FaultScore

2005 Volkswagen Beetle engine problems

16 of the 330 complaints about the 2005 Volkswagen Beetle are about the engine — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 80,801 miles.

C

16

Complaints

2

Crashes

1

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine AND Engine Cooling 7 43.8%
Engine 6 37.5%
Cooling System 1 6.3%
Turbo/Supercharger 1 6.3%
Catalytic Convertor 1 6.3%

Engine & Cooling across every Volkswagen Beetle year

1998 37 11.1%
1999 38 11.4%
2000 71 21.3%
2001 56 16.8%
2002 26 7.8%
2003 27 8.1%
2004 33 9.9%
2005 16 4.8%
2006 20 6.0%
2013 10 3.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Wilsonville, OR

ENGINE

MY VIN NUMBER ON CAR IS DIFFERENT FROM THE VIN NUMBER ON MOTOR. I JUST FOUND THIS OUT ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO. I WASN'T TOLD THIS WHEN I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE.. SO, I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM OR NOT. ITS A 2005 VW, WITH A 2004 ENGINE FROM A SLAVAGE YARD, BANDB, OR B AND R?? THIS CAUSED ME GREAT ALARM. THE WIRING SINCE HAD TO BE DONE ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO. ALSO, THE BELLY PAN HAD BEEN MISSING. I HAD IT FIXED. AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAD TO BE REPAIRED TOO. THIS CAR HAS COST ME THOUSANDS IN REPAIRS SINCE PURCHASE. AND I DON'T HAVE MORE THOUSANDS TO PUT IN IT. PLEASE HELP I HOPE THE CAR IN EXCELLENT SHAPE NOW. ALSO, I NOTICED THE DIP STICK BROKE TO OIL CHECK AND HADN'T BEEN PRIOR TO MY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. ALSO, THE CAR HAS A SOFT TOP AND I WAS TOLD WAS NEWLY REPLACED IN 5/2018. BUT IT SEEMS TO HAVE A DIFFERENT LOOK INSIDE THEN A TIGHT SHAPE REGARDING TOP, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THIS SHOULD BE OR NOT.

NHTSA complaint #11138907 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200,000 miles Urbana, OH Crash Fire

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 73 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH AND SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A TOWING LOT. THE CONTACT CALLED BILL MARINE VOLKSWAGEN AT (937) 210-4257 (LOCATED AT 415 E NORTH ST, SPRINGFIELD, OH 45503) AND WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11096750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Wetumpka, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN, IT STALLED AND WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10881463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 41,215 miles Naples, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHILE DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AT 45 MPH PARTICLES FROM THE A/C VENTS STARTING COMING OUT AND FLEW INTO MY EYE. DISTRACTED I ALMOST HIT THE VEHICLE THAT STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. I ENDED UP USING A WATER BOTTLE TO FLUSH MY EYES OUT TO STOP THE IRRITATION. THE PARTICLES ARE BLACK AND DISINTEGRATE INTO DUST OR POWDER UPON CONTACT. I HAVE SEARCH THE INTERNET IN REFERENCE TO THIS ISSUE AND FOUND OUT THAT SEVERAL INCIDENTS ARE OCCURRING. THE DEALERSHIP EXPLAINED THE ISSUE AND HOW EXPENSIVE A REPAIR IT WOULD BE. THEIR SOLUTION IS TO KEEP BLOWING OUT THE DUCTS WITH COMPRESSED AIR UNTIL THE HEAT SHIELD IS GONE. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THE HEAT SHIELD IF ITS NOT NECESSARY? THE PART NUMBER I WAS GIVEN IS 1J1820007 HOUSING WITH EVAPORATOR. I JUST SPOKE WITH VW CONSUMER DEPARTMENT AND WAS TOLD THAT NO RECALLS OR SAFETY ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED. THIS CAN AND IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BOTH FROM A SAFETY STAND POINT AND CAR MANUFACTURE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA complaint #10565969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 88,000 miles Cincinnati, OH

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

REAR WINDOW REGULATOR BAD - REPLACE $639.00 FRONT REGULATOR BAD - $338.23 RADIO WENT BAD - DRAINS BATTERY - REPLACEMENT $419.62 AIRCONDITIONER MAKING LOUD NOISE NOT REPLACEMENT YET DASH LIGHT BULB - 100.62 REPLACE CRANK SEAL,WATER PUMP,THERMOSTAT,DRIVE BELT $1,094.16 OUTSIDE TEMP GAUGE REPLACE $49.70 .

NHTSA complaint #10536691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,742 miles Trabuco Canyon, CA

ENGINE

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED WITH ORIGINAL WARRANTY STILL GOING AND I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (HIGH TECH) WITH IT. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND THEN SHIFT INTO GEAR OR SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR OR IT WOULD BARELY MOVE. MY MALFUNCTION LIGHTS DIFFERENT ONES WERE COMING ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT. SOMETIMES IT WOULD LEAK ALL THE WATER OUT AND OTHERS YOU WOULD SEE IT BOILING THE CAR ALSO MADE DIFFERENT NOISES AS I DROVE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WOULD MAKE THIS PIERCING NOISE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD GO DOWN AND UP BY ITSELF. WELL THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN REPLACED PLUS MORE.....(2) HEAD GASKETS, A FEW WATERPUMPS, COOLANT FLANGE MELTED A FEW TIMES, A COUPLE THERMOSTATS, IMPELLOR, TIMING BELT TENSIONER NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING NUMEROUS TIMES AND SEVERAL THINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES ALONG WITH OTHER ITEMS. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN TO VW CAPO FOR REPAIR OVER 40 + TIMES I STOPPED COUNTING. VW CAPO IS THE ONLY PLACE THAT HAS SERVICED THIS CAR SINCE MY PURCHASE. I HAVE BEEN STRANDED ON ORTEGA HWY IN 103 DEGREES WITH NO CELL COVERAGE DUE TO VEHICLE OVERHEATING I THINK I'VE BEEN TOWED IN 4 OR 5 TIMES. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT HERE....THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT'S MY FAULT THAT I MUST HAVE PUT SOMETHING IN THE CAR TO CLOG IT. I NOW HAVE REPLACED THE RADIATOR AT MY COST OF $1600 PLUS. HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD ALL THESE PROBLEMS?? I HAVE HAD ALOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE STRUTS, MOUNT, CV BOOTS, CONTROL ARMS ETC.........

NHTSA complaint #10519729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 80,801 miles Lincolnton, GA

ENGINE

WHEN GEARING DOWN OR STARTING UP AT REDLIGHT, CAR DOWNSHIFTS AND GEARS-UP WITH A JERK; TOOK TO VW DEALER; SAYS IT IS VALVE BODY DEFECT WHICH COULD UTIMATELY CAUSE TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD; WAS TOLD AT DEALERSHIP VW KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND EXTENDED A WARRANTY ON VALVE COVER ONLY WHICH WENT OUT LAST YR ON MY VEHICLE. I NEVER GOT A NOTICE. VW ADMITS THE PROBLEM WAS THERE WHEN MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO. I BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MANY VW OWNERS. ALSO HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH WINDOW REGULATORS MALFUCTIONING - AFFECTING LOCKING OF DOORS AND WINDOW CLOSINGS- EVEN WHEN THESE COSTLY REGULATORS ARE REPLACED, THE PROBLEMS RETURN... MY CAR VALUE IS NOW -0- THANKS TO VW MANUFACTURING ISSUES.

NHTSA complaint #10498232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 120,000 miles Mcdonough, GA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT. THE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED. ONE MONTH LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER EACH TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION TO THE PREVIOUS REPAIR, THE CV BOOSTER WAS ALSO REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA complaint #10480719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 50,000 miles Manhattan Beach, CA

ENGINE

THE FIRST TIME I DROVE MY USED OVER 50 MPH ALONG COASTAL ROAD (WITHIN 24 HOURS OF PURCHASE FROM A TOYOTA DEALER), THE ENGINE CUT POWER AND ROLLED TO A STOP. FROM FIRST GEAR, IT BEGAN TO DRIVE AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE VALVE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR OVER 55 ON THE FREEWAY FOR FEAR OF CUTTING POWER. IN AUGUST 2011, THE SAME CUT OF POWER OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING 4 MILES IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE ON THE 405 FREEWAY. I ROLLED OFF THE FREEWAY OFFRAMP AND CAME TO A STOP. THE TRANSMISSION RESET ITSELF AND DROVE UP TO 40 MPH TO MY DESTINATION ON SIDE STREETS. AGAIN THE DEALER ACCUSED THE VALVE BODY. IN JULY 2012, I DECIDED TO LET THE DEALER CHECK THE CAR OUT AGAIN BECAUSE I HAD A STRANGE CUT IN POWER UPON ACCELERATION FROM A LEFT TURN TRAFFIC LIGHT THE PREVIOUS DAY. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT MY FUEL PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. AFTER THESE THREE FIXES, I TRUST THE CAR TO DRIVE AROUND TOWN. BUT I SUFFER EXTREME ANXIETY ABOUT DRIVING THE CAR ON A FREEWAY. THIS WEEK, I NEED TO MOVE THE CAR FROM CALIFORNIA 300 MILES TO NEVADA. I AM NOT CERTAIN IF THE TRANSMISSION CAN DRIVE THAT DISTANCE WITHOUT A CUT IN POWER. NOT DEPENDABLE, NOT WORTH $15,000 PRICE TAG. EMBARRASSMENT!

NHTSA complaint #10476935 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 96,000 miles Hayward, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THIS CAR IS HORRIBLE! AT 70,000 MILES THE CAR WOULD JERK WHILE IT WAS DRIVING. IT WAS ESPECIALLY SCARY IF IT STARTED TO JERK/KICK WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. I GOT A NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW ENGINE. THEN 20,000 MILES LATER, IT DID IT AGAIN AND NOW VOLKSWAGEN SAID IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION! AGAIN! MORE JERKING, AND IT BECAME WORSE AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED "UNDER WARRANTY" I WILL COMPLAIN TO THE BBB AS WELL. HORRIBLE THAT I PUT SO MUCH MONEY IN ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE CAR STILL WONT WORK. SAFETY PROBLEMS AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #10435966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 43,351 miles Howard, CO

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE 2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH ONLY 43,351 MILES ON IT. RECENTLY I HAD TO REPLACE WATER PUMP DUE TO THE IMPELLER BEING MADE OF PLASTIC ATTACHED TO METAL AND NOW MY REAR WINDOW REGULATORS HAVE BROKEN AND WONT ROLL UP OR DOWN THE WINDOWS. I PAID $650.00 TO FIX WATER PUMP AND WAS TOLD I COULD EXPECT TO REPLACE IT AGAIN IN 40000 MILES DUE TO ITS POOR MANUFACTURING. THIS FROM A VOLKSWAGEN MECHANIC. A WEEK LATER THE WINDOW REGULATORS ON MY BEETLE ALSO BROKE. LOOKING THROUGH THE INTERNET I FOUND ALOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH VOLKSWAGEN FOR THE SAME THING THAT IM EXPERIENCING WITH MY CAR. I CAN UNDERSTAND NOTHING IS PERFECT IT JUST SEEMS TO ME THAT EVERYONE EXPERIENCING THE SAME TYPE PROBLEMS WITH SIMILAR VEHICLES BOTH YEAR MODEL AND MAKE AND SOMEONE NEED TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER NOW. I HOPE ENOUGH PEOPLE COMPLAIN TO INSTITUTE A RECALL FOR VOLKSWAGEN TO ACT UPON.

NHTSA complaint #10407770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 145,000 miles Fowlerville, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED A NOISE WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND THE FLYWHEEL SUDDENLY EXPLODED AND LOCKED THE VEHICLE, DAMAGING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FLYWHEEL AND TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AFTER A MECHANIC INSPECTED IT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 148,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

NHTSA complaint #10363490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Summit, MS

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

MY 2005 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS BOTH A SIDE CRASH SENSOR AND A COOLANT TEMP SENSOR BOTH ARE OUT AND NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. COST OF OVER 800.00.

NHTSA complaint #10253758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,937 miles LAS Vegas, NV

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

ENGINE MISFIRE FAULT. DTC P0300.

NHTSA complaint #10160632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Watervliet, NY Crash

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ATTEMPTED TO STOP IN DRIVEWAY, ENGINE RACED OUT OF CONTROL, COULD NOT STOP AND HIT UTILITY TRAILER IN YARD, CAR CAME TO STOP BECAUSE OF COLLISION, SHIFTED INTO CAR STILL IN GARAGE BEING FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #10140808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,500 miles Troy, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE A 2000 VW BEETLE WITH 47,500 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I PURCHASED IT IN MAY OF 2000 FROM COOLEY. . I HAVE CLOSELY FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES ETC. I HAVE BEEN VERY WELL PLEASED WITH THIS CAR DESPITE SOME UNUSUAL PROBLEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH A SENSOR THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL ( SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED). THAT COST ME $100. THEN AT ABOUT 35K I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED BRAKES $400 +. ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2005 I WAS ENROUTE TO WELLS, MAINE. APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES BEFORE MY DESTINATION, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY DESTINATION. AFTER THE CAR HAD COOLED, WE INSPECTED THE HOSES AND COOLANT AND BELT. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OK AND WE THOUGH EVERYTHING WAS GOOD SO WE STARTED OUT TO COME HOME (SUNDAY JULY 17TH, 2005) A SHORT DISTANCE INTO THE TRIP ( 5 -10 MILES). HEAT INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF AND THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY CAME BY, CALLED A TOW AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BROWN'S AUTO REPAIR IN WELLS, MAINE. MY FRIEND, WHO IS THE FACILITIES MANAGER FOR THE WELLS SCHOOL DISTRICT, HAS HIS FLEET OF CARS AND TRUCKS SERVICED THERE SO I BELIEVED THE REPAIR SHOP TO BE REPUTABLE. MR.. BROWN, REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, THE WATER PUMP, FAN MOTORS, SENSORS, SERPENTINE BELT, TIMING BELT AND COOLANT ETC. AT A COST OF $1396.. THE FIRST TOWING EXPENSE WAS COVERED BY MY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. BOTH MR... BROWN AND THE VW DEALERSHIP WHERE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE PURCHASED SEEMED TO THINK THAT I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE LOW MILEAGE. I AGREE. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE. IF OTHER BEETLE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES AND PROBLEMS. I HAVE OWNED FIVE OTHER VW AUTOMOBILES AND AM A VW LOVER BUT THIS DOES NOT MAKE ME A HAPPY VW OWNER.

NHTSA complaint #10131377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2005 Volkswagen Beetle problems

← Full 2005 Volkswagen Beetle report