2007 Volkswagen Beetle Owner Complaints

Cranked the car to move it and the drivers side airbag deployed with a massive amount of force. Did not move the car. As soon as in cranked I heard and felt the explosion of the airbag. Sent pieces of plastic and airbag towards me and shoved me into the door. I have a bruised wrist and my ears are ringing. This a concern from now on. I no longer want to cranked the car as more airbags may be faulty.

NHTSA ID

11455322

Incident

Mar 5, 2022

ON AIRBAGS DRIVER LIGHT FOR AIRBAG IS ON WON'T GO OFF.ON TRANSMISSION IT JERKS THE WHEN IT'S IN 6 IT RUNS FINE.. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS WITH THIS CAR.THANK YOU

NHTSA ID

11399974

Incident

Feb 2, 2021

2ND BEETLE. SAME ISSUE. (FIRST ONE LEAKED FLUID). THIS ONE DOES NOT LEAK BUT HAS THE SAME HORRIBLE SHIFTING ISSUE! I LOVE MY CAR BUT HEAR FROM ALL THE MECHANICS THAT THIS IS THE NORM WITH THESE VEHICLES. SO WHY IS IT NOT RECALLED????? IS IT TRANSMISSION OR SOMETHING ELSE? 2007 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT HAS 91,000 MILES ON IT. WHEN THE CAR TRANSMISSION IS COLD IT SHIFTS OK MOST OF THE TIME. BUT WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HAS WARMED UP ITS A GIVEN TO JERK AND HESITATE. SPECIALLY WHEN IT SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR I FEEL A HITTING NOISE. ALSO FACING THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN IT DOWN SHIFTS BUT NOT ALWAYS. EMBARRASSING REALLY! SOMETIMES IT SHIFTS HARD IN HIGHER GEAR ON HIGHWAY OR SEEMS TO MISS AND RPM GOES UP AND IT HESITATES TO SHIFT. IT FINALLY DOES WHILE I AM HOLDING MY BREATH AND PRAY IT DOES NOT STALL WHILE I AM TURNING OR IN THE INTERSECTION OR ON THE HIGHWAY. IT REALLY IS A SAFETY ISSUE! I LOVE MY LITTLE CAR THOUGH... GURRRRRRRRR.. SO MAD. WHAT COULD BE THE ISSUE? HOW COULD I FIX THIS PROBLEM WITHOUT HAVING TO PUT ON A LIFT TO ALWAYS CHECK TRANSMISSION FLUID. I WANT TO KEEP THE CAR, ITS A SHAME BECAUSE ITS IN GREAT CONDITION. TRIPLE WHITE CONVERTIBLE AND NO WEAR. AM I LOOKING AT 3K FOR A NEW TRANS? SO I AM TO GIVE UP AND SELL IT TO SOME OTHER POOR SOUL (SUCKER). THAT'S AWFUL. THERE IS A GRAVEYARD FULL OF YOUR CARS IN THE JUNK YARDS FOR PARTS.. SICKENING AND SAD!

NHTSA ID

11399038

Incident

Mar 3, 2021

Mileage

91,000 mi

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER START. CONSTANTLY ON EVEN WHEN DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS ARE ENGAGED. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! RECALL NOW. I SEE THE ISSUE HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER A DECADE!

NHTSA ID

11344219

Incident

Jul 24, 2020

Mileage

48,658 mi

CAR HESITATED TWO DIFFERENT TIMES WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. THE TRANSMISSION 'GRABBED' WITHIN 3 OR 4 SECONDS. EACH TIME I CAME CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT, BUT DIDN'T THANKS TO THE ALERTNESS OF OTHER DRIVERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

11321179

Incident

Apr 15, 2020

Mileage

76,000 mi

MASSIVE PROBLEM WITH THE 09G AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. BOTH THE VALVE BODY AND THE ACTUAL TRANSMISSION SUFFERS FROM POOR DESIGN WHICH OVER TIME LEADS TO HARD SHIFTS THROUGH GEARS. ESPECIALLY PROMINENT WHEN UPSHIFTING FROM 1 - 2 & 3. DOWNSHIFTING FROM 4 TO 3 - 1 IS ALSO SIMILARLY EFFECTED. IT HAPPENS UNDER ALL CONDITIONS. HOT, COLD, DRY, WET, ALL THE SAME "JERKING"/SHUDDER MOTION. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD EXTEND THE WARRANTY FOR THE 09G TRANSMISSIONS FOR THE MK4 PLATFORM (BEETLE 2006 - 2010) AND HONOR THEIR WORK.

NHTSA ID

11287065

Incident

Dec 5, 2019

Mileage

144,000 mi

THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT AIR BAG SENSOR WENT BAD. THE VW DEALERSHIP SAID THE PARTS HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD! THERE HAVE BEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE I HAVE SEEN, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT VW HASN'T ISSUED A RECALL ON THIS BY NOW! THE AIR BAGS WILL NOT WORK IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, THIS COULD LEAD TO DEATH! AGAIN THERE NEEDS TO BE ACTION TAKEN AND A RECALL ISSUED BEFORE ANYONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED! MY SEATBELT AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE I WAS DRIVING CAUSING ME TO PULL OVER THINKING THAT MAYBE THE BELT WASN'T FASTENED ALL THE WAY. THE LIGHT WOULDN'T GO OUT SO I DROVE IT TO A GARAGE WHERE IT SAT UNTIL TODAY STILL NOT FIXED DUE TO PART BEING DISCONTINUED! AGAIN SAFETY HAZARD AS THE AIR BAGS ARE NON FUNCTIONAL!

NHTSA ID

11194117

Incident

Mar 26, 2019

Mileage

1,000,460 mi

WENT AND REPLACED RT HEAD LAMP, STILL WON'T WORK, CAR HAS 26000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ID

11163239

Incident

Dec 18, 2018

AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES MY DAUGHTER PULL ON TO A MAIN ROAD AND TRANSMISSION SLIPPED CHANGING IN TO SECOND AND OTHER GEARS. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GET UP TO SPEED CAUSING OTHER CARS TO HAVE TO SLOW WAY DOWN BEHIND HER. THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 88,000 MILES.

NHTSA ID

11150823

Incident

Nov 11, 2018

Mileage

88,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" (?) SRS WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER STARTING VEHICLE. 65000 MILES ON VEHICLE. CODE (00591) INDICATES FAULT IN DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT/SAFETY BELT.

NHTSA ID

11120021

Incident

Apr 2, 2018

Mileage

65,000 mi

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE NOT READING THAT SEAT BELT IS BUCKLED CAUSING YELLOW SEAT BELT /AIR BAG LIGHT TO REMAIN ON AND MAKING AIR BAGS INOPERABLE I'M GUESSING. DEARLER RECOMMENDS NEW DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY.

NHTSA ID

11096926

Incident

Jan 26, 2018

Mileage

39,595 mi

TAKATA RECALL, AIR BAG LIGHT ON

NHTSA ID

11083256

Incident

Feb 10, 2018

Mileage

82,000 mi

FOR YEARS, VOLKSWAGEN HAS HAD A DESIGN FLAW IN THEIR SEAT BELT WIRING HARNESS. MY "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AS IS THE "AIR BAG" LIGHT SO I TOOK IT TO A VW MECHANIC. HE SAID IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW AND AUDI. HE CLEARED THE FAULT USING A DIAGNOSTICS TOOL. SOON THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. AND THEY STAY ON...! WILL MY AIR BAG WORK WITH THIS PROBLEM? WHAT HAPPENS IF I GET AN ENGINE PROBLEM SUCH AS OIL PUMP OR TIMING BELT? MY VEHICLE COULD SHUT DOWN WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. THAT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. AND AGAIN, WILL MY AIR BAG WORK? WE HAVE LOOKED ONLINE...THIS SEAT BELT WIRING DESIGN FLAW HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. YET, VOLKSWAGEN HAS NOT FIXED THIS ISSUE. THE MECHANIC WE USED SAYS THE SEAT BELT WIRING HARNESS IS TOO SHORT...THEREFORE, WHEN THE SEAT IS MOVED FORWARD IT BREAKS WIRING IN THE HARNESS. THE DEALER WANTS $600 TO FIX THIS. I DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY! I AM ON SSDI.

NHTSA ID

11061460

Incident

Feb 10, 2017

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" STAYS ON. WE USED A DECODER AND IT GAVE A FAULT TO THE SEAT BELT. WE TRIED TO CLEAR THE CODE BUT COULD NOT GET RID OF THE CODE. I DID ONLINE RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW BEETLES. THE 'CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" IS A VITAL PART OF POSSIBLE PROBLEMS. SINCE WE CANNOT CLEAR THE CODE THAT THAT LIGHT ON IN OUR DASH, WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING IF ANOTHER ISSUE OCCURS. WHAT IF GET A BAD OIL PUMP OR TIMING BELT PROBLEM? WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT ISSUE IS TIED INTO THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT". VERY DANGEROUS! WE ARE ON SSI AND CANNOT AFFORD TO TAKE OUR CAR TO A DEALER. THEY WANT $600 TO FIX THE SEAT BELT ISSUE. WE DO NOT HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY! THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A BIG ISSUE WITH VW BEETLES AS WE HAVE SEEN ONLINE. MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS!!! THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DEFECTIVE SEAT BELT ISSUE! I HAVE SEEN THAT THEIR SEAT BELT WIRING HARNESSES ARE ABOUT TWO INCHES TOO SHORT...THUS CAUSING THE WIRES TO BREAK AND CAUSE THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" CONDITION THAT WE HAVE. PLEASE HAVE VW DO THE RIGHT THING. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION.

NHTSA ID

11060786

Incident

Jun 30, 2013

Mileage

80,000 mi

THERE HAS BEEN AN ISSUE WITH THE TRUNK - NOT OPENING - THE KEY DOESN'T WORK OR THE BUTTON ON THE DOOR ? I'M TAKING IT TO GET CHECKED BUT THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES

NHTSA ID

11034168

Incident

Sep 1, 2017

Mileage

69,703 mi

THE BACK GLASS WINDOW ON THE SOFT TOP CONVERTIBLE IS COMING LOOSE. IF I DRIVE THE GLASS WINDOW WILL DROP AND SHATTER. IF PARKED OUTSIDE, AND IT RAINS, THE ENTIRE BACK SEAT AND TRUNK WILL GET WET.

NHTSA ID

11022344

Incident

Sep 7, 2017

Mileage

25,000 mi

I HAVE A 2007 VW NEW BEETLE. I AM EXPERIENCING A MALFUNCTIONING AIRBAG ISSUE. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THE 2007 NEW BEETLE WAS NOT INITIALLY INCLUDED IN THE 2007 RECALL BUT I AM ASKING FOR A RECONSIDERATION IN THIS MATTER. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE 12/2015. NO MATTER WHAT IS DONE TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION, THE WARNING LIGHT CONTINUES TO EMIT. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO CLARIFY IF MY VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE FAULTY AIRBAGS. DUE TO POSSIBLE SEVERITY OF THIS SITUATION, NO VEHICLE SHOULD BE ERRONEOUSLY OMITTED WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF DANGER EXISTING. I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER.

NHTSA ID

10928896

Incident

Dec 15, 2015

Mileage

54,000 mi

REAR WINDOW ON CONVERTIBLE SEPARATES FROM TOP

NHTSA ID

10874844

Incident

May 15, 2016

Mileage

34,000 mi

I OWN A 2013 PASSAT AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED A LITTLE OVER A YEAR AGO; ONLY TO BE TOLD BY VOLKSWAGEN IT WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY UNTIL I REACHED OUT TO YOUR OFFICE AND MY MATTER WAS INVESTIGATED ONLY TO FIND THAT L AS MILLION OTHER CUSTOMERS WERE ALSO AFFECTED AND A RECALL WAS INITIATED AND MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED AS A RESULT. I RECEIVED ANOTHER EMAIL (ENCLOSED) THAT INFORMED ME OF ANOTHER RECALL, BUT MY 2007 NEW BEETLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ALTHOUGH THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AS WELL . AFTER SPEAKING WITH VW; THEY WERE UNABLE TO CONFIRM IF MY 2007 SHOULD BE INCLUDED BECAUSE MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS HAS BEEN ON EITHER THE 2007 JETTA OR THE PASSAT ACCORDING TO THE VW REP.. THERE HAS BEEN A COMPLETE COVER-UP BY VW, AND I BELIEVE ALL MODELS HAS BEEN AFFECTED AND THE TAKATA AIRBAG IS IN MY 2007 AS WELL AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED AS THEY ARE UNABLE TO DEFINITIVELY SAY THAT MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE THAT PARTICULAR BRAND. I BELIEVE IT DOES AND SHOULD BE A PART OF THE CURRENT RECALL AS WELL. THE LETTER CLEARLY SAYS SOME 2007 MODELS. I AM VERY GRATEFUL THAT YOUR OFFICE TOOK SUCH SWIFT ACTION WITH MY FIRST COMPLAINT WHICH CONFIRMED THAT MY ISSUE WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT RATHER WORLDWIDE AND A HUGE COVER UP ON THE PART OF WW. NO ONE SHOULD RIDE AROUND UNSAFE AND I ASK THAT YOU TAKE MY COMPLAINT INTO CONSIDERATION BY ADDING THE NEW BEETLE TO THE LIST AS WELL. ENCLOSED IS THE LETTER SENT FROM VW. THANK YOU :) *TR

NHTSA ID

10864342

Incident

May 11, 2016

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS JERKING AND ALSO STALLS ON HIGHWAYS ALMOST GETTING KILLED.

NHTSA ID

10862619

Incident

May 2, 2016

Mileage

99,000 mi

AFTER WARMING UP TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING, BUCKING, AND CLUNKING. HAPPENS AFTER DRIVING FOR A WHILE (ABOUT 10 MILES).

NHTSA ID

10849939

Incident

Mar 16, 2016

Mileage

61,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY SWITCHED FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO DRIVE. THE DRIVER WAS FORCED TO EXIT THE INTERSTATE AND COAST TO A STOP ON THE SHOULDER AT THE END OF THE EXIT. THE TRANSMISSION COULD BE PUT INTO SPORT MODE AND WOULD MOVE FORWARD SOMEWHAT IF THE GAS PEDAL WAS FLOORED, BUT DRIVE WOULD NOT ENGAGE. WHEN IN DRIVE, THE CAR WOULD ONLY REV AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED IT AND SAID THE FRONT DRIVE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FELL APART. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION HAS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION IS A SEALED SYSTEM, MAKING REBUILDING IT OR REPLACING SPECIFIC PARTS VERY DIFFICULT.

NHTSA ID

10785364

Incident

Oct 21, 2015

Mileage

115,000 mi

MANY OWNERS OF VWS INCLUDING THE BEETLE AND OTHER MODELS HAVE REPORTED COLD SOLDER JOINT ON THE DOOR LOCK SENSORS. THESE COLD SOLDER JOINTS CAUSE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WHERE THE DOORS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK, AND THE WINDOWS WILL ROLL DOWN AND BACK UP. THE WINDOWS FUNCTION IS RELATED TO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP, SO THAT THE WINDOW WILL ROLL DOWN A BIT WHEN THE DOOR IS UNLOCKED SO THAT IT WILL COME OUT FROM THE LIP OF THE CONVERTIBLE TOP. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING.

NHTSA ID

10781433

Incident

Mar 12, 2010

Mileage

42,000 mi

AFTER DEPARTING MY HOME, AND DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 23 MILES, I HAD A BRIEF SMELL OF SOMETHING BURNING, HOWEVER, ALL THE WINDOWS WERE OPEN AND I WAS ON A HIGHWAY OF 12 LANES OF TRAFFIC, AND FELT IT COULD BE FROM ANY WHERE, NOT NECESSARILY MY VEHICLE. MOMENTS LATER, I CAUGHT A FLASH IN MY RIGHT EYE, THAT DREW MY ATTENTION TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD, BUT WHEN I LOOKED I THOUGHT PERHAPS IT WAS A SUN REFLECTION. DIRECTING MY ATTENTION BACK TO THE HIGHWAY, SECONDS LATER, I CAUGHT A SECOND FLASH AND THIS TIME WHEN LOOKING TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD, THERE WAS FLAMES INSIDE THE CAR NEAR THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT TOWARDS THE FLOOR AND DOOR, AND BLACK SMOKE. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY, TURNED OFF THE CAR, EVACUATED WITH MY BELONGINGS, AS THE CAR BECAME TOTALLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 AND ASSISTANCE ARRIVED TO INCLUDE THE STATE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND TURNPIKE STAFF. THE CAR WAS PICKED UP ON CAMERA BY THE TURNPIKE DISPATCHER ONCE I CALLED IN. NOTE: THIS VEHICLE HAD JUST BEEN SERVICED 35 DAYS PRIOR FROM THE VW DEALER WHERE PURCHASED 4 YEARS AGO! I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AT ALL, AND HAVE A CAR FAX THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME WHEN PURCHASED THAT SHOWS NO PREVIOUS RECALL EITHER. SOMETHING WENT SERIOUSLY WRONG ON 25 JUL 2015. THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MY MORE TRAGIC DAMAGE, TO INCLUDE MY LIFE, OTHER VEHICLES, AND POSSIBLY OTHER LIVES.

NHTSA ID

10745614

Incident

Jul 25, 2015

Mileage

71,778 mi

WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND FROM 2ND TO 3RD THERE IS A PAUSE BETWEEN GEARS AND THEN IT BANGS WHEN IT FINALLY CATCHES. IT SEEMS THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH VW. I'M PICKING MY CAR UP TOMORROW AFTER THE REPLACEMENT OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS INCLUDING A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT THE VW AGREED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO REPLACE THE VALVE BODY. HOWEVER, I WAS TOLD BY MY DEALER THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND IT WOULD COST $1800 TO REPLACE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM WITH THIS COMPONENT AND VW NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID

10715814

Incident

Feb 16, 2015

Mileage

95,000 mi