10 of the
405 complaints about the 2003 Volkswagen Beetle are about the
lighting — 2% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
37,621 miles.
This car was extremely modified by a company caledl Hestermann Motorwwerks. The specific problem is the installation of LED Tail/Brake lights. The lights are not compatable with the cars electrical system and as a result they have a problem that is called Hyper Flashing. That means the turn signal, when engaged, flashes erratically and wehn the brake pedal is applied the light flalso ashes erratically causing the following vehicle to be confused and resulting in an unsafe condition. I feel that the installer needs to be notified of the wrong doing as many cars have been modified by this business. HESTERMANN MOTORWERKS Jessie Lee Ct, Green Cove Springs, Fl 32043
NHTSA complaint #11605754 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Arlington, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE CAR IS HAVING ISSUES AS EXACTLY THE RECALLS HAS STATED (I HAVEN'T KNOWN BY NOW ABOUT THE RECALLS) 1. SELECTOR SHIFT AND SHIFTER CABLES WERE BROKEN 2. BREAK SWITCH DID NOT FUNCTION, LEADING TO MALFUNCTION OF EPC (ELECTRONIC PROCESSING CONTROL) THAT LATER CAUSED CRUISE CONTROL, TAILLIGHT AND AC COMPRESSOR NOT WORKING 3. WINDSHIELD WIPER PUMP WAS NOT WORKING 4. HEADLIGHT BEAM WAS LOW
NHTSA complaint #11171283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ball, LA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE HAZARD LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #11145328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 183,255 milesNorway, ME
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG LIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN RECALLED ON SEVERAL 03 BEETLES BUT NOTHING THAT INCLUDED THE 03 CONVERTABLE VERSION OF THIS LIGHT BEING ACTIVATED THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT THAT I KNOW OF AND IS A CAUSE FOR CONCERN WHERE NONE OF MY AIRBAGS WILL DEPLOY IF I EVER GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. GOD FORBID. THIS HAS BEEN CHECKED BY THE VIN BUT DOES NOT NECESSARILY MEAN THE PART IS NOT DEFECTIVE. ALSO OPPOSITE LIGHTS IN THE REAR SEEM TO HAVE SOME SORT OF ELECTRONIC ISSUE NEW FUSES NEW BULBS AND RELAY SEEMS NOT TO FIX THIS ISSUE. COULD POSSIBLE BE PART OF THE SAME 03 BEETLE BREAK SWITCH RECALL??
NHTSA complaint #11082452 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fort Wayne, IN
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE EXTERIOR TURN SIGNALS REMAINED ILLUMINATED WITHOUT WARNING AND WERE VERY HOT. IN ADDITION, THE PASSENGER SIDE TURN SIGNAL BLINKED VIGOROUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10888310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,621 milesGilroy, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE STARTING THE CAR. DEALER FOUND A BURNED WIRING HARNESS TO BE THE CAUSE. COST TO REPAIR $ 159.31. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM IF BOTH HEAD LIGHTS WOULD HAVE GONE OUT WHILE TRAVELING ON A DARK HWY AT HIGH SPEED. BURNED WIRING HARNESS IS IN MY POSSESSION. SECOND PROBLEM WAS WITH A BRAKE LIGHT THAT WENT OUT DATE 10/30/07. CAUSE AS PER DEALER WAS A FAULTY LIGHT SOCKET. COST TO REPAIR $ 73.61.
NHTSA complaint #10208170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,621 milesGilroy, CA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT WENT OUT WHILE STARTING THE CAR. DEALER FOUND A BURNED WIRING HARNESS TO BE THE CAUSE. COST TO REPAIR $ 159.31. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM IF BOTH HEAD LIGHTS WOULD HAVE GONE OUT WHILE TRAVELING ON A DARK HWY AT HIGH SPEED. BURNED WIRING HARNESS IS IN MY POSSESSION. SECOND PROBLEM WAS WITH A BRAKE LIGHT THAT WENT OUT DATE 10/30/07. CAUSE AS PER DEALER WAS A FAULTY LIGHT SOCKET. COST TO REPAIR $ 73.61.
NHTSA complaint #10208170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 56,000 milesMineral Wells, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT CAR INTO REVERSE BRAKE SWITCH DOES NOT RESPOND. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW GOES BACK DOWN BY ITSELF. ALSO CAR SHIFTS REAL HARD IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. SOUNDS LIKE TRANSMISSION WILL BREAK.
NHTSA complaint #10190563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,000 milesDanvers, MA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
REAR TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION. EACH TIME DEALER THE FIXES PROBLEM IT PROMPTLY RETURNS.
NHTSA complaint #10159270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,000 milesDanvers, MA
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS
REAR TAIL LIGHTS AND BRAKE LIGHTS CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION. EACH TIME DEALER THE FIXES PROBLEM IT PROMPTLY RETURNS.
NHTSA complaint #10159270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.