Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 60 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Volkswagen Beetle. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 60 · page 1 of 3
My entire dashboard caught fire due to my a/c controls going out. My a/c dial started smoking before it finally caught fire. My dashboard is now melted where the a/c controls belong.
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.
I was driving with my child sitting in the passenger seat and we had the heated seats turned on the setting of 2. After a few minutes she yelled out “My butt is on fire!” She sat up off the seat to reveal a large black charred burnt hole in the leather seat!
My car seems to loose power after its at less than 1/4 of a tank. I cleaned out tank and changed fuel pump but it's still happening and its highly dangerous
The contact owns a 2008 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that while at a red light, sparks began to emit from the passenger side glove box without warning. The contact immediately shut off the engine and all the occupants evacuated the vehicle. The motorist behind her witnessed what had happened and assisted with unhooking the battery cable as a small fire began to erupt on the passenger side floor mats. The motorist's wife was able to retrieve a fire extinguisher from a person's home and extinguish the fire. The authorities were not called to the scene. No injuries were reported and a police report was not filed. Due to the failure, the vehicle was initially towed to an independent mechanic who could not repair the vehicle and recommended the vehicle be towed to a dealer; the vehicle was then towed to her home. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.
I WAS DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY TO A CLIENT'S HOUSE ONLY DIFFERENT STRUCTURE ON THE HIGHWAY IS A TRAIN TRACK, DROVE TO THE CLIENT'S HOUSE ABOUT 22 MILES, ON THE WAY BACK HOME ABOUT 3-5 MILES CROSS THE SAME TRAIN TRACK FROM HOME NO LIGHT ON AT THIS TIME AND ABOUT 3-5 MILES DRIVING TO HOME THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR THE FIRST TIME, I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR... WHEN I LOOK UP THE SYMBOL WHEN I GOT HOME ON THE DASH IT SAID THE AIRBAG WARNING AND A RECALL..
THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT VERY FREQUENTLY ISN'T WORKING DUE TO THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE CAR'S WIRING. WE'VE TRIED MANY DIFFERENT TIMES TO IMPROVE THIS CONNECTION WITHOUT MUCH SUCCESS. ANECDOTALLY I HAD ANOTHER BEETLE WITH THIS ISSUE, AND SEE OTHERS ON THE ROAD WITH IT. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS VISIBILITY IS AFFECTED AS WELL AS MY ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT.
HEARD SOUND FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY AT 10 MPH AND NOW THE AIRBAG WARNING SIGN IS ON
BOTH FRONT SEATS HAD A FIRE. IT'S JUNE SO HEATED SEATS WERE NOT USED. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE? *TR
THIS CAR HAS 2000 MILES ON IT AND VW ONLY OFFERED $ 4700.00 TO PURCHASE THE CAR BACK , THEY SAY THEY WANT TO ONLY PAY THE TRADE IN VALUE AND THIS IS NOT FAIR , I DID NOT CAUSE THIS RECALL.
WHEN DRIVING HER 2008 VW BEETLE AT APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH DURING A LIGHT RAINFALL, MY DAUGHTER HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD (NOT A HUGE SIGNIFICANT BUMP, JUST A BUMP) THE ENTIRE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY HEADLAMP/BUCKET AND ALL CAME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY. THEY ELECTRICAL ASSEMBLY BECAME UNPLUGGED AND THE ENTIRE UNIT CAME OUT OF THE CYLINDRICAL COMPARTMENT THAT HOUSES THE HEADLIGHT. THE ENTIRE HOUSING UNIT, INCLUDING THE BULB AND ALL RELATED PARTS CAME OUT AND WENT CRASHING ONTO THE PAVEMENT WHERE IT WAS STRUCK BY A CAR BEHIND ME AND SMASHED INTO PIECES ALL DOWN THE ROAD. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. IT WAS A DANGER TO BOTH MY CHILD AND THE VEHICLE BEHIND HER AND ANY PEDESTRIANS NEARBY. IN FL THE LAW REQUIRES YOU DRIVE WITH HEADLIGHTS ON IN THE RAIN, SO ALTHOUGH IT WAS DAYTIME, SHE WAS FORCED TO DRIVE ILLEGALLY WITHOUT HER HEADLIGHT CAUSING HER TO BE LESS VISIBLE TO OTHER DRIVERS. THE CAR IS UNUSABLE IN THE EVENING OR EARLY MORNING NOW UNTIL WE GET IT FIXED. CLEARLY, AFTER READING THE MANY COMPLAINTS, YOU TUBE VIDEOS ON HOW TO "FIX" THE LOOSE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, AND MANY VW BUG DRIVERS' HORROR STORIES OF LOSING SOMETIMES JUST THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTION (BAD ENOUGH ON ITS OWN), BUT ALSO IN SOME CASES, LIKE MY DAUGHTER'S, THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT AND IT'S HOUSING UNIT CAME BROKE AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE JUST FROM HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD. UNACCEPTABLE.
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
HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION HAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS THE REAR PIN CONNECTOR TO SLIGHTLY PULL-AWAY AND LOOSEN FROM THE HEADLAMP BUCKET RESULTING IN INTERMITTANT HEADLIGHT FAILURE, ESPECIALLY IN COLDER WEATHER OR GOING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES DURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, EACH TIME THINKING THE BULBS BURNED-OUT BUT IN ACTUALITY, IT IS THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VW DEALER SAYS THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED, BUT IT THE TOO-SHORT CHASSIS WIRING HARNESS THAT IS THE ISSUE. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION PRESENTS A CLEAR & PRESENT DANGER WHEN TRAVELING AT NIGHT AND REASONABLY MUST BE ADDRESSES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THIS CAR HAS HAD MANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO LIGHTS, TURNING SIGNALS NOT WORKING. THE SECOND TIME ABOUT 2 YEARS LATER I LOST ALL ELECTRICAL CONTROLS. NO LIGHTS, WIPERS, AC FAN, AC ADAPTER, RADIO, TURN SIGNALS. NOW JUST 5 MONTHS LATER I AM NOTICING HEADLIGHT ISSUES. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE VW OF OCALA, THEY CLAIM THERE IS NO ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT I JUST NEED BULB REPLACEMENT. AFTER DRIVING OVER AN HOUR TO GET MY CAR, I GET IN TO FIND MY WINDOWS ARE NO LONGER WORKING NOW.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GERALD JONES VOLKSWAGEN (4022 WASHINGTON RD, MARTINEZ, GA 30907, (706) 228-6900) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED VIA EMAIL AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,600. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A STOP SIGN, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMERGED FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. THE DETAILS OF HOW THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED WERE NOT PROVIDED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, OPENED CASE NUMBER: 180380670, AND REQUESTED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
THE CAR WAS SITTING STATIONARY IN THE ON POSITION. NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. LOOKED UNDER FRONT OF CAR AND SAW FLAMES. TURNED CAR OFF AND WENT TO SAFETY. IN MINUTES THE FRONT OF THE CAR WAS ENGULFED. THE WHOLE CAR BURNED AND IS A TOTAL LOSS.
HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY ELECTRICAL CONNECTION HAS A DESIGN FLAW THAT ALLOWS THE REAR PIN CONNECTOR TO SLIGHTLY PULL-AWAY AND LOOSEN FROM THE HEADLAMP BUCKET RESULTING IN INTERMITTANT HEADLIGHT FAILURE, ESPECIALLY IN COLDER WEATHER OR GOING OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY VEHICLE NUMEROUS TIMES DURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS, EACH TIME THINKING THE BULBS BURNED-OUT BUT IN ACTUALITY, IT IS THE WIRING HARNESS. THE VW DEALER SAYS THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED, BUT IT THE TOO-SHORT CHASSIS WIRING HARNESS THAT IS THE ISSUE. THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLIGHT ILLUMINATION PRESENTS A CLEAR & PRESENT DANGER WHEN TRAVELING AT NIGHT AND REASONABLY MUST BE ADDRESSES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ACCORDING TO THE VW ONLINE FORUMS, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT VW HAS IGNORED FOR YEARS.
TAKATA RECALL
THE AUTOMATIC WINDOW MOTOR AND REGULATOR WENT BAD ON REAR PASSENGER SIDE WHEN THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. VW KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT SELLS THE CARS ANYWAY WITHOUT WARNING, AND THEN CHARGES BETWEEN $800 AND $900 FOR THE REQUIRED REPAIR KIT. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE WINDOW, A MECHANIC MUST REMOVE THE ENTIRE BACK SEAT OF THE CAR. THIS TAKES MORE THAN FOUR HOURS. TOTAL COST TO REPAIR IS MORE THAN $1200 PER WINDOW. VW PROFITS THROUGH SELLING A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH CAN ONLY BE REPAIRED BY AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR KIT - THE PRICE OF WHICH IS DETERMINED BY VW. ALL MECHANICS CONTACTED (12) IN THE CINCINNATI AREA ARE AWARE OF THIS VW WINDOW SITUATION, AND THE VW OWNERS FORUMS ONLINE ARE FULL OF THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINT. VW DEALERS ALSO HAVE TO GET THE PART FROM VW, AND CHARGE THE SAME THING. NEW BUYERS LIKE ME DO NOT BUDGET FOR THIS KIND OF REPAIR, BUT HAVE NO OPTION OTHER THAN TO PAY VW THEIR PRICE.
ON MY 2008 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR/MOTOR MADE A LOUD POP WHEN ROLLING UP THE WINDOW (VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION TRAVLING AT ABOUT 20MPH IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD) AND IS NOW BROKEN. IT WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN, THE CAR ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES ON IT & IS ALWAYS GARAGE KEPT. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ELECTRICAL ISSUE I'VE HAD WITH THE WINDOWS. WHEN PRESSING THE 'ALL WINDOWS' BUTTON (WHETHER UP OR DOWN) THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO DIM AND THEN GO BACK TO NORMAL WHEN YOU LET OFF THE BUTTON. THIS WILL HAPPEN WHILE THE CAR IS IN MOTION AT ANY SPEED OR PARKED. THE HEADLIGHTS DIMMING FROM THE 'ALL WINDOWS' BUTTON IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF VISIBILITY, AND IT'S CONFUSING TO OTHER DRIVERS THINKING THAT YOU ARE FLASHING THEM. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THESE DEFECTS THAT ARE CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES. I BELIEVE VW IS FULLY AWARE OF BOTH OF THESE QUALITY ISSUES AND EVEN HAS 'TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS' ON BOTH. A RECALL NEEDS BE DONE!
THE PASSENGER-SIDE HEADLIGHT HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED OVER THE 3 YEARS I'VE OWNED THIS CONVERTIBLE. I HAVE SPEND ALMOST A $1000 TO HAVE VARIOUS RELATED PARTS REPLACED AND THE LIGHT FAILS TO WORK (I.E. IT IS NEVER JUST A BLOWN BULB) WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. MOST RECENTLY JUNE 2016.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED, LOST ACCELERATION, AND STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ETC LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THREE BURNED "ETC WIRES FROM THE TRANSMISSION" WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COULD HAVE CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
I HAVE A 2008 VW BEETLE THAT HAS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES ON IT. IT WILL NOT PASS SMOG; SOMETHING ABOUT CODES NEEDING TO BE RESET. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO A HIGHLY RATED REPAIR SHOP AND HE SPENT HOURS TALKING TO VW AND BAR. I PICKED UP THE CAR AND CALLED A VW DEALERSHIP AND SPOKE TO A SERVICE REP. HE TOLD ME JUST TO DRIVEN THE CAR AND IT WILL RESET ITSELF. NOT TRUE.
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.
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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