1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Power Train Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE CLUTCH, PRESSURE PLATE, AND BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

K I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 99 VW BEETLE AND NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR JERKS WHEN IT HITS LIKE 3000RPM AND IT IDLES HIGHER THEN IT SHOULD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WHICH WAS PURCHASED ON FEBRUARY 13, 2010. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WHILE IN DRIVE MODE. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN NEUTRAL GEAR; HOWEVER, THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION. SHE THEN ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO JERK AND LUNGE VIOLENTLY. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BY REPLACING PARTS UNKNOWN TO THE CONTACT. WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER, WHICH ALSO DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 121,000.

Mileage: 121,000

V.W. BEETLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE - HARD SHIFT OR WILL NOT SHIFT. *TR

Mileage: 106,000

DRIVING DOWN NJ PARKWAY,65 MPH. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT,THUMPING,LOSING SPEED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT AFTER READING BLOG ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I CAN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED BASED ON THIS INFO. CAR IS NOW UNDRIVABLE. SHIFTING ERRATICALLY IF AT ALL. JERKING BETWEEN GEARS. *TR

Mileage: 75,608

PROBLEM: GEAR SHIFTER FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LOCKED IN PARK POSITION. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER HAS LOCKED IN THE PARK POSITION. IN ORDER TO GET THE CAR INTO A DRIVE GEAR, IT WAS NECESSARY TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON SEVERAL TIMES WHILE PUMPING THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT HAS TAKEN AS LONG A 30 MINS. OF THIS PROCESS TO GET THE CAR OUT OF PARK. ON EACH OCCASION MY CAR WAS IN A PARKED POSITION. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM COULD POTENTIALLY OCCUR IF THE CAR WERE PLACED INTO PARK AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN, IT WOULD CREATE A TRAFFIC HAZARD. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS BEEN NOTED BY MULTIPLE CONSUMERS THROUGHOUT VARIOUS INTERNET WEBSITES. *TR

Mileage: 69,023

MY 99 VW BEETLE IS A DEATH TRAP, IF IT'S NOT ONE THING IT'S ANOTHER. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT. IT'S A STANDARD SHIFT, IT HAS A CLUTCH, WHY DOES IT HAVE A TRANSMISSION TO? *TR

Mileage: 12,385

MY 99 VW BEETLE IS A DEATH TRAP, IF IT'S NOT ONE THING IT'S ANOTHER. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT. IT'S A STANDARD SHIFT, IT HAS A CLUTCH, WHY DOES IT HAVE A TRANSMISSION TO? *TR

Mileage: 12,385

I BOUGHT MY 99 BEETLE IN OCTOBER OF 2007 AND THE DAY THAT I GOT THE CAR THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT BACK THEY HAD IT FOR ONE MONTH THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR AND WIRE CLUSTER. WHEN I FINALLY GOT IT BACK ABOUT TWO WEEKS PASSED AND I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AND MY SPEEDOMETER WENT FROM 0 TO 120 AND THEN THE CARE LOST POWER ON THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE ROAD. I TOOK IT BACK AND THEY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION I HAVE TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET THEM TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND THEY WONT. AFTER I GOT IT BACK THAT TIME THE HEATER STOPPED WORKING AND THE SPEEDOMETER WILL NOT GO ABOVE 40 WHEN I TOLD THEM THIS THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT FIX IT THAT IT WAS MY PROBLEM. YESTERDAY MY MILEAGE, SPEEDOMETER, AND GAS GAGE STOPPED WORKING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO IF YOU KNOW ANY ONE WHO COULD HELP ME WITH THESE PROBLEMS PLEASE LET ME KNOW. *TR

Mileage: 100

I OWN A 1999 NEW BEETLE WITH THE 2.0 ENGINE WITH 37,000 ORIGINAL MILES. THE CAR QUIT RUNNING APPROX. 2 1/2 YRS AGO,APPROXIMATELY TWO MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED IT FROM A CERTIFIED VOLKSWAGEN DEALER, USED. A FEW DAYS AFTER DELIVERY THERE WAS A ROTTEN EGG SMELL, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON, ENGINE SLUGGISH. AFTER ONE MONTH THE BATTERY WENT DEAD COMPLETELY. REPLACED THE BATTERY, CAR WOULD NOT RUN. BATTERY DEAD AGAIN AFTER FOUR DAYS. I FOUND INFO ON THE INTERNET THAT SECURITY SYSTEM MUST BE SET OR THE BATTERY WILL LAST ONLY FOUR DAYS. INSPECTED PLUGS, FOUND HEAVY CARBON BUILDUP. INSPECTED PRE O2 SENSOR, FOUND SAME. DECIDED TO OVERHAUL ENG. FOUND HEAVY CARBON ON TOPS OF PISTONS AND VALVES. MACHINE SHOP HAD TO REPLACE PISTONS, RINGS, ALL BEARINGS, OIL PUMP, PLANE THE CYLINDER HEAD, PLANE THE HEAD MATING SURFACE, REPLACE SEALS, TURN THE FLYWHEEL. I HAD TO ALSO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT, CLUTCH, THROWOUT BEARING, O2 SENSOR, PLUG WIRES, AND THE DIPSTICK HOLDER. AFTER CONSIDERABLE MONEY SPENT, ENGINE WOULD START BUT NOT RUN. I FOUND OUT FROM THE DEALER THAT IF ELECTRICAL POWER IS LOST, VEHICLE MUST BE TOWED TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND BE REPROGRAMMED. IT WILL NOT RUN UNTIL THAT IS DONE. THE REASON GIVEN WAS THAT VOLKSWAGEN DID NOT WANT ANY OWNERS TO FIX THEIR OWN CAR. THIS COULD BE A SIGNIFIGANT SAFETY ISSUE IN A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION! THERE ARE REPORTS ON SEVERAL INTERNET FORUMS OF THE ORIGINAL BATTERIES BLOWING UP AND EVEN AFTER REPLACEMENT OF THE BATTERY THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RUN UNTIL IT WAS REPROGRAMMED. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A FULL INVESTIGATION ON THIS MODEL TO SEE IF IT SHOULD BE SOLD IN THE US. THERE ARE TOO MANY REPORTED DEFECTS ON THIS MODEL TO LIST HERE, SOME THAT APPLY TO THIS CAR, THAT ARE MUCH MORE DANGEROUS THAN I DESCRIBED HERE. I HOPE THAT OUR GOVERNMENT WILL STRAIGHTEN THIS COMPANY OUT AND THAT OWNERS WILL SOMEHOW BE COMPENSATED.

Mileage: 32,400

WHILE DRIVING CLUTCH WENT OUT, AND THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SHIFT THE GEARS. AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE VEHICLE THERE WAS A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. VEHIICLE WAS LATER TOWED. THE AIR PUMP WAS DEFECTIVE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

Mileage: 59,000

I BOUGHT A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE ON AUGUST 4, 2004. ON AUGUST 27, 2004 I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH. I THEN BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT I BOUGHT IT FROM AND ASKED THEM TO FIX THE CLUTCH, AS IT IS UNDER WARRANTY. THEY REFUSED, AND SAID THAT I RUINED THE CLUTCH DUE TO MY DRIVING. ACCORDING TO THEM THIS CAN HAPPEN IN THE 23 DAYS THAT I OWNED THE CAR. THEY STILL CONTINUE TO REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 36,000

AFTER STOPPING AT A GAS STATION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR. THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER IN WHICH THEY REPLACED THE SHIFT CARRIER. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THIS PART SHOULD BE MADE OF METAL INSTEAD OF PLASTIC. *AK *SC

Mileage: 50,000

CURRENT PROBLEM: MANUAL TRANSMISSION STICK SHIFT MECHANISM COMPLETELY BROKE DURING SHIFTING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (DURING RUSH HOUR). IT WENT TO NEUTRAL, BUT I WAS ABLE TO FIND 3RD GEAR AND GET THE CAR OFF OF THE ROAD.

1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE UNDER WARRANTY OF 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES-POWER TRAIN-TRANSMISSION. BECAUSE PARTS WERE LEFT OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION DURING REPAIR IN 2001 AND BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY FROM THE PURCHASE DATE OF 4-28-1999, MANY CLOSE CALLS/NEAR ACCIDENTS WERE EXPERIENCED ON THE FREEWAY. THE BEETLE JUMPED OUT OF 1 GEAR OR ANOTHER AND IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC THAT IS LIFE THREATENING. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER CLASSIC VW OF ESCONDIDO, CA. DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. FROM 1999 TO 2-03, 7 ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR WITH THE ONE 2-13-03 BY PARADISE VW OF INDIO, CA, 110 MILES FROM HOME. ONE DEALER WOULD NOT EVEN ATTEMPT BECAUSE THEY WOULDN'T GET PAID. PER PHONE 2 OTHER DEALERS TOLD US TO GO BACK TO CLASSIC WHERE WE PURCHASED THE BEETLE AND HAVE THEM FIX THEIR OWN BAD WORK. THE TRANSMISSION JUMPED OUT OF GEAR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, 70 MPH, AND WHEN YOU LOOSE GEAR IN THAT KIND OF TRAFFIC IN THE 2ND OR 3RD LANE YOU ARE IN REAL DANGER. ABOUT 10 OF THIS KIND OF NEAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED. LUCKILY ACCIDENTS WERE AVOIDED. FREEWAY TRAVEL CANNOT ALWAYS BE AVOIDED. COULD NOT GET THE CAR REPAIRED SO WE DROVE IT. CLASSIC ALWAYS MAINTAINED THE CAR WAS REPAIRED OR DIDN'T NEED REPAIR, AND WE DROVE IT. WE ALWAYS FELT IN DANGER. THIS TYPE OF DEFECT NEEDS MORE ATTENTION BECAUSE IT IS LIFE THREATENING, A DEATH WAITING TO HAPPEN. *JB

Mileage: 1,800

THE 5TH GEAR IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR A NUMBER OF TIMES RENDERING ME HELPLESS IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC. I HAD MADE AT LEAST 5 ATTEMPTS TO HAVE REPAIRS DONE ON THE TRANSMISSION BUT THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION PROPERLY AND WHEN IT WAS REPAIRED IT WAS IMPROPERLY REPAIRED, WITH PARTS LEFT OUT. BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DUPLICATED BY ANOTHER DEALER NO REPAIRS WERE DONE UNTIL THE CAR WAS SEEN BY A 3RD DEALER WHO FOUND THE PROBLEM AND CORRECTED IT. THE TRANSMISSION WAS UNDERWARRANTY OF 10 YRS/100,000 MILES. . WE, THE CONSUMER, MUST LEARN TO BE AGRESSIVE AND GET PROPER REPAIRS DONE ON OUR AUTOMOBILES AND WE MUST USE EVERYMEANS AVAILABLE TO US TO ENCOURAGE/FORCE THE DEALERSHIPS TO BE MORE AWARE OF CONSUMER SAFTEY. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR KILLED OTHERS ON THE FREEWAY DUE TO THE CAR SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR. I NEED TO USE MY CAR AND I DID TRY TO GET IT FIXED SO IT WOULD BE SAFE ON ALL ROADWAYS AND IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS ON ROADWAYS. IF A CAR CANNOT BE REPAIRED BY A DEALER THEY SHOULD BE HONEST ENOUGH TO ADMIT THEIR LACK OF SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE AND THE CONSUMER REFERRED TO A PLACE OF REPAIR THAT HAS THE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND TOOLS OF THE TRADE TO ACCOMPLISH THE REPAIR. A CAR OUT OF GEAR AT FREEWAY SPEEDS ON A FREEWAY IS AS DANGEROUS AS ANY OF THE TOP 3 DANGERS LISTED AND SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE LIST. SO SHOULD THE NAMES OF THE DEALERS WHO ARE SO LAX IN ACCOMPLISHING LIFE SAVING REPAIRS.

Mileage: 19,294

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE DRIVER SHIFT GEARS AND THE LEVER BROKE OFF IN THEIR HAND. VEHICLE HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THE SHIFTER AND ALL RELATED COMPONENTS HAD BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

WHILE DRIVING IN METROPOLITAN WASHINGTON, D.C. BELTWAY ("HIGHWAY") TRAFFIC AT EVENING RUSH HOUR, I WAS PREPARING TO SWITCH LANES AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT GEARS .... WHEN MY STICK SHIFT BROKE (ONE PIECE BECAME TWO PIECES). I WAS FORTUNATE THAT NO ACCIDENT HAPPENED, I WAS FURTHER BLESSED THAT I WAS ABLE TO COAST AT HIGHWAY SPEED (CAR WENT TO NEUTRAL) UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO MOVE FROM THE MIDDLE LANE TO THE SLOWER RIGHT HAND LANE. AT THIS POINT I CONTINUED ON WITH FLASHERS AND WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN THIRD GEAR, BUT THE STICK SHIFT REMAINED BROKEN. I HAVE ASKED APPROXIMATELY 50 PEOPLE IF THEY HAVE EVER HEARD OF SUCH A MALFUNCTION. NONE HAD! I FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE DEALING WITH ONLY VW PEOPLE CONCERNING THE ACCEPTIBILITY OF THIS PROBLEM. I CONTACTED USAA AND THEY RECOMMENDED THAT I GET YOUR GROUP INVOLVED. THANK YOU

Mileage: 59,142

WHILE IN MOTION THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING. *JG

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR I NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER & ODOMETER WEREN'T WORKING (MILEAGE FROZE AT 26,139). THE GAS GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING EITHER. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT. BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE 19 FAILURES WHEN IT WAS TESTED ON THEIR COMPUTER. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS PARTS REPLACED. (WILL BE COVERED UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY POSSIBLY). STILL WAITING ON PARTS. THEY SAID AFTER THEY REPLACE PARTS OF TRANSMISSION THEY WILL LET ME KNOW WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST ME. THE STANDARD WARRANTY ENDED MARCH 2001. THE VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE (26,139). THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED LAST YEAR. MANY TIMES THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND HAD TO BE JUMPED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE FIRST YEAR I HAD THE CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT WAS A SENSOR PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR I NOTICED THE SPEEDOMETER & ODOMETER WEREN'T WORKING (MILEAGE FROZE AT 26,139). THE GAS GAUGE WAS NOT WORKING EITHER. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT. BROUGHT INTO DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE 19 FAILURES WHEN IT WAS TESTED ON THEIR COMPUTER. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS PARTS REPLACED. (WILL BE COVERED UNDER POWERTRAIN WARRANTY POSSIBLY). STILL WAITING ON PARTS. THEY SAID AFTER THEY REPLACE PARTS OF TRANSMISSION THEY WILL LET ME KNOW WHAT ELSE NEEDS TO BE DONE AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST ME. THE STANDARD WARRANTY ENDED MARCH 2001. THE VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE (26,139). THE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED LAST YEAR. MANY TIMES THE CAR WOULDN'T START AND HAD TO BE JUMPED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THE FIRST YEAR I HAD THE CAR AND THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED IT WAS A SENSOR PROBLEM.*AK

VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE.ALSO, THERE IS NOISE LIKE A BANGING TAPPING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

AT 1 1/2 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON "WITH NO FAULT FOUND" TOOK 1 1/2 YEARS AND 6 SERVICE VISITS TO FIX. THE CAR OFTEN GOES FORWARD WHILE IN REVERES AND HAS SHIFTING PROBLEMS, HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION "ADJUSTED" 3 TIMES STILL HAS PROBLEMS. OIL LIGHT DOESNT GO ON WHEN OIL IS LOW. BATTERY LIGHT DOESNT GO ON WHEN THE BATTER IS DYING. WIRING TO HEADLIGHT KEEPS "LOOSENING" CAUSING THE HEADLIGHTS TO FAIL. HAD REAR AND FRONT BRAKES REPLACED DUE TO LOW GROUND CLEARANCE AND SNOW GETTING LODGED IN THEM AND FREEZING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH APPLIED CLUTCH AND IT WILL NOT ENGAGE, CAUSING ENGINE TO STALL. THEN, VEHICLE WAS TOWED.*AK

THE PLATE COVERING THE GEAR SHIFT KNOB CAME OFF. *SLC

HATCHBACK RATTLES WHILE DRIVING. ALSO WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN DRIVE , VEHICLE HESITATES AND STALLS. *AK

WHEN CONSUMER PUTS VEHICLE IN DRIVE THE VEHICLE RATTLES AND HESITATES WHILE DRIVING. *AK

FORWARD GEAR IS 3RD ONLY. WHEN IN DRIVE, DOES NOT SHIFT FROM 1 TO 2 TO 3 TO 4TH GEARS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES SINCE 2/99. *AK

SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER CLUSTER HAS FAILED 3 TIMES. WORKS PROPERLY IF HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS ON, BUT MALFUNCTIONS WHEN SWITCH IS OFF. *AK

THE LEFT SIDE DRIVESHAFT CRACKED AND IT RUPTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.THIS OCCURRED IN MAY OF 1999. THE TRANSMISSION BUSTED AGAIN IN DECEMBER OF 1999. *AK

THE LEFT SIDE DRIVESHAFT CRACKED AND IT RUPTURED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.THIS OCCURRED IN MAY OF 1999. THE TRANSMISSION BUSTED AGAIN IN DECEMBER OF 1999. *AK

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH