2008 Volkswagen Beetle Body & structure Problems

The contact owns a 2008 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH at night, there was an abnormal loud tapping and vibrating sound coming from the rear window glass. The contact was able to pull over safely and inspected the vehicle but could not determine the cause of the failure. The contact stated that while washing and drying the vehicle, the contact and her husband noticed that the passenger's side of the spoiler had detached and could be lifted halfway across the trunk. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 08V036000 (Structure). The local dealer was contacted and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 69,393.

NHTSA ID

11677567

Incident

Jul 17, 2025

Mileage

69,393 mi

THE HOOD DOESN'T FIT. ENGINE PUT TOGETHER TAPE. AIR CONDITION SYSTEM TAPED TOGETHER. AND AND CONSOLE LIGHTS ON. WON'T HOLD CHARGE. TOP MADE OF PLASTER BOARD. MINIATURE BATTERY WAS INSTALLED. NEEDED JUMP IF STOPPED REAR BREAKS NEEDED WHOLE REPLACED. NEEDS RADIATOR. INTERIOR HANDLES FELL OFF. KEY IS NOT MADE FOR THIS CAR. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TO JUNK IT

NHTSA ID

11233531

Incident

Feb 2, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WAS UNATTACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ROOF NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA ID

10851341

Incident

Mar 31, 2015

Mileage

78,000 mi

I OWN A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE REAR WINDOW ADHESIVE ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP BECAME SEPARATED THIS FAILURE CAUSED THE GLASS TO SEPARATE AND THE WINDOW TO SEPARATE FROM THE TOP AND ALMOST FLEW OUT IN TRAFFIC AND COULD CAUSED A ACCIDENT AT THIS TIME THE CAR IS PARKED DUE TO THE SAFETY CONCERN. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THE GLASS MAY FLY OUT WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE HAD CONVERSATION THROUGH EMAIL WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED, THE ONLY RESPONSE IS IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY,. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE. AGAIN IF I WOULD HAVE NOT PULLED OVER WHEN I DID THE WINDOW WOULD HAVE FLOWN OUT AND CAUSED A ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10573970

Incident

Mar 18, 2014

Mileage

56,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE BLACK TIE EDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, HE HEARD A VIBRATING NOISE ON THE ROOF. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER AND NOTICED THAT THE SPOILER HAD BECOME PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE SPOILER NEEDED TO BE RE-ATTACHED WITH GLUE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE SPOILER BECAME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000. UPDATED 11/05/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE SPOILER BECAME DETACHED THREE TIMES. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 08V036000. HOWEVER, THE RECALL ONLY PERTAINED TO THE TRIPLE WHITE EDITION, NOT THE BLACK TIE EDITION. UPDATED 11/18/13

NHTSA ID

10548740

Incident

Sep 16, 2009

Mileage

5,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WINDOW ADHESIVE ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP BECAME SEPARATED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE GLASS TO SEPARATE AND THE ROOF FABRIC TO HANG. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE GLASS MAY FRACTURE WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 08V036000 (STRUCTURE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,520 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,600. UPDATED 03/31/14*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10536255

Incident

Feb 1, 2013

Mileage

14,520 mi

PURCHASED 2008 VW BEETLE FROM MCKINNEY DODGE, GOT IT HOME AND HAPPEN THE NEXT DAY NOTICED THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BRAKE WAS BROKEN OFF AND HAD A JAGGED EDGE, TOOK BACK TO DODGE, THEY JUST REMOVED OLD PART DID NOT BOTHER TO FIX BRAKE, I CARRIED IT BACK SEVERAL DAYS LATER AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD HAVE TO WELD IT, NOT THINKING THAT WAS RIGHT I CARRIED IT TO VW DEALER, WAS TOLD NOT TO LET THEM WELD IT, AND ONLY WAY TO FIX IT IS TO INSTALL A NEW DOOR, SHOULDN'T THIS BE UNDER SOME WARRANY AND THE CAR HAS A 8900 MILE WARRANTY STILL LEFT ON IT *KB

NHTSA ID

10413479

Incident

Jul 13, 2011

Mileage

41,000 mi

REAR SUSPENSION MAKES SQUEAKING NOISE. TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR ON AFTER 2 HOURS OF DRIVING. HEAD LIGHTS TOO WEAK BULB FOR FRONT OR REAR OR REVERSE ALWAYS NEEDS REPLACEMENT INSIDE HAND REST TOO WEAK DESIGN ALWAYS BREAK. VW SERVICE STATION TOO EXPENSIVE AND WANTS MONEY ONLY. 2)FIX IT YOURSELF. KEEP DOING IT TILL I CANNOT SELL IT. 3) FIX IT YOUR SELF. YES WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE MANUAL SO I CAN DO IT PROFESSIONAL MYSELF. 4)IN LITTLE ROCK THE NORTH POINT SERVICE STATION IS THE WORST VW STATION.THEY ONLY WANT MONEY EVEN TO FIX OR IN INSPECT OR FIND OUT WHAT IS AT FAULT. BUYING VW MEANS DO THE REPAIRING YOURSELF. PARTS TOO EXPENSIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10382513

Incident

Jan 3, 2011

Mileage

15,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON A PAVED ROAD ON MY WAY TO WORK. MY CAR WAS MAKING AN AWFUL GRINDING NOISE, SO I WAS TAKING IT EASY AND MADE A NOTE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER VERY SOON. I HEARD A JINGLING NOISE, LIKE SOMETHING METAL FALLING. IT REPEATED A SECOND TIME. 100 YARDS DOWN THE ROAD, MY CAR STARTED MAKING A HARD CLUNKING NOISE. IT FELT LIKE A FLAT TIRE. I PULLED OFF AND INSPECTED THE TIRES, WHICH WERE FINE. I LOOKED UNDERNEATH TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS. MY ENGINE LOOKED A LITTLE LOW, BUT I DIDN'T KNOW HOW LOW WAS NORMAL. THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED AND SAID MY ENGINE FELL OUT. THE BOLTS SUPPORTING THE ENGINE HAD SHEARED OFF. THE VEHICLE IS ONLY TWO YEARS OLD WITH UNDER 30K MILES ON IT. I'VE OWNED IT FOR A YEAR. I HAVE NEVER HIT ANYTHING, GONE OFF ROAD, OR BOTTOMED OUT IN THE VEHICLE. NOTHING AT ALL THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. THE DEALERSHIP IS INSISTING THAT I HAD A COLLISION AND REFUSING TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10330270

Incident

May 13, 2008

Mileage

29,900 mi

DEAR MADAM / SIR, TWO DAYS AGO I HAD AND ACCIDENT WITH MY "2008 AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY CAR". I DROPPED THE CAR AT THE ROCKVILLE, MD OFFICIAL DEALER, THEN I CALLED THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND MY INSURANCE AGENT. THE THREE (AGENT, INSURANCE INSPECTOR AND DEALER) INSPECTED THE CAR AND APPROVED A $1,440 SPENDING TO FIX IT. SINCE I GOT SURPRISED; I ASKED THE REASON OF THE VERY LOW REPAIRING LABOR AND PARTS EXCHANGE COSTS OF A SUB-FRAME VW PART # VW1J0-199-313-M (LARGE STEEL PART TO SUPPORTING THE ENGINE, SUSPENSION AND TRANSMISSION), TRANSMISSION OIL PAN PART #VW09G-321-361-A (PLACE WHERE THE OIL TRANSMISSION IS KEEP), AND A CENTER SHIELD ENGINE-TRANSM AXLE A LARGE AND HEAVY UNDERBODY PROTECTING METALLIC PART. THEY SAID THESE DAYS IT IS A COMMON RULE TO RECYCLE USED PARTS FROM SIMILAR VEHICLES, AND LOW COSTS OF THE "USED PARTS" UTILIZED TO FIX MY CAR (NO MATTER THE KEY ROLE OF THE PARTS). AT THIS POINT I AM ASKING MYSELF: WHAT ABOUT SAFETY? IN ANY WAY? NOT ONLY USED PARTS FROM OTHER CARS HAVE NOT QUALITY INSPECTED, EVEN WORSE I GUESS THIS PRACTICE ENCOURAGE THE CARS STILLING. ARE WE ALL (CUSTOMERS) AWARE OF THIS?, IS IT ANY ".ORG" OR ".GOV" ORGANIZATION WHICH REGULATES THESE USED PARTS MARKET? ARE WE PROTECTING OUR SAFETY? CAN WE AS A CUSTOMERS COMPLAINT SOMEWHERE ABOUT THIS? PLEASE GIVE ME YOUR OPINION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10327151

Incident

Apr 21, 2010

Mileage

23,400 mi