2010 Volkswagen Beetle problems

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that while having a routine inspection with an independent mechanic, the contact was informed that the vehicle had failed the inspection due to the emissions system. The vehicle was not repaired due to the part being on backorder. The vehicle was undriveable. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

NHTSA complaint #11628582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TIRES

The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Beetle equipped with Barum Tires, Tire Line: Bravuris, Tire Size: 225/45/R17, DOT Number: (Not Provided). The contact stated that while his daughter was driving approximately 65 MPH, the front passenger’s side of the vehicle started to shake, vibrate, and wobble. After stopping to inspect the vehicle, it was discovered that the sidewall of the front passenger’s side tire had completely separated. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The tire manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 200.

NHTSA complaint #11489286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

My car only has 43K miles, I had issues when it was 10K miles, where the key will not turn to start the engine, it gets stuck, and sometimes it gets stuck with the steering wheel. The issue was reproducible when I brought it in to the VW dealership near me. The service rep told me it is very common for this model (bug) but they don't know why. They quoted me $1200 to get the LOCK|BOLT|CYLINDER replaced, but the warranty is only 12 months/12K miles. Mind you that it happened when it was 10K miles. Imagine, my wife and 7-year-old stop at a gas station at night and can't start the car because everything is locked. I contacted VW Care, but they don't care unless there is a recall. So, I am filling out this complaint form. Thank you.

NHTSA complaint #11458021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My car only has 43K miles, I had issues when it was 10K miles, where the key will not turn to start the engine, it gets stuck, and sometimes it gets stuck with the steering wheel. The issue was reproducible when I brought it in to the VW dealership near me. The service rep told me it is very common for this model (bug) but they don't know why. They quoted me $1200 to get the LOCK|BOLT|CYLINDER replaced, but the warranty is only 12 months/12K miles. Mind you that it happened when it was 10K miles. Imagine, my wife and 7-year-old stop at a gas station at night and can't start the car because everything is locked. I contacted VW Care, but they don't care unless there is a recall. So, I am filling out this complaint form. Thank you.

NHTSA complaint #11458021 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

2010 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FAILED SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 10 MPH AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH 30% OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FULL AMOUNT SHOULD BE REIMBURSED DUE TO THE FAILURE BEING KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURE.

NHTSA complaint #11257013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

2010 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FAILED SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 10 MPH AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH 30% OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FULL AMOUNT SHOULD BE REIMBURSED DUE TO THE FAILURE BEING KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURE.

NHTSA complaint #11257013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

2010 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FAILED SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 10 MPH AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH 30% OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FULL AMOUNT SHOULD BE REIMBURSED DUE TO THE FAILURE BEING KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURE.

NHTSA complaint #11257013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MIGHT NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED; HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #11254239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

THE HEADLIGHT ON MY 2010 NEW BEETLE WENT OUT. IT STARTED TO DIM WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK TONIGHT AND THEN WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE HE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. HE CALLED AND WAS TELLING ME THAT THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WAS DIM AND DID NOT LOOK BRIGHT LIKE THE RIGHT SIDE. HE SENT ME A PICTURE--AND JUST THEN THE LEFT LIGHT WENT COMPLETELY OUT! THE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS JUST REPLACED AT A VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE CENTER EARLIER TODAY. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 17,000 MILES! THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND CONTINUOUSLY HAVING TO HAVE THEIR HEADLIGHTS FIXED--ONLY TO HAVE THEM GO OUT AGAIN. FORTUNATELY IT WAS ONLY THE ONE SIDE THAT WENT OUT. I HAVE READ THAT PEOPLE WITH 2010 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLES ARE EXPERIENCING PREMATURE HEADLIGHT BULB BURN OUT, HEADLIGHT HARNESS FAILURES AND DAMAGED CONNECTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

NHTSA complaint #11251898 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TAKATA RECALL. HAS LEFT ME STRANDED SWITCH WILL NOT ALWAYS TURN ON. THE CALENDAR BELOW WANTS A DATE. THIS CAN BE A DAILY THING, AS I DRIVE IT BACK AND FOURTH TO WORK.09

NHTSA complaint #11097652 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

WATER LEAK INTO REAR HATCH; THIRD BRAKE LIGHT PREMATURE PLASTIC PART FAILURE AT 75,016 MILES. THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE RISK OF ACCIDENT OR WATER/ELECTRICAL FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #11075356 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN I BRAKE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DOES NOT COME ONE SOMETIME AND COMES ON SOMETIMES. I'VE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, PEOPLE FOLLOWING BEHIND ME AND CURSE AT ME FOR MY LIGHTS NOT WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #11023771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

WHEN I BRAKE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DOES NOT COME ONE SOMETIME AND COMES ON SOMETIMES. I'VE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, PEOPLE FOLLOWING BEHIND ME AND CURSE AT ME FOR MY LIGHTS NOT WORKING.

NHTSA complaint #11023771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE CAR AND IT STALLS, YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE IT AND IT DOESN'T MOVE AND TURNS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. BIG SAFETY CONCERN. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS BEEN TO THE VW DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT 4 TIMES ALREADY AT KUHN'S IN FLORIDA. ALL SERVICE RECORDS ARE AT THIS DEALER. STILL THE PROBLEM HASN'T BEEN FIXED.

NHTSA complaint #10938850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS ABLE TO FULLY ROTATE UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH, HOUSING, AND LOCK SET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

NHTSA complaint #10937096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEAD LIGHT HOUSING ON BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE NOT TO MENTION HOW MANY BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON BOTH SIDE. OCCASIONALLY, IF A BULB GOES OUT THEN ALL LIGHTING SYSTEMS FAIL EVEN IF YOU ARE DRIVING!

NHTSA complaint #10894722 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FEBRUARY 2015 MY FUEL TANK BEGAN LEAKING FROM A PRESSED RIDGE AREA OF THE TANK, NOT IN A SEAM, NOT IN A GASKET. TANK REPLACED. SIX MONTHS LATER SECOND FUEL TANK LEAKING IN SAME AREA. APPEARS TO BE A PRODUCTION AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT RELATED TO A WEAK AREA OF THE METAL. FUEL LITERALLY DRIPPING FROM THE TANK ONTO THE GROUND. CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE FUEL AND FUMES. THIS HAPPENED RANDOMLY WITHOUT ANY ISSUE OF DAMAGE TO THE TANKS. CONTACTED VW WHO REFUSED TO HELP IN ANY WAY. WE HAVE KEPT THE FIRST TANK FOR OBSERVATION. AT THIS TIME VEHICLE IS PARKED LEAKING FUEL AND UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE ANOTHER TANK, AND END UP WITH SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10790654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

REPORTING AS OF INITIAL COMPLAINT NUMBER 10790654. WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NHTSA REALIZES THERE ARE TWO GAS TANK LEAKS FOR THE 2010 VW BEETLE.

NHTSA complaint #10790655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 HOURS IN 80 DEGREE WEATHER, I STOP THE CAR TO FILL FOR GASOLINE, AND WHEN STARTING THE CAR TO DRIVE FORWARD ON MY TRIP, THE STEERING WHEEL ERRATICALLY MOVES ON IT'S OWN, AND THEN THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING GOES INTO A FAULT THUS LOSING ALL POWER STEERING. I HAVE BEEN TO NUMEROUS VW DEALERS OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, AND HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. WHEN I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATE, THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE FAULT CODE CLEARS ITSELF SO THAT WHEN IT IS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALER, THE DEALER DOES NOT SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING THE CAR CANNOT BE OPERATED SAFELY WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING, AND THIS SHOULD BE A VEHICLE SAFETY RECALL, SINCE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. I ALSO HAVE A VIDEO RECORDED ON MY PHONE OF THE LATEST INCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10733996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL TANK FAILURE WITH METAL CASTING OF THE TANK CAUSING THE ESCAPE OF EXPLOSIVE FUEL VAPORS AND VEHICLE STALLING. BOTH VW OF AMERICA AND THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP HENDRICK VW OF LEWISVILLE TEXAS WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE SERVICE PROBLEM FIRST AROSE AT 66K MILES THEN FINALLY DIAGNOSED/CORRECTED AT 100K MILES. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WOULD NOT WAIVE THE REPAIR COST OF $3165.43 WE HAD TO PAY TO CORRECT THIS MANUFACTURER CASTING DEFECT AS DIAGNOSED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DEALER MANAGER. VW OF AMERICA REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILTY OF THEIR MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND THE HENDRICK VW SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THEY DID NOT REPRESENT VW!

NHTSA complaint #10724868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DOOR HINGE SUSPENSION THIS IS THE 2ND VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WE HAVE OWNED. 1ST WAS A 2006. BOTH CARS HAVE EXPERIENCED DOOR HINGE ISSUES. MY FEELING IS THE DOORS ARE TOO HEAVY FOR THE HINGE SUSPENSION. IT HAS HAPPENED ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. NOISE, THEN THE SMALL PIN SUSPENSION SNAPS.

NHTSA complaint #10721297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STRUCTURE:BODY

DOOR HINGE SUSPENSION THIS IS THE 2ND VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WE HAVE OWNED. 1ST WAS A 2006. BOTH CARS HAVE EXPERIENCED DOOR HINGE ISSUES. MY FEELING IS THE DOORS ARE TOO HEAVY FOR THE HINGE SUSPENSION. IT HAS HAPPENED ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. NOISE, THEN THE SMALL PIN SUSPENSION SNAPS.

NHTSA complaint #10721297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

NOTICED A SIMILAR COMPLAINT AND WANTED TO ADD THAT SINCE OWNING THE 2010 VW BEETLE, WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GETS VERY WARM, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FEATURE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DISENGAGE, CAUSING THE IGNITION KEY SWITCH TO REMAIN LOCKED. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR 4 YEARS AS THE DEALER SHOWED ME HOW TO DISENGAGE THE LOCKED STEERING WHEEL (PRESS BRAKE PEDAL, TURN KEY IN IGNITION) BUT HAD NO RESPONSE TO THE TEMPERATURE SITUATION. I AM NOT AN IDIOT, I AM SHORT THOUGH, SO IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR WITHOUT BUMPING THE STEERING WHEEL AND LOCKING IT. AS I KEEP THE DOOR OPEN (AIR BRINGS INSIDE TEMPERATURE DOWN), I SWEAT AWAY AS I WAIT FOR THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE LOCK SO I CAN TURN THE KEY. ANNOYED.

NHTSA complaint #10689585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

AT 7AM ON A 5 DEGREE ABOVE ZERO MORNING, MY VW PULLED OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE FINE, I DROVE ONE BLOCK, FINE, AT THE SECOND BLOCK'S STOP SIGN, MY BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK I HAD TO DRIVE VERY SLOWLY, BRAKE VERY HARD FOR THE CAR TO COME TO A STOP. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT ALTHOUGH NEVER PART OF A RECALL, THAT THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURRED BEFORE, AND HAS POTENTIAL TO BE DANGEROUS. FOR EXAMPLE, MY KNEE IS VERY SORE FROM PRESSING ON THE BRAKES, AND IF I HAD BEEN GOING AT A HIGHER SPEED WHEN I FIRST DISCOVERED THE ISSUE - I WOULD HAVE INHERENTLY SLID INTO THE CAR(S) AHEAD OF ME, POSSIBLY CREATING A BAD SITUATION. THE MECHANIC ALSO TOLD ME THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER DUE TO AN UNEXPECTED DEMAND. THIS IS A SITUATION THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY VW OF AMERICA, FOR SAFETY ISSUES ON A RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLE (LESS THAN 55,000 MILES / 4.3 YRS OLD).

NHTSA complaint #10689580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

WINDOW HAD BEEN STICKING GOING BACK UP, THEN COMPLETELY FAILED AND FELL DOWN WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #10616482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.