11 of the 291 complaints about the 2001 Volkswagen Beetle are about the fuel system — 4% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 98,000 miles.
11
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Car caught on fire 2 times it was electrical and fuel problem the fire department was present. I reported this once already and the company acted like they didnt care
NHTSA complaint #11499979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
A HUGE AMOUNT OF 2.0L ENGINES (1998-2006) SEEM TO STALL WHEN DRIVING OR STATIONARY AFTER 20 MIN FROM COLD START IN HIGH TEMPS (+75F) . LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER ASSIST BRAKES. IT HAPPENED TO ME 2X WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH. SCARY. DEALERS AND MECHANICS CAN'T LOCATE ISSUES BECAUSE ITS INTERMITTENT. CARS OPERATE NORMAL AGAIN AFTER 10-20 MINS. SEE HTTP://NEWBEETLE.ORG/FORUMS/2-0-LITER-GAS/139065-HOT-WEATHER-STOP-GO-CAR-STALLS-DANGEROUS-2.HTML#POST1508562 FOR A LIST OF DIFFERENT SITES ALL LISTING SIMILAR ISSUES. APPARENTLY, AND ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH, THE ISSUE STOPPED ON MODEL YR 2007 AND HIGHER.
NHTSA complaint #11091934 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I READ THE RECALL ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE PAPER (NHTSA 17V-509, VW 20AE) REGARDING THE FUEL PUMP CUT OUT. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO VW A NUMBER OF TIMES OVER THE YEARS THAT MY VW ENGINE STOPS WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 55 AND 65 MPH. THE SERVICE WRITERS RESPONSE WAS THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDS TO BE REPLACED - A $1000 ITEM. OTHER MECHANICS THAT I'VE ASKED HAVE SAID THAT IF THAT WAS THE CASE THE ENGINE WOULD NOT GET FUEL AND NOT WORK AND THAT IT WAS PROBABLY SOMETHING ELSE. WHEN I READ THE SYMPTOMS REPORTED IN 20AE, THEY WERE EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED MANY TIMES, BUT NOT CONSISTENTLY. AT 65 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE CUTS OUT, THE DECELERATION IS ALMOST IMMEDIATE TO 50 MPH. THE SYMPTOMS STARTED ABOUT 8-10 YEARS AGO. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY SINCE BECAUSE I WAS NEARLY RUN OVER BY A CEMENT TRUCK. THE ARTICLE I READ SAID THAT NO KNOWN CRASHES OR INJURIES WERE CAUSED BY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE CONSIDER EXPANDING THE INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE THE 2001 NEW BEETLE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY SERIOUS INJURIES DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE MY ISSUE IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE ISSUE REPORTED IN THE PRESS.
NHTSA complaint #11022212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON 3 DIFFERENT MY OCCASIONS CAR OVERHEATED NOW IT WON'T START.
NHTSA complaint #11000801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I THINK THERE ARE AIR BUBBLES IN THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP. I HAVE NO MONEY TO REPAIR IT. I NEED IT TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO WORK.
NHTSA complaint #10873257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FORUMS CONCERNING THIS VW MODEL, AND OTHER MODELS BOTH OLDER AND NEWER, ARE REPLETE WITH REPORTS OF THE CARS STALLING WITH SYMPTOMS OF STARVED FUEL, USUALLY ARISING WHEN THE TANK IS LESS THAN HALF FULL. SEE, E.G., HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?4971876-CAR-STALLING-WHILE-AT-SPEED-IS-LOW-FUEL-THE-PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE SUFFERS FROM IDENTICAL SYMPTOMS. OTHER OWNERS ATTEMPT TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BY (1) CLEANING THE FUEL TANK; (2) REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP; (3) REPLACING THE SPEED SENSOR; (4) REPLACING THE CRANK SENSOR; (5) REPLACING THE FUEL FILTER; (6) REPLACING THE FUEL PUMP RELAY; AND (7) CLEANING THE FUEL TANK. IN MOST CASES, BASED ON REVIEW FROM THESE FORUMS, THE PROBLEM IS NOT PERMANENTLY SOLVED AND RECURS WHILE DRIVING CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL AND CREATING A THREAT TO LIFE SAFETY. I CANNOT BELIEVE VW IS UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM BASED ON THE MULTITUDE OF REPORTS. YET, I HAVE SEEN NOTHING FROM VW THAT ADDRESSES THIS ISSUE. IF NO INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN LAUNCHED ON THIS ISSUE, NHTSA SHOULD LAUNCH ONE.
NHTSA complaint #10746792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2001 VW BEETLE. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. FOR THE FIRST FEW YEARS IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY, FREE OF CHARGE REPAIRS. I HAVE LOW MILEAGE SO I THOUGHT THAT BY THE TIME THESE ITEMS WERE REPAIRED IT WOULD BE FINE WHEN THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND IN PARTICULAR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS GOING OFF. THE SAFETY ISSUE COMES IN WITH ITS CURRENT PROBLEM. I HAD A FUEL INJECTION FLUSH WHICH INCLUDED THE CARBON DEPOSITS REMOVAL KNOWN AS INDUCTION, AIR FILTER REPLACED, ENGINE FUEL FILTER REPLACED, AND A BRAKE FLUID FLUSH PLUS 4 NEW SPARK PLUGS. PRIOR TO THIS SERVICE, MY CAR WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY STARTING WITH MAJOR SHAKING. I HAD TO PUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GET IT GOING WHILE STARTING. NOW AFTER THE SERVICE IT RUNS MUCH BETTER BUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT NOW STALLS WHEN I COME TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND STOP FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE OTHER MALFUNCTIONS THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE YEARS ARE AN EXPENSE BUT IT WAS SOMETHING THAT I COULD SOMEHOW MANAGE. THIS IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER TRAFFIC LIGHTS AND THE GENERATOR COMES ON WHEN I STOP, IT IS WORSE WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGES FAST AND THEN I HAVE TO STOP EVEN MORE SUDDENLY. IMAGINE IF I AM ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT STOPS. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE, A FEW WEEKS PRIOR TO THE CLEANING SERVICE. NOW, I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THAT VEHICLE. I HAVE LOOKED ONLINE AT MESSAGE BOARDS FROM OTHER VW BEETLE OWNERS AND HAD READ SIMILAR STORIES OF SUCH DISSATISFACTION, INCREDIBLE FINANCIAL EXPENSE WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND OTHER COMPONENTS OF CARS. I HAVE EVEN READ THAT THESE CARS CAN BECOME INFLAMED , NECESSITATING THE FIRE DEPT. TO PUT IT OUT. THIS IS A LEMON AND SO MANY OTHER VW OWNERS HAVE WRITTEN SIMILAR ACCOUNT MESSAGE BOARDS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED. UPDATED IVOQ 07/07/11. *JB
NHTSA complaint #10410335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I HAVE A 2001 VW NEW BEETLE. I HAVE REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT, WHICH WAS DRAINS THE BATTERY, SERPENTINE BELT, REMOTELESS KEY WHICH IS STILL BROKEN- BASICALLY 6 DAYS AFTER BUYING THIS CAR- I SPENT $1200 ON REPAIRS- NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING FUNNY, AND BASICALLY- MY VW DEALERSHIP HAS A FIELD DAY WITH ME. TO TOP IT OFF- MY BATTERY DIED A MONTH AGO- AND CAUGHT ON FIRE WHEN I TRIED TO JUMP IT. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS CAR WILL BLOW UP ON ME AT ANY TIME. PLEASE HELP ME!
NHTSA complaint #10235807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
GAS GAUGE INOP SINCE 10-05-05 AT 58,683 MILES. INSTRUMENT CLUSTER $602.75 PLUS TAX PER MERCED VOLKSWAGEN. ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER INOP 08-17-07 AT 80,951 MILES. CLAIMS DENIED BY VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA70274186 AND AUTO BBB VMA0751644.
NHTSA complaint #10201672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED. AS A RESULT, SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE READ IMPROPERLY. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED.
NHTSA complaint #10044345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL LEAKAGE DUE TO A PUNCTURE IN PLASTIC FUEL TANK. THERE IS NO PROTECTION OR BARRIER FOR LOW POSITIONED FUEL TANK .
NHTSA complaint #878495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.