2005 Volkswagen Beetle Visibility Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11138907

Incident

May 31, 2018

OUR REAR, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO ROLL UP AND WE DISCOVERED IT WOULD BE $1,200 TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE REGULATOR. THIS IS THE SECOND WINDOW TO FAIL. WE PAID AROUND $1,000 TO HAVE THE REAR, PASSENGER REGULATOR REPAIRED TWO YEARS AGO. THIS TIME, AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ONLINE, WE DISCOVERED THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME, RECURRING PROBLEM. READING REVIEWS ON EDMUNDS.COM, YOU'LL FIND PEOPLE SAYING THEY'D NEVER BUY A VW AGAIN, DUE TO THIS AND OTHER RECURRING ISSUES (E.G. SENSORS GOING BAD, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, CONVERTIBLE TOP LEAKAGE, ETC.). ONE INDIVIDUAL POSTED A RECALL LETTER FROM 2002 ON THE NEWBEETLE.ORG FORUM SAYING VW WOULD FIX THE FRONT, DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR AND WARRANTY IT FOR 7 YEARS. BUT, THEY OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T SOLVE THE REGULATOR ISSUES, AND HAVE DENIED US A SIMILAR EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS MODEL CAR IS A MAINTENANCE NIGHTMARE, AND VW WON'T ADMIT THEIR UTTER FAILURE IN PRODUCING THIS LEMON AND TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE NUMEROUS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. APPARENTLY, THEY HAVE CHOSEN TO PRACTICE CAVEAT EMPTOR TO THE FINANCIAL DETRIMENT OF THEIR NAIVE CUSTOMERS. THIS JUST ISN'T FAIR! *JS

NHTSA ID

10669230

Incident

Oct 13, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE PROBLEM IS WITH ALL VW BEETLES IN THIS TIME FRAME. THE HVAC DOORS HAVE A FOAM AROUND THEM THAT BREAKS DOWN AND FALLING INTO THE DUCT WORK OF THE VEHICLE. WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH DEFROST OR AC ON THESE LITTLE PIECES FLY OUT OF DUCTS INTO YOUR EYES. IF YOU HAVE GLASSES IT IS A LITTLE BETTER TILL THE PIECES HIT YOU BECAUSE YOU TURNED YOUR HEAD. I HAVE PICTURES IF NEEDED. OF COURSE VW STATES THERE IS KNOW PRODUCT THEY HEARD ABOUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566385

Incident

Feb 27, 2009

Mileage

30,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10555095

Incident

Mar 15, 2012

Mileage

35,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10554739

Incident

Dec 3, 2013

2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, PUSHED THE BUTTON FOR ALL WINDOWS TO OPEN AT THE SAME TIME AND THE BACK DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. MADE A GRINDING SOUND LIKE SCRATCHING NOISE ON GLASS. IT JUST STUCK THERE ABOUT HALF WAY OPENED. I HAVE SINCE TAPED IT UP WITH CARDBOARD AND DUCT TAPE FOR SECURITY REASONS AND NOT TO GET RAIN INSIDE. ASKED MECHANIC AT VW AND HE SAID IT IS $600 IF IT'S JUST THE REGULATOR MUCH MORE IF IT IS THE MOTOR. ALSO SAID THEY MAY HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE WINDOW. REALLY? I HAVE READ MANY, MANY REVIEWS ON THIS VERY SAME ISSUE, TOO MANY TO COUNT ACTUALLY. SOMETHING IS OBVIOUSLY WRONG, (LIKE THE MANUFACTURER DEFECT ISSUE). I WORRY EVERY DAY WHILE AT WORK SOMEONE WILL BREAK IN TO MY CAR, I'VE CLEANED OUT THE INSIDE OF EVERYTHING AND NOW RESORT TO LOCKING MY COMPARTMENTS WHICH I NEVER HAVE EVER DONE BEFORE. A RECALL IS NECESSARY FOR ALL OF US WHO LOVE OUR BEETLES, HAVE TAKEN SUCH GOOD CARE OF THEM ONLY TO BE SUBJECT TO SUCH EVENTS. SAFETY ISSUES FOR THIS FEMALE BEETLE OWNER HAS BEEN COMPROMISED AND THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AND SHOULD NOT BE BY THOSE WITH THE POWER TO CORRECT THIS FOR THE SAFETY OF THOSE OF US SUFFERING FROM THE NEGLECT OF THE VW MANUFACTURER. I PRAY THIS FALLS ON THE EYES OF SOMEONE WITH A CONSCIOUS WHO PUTS PEOPLE AND THEIR SAFETY ABOVE PROFIT. A RECALL FOR THIS VERY ISSUE IS NEEDED AND TO RETURN THOSE OF US TO A SAFER DRIVING EXPERIENCE AND LIFESTYLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551659

Incident

Oct 29, 2013

Mileage

48,227 mi

ROLLED DOWN BACK WINDOW ON DRIVERS SIDE WONT ROLL UP JUST MAKES A NOISE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10550057

Incident

Oct 29, 2013

Mileage

51,816 mi

REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP. AUTOMATICALLY WENT BACK DOWN, AND THEN I HEAR WHAT SOUNDS LIKE GLASS BREAKING! THINK THERE ARE PLASTIC PARTS DOWN IN WINDOW THAT WERE ACTUALLY TEARING UP! HAD SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM BEFORE AND WAS HOPING MY BUG WAS NOT A LEMON LIKE SO MANY OTHERS! VW HAS SEEN THIS PROBLEM REPEATEDLY, BUT STILL CONTINUES TO DO NOTHING BUT CHARGE AN ASTRONOMICAL AMOUNT TO "FIX" (PUT A BANDAGE ON IT) ! LOVE MY BUG, BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS! SERIOUSLY THINKING OF GETTING RID OF IT BEFORE SOMETHING ELSE HAPPENS! *TR

NHTSA ID

10547535

Incident

Oct 9, 2013

Mileage

103,540 mi

DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW WON'T ROLL UP ENTIRELY. SOUNDS LIKE THE MOTOR STILL WORKS, BUT WHEN IT WOULDN'T ROLL UP, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE, LIKE GLASS BREAKING. HAVE SEEN THIS BE AN ISSUE ON MULTIPLE FORUMS. IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE A RECALL? *TR

NHTSA ID

10522161

Incident

Jun 23, 2013

Mileage

126,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10511383

Incident

May 7, 2013

Mileage

81,400 mi

REAR POWER WINDOWS NOT BEHAVING. ON PASSENGER SIDE, IT DOESN'T MOVE AT ALL - LOTS OF SCRATCHING NOISES. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, WHEN POWERED 'UP' THE WINDOW GOES UP HALFWAY, THEN IMMEDIATELY BACK DOWN. THE REGISTER APPEARS TO WORK BUT HAS A WILL OF ITS OWN. AT PRESENT, THE FIRST WINDOW CAN BE CLOSED MANUALLY, THE SECOND (DRIVER'S SIDE) WILL NOT CLOSE AT ALL. THERE APPEARS TO BE A GREAT DEAL OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THE REAR WINDOWS ON SEVERAL YEARS OF THE VW NB - THAT'S WHY I'M GOING IN THE RECALL DIRECTION. THERE IS CLEARLY A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM IN THIS AREA OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10507202

Incident

Apr 1, 2013

Mileage

105,000 mi

THERE SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR WINDOWS AND REAR WINDOW REGULATORS IN THE NEW BEETLES FROM 2003-2010. I HAVE EXPERIENCED AND READ NUMEROUS TESTIMONIALS THAT INDICATE THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT VW IS MAKING MONEY REPAIRING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10497623

Incident

Nov 14, 2012

LEFT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR STOPPED WORKING IN JULY 2012. IN OCTOBER 2012 THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW REGULATOR STOPPED WORKING. BOTH HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CAR IS VERY WELL MAINTAINED BUT WAS BOUGHT USED. VW DEALER COVERS NOTHING BUT CHARGES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT TO FIX. READING OTHER BLOGS THERE ARE MANY, MANY WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL AND VW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING THE REAR WINDOW REGULATORS. THE REAR WINDOWS NOT WORKING MEANS YOU CAN NOT PUT THE CONVERTIBLE TOP DOWN WITHOUT RISKING FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10496059

Incident

Jul 11, 2012

Mileage

75,000 mi

BOTH REAR WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BECOME DEFECTIVE. DO NOT WORK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10494375

Incident

Jul 12, 2012

Mileage

68,000 mi

2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. REAR WINDOWS REGULATOR/MOTORS BROKE. VW ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR FRONT WINDOWS (7 YEARS) REAR WINDOWS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER WANTS $700.00 PER SIDE TO FIX. WINDOWS DO NOT ROLL DOWN ON COMMAND. OFTEN FALL ON THEIR OWN AFTER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10482445

Incident

Aug 30, 2012

Mileage

65,000 mi

THE CAR IS CONVERTIBLE AND BOTH REAR WINDOWS STOPPED OPERATING NORMALLY AND THERE WAS A WINDOW-CRUNCHING SOUND AND THE WINDOWS WERE STUCK, HAD TO MOVE THEM IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION BY HAND AND PUT SOME KINDS OF RUBBER DOOR STOPS TO KEEP THEM IN THE UP POSITION. IT IS FUNNY HOW BOTH STOPPED WORKING AROUND THE SAME TIME (PROBABLY A WEEK APART) LITERALLY RIGHT AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. IT SEEMS FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN TO BE A STANDARD PROBLEM IN THESE CARS AND I JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY EXPERIENCE AS WELL. ALSO THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR STARTED ACTING UP AND YOU COULD FEEL SOMETHING WAS NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED BECAUSE WHEN YOU MOVE THE WINDOW YOU COULD FEEL LIKE IT WAS NOT MOVING AS SMOOTHLY AS THE PASSENGER'S DOOR. IT WOULD NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN AND IT WOULD BE STICKING UP LIKE AN INCH OR SO, THEN OTHER TIMES IT WILL GO DOWN ALL THE WAY BUT IT WILL MAKE THIS FUNNY SOUND LIKE IT IS STUCK ON SOMETHING. I TRIED OPENING THE DOOR COVER AND BEFORE EVEN GOT TO DISASSEMBLING OF THE INNER PANEL AND REALIZED THE CABLE HAD BROKEN. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS THE REASONING FOR ALL THIS BUT IT LOOKS THAT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE WINDOWS WILL TRAVEL A BIT DOWN EVERYTIME YOU HAVE TO PUT THE ROOF UP OR DOWN IT MIGHT PUT EXTRA STRAIN AND WEAR THAT WAS NOT PLANNED FOR INITIALLY. IN MY HONEST OPINION IF YOU GET 3 OUT OF 4 WINDOW REGULATOR PROBLEMS IN LESS THAN THE CARS FIRST 4-5YEARS, THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOMETHING WRONG OR FLAWS WITH THE DESIGN THANKS *TR

NHTSA ID

10478388

Incident

Sep 15, 2009

Mileage

32,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10476824

Incident

Sep 20, 2006

THE DRIVERS REAR WINDOW WENT DOWN AND WOULD NOT COME BACK UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10475707

Incident

Sep 3, 2012

Mileage

90,000 mi

REAR WINDOW REGULATORS WENT OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10475019

Incident

Nov 25, 2011

Mileage

55,000 mi

DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW DROPPED AND COULD NOT BE RAISED. ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO THE DRIVER FRONT WINDOW DID THE SAME THING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473146

Incident

Aug 30, 2012

Mileage

40,000 mi

ACCORDING TO ALL THE INFO I HAVE GATHERED. IT SEEMS MY CAR ,ALONG WITH SO MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT HAPPENS WAY TOO OFTEN FOR IT NOT TO BE A MAJOR PROBLEM FOR THE OWNERS TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. WHEN IT IS A FAULT OF THE VW MAKERS. MY REAR PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATOR IS BROKEN. SOMETHING SHOULD BE ADDRESSED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. VW IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BAD MECHANICAL DESIGN OF THE WINDOWS IN THESE VEHICLES. WHY SHOULD WE (AS CONSUMERS)HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR SCREW UP?[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10472342

Incident

Aug 12, 2012

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

NHTSA ID

10468457

Incident

Apr 1, 2011

LEFT REAR WINDOW LIFTER DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. ONLY GOES UP 2/3 OF THE WAY. REFERENCE ODI COMPLAINT 10282664. *TR

NHTSA ID

10464553

Incident

Jul 2, 2012

Mileage

83,808 mi

REAR WINDOW REGULATOR WENT OUT AND WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10458842

Incident

May 17, 2012

Mileage

47,000 mi

FRONT AND REAR WINDOW REGULATORS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10457767

Incident

Aug 22, 2011