Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2005 Volkswagen Beetle submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 35 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.
The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words
I WASA DRIVING AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN.AOLL THE LIGHTS CAME ON ON THE DASHAND IT JUJST STOP POWER THE STEARING WHEEL LOCKED .I WAS IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOD GOING SPEED LIMIT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY I DONT KNOW WHAT WOULD OF HAPPEN , IM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR NOW
THE LIGHT BULBS ARE SHORT FUSE ABOUT EVERY YEAR. I THINK WATER GETS IN.I PURSHASE IT 0N 2011 H ON A USE
I BOUGHT USED. ONE HEADLIGHT WAS WORKING. THE OTHER ONE WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER I GOT IT. WE REPLACED THE HID LIGHTS WITH BRAND NEW HALOGEN LIGHTS. WAS WORKING GREAT! THEN I WAS DRIVING TO TOWN LATE ONE NIGHT AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THE LOW BEAMS, I STILL HAD THE HIGH BEAMS. THEN I GOT PULLED OVER CAUSE MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. SO I HAD TO DRIVE WITH MY FLASHERS ON. THEN THE CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I NEED A NEW SEAT BELT, CAUSE IT IS NOT WORKING RIGHT. THE DRIVERS DOOR WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN A LITTLE WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK. THE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE MAKING ME MAD CAUSE NO MATTER WHAT WE HAVE DONE THEY NEVER WORK. HELP!!! I WANT IT FIXED!! I LOVE MY LITTLE CONVERTIBLE. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GET RID OF IT.
WHILE DRIVING ON A LOCAL HIGHWAY, I HEARD A "CLICK" THEN A "POOF", THEN THE CAR LOST POWER, IN TRAFFIC! IT WAS TOWED TO THE MECHANIC WE ALWAYS USE. THEY DETERMINED THAT THE FUSE BOX/ALTERNATOR CABLE MELTED. THEY SAID THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BEETLE. WE CHECKED TO SEE IF WE MISSED ANY RECALLS AND WERE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN ANY ON SUCH A DANGEROUS ISSUE! I AM INCLUDING SCREEN CAPTURED IMAGES FROM VIDEO WE HAVE OF THE PROBLEM BEING INSPECTED. WE ALSO HAVE DOCUMENTATION FROM THE MECHANIC.
MY VIN NUMBER ON CAR IS DIFFERENT FROM THE VIN NUMBER ON MOTOR. I JUST FOUND THIS OUT ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO. I WASN'T TOLD THIS WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.. SO, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM OR NOT. ITS A 2005 VW, WITH A 2004 ENGINE FROM A SLAVAGE YARD, BANDB, OR B AND R?? THIS CAUSED ME GREAT ALARM. THE WIRING SINCE HAD TO BE DONE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. ALSO, THE BELLY PAN HAD BEEN MISSING. I HAD IT FIXED. AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAD TO BE REPAIRED TOO. THIS CAR HAS COST ME THOUSANDS IN REPAIRS SINCE PURCHASE. AND I DON'T HAVE MORE THOUSANDS TO PUT IN IT. PLEASE HELP I HOPE THE CAR IN EXCELLENT SHAPE NOW. ALSO, I NOTICED THE DIP STICK BROKE TO OIL CHECK AND HADN'T BEEN PRIOR TO MY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. ALSO, THE CAR HAS A SOFT TOP AND I WAS TOLD WAS NEWLY REPLACED IN 5/2018. BUT IT SEEMS TO HAVE A DIFFERENT LOOK INSIDE THEN A TIGHT SHAPE REGARDING TOP, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS SHOULD BE OR NOT.
I HAVE A 2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY AIR BAG LIGHT ON MY DASHBOARD. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE AIRBAG CONTROL MODULE WAS NOT WORKING. I AM NOT ABLE TO GET MY CAR INSPECTED BECAUSE THE SENSOR LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF! I LOOKED UP RECALL PARTS FOR MY CAR, AND I NOW SEE THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE AIR BAG: FRONTAL: SENSOR / CONTROL MODULE. THE RECALL STATES THAT THE SOLDIER JOINT MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, AND THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE FALL BACK ALGORITHM WILL ENSURE THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY. HOPEFULLY I WILL NOT NEED THEM AND WILL NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. I WANT THE DEALER TO REPLACE THIS CONTROL MODULE THAT WAS RECALLED, AND FIX MY CAR SO I CAN GET IT TO PASS INSPECTION, AND GET BACK TO DRIVING IT SAFELY. THANK YOU, (XXXXX) PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 73 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED BILL MARINE VOLKSWAGEN AT (937) 210-4257 (LOCATED AT 415 E NORTH ST, SPRINGFIELD, OH 45503) AND WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE DRIVERS WINDOW DOES NOT WORK. THEY ARE USING INFERIOR PARTS THAT ARE KNOWN TO BREAK. ALSO THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND THE TRUNK WILL NOT WORK USING THE REMOTE.
DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR STOPPED WORKING. WINDOW WAS STUCK DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER. CAR WAS IN MOTION, HIT THE FRONT WINDOW BUTTON, BACK WINDOW ROLLED DOWN, WOULDN'T ROLL BACK UP.
ALTERNATOR MALFUNCTION CAUSED SEVER BURNING OF THE BATTERY TOP MOUNTED FUSE BOX ASSEMBLY. REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND FUSE BOX ASSEMBLY AND CAR STILL DOES NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. BATTERY DRAINS OUT CONTINUOUSLY EVEN WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION. DEALERSHIP HAS GIVEN UP OF REPAIRING THE CAR EVEN AFTER SPENDING 500$ IN DIAGNOSTICS, THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY A CORRECTIVE COURSE OF ACTION. I HAVE ALL BILLS AND REPAIR LISTS ON FILE IF NEEDED. THE CAR HAS ONLY 44,000 MILES AND WAS IN MINT CONDITION. I HAVE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE 3 OF THE 4 WINDOW COMPONENTS ON THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS.
3 OUT OF 4 OF MY POWER WINDOWS HAVE HAD PROBLEMS. 1 IS STUCK UP. ANOTHER HAS BEEN REPLACED, WHILE ANOTHER ROLLS DOWN, WHEN I'M PUSHING THE POWER UP!!! MY AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED.
REAR RIGHT SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR MALFUNCTION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOSS OF ACCELERATION POWER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THE AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AS MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE FUSE PANEL ON TOP OF THE BATTERY WAS ALSO MELTED. THE CONTACT INDEPENDENTLY REPLACED THE FUSE BOX BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
CAR WOULD ON AGAIN OFF AGAIN LOSE LIGHTS RADIO SPEEDOMETER AND EVENTUALLY DIED IN A NOT NICE SECTION OF TOWN. REPLACED ALTERNATOR, BATTERY PRIOR TO THE BREAKDOWN. DUE TO A WEB SEARCH FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM. FUSE BOX MELTED, SMOKED. DANGEROUS. VW WILL NOT RECALL OR FIX. DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY PEOPLE HAD THIS PROBLEM. FIXED WITH PARTS SUGGESTED. NOW AGAIN TODAY........12-6-2013 THE FUSE BOX IS MELTED AGAIN. I HAVE SPENT OVER $1000.00 AND DONE MY OWN REPAIRS AS VW DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THIS. IF THEY WOULD JUST DO A RECALL. I LOVE THE CAR BUT IT IS NOT RELIABLE AND SOMEWHAT DANGEROUS. THE CAR IS GREAT OTHERWISE. I JUST SPENT$2000.00 TO REPLACE THE CONVERTIBLE TOP AND NOW I FEEL LIKE I HAVE A LEMON! *TR
WINDOW HAS STOPPED WORKING FOR THE SECOND TIME. REPAIRS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE TO 1 REAR DRIVER S SIDE WINDOW. NOW IT'S THE PASSENGERS SIDE REAR WINDOW. *TR
TODAY, 12/3/13, I HAD MY 3RD WINDOW REGULATOR GO OUT IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS. EACH OCCURRENCE HAS BEEN ON A DIFFERENT WINDOW, AND EACH REPAIR HAS COST FROM $400 - $600. THE SERVICE ADVISORS I'VE SPOKEN TO HAVE ALL SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLES BECAUSE THE PART IS POORLY ENGINEERED AND THEY'RE SURPRISED A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN MADE. THIS POORLY ENGINEERED PART IS NOT ONLY A FINANCIAL ABUSE TO THE CONSUMER, BUT ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE IS DOWN, THEN ONE IS NOT ABLE TO PUT THE TOP BACK UP, WHICH NOW DOES NOT ONLY COST YOU A NEW WINDOW, BUT THE LOSS OF THE CAR IF IT'S STOLEN WHILE UNATTENDED. ADDITIONALLY WHAT COULD HAPPEN, AS IT DID IN MY CASE. THE WINDOW MADE A NOISE ON SUNDAY, THIS MORNING (TUESDAY) I TOOK MY CAR IN, THE PART WON'T BE IN UNTIL TOMORROW OR POTENTIALLY THURSDAY. IN THE MEAN TIME, IT'S RAINING IN MY CITY AND I LIVE IN APARTMENTS AND HAVE TO PARK ON THE STREET. THEREFORE, MY CAR RUNS THE RISK OF NOT ONLY GETTING STOLEN, BUT THE INTERIOR BEING DAMAGED IF THE PLASTIC ON THE OUTSIDE COMES OFF DURING THE HEAVY RAIN. AGAIN, MAJOR INCONVENIENCE TO THE CONSUMER, WHILE THE MANUFACTURER NOT ONLY POCKETS THE CUSTOMERS CAR PAYMENT ON A MONTHLY BASIS, BUT IS ALSO MAKING MONEY IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH A VEHICLE THAT WAS PRODUCED BY THEM WITH FAULTY PARTS IN THE FIRST PLACE. FINALLY, THE WINDOW AT ANY MOMENT CAN FALL INTO THE DOOR AND SHATTER, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE BROKEN WINDOW A HEALTH RISK IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE WINDOW SHATTERS; THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER COULD BE INJURED BY THE GLASS. IN CONCLUSION, THERE SEEMS TO BE MULTIPLE RISK AND CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE, IT IS LUDICROUS THAT A RECALL OR PERMANENT SOLUTION HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. *TR
ROLLED DOWN BACK WINDOW ON DRIVERS SIDE WONT ROLL UP JUST MAKES A NOISE. *TR
REAR WINDOW REGULATOR BAD - REPLACE $639.00 FRONT REGULATOR BAD - $338.23 RADIO WENT BAD - DRAINS BATTERY - REPLACEMENT $419.62 AIRCONDITIONER MAKING LOUD NOISE NOT REPLACEMENT YET DASH LIGHT BULB - 100.62 REPLACE CRANK SEAL,WATER PUMP,THERMOSTAT,DRIVE BELT $1,094.16 OUTSIDE TEMP GAUGE REPLACE $49.70 . *TR
DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW FELL DOWN. I'M TOLD THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR SNAPPED AND THEY HAVE TO REPAIR IT. FOR $600! FROM WHAT I'VE READ ONLINE, IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN THE 05 MODEL. IT'S A SHAME THAT VOLKSWAGEN DOESN'T STAND BEHIND THIS AND PUT OUT A RECALL. *TR
BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BECOME DEFECTIVE. DO NOT WORK. *TR
THE AIRBAG LIGHT REMAINS ON THE DASHBOARD, MECHANICS HAVE SAID THEY CANNOT FIX IT, MAKES ME CONCERNED THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. *TR BOTH THE PASSENGER WINDOW AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATORS ARE BOTH BROKEN. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO DOWN WHEN YOU PRESS THE WINDOW BUTTON, AND THE PASSENGER DOOR/ WINDOW RATTLES WHEN DRIVING AND WHEN YOU SHUT THE DOOR
THE DRIVER SEAT BELT BUCKLE SHORTS OUT DO TO FAULTY WIRE ROUTING CAUSING THE SEATBELT TENSIONER HARNESS TO GET CUT OR SHORTED BY THE DRIVER SEAT. *TR
THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON THE VEHICLE ARE PREDICTABLY FAILING APPROXIMATELY EVERY 2 YEARS WITHOUT MUCH USE AT ALL. THE PART IS POORLY ENGINEERED AND EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE. IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT VW REFUSES TO FIX. I HAVE HAD MY WINDOW REGULATORS REPLACED ON EACH OF MY 4 WINDOWS TWICE: SEPTEMBER 30, 2006RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR REPLACEMENT JULY 18, 2007LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR REPLACEMENT APRIL 29, 2009LEFT FRONT REGULATOR REPLACEMENT AUGUST 15, 2009RIGHT FRONT WINDOW REPLACED (SHATTERED WHEN A FRIEND CLOSED, NOT SLAMMED, THE DOOR) JULY 21, 2010LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR ? REPAIRED BY VW OCTOBER 31, 2010RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR JULY 20, 2012 LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED (NOT YET REPAIRED) THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A COMPANY THAT CLAIMS TO HAVE EXCEPTIONAL ENGINEERING. WEB SEARCHES HAVE REVEALED THAT COUNTLESS CUSTOMERS HAVE THIS SAME COMPLAINT AND THAT THE ISSUE IS ALSO WITH JETTA, PASSAT AND OTHER VW VEHICLES. THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO MANUFACTURE A BETTER PART AND FIX THE ISSUE FREE OF CHARGE FOR ALL CUSTOMERS. *TR
BOTH REAR WINDOWS HAVE STOPPED WORKING. (SECOND ONE IS COMPLETELY DOWN AND DOES NOT GO UP) VW DEALER ADVISES THAT THE REGULATORS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AND DUE TO THE "DESIGN" OF THE CAR TO HAVE THIS DONE WOULD REQUIRE TAKING OUT THE BACK SEAT FOR A TOTAL OF $1085 WITH PARTS & LABOR. I HAVE SEARCHED THE ISSUE ONLINE AND HAVE READ NUMEROUS ARTICLES WHERE OTHER VW BEETLE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. A RECALL FOR THIS COSTLY AND REPEATED ISSUE SHOULD BE PASSED. PLEASE HELP. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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