11 of the
280 complaints about the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle are about the
braking system — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
58,000 miles.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
I HAVE A 99 VW BEETLE, 2.0 L 4 CYLINDER 5 SPD MANUAL GTI. I HAVE HAD CONTINUAL ABS LIGHT PROBLEMS SINCE 10000 MILES. THE LEFT REAR SPEED SENSOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 5 TIMES. THE VW DEALER IN HI AT 16 K SAYS IT THE CONTROL MODULE AFTER REPLACING THE SENSOR AND WIRE HARNESS. NOW AT 28000 MILES THE ABS LIGHT IS ON AND THE BRAKE LIGHT FLASHES AND ALARMS. I SEEMS THIS IS A CLASS ENGINEERING PROBLEM THAT REQUIRES A RECALL TO FIX.
NHTSA complaint #10203288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 78,000 milesNEW Freedom, PA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:ABS WARNING LIGHT
THE ABS LIGHT STAYS ON ALL OF THE TIME. WHENEVER I DRIVE IN WET CONDITIONS THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FLASHES AND A BUZZER SOUNDS. VW DEALER RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF ABS CONTROL MODULE AT A COST OF $1,680.
NHTSA complaint #10203006 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 87,522 milesElizabethtown, NC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TIE ROD EQUIPMENT.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS HARD TO STEER AND NOISY ON TURNS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RACK AND PINION GEAR AND TIE ROD ENDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BAKE TO THE DEALER FOR FRONT END VIBRATION AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TIRE ROD ENDS WERE WORN. THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT CLOSE DUE TO DEFECTIVE REGULATORS. THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE LEFT REAR SPEED SENSOR AND REST THE READINESS CODES.
NHTSA complaint #10117848 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diego, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKE SENSOR WENT OUT. THIS CAUSED THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE WAS NOT ON. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10048729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 42,000 milesPlainfield, MACrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD INTO A PARKED VEHICLE IN A NEIGHBORS DRIVEWAY. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WHEN SHE TRIED TO APPLIED THE BRAKES THEY DID NOT RESPOND. THE CONSUMER STATED WAS GOING TO HAVE THE MASTER CYLINDER CHECKED.
NHTSA complaint #10031231 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 58,000 milesGrove City, OH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
1)DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAD DIFFICULTY GOING UP SINCE VEHICLE PURCHASE, HAVE TO PUSH WITH HAND TO ASSIST. 2) JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE SENSOR BEHIND BRAKE PEDAL FAILED, VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT FROM PARK, REPLACED. 3) AIR BAG CAME ON AND THEN ENGINE LIGHT SOON AFTER, CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED. BOTH WARNING LIGHTS OFF AND REPLACED. 4) HEADLIGHTS ARE CONSTANTLY BLOWING OUT, EVIDENCE OF A SHORT WHEN REPLACED. BURN MARKS, AND EXPOSED WIRING BECAUSE PLASTIC ON CONNECTORS GOT BRITTLE AND CRACKED OFF. 5) AIR BAG LIGHT ON AGAIN, TWO WEEKS LATER ENGINE LIGHT ON. TOLD TWO SENSORS ON MASS AIR FLOW AND SOME OTHERS ARE MALFUNCTIONING AND NOW BEEN REPLACED. TOLD THERE IS A BROKEN CLOCK SPRING IN STEERING COLUMN ALONG WITH BAD WIRING HARNESS, BOTH AFFECTING AIR BAGS. ALSO, TOLD AIR BAG IS NOW BAD AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE OTHER DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS HAVE SHORTED IGNITER IN AIR BAG OUT. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT AND CANNOT CONTINUE TO FUND REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE. CANNOT SELL EITHER BECAUSE OF THESE PROBLEMS, AND NOW REPUTATION OF BEETLE FOR PROBLEMS. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, EVEN SO MUCH AS BUMPED. METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS----------------770755. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10006532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Burlingame, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
AS YOU DRIVE THE ABS LIGHT DISPLAYS ON THE DASH AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES VERY SOFT AND LONG. IT COMPROMISED BRAKING DISTANCE. THIS HAS HAPPEN 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS. THE FIRST TIME AFTER ONLY 19 044 MILES. WE TALKED WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND THEY SHARED .
NHTSA complaint #764335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palmyra, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF SQUEAKING BRAKES. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #553633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lusby, MDCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE TRAVELING 50MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, WENT TO APPLY BRAKES TO RELEASE CRUISE CONTROL & FAILED TO RELEASE OR TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLE. INSTEAD, VEHICLE STARTED TO INCREASE IN SPEED & HIT A CONCRETE BARRIER. ALSO HAD HIT OR CLIPPED 2 OTHER VHEICLES. THEN THE VEHICLE SLID SIDEWAYS & CAME TO A STOP. NO INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #853074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Broken Arrow, OKFire
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED IN A PANTIC SITUATION ONE OF THE REAR WHEELS WILL LOCK UP ALONG WITH ONE OF THE FRONT WHEELS, THROWING THE VEHICLE INTO A SPIN . THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.
NHTSA complaint #851644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mexco, MI
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ONGOING/INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE'S BRAKES SQUEAKING. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON SIX OCCASIONS, AND CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. SEEKING HELP FROM NHSTA IN THIS MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #838516 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.