2004 Volkswagen Beetle Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW RATE OF SPEED, THE CONTACT SMELLED BURNING RUBBER AND THE VEHICLE'S RADIO STOPPED WORKING. AS THE CONTACT PROCEEDED DRIVING, SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS BEGAN FLASHING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHUT COMPLETELY OFF. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE FUSE BOX REPLACED, YET THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID

11230138

Incident

May 13, 2019

Mileage

50,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR SHUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY. 2 TIMES NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ONE TIME LIGHT CAME ON. MECHANIC IS NOT SURE WHY. I HAVE READ SEVERAL SIMILAR OCCURANCES ONLINE BY OTHER OWNERS. SOUNDS LIKE A RISK FOR FATALITY TO ME. MY DAUGHTER JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM ANOTHER PARTY.

NHTSA ID

11220226

Incident

Jun 9, 2019

Mileage

148,000 mi

I BOUGHT MY VW BEETLE 2004 USED 3 MONTHS AGO. (EPC LIGHT ON, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON) SINCE THEN IVE HAD TO FIX THE TIMING BELT, COOLING, AND HOSES BECAUSE OF BACKFIRE. I GOT NOTIFIED THAT THERE IS A RECALL IN MY CAR, YET WENT TYPING THE VIN # IT SAYS IT NO RECALLS HAVE BEEN FOUND FOR MY CAR. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW THE REPAIRS AND COSTS. I'M WONDERING WHO DO I CONTACT TO DETERMINATE IF MY CAR DOES HAVE A REAL OR NOT.

NHTSA ID

11161757

Incident

Nov 1, 2018

Mileage

8 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING AND AN UNKNOWN HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE WATER PUMP KIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SWITCHED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA ID

10853967

Incident

Mar 1, 2016

Mileage

15,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ID

10758806

Incident

Jun 15, 2015

Mileage

73,000 mi

EXITING GARDEN STATE PARKWAY SB ENGINE CUT OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EXIT RAMP. HAD TO BE PUSHED OFF AND THEN TOWED. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT IT WAS THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER. THIS IS NOT COVERED UNDER MY USED CAR WARRANTY HOWEVER THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 2.0L TURBO MOTORS. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS OR TECHNICAL BULLETINS FOR THIS PART. I AM AWARE THAT THE PART THAT IS FAULTY ON THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WAS ONLY CORRECTED IN 2012. I PERSONALLY KNOW SOMEONE WHOSE ENTIRE ENGINE WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THIS PART . THE FAULTY PART BEING REPLACED IS A SPRING. I UNDERSTAND THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT IN WARRANTY HOWEVER THE PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY VW AND I SHOULD BE EITHER PARTIALLY OR ENTIRELY COVERED FOR THIS REPAIR. IF YOU WANT TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH, THIS PROBLEM IS VERY EASY TO FIND ON THE INTERNET. *TR

NHTSA ID

10628305

Incident

Jul 29, 2014

Mileage

76,291 mi

ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON. LOSS OF POWER STEERING. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. IT HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE LAST TIME WAS 7/8/2014, THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST. VOLKSWAGEN HAS BEEN CONTACTED THEY SAY NOT RECALLS ARE LISTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10609599

Incident

Jan 15, 2014

Mileage

89,000 mi

THE BATTERY TO ALTERNATOR WIRE ON THESE CARS OVERHEATS AND CATCHES FIRE. I OWN A CAR DEALERSHIP AND JUST HAD IT HAPPEN TO ME. I WAS LUCKY AND STOPPED ANYTHING HORRIBLE FROM HAPPENING BUT MOST PEOPLE WOULD NOT KNOW ENOUGH TO STOP IT OR THAT IT WAS HAPPENING. THESE CARS ARE A HUGE FIRE HAZARD AND YOU NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL. CHECK THE PICTURES OF BURNED CARS ON GOOGLE. YOU WONT FIND ONE COMPLAINT BUT MANY AND PLENTY OF BURNED CARS. SO I ASK THAT YOU DO YOUR BEST TO FIX THIS ISSUE. THE CAR I OWN HAS A HISTORY OF THE ALTERNATOR BEING SERVICED. OBVIOUSLY A RECALL ISSUE THAT MAYBE VW SHOULD FIGURE OUT HOW TO FIX INSTEAD A BAND AID AND OUT THE DOOR. CHECK CAR FAX ON THIS CAR. IF SOMEONE LET THERE CAR WARM THEY COULD BURN DOWN THERE HOUSE. I AM GOING TO REROUTE THIS WIRE AND REPLACE IT WITH A BETTER GRADE OF WIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593905

Incident

May 24, 2014

Mileage

58,000 mi

THE CAR WAS UNRESPONSIVE. THE CAR TURNED OFF. THE CAR WAS STEERED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10565298

Incident

Feb 17, 2014

Mileage

110,000 mi

EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED OUR USED 2004 BEETLE CONVERITBLE, THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1-3 GEARS THE CAR JUMPS AND HALTS. IT IS HORRIBLE. WE HAD THE TRIP TRON SWITCH REPLACED AND STILL NO HELP. I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS FROM 2003 TO 2008. A NEW TRANSMISSION IS OVER $6000. APPARENTLY, IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID

10537725

Incident

Mar 20, 2012

Mileage

89,000 mi

MY CAR WAS FINE AND IT STARTED RUNNING A LIL FUNKY SO I TOOK IT TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND TURNS OUT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY AIR BAGS ! TRANSMISSION AND BODY VALVE ? IT ABSOLUTELY DOESN'T WANT TO GO IN REVERSE ANYMORE AND I BARLEY BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY OF 2012 AND THIS INCIDENT HAPPENS JUST 5 MONTHS LATER. VERY DISAPPOINTED PLEASE HELP I AM A WORKING NURSING STUDENT THAT STILL MAKES PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR. I KNOW MY RIGHTS AND I FEEL YOU CAN HELP ME OUT PLEASE AND THANK YOU. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

NHTSA ID

10498207

Incident

Nov 10, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

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

NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICLE THAT HAS A KNOW ISSUE. THE TIPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING GEAR CHANGING. VW REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF THE 4 YEAR WARRANTY BUT THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAT 50000 MILES. THERE IS A KNOW ISSUE FOR THIS BUT I WILL HAVE TO PAY $6500 FOR THE REPAIRS>??? NOT FAIR FOR NEW BUYERS WHO ARE KEPT IN THE DARK ABOUT A KNOW ISSUE.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10483339

Incident

Oct 26, 2012

Mileage

49,500 mi

CAR WAS SHIFTING VERY HARD, TIRES WOULD SQUEAL AS SHIFTING BETWEEN 1-2 AND 2-3RD GEARS. TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IT WILL BE BETWEEN 2-5000.00 DOLLARS WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE WINDOW REGULATORS, THERMOMETER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10478940

Incident

Sep 17, 2012

Mileage

69,000 mi

ERRATIC SHIFTING UP AND DOWN BETWEEN 1ST AND 3RD GEARS. CAR LURCHES TO THE POINT THAT A NATURAL REACTION IS TO RELIEVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE WHICH COULD CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION IN SOME CASES. PROBLEMATIC PART IS INTERNAL VALVE BODY WHICH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH VW'S OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL. WE HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED THEN CALLED VW CUSTOMER CARE TO SEE ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT AND WERE TOLD THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS ISSUED FOR 7 YEARS OR 2010. SINCE MY CAR HAD LOW MILEAGE THE INTICATION OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD BY VW THAT IT IS NOW MY PROBLEM TO TAKE CARE OF IT TO THE TUNE OF $2300 PARTS AND LABOR. INCIDENTALLY, I ALSO DID NOT RECEIVE THE WARRANTY AS I WAS TOLD IT WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER ANYWAY. CONSIDERING THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY VW TO BE PROBLEMATIC UP TO 70,000 MILES I FEEL THAT VW SHOULD OFFER UP COMPENSATION IN THAT IT IS THEIR FAULTY PART. ANY HELP IN RECOUPING COSTS INCURRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10478300

Incident

Sep 1, 2012

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VALVE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ID

10457470

Incident

May 5, 2011

Mileage

53,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED SECONDS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD TO INSPECT THE FAILURE. THE ENGINE BLEW SHORTLY AFTER THE HOOD WAS OPENED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP, RADIATOR AND VEHICLE REGULATOR SENSOR WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE HEAD GASKETS WERE LEAKING BUT THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD STILL BE DRIVEN. EIGHT MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE A SECOND TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE LEAK FROM THE HEAD GASKET SEALS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 28,000. UPDATED 5/16/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS OIL IN THE ANTI-FREEZE AND THE SEAL ON THE OVERFLOW TANK WAS LEAKING. UPDATED 05/23/12

NHTSA ID

10455790

Incident

Mar 3, 2012

Mileage

28,000 mi

VEHICLE IS SEVEN YEARS OLD WITH 59,100 MILES AND ALREADY NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO INCORRECT GEAR RATIO FAULT 17114, AND PO330. ALSO, NEEDS A CATALYTIC CONVERTER, HAS AIR LEAK FROM BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM PIPE. VW CORPORATION ADVISED CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY AND OFFERED $1,000 TOWARD A NEW OR USED VW. THE TRANSMISSION IS APPROXIMATELY $4,000. I DECLINED THEIR OFFER. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THREE WINDOW REGULATORS. ...UPDATED 01/30/12 *BF

NHTSA ID

10445389

Incident

Dec 18, 2011

Mileage

59,100 mi

REPLACE ALL IGNITION COILS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10443324

Incident

Dec 26, 2011

Mileage

101,700 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE ENGAGED IN ORDER TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO WAS TOLD THAT THE CONTROL VALVES CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD INCREASE IN SPEED AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN TO 5TH GEAR. UPDATED 12/02/11

NHTSA ID

10432540

Incident

Oct 17, 2011

Mileage

64,000 mi

MY 2004 BEETLE RAN FINE FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER A PURCHASED IT FROM THE DEALER, NOW THE CAR STOPS RUNNING AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, DURING MY TRAVEL TO WORK. I HAVE READ SEVERAL POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET STATING THE SAME ISSUES FROM THOUSANDS OF VW OWNERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD MY CAR DIAGNOSIS STATING I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANS, BUT THERES NO INDICATION TRANS FAILURE. ONE WEEK THERE CAR RUNS GREAT THEN, NEXT IT STOPS DURING TRAVEL AND HAS JERKY FEELS DURING MOVEMENT. I'M SURE THERE HUNDRED OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUES AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY TOO MANY TO LIST. *KB

NHTSA ID

10429268

Incident

Dec 31, 2010

Mileage

75,000 mi

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

ENGINE COMPUTER RANDOMLY DETECTS FAULT IN TURBO SYSTEM AND REDUCES ENGINE POWER TO UNSAFE LEVEL. THEN ANY TRAFFIC MANEUVER THAT REQUIRES ACCELERATION, I.E. MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY, ETC., BECOMES EXTREMELY UNSAFE. VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE DEPARTMENT HAD THE CAR FOR THREE WEEKS AND WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10419352

Incident

Aug 13, 2011

Mileage

86,000 mi

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND ONLY HAS ABOUT 47,000 ACTUAL MILES. RECENTLY SHE HAS BEEN HAVING SOME VERY SCARY EXPERIENCES WITH THE VEHICLE AND WE ARE HIGHLY CONCERNED FOR HER SAFETY. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHES 55 MILES PER HOUR ON THE FREEWAY, IT STARTS TO AUTOMATICALLY SLOW DOWN WHILE HER FOOT IS ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THEN AS SHE CONTINUES TO KEEP HER FOOT ON THE GAS, IT ALL THE SUDDEN VIOLENTLY JERKS INTO GEAR AND STARTS TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. SHE WAS ON FLAT TERANINE AND WAS NOT GOING UP A HILL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. SHE SAID THE EXPERIENCE TODAY LEFT HER TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE!! ALSO, SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, AND THE BREAKS AND STEERING WHEEL BOTH LOCKED. SHE COULDN'T STEER OR STOP THE CAR WITHOUT USING THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I ASKED HER IF SHE IS SURE THE CARE WAS NOT IN NEUTRAL AND SHE SAID IT WAS ABSOLUTELY 100% IN THE REVERSE POSITION. ALSO SHE STATED THE BRAKES ARE MAKING A HISSING SOUND LIKE WHEN YOU LET AIR OUT OF TIRES, BUT NOT ALL THE TIME AND HER BRAKES SEEM FINE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT ANY RECALLS THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AND ALSO WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WILLING TO DO TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. I DO NOT FEEL COMFORTABLE THAT THIS VEHICLE IS SAFE FOR HER TO BE DRIVING AT THE MOMENT AND SHE HAS STATED THAT WHEN THE ISSUE HAPPENS, IT FEELS LIKE HER AND THE CAR JERK FORWARD WITH A VERY VIOLENT EXCESSIVE FORCE. I WOULD LIKE CORRESPONDENCE STARTED IN CASE IN CASE ANYTHING HAPPENS TO MY DAUGHTER WHILE OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE IS APPRECIATED. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10402767

Incident

May 25, 2011

Mileage

47,000 mi

BROKEN ENGINE MOUNT BOLT WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT; BROKE AFTER ACCELERATING ON A TRAFFIC LIGHT. ENGINE MOUNT WAS REPLACED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386180

Incident

Mar 2, 2011

Mileage

87,456 mi