2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Power Train Problems

I'VE HAD MY BEETLE SINCE 2005, AND THE AIRBAG LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY COME ON AS WELL AS ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I'VE TAKEN IT TO VW ONCE FOR REPAIR, AND THEY COME BACK ON MONTHS LATER. I'VE READ SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER VW OWNERS CONCERNING THE AIRBAG AND TRANSMISSION. I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THIS ISN'T A RECALL ISSUE PARTICULARLY SINCE THERE WAS A DEATH IN 2007 WITH ANOTHER OWNER. THE AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. THE WEB PAGE BELOW VOICES THE FRUSTRATIONS OF MANY OWNERS, AND I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THESE COMPLAINTS AREN'T BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY. THE REPAIRS COST OVER $1600. HOW IS THIS FAIR WHEN HAVING TO GET IT REPAIRED EVERY YEAR? ARE YOU PROTECTING VW? TRYING TO FIND SOMEONE TO CLEAR THE CODES IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO GO UNDER THE SEAT TO ADJUST WIRES AND USING THE COMPUTER TO CLEAR THEM, BUT THEY COME BACK ON A DAY OR TWO LATER. HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2000/VOLKSWAGEN/BEETLE/AIR_BAGS/PROBLEM.ASPX. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION MECHANICALLY FAILED ON 3 JUNE 2013. PRIOR TO IT FAILING I HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THREE DIFFERENT VW REPAIR SHOP OVER A FOUR YEAR PERIOD, DUE TO THE CAR SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTING ALL THE WAY TO FIRST GEAR. THE CAR WILL DRIVE NORMALLY FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES, THEN START HAVING THIS DOWNSHIFTING ISSUE, I PULL OVER AND LET THE CAR COOL A FEW MINUTES THEN ALL IS NORMAL AGAIN FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. OF COURSE WITH THE DOWNSHIFTING THE TRANNY TENDS TO OVERHEAT QUICKLY. I WANTED TO GET THE OIL CHANGED IN THE TRANNY, BUT ALL REPAIR CENTERS SAID, "IT'S A SEALED SYSTEM AND NEVER NEEDS AND OIL CHANGE;" ALSO THE VW REPAIR TECHS TEST DROVE THE CAR AND ANALYZED IT, COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. MY EXPERIENCE WITH VW SERVICE ON EVERYTHING IS, THEIR MECHANICS ARE PARTS CHANGERS ONLY AND DON'T HAVE ANY REAL DIAGNOSTIC CAPABILITY TO FIND THE PROBLEM, JUST REPLACE PARTS UNTIL THEY FIX THE PROBLEM AT THE CUSTOMERS EXPENSE; I'VE SPENT ABOUT $10,000 ON REPAIRS FOR A/C, BRAKES, TRANSMISSION, ETC. FINALLY, THE CAR FAILED FORTUNATELY ACROSS THE STREET FROM A MR. TRANSMISSION SHOP. PER MR. TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, THE TRANNY FAILED DUE TO LUBRICATION FAILURE PROBABLY FROM OVER HEATING AND HIGH MILEAGE; SO MUCH FOR THE "NEVER NEEDS AN OIL CHANGE POLICY." MR. TRANSMISSION REBUILT THE TRANNY (OUT $3400), AND STATE THE PROBLEM IS ELECTRICAL NOT THE TRANSMISSION, AND VW IS FAMOUS FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN. NEEDLESS TO SAY MR. TRANSMISSION HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM, AND THEY HAVE REBUILT THE TRANNY TWICE JUST TO MAKE SURE THE PROBLEM IS NOT IN THE TRANSMISSION. WORD TO THE WISE, NEVER BUY A VW; I'LL NEVER OWN ANOTHER ONE. *TR

Mileage: 95,600

WE BOUGHT THE CAR EVERYTHING WAS FINE. TWO WEEKS LATER THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND NOW THE TRANSMISSION TAKES OFF IN SECOND GEAR AND WILL NOT SHIFT TILL GETS UP TO 40 MPH. AFTER CHECKING ON LINE IT SEEMS VOLKSWAGEN IS HAVING ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS AND DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

I JUST BOUGHT A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE, AND MY TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO MORE THAN ONE LOCATION INCLUDING THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND EVERYONE IS TELLING ME THE CODE READ GEAR RATIO INCORRECT. MY CAR IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME TOO DRIVE THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION I NEED IS 5000 AND THERE IS NO WARRANTY THAT THEY COULD OFFER ME. I JUST BOUGHT THIS CAR I DON'T HAVE 5000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH ABOUT THIS SITUATION AND EVERYONE IS SAYING THE SAME EXACT THING IM COMPLAINING ABOUT HOW FAST BEETLES TRANSMISSION GO OUT AND HALF OF THEM TOOK THERE BEETLE TO VOLKSWAGEN JUST FOR THEM TO TELL THEM THEY NEED 5000 TO 7000 TRANSMISSION AND LATER FIND OUT THAT WAS JOT EVEN THE PROBLEM AND THE CAR IS STILL DRIVING VERY RECKLESS. I'M PUTTING MY LIFE N DANGER EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR I HAVE TWO JOBS AND I CANT AFFORD TO MISS ONE DAY. SO U TELL ME MISS DAYS FROM WORK BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE SAFE TRANSPORTATION OR DRIVE THE CAR I HAVE N REST MY LIFE EVERYDAY. I NEED SOMEONE TO HEAR ME OUT AND HELP ME WITH THIS SITUATION. I'M SORRY TO SAY I WILL KEEP COMPLAINING INTEL SOMEONE GETS TO BOTTOM OF THIS. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE- VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED HARD AND WOULD NOT COME OUT OF 1ST GEAR DURING HEAVY TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSING REAR END COLLISION. AFTER TURNING CAR OFF AND TURNING VEHICLE BACK ON IT PROCEEDED FOR ABOUT 5 MILES BEFORE DOING THE SAME. CAR WAS TOWED AND TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT BUT THE CAR CONTINUES TO DO THE SAME. RECENTLY TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY DURING RUSH HOUR, SLOWING DOWN FOR TRAFFIC THAT WAS AT A STAND STILL THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED HARD CAUSING THE CAR BEHIND ME TO SLAM ON HIS BRAKES CAUSING AN ACCIDENT BEHIND ME. *TR

Mileage: 129,226

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS UNLESS HE WAS DRIVING 40 TO 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

Mileage: 47,000

I AM HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ON MY 2000 BEETLE. I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT NEED REPLACED BUT I FEEL OTHERWISE. WHEN I AM DRIVING MY VEHICLE WILL PULL BACK VERY HARD AND THEN JUMP AND SHOOT ME FORWARD. I AM AFRAID THAT THIS WILL CAUSE A BAD ACCIDENT. *TR

Mileage: 107,000

I HAVE A 2000 VW BEETLE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH 100,000 MILES ON IT. THE FIRST WEEK IT BEGAN ACTING CRAZY AND I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND I WAS TOLD "SOLD AS IS". I HAVE SPENT $3000 ON THIS CAR FIXING VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THIS CAR IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY! IT JUMPS AND JERKS AT WEIRD TIMES AND ALMOST CAUSES SOMEONE TO REAR END ME. I'VE ALREADY INVESTED A GRAND TRYING TO RESOLVE THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE BUT THE CAR WILL ACT FINE FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS AND THEN THE PROBLEM WILL BEGIN AGAIN. THE THIRD GEAR ALWAYS SLIPS AND YOU GET WHIPLASH. IT FEELS AS IF THEY GEAR IS ABOUT TO DROP OUT OF THE CAR!! THE ENGINE MISFIRES ON THE HIGHWAY AND NO PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND BY MY MECHANIC. HE TELLS ME THEY ARE JUST RANDOM MISFIRES! THAT IS DANGEROUS GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPHS AND THE CAR SHOOT DOWN TO 50 AND JERK ON I-40 IN WINSTON SALEM. IN THE RAIN, IT WILL JERK EVEN WORSE, ALMOST LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS JUMPING OUT OF THE HOOD! MY ABS LIGHTS WILL FLASH AT WEIRD TIMES AS WELL AS MY BRAKE LIGHT. I HAVE HAD MY BRAKES CHECKED, NOT THE BRAKES. SOMETHING NOW STAYS ON IN THE CAR THAT NO MECHANIC CAN PINPOINT WHICH CAUSES THE BATTERY TO GO DEAD EVERYTIME YOU TURN THE CAR OFF. THE GAUGES TEND TO NOT WANT TO WORK SOME OF THE TIME AND THE MILEAGE WILL EVEN STOP READING. SOMETIMES THE GAS PEDAL DOES NOT CONNECT AND WILL STOP ACCELERATING EVENTHOUGH YOUR PUSHING ON THE GAS UPON TAKE OFF. THE ALARM GOES OFF AT ALL TIMES DURING THE DAY AND NOT FOR NO REASON AND VARIOUS TIMES WHEN I CRANK THE CAR. TO TOP THIS ALL OFF, THE FUSES ON TOP OF MY BATTERY CAUGHT ON FIRE! I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, NO PROBLEMS COULD BE BLAMED FOR THIS EVENT. SOMEONE NEEDS TO RECALL SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT! *TR

Mileage: 110,000

2000 NEW BEETLE WITH ITS SECOND TRANSMISSION. I THOUGHT THESE WERE RELIABLE CARS THAT WOULD BE RELIABLE FOR BACK AND FORTH TO WORK.. I LOOKS AT THE FORUMS AND FIND IM ONE OF THE THOUSANDS THAT HAS HAD THE SAME ISSUE. IS THIS ACCEPTABLE? *TR

Mileage: 117,126

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON A 2000 VW BEETLE AT 60,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I RECEIVED A RECALL ABOUT MY BACK OR BREAK LIGHT. MADE AN APT. WITH HERITAGE VW IN GEORGIA. I DROVE FROM LEESBURG AL. TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CHANGE THE LIGHT AND TOLD ME A BELT HAS TO BE REPLACED. I KNOW NOTHING NEEDS REPLACEMENT BECAUSE MY SON ( A MECHANIC ) DOES ALL THE MAINTENANCE IN MY VW. I TOLD THE THEM I WILL TALK TO MY SON AND WILL GET BACK WITH THEM. I HAD A HARD TIME STARING THE CAR, BUT DID NOT PAY ANY ATTENTION BECAUSE I WAS IN A HURRY TO GET OUT OF THERE. I WAS ON HWY 20 WHEN EVERY THING WENT CRAZY WITH MY CAR. LOST MY CRUISE CONTROL, LOST POWER, WON'T START. SO I CALLED HERITAGE AND ASK WHAT THEY DID WITH THE CAR. THEY WANT ME TO BRING IT BACK TO THEM, KNOWING IT CAN'T BE DRIVEN. I FEEL THEY SABOTAGE MY CAR, THEY MESSED UP MY CAR SO MUCH, I PAID OVER $3000.00 FOR IT TO WORK. I KEPT THE RECEIPT JUST IN CASE I MIGHT NEED IT AS PROOF. I RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL LAST WEEK IT'S HARD TO GET BURNT TWICE IN A ROW. *TR

Mileage: 1,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BUG. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED INCLUDING WHEN THE IGNITIONWAS STARTED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. ALSO, FUMES ENTERED THE VEHICLE BENEATH THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO TWO MECHANICS, AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS AN AIRFLOW TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000. *AK

Mileage: 68,000

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THE GEAR SHIFT WILL NOT MOVE FROM THE PARK POSITION. DUE TO THE DESIGN THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ANY OVERRIDE FEATURE THAT WOULD ALLOW THE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE SHIFT POSITION. THE DEALER IS WILLING TO OFFER A FREE REMEDY HOWEVER, THEY WILL NOT PROVIDE THE TOWING SERVICE. THEREFORE, NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.*AK

CLUTCH DEFECTIVE,VERY LOW MI 40,000

Mileage: 39,000

CONSUMER STATED THAT VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN PARK, AND WOULD NOT MOVE. CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALER, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT SHE NEEDED TO TAKE HER VEHICLE TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER. CONSUMER JUST BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN JANUARY 2004, AND DID NOT TAKE IT TO A REPAIR SHOP. HOWEVER, CONSUMER FELT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *AK

MY WIFE'S VOLKSWAGEN CLUTCH HAS BROKEN 3 TIMES. ONCE AT 3K, ANOTHER AT 34K AND NOW AT 83K; THIS DESPITE THE FACT SHE DRIVES ABOUT THIRTY FIVE MILES EACH WAY TO WORK ON AN EXPRESSWAY, AND DOES NOT SUE THE CLUTCH THAT MUCH. *AK

Mileage: 83,000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CLUTCH FAILED ON A STEEP HILL WHILE WAITING FOR A LIGHT TO CHANGE. THE CLUTCH BURNT OUT WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO AVOID ONCOMING, UPHILL, RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. $1,800 REPAIR COSTS. VOLKSWAGON REFUSES TO REPLACE PART PAST THE 12,000 MILE WARANTEE DESPITE THE DRIVER'S 18 YEAR, PROBLEM-FREE, CLUTCH DRIVING EXPERIENCE WITH 2 VOLKSWAGONS AND 2 HONDAS. HORN JUST DIED. ELECTRIC WINDOWS DO NOT FOLLOW OWNER MANUAL DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION!

WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION WILL GET STUCK WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. SOMETIMES WILL SWITCH INTO NEUTRAL. VEHICLE WILL HAD TO BE TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH REQUIRED THAT TRANSMISSION BE REPLACED. ALSO, DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HEAD GASKET AND CONTROL VALVE FOR THE ENGINE WERE DEFECTIVE. NOTE: DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 30 DAYS. *AK *JB

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. CALLED DEALER, AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL, IT WOULD GO OFF. CAR WAS STILL STALLING, AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME BACK ON. THEN, A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE TOWED IN. AFTER PICKING UP CAR FOR REPAIRS IT STALLED AGAIN. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION NOISE. *AK

THE CLUTCH FAILED PREMATURELY, IT DISINTERGRATED, NO EXPLANATION WAS EVER RECIEVED. NLM

THE CLUTCH FAILED PREMATURELY, IT DISINTERGRATED, NO EXPLANATION WAS EVER RECIEVED. NLM

VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE AND REQUIRED TOWING ON A MAJOR BRIDGE (VERRAZANO BETWEEN BROOKLYN AND STATEN ISLAND) AT NIGHT IN A HEAVY RAIN WITH HIGH SPEED HEAVY TRAFFIC, A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH, FORTUNATELY, NOBODY WAS INJURED. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK