1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Exterior Lighting Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED NEAR THE LEFT PART OF THE DASHBOARD CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE NATURE OF THE SMOKE, THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WHILE IN THE LANE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE OFFICER WAS PRESENT TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14E007000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 07V063000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) AND 06V183000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING).THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE MONTHS AGO AND WAS TO PROVIDE FURTHER TESTING TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT KEPT CALLING, BUT RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Mileage: 125,000

PURCHASED 1999 VW BEETLE 20 MONTHS AGO. CAR HAS ONLY 54,000 MILES. SINCE OWNING THE CAR HAVE ALREADY OVER $3,500 IN REPAIRS. ALL OF THE REPAIRS WERE DONE AT MY LOCAL DARCAR VW REPAIR SHOP. I BELIEVE SOME OF THESE REPAIRS WERE RECALLS AND HAVE ALL RECEIPT. IS THERE SOMEONE I CAN SENT MY REPAIR RECEIPTS TO TO SEE IF I CAN BE REIMBURSED FOR OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALL SERVICES? I CAN FORWARD RECEIPTS. ALSO SEVEN DAYS AGO THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW REGULATOR BROKE AND IT APPEARS IT HAD BEEN RECALLED PER TWO VW OWNER WHO HAD SAME PROBLEMS BUT I CAN'T FIND THE RECALL INFORMATION ON IT. CAN YOU SUGGEST HOW I CAN VIEW ALL RECALLS FOR 1999 VW BEETLE GLS? *TR

Mileage: 46,000

IN NOV 2003 I HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON MY 1999 VW NEW BEETLE GLX UNDER RECALL 03V-265. TODAY (MARCH 19, 2008) I LEARNED THAT A SECOND RECALL (#06V183000) WAS ISSUED ON MAY 4, 2006 WHICH STATED THAT "ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265" AND THAT THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS "DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE" I CONTACTED VW ABOUT THIS RECALL (06V183000 ) AT THE NUMBER LISTED IN IT AND THEY SAY THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS PROBABLY BECAUSE PER ACTION RQ06004 THIS RECALL WAS LISTED AS CLOSED ON AUGUST 7, 2006. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE OF THIS SECOND RECALL FROM VW EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE SWITCH IN MY CAR WAS PERFORMED AS PART OF THE 1ST RECALL (03V-265) AND MY CAR IS OF THE TYPE THAT THE 2ND RECALL COVERS (I.E. HAD 1ST RECALL PERFORMED, HAS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND CRUISE CONTROL). VW IS NOW REFUSING TO EITHER INSPECT MY CAR TO ENSURE THE ORIGINAL RECALL WAS PERFORMED CORRECTLY OR REPLACE THE SWITCH AGAIN PER THE REMEDY OF THE 2ND RECALL. THERE IS NO REASON I SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS 2ND RECALL. I HAVE LIVED AT THE SAME ADDRESS SINCE 2000. THE 1ST RECALL WAS PERFORMED AT THE SAME LOCAL DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICED IN THE TIME PERIOD SINCE BOTH THE FIRST AND SECOND RECALLS. AND WHEN I CONTACTED VW AT THE PHONE NUMBER LISTED IN THE 2ND RECALL THEY DEFINITELY HAD MY CORRECT ADDRESS AND PHONE INFORMATION ON FILE. AS I SHOULD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THIS PRIOR RECALL AND WAS NOT I THINK VW SHOULD REPLACE THE SWITCH AS PER THE REMEDY OF THE 2ND RECALL BUT THEY ARE REFUSING TO DO THIS. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE ASSIST ME WITH THIS? *TR

Mileage: 60,000

ELECTRICAL 1ST THE DEALER CHARGES FOR EVEYTHING THEY LOOK AT, AND THE WORK IS NEVER UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. I HAVE HAD TWO HEADLAMPS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY. MY A/C SWITCH WHEN OUT, NOW THE WHOLE UNIT HAS GONE OUT. THE COST FOR REPAIRS ARE OUTRAGEOUS. AND THEY ALWAYS RIG THEIR CARS WITH SPECIAL TOOLS, SO YOU CANNOT GPR ELSEWHERE FOR SERVICE.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED ON 4/30/07 PER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06E049000. HOWEVER, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT OPERATE NORMALLY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 104,000.*AK

Mileage: 104,000

TL*- THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID 03V265000 CONCERNING EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH ON THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004. EVER SINCE THE FIRST FAILURE, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE 4 TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A SOLUTION OTHER THAN REPLACING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, WHICH WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE SINCE THEY PERFORMED THE RECALL ONCE ALREADY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 82810. NEITHER THE SPEED NOR THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE A FACTOR IN THE FAILURE.*AK THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE SWITCH, HOWEVER IT FAILED AGAIN. UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

Mileage: 62,000

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT MADE A SAFETY REPAIR ON HIS VEHICLE, AND HE LATER RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER. THE CONTACT HAS MADE ATTEMPTS TO BE REIMBURSED BY THE MANUFACTURER, AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED, STATING THAT THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE SAFETY RECALL AFTER THE FACT, AND HE WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED. *AK

Mileage: 150,000

1999 WW BEETLE WITH MANY PROBLEMS INCLUDING SHIFTING, BRAKE SWITCH (RECALL N4)**CC THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK, WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE BRAKE SWITCH. THE CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AFTER ALREADY HAVING THE REPAIRS DONE. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER BECAUSE THEY WOULD ONLY HAD PAID FOR THE SWITCH AND NOT THE LABOR BECAUSE AT THE TIME, THE RECALL WAS NOT IN EFFECT. THE SERPENTINE BELT AND STARTER WAS REPLACED. *JB

MY WIFE BECAME STUCK AND COULD NOT DRIVER HER 1999 VW NEW BEETLE AFTER DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS PUSHING ON HER BRAKE PEDAL. SO I HAD TO INSTRUCT HER TO REMOVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH SO THE CAR COULD MOVE. ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS ON IT THIRD OR FOURTH RECALL FROM VW. WHY SO MANY RECALLS? CAN'T VW GET IT RIGHT? *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. TO DISENGAGE THE BRAKE LIGHT THE FUSE WAS REMOVED. A NHTSA RECALL, #03V265000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT A CHARGE. THERE IS A SECOND NHTSA RECALL, # 06V183000, REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

Mileage: 70,000

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. THE RECALLED PART FAILED TWICE SINCE THE ORIGINAL PART WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS BECOMING INOPERATIVE, THE TRANSMISSION ALSO LOCKS RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE BEING INOPERABLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, 03V265000 CONCERNING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, HOWEVER THE RECALL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED TO REIMBURSE THE CONTACT FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART THAT WAS PURCHASED.

Mileage: 33,600

VEHICLE PURCHASED 03/1999. PROBLEM: BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER NON-FUNCTIONING OR STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY. REPAIRS: REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH VOLKSWAGEN PART#1J0945511A,B,& D. OCCURENCES: 05/12/1999, 09/24/1999 AND 04/23/2001 OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE. THREE OTHER OCCURENCES UNTIL 2003 REPLACED UNDER IN-HOUSE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION "WARRANTY". SAFETY RECALL ISSUED 10/2003. RECALL REPAIRS COMPLETED 11/2003. OCCURENCE: 06/2005 RECALLED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AGAIN. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. REPLACES BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, BUT REFUSES TO HONOR ANY KIND OF WARRANTY OF THE PART THAT FULFILLED THE ORIGINAL RECALL. THIS NEGATES THE 10/2003 RECALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. IT LEAVES ME, THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, JEOPARDIZED WITH THE SAME REAR CRASH SAFETY SITUATION I WAS ENCOUNTERING BEFORE THE RECALL. I AM REPLACING THE PART, OF COURSE, BUT AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND WITHOUT ANY CONCERNS FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. QUESTION: HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY THE MALFUNCTION OF THIS SAME RECALL MANDATED REPAIR? WILL THERE BE DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO THIS MALFUNCTION? I CAN ONLY PRAY THAT THERE ARE NONE.

Mileage: 51,730

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND WITHOUT HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS BLINKED ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND DOWN, AND SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. BUT, MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS. *AK

DEALER HAD TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS 7 TIMES THIS YEAR. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS NOT LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO SHE HAD TO PAY $60.OO FOR EACH HEAD LAMP. *AK

EIGHTEEN MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO TURN IT ON. AFTER THE THIRD TIME, CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. *JG

TEH LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS ARE INOPERATIVE. *JG

I COMMUTE ON A 2 LANE ROAD TO WORK AND THE DANGER OF DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS PUTS NOT ONLY MYSELF BUT ANYONE IN BACK OF ME IN EXTREME DANGER OF CAUSING A ACCIDENT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED FAILURE AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR MUCH LONGER THAN TWO YEARS. NOT HAVING FOLLOWED MYSELF I HAVE NO IDEA EXACTLY HOW LONG I HAD BEEN DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS. ALSO WITH IT BEING SUMMER AND LIGHT IN THE MORNING WHEN I WOULD LEAVE I COULDN'T SEE THE GLARE IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. *AK

HEADLIGHTS BURNT OUT. *SLC

HEADLIGHTS AIMED TOO HIGH. *SLC