2000 Volkswagen New Beetle Owner Complaints

TWO WIRES ON IGNITION SWITCH MODULE SHORTED. CAUSED FAILURE OF HEADLIGHTS, WIPERS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AIR CONDITIONING, INTERIOR LIGHTING, ETC. IGNITION MODULE WAS REPLACED. PROBLEM REMEDIED.*AK THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. VOLKSWAGEN, AND VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REFUSE TO RECOGNIZE THIS DEFECT, OR INITIATE A RECALL. HERE IS A LINK TO AN ONLINE FORUM WITH OTHER CONSUMERS THAT HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME SAFETY ISSUE AS I HAVE. HTTP://FORUMS.NEWBEETLE.ORG/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=0667E7E7A9388BFAAA8A71DCDD6574F2&POSTID=499275#POST499275 THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD, AND COULD POTENTIALLY HURT SOMEONE. UPDATED 07/24/2012. *TR

NHTSA ID

10100546

Incident

Oct 5, 2004

Mileage

155,000 mi

CAR STALLED OUT SEVERAL TIMES RIGHT AFTER STARTING IT. IT WOULD ALWAYS START RIGHT BACK UP NORMALLY, ONCE THE VEHICLE DIED ON THE INTERSTATE AT APPROX. 70MPH ALSO CAME RIGHT BACK ON. TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDANT REPAIR SHOP (GOT NO HELP FROM VW DEALER AT ALL) THEY TOLD ME IT WAS AN IDLE MOTOR WHICH IS CONNECTED TO THE THROTTLE BODY ($700 REPAIR). WE'LL SEE IF IT WORKS OR NOT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10088391

Incident

Aug 17, 2004

Mileage

24,000 mi

SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON REPEATEDLY SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR FROM BURNSVILLE VW, BURNSVILLE, MN. SERVICE DEPT. STATED "IT'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT" AND RESET THE COMPUTER. AFTER PERSISTENT REOCCURANCE, REQUESTED THEY ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM, THAT IS WHEN THEY INFORMED US THE RIVETS TO THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP HAD FAILED AND IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. CALLS TO VW NORTH AMERICA RESULTED IN THE SAME, "NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY", "CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT MATTER", ETC. ESTIMATED $650 TO REPLACE ITEM. WHILE WE ARE BEING TOLD IT IS A "MINOR" FAILURE AND WILL NOT AFFECT THE CAR PERFORMANCE, IT SEEMS THAT IT TRIGGERS AN "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT FOR A REASON. ALSO, WE WERE TOLD TO "IGNORE" THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. HOWEVER IF WE IGNORE IT THEN WHEN A "SIGNIFICANT" PROBLEM OCCURS, HOW WOULD WE KNOW?! VW NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER ADMITTED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM BUT UNLESS IT IS REPORTED WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YEARS IT IS NO LONGER COVERED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10086980

Incident

Jun 1, 2003

CLUTCH SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY FAILED AT 27,000 MILES. DRIVEN ONLY BY PREVIOUS OWNER OF TWO OTHER VWS. HAVE LEARNED NO REPLACEMENT CLUTCH IS AVAILABLE. WAS ATTEMPTING TO SELL IT SINCE ANOTHER CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN PURCHASED. THIS HAS PRESENTED A FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. I AM LIVID LIVID LIVID. NO MORE VWS FOR ME EVER. *JB

NHTSA ID

10086620

Incident

Aug 1, 2004

Mileage

27,000 mi

THE IGNITION SWITCH ON THE CAR FAILED SOMETIME BETWEEN 8:00PM MONDAY 8/02 AND 5:30AM ON TUESDAY 8/03. I WENT OUT TO MY CAR AND STARTED IT, ONLY TO NOTICE, I HAD NO FAN, NO A/C, NO DEFROSTER, NO REAR DEFROSTER, NO HEADLIGHTS, NO FOGLIGHTS, NO POWER TO SOME OF MY GAUGES. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND IT TO BE THE IGNITION SWITCH, WHICH I CALLED MY DEALER FOR AND HAD TO SPEND $90 TO REPLACE. UPON REMOVING THE OLD UNIT, I NOTICED A WIRE THAT CONNECTS TO THE 30 FUSE ON THE UNIT WAS MELTED AND CORRODED, THE PLASTIC HOUSING THAT CONNECTS THE WIRES TO THE SWITCH IT SELF HAD MELTED IN A SMALL PORTION AND THE OLD UNIT HAD VISIBLE BURN MARKS ON IT. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN FIXED, BUT THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD STILL EXISTS IN MY OPINION, JUST BASED ON THE NUMEROUS PEOPLE I'VE READ ABOUT WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10086143

Incident

Aug 3, 2004

Mileage

59,992 mi

I OWN A 2000 NEW BEETLE 1.8T GLX WITH APPROXIMATELY 30461 ORIGINAL MILES. I HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 7 REPAIRS OF THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND ONE REPAIR TO DATE OF MASS AIR FLOW METER. ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN COVERED BY VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICAS EXPENSE. I DO HOWEVER WANT TO NOTE THAT ALL THE MECHANICAL ISSUES REVOLVE AROUND THE MIL MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH. EACH OF THE FAILURES HAPPENS WITHIN ONE YEAR FROM REPLACEMNT OF PARTS AND WITH LESS THAN 6K MILES BETWEEN REPAIRS. WITH MY PERSISTANT CALLS TO VWOA AND MY LOCAL DEALER THEY HAVE PICKED UP ALL EXPENSES. THE WARRANTY FOR THIS VEHICLE WAS 2 YEARS OR 24K MILES. I NOW HAVE 30K PLUS MILES AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PERSISTANT PROBLEM OF O2 SENSORS AND THE LIKE. IF YOU REQUIRE THE VIN NUMBER FOR RECORDS OR OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME DIRECTLY BY MAIL, EMAIL, OR TELEPHONE PERHAPS THIS IS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED BY OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS ABOUT THIS AND ORTHER MODELS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10080661

Incident

Jul 8, 2004

Mileage

30,461 mi

TRANSMISSION LOCKS ITS SELF INTO PARK. YOU CANNOT RELEASE THE CAR FROM PARK. DEALER CANNOT REPLICATE PROBLEM. WILL NOT FIX TE BRAKE SWITCH WHICH HAS CAUSED TEH SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER CARS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10074931

Incident

Jun 6, 2003

Mileage

55,000 mi

THE 2000 NEW BEETLE THAT MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED APPARENTLY HAS A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2003. AT THAT TIME THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. THE FIRST TIME I PUT GAS IN THE CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY HUSBAND CONTACTED A LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER TO SEE ABOUT GETTING IT FIXED. HE WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL PROBLEM. IF THE GAS CAP WASN'T PUT BACK ON AND CLICKED AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES, THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE THE GAS CAP, PUT IT BACK ON AND TURN IT UNTIL THERE HAD BEEN SEVEN CLICKS. AFTER THAT, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO A COLD START TO MAKE THE LIGHT GO OFF. THIS WORKED, BUT WE HAVE HAD TO DO IT SEVERAL TIMES. THE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND GO OFF, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NO ENGINE PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD ANOTHER MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR, AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE, SO IT HAD TO BE A PROBLEM IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AFTER SEEING SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED, I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CAR STALLING, MALFUNCTIONING, OR, AS IN SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE SHOWN, THE CAR CATCHING ON FIRE. I FEEL THAT THE VOLKSWAGEN COMPANY NEEDS TO REALLY EXAMINE THIS ISSUE. WE HAD TO HAVE A SENSOR REPLACED FOR THE BRAKING SYSTEM EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT WAS UNDER RECALL, AND WE ONLY GOT IT DONE BECAUSE WE WERE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. WE HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AT ALL. I DON'T FEEL THAT THE VOLKSWAGEN COMPANY IS CONCERNED ABOUT ANY OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THIS MODEL. IT IS VERY DISTRESSING TO THINK THAT I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT ISN'T WORTH WHAT I PAID FOR IT BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CHECK ENGINE IS ONGOING AND I AM NOT PLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE I HAVE GOTTEN FROM THE DEALER. IT HASN'T MADE THE PROBLEM GO AWAY.

NHTSA ID

10068010

Incident

Feb 17, 2003

Mileage

36,000 mi

SUDDEN LOST OF SHIFT ABILITY. VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SHIFTED IT INTO REVERSE, BACKED UP, AND THEN SHIFT TO FORWARD GEAR AND NOTHING WOULD ENGAGE. TOWED TO DEALER WHO SAYS LINKAGE CABLES AND SHIFT LEVERS SNAPPED, "FROZEN" STATES DEALER. TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN COMPLETELY REPLACED 3 MONTHS AGO. SAYS THIS IS NOT PART OF DRIVE TRAIN AND NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. WANT $500 FOR REPAIR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10056571

Incident

Feb 2, 2004

NUMEROUS NUISANCE PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE AS FOLLOWS: PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT CLOSE WITH ELECTRIC SWITCH AT 42,000 MILES, TRUNK LATCH DEFECTIVE AT 35,000 MILES SO THAT TRUNK RELOCKS PREMATURELY, ELECTRIC MIRROR SWITCH BROKEN AT 35.000 MILES, HORN INOPERATIVE AT 35,000 MI, FLOOR MAT SNAPS NEARLY ALL BROKE AT 35,000 AND WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE, DRIVER WINDOW SWITCH BROKE AT 20,000 MI. LEAVING WINDOW IN OPEN POSITION, IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER BROKEN AT 19,000 MI. LEAVING RADIO ON AFTER CAR TURNED OFF, CIGARETTE LIGHTER INOPERATIVE UPON PURCHASE, AIR BAG LIGHT ON SPONTANEOUSLY AT17,000 MI., PASSENGER VANITY MIRROR SPONTANEOUSLY BROKEN AT 17,000 AND THEN AGAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER REPLACEMENT BY DEALER. FINALLY CAR STALLED AT 31,000 MI. DEALER CLAIMED THAT NEW CLUTCH WAS NEEDED. NONDEALER, HOWEVER, FOUND THAT WHEN DEALER HAD INSPECTED ENGINE AFTER A COLLISION 3 MONTHS EARLIER, THEY HAD NOT PUT BOLTS BACK ON PROPERLY, CAUSING BOLTS TO BE LOST LIKELY ONE AT A TIME OVER THE 3 MONTHS. TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHEN LAST BOLT WAS LOST (WHICH I HAD FOUND ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME OF THE STALL). DEALER IS INCOMPETENT AND IRRESPONSIBLE. COMPLAINT FILED WITH MANAGER WHO MADE NO AMENDS. RUN, DON'T WALK, AWAY FROM ANY VW!!!!*AK

NHTSA ID

10056549

Incident

Aug 28, 2001

I HAVE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE ENGINE ON MY VW DECARBONIZED AT 40,000 MILES AFTER A LENGTHY TOW, AND NOW IT HAD TO BE TOWED AGAIN AND NEEDS TO BE DECARBONIZED AGAIN AT ONLY 60,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO THAT VW HAD ISSUED A NOTICE TO DEALERS TO PAY FOR DECARBONIZING THE ENGINES UP TO 80,000 MILES. THE SERVICE MANAGER DENIES THIS NOTICE WAS EVER ISSUED. THIS TYPE OF COSTLY AND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM, ( MY WIFE WAS STRANDED ON THE SHOULDER OF A BUSY FREEWAY IN SUBZERO TEMPERATURES) NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10056458

Incident

Feb 2, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

CAR HAS A HISTORY OF STALLING WHEN IT IS DECELERATING, SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE DATE IN JUNE 2000. PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED BY DEALER. HERE IS THE HISTORY OF THE PROBLEM. JULY 2000: CAR SPATTERS AND STALLS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN TAMPA WHERE I HAD PURCHASED THE CAR FROM AND THEY FIXED IT UNDER WARRANTY SAYING IT WAS A FUEL INJECTION PROBLEM. SEPTEMBER 2001 BEGINS STALLING AGAIN PERIODICALLY. TOOK IT TO DEALER IN NASHVILLE, DECEMBER 2002. THEY REPLACED THE AIR INTAKE SENSOR FOR THE FUEL INJECTION. OCTOBER 2003 CAR STILL STALLING PERIODICALLY BUT WITH MORE FREQUENCY. TOOK IT TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THE AIR INTAKE CENSOR FOR THE FUEL INJECTION WAS FAULTY AND THEY REPLACED PART FOR FREE AS IT WAS UNDER ONE-YEAR WARRANTY. OCTOBER 2003: A FEW DAYS LATER THE CAR BEGINS TO STALL. MONDAY, JANUARY 12, 2004: TAKE CAR BACK TO DEALER WHO SAID FUEL INJECTION GASKETS WERE LEAKING. WORK IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. PICKED UP CAR ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 15. CAR STALLED AGAIN SATURDAY, JANUARY 17. CAR STALLS AGAIN SUNDAY, JANUARY 18. CAR HAS STALLED AROUND 50 TIMES OVER ITS HISTORY. IT HAS STALLED IN VERY DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS WHILE I DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054399

Incident

Jan 17, 2003

Mileage

5,000 mi

I PURCHASED A 2000 VOLKSWAGON BEETLE ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO AND ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER I BROUGHT IT HOME THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I READ THAT THESE CARS WERE COMING WITH SOME KIND OF SAFTEY DEFECT IN THE ENGINE AND THAT'S THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THE DEALER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX TWICE ALREADY GOING ON THREE TIMES. THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND THESE PEOPLE SEEM TO BELIEVE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. WHAT SHOULD I DO I DON'T WANT THE CAR TO CAUSE SOME KIND OF ACCIDENT OR ENDANGER MY FAMILY OR ME.

NHTSA ID

10041043

Incident

Sep 9, 2003

Mileage

25,000 mi

MY 2000 VW BEETLE HAS RECENTLY HAD IT'S AIRBAG SAFETY LIGHT COME ON. I TOOK IT TO BILL BLACK VW DEALERSHIP IN GREENSBORO NC. THEY SAY IT'S A COMON PROBLEM THAT IS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY FACTORY DEFECT OR WARRANTY. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE MANAGER THE AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IF I WAS TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THE SERVICE MANAGER ALSO SAID IT'S CONNECTED TO THE SEATBELT. I THOUGHT SEATBELTS AND AIRBAGS WERE GOVERNMENT MANDATES ON ALL VEHICALES. SHOULD THIS NOT BE COVERED UNDER A VW RECALL? THEY WANT $400.00 TO CHANGE OUT THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE SEATBELT/AIRBAG. THAT'S NOT ACCEPTABLE. NOT FOR AN AIRBAG OR SEATBELT SAFETLY EQUIPMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, OR HAD THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT EXPLAIN TO ME A MECHANICAL REASON WHY THIS HARNESS COULD "WEAR OUT" (WHICH IS THE EXACT WORDS THEY USED). AS STATED THEY SAY THE DEFECT IS ALSO CONNECTED TO THE SEATBELT, AND THAT "EXCESSIVE WEAR" OR "STRAIN" OF THE SEATBELT MAY BE THE CAUSE. HELLO? THE LAW IN MY STATE REQUIRES THAT I WEAR A SEATBELT. I WEIGH 105 LBS, AND IF THAT CAN CAUSE "EXCESSIVE WEAR" OR "STRAIN" THEN THE MAJORITY OF ALL DRIVERS WILL NOT BE SAFE DRIVING A VW. I AM ACTUALLY PLAYING RUSSION ROULET EVERY TIME I STEP INTO MY CAR. CAN SOMEONE DIRECT ME ON HOW TO GET HELP ON THIS ISSUE. SINCERELY, TRACEY MCCALL

NHTSA ID

10039493

Incident

Sep 23, 2003

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON DUE TO A VACUUM HOSE CONSTANTLY BRAKING. HAVE HAD REPAIRED 4 TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ID

10039160

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

BRAKE SWITCH MALFUNCTION EDON THE 2000 ,VOLKSWAGEN, NEW BEETLE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO STICK IN PARK. *AK

NHTSA ID

10030682

Incident

Aug 3, 2003

I BOUGHT A VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE ON THE 12TH OF JUNE BEFORE WE WENT ON VACATION. WE TRAVELED 860 MILES ONE WAY. THE CRUISE LIGHT WOULD NEVER COME ON, NOT EVEN WHEN YOU STARTED THE VEHICLE. ANYWAY WE COULD GO ANYWHERE FROM 10 MILES TO 100 MILES AND THE CRUISE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY KICK OFF, JERKING THE CAR. WE CALLED OUR DEALER IMMEDIATELY BUT HE COULD NOT HELP. WHEN WE GOT BACK FROM VACATION WE TOOK IT UP THERE. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. ALSO IN THE MANUAL IT SAYS THAT THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FUSE FOR CRUISE: THERE IS NOT ONE. THEY TEST DROVE ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS ON THEIR LOT AND THAT CRUISE LIGHT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. I'M JUST WONDERING IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS OR HOW CAN SOMEONE FIX IT. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023493

Incident

Jun 14, 2003

WITHIN 5,500 MILES OF PURCHASING MY 2000 BEETLE I STARTED EXPERIENCING SUDDEN MAJOR POWER LOSS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. WHEN I TOOK IT IN THEY WOULD RUN A DIAGNOSTIC AND COME UP WITH NOTHING. ACCORDING TO THEM THE PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST. THEY SAID TO ME, THEY WERE NOT GOING TO START THROWING PARTS AT IT. THEY REFUSED TO TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE STEPS TO TRY AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WASN'T SHOWING UP ON THE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT. NOW WITH A TOTAL OF 12,455 MILE ON THIS CAR ( I DON'T DRIVE IT MUCH BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM) VW HAS RECALLED THEIR VEHICLES WITH THE 1.8 LITER ENGINES DUE TO AN IGNITION COIL PROBLEM. I HAVE THIS SAME TYPE ENGINE BUT THE RECALL DID NOT COVER MY MODEL YEAR. I HAD TO ARGUE AND INSIST THAT THEY LOOK AT MY VEHICLE. THE DEALER FINALLY AGREED , ACCORDING TO THEM MY COIL IS FINE . THEY DID NOT REPLACE IT AND THEY STILL REFUSE TO TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION TO START TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I CAN NOT SELL MY CAR BECAUSE I WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY ACCIDENT CREATED BY THIS PRE-EXISTING PROBLEM, AND IF I DISCLOSE THIS PROBLEM TO A PERSPECTIVE BUYER THEY WILL NOT BUY IT. IF I WAS ABLE TO AFFORD TO TRADE IT IN, LET'S SAY, ON A NEW VW, THE DEALER WOULD NOT GIVE ME MUCH ON THE TRADE IN ( KNOWING IT HAS THIS PROBLEM) AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE TO TURN AROUND AND FINALLY FIX IT. THEY COULDN'T RESELL IT OTHERWISE. THIS IS A MAJOR POTENTIAL ACCIDENT PROBLEM WAITING TO HAPPEN. UPDATE: THE DEALER CALLED ME. THEY FINALLY DID SOMETHING. THEY REPLACED THE "FUEL PUMP RELAY". THEY WOULD NOT COVER IT UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY SO NOW I HAVE A BIG REPAIR BILL TO DEAL WITH. THAT IS ANOTHER ISSUE I WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH SEPARATELY. I HOPE THIS WILL CORRECT MY PROBLEM, TIME WILL TELL. I WILL STILL FILE THIS COMPLAINT FOR THE RECORD (HOPING THE REPLACEMENT PART WORKS). IF THE PROBLEM CONTINUES I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH ANOTHER COMPLAINT. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023387

Incident

Jun 19, 2003

Mileage

5,500 mi

ONGOING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS/FALSE POSITIVES FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. GEL-LIKE SUBSTANCE IN THE OIL. FREQUENT REPLACEMENT OF INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS. NLM

NHTSA ID

10018976

Incident

Apr 1, 2003

Mileage

3,000 mi

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID

10017880

Incident

Apr 22, 2003

Mileage

17,500 mi

MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE GLX CAUGHT FIRE FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER I PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE, CAUSING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GARAGE, THE BEETLE, AND TWO OTHER CARS. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10014129

Incident

Mar 3, 2003

FAILURE OF STARTER

NHTSA ID

10005701

Incident

Jan 10, 2003

Mileage

25,000 mi

ON JANUARY 16, 2003 WHILE DRIVING MY VW NEW BEETLE TDI (DIESEL) ON THE INTERSTATE WITH A HALF OF A TANK OF NO. 1 DIESEL FUEL WITH THE TEMPERATURE BELOW 0 DEGREES F AND WIND CHILL IN THE -40 TO -50 F RANGE, MY VEHICLE DIED SEVERAL TIMES AND TOOK SEVERAL MINUTES TO RESTART EACH TIME. BY THE TIME I GOT IT TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP 12 MILES FROM MY RESIDENCE 5 DAYS LATER (I LIVE OVER 100 MILES FROM THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP) THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL UNDER LIGHT LOAD (ANY SPEED ABOVE 20-40 M.P.H.) OR TRYING TO DRIVE UP A HILL AND, AFTER STALLING 4 TIMES THE BATTERY WAS BECOMING DRAINED. THE REPAIR SHOP MADE SEVERAL CALLS TO A DEALERSHIP IN BURNSVILLE, MN. (WHICH HAD 4 OR 5 OTHER VWS WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM) AND WAS TOLD THAT VOLKSWAGON RECOMMENDED TO THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO REMOVE (NOT REPLACE) THE ANTI-SIPHON FLAP IN THE FUEL TANK BECAUSE MOISTURE WAS FREEZING ON IT THUS LETTING AIR INTO THE FUEL LINES. WHILE AT THE REPAIR SHOP I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THERE WERE ALSO 3 OR 4 OTHERS COME IN OR BE TOWED IN WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. SINCE THIS WAS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT ON JUST MY VEHICLE AND VOLKSWAGON RECOMMENDED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO REMOVE THIS PART, I WOULD CONSIDED THIS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW AND AM EXPECTING TO BE REIMBURSED. THE VW CUSTOMER CARE CENTER IN ROCHESTER HILLS, MI. DOES NOT AGREE. SO, I AM NOT CONTACTING YOU NECESSARILY TO HELP ME BE REIMBURSED FOR THIS $200 EXPENSE BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY TO INFORM YOU OF THE SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM. NOT ONLY HAS IT COST ME AND OTHERS HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN TOWING AND REPAIR COSTS BUT IS LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED IN VERY DANGEROUS WEATHER CONDITIONS WHERE FROSTBITE WILL SET IN LITERALLY IN A COUPLE OF MINUTES. IT SEEMS APPARENT THAT VW HAS NO PLAN TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM IN SPITE OF THEM KNOWING THERE IS A PROBLEM SO I HOPE YOU CAN HELP OR AT LEAST INVESTIGATE THIS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS.

NHTSA ID

10005184

Incident

Jan 16, 2003

Mileage

34,420 mi

I HAVE HAD TWO BRAKE RELAY SWITCH PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR IN THREE MONTHS. I THINK ITS A COMMON DEFECT. DT

NHTSA ID

769391

Incident

Jul 2, 2002

WHILE DRIVING WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR FAILED, THE CONSUMER COULD HEAR THE MOTOR RUNNING BUT THE WIPERS WOULD NOT MOVE. NLM

NHTSA ID

786454

Incident

Sep 6, 2002