2012 Volkswagen Beetle Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ROLL THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW UPWARDS, THE WINDOW INDEPENDENTLY ROLLED DOWNWARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10712433

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

34,000 mi

9-3-14 GOT INTO VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE. FOUND HORIZONTAL CRACK RUNNING FROM BEHIND REAR VIEW MIRROR ABOUT 8" IN BOTH DIRECTIONS AND CURVING UP TO THE ROOF LINE. ADDITIONALLY THERE IS A VERTICLAL CRACK THAT INTERSECTS THE HORIZONTAL ONE AT IT RUNS DIRECTLY UP TO THE ROOF LINE. THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH ANY OBJECT OR ROAD HAZZARD THAT CAUSED THIS AS THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A CLOSED AND SECURED GARAGE. CONTACTED VW DEALER WHO ADVISED ME TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. ONCE THERE THE VEHICLE AND THE CRACKED WINDSHIELD WERE PHOTOGRAPHED BY DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL. I WAS INFORMED THAT A CLAIM WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. ON 9-9-14 I WAS INFORMED THAT THE CLAIM HAD BEEN DENIED BY HE MAUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE STATING THAT IT WAS THEIR OPINION THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN CONTACTED BY SOME OBJECT. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THIS IS A STRESS FRACTURE AND THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE WINDSHIELD HAD BEEN STRUCK BY ANY OBJECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10631949

Incident

Sep 3, 2014

Mileage

24,600 mi

WINDSHIELD CRACKED BEHIND REAR VIEW MIRROR. STARTED AT THE TOP SEAM OF THE GLASS. WAS NOT HIT BY A ROCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10577041

Incident

Mar 12, 2014

Mileage

35,002 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, GOING ABOUT 60MPH, WHEN I NOTICED A SLIGHT, HIGH PITCHED RATTLE. A COUPLE OF MINUTES LATER, WHILE STILL ON THE HIGHWAY, I NOTICED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF THE VEHICLE JUST BEHIND THE REARVIEW MIRROR. ONCE I GOT HOME I CHECKED IT OUT AND THE GLASS IS CRACKED STRAIGHT DOWN FROM THE CENTER OF THE CAR AND THEN SPLITS OFF LEFT AND RIGHT AT THE REARVIEW MIRROR. YOU CAN PHYSICALLY FEEL THE BREAK FROM THE OUTSIDE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10568312

Incident

Mar 10, 2014

Mileage

36,600 mi

WINDSHIELD CRACK HORIZONTALLY FROM ROOFTOP DOWN IN TWO PLACES BEHIND REARVIEW MIRROR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10523940

Incident

Jul 8, 2013

Mileage

15,500 mi

MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A RATE OF 60MPH. THERE WERE NO CHIPS OR SPLITS FROM ROCKS. I HEARD A CRACKING NOISE AND WATCHED AS THE MY WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE MIDWAY TO THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO MAKE SURE MY CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE, I SAW THAT THE CRACK HAPPENED ON THE INTERIOR OF THE WINDOW. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515161

Incident

May 31, 2013

Mileage

20,000 mi

FRONT WINDOW BROKE WHEN PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY. NO VISIBLE ROCK CHIP, WINDOW JUST BROKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10507078

Incident

Apr 3, 2013

Mileage

7,200 mi

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW WOULD DROP ABOUT 1.5 CM WHEN EXIT THE VEHICLE BUT WOULD NOT GO BACK UP. WAS ALLOWING WATER AND OUTSIDE DEBRIS TO ENTER THE VEHICLE. WHEN I NOTIFIED THE DEALER AND MY SALESPERSON THEY SAID THEY WILL TAKE CARE OF IT AND CALL VW ON MY BEHALF. IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN A MONTH AND I HAVE HEARD NOTHING. SOME REVIEWS ONLINE SAID THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE VW TAKE IT BACK/ BUY IT BACK. FRANKLY THIS WOULD BE THE BEST SOLUTION AS IN VA THE RAIN AND COLD WINDS IS JUST UNBEARABLE IN THE WINTER WITH THE WINDOW UNABLE TO OPERATE AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO. *TR

NHTSA ID

10482930

Incident

Sep 22, 2012

Mileage

809 mi

I HAVE THREE CONCERNS ABOUT MY NEW CAR. FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THE WINDOW ISSUE. I HAD THE VX BEETLE FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS WHEN THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS ON BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES EITHER DO NOT GO UP OR DOWN ALL THE WAY AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. THEY STOP INTERMITTENTLY AND TAKE SEVERAL TRIES TO EITHER CLOSE OR OPEN. SAFETY ISSUE. DEALER SAYS VX KNOWS AND IS WORKING ON FIX. VX SAYS THE SAME BUT I HAVE HAD THE CAR THREE MONTHS NOW AND NO FIX (AND NO FIX IN SIGHT IT SEEMS). ALSO, FUEL GAUGE WOULD NOT REGISTER AS FULL. A PART FOR THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ORDERED AND IS IN. IT WILL BE INSTALLED IN A FEW DAYS AND HOPEFULLY ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM ALTHOUGH OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE POSTED THAT THIS DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK. LASTLY, MY AIR CONDITIONER BLOWS WARM AIR UNLESS YOU TURN THE DIAL COMPLETELY TO MAX. ANY ADJUSTMENT BACKWARD FEELS LIKE THE HEATER IS ON. WHEN I TURN OFF THE AC AND PUT ON THE FAN WITH VENTS OPEN WANTING TO GET FRESH AIR (55 DEGREES OUT), AIR WARMER THAN OUTSIDE IS BLOWING IN. IT'S DIFFICULT TO ADJUST THE INTERIOR TEMPERATURE WHEN YOU HAVE EITHER ICE COLD OR HEAT AND ARE HESITANT TO MESS WITH THE WINDOWS!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10477481

Incident

Jul 19, 2012

THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS DO NOT GO UP OR DOWN ON COMMAND WHEN THE BUTTON HAS BEEN PRESSED. ONCE THE WINDOW DOES GO DOWN (USUALLY ON ITS OWN) IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO GET THE WINDOWS BACK UP. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT ALLOWS THE ELEMENTS (IE MOISTURE) TO ENTER THE VEHICLE WHILE IT IS PARKED AND COULD CONTRIBUTE TO FURTHER MALFUNCTIONS OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THAT CONTROL OTHER ASPECTS OF THE CAR (ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION, PUSH BUTTON START, TRACTION CONTROL, ETC). VW HAS BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO OWNERS COMPLAINTS TO THIS ISSUE (CHECK YOUTUBE, TWITTER, AND FORUMS). THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10476927

Incident

Aug 28, 2012

Mileage

60 mi

MY DRIVER'S WINDOW WON'T GO ALL THE WAY UP AFTER PARKING. IT IS SUPPOSED TO LOWER JUST A HAIR WHEN OPENED AND CLOSE AGAIN ONCE THE DOOR IS SHUT. THIS LETS RAIN IN. ALSO WHEN ROLLING UP THE DRIVER'S WINDOW YOU MUST INCH IT UP IN INCREMENTS INSTEAD OF ALL AT ONCE. IT GOES UP ABOUT HALF WAY THEN SENDS ITSELF BACK DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473856

Incident

Sep 1, 2012

Mileage

174 mi

BOTH DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS EXPERIENCING ISSUE WHEN AUTO-CLOSING. WINDOWS WILL NOT CLOSE USING THE "AUTO UP" FEATURE. WINDOWS RETRACT TO THE DOWN POSITION 2-3 TIMES BEFORE SWITCHING TO MANUAL MODE BY DEFAULT. WINDOW MOTORS MUST BE RESET FOR "AUTO UP/DOWN" AFTER EACH TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10473783

Incident

Jan 31, 2012

Mileage

100 mi

RECURRING ISSUES WITH DOOR POWER WINDOWS. TAKES APPROXIMATELY 6-7 ATTEMPTS TO SECURE OR ROLL THEM UP AFTER OPENING; UNSURE IF THEY WILL COMPLETELY FAIL AND EVENTUALLY NOT ROLL UP AT ALL. SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNS: UNABLE TO ROLL UP WINDOWS AGAINST ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS AND FREEWAY DEBRIS, (RAIN AND DEBRIS CAN DAMAGE ELECTRICAL CIRCUITRY LOCATED NEXT TO DOOR AND DEBRIS CAN INJURE DRIVER; RAIN/WIND/DEBRIS CAN IMPAIR DRIVERS VISIBILITY IF WINDOW CANNOT BE ROLLED UP PROPERLY); IN ADDITION, IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE SHELTERING IN PLACE IN THIS VEHICLE; SUCH AS AN ASSAULT, ROBBERY ETC. THE INABILITY FOR THE CONSUMER TO ROLL UP THEIR WINDOWS PRESENTS A REAL LIFE-SAFETY THREAT. AFTER HAVING RESEARCHED ON-LINE AND SPOKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHICH I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM, THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR APPROXIMATELY A YEAR, AND I WAS TOLD (4 MONTHS AGO) THAT I WOULD BE PLACED ON A BACK-STOCK ORDER LIST FOR THE REVISED ELECTRICAL MODEM THAT WOULD RESOLVED THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE CALLED FOR FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION AND AN ETA ON THE PART. THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDED ME WITH NEW INFORMATION OR AN ETA. THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM THAT 1) THEY (MANUFACTURE AND DEALERSHIP) CANNOT FIX 2) HAVE NOT FOUND A FIX FOR (MANUFACTURER) AND HAVE BEEN LYING TO THE CONSUMER ABOUT (MANUFACTURER/DEALERSHIP) 3) HAVE NOT ELEVATED TO THE PROPER PRIORITY LEVEL TO FIND A FIX FOR (MANUFACTURER). *TR

NHTSA ID

10472557

Incident

May 18, 2012

Mileage

140 mi

THE POWER WINDOW DO NOT GO UP RIGHT. WHEN WINDOW ARE DOWN TRYING TO PUT UP WINDOW THEY GO UP AND STOP ONE THIRD OF THE WAY AND SPRING BACK DOWN PUSH SWITCH TO GO UP WINDOW GO UP HALF UP SPRING BACK DOWN THIS GO ON TWO TO THREE TIME IF YOU HOLD SWITCH IN UP THEY GO UP AND SMELL LIKE SMOKE. THE DEALER SAID V.W. IS TRYING TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BUT AT THIS TIME THERE IS NO KNOW FIX . I THINK THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM NOT BEING ABLE TWO ROLL WINDOW UP RIGHT A WAY IF WE HAD TO IN A EMERGENCY NOT TO SAY THE SMOKE SMELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10471476

Incident

Jul 21, 2011

Mileage

4,060 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC WINDOWS FAILED AND WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE A REMEDY AVAILABLE FOR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE DEALER NOT TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE HEAD REST WAS TOO LARGE AND BLOCKED 40 PERCENT OF HIS VIEW THROUGH THE REARVIEW MIRROR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE METAL PLATE AROUND THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS TOO SHINY WHEN THE SUN REFLECTED, BLINDING THE CONTACT'S VIEW OF THE ROADWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,748. UPDATED 09/05/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD AT TIMES BLOW WARM AIR WHEN ON. ALSO, THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS TOO SMALL AND THE TINT WAS TOO DARK. UPDATED 09/10/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID

10468960

Incident

Nov 10, 2011

Mileage

3,748 mi

DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS REQUIRE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE COMPLETELY. SEVERAL PROBLEMS EXIST---FIRST IS THAT AS THE WINDOWS ARE RAISED, THEY TRAVEL UPWARDS, STOP, THEN RETRACT SEVERAL INCHES. ON SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS TO RAISE THE WINDOW, THEY CONTINUE TO BIND WITHIN THE DOOR MECHANISM, REQUIRING ADDITIONAL ATTEMPTS TO GET THE WINDOW TO CLOSE. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH OPENING/CLOSING DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS. THE WINDOW IS DESIGNED TO DROP ROUGHLY ONE QUARTER TO THREE EIGHTH'S OF AN INCH WHILE THE DOOR IS BEING OPENED (OR CLOSED). ONCE THE DOOR IS CLOSED OR LOCKED, THE WINDOW IS DESIGNED TO RETURN TO THE CLOSED POSITION. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW DOES NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY AFTER LOCKING THE CAR, LEAVING THE CAR OPEN TO THE ELEMENTS AND VULNERABLE TO BREAK IN. THE SAME PROBLEM HAS APPEARED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, ALTHOUGH IT ONLY HAPPENS MUCH LESS FREQUENTLY. LOCAL DEALER AND VWOA TOLD ME THERE IS NO FIX FOR THE 2012 BEETLE WINDOW PROBLEMS, AND THAT I WILL BE CALLED ONCE THERE IS A SOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10467808

Incident

Jul 17, 2012

Mileage

4,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS ABLE TO BE OPENED BUT COULD NOT BE CLOSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE POWER SWITCH FOR THE WINDOW SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE WINDOW WOULD RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE PART BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.

NHTSA ID

10466986

Incident

Nov 11, 2011

Mileage

300 mi

DRIVERS WINDOW DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. WILL AT TIMES NOT GO UP OR DOWN. DEALER STATES THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY NO FIX FOR THE ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10465316

Incident

Jul 10, 2012

Mileage

500 mi

I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM OURISMAN VOLKSWAGEN OF LAUREL 3371 FORT MEADE ROAD, LAUREL ON MAY 27, 2012 I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH DRIVER'S SIDE THE AUTOMATIC WINDOW OPENING MECHANISM TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON SEVERAL TIMES. THE WINDOW HAS ISSUES GOING UP AND STAYING UP. I JUST MADE MY FIRST PAYMENT ON THIS VEHICLE AND ITS BEEN IN THE SHOW OFF AND ON FOR A MONTH. I'VE BARELY GOTTEN TO DRIVE THE CAR. I CALLED TO PICK UP THE CAR TODAY TO FIND OUT THAT THE CAR STILL ISN'T FIXED AND THEY HAD SOMEONE FROM CORPORATE COME DOWN TO TRY TO FIX IT AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT AT THIS TIME. I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD TAKE UP TO THREE WEEKS TO FIND OUT IF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS OR TO FIND OUT IF THEY CAN'T FIX IT. ITS OBVIOUS THAT THEY CAN'T FIX IT BECAUSE THEY TRIED 3 TIMES AND MY WINDOW STILL ISN'T FIXED. BUT NOW I HAVE TO GO PICK UP MY CAR AND ITS NOT FIXED. ITS BRAND NEW BARELY A MONTH OLD AND I PAID FOR GOODS THAT ARE CORRECT. *JS

NHTSA ID

10463929

Incident

May 29, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. AS A RESULT, WATER WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS NO CURRENT REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10463382

Incident

Jun 1, 2012

Mileage

500 mi

I NOTICED A SET OF CRACKS NEAR THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD, APPROXIMATELY AT THE POINT WHERE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR ATTACHES AND EXTENDING UP TO THE ROOF LINE EDGE. THE CRACKS WERE APPROXIMATELY 6" - 8" IN LENGTH. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN OR HOW IT OCCURRED AS I DO NOT RECALL ANY STONE OR OTHER ROAD DEBRIS HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, THERE WAS NO SOUND OF ANYTHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD OR SMALL CHIP IN THE GLASS WHERE THE IMPACT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I DID NOT PARK IT UNDER A TREE AND NOTHING FELL ON OR HIT THE GLASS TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I HAVE HEARD SIMILAR REPORTS FROM OTHER 2012 VW BEETLE OWNERS, AND IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT SOME WINDSHIELDS WERE INSTALLED IMPROPERLY AND COULD LEAD TO STRESS FRACTURES. THERE ARE A LIST OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FOUND AT: HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?5560318-CRACKING-WINDSHIELD-AND-ANNOYING-RATTLE-ON-2012-BEETLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10458213

Incident

May 3, 2012

Mileage

13,695 mi