSO THE SEATBELT HARNESS CASES WERE BREAKING REPEATEDLY ONCE PURCHASED DUE TO PUTTING THE SEATS UP AND BACK TO GET IN THE VEHICLE. NOW THIS MYSTERIOUS FIRE AND HEADLAMP ISSUE.. *TR

NHTSA ID
10490430
Incident
Dec 27, 2012
Mileage
80,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureElectrical+2 more
Filed Aug 22, 2011

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A VW BEETLE IN MAY OF 2010, FOR MY BIRTHDAY FROM HOLLYWOOD AUTO BROKERS IN LOS ANGELES, CA. THE CAR RAN SMOOTH FOR ABOUT A COURSE OF FIVE TO SIX MONTHS, I HAD TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP EARLY ON BECAUSE MY HEAD LIGHTS WERE OUT WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR, A JERKING AND EXTREMELY WEIRD DECELERATION OF THE CAR WOULD BEGIN, BUT IT WOULD "POP BACK TO NORMAL" AFTER A WHILE, MAYBE THREE TO TEN SECONDS. THIS HAD GONE ON AND HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE FIVE MONTHS AFTER I BROUGHT IT. I FINALLY MADE IT BACK INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND HE RODE WITH ME ON A TEST DRIVE AROUND THE CORNER AND OF COURSE IT DIDN'T REPEAT THE PREVIOUS SHOW OF DEFECTS. HE ASSURED ME THE CAR IS JUST BEING BROKEN IN. A YEAR GOES BY AND I DECIDED I WANT TO TRADE IN MY CAR FOR ANOTHER CAR, SO I HEAD TO NISSAN. I TEST DRIVE A CAR AND LOVE IT AND THEN GO IN FOR THE PAPER WORK. THE GUY RUNS MY VIN TO SEE MY CAR VALUE AND COME BACKS AND TELL ME MY CAR TITLE IS SALVAGED. TO MY DISBELIEF AND DISGUST, I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY FINANCIAL COMPANY, AL FINANCIAL OF GLENDALE, CA THAT I AM LEASING THE CAR FROM. THEY GIVE ME THE RUN AROUND AND ASSURE ME THAT THE TITLE IS CLEAN AND NOT A SALVAGE. I CONTINUE ON MY INVESTIGATION AND COME TO A CARFAX WEBSITE TO GET THE REAL FACTS ON MY DEFECTED VEHICLE. THE INFORMATION REVEALS THAT NOT ONLY IS THE TITLE SALVAGE BUT IT HAD BODILY DAMAGE AND HAD BEEN TOTALED OUT FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY FROM IT'S PREVIOUS OWNER. THE CAR HAD BEEN BROUGHT BACK FROM MEXICO AND REGISTERED IN THE STATES AGAIN AS A NEW CAR I BELIEVE. I WOULD REALLY LOVE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS SITUATION ASAP AND GET SOME CLOSURE ON A RECURRING PROBLEM THAT IS MESSING WITH MY INCOME AS I AM A TRAVEL NURSE FOR HOSPICE PATIENTS. RECENTLY THE WATER PUMP HAS GONE OUT AND I'M NOT SURE YET IF I NEED TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKETS. I HOPE I CAN HEAR AN RESPONSE IN A GOOD ENOUGH AMOUNT OF TIME SO I CAN WORK OUT AN REIMBURSEMENT OF SOME KIND WITH PAYMENT ON EITHER BEHALF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10420904
Incident
May 10, 2011
Airbags
Filed Aug 8, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS LOCATED AT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,631.

NHTSA ID
10417997
Incident
Feb 1, 2011
Mileage
27,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 30, 2011

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAY ON(CONCERNED ABOUT NOT WORKING PROPERLY IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT) TAKEN INTO DEALERSHIP FOR CODE READ: AIRBAG MODULE SHORTED. FRONT PASSENGER SEAT AND CARPET NEED TO BE REMOVED FOR REPLACEMENT OF AIRBAG BECAUSE WIRE UNDER THE SEAT IS TOO SHORT THAT IT TORN WHEN THE SEAT WAS MOVED FORWARD TO ALLOW ACCESS TO REAR SEAT. THIS SHOULD BE A MANUFACTURED FAULT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10393734
Incident
Mar 29, 2011
Mileage
30,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureSeat belts
Filed Feb 2, 2011

THIS VEHICLE WAS SUBJECT TO A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAG SENSORS. WE HAD PREVIOUSLY HAD THE SENSORS REPLACED (THE VEHICLE WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY BASED ON TIME). VW REFUSED ULTIMATELY REIMBURSED US FOR THE REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENT OF THE SENSORS. IN JANUARY OF 2011 THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER CHARGED A FEE TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE LIGHT WAS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, AND THE FACT THAT THE BATTERY WAS DISCHARGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THEY WANTED APPROXIMATELY $480 TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE, AND $245 TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. I CALLED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE BUCKLE FOR NO CHARGE, BUT WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT THE BATTERY. VW OPENED A CASE # 110006836 AND REGIONAL MANAGER LISA WAS THE CONTACT. WE HAD AAA COME TO DO A TEST ON THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM BOTH PASSED THE TEST. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT A TRICKLE CHARGE WOULD BRING THE BATTERY TO A FULL CHARGE. IN ADDITION, VW AGREED TO DO A ONE TIME COURTESY REPLACEMENT OF THE CONVERTIBLE ROOF SINCE THE FABRIC HAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR WINDOW. A CLIP RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED, BUT THE HEADLINER WAS HANGING DOWN AND HAD SEPARATED FROM THE REAR WINDOW. WE FEARED THAT THE WINDOW COULD SEPARATE FROM THE ROOF AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. STATEMENT INDICATES THAT VW PERFORMED 61.07-02 TECH BULLETIN TO PERFORM MODIFICATIONS TO THE REAR WINDOW.

NHTSA ID
10380664
Incident
Jan 10, 2011
Mileage
34,000 mi
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jan 31, 2011

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON. THIS WAS THE SUBJECT OF AN EARLIER RECALL DUE TO SENSORS. WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY SEAT BELT BUCKLE AND NOT DUE TO SENSORS. WE WERE ALSO ORIGINALLY TOLD IT WAS DUE TO A FAULTY BATTERY. HOWEVER, THE BATTERY WAS CHECKED BY AAA AND WAS NOT FAULTY. EVENTUALLY VW AGREED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10379766
Incident
Jan 10, 2011
Mileage
34,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical+2 more
Filed Nov 11, 2010

2004 NEW BEETLE CONV TURBO . ALWAYS IN SHOP. ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS. IN THE SHOP MORE THAN AT HOME. ELEC ISSUES,WINDOWS NOT WORKING, AIR BAG LIGHTS FLASHING, TOP STAYING DOWN WONT GO UP ONE REPAIR AFTER ANOTHER. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. WHAT A PIECE OF [XXX]. JUST HOPE SOME ONE READS THIS AND TALKS THEIR DAUGHTER OR WIFE OUT OF MAKING A 20,000 DOLLAR MISTAKE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10365409
Incident
Apr 8, 2007
Mileage
96,000 mi
AirbagsTransmissionVisibility
Filed Aug 11, 2010

2004 VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE NEEDS THE VALVE BODY REPLACED. CAR ONLY HAS 61,900 MILES ON IT. REAR WINDOWS BOTH HAVE BROKEN AIR BAG SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10348823
Incident
Jun 20, 2010
Mileage
61,900 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 21, 2010

AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ON SINCE CAR WAS NEW DESPITE NUMEROUS REPAIRS *TR

NHTSA ID
10344575
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Mileage
10 mi

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.

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