2009 Volkswagen Beetle problems

SEATS

Heated seat is so hot it burned holes in the seat and my pants.

NHTSA complaint #11566484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Headlamps do not stay illuminated regardless of speed. This issue occurs each time the car is used. This is a hazard when driving in low light conditions as others cannot see the vehicle and lack of lighting impairs ones ability to see the road. This issue has not been investigated by a service center. There are no warning indicators that the lights are not functioning. The issue was present when the used vehicle was purchased in 2020.

NHTSA complaint #11499731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

The airbag warning light is constantly lit up on the dashboard. It has been determined that it is a malfunction of the airbag control module and can’t be reset. There has been a recall on previous models of the car, and it should be extended to this model’s year. It poses a risk to safety as if there were to be an issue with the airbags where the light would warn me, I wouldn’t know because the light is already on and it would be impossible to determine if there was a problem. If there is an airbag issue, in case of an accident it would be a huge safety risk. Since this part has already been recalled previously, there is no reason the recall shouldn’t be extended.

NHTSA complaint #11444270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

headlamp connecters fail to connect at this time passenger side headlamp is not working, headlamp assy, fall out of their buckets in fenders.

NHTSA complaint #11422154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

AT ~50K MILES THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR STOPPED WORKING. DETERMINED IT WAS THE CABLE STARTING TO SHED STRANDS THAT WOULD BIND THE MOTOR. REPLACED CABLES AND TRIMMED OUT REGULATOR WHICH TOOK ME A WEEKEND TO COMPLETE THE JOB. NOW AT ~63K MILES THE DRIVER SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR IS STUCK HALF WAY CLOSED AND ASSUMING IT'S THE SAME ISSUE WITH A POOR DESIGNED CABLE SYSTEM THAT ROUTINELY FAILS. VERY ANNOYING WITH CABLE SYSTEMS NOT ONLY USED FOR THE WINDOW REGULATORS BUT FOR THE RETRACTABLE CONVERTIBLE TOP AND DOOR LATCHES. NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY.

NHTSA complaint #11363045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

JUST PURCHASE A USED 2009 VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE FOR OUR 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. THIS IS HER DREAM CAR AND SO EXCITED. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ON OUR WAY HOME FROM THE CAR LOT. THE ENTIRE HOUSING UNIT JUST GONE. WE PURCHASED THE CAR AS IS, SO WE ORDERED 2 NEW HEADLIGHTS HOUSING UNITS AND HAD THEM INSTALLED YESTERDAY. TODAY, THE FIRST TIME DRIVING SINCE GETTING BACK FROM SHOP, THE PASSENGER HEAD LIGHT HOUSING FELL OUT WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR THOROUGHFARE ONLY 3 MILES FROM LEAVING OUR HOUSE CRASHING ALL OVER THE ROAD BEHIND US WHERE OTHER VEHICLES HAD TO SWERVE OUT OF THE WAY. WE DID NOT EVEN HIT A BUMP. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY PROBLEM FOR ANYONE AND ESPECIALLY A NEW TEEN DRIVER. IT IS NOT SAFE! OUR MECHANIC TOLD US IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. RESEARCHING SEVERAL THREADS HAVE CONCURRED HIS STATEMENT OF LIGHTS FALLING OUT OR CONNECTIONS FREQUENTLY COMING LOOSE SO THE LIGHTS GO OUT AT THE SLIGHTEST BUMP WHILE DRIVING. VW BEETLE LIGHTS ARE GARBAGE. SO VERY DISAPPOINTING VW HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THE HEADLIGHT ISSUES FOR THE MORE SAFETY CONCERN AS WELL AS THE CONTINUOUS EXPENSE OWNERS INCUR HAVING TO REPLACE ENTIRE UNITS, OR BULBS, OR CONNECTIONS AND THE LABOR COSTS THAT GO ALONG WITH IT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS, WE'VE HAD THE CAR A WEEK AND HAVE ALREADY SPENT $500 REPLACING LIGHTS AND THE LABOR AND THEN THE DANG THING FALLS OUT AGAIN. I CERTAINLY DON'T FEEL MY DAUGHTER IS SAFE IF THE HEADLIGHTS FALL OUT EVERY TIME SHE DRIVES IT.

NHTSA complaint #11325486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE HEADLIGHTS ARE FREQUENTLY OUT. THEY BECOME DISCONNECTED EASILY AND THEN DON'T WORK. I HAVE GONE IN MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET THEM FIXED AND I AM ALWAYS TOLD IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE MODEL. MY HEADLIGHT EVEN FELL OUT WHEN I WAS DRIVING ONCE! THE BULBS SEEM TO DIES QUICKLY AS A RESULT AND I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY TRYING TO FIX THEM.

NHTSA complaint #11307957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS WILL QUIT WORKING AFTER HITTING BUMPS IN THE ROAD. THE HEADLIGHT (DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAVE THIS ISSUE) WILL LOOSEN FROM THE PIN MECHANISM INSIDE THE CAR. I REPLACED BULBS 3 TIMES BEFORE REALIZING THE BULBS WERE FINE AND IT WAS A DESIGN FLAW. THE "HOOK" THAT TURNS AND HOLDS THE HEADLIGHT TIGHT WILL JAR AND COME LOOSE WHEN THE CAR HITS A BUMP IN THE ROAD. DRIVING HOME LAST WEEK AND MY PASSENGER SIDE LIGHT GOES OUT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. EVERY MORNING I HAVE TO PUSH THE HEADLIGHTS BACK INTO TURN THE NUT TO SECURE THE LIGHT. BY THE TIME I GET TO WORK AT LEAST ONE OF THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT AGAIN. THIS IS DANGEROUS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER 2 YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #11265297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON LAST SPRING TOOK IT DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY AND THEY CHARGED ME 110 TO TELL ME MY AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON 900 TO HAVE FAULTY AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE REPLACED.. I AM WAITING ON A RECALL BUT WANTED TO REPORT THE ISSUE. I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND THAT'S WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON

NHTSA complaint #11176390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE WINDOWS ON THIS MODEL OF VM BEETLE IS DEFECTIVE I RESEARCHED IT AND FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS THAT ARE DOCUMENTED AS AN ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11173691 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

THE STEERING COLUMN LOCKS AND THE KEY WILL NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION TO START THE VEHICLE SOMETIMES. AFTER A CURSORY GOOGLE SEARCH AND SPEAKING WITH THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR VW BEETLES AND JETTAS. IT IS HIGHLY UNSAFE TO HAVE A CAR WITH AN UNRELIABLE IGNITION, PARTICULARLY WHEN TRAVELING ALONE AT NIGHT. VW HAS PLACED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND ACKNOWLEDGED A FAULTY DESIGN FOR THE 2012-2013 BEETLES, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ADDRESS THE DESIGN FLAW IN EARLIER MODELS TO MY KNOWLEDGE.

NHTSA complaint #11092771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

ENGINE STALLIG USUALLY WHEN TURNING, AFTER A STOP, WHEN GOING SLOW... WE HAVE TRIED TO FIX THIS ISSUE BY TAKING THE CAR TO MECHANICS AND THEY CAN'T RULE OUT A SOLUTION BECAUSE IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND IT SEEMS TO BE WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN WARMED UP. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VERY SCARY BECAUSE THERE'S LOSS OF STEERING WHEEL POWER AND IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. WE HAVE CHANGED NUMEROUS THINGS AND IT KEEPS GIVING US THIS ISSUE. SOMETIMES IT IDLES ROUGH. SOMETIMES THE NEEDLE WHERE THE RPMS ARE DROPS BUT COMES BACK UP. WE HAVE EXHAUSTED OUR OPTIONS AND WE CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION

NHTSA complaint #11091999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

ENGINE STALLIG USUALLY WHEN TURNING, AFTER A STOP, WHEN GOING SLOW... WE HAVE TRIED TO FIX THIS ISSUE BY TAKING THE CAR TO MECHANICS AND THEY CAN'T RULE OUT A SOLUTION BECAUSE IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND IT SEEMS TO BE WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN WARMED UP. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VERY SCARY BECAUSE THERE'S LOSS OF STEERING WHEEL POWER AND IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. WE HAVE CHANGED NUMEROUS THINGS AND IT KEEPS GIVING US THIS ISSUE. SOMETIMES IT IDLES ROUGH. SOMETIMES THE NEEDLE WHERE THE RPMS ARE DROPS BUT COMES BACK UP. WE HAVE EXHAUSTED OUR OPTIONS AND WE CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION

NHTSA complaint #11091999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

ENGINE STALLIG USUALLY WHEN TURNING, AFTER A STOP, WHEN GOING SLOW... WE HAVE TRIED TO FIX THIS ISSUE BY TAKING THE CAR TO MECHANICS AND THEY CAN'T RULE OUT A SOLUTION BECAUSE IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND IT SEEMS TO BE WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN WARMED UP. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. VERY SCARY BECAUSE THERE'S LOSS OF STEERING WHEEL POWER AND IT HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. WE HAVE CHANGED NUMEROUS THINGS AND IT KEEPS GIVING US THIS ISSUE. SOMETIMES IT IDLES ROUGH. SOMETIMES THE NEEDLE WHERE THE RPMS ARE DROPS BUT COMES BACK UP. WE HAVE EXHAUSTED OUR OPTIONS AND WE CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION

NHTSA complaint #11091999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

A YEAR AGO I HAD THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW FIXED, AND SINCE THEN, THE WINDOW HAS BEEN FAULTY. I OWN A CONVERTIBLE, SO THE WINDOWS ARE SUPPOSED TO GO DOWN HALF AN INCH AND MINE DOES NOT. MOST TIMES WHEN I CLOSE THE DOOR, THE WINDOW IS OVER THE TOP OF THE CAR, LEAVING A CRACK BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND MY CAR DOOR. LAST NIGHT, JULY 30TH OF 2017, I HAD ROLLED DOWN MY BACK WINDOW WHILE IDLE AND HEARD SOMETHING COMPAREABLE TO A FORK IN A GARBAGE DISPOSAL. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED ROLLING THE WINDOW DOWN BECAUSE I KNEW IT WOULD NOT COME BACK UP, SEEING AS I HAD JUST FIXED THIS PROBLEM LESS THAN A YEAR AGO WITH THE FRONT WINDOW WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED AND MY CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK AND A HALF. I PROCEEDED TO LOOK ONLINE TO LOOK FOR A RECALL WITH NO LUCK. ALTHOUGH I DID FIND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS HAD THIS ISSUE. NOT ONLY IS THIS FIX QUITE COSTLY, BUT IT'S A SAFETY HAZARD. NOT TO MENTION THAT IT'S NOT DUE TO THE CARELESSNESS OF THE OWNER, BUT SIMPLY FAULT OF THE MANUFACTURER. I PROCEEDED TO CALL VW WITH NO LUCK BUT TO BE DIRECTED HERE TO YOU. I'M ASKING FOR A RECALL TO BE PUT INTO ACTION. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #11011697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THREE OUT OF FOUR WINDOWS WILL NOT WORK. THIS IS A CONVERTIBLE.

NHTSA complaint #11003003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY 2009 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WINDOWS STOPPED WORKING. FIRST IS WAS ON THE TWO BACK PASSENGER WINDOW. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER THE DRIVER WINDOW FAILED TO WORK. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. EACH TIME THE DEALERSHIP REPORTED THAT IT WAS THE REGULATOR THAT NEEDED REPLACING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THAT VW SHOULD PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS. EACH WINDOW COST 500 TO 600 DOLLARS.

NHTSA complaint #10944233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

ALL 4 WIDOW REGULATORS AND/OR CABLES HAVE FAILED, REQUIRING REPLACEMENT. WITHOUT FIXING, THE WINDOWS WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN. THE COST WILL EXCEED $1000.

NHTSA complaint #10939197 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

AFTER A BUSINESS TRIP INTO AUSTIN MY VEHICLE STARTED JERKING WHEN I WOULD BRAKE OR ACCELERATE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS NOTHING JUST MY CAR ACTING DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE THE IMMEDIATE CHANGE IN SPEED GOING FROM 85 TO ABOUT 40 TO EXIT OFF THE INTERSTATE. ON THE WAY TO HOUSTON THERE WAS NO TROUBLE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE FOLLOWING EVENING BEING MY FIRST TIME DRIVING IT ALL DAY, I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN MY VEHICLE JERKED 4 OR 5 TIMES THEN STOPPED WHEN THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE BATTERY AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. I TURNED OFF MY CAR THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE WHEEL WAS UNLOCKED AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WAS OFF, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE IF IT WOULD DO IT AGAIN AND IT DIDN'T, BUT I STILL REFUSE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I KNOW WHAT'S WRONG.

NHTSA complaint #10895837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AFTER A BUSINESS TRIP INTO AUSTIN MY VEHICLE STARTED JERKING WHEN I WOULD BRAKE OR ACCELERATE. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS NOTHING JUST MY CAR ACTING DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE THE IMMEDIATE CHANGE IN SPEED GOING FROM 85 TO ABOUT 40 TO EXIT OFF THE INTERSTATE. ON THE WAY TO HOUSTON THERE WAS NO TROUBLE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. THE FOLLOWING EVENING BEING MY FIRST TIME DRIVING IT ALL DAY, I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY NEIGHBORHOOD AND WHEN TRYING TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN MY VEHICLE JERKED 4 OR 5 TIMES THEN STOPPED WHEN THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE BATTERY AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS I WAS AT A STOP SIGN. I TURNED OFF MY CAR THEN TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE WHEEL WAS UNLOCKED AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WAS OFF, BUT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. I PROCEEDED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE I WANTED TO SEE IF IT WOULD DO IT AGAIN AND IT DIDN'T, BUT I STILL REFUSE TO DRIVE IT UNTIL I KNOW WHAT'S WRONG.

NHTSA complaint #10895837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SEAT BELTS

DRIVER AND PASSANGER SEAT BELT CATCHES AND LATER RELEASES RESULTING IN A LOOSE SEATBELT. ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT WHERE IT ATTATCHES TO THE VEHICLE ITSELF IS ALLOWED TO SLIDE BACK AND FORTH ACCORDING TO THE SEATS ADJUSTMENTS. HOWEVER, ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE OF THE SLIDING BAR RESPONSIBLE TO HOLD THE BELT HAS A 90 DEGREE NOTCH WHERE THE BAR ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. WHEN THE USER USES RESTRAINS THEMSELF MORE OFTEN THEN NOT THE BELT CATCHES IN THIS NOTCH AREA. NOT ALLOWING THE BELT TO PROPERLY SLIDE FORWARD INTO THE USERS CURRENTS POSITION. THUS DURING SOME POINT OF DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE BELT FREES ITSELFS FROM THE BACK 90 DEGREE PORTIONS OF THE BAR SLIDING FORWARD. THIS RESULTS IN A LOSE BELT.

NHTSA complaint #10873550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE PASSEGER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,792.

NHTSA complaint #10840386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

VEHICLE HAS GAS FUME ODOR ACCUMULATING WHILE INSIDE GARAGE AND INSIDE VEHICLE FOR OVER ONE YEAR. TOOK TO DEALER ON FEBRUARY 2015 WHO DID A 27 POINT INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE BUT STILL HAS GAS ODOR.

NHTSA complaint #10711771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.