2001 Volkswagen New Beetle Problems

I HAVE A 2001 VOLKSWAGON BEETLE AND WAS VERY FRUSTRATED WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER WHERE I WAS CHARGED $100!!!! AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS! I WAS SO UPSET! THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT CAME ON AGIAN AND I WAS FURIOUS! I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE IGNITION COIL AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $100 AGIAN. I COPMPLAINED AND GOT THE 2ND FEE WAVED. I'M NOT AN EXPERT BUT IT IS VERY RARE FOR AN IGNITION COIL TO FAIL???*AK

WHILE DRIVING MY 2001 VW NEW BEETLE THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER AND BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO IDLE VERY ROUGHLY. THE ESC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. I WAS ABLE TO RE-START THE ENGINE AND DRIVE THE CAR HOME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE O2 SENSOR AND THE THROTTLE BODY HAD FAILED AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE TOTAL COST WAS $1097.00 AND WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS A 2001 MODEL WITH JUST OVER 18000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. A CALL TO THE VOLKSWAGEN "CUSTOMER ADVOCATE" CENTER PROVED HOPELESS AS THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I WAS TOLD THAT THE 2001 VW BEETLE CAME WITH A 2 YEAR 24000 MILE WARRANTY. THE LACK OF WARRANTY LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT VW KNEW THESE CARS WERE OF SUBSTANDARD QUALITY FROM THE DATE OF MANUFACTURER. *JB

BOTH REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP, NEEDED TO REPLACE CALIPERS, ROTORS, DRUMS, PADS AT 16,455MILES.*AK

THE REAR DISC BRAKE PADS (BOTH SIDES) COMPLETELY WORN OFF/OUT AT 25,000 MILES ON 2001 VW NEW BEETLE. THE WORN OUT PADS ALSO DAMAGED BOTH REAR HUB/ROTOR ASSEMBLIES, WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED BY THE CONSUMER, AT THE CONSUMERS COST. THIS CAR HAD BEEN IN FOR ITS 20,000 MILE CHECK UP TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE FEMALE OWNER HAD ASKED ABOUT REAR BRAKE NOISES THAT CONCERNED HER. THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED HER THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK, BUT SOMETIMES IT WOULD JUST NORMALLY MAKE SOME NOISES. A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER THE PADS AND ROTORS ARE COMPLETELY SHOT AND WE HAVE TO PICK UP THE TAB AS THE CAR IS NOW NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. VW HAS HAD A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN(TSB#4602-01 DATED 04-02), I RECENTLY FOUND OUT, CONCERNING THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM WE EXPERIENCED:BRAKE PADS(REAR) APPARENT PREMATURE WEAR. I MENTIONED THIS FACT TO BOTH THE DEALERSHIP IN RACINE, WI AND VW AT THEIR 1-800-822-8987 "CUSTOMER CARE" CARE NUMBER WHEN SPEAKING TO MR KEN PARROTT. IT WAS TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT PERSON FELT THIS WAS "NORMAL" THOUGH I CONTESTED THAT OPINION. THE VW PERSON, MR PERROTT, SAID HE COULDN'T EVEN LOOK INTO THE MATTER AS THE WORK WAS PERFORMED AT A NON VW DEALERSHIP, THOUGH IT WAS A CERTIFIED NAPA AUTOCARE SERVICE CENTER THAT DID THE REPAIR WORK. HE, MR PARROTT, ALSO STATED IF I HAD TAKEN IT IN TO A VW GARAGE WAS NO GUARANTEE THEY WOULD PAY FOR MY EXPENSES EITHER. I ASKED ABOUT "OPENING A CASE" W/VW AND HE SAID THE CONVERSATION WE WERE HAVING INITIATED IT AND WHEN I HUNG UP(I ASKED HIM ABOUT THIS) THAT THE CASE WOULD BE CLOSED, AS FAR AS THEY WERE CONCERNED. BUT NOT AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED. *AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, NO DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS THOUGH. DEALER SAID NOT UNDER WARRANTY; 2001 VW BEETLE WITH 7,600 MILES. CHECKED AND CHARGED $142.00 TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM, REPLACED CTS, COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR. IT APPEARS THAT IT IS HARD TO FIND ANY SHOPS WITH EQUIPMENT TO ACCESS VW'S ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM; ONLY WAY IS AT VW OR IF A SHOP HAS A PC BASED SYSTEM CALLED MORPHUS? WAS THIS DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT IS PART OF THE OVERALL ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, CONTROLLING EMISSIONS? THANK YOU, [XXX].*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

2001 NEW BEETLE 1.9 L TDI, 55,000 MI.: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL CAR IS TURNED OFF THEN IT COMES ON ONCE GLOW PLUG LIGHT GOES OFF AND CAR HAS STARTED (WITIN 20 SECONDS). THE DEALER FIRST TOLD ME IT WAS THE GLOW PLUG SENSOR. THEN RECANTED AND SAID THE SENSOR WAS FINE AND TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW BRIDGE WIRE AND 4 NEW GLOW PLUGS. SHOULD GLOW PLUGS ONLY LAST FOR 55,000 MILES? THE CAR JUST TURNED OVER 55,023 WHEN THE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. *AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO THE THROTTLE PEDAL SENSOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *NLM

DRIVING AT 65 MPH, ENGINE SPEED 2200 RPM, VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATES TO ENGINE SPEED 1200 RPM (35 MPH). APPROX 5-10 SECONDS LATER THE MIL ("CHECK ENGINE") LIGHT COMES ON SOLID AND THE GLO-PLUG LAMP BLINKS. OBD-II DIAGNOSTIC CODE "P0226" (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR) CODE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY READ. THROTTLE CONTROL MAY BE MOMENTARILY REGAINED BY TURNING VEHICLE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SPEED (OBSERVING CARE THAT ROAD IS STRAIGHT SO THAT STEERING WHEEL LOCK DOES NOT LOCK UP). FAILURE MAY RE-OCCUR WITHIN 50-100 YARDS, REPEATEDLY REQUIRING IGNITION TURN-OFF/TURN-ON SEQUENCING FOR 'BURSTS' OF THROTTLE FUNCTION BETWEEN FAILURES BEING CAREFUL TO TRY TO AVOID STEERING WHEEL LOCK. ALTERNATIVE TO RECOVERY FROM LOSS OF FOOT THROTTLE IS TO QUICKLY ENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL (LIMITING ACCELERATION IS LIMITED TO 1 MPH 'CLICKS'). VW OF AMERICA ([XXX] 3-MAR-03, 1210 PST, - CUST. CARE #30108450) DENIES KNOWLEDGE OF A PROBLEM WITH THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS AND VEHICLE DEFAULTING TO 1200 RPM 'LIMP MODE'. LITHIA MOTORS (MEDFORD, OR - VW SALES & SERVICE) HAS ALSO NOTED THE P0226 ("THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR") CODE WHEN VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE INVESTIGATION BUT UNABLE TO CORRELATE THE "THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR" CODE WITH 1200 RPM ENGINE LIMITATION AND LOSS OF THROTTLE FUNCTION. INDEPENDENT SERVICE SHOP SAYS THAT THROTTLE POSITION SENSORS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED AND ARE ON BACK ORDER AND THAT THE TPS IN THIS VEHICLE (VIN # [XXX]) FAILS TO PROVIDE PROPER SIGNAL ("DRIVE-BY-WIRE" THROTTLE) AT BETWEEN 7% AND 17% OF FOOT THROTTLE ACTUATION. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED APPROX. 100-200 TIMES SINCE FIRST NOTED ON 19-FEB-2003. VERY CURIOUS THAT PARTS HAVE BEEN MODIFIED AND ARE BACK-ORDERED WHEN THERE IS "NO KNOWN PROBLEM" AND VW AND THEIR DEALERS CANNOT CORRELATE AN OBD-II "P0226" CODE WITH THIS HAZARDOUS VEHICLE CONTROL FAILURE. *NLM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE ARM NUT SECURING THE BRACKET TO THE WIPER MOTOR NUT HAS NO LOCKING MECHANISM TO PREVENT THE NUT FROM LOOSENING DURING WIPER OPERATION. THIS RESULTS IN THE NUT WORKING ITS WAY OFF THE WIPER MOTOR AND THE WIPERS CEASING OPERATION. REATTACHING THE NUT ONLY WORKS BRIEFLY UNTIL THE NUT WORKS LOOSE AGAIN. IN ADDITION, I RECEIVE NO RECALL NOTIFICATIONS FOR THIS VEHICLE IN THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED IT AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILS TO OPERATE OR OPERATES RANDOMLY. THE BLADE WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW AND GO NO FURTHER UNLESS I PHYSICALLY PUSH IT DOWN OR TURN THE SWITCH ON THE HIGHEST SPEED AND THEN IT MAY WORK SO I CAN PUT IT IN THE DOWN POSITION SO IT DOESN'T OBSTRUCT MY VIEW. *LA

I HAVE HAD THE HEADLIGHT BULBS (LOW BEAMS) 3 TIMES IN MY NEW BEETLE. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT I NOT RUN THE LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAY. THEY SAID THAT EXCESSIVE USE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WILL CAUSE THE BULBS TO BURN OUT FASTER. SORRY, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED. SO THE LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR MOTION. THE DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL ON THE USE OF THE HEADLIGHTS ORTHER THAN ENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE WHILE DRIVING. HMMM, DOES NOT SOUND LIKE AN ALTERNATIVE THAT IS USEFUL. THE LAY PERSON CAN NOT CHANGE THESE BULBS, IT TAKES A MECHANIC TO REMOVE/DISASSEMBLE THE ENTIRE LAMP ASSEMBLY TO GET TO THE BULB. AND VW IS NOT REASONABLE IN THEIR REPLACEMENT COST (LABOR) OF THIS PART. ESPECIALLY AFTER THE THIRD TIME IN 13 MONTHS.*AK

HEADLIGHT IS BURNED OUT. TO REPLACE IT YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE FENDER OFF OF THE VEHICLE. A COWORKER OF MINE ALSO HAS A NEW BEETLE AND HIS HEADLIGHT BURNT OUT WITHIN A YEAR. ALSO DRIVING AROUND YOU CONSTANTLY SEE NEW BEETLES WITH BURNED OUT HEADLIGHTS. I THINK THIS MUST BE A MANUFACTUERER DEFECT THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I HAVE TO NOTE THE DEALERSHIP WILL REPAIR IT FOR FREE SINCE THE CAR IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, HOWEVER I DON'T BELIEVE THE HEADLIGHTS SHOULD BURN OUT THIS FREQUENTLY.*AK

BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR DURRING A PANIC STOP, BRAKES DID NOT WORK. DEALERSHIP SAYS THE COMPUTER IN CAR DID NOT IDENTIFY A MALFUNCTION. SAID DEALERSHIP DID/HAS NOT DONE ANY MANUAL DIAGNOSTICS. *LA

I'M REPORTING THIS TO NHTSA AS I BELIEVE THIS FAILURE CONSTITUTES A SAFETY ISSUE. THIS IS THE 4TH, OR 5TH, REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE THAT HAS OCCURRED ON THIS 1 YEAR OLD CAR. THIS TIME THE BEARING FAILED SUDDENLY BECOMING VERY NOISY. I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO DRIVE THE CAR DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP, APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES. BY THE TIME I ARRIVED AT FITZGERALD VW IN FREDERICK, MD THE REPAIR FACILITY WAS CLOSED. I WAS UNWILLING TO TAKE A CHANCE ON DRIVING THE CAR HOME AND BACK AGAIN ON MONDAY (AN ADDITIONAL 50 MILES) AS I'M CERTAIN IT WOULD NOT HAVE MADE THE TRIP. WHILE I REALIZE THAT ANY MECHANICAL THING CAN BREAK, I FIND IT UNREASONABLE THAT THIS VEHICLE WOULD HAVE 4 FAILURES IN THE SPACE OF LESS THAN ONE YEAR AND IN ONLY 26,000 MILES. PREVIOUS FAILURES HAVE OCCURED SLOWLY AND SHOWED UP AS A NOISY BEARING. TODAY'S FAILURE HAPPENED SUDDENLY AND WITHIN THE SPACE OF 30 MINUTES AND 20 MILES OF DRIVING THE NOISE IN INSIDE THE CAR WAS SO LOUD YOU COULD NOT HEAR THE RADIO. ALSO, THE CAR DEVELOPED AN INCREASINGLY BAD VIBRATION IN THE RIGHT REAR. AFTER CHECKING THE DEALER, I CALLED THE VW CUSTOMER CARE CENTER, RECORDED THE PROBLEM AND LEFT THE CAR AT FITZGERALD VW IN FREDERICK, MARYLAND AS I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT FARTHER. IT WAS, IN FACT, UNDRIVEABLE IN MY OPINION AS THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL HAD A SLGHT TILT INWARD AT THE TOP WHEN COMPARED WITH THE LEFT. BETTER SAFE THAN LOSE THE WHOLE WHEEL ON I-70! AGAIN, I WOULD NOT BE WRITING UNLESS I FELT THIS WAS OF SAFETY SIGNIFICANCE. SINCE IT HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES IN ONE YEAR, I BELIEVE THERE COULD BE ONE OR MORE REASONS FOR THE FAILURE: IMPROPER OR NO LUBRICANT; BAD METALURGY; IMPROPER ASSEMBLY, OR IMPROPER ASSEMBLY DURING REPAIR. NOTES: THE CAR HAS THE ORIGINAL WHEELS AND RIMS; THE CAR IS NOT RACED OR THRASHED; IT HAS NOT BEEN HEAVILY LOADED; ITS NEVER BEEN WRECKED OR PRANGED; BEARING FAILURES HAVE PREVIOUSLY OCCURED ON BOTH THE LEFT (2X) AND RIGHT SIDES (1X) OF THE REAR AXLE. DT

VIOLENT SHAKING OF 2001 NEW BEETLE GL (HIGHWAY SPEEDS) AFTER SNOW STORM. 1/14/04 SNOW STORM HITS DETROIT METRO AREA. THE NEXT MORNING 1/15/04 WHILE GOING TO WORK MY VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE/VIBRATE, STARTING AT 45 MPH. I DID NOT TAKE THE BUG ABOVE 55 MPH BECAUSE THE SHAKING WAS GETTING WORSE. AFTER WORK, I DROVE TO THE VW DEALER AND LEARNED THAT 16 OTHER NEW BEETLE OWNERS BROUGHT THEIR CAR IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM (THIS WAS A QUOTE BY THE SERVICE REP. STEVE)AND NUMEROUS OWNERS CALLED IN FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THE DESIGN OF THE WHEEL RIMS ALLOW SNOW TO ACCUMULATE CAUSING AN IMBALANCE WITH THE WHEELS. THIS CAUSES THE VIOLENT SHAKING WHILE RUNNING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (45 MPH AND ABOVE). THE ONLY REMEDY IS TO REMOVE THE SNOW BY HAND OR MELT IT AWAY. (DEALER IS CHARGING ABOUT 72 DOLLARS FOR MELTING IT). I NEVER HAD A VEHICLE DO THIS AFTER ANY SNOW STORM IN MICHIGAN. BUT SINCE I WAS NOT THE ONLY ONE INVOLVED, I FELT YOU SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF THIS ISSUE. I LOVE MY BUG, BUT THIS IS NOT SAFE. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP (VYLETEL BUICK & VW, STERLING HEIGHTS MICHIGAN) I LEFT THE VEHICLE THERE OVERNIGHT FOR 30K MAINTENANCE. I FIGURED, WHILE THEY DO THE MAINTENANCE, THE SNOW WOULD MELT OFF THE WHEELS. GIVEN THE SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE CAUSED BY THE IMBALANCE OF THE WHEELS, I AM CONCERNED THE TIRES WILL HAVE PREMATURE WEAR OR FLAT SPOTS ON THE SURFACE. HOPEFULLY, THIS IS NOT THE CASE, SINCE I ACTED ON THE SAME DAY OF THE INCIDENT. *CB

I AM WRITING TO EXPRESS MY CONCERN OVER THE SAFETY AND POTENTIAL DEFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH 2001 MODEL VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TURBO, ALONG WITH ITS MICHELIN TIRES. LAST WEEK, MY OWN LIFE WAS SERIOUSLY ENDANGERED WHILE DRIVING ON THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE. TRAVELING IN THE LEFT LANE AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS, MY CAR INSTANTLY LOST CONTROL AND BEGAN SKIDDING VICIOUSLY. UNABLE TO SLOW THE CAR IN TIME, I HIT THE MEDIAN, CAUSING IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE CAR. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, I NOTICED A LARGE, GAPING HOLE CUT THROUGH MY RIGHT REAR TIRE. THIS HOLE, COUPLE WITH THE EXTENSIVE CHARRING AND GRATING TO THE METAL WHEEL, WAS CORROBORATED BY MECHANICS AND VW DEALERS AS THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. I AM GREATLY CONCERNED THAT THE VEHICLE, AND OR TIRES, MAY CONTAIN A DEFECT THAT HEIGHTENED THE CHANCES OF AN ACCIDENT SUCH AS MINE. THE CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, AND HAD BEEN DRIVEN FOR ONLY 27,000 MILES. AS SUCH, IT SEEMS HIGHLY UNLIKELY THAT A TIRE RUPTURE WOULD BE A NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR OCCURRENCE. I DO NOT WISH FOR SUCH AN ACCIDENT TO REOCCUR IN THE FUTURE (EITHER TO MYSELF, OR OTHER CONSUMERS), AND THUS WOULD URGE THE AUTO AND TIRE MANUFACTURERS, ALONG WITH THE NHTSA TO STUDY THE MATTER IN EXPEDITIOUS FASHION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME VIA PHONE AT [XXX], OR BY EMAIL AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HIT, WHILE STOPPING FOR STOPPED TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY, IN THE REAR BY A CAR TRAVELING AT HIGH RATE OF SPEED. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ($7800+) DONE TO REAR AND SIDE OF CAR. SIDE AIRBAG CURTAIN DEPLOYED, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. FRONT DRIVERS AIRBAG ALSO DID NOT INFLATE. DRIVER SUFFERED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. PHOTOS ARE AVAILABLE.*AK

WE HAVE A 2001 VW BEETLE AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN MN, THE ENTIRE PLASTIC BOTTOM PANEL SEPARATED FROM THE AUTO. THE PANEL GOT CAUGHT IN A REAR TIRE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TEMPORARILY LOSE CONTROL, THEN THIS PIECE OF PANEL THAT IS ABOUT 3' SQUARE BLASTED INTO THE WINDSHIELD OF THE CAR BEHIND. THIS PANEL IS REMOVED FOR OIL CHANGES, ENGINE REPAIR AND FLUID FILLS. THE MECHANIC SAID THIS HAPPENS WITH ALL THE BEETLES, BUT THE PANEL HAD TO BE REPLACED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE ASPECT OF ROAD DEBRIS AND THE LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH. *JB

DEFECTIVE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SAFETY LATCH. *JB