RoadVitals

2004 Volkswagen Beetle Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
65
Latest Jun 23, 2016
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.
19%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. 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. 65 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 visibility

The 25 most recent of 65, in the owner's own words

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
Other / unspecifiedVisibility
Filed Jan 28, 2015

THE WINDOWS ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT ROLL UP. THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VOLKSWAGEN PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE WINDOW SIDE AS OF THIS DATE. IF THERE IS A RECALL, PLEASE ADVISE. I NEED THIS FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE WINDOW REGULATOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10679519
Incident
Jun 25, 2014
Mileage
76,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Dec 10, 2014

THE BACK PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR WAS REPLACED. TODAY 12/09/14 NOT THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR NEEDS REPLACED. I THINK THIS IS FAULTY. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL VW REPAIR DEALERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10663487
Incident
Oct 1, 2013
Visibility
Filed Jul 6, 2013

REAR WINDOW WENT UP AND THEN DOWN BY ITSELF...THEN A CRACKING NOISE ENSUED AND NOW WINDOW IS STUCK OPEN. HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF BEETLE CONVERTIBLES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, WHICH IS DUE PRIMARILY TO POOR ENGINEERING. VW MAKES $500-600 FOR EVERY REPAIR. (SEE: HTTP://NEWBEETLE.ORG/FORUMS/NEW-BEETLE-CONVERTIBLE/38354-BACK-WINDOW-REGULATOR-MOTORS-VW-RECALL.HTML). *TR

NHTSA ID
10523500
Incident
Jul 5, 2013
Mileage
84,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Oct 7, 2012

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
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Oct 3, 2012

THE BACK WINDSHIELD HAS POPPED AWAY FROM THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. *TR

NHTSA ID
10478432
Incident
Sep 29, 2012
Visibility
Filed Aug 13, 2012

BOTH REAR WINDOW CONTROL MECHANISMS HAVE GONE BAD. I HAVE DONE A SEARCH AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10470410
Incident
Aug 15, 2011
Mileage
105,000 mi
TransmissionVisibility
Filed Jul 16, 2012

1) INFERIOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PUMP VALVE ASSEMBLY CAUSED VERY HARD DOWN AND UP SHIFTING THAT COULD STARTLE THE DRIVER. IT WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. 2) LEFT SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT TIME OF PURCHASE (FEB. 2012). RIGHT SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR HAS FAILED JULY 2012 AND MUST BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.

NHTSA ID
10466244
Incident
May 4, 2012
Mileage
55,600 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 28, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE WINDOWS WERE INOPERABLE AND REMAINED OPEN. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CLOSE THE WINDOWS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10463451
Incident
Jun 28, 2011
Mileage
44,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 24, 2012

THIS THE 3RD WINDOW REGULATOR TO FAIL. ONE DOOR AND NOW BOTH REAR REGULATORS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10462890
Incident
Jun 23, 2012
Mileage
50,000 mi
ElectricalVisibility
Filed May 31, 2012

I HAVE HAD THE REGULATOR REPLACED IN MY REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND MY FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS. IT SEEMS THAT THERE MIGHT BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THE REGULATORS/WINDOWS. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID
10460170
Incident
May 30, 2012
Mileage
114,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 14, 2012

MY REAR PASSENGER WINDOW IS STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. AFTER READING MANY FORUMS I CAN CONCLUDE THAT IT IS THE REGULATOR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THESE CARS. I AM MOST LIKELY GOING TO HAVE TO PAY UPWARDS OF $1000.00 TO GET THIS FIXED. I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THIS. IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT ON VOLKSWAGENS PART. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES THIS TAKE TO GET A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10451653
Incident
Mar 13, 2012
Mileage
49,500 mi
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)+1 more
Filed Jan 20, 2012

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
Visibility
Filed Dec 7, 2011

ALL THE WINDOWS APPEAR TO HAVE MAJOR PROBLEMS, THE BACK RIGHT MAKES A HORRIBLE GRINDING NOISE AND WON'T BUDGE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MAKES A WEIRD NOISE BUT MOVES, AND THE OVERALL PLACEMENT OF THE WINDOWS IS ODD AND LEAKS AIR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10438865
Incident
Aug 12, 2011
Visibility
Filed Dec 5, 2011

I HAVE 2004 VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE, MY TWO BACK WINDOWS DO NOT WORK AND NOW MY DRIVER SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT WORK. WHEN WILL THIS EXISTING PROBLEM BE RECALLED FOR MYSELF AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THE WINDOWS NEED TO BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10438644
Incident
Aug 28, 2009
Visibility
Filed Nov 11, 2011

RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED, VW PAID FOR REGULATOR BUT CHARGED $389.00 LABOR TO FIX (WINDOW UP AND DOWN LESS THEN 20 TIMES UP TO THIS POINT. LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED JUNE 2011, LABOR CHARGE $403.05 VW PAID FOR REGULATOR. LEFT DRIVER WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED AUG 2011. VW WILL NOT COVER REGULATOR, OR LABOR OF $375.00 TO REPAIR. VW KNEW THESE PARTS WOULD FAIL AND HAD ISSUED A TECH BULLETIN TO THIS EFFECT WITH NO NOTICE TO OWNER! FAILED PARTS ARE KNOWN BY VW AS FAILURE PARTS, COST TO CUSTOMER FOR KNOWN BAD PARTS IS EXTREME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10435262
Incident
Aug 26, 2009
Mileage
31,753 mi
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Oct 18, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EXTERIOR LIGHT MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER OR A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED AND COULD NOT BE OPENED OR CLOSED. THE CLIPS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUOUSLY RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,569.

NHTSA ID
10430672
Incident
Sep 8, 2004
Mileage
32,569 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 18, 2011

WINDOW REGULATOR FAULTY ON ALL WINDOWS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10430589
Incident
Oct 1, 2011
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Sep 12, 2011

THIS IS FOR A CONVERTIBLE BEETLE: THE REAR WINDOW ROLLED DOWN WHILE OPENING THE TOP, MADE A GRINDING SOUND, AND NOW WILL NOT GO UP EITHER WITH THE CONVERTIBLE TOP CLOSE BUTTON, NOR WITH THE INDIVIDUAL WINDOW BUTTON - THE WINDOW MOTOR WORKS, BUT THE REGULATOR MECHANISM MAKES A GRINDING SOUND AND THE WINDOW STAYS IN OPEN POSITION (ON-LINE ENTRY SYSTEM WON'T ACCEPT CORRECT PHONE # SO I LIST IT HERE: CORRECT DAYTIME PHONE IS [XXX]) . INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10425051
Incident
Aug 23, 2011
Mileage
102,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 23, 2011

2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE - DRIVER SIDE WINDOW ROLLED DOWN AND WILL NOT ROLL BACK UP. INVESTIGATION REVEALED A BROKEN REAR WINDOW REGULATOR- APPARENTLY UNDER RECALL BY VOLKSWAGEN BUT CAN'T GET CONFIRMATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10414845
Incident
Jul 23, 2011
Mileage
54,903 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 15, 2011

2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. REAR WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. REAR WINDOWS REGULATOR/MOTORS BROKE. DESIGN DEFECT. REVISED PART. DEALER WANTS OVER $700.00 PER SIDE TO FIX. PARTS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER!!!! *TT

NHTSA ID
10412444
Incident
Jul 11, 2011
Mileage
100,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 27, 2011

BOTH BACK WINDOW REGULATORS WENT OUT JUST THREE DAYS APART AND THE VW DEALERS WANTS $1,000.00 TO REPAIR. VW OF AMERICA EXTENDED THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATORS WARRANTY BUT REFUSE TO FIX MY BACK WINDOWS. I CAN NOT ROLL UP MY WINDOWS AT ALL. THEY ARE STUCK DOWN INSIDE THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10408989
Incident
Jun 17, 2011
Mileage
105,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 23, 2011

WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED. THIS IS THE 3RD OF 4 WINDOW REGULATORS TO FAIL. REAR PASSENGER WINDOW FAILED TO ASCEND LEAVING CABIN OPEN TO WEATHER. POTENTIAL FOR ACCIDENT INCREASED AS DRIVER WAS FORCED TO DIVIDE ATTENTION BETWEEN FAILED WINDOW AND DRIVING TASKS AT NEAR HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID
10403295
Incident
May 23, 2011
Mileage
80,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 10, 2011

RIGHT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND WINDOW BECAME INOPERABLE. VW ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT NOT A RECALL. REPAIR IS $1200 FOR ONE WINDOW REGULATOR.

NHTSA ID
10400448
Incident
Sep 1, 2010
Mileage
15,500 mi
Visibility
Filed Apr 4, 2011

I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT DROP DOWN IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE CANVAS TOP. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A REGULATOR ISSUE. NOW MY BACK PASSENGER WINDOW IS FROZEN IN HALF DOWN POSITION. IT CAN NOT BE PULLED UP OR PUSHED DOWN. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE WINDOW ON THESE MODELS. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE GLASS IN THE CANVAS TOP TO BECOME DETACHED. MY INSURANCE WILL NOT COVER THIS AS DURING THEIR INVESTIGATION THEY FOUND THAT IT IS SO COMMON WITH THIS MODEL OF VEHICLE THAT THEY CAN DEEM IT "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR." THIS IS NOT RIGHT! MY CAR IS GARAGE KEPT AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS! I AM NOT ABLE TO REPLACE ANY PARTS AT THIS TIME BECAUSE OF INCOME. THE CONSUMER IS MADE TO PAY THE BILL FOR VW'S FAULTY MANUFACTORING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10394122
Incident
Jul 20, 2010
Mileage
99,999 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .