31 of the 262 complaints filed about the Volkswagen NEW Beetle are about the engine — 12% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2000.
31
Complaints
12%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHEN CHANGING THE OIL, A FRAME SUPPORT PAN FOUND ONLY ON CONVERTIBLE CATCHES THE MOTOR OIL. THIS SUPPORT PEN IS CONCAVED AND TRAPS A LARGE MOUNT OF OIL. IF NOT WIPED OUT WITH RAGS IT STAYS THERE CAUSING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD FROM A SPARK. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10099817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON. I WANTED TO PULL OVER SINCE THE CAR IS FAIRLY NEW AND HAD NEVER SEEN THAT LIGHT ON WHILE DRIVING. I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD TO CHECK THE MANUAL AND SEE WHAT THE LIGHT MEANT. THE CAR WAS IN PARK. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. AFTER CALLING ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE...I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THING IS, ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS BEFORE. THEY HAD ME DO A "PROCEDURE" TO GET THE CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND BE ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. ONCE HOME THE CAR GOT STUCK INTO NEUTRAL. I THEN HAD IT TOWED.
NHTSA complaint #10093287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, NO DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS THOUGH. DEALER SAID NOT UNDER WARRANTY; 2001 VW BEETLE WITH 7,600 MILES. CHECKED AND CHARGED $142.00 TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM, REPLACED CTS, COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR. IT APPEARS THAT IT IS HARD TO FIND ANY SHOPS WITH EQUIPMENT TO ACCESS VW'S ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM; ONLY WAY IS AT VW OR IF A SHOP HAS A PC BASED SYSTEM CALLED MORPHUS? WAS THIS DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT IS PART OF THE OVERALL ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, CONTROLLING EMISSIONS? THANK YOU, [XXX].*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10088927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
SEATBELT AIR BAG SENSOR- AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON 11/8/03 TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ORDERED THE PART. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THOSE, TURN SIGNALS WERE GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS, WAS TOLD THESE NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. CALLED IN 2 WEEKS AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ON MANUFACTURE BACKORDER AND THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY CAME IN. I CALLED EVERY 2 WEEKS THEY PART WERE NOT IN. 3/3/04 SMOG TEST DONE TO REGISTER MY CAR- FAILED SMOG, TOOK CAR TO DEALER CAT CONVERTER OUT, THEY HAD TO ORDER PART SAID THEY WOULD REORDER THE SENSOR, 3/12/04 TOOK CAR BACK IN PARTS NOT IN YET, CALLED EVERY DAY PARTS NOT IN NOW MY REGISTRATION WAS LATE. CAT CONVERTER CAME IN ON 4/2/04 IT WAS INSTALLED DEALER WAS REFUSING TO SMOG TEST FOR FREE THE FINALLY DID BUT WOULD NOT PAY THE FEES FOR MY REGISTRATION BEING LATE. CALLED AGAIN EVERY 2 WEEKS PARTS DID NOT COME IN. 6/30/04 WENT IN OTHER PARTS ON THE CAR WERE BRAKING OFF, EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE BROKEN, DISPLAY LIGHTS NOT WORKING, CUP HOLDER BROKEN, AGAIN THEY HAD TO ORDER PARTS, AND THEY NEVER CAME IN. 8/18/04 AIR CONDITIONING STOPED BLOWING COLD AIR, MADE APPT ONLINE FOR 8/23/04 TOOK CAR IN, NONE OF THE PARTS ORDERED ARE IN AGAIN. SERVICE STATED MY AIR CONDITIONING IS NOT COVERED BECAUSE OF A HOLE IN THE CONDENSOR EVEN THOUGH MY WARRANTY STATES IT IS COVERED THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT AND TRIED TO CHARGE ME $95.00 FOR FINDING THE HOLE, I REFUSED TO PAY AFTER ALL I HAVE BEEN WAITING SINCE NOVEMBER FOR SEVERAL PARTS INCLUDING A SAFTEY ISSUE, THE DEALER SERVICE HAS BEEN THE WORST I DEALT WITH IN 25 YEARS OF DRIVING. I HAVE SENT EMAILS, PHONE CALLS AND FAXES TO THE DEALER REGARDING ALL MY COMPLAINTS AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE.
NHTSA complaint #10088497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT HAS COME ON REPEATEDLY SINCE PURCHASING THE CAR FROM BURNSVILLE VW, BURNSVILLE, MN. SERVICE DEPT. STATED "IT'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT" AND RESET THE COMPUTER. AFTER PERSISTENT REOCCURANCE, REQUESTED THEY ACTUALLY FIX THE PROBLEM, THAT IS WHEN THEY INFORMED US THE RIVETS TO THE SECONDARY AIR PUMP HAD FAILED AND IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. CALLS TO VW NORTH AMERICA RESULTED IN THE SAME, "NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY", "CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT MATTER", ETC. ESTIMATED $650 TO REPLACE ITEM. WHILE WE ARE BEING TOLD IT IS A "MINOR" FAILURE AND WILL NOT AFFECT THE CAR PERFORMANCE, IT SEEMS THAT IT TRIGGERS AN "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT FOR A REASON. ALSO, WE WERE TOLD TO "IGNORE" THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT. HOWEVER IF WE IGNORE IT THEN WHEN A "SIGNIFICANT" PROBLEM OCCURS, HOW WOULD WE KNOW?! VW NORTH AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER ADMITTED THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM BUT UNLESS IT IS REPORTED WITHIN THE FIRST 2 YEARS IT IS NO LONGER COVERED.
NHTSA complaint #10086980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
NAR 02/28/2003 MR THE CONSUMER HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10014749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TEXAS LEMON LAW/ TEXAS DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES ACT/ BREACH OF WARRANTY.*MR
NHTSA complaint #10040661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
I OWN A 2000 NEW BEETLE 1.8T GLX WITH APPROXIMATELY 30461 ORIGINAL MILES. I HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF 7 REPAIRS OF THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND ONE REPAIR TO DATE OF MASS AIR FLOW METER. ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN COVERED BY VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICAS EXPENSE. I DO HOWEVER WANT TO NOTE THAT ALL THE MECHANICAL ISSUES REVOLVE AROUND THE MIL MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH. EACH OF THE FAILURES HAPPENS WITHIN ONE YEAR FROM REPLACEMNT OF PARTS AND WITH LESS THAN 6K MILES BETWEEN REPAIRS. WITH MY PERSISTANT CALLS TO VWOA AND MY LOCAL DEALER THEY HAVE PICKED UP ALL EXPENSES. THE WARRANTY FOR THIS VEHICLE WAS 2 YEARS OR 24K MILES. I NOW HAVE 30K PLUS MILES AND AM CONCERNED ABOUT THIS PERSISTANT PROBLEM OF O2 SENSORS AND THE LIKE. IF YOU REQUIRE THE VIN NUMBER FOR RECORDS OR OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME DIRECTLY BY MAIL, EMAIL, OR TELEPHONE PERHAPS THIS IS PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED BY OTHER VEHICLE OWNERS ABOUT THIS AND ORTHER MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #10080661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
NUMEROUS NUISANCE PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE AS FOLLOWS: PASSENGER WINDOW WILL NOT CLOSE WITH ELECTRIC SWITCH AT 42,000 MILES, TRUNK LATCH DEFECTIVE AT 35,000 MILES SO THAT TRUNK RELOCKS PREMATURELY, ELECTRIC MIRROR SWITCH BROKEN AT 35.000 MILES, HORN INOPERATIVE AT 35,000 MI, FLOOR MAT SNAPS NEARLY ALL BROKE AT 35,000 AND WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE, DRIVER WINDOW SWITCH BROKE AT 20,000 MI. LEAVING WINDOW IN OPEN POSITION, IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER BROKEN AT 19,000 MI. LEAVING RADIO ON AFTER CAR TURNED OFF, CIGARETTE LIGHTER INOPERATIVE UPON PURCHASE, AIR BAG LIGHT ON SPONTANEOUSLY AT17,000 MI., PASSENGER VANITY MIRROR SPONTANEOUSLY BROKEN AT 17,000 AND THEN AGAIN IMMEDIATELY AFTER REPLACEMENT BY DEALER. FINALLY CAR STALLED AT 31,000 MI. DEALER CLAIMED THAT NEW CLUTCH WAS NEEDED. NONDEALER, HOWEVER, FOUND THAT WHEN DEALER HAD INSPECTED ENGINE AFTER A COLLISION 3 MONTHS EARLIER, THEY HAD NOT PUT BOLTS BACK ON PROPERLY, CAUSING BOLTS TO BE LOST LIKELY ONE AT A TIME OVER THE 3 MONTHS. TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHEN LAST BOLT WAS LOST (WHICH I HAD FOUND ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME OF THE STALL). DEALER IS INCOMPETENT AND IRRESPONSIBLE. COMPLAINT FILED WITH MANAGER WHO MADE NO AMENDS. RUN, DON'T WALK, AWAY FROM ANY VW!!!!
NHTSA complaint #10056549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
I HAVE HAD TO PAY TO HAVE THE ENGINE ON MY VW DECARBONIZED AT 40,000 MILES AFTER A LENGTHY TOW, AND NOW IT HAD TO BE TOWED AGAIN AND NEEDS TO BE DECARBONIZED AGAIN AT ONLY 60,000 MILES. I WAS TOLD BY A SERVICE TECHNICIAN ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO THAT VW HAD ISSUED A NOTICE TO DEALERS TO PAY FOR DECARBONIZING THE ENGINES UP TO 80,000 MILES. THE SERVICE MANAGER DENIES THIS NOTICE WAS EVER ISSUED. THIS TYPE OF COSTLY AND POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM, ( MY WIFE WAS STRANDED ON THE SHOULDER OF A BUSY FREEWAY IN SUBZERO TEMPERATURES) NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
NHTSA complaint #10056458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
2001 NEW BEETLE 1.9 L TDI, 55,000 MI.: CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON UNTIL CAR IS TURNED OFF THEN IT COMES ON ONCE GLOW PLUG LIGHT GOES OFF AND CAR HAS STARTED (WITIN 20 SECONDS). THE DEALER FIRST TOLD ME IT WAS THE GLOW PLUG SENSOR. THEN RECANTED AND SAID THE SENSOR WAS FINE AND TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW BRIDGE WIRE AND 4 NEW GLOW PLUGS. SHOULD GLOW PLUGS ONLY LAST FOR 55,000 MILES? THE CAR JUST TURNED OVER 55,023 WHEN THE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON.
NHTSA complaint #10055077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I PURCHASED A 2000 VOLKSWAGON BEETLE ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO AND ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER I BROUGHT IT HOME THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I READ THAT THESE CARS WERE COMING WITH SOME KIND OF SAFTEY DEFECT IN THE ENGINE AND THAT'S THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THE DEALER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX TWICE ALREADY GOING ON THREE TIMES. THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND THESE PEOPLE SEEM TO BELIEVE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. WHAT SHOULD I DO I DON'T WANT THE CAR TO CAUSE SOME KIND OF ACCIDENT OR ENDANGER MY FAMILY OR ME.
NHTSA complaint #10041043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE THROTTLE FAILED TO RESPOND IN MY NEW 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. IT DIDN'T RESPOND WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THIS IS SPORADIC AND UNPREDICTABLE IN NATURE. VEHICLE REMAINS AT IDLE EVEN WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL IS DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY. SOMETIMES IT RESPONDS BY REVVING UP THE ENGINE TOO HIGH AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. I HAD IT REPAIRED THREE TIMES AND AS OF THIS DATE THE PROBLEM REMAINS.
NHTSA complaint #10041013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONSTANTLY COMES ON DUE TO A VACUUM HOSE CONSTANTLY BRAKING. HAVE HAD REPAIRED 4 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10039160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH, WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND MY CAR WENT UP ON THE CENTER DIVIDER. I COULD NOT STEER MY CAR OFF THE DIVIDER, AND THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING AS WELL EITHER. I IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE ENGINE STOPPED AND MY CAR POWERED OFF WITHOUT WARNING (THE CAR HAS A HISTORY OF FAILED WARNING LIGHTS OR WARNING LIGHTS GOING ON FOR NO REASON, HAVING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED ONCE, BUT NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM). MY CAR ENDED UP SPINNING OUT ACROSS THE ROAD AND SLAMMING INTO A TREE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IF THE TIMING WAS DIFFERENT BY A SPLIT-SECOND, I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY HIT THE TREE WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE, OR SLAMMED HEAD-ON INTO A LIGHT POLE. MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND I SPLIT MY HEAD OPEN AND HAD TO GET STITCHES. I AM VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, AND ANOTHER ONE OF IT'S STUPID FAILURES ALMOST KILLED ME.
NHTSA complaint #10021316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ONGOING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS/FALSE POSITIVES FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. GEL-LIKE SUBSTANCE IN THE OIL. FREQUENT REPLACEMENT OF INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS. NLM
NHTSA complaint #10018976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DROPPED DRAMATICALLY, AND THEN STALLED. *JB THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK(REPEATEDLY), LOCK UP, SIT FOR HOURS/FROZEN, START BUT NOT COME OUT OF PARK, ABS AND EPC LIGHT PROBLEMS WHICH WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THE OVERLOAD PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED, WHILE DRIVEN, THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN TO 30 MPH AND DOWN TO 20 MPH ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE MOTOR SOUNDED LOUD AND THE VEHICLE HAD SHAKEN, THE DEALER FOUND THREE FAULT CODE FOR THROTTLE CONTROL AND FAULTY THROTTLE BODY(DEALER ASSURED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN), AND THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A MISFIRE ON ALL CYLINDERS AND THAT THE PLUG WIRES WERE REPLACED. ON ONE OCCASION WHERE VEHICLE DID NOT COME OUT OF PARK, THE DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE PROBLEM HAD COME FROM THE BRAKE SWITCH AND ASSURED THAT THE FREEZE UP(S) WERE SOLVED. THE VEHICLE SAT FOR FIVE HOURS, THEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY STARTED AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE ECM(THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED). *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10016051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
2001 NEW BEETLE 1.9 L TDI, 55,000 MI.: ENGINE MIL LIGHT COMES ON SOLID AND GLO-PLUG LIGHT BLINKS ON/OFF AT STEADY RATE (NO APPARENT CODE TO BLINK RATE). FOOT THROTTLE CONTROL IS LOST AND ENGINE CHANGES FROM (NORMAL) IDLE (950 RPM) WITH FOOT-THROTTLE ("ACCELERATOR") CONTROL TO COMPLETE LOSS OF FOOT THROTTLE AND STEADY 1200 RPM ENGINE SPEED. THIS MAY HAPPEN AT RANDOM TIMES DURING DRIVING OR (ONCE) EVEN WITHIN SECONDS AFTER STARTING ENGINE BEFORE VEHICLE IS PUT IN GEAR OR BEGINS MOVING. MOST TIMES, IT OCCURS WHEN VEHICLE IS AT SPEED, CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF SPEED (I.E. 2000 RPM IN 5TH GEAR = 55 MPH CHANGES TO 1200 RPM = 35 MPH). INDEPENDENT GARAGE HAS 'READ' OBD-II DIAGNOSTIC CODES AND DETERMINED "THROTTLE OUT OF RANGE". TWO "REMEDIES" (1) "RE-BOOT" THE VEHICLE (TURN IGNITION OFF AND THEN BACK ON --- REQUIRING STRAIGHT/WIDE STRETCH OF ROAD BECAUSE OF INTERLOCK WITH STEERING), AFTER WHICH THROTTLE CONTROL IS REGAINED FOR SOME RANDOM PERIOD OF TIME (FRACTION OF A KM TO SEVERAL KM'S) BEFORE THROTTLE CONTROL IS LOST AGAIN... OR RESORT TO VEHICLE OPERATION WITH "HAND THROTTLE" (CALLED "CRUISE CONTROL". WITH 1200 RPM ENGINE SPEED LIMIT, VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN IF VERY GINGERLY SHIFTED GEARS, GETTING UP TO 20-25 MPH IN 3RD GEAR AT WHICH POINT "CRUISE CONTROL" ("CC") CAN BE ENGAGED. SUBSEQUENTLY HIGHER SPEEDS CAN BE OBTAINED BY INCREMENTAL (1 MPH) INCREASES ON CC, EVENTUALLY REGAINING 55 MPH (2000 RPM) ENGINE SPEED. DRIVING IN TRAFFIC REQUIRED CONTINUOUS ENGAGEMENT & DISENGAGEMENT/RE-ENGAGEMENT OF HAND THROTTLE ("CC") AS FOOT THROTTLE IS USELESS. STARTING FROM TRAFFIC SIGNALS, MERGING WITH HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC, ETC. IS INCONVENIENT AT BEST AND, TYPICALLY, QUITE HAZARDOUS WHEN CONSIDERING THE CONSTANT 1200 RPM ENGINE SPEED LIMITATION (UNTIL THE PAINSTAKING HAND THROTTLE INCREMENTS SLOWLY ALLOW SPEED INCREASES FROM 20-25 MPH TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. VW CUSTOMER CARE CLAIMS THERE IS NO RECALL AND THEY ARE "UNAWARE" OF A PROBLEM. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10013535 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
COILPACKS ON 2001 NEW BEETLE 1.8 TURBO SPORT GOING OUT. IF I WERE PASSING SOMEONE OR PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, WHAT COULD HAVE INEVITABLY HAPPENED?? MYSELF AND/OR OTHERS COULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILLED!
NHTSA complaint #10005262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.