2006 Volkswagen Beetle Owner Complaints

I took my vehicle into the mechanic due to my airbag light being on. Mechanic stated that it is a problem between my seat belt buckle and airbags. He stated that my airbags will not deploy in the event of an accident due to the seat belt buckle malfunctioning. When he callez Dublin Volkswagen to get the part to fix this issue, they stated that Volkswagen does not make the part anymore. This is a major safety concern because myself and anyone else needs this part to drive safely.

NHTSA ID

11587748

Incident

May 8, 2024

WHEN IN MOTION, THE TRANSMISSION FAILS TO ENGAGE GEARS AT APPROPRIATE ENGINE SPEEDS. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE REVS WAY TOO HIGH AND SLAMS INTO THE NEXT GEAR, PRODUCING DANGEROUS JOLTS. OTHER TIMES THE GEAR FAILS TO ENGAGE AT ALL, RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER. MY VEHICLE WAS STRANDED IN CITY TRAFFIC DUE TO THIS TEMPORARY FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION TO ENGAGE PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXAMINED BY QUALIFIED TECHNICIANS AND CERTAIN CONTROL PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO DISPLAY THIS DEFECTIVE BEHAVIOR SEEMINGLY AT RANDOM. I AND OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUSLY INJURED BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE'S DRIVETRAIN.

NHTSA ID

11414664

Incident

Apr 19, 2021

Mileage

103,000 mi

FUSE BOX ON TOP OF BATTERY MELTDOWN GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID

11363945

Incident

Oct 2, 2020

Mileage

71,000 mi

THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND WE TRIED TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. IT LOOKS LIKE THE CAUSE WAS THE WIRING GOING INTO THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF THE BATTERY OVERHEATED AND MELTED. THE ALTERNATOR HARNESS AND FUSE BOX NEED TO BE REPLACED. WE ARE THE SECOND OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE SO DON'T KNOW IF THIS HAS HAPPENED BEFORE.

NHTSA ID

11289197

Incident

Dec 14, 2019

Mileage

1 mi

THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE JUST DISAPPEARED AND BROKE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I DO NOT KNOW WHEN IT BROKE BUT IT HAD TO HAVE JUST HAPPENED AS I NOTICED IT NOW MAKES AN AWFUL CRACKING NOISE WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED OR CLOSED. AFTER INSPECTING IT THE HINGE IS GONE OR BROKE OFF INSIDE THE DOOR THAT YOU CANNOT SEE; THEREFORE, IF THERE IS A WIND, IT COULD SWING CLEAR BACK AND BREAK THE DOOR OFF AS THERE IS NOTHING TO LET IT SWING ONLY A CERTAIN AMOUNT BACK. WE'VE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE 1.5 YEARS. WE'VE CHECKED AND ALOT OF BODY SHOPS DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH IT. IT WILL TAKE SOME BODY WORK WITH WELDING AND TAKING THE DOOR OFF.....AND NO DOUBT PAINT REPLACEMENT . I CAN SEND A PHOTO IF NEED BE.

NHTSA ID

11278700

Incident

Nov 5, 2019

Mileage

34,000 mi

FUSE BOX MELTED TWICE. THE LAST TIME TOTALLY SHUT THE CAR DOWN. VW DOES NOT HAVE A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. WILL SELL YOU NEW BOX BUT WILL NOT WARENTEE THE NEW BOX WILL NOT FAIL AGAIN AS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY IT HAPPENS. AS I WAS DRIVING IN TRAFFIC DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE AC STOPPED WORKING AND THE CAR SLOWED AND LOST SOME POWER. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND PULL INTO A REPAIR SHOP THAT JUST HAPPENED TO BE RIGHT THERE. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUSE BOX HAD MELTED.

NHTSA ID

11277671

Incident

Nov 1, 2019

Mileage

58,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO A YARD. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A WATER METER AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE COVERT. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED THIRD DEGREE BURNS FROM THE VOLKSWAGEN EMBLEM ON THE AIR BAG, AND CUTS AND BRUISES TO THE FACE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INSURANCE LOT AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 190802695. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 260,000. *LN CONSUMER STATED FOUND CAR WAS SOLD TO TENNESSEE AUTO SALVAGE (KNOXVILLE,TN) SOLD 9/14/19. PHONE NUMBER 865-281-5420.*JB *LN PICTURES THAT VW (LARRY WEST) RECEIVED FROM COPART KNOXVILLE, TN. *JB*DT *TR

NHTSA ID

11271002

Incident

Aug 22, 2019

Mileage

260,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE IMMOBILIZER. THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WICH SHOULD BE RESPONSABILITY OF THE MANUFACTURER. AT WARM DAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM, BUT IN COLD DAYS THE IMMOBILIZER ACTIVATES AND THERE IS IMPOSSIBLE START THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11172018

Incident

Dec 4, 2018

Mileage

117,000 mi

I HAVE A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE THAT I BOUGHT ABOUT A YEAR AGO.THE BEETLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION AND HAS EXTREMELY LOW MILES. IT HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF TO SAY THE LEAST. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOTICED A VERY STRONG ODOR THAT SMELLS LIKE CRAYONS. THE ODOR IS SO STRONG THAT MY HAIR, CLOTHES AND SKIN SMELLS LIKE THIS SCENT. I HAVE A SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD AND HE COUGHS AND SNEEZES THE WHOLE TIME WHILE RIDING. NOT TO MENTION BOTH OF US GET HORRIFIC HEADACHES AND OUR EYES WATER FROM THE ODOR. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS CRAYON SMELL IS TOXIC OR WHAT FUMES WE ARE BREATHING IN BUT IT CANNOT BE GOOD FROM THE SIDE EFFECTS WE ARE HAVING FROM IT. I HAVE TRIED TO SELL IT BUT NO ONE WILL BUY IT BECAUSE OF THE STRONG ODOR IT HAS. I HAVE HAD IT PROFESSIONAL CLEANED, CHANGED THE CABIN AIR FILTER ETC AND THE SMELL IS STILL THERE.

NHTSA ID

11102318

Incident

Jun 9, 2017

MY CAR SHIFTS HARD BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AND BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR.

NHTSA ID

11092740

Incident

Apr 2, 2018

Mileage

95,000 mi

EVERY YEAR WHEN IT GETS COLD THE WINDOW REGULATORS BREAK. I HAVE REPLACED BOTH SIDES TWICE NOW!

NHTSA ID

11031691

Incident

Oct 4, 2017

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE RESUMED TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS EVERY DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY FAILURE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000. UPDATED 12/13/2017 *LN *TR

NHTSA ID

11018840

Incident

Aug 8, 2017

Mileage

98,000 mi

EPC WARNING LIGHT WANT TURN OFF. VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AS WELL AS IN MOTION. SPEED DECREASES WHEN TRAVELING ON ROADWAY.

NHTSA ID

11012242

Incident

May 24, 2017

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE GOING 60MPH, THE LIGHTS TURN OFF. I HAD TO STOP AND HIT THE HEADLIGHTS TO GET THE LIGHTS TO COME ON. THEN THEY WOULD SHUT OFF AGAIN. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND BROKE. IT IS A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE ASSEMBLY BREAKS AGAIN CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO FAIL.

NHTSA ID

11011528

Incident

Jul 15, 2016

Mileage

62,854 mi

HARD SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND, AND SECOND TO THIRD AND WHEN CAR DOWNSHIFTS THRU 1-2 2-3 JUST HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACED BY DEALER. JUST FOUND OUT ON LINE THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SINCE 2003 TILL 2016 IN BEETLES

NHTSA ID

11005377

Incident

Feb 26, 2017

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL LINE WAS FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CERTIFIED MECHANIC ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FAILURE WAS SIMILAR TO THE ISSUE LISTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V621000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID

11003388

Incident

Jun 20, 2017

Mileage

110,000 mi

MY 2006 VW BEETLE ONLY HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT, HAS RECEIVED REGULAR MAINTENANCE, AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. THIS MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN IS PREMATURE FOR THE MILES AND CARE THIS CAR HAS.

NHTSA ID

11002911

Incident

Jun 30, 2017

Mileage

64,000 mi

AUTO TRANS SLIPS WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1-2 AND 2-3 AND IT ALSO MAKES CAR JUMP FORWARD WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO GEAR MOVING FWD. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM VW HAS HAD SINCE 2003BUT DOES NOT ACCEPT BLAME FOR PROBLEM AT 87,000 HAD FLUID CHANGED AND PROBLEM STARTED IT SEEMS VW DOESN'T CARE JUST LIKE AIRBAG AND DIESEL PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ID

10992238

Incident

Feb 26, 2017

Mileage

87,000 mi

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RELATED TO THIS MODEL. CAR HESITATES WHEN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS SHIFTING GEARS.

NHTSA ID

10936409

Incident

Apr 15, 2016

Mileage

98,000 mi

A WELL DOCUMENTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEM UNDER 100,000 MILES THERE WAS A LAWSUIT THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF MY TRANSMISSION IS NOW HAVING THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10917467

Incident

Jul 1, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

BRAKE FAILURE RESULTED IN CRASH AND TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE. TRAVELING ON FLAT STRAIGHT FOUR LANE ROAD WITH RAISED MEDIAN APPROXIMATELY 45MPH. VEHICLES TO THE RIGHT AND MEDIAN TO THE LEFT. BRAKES DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER STOPPED VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

10874618

Incident

May 23, 2016

Mileage

46,000 mi

PURCHASED VEHICLE FROM USED CAR DEALER 5/2014. WITHIN 6 WEEKS A NOTICEABLE ODOR OF GAS BOTH IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT AND OUTSIDE THE CAR.WHEN STANDING WITHIN 5 FEET OF IT. REGULAR MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED BUT LICENSED REPAIR SHOPS WERE UNABLE/UNWILLING TO FIND A CAUSE. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES WITHIN THE CITY OF TUCSON, AZ ON PUBLIC ROADWAYS TODAVIS-MONTHAN AFB FOR SERVICE AGAIN. THE TECHNICIAN IMMEDIATELY EVACUATED MY CAR'S DRIVER AWAY FROM IT AS HE SAW FUEL HAD SPILLED INTO THE TRUNK SPACE, TRAVELED THROUGH THE ACCESS PANEL, SPILLED INTO THE BACKSEAT PASSENGER COMPARTMENT UNDER THE BACK SEAT, SATURATED THE CARPET AND FLOOR MATS, AND HAD BEGUN REACHING BENEATH THE FRONT SEATS. THE FUEL WAS HOSED UNTIL IT COULD SAFELY BE DRIVEN OFF THE MILITARY BASE THEN TOWED TO A VW DEALERSHIP. PER THE DEALERSHIP'S SERVICE MANAGER, THE FUEL PUMP HAD CRACKED AND CAUSED SEVERAL GALLONS OF GAS INTO THE CAR. NEITHER VW OF AMERICA OR IT'S AUTHORIZED DEALER ARE ABLE TO GIVE ME A DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAD BEEN ADDRESSED IN 2011, PRIOR TO MY OWNERSHIP, REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM RECALL REFERENCE NHTSA #10V621000, AND VW WILL NOT FUND THE REPAIR OF THE FUEL SYSTEM. VW OF AMERICA REPORTS TO NHTSA THAT NO RECALL REPAIRS REMAIN TO BE DONE. ALL REPAIRS TO THE FUEL SYSTEM; GASOLINE DELIVERY HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED ON 2006-2010 CERTAIN MODELS JETTA, NEW. BEETLE, BEETLE CONVERTIBLES, JETTA SPORTWAGON, AND RABBIT VEHICLES. WITHOUT VW PROVIDING ME A RECALL REPAIR RECORD AND ACCEPTING NO RESPONSIBILITY TO PROVIDE ME SUCH, I AM SCREWED!! AS A SINGLE, HARD WORKING MOTHER, I CAN NEITHER AFFORD 1K TO FIX IT OR A MONTHLY PAYMENT ON A CAR THAT CAN'T BE DRIVEN. VW ONCE AGAIN REVEALS IT'S REPREHENSIBLE PRACTICE OF DECEIVING AMERICAN CONSUMERS.

NHTSA ID

10861278

Incident

Apr 11, 2016

Mileage

101,633 mi

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, ABOUT 70 MPH, CAR BUCKED AND SEEMED TO BEGIN TO LOSE POWER. TACHOMETER DROPPED TO 0 THEN SWUNG BACK UP TO 2-3. EPC LIGHT CAME ON. I COULDN'T ACCELERATE BEYOND 65 MPH. DURING SLOWED TRAFFIC, CAR BEGAN IDLING EXTREMELY HIGH. HAD TO CONTROL IT WITH CLUTCH. (IT'S A MANUAL.) CAR IS DRIVABLE, BUT CONTINUES TO BUCK AND EPC CONTINUES ON. DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED REPLACE THROTTLE BOARD, BUT ALL MY RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT MOST DRIVERS WHO HAVE DONE SO SAY THIS DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE HUGE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ON MULTIPLE MESSAGE BOARDS, SO IT SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING, RECOGNIZED, CONSISTENT PROBLEM, AND PROBABLY A SAFETY HAZARD, AS A CAR STALLING ON THE HIGHWAY, OR IDLING TOO HIGH IN TRAFFIC IS NOT A GOOD SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

10838104

Incident

Feb 22, 2016

Mileage

100,000 mi

IT IS ACCELERATING ON IT OWN WHEN STOPPED OR IN GEAR OR NOT. REALLY SCARY

NHTSA ID

10837791

Incident

Feb 10, 2016

Mileage

101,875 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN RATE OF SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP FRACTURED AND DETACHED WITHOUT NOTICE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP. THE CONTACT LATER NOTICED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLAMP FRACTURED ON A ROADWAY. MONTHS LATER, BOTH LOW BEAMS FRACTURED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS HAD BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN TWICE BEFORE THE FRACTURES WITH THE PART DETACHING WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA ID

10822106

Incident

Apr 21, 2015

Mileage

30,000 mi