2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Power Train Problems

Vehicle does not shift properly, vehicle does not shift to drive correctly and either shifts down or stays in neutral

. GETS STUCK RANDOMLY IN 1ST GEAR ... SOME OF THE TIME IT SHIFTS BUT IF I LEAVE IT RUNNING IN PARK FOR A FEW MINUTES (ESPECIALLY THEN) OR WHEN IT WARMS UP NICELY AND I THEN HAVE TO SLOW DOWN INTO 1ST LIKE AT A LIGHT AFTER I EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND THEN TRY TO DRIVE AGAIN IT WON'T SHIFT OUT OF FIRST . AND. I KNOW WHEN IT'S ABOUT TO START THIS BECAUSE IT STARTS SHIFTING SO HARD THE CAR LURCHES (SOMETIMES SO ROUGHLY THAT IF I HADN'T MADE SURE TO BE EXTRA FAR AWAY FROM ANY VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME THEN MY CAR WOULD HAVE LEAPED RIGHT INTO THEIRS - EVEN IF I AM BRAKING) VERY SCARY:( AND I FEEL UNSAFE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT LURCHES BADLY AND ALSO WHEN THE CAR STOPS GAINING SPEED BECAUSE IT GOT STUCK IN 1ST AND THE CARS BEHIND ME ALMOST RUN RIGHT OVER ME ) FROM WHAT I'VE READ WHILE RESEARCHING THIS, THIS ISSUE IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT. V W MADE A MINUSCULE EFFORT TO ADDRESS IT ... AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH IS USELESS BECAUSE IT DOESN'T COVER FIXING THE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION THAT THIS DEFECT CAUSES, LEAVING US OWNERS TO HAVE BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION BASICALLY BECAUSE OF THIS KNOWN DEFECT. VW SHOULD FIX IT SINCE THEY CLEARLY KNOW ABOUT THIS AS A DEFECT. IT EFFECTS NEW BEETLES YEARS 2003 TO 2007! AND IN MY RESEARCH IT IS CLEAR THAT MANY MANY '03-'07 NEW BEETLE OWNERS HAVE VERY SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND MOST FEEL LIKE I DO...THAT THESE CARS ARE SCARY AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE.VW IS AWARE OF THIS BUT DOESN'T CARE SO I IMPLORE YOU TO PLEASE TAKE A DEEP AND SERIOUS LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM AND HELP MAKE VW TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THIS DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE DEFECT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU. RESPECTFULLY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

Mileage: 80,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND ROLLED BACK. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE SAFE MODE ENGAGED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,437.

Mileage: 133,437

ON 11/3/2018 AT AROUND 11:00PM, I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE ON THE HIGHWAY (90E TOWARDS CLEVELAND) GOING 65MPH. SUDDENLY, MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND HARD DOWNSHIFTED. THIS CAUSED A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED, AND I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A SEMI-TRUCK WHICH WAS BEHIND ME . LUCKILY, THE DRIVER OF THE SEMI WAS ALERT AND SWERVED OUT OF THE WAY JUST IN TIME. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS AUTO TRANS HAS ACTED UP EITHER. HOWEVER, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WHERE I REALLY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF IT. THIS TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY, THE SYMPTOMS POINT TO A MALFUNCTIONING VALVE BODY UNIT, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTIGATION OR A RECALL. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN INTO ACCIDENTS,HURT, OR EVEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS BAD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (JERKING/POPPING OUT OF GEAR AT RANDOM) NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Mileage: 96,000

THE CAR RUNS FINE WHILE IT IS COLD BUT WHEN IT WARMS UP THEN IT BEGINS TO "JERK", SHIFT UP AND DOWN "HARD". WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A TIPTRONIC SWITCH WAS BAD SO WE REPLACED IT AND NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT THE VALVE BODY TRANSMISSION IS BAD. THE CAR HAS LESS THEN 100K MILES ON IT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED WHEN THE CAR BEGAN JERKING.

Mileage: 97,000

ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP, THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO SHIFT VERY ERRATICALLY. THIS INCLUDES WHILE UPSHIFTING - THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV UP AND SUDDENLY SHIFT INTO THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETIMES THE UPSHIFT IS SO SUDDEN THAT IT CAUSES THE TIRES TO BREAK FREE. IT ALSO OCCURS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO A STOP - THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS INTO LOW GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY AT TOO HIGH OF A SPEED CAUSING EVERYTHING IN THE VEHICLE (INCLUDING OCCUPANTS) TO LURCH FORWARD. THE SUDDEN DECELERATION COULD CAUSE REAR END COLLISIONS FROM FOLLOWING VEHICLES. EDMUNDS.COM HAS A FORUM FULL OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM - HTTP://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/7375/VOLKSWAGEN/NEW-BEETLE/VOLKSWAGEN-BEETLE-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS/P2

Mileage: 75,000

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2003 VW BEETLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT SHE WAS HAVING AN ISSUES WITH HER RPM'S REVVING VERY HIGH. SHE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AFTER AWHILE. SHE GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME, HER SPEED WAS ROUGHLY 65. ALL OF A SUDDEN HER VEHICLE DROPPED HER SPEED DOWN TO 50 CAUSING HER TO ALMOST BE REAR ENDED ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. AS SHE IS AWAY AT COLLEGE SO HER CAR IS NOT DRIVEN MUCH, SO WE ARE UNSURE IF THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE AND WAS TAKEN TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP AND WE WHERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING ISSUES. *TR

Mileage: 118,000

WE HAVE PURCHASED THIS 2003 BEETLE BUG FOR MY DAUGHTER AND THE TRANSMISSION IS HARD SHIFTING AND DOWN SHIFT REALLY BAD. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR. THERE AS BEEN NOTHING BUT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION (VALVE BODY). MY UNDERSTANDING THE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES. THIS BEETLE BUG ONLY HAS 86560. WE CAN'T EVEN DRIVE THIS CAR. I CAN'T BELIEVE WITH ALL THE ISSUE THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS HAD WITH TRANSMISSION THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. *TR

Mileage: 86,560

WE JUST BOUGHT A 2003 BEETLE BUG AND ONLY HAS 86560 AND SHIFTING AND JERKING REALLY HARD AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A COUPLE MILES. IT SHIFT HARD AND DOWN SHIFT THRU 1, 2, 3 GEARS. AFTER READING SEVERAL REPORTS THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL. EVERY WHERE I READ, THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY UNTIL 2010 AND 100,000 MILES. WE ARE UNDER THE MILEAGE BY FAR. I FEEL THE DEALER NEED TO FIX THIS ISSUE SINCE THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE FOR THIS YEAR. YOU DON'T KNOW YOU HAVE AN ISSUE UNTIL YOU HIT AROUND 80,000 MILES MARK. I NEED SOME HELP AND DIRECTION WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THIS CAR, *TR

Mileage: 86,560

VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING. BATTERY DEAD, NO POWER IN VEHICLE AT ALL. FOUND MELTED BATTERY FUSE BOX UNDER HOOD. ROOT CAUSE DETERMINED TO BE CORROSION ON ALTERNATOR POWER SUPPLY CABLE THAT CREATED HEAT ENOUGH TO MELT PLASTIC (~450F) AND BURN THE PROTECTIVE COVER OFF THE ALTERNATOR SUPPLY WIRE BACK 2 INCHES. POOR CONTACT DUE TO CORROSION CAUSED BATTERY TO DRAIN, WHICH EVENTUALLY COULD NO LONGER SUSTAIN ENGINE IGNITION. NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO ENGINE STOPPING. NO BATTERY POWER ALSO MEANS NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES, NO AIRBAGS DURING COLLISION. ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. IT WOULD APPEAR TO BE AS DEADLY AS THE GM IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE, BUT IT IS NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY VW. *TR

Mileage: 65,551

I WAS OUT DRIVING MY 2003 BEETLE ON THE FREEWAY AND THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO STALL AND SLOW DOWN. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE JUST REV VERY HIGH AND STARTED JERKING. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AS SOON AS I CAN. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE ON GOING. AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION WILL REV HIGH AS THOUGH I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND EVENTUALLY JERKS AND LUNGES. IF I STOP AT A RED LIGHT THE CAR WILL STALL AND LURCH FORWARD UPON ACCELERATION. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 106,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY VOLKSWAGEN. *TR

Mileage: 97,100

MY CAR WAS PURCHASED AS A USED CAR. I PURCHASED IT WITH 100000 MILES (APPROX.), AND I HAVE PUT ON 31000 ADDITIONAL MILES SINCE (WITHIN 5 YEARS). MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN ROUTINELY MAINTAINED/SERVICED. I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY BEETLE. IN NOVEMBER 2013, MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. IT HAS BECOME WORSE, AND IT LURCHES FORWARD WILL IN DRIVE, AND AT A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION MY CAR EITHER HESITATES TO TAKE OFF OR IT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX, HAVING CONSULTED TWO MECHANICS AND RECEIVING THEIR ESTIMATES. I FEEL THAT THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE POSES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF, OTHER DRIVERS, AND PEDESTRIANS WHO MAY BE CROSSING IN FRONT OF MY LURCHING VEHICLE. I THINK THAT WITH THE MULTITUDE OF 2003 TRANSMISSION ISSUES/FAILURES, VW NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT WITH A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 118,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 11/15/13*CN

Mileage: 36,000

THE AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

I AM THE THIRD OWNER AND I SHOULD HAVE CKED THIS CAR OUT SINCE THE PERSON WHO SOLD IT TOO ME DIDNT TELL ME A THING ABOUT THE CAR.I AM SO DICUSTED ABOUT THIS ADORABLE LOOKING CAR. I ONLY DROVE IT ONCE AND TOOK IT TOO OUR MECHANIC. WISHED I HAD TAKEN IT THERE FIRST$800.00 LATER AND JUST THE BEGINNING! I PAID TOO MUCH TO BEGIN WITH. IPAID $4500 FOR A 2003 VW BECAUSE IT WAS CUTE! SO I WISH VW WOULD HELP US AMERICAN PEOPLE. I WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR BUT HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT ONCE.! HELP !! STILL AT THE MECHANICS! WISH PEOPLE COULD BE HONEST ! THIS WOULD NOT HAPPENED IN THE 60"S . WE HAVE A GOOD MECHANIC! THANK GOD! *TR

Mileage: 123,000

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS MY 2003 VW BEETLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE CHANGING GEARS (IT'S AN AUTOMATIC) AND HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. IT WILL JERK AND LUNGE WHEN SLOWING DOWN. EACH TIME THE MECHANIC HAS "RESET THE CODES" AND THE TEST DRIVE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ANYMORE TROUBLE. IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE AND NOW AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 25 OR 30 MINUTES IT BEGINS THE JERKING AND LUNGING. AFTER RESEARCHING, I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I LOVE MY CAR, BUT NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND I CERTAINLY CANNOT RELY ON IT. I NOW FEEL THAT I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT I CANNOT DRIVE NOR CAN I SELL. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT AND WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL BANGING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,200. *TR

Mileage: 79,000

MY DAUGHTERS 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE SHIFTS VERY HARD AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF POSSIBLE CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT! I'VE READ MESSAGE BOARDS AND HAVE REALIZED THAT THIS YEAR OF BEETLE NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE SOMEONE LOSSES THEIR LIFE! IT SHIFTS THE WORST BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. SHE IS SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS CAR! *TR

Mileage: 71,000

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE HAS STARTED HARD SHIFTING WHEN WARM, CAUSING ERRATIC SPEED CHANGES AND POSSIBLE LACK OF TRACTION. VWOA ISSUED A RECALL AROUND A YEAR AGO HOWEVER ONLY WITHIN A VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF MILES DONE, SHOWING THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT TAKE ADEQUATE ACTION TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

I HAVE A 2003 VW BEETLE THAT I PURCHASED ON MAY 18, 2003 OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR OF MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. IT CURRENTLY IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE AS I HAVE EXPERIENCE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMSSION SLIPPING HARD INTO GEAR OR JERKING TO A HARD STOP WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THIS STARTED IN APRIL, 2012, I TOOK IT IN TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I ONLY HAVE 85,000 MILES. WELL, I TOOK IT TOO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR LOCATIONS AND THEY SAID THE SAME WITH A COST UP TO AROUND $6,000. I WORKED HARD TO PAY MY CAR OFF AND NOW IT SITS COVERED IN MY GARAGE AS I HAVE READ THEIR ARE POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST VW FOR THIS ISSUE. I DID RECEIVE A NOTICE FROM VW IN NOVEMBER OF 2010 REGARDING WARRANTY EXTENSION - TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. IT COVERS THE VALVE BODY IN YOUR VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, FROM THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL IN-SERVICE DATE. WELL, I BOUGHT MY CAR IN MAY OF 2003, SO MY 7 YEARS WAS UP IN MAY OF 2010...SO VW SENDS OUT A WORTHLESS NOTICE IN NOVEMBER 2010 AND I AM STUCK WITH THE BILL. I HAVE BEEN GETTING CALLS AND EMAILS FROM MY VW DEALEARSHIP THAT I CAN TRADE IN MY CAR AND THEY WILL GIVE ME TOP $$. I DON'T WANT ANOTHER VW CAR, I JUST WANT THIS ONE FIXED BY VW. PLEASE HELP DIRECT ME TO THE APPROPRIATE GROUP, PERSON SO THAT I CAN BE INCLUDED IN ANY LAWSUIT OR SETTLEMENT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY AND ERRATICALLY DOWN SHIFTS OR HARD UP SHIFTS, CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. *TR

Mileage: 59,040

WAS DRIVING MY BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AT AROUND 40MPH THERE WAS A CAR THAT STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND I STARTED SLOWING DOWN AS THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED IT JERKED SO HARD IT MADE ME GO INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ALMOST HAVE A HEAD ON COLLISION VW IS AWARE OF THESE CARS DOING THIS AND WARRANTIED THE VALVE BODY'S BUT WHEN I CALLED AND TOLD THEM ABOUT MINE THEY SAID I WAS TO LATE THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OVER!!! THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND COULD RESULT IN PEOPLE BEING KILLED VW DIDN'T EVEN OFFER ME THE PART TO PAY SOMEONE TO FIX MY CAR SO NOW IT SITS IN THE YARD AND I CAN NOT DRIVE IT DUE TO I HAVE CHILDREN AND I'M SCARED IT WILL GETS US IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT AND HARM US! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS BEFORE SO MANY PEOPLE ARE HURT!!!! STEP UP VW AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT! *TR

Mileage: 112,013

TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED! *TR

Mileage: 162,000

THE VEHICLE STARTS UP FINE AND ACCELERATES NORMAL AT FIRST. JUST BEFORE THE VEHICLE SWITCHES TO SECOND GEAR IT GETS STUCK. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO PROPERLY SHIFT TO SECOND GEAR IS TO GIVE IT MORE GAS, WHICH MAKES THE RPMS GO UP TO 7,000. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE CHANGES TO SECOND GEAR AND LUNGES FORWARD. I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED MULTIPLE PEOPLE DO THIS PROBLEM. ONCE THE VEHICLE GETS INTO SECOND GEAR IT ACCELERATES NORMALLY AGAIN, JUST UNTIL IT CHANGES TO THIRD GEAR AND DOES THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I DESCRIBED ABOVE. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS, BUT ALSO FINANCIAL HURTFUL. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF REVIEWS ON THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ALL DESCRIBE THE SAME THING, ALONG WITH THEIR VEHICLES BEING VERY LOW IN MILEAGE. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

I OWN A 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. RECENTLY , AT RANDOM TIMES, WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP PAST 4000 RPM AND JUMP INTO GEAR. ESSENTIALLY A VERY HARD SHIFT. WITH PLANS TO KEEP THIS VEHICLE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRUSTED MECHANIC. AFTER TEST DRIVING AND EXPERIENCING THE "HARD SHIFT", I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS MOST DEFINITELY TRANSMISSION RELATED, HOWEVER, ONLY VW CAN ACCESS THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS COMPLETELY SEALED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DAVID MAUS VOLKSWAGEN OF ORLANDO FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS "COMING APART FROM THE INSIDE" AND THAT IT WAS A "TICKING TIME BOMB". BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OVER 100000 MILES , IT DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY RECALL. THE REPAIR COST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION IS $6000.00. I FEEL THAT THIS IS GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, TO KNOWINGLY PLACE THIS VEHICLE WITH SUCH A MAJOR DEFECT ON THE MARKETPLACE. I NOW HAVE AN UNUSABLE HUNK OF SCRAP METAL SITTING IN MY GARAGE FOR FEAR OF THE TIME BOMB UNDER THE HOOD. I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND POTENTIALLY PUT OTHERS LIVES AT RISK. VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWINGLY PUTTING A CAR WITH SUCH A MAJOR DEFECT ON THE ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 114,385

THE 2003 VW BEETLE HAS STARTED TO SLIP AT 96,500 MILES GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. I HAVE DONE ALOT OF ONLINE RESEARCH AND THERE ARE SEVERAL FORUMS AND THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR CASES AS THE ONE I AM HAVING. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA CUSTOMER CARE AND TALKED TO TIM AND HE SAID BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I MENTIONED THAT THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE VALVE BODY AND HE AGREED BUT STILL COULD NOT HELP ME. FURTHER RESEARCH LED TO ME FINDING A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINS VW AMERICA FOR EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY DOCUMENTED CASES, I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY AS THIS CAN LEAD TO A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ON THE ROAD. WORSE YET, VW KNOWS ABOUT IT AND IS NOT DOING ANYTHING! PLEASE HELP. *TR *JS

Mileage: 96,503

THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS ON ITS OWN AT ANY GIVING TIME. WAS CLOSE TO GETTING REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES.. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED AUTOMATICALLY AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Mileage: 88,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN THERE WAS A SHIFT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SLID OUT OF GEARS BY ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

Mileage: 108,000

WHEN THIS CAR SHIFTS INTO THIRD GEAR, IT IS VERY HARD AND VIOLENT WITH AN AWFUL LUNGE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR IN CONTROL. I AM STILL DRIVING IT, BUT WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN. *TR

Mileage: 69,000

MY VEHICLE WILL DOWN SHIFT REALLY HARD FROM 3RD TO 2ND WITH A LOUD CLUNK NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION AT TIMES WILL GET STUCK IN A GEAR AT A INTERSECTION AND NOT MOVE AT ALL..THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL TAKE OFF REALLY FAST. IT HAS DONE THIS ON THE FREEWAY AS WELL. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS CAR AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY KNOW THAT THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS BUT FAIL TO FIX IT. THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION A LOT OF THESE CAR OWNERS ARE YOUNG (NEW ) DRIVERS AND THIS IS NOT A SAFE CAR! *TR

Mileage: 68,000

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE OWNER BLOGS, FAILED TRANSMISSION IS A COMMON AND FREQUENT OCCURRENCE. *05/31/12*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE CAR AND SHIFTING IT MOVED FORWARD FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN STOPPED. THE ENGINE STILL RAN FINE BUT, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT TO HIGHER GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. UPDATED 06/06/12 *JS

AT 70,000 MILES, MY VW STARTING SHIFTING HARD CAUSING IT TO BE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. VW STATES THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN THIS EARLY BUT THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JS

Mileage: 72,000

MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHERE IT WILL JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN IT SHIFTS UP OR DOWN AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT SHIFT AT ALL. IT WILL GET STUCK IN A GEAR AND I HAVE TO STOP IT AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND RESTART IT. IT WILL JERK EVEN WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE I AM FAR AWAY FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I NO LONGER DRIVE IT BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. MY AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF ALSO, SO I'M NOT SURE IF IT WILL EVEN WORK IF THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT. TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD NOT BE JERKING THAT WAY AT ALL AND IF SOMEONE WAS TO WALK IN FRONT OF MY CAR AT A STOP LIGHT OR SIGN, IT COULD JERK FORWARD AND HIT THEM. NOT A SAFE CAR. *JS

Mileage: 71,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO DOWN SHIFT CONTINUOUSLY INTO LOWER GEARS. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 60,000

MY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY IS FAULTY, BUT VW'S EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY COVERS VEHICLES AFTER 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. MY CAR WAS JUST 4 MONTHS TOO OLD TO QUALIFY AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE ANYTHING, DESPITE IT BEING A MAJOR ISSUE AFFECTING DRIVE PERFORMANCE. OTHER CARS IN MY SAME MODEL YEAR QUALIFIED, BUT MINE DID NOT. HOW IS THIS FAIR? *TR

Mileage: 75,000

MY 2003 BEETLE HAS BEEN VIOLENTLY JERKING AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES OF DRIVING (WHEN IT WARMS UP). IF I'M AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND ACCELERATE - IT VIOLENTLY JERKS INTO GEAR !! IF I BABY IT AND BARELY MOVE (WHERE TRAFFIC IS PRACTICALLY RUNNING INTO ME FROM BEHIND), IT IS NOT SOOOO BAD, BUT STILL BAD AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. VW ALSO EXTENDED THE WARRANTY UNTIL 2010 OR 100,000 WHICH EVER CAME FIRST, AND UNFORTUNATELY 2010 CAME FIRST AND THEY REFUSE TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO BE USED UNDER THE 100,000 MILES RULE. THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, I'VE READ THOUSANDS OF THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINTS IN THIS CAR -- THOUSANDS, THE VERY SAME THING AND VW WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO CHANGE IT TO 100,000 MILES AND NOT JUST 2010 (WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS PAST 2 YEARS AGO). THIS IS DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE. IT IS A DEFECT AND VW SHOULD PAY FOR THIS. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO GET KILLED BEFORE THEY OFFER THE EXTENSION UP TO 100,000 MILES??? THANK YOU *TR

Mileage: 69,000

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND AS I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR SHIFTED DOWN VERY HARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED CAUSING ME TO HIT A GUARDRAIL. I TOOK MY CAR TO A SHOP AND HAD THE BODY REPAIRS DONE ($3910.00), AND UPON TAKING MY CAR, IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. I HAD IT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THOSE VW'S AND THEY HAD A RECALL ON IT. MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME BECAUSE THE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE WAS UP. I WAS HOPING THAT SOMEONE THERE COULD HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE REPAIR IS 5900.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE BODY DAMAGE WAS 3910.00. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 111,225

FROM DAY ONE THIS CAR HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHICH WERE DENIED BY THE DEALER ON 5 VISITS, AFTER I SOLD THE CAR I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM VW, NOW THAT I AM LOOKING AT BLOGS THEY HAVE APPARENTLY RECALLED THIS RECALL TO SUIT THEM. OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS VEHICLE ARE WINDOW TROUBLES, CONVERTIBLE ROOF TROUBLES, ELECTRONIC TROUBLES, SEATBELT TROUBLES, AIRBAG TROUBLES. I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYONE WILL ALLOW THIS CAR TO STILL BE SOLD OR ON THE ROAD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD ON WHEELS. *TR

Mileage: 1

THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND WITHIN THREE MONTHS HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. RECENTLY IT STARTED TO LURCH AT STOPS AND STARTS, AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAILED VALVE BODY ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSITION COMPANY REFERRED ME TO WEBSITES WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN IN MI AND WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A WARRANTY EXTENSION, OF WHICH I WAS NOT INFORMED, BUT THAT IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO ME NOW. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM WARRANTS A LOOK AT THIS MODEL AND ITS TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER WARNED MY TRANSITION SPECIALIST THAT THE REPAIR WHICH HAS BEEN FREQUENT ONLY WORKS ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. I ASKED IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE AS IS AND WAS WARNED ONLY FOR SHORT DISTANCES. IT APPEARS TO E THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED A RECALL OR A CLASS ACTION SUIT. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

I PURCHASED MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE BRAND SPANKING NEW IN DEC 2002. THE CAR HAD 32 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT; THE CAR NOW HAS 77K MILES AS OF TODAY. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT VW IS ACUTELY AWARE OF. THE CAR IS A 6 SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION WITH TRIP TRONIC. THE CAR HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION AND BEFORE SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR. INSTEAD, THE TRANSMISSION LURCHES FROM 1ST INTO 2ND, CAUSING THE TIRES TO SCREECH. WHEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD IT CAUSES THE FRONT DRIVE/STEERING TIRES TO LOSE GRIP ON THE PAVEMENT WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES WHEN IT JUMPED SO HARD IT ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND SOMETIMES THE LURCH IS SO STRONG IT FEELS LIKE ANOTHER CAR HIT ME FROM BEHIND. THE TRANSMISSION WORKS FINE WHEN IT IS COOL BUT GETS WORSE AS THE CAR WARMS UP - AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES. THE OTHER GEARS HAVE SHIFTING PROBLEMS TOO; JUST NOT AS HARSH AS GOING INTO 2ND. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS DOWNSHIFTING AS WELL. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED THE CAR GETTING STUCK IN 2ND GEAR WHILE TRAVELING IN TRAFFIC WHICH CREATED A DANGER FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. THE ONLY WAY TO CURE THE PROBLEM IS TO SAFELY MAKE MY WAY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN THE ENGINE OFF, WAIT A FEW MINUTES, THEN TURN IT BACK ON. THIS DOESN'T COMPLETELY MAKE THE LURCHING GO AWAY BUT IT GIVES ME SEVERAL TRAVEL MILES BEFORE GETTING STUCK IN GEAR AGAIN. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO LOOKED UP MY VIN. THEY TOLD ME I WAS OVER MY YEARS FOR THE RECALL ON THE VALVE BODY WHICH IS WHAT SHOULD CORRECT MY TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAVE LIVED AT THE SAME ADDRESS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2002 AND NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THIS ITEM. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN VW OF AMERICA! I WAITED SEVERAL YEARS FOR THE CONVERTIBLE VERSION TO COME OUT AND THIS WAS A BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO MYSELF (THIS IS HOW MUCH I LOVE THIS CAR!) *TR

Mileage: 75,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BETTLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RPMS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

Mileage: 71,000

I COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TO COME OUT. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. NOW, AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES, I AM TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE--IT WILL GET STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, IT WILL KICK BETWEEN GEARS ONE AND TWO, AND IT WILL JOLT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD. *KB

Mileage: 64,000

I COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TO COME OUT. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. NOW, AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES, I AM TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE--IT WILL GET STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, IT WILL KICK BETWEEN GEARS ONE AND TWO, AND IT WILL JOLT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD. *KB

Mileage: 64,000

THE SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AT RANDOM I GOT THIS CAR FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND IM SCARED TO LET HER DRIVE IT. GOT A NOTICE IN THE MAIL FROM VW ABOUT IT THEY DROVE IT AND SAID IT WAS OK BUT OBVIOUSLY ITS NOT. THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOME ONE GETS INJURED. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. WHEN DECELERATING TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK BEFORE SWITCHING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND AFTER INSPECTION THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE AT A COST OF $6,000. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

Mileage: 123,000

RECALL ON AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR BACK IN 2008, WHICH WE HAD REPLACE . HOWEVER THIS PROBLEM CONSTANTLY HAPPEN WERE THE AIR BAG CREASE SENSOR LIGHTS COMES ON AND STAYS ON. WHEN YOU CALL THE DEALERSHIP THEY WANTS TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER. THERE IS ALWAYS A JERKING IN THE POWER TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING . THIS IS DANGEROUS YOU WOULD THINK THE CAR IS GOING TO STOP GOING UP HILL. I MADE A COMPLAINT BACK IN 2009 COMPLAINT #102868 NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *TR

Mileage: 60

MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH A 2.0 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CODE: GGZ) HAS A BAD TRANSMISSION THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND I SEE MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I CANNOT AFFORD $6,000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND $3,500 FOR USED. THE USED TRANSMISSIONS HAVE MORE MILES THAN MY POOR CAR. I WANT TO FILE A COMPLAINT AGAINST VW. *TR

Mileage: 77,500

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS. SHE ALSO NOTICED DEBRIS ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE VENTILATION SYSTEM WHICH WAS A GREASY SUBSTANCE THAT CAUSED HER EYES TO BURN AND COULD HAVE OBSTRUCTED HER VIEW. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING AN APPOINTMENT WITH A PRIVATE MECHANIC. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,700. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,100. UPDATED 10/18/11*LJ THE DEALER INDICATED THE DEBRIS WAS A RESULT OF THE A/C UNIT PROTECTION WITH A FOAM SUBSTANCE WHICH WAS PEELING OFF THE A/C UNIT. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE MAIN VALVE FOR THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED

Mileage: 67,100

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF AROUND 45+ MPH MY WIFE'S VW BEETLE RANDOMLY DOWNSHIFTED TO THE POINT THAT IT SQUEALED THE TIRES AND THREW HER FORWARD. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEIR ESTIMATE IS $4900 FOR A USED TRANSMISSION OR $6000+ FOR A NEW ONE FROM VW. THEY ALSO SAID THAT THIS IS A "KNOWN" PROBLEM WITH THIS SPECIFIC TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP SAID WE SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION TO 100,000 MILES FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE THE LETTER BUT MY WIFE'S CAR HAS 128,000 MILES SO VW HAS REFUSED TO HELP AT ALL WITH THE PROBLEM. I ALSO CHECKED WITH TWO OTHER VW DEALERSHIPS IN THE KC METRO AND THEY IMMEDIATELY STARTED NODDING THEIR HEAD IN AGREEMENT ABOUT THIS BEING A "KNOWN" PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. AS I WAS TRYING TO LOCATE A USED TRANSMISSION ONLINE AT A CHEAPER PRICE I WAS ABSOLUTELY IN SHOCK AT THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION. THAT RANDOM DOWNSHIFT IS GOING TO CAUSE A WRECK IF IT HASN'T ALREADY. IF SOMEONE IS FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE, THE PAVEMENT IS WET, SNOW ON THE GROUND, GRAVEL ROADS, WHATEVER SCENARIO YOU CAN IMAGINE - A DOWNSHIFT OF THAT NATURE COULD EASILY RESULT IN A WRECK. I ALSO CHECKED WITH A NATIONAL TRANSMISSION COMPANY (CERTIFIED TRANSMISSION) AND THEY SAID THAT DUE TO A "DESIGN FLAW" WITH THAT TRANSMISSION THEY WILL ONLY WARRANTY THEIR WORK TO 12MOS/12,000 MILES INSTEAD OF THEIR NORMAL 3YR/50,000. VW'S OWN LETTER ACKNOWLEDGING A PROBLEM DUE TO "CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS", 3 DEALERSHIPS STATING THIS IS A "KNOWN" PROBLEM, A NATIONAL TRANSMISSION COMPANY REDUCING THEIR WARRANTY DUE TO A "DESIGN FLAW" AND THE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF DISCUSSIONS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM - IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH VW'S "GGZ" TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 128,000

BOUGHT CAR FOR DAUGHTER FEB.2011. THE GEAR SEEMS TO GET HUNG UP BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD THEN THE CAR WILL BARELY MOVE. SOMETIMES WHEN IT GOES IN TO GEAR IT LUNGES FORWARD. MY DAUGHTER ALMOST HAD A WRECK TRYING TO TURN AND THE GEAR GOT HUNG UP AND STALLED IN TRAFFIC. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

2003 BEETLE CONV TIPTRONIC SWITCH FAILURE TO DOWN SHIFTS ON THE BEETLE LEADS TO FALSE READING AS TO REPLACING OF THE WHOLE TRANSMISSIONS ON THE BEETLES. NOT SAFE WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY UP- HILL JERKS LIKE LOSING SPEED IN SHIFTING. TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT BE GOING OUT AT 93, 000 MILES DO TO TIPRONIC SHIFTER OVER $592.00 TO FIX 6, 792.00 FOR REBUILT TRANSMISSION. I WAS TOLD BY VW TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION DUE TOTIPRONIC SHIFTER FAILURE EST 6,792.00 DOLLARS FOR TRANSMISSION 592.00 FOR TIPRONIC SHIFTER. REPLACE SHIFTER TILL HAVE OLD PART. *TR

Mileage: 93,764

2003 VW BEETLE... TRANSMISSION "LURCHES" FORWARD... NOT SAFE. VW EXTENDED WARRANTY BY ONLY 7 YEARS. THAT EXCLUDED ANY 2003'S SOLD DURING NORMAL MODEL YEAR. ONLY HAD 54,000 MILES. COST OVER $3,000.00 TO FIX. HOW CAN VOLKSWAGEN KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM AND THEN EXCLUDE VEHICLES LIKE THIS? *TR

Mileage: 54,000

NEAR-MISS BUT NO TRAFFIC COLLISION DUE TO UNEXPECTED JERKINESS, LOSS OF POWER TRANSFER TO DRIVE WHEELS, WITH ASSOCIATED REVVING OF ENGINE OF 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WHILE I TRIED ENTERING TRAFFIC STREAM ON A BUSY STREET. SYMPTOMS WERE INTERMITTENT FOR 9 MONTHS; NOW PRESENT WHENEVER VEHICLE WARMED UP AFTER 3 MILES DRIVING; VEHICLE NOT USED FOR PAST 9 MO. VOLKSWAGEN DEALER ADVISES "REPLACE TRANSMISSION". VALVE BODY FAILURE IN 6-SPEED TIPTRONIC (AISIN-WARNER 09G) AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CAUSES HARD UPSHIFTS AND DOWNSHIFTS AND LAPSES IN POWER TRANSFER, RESULTING IN UNSAFE SITUATIONS WHEN MERGING ONTO FREEWAY OR INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC, FOR EXAMPLE. THE 6 ELECTRICALLY CONTROLLED VALVES AND ASSOCIATED SOLENOIDS IN THIS TRANSMISSION GRADUALLY WEAR OUT, TYPICALLY SOON AFTER THE VOLKSWAGEN 5-YEAR, 60000-MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY EXPIRES. THE PROBLEM IS TRACEABLE TO DEFECTIVE DESIGN OF THE COMBINATION OF ALUMINUM VALVE BORES, SHIFT VALVES WHICH CAUSE WEAR IN THE BORES, FAULTY SOLENOIDS, AND SHIFT PROGRAMMING WHICH RELIES ON FREQUENT ELECTRICALLY ACTIVATED MOVEMENT OF THE VALVES TO MODULATE AND PRODUCE SMOOTH SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS. THE CONSEQUENCE OF CONTINUING TO DRIVE THE CAR CAN BE COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE, WHICH MAY OCCUR UNEXPECTEDLY AND PLACE THE DRIVER IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF UNABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROADWAY, OR IF FAILURE OCCURS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE OR EXECUTE NORMAL DRIVING MANEUVERS. IN MY CASE, THE TRANSMISSION OPERATES WELL FOR THE FIRST 3 MILES, BUT NOT WHEN WARMED UP. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA ANNOUNCED A WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THE "VALVE BODY ONLY" FOR THE 09G MODEL TRANSMISSIONS, FOR A SPECIFIC 7 YEARS FROM VEHICLE-IN-SERVICE DATE OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST. I WILL HAVE THE VALVE BODY REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP, USING GENUINE VW PARTS, AS VWOFA HAS DECLINED TO REPAIR MY TRANSMISSION OR REPLACE IT COMPLETELY UNLESS I AM WILLING TO PAY FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE USED PARTS WILL BE SAVED. *TR

Mileage: 76,500

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE AND JERK FORWARD AND SHIFT HARD BETWEEN GEARS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 79,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. UPDATED 05/05/11*LJ UPDATED 05/13/11

Mileage: 65,000

2003 VOLKSWAGON BEETLE CONVERTABLE..TRANSMISSION COMPANY STATING I NEED A NEW VALVE BODY..VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. RECEIVED THE EXTENSION LETTER BUT WAS A LITTLE TO LATE. MY YOUNG DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HAS BEEN STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DOEN ABOUT THIS..

Mileage: 106,000

I HAD PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED ABOUT MY 2003 BEETLE ON THIS WEBSITE. SOMEHOW MY CAR SEEMS TO HAVE SOMEHOW REPAIRED IT SELF !! IT IS NO LONGER SHIFTING HARD WHEN IT SHIFTS AND ITS NO LONGER LURCHING OR PAUSING AS IT SHIFTS. IM NOT SURE WHY, IM JUST REALLY RELIEVED! *TR

WHILE DRIVING ONE EVENING THE CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEARS ON HIGHWAY, THUS LIMITING THE SPEED TO LESS THAN 35 MILES PER HOUR IN A POSTED ZONE OF 55 MPH. THIRD -SIXTH GEARS FAILED.

Mileage: 53,000

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 3RD TO 4TH. HAS EVEN STALLED ON OCCASION. HAS LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION HITS SO HARD IT FEELS AS THOUGH IT WILL FALL OUT OF THE CAR. I HAVE STOPPED DRIVING IT DUE TO THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. CAN NOT AFFORD THE 4,000 - 7000 DOLLARS QUOTED TO REPLACE. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

AS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE BEGAN TO BANG VERY HARD WHEN SHIFTING AND LOCKED UP PERIODICALLY IN THIRD GEAR. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP IN THIRD GEAR WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, THE CAR WAS VERY SLOW TO MOVE. THIS LEFT ME NEARLY STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF MAJOR BUSY INTERSECTIONS SEVERAL TIMES. I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH CARS WHIZZING PAST. THIS DEFECT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND IS A KNOWN FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS THROUGH SEVERAL YEAR MODELS. IT COST ME OVER $3000 TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION FIXED. VW IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CONTROL VALVE IN THIS DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION AND HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY, BUT HAS LEFT OUT CARS SOLD AT THE TIME MINE WAS. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

2003 VW NEW BEETLE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. ROUGH SHIFTING UP AND DOWN. 1ST AND 2ND.. COULD NOT BE DRIVEN SAFLEY. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AT AAMCO. VW IS RUFUSING TO REIMBURSE ME. 4K +. *TR

Mileage: 81,009

AFTER AROUND 36000 MILES WE NOTICED THAT THE CAR WOULD SHIFT ROUGH. THE DEALER TOLD US IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY BECAUSE IT HAD A LEAK. THE PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED AND WE WERE TOLD BY A TRANSMISSION SHOP THAT THE LEAK WAS NOT SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE THESE PROBLEMS. IT NOW SHIFTS SO ROUGH THAT WHEN IT GOES INTO GEAR IT PULL HARD LEFT OR RIGHT WHEN IT ENGAGES. UPON DOWNSHIFTING IT ACTUALLY LUNGES FORWARD AND HAS CAUSED MANY CONCERNS WITH ME AND MY WIFE. *TR

Mileage: 34,636

DROVE 600 MILES TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE-MY DREAM CAR. HAD IT FOR 2 DAYS, PUT THE TOP DOWN TWICE AND THE CABLE TO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP SNAPPED. COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY (MISSED THE WHOLE FIRST SEASON OF USING THE CONVERTIBLE). FINALLY GOT ENOUGH $$ TOGETHER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND FOUND OUT A PIECE OF SOMETHING MUST HAVE FALLEN DOWN INTO THE CHANNEL OF THE REAR WINDOW AND BROKE A PART INSIDE SO ADDED THAT TO THE EXPENSE, AROUND $800. REPLACED THE BRAKES NEXT (O.K. WITH THAT, NORMAL REPAIR OF ANY VEHICLE). BUT, NOT TOO LONG AFTER, NOTICED TRANSMISSION HAD A TINY "SLIP". IGNORED THAT SINCE I DIDN'T WANT TO THINK SOMETHING ELSE WAS GOING WRONG ALREADY. PROGRESSED TO WHERE I AM NOW, SLAMMING DOWN INTO THE LOWER GEARS WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW STATING IF ANY REPAIRS HAD BEEN INCURRED DURING THE WARRANTY/EXTENDED WARRANTY, IT WOULD BE COVERED AS 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER CAME FIRST. WELL, AS IT HAPPENS, MY CAR HAS JUST UNDER 83,000 MILES ON IT AND THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED IN APRIL OF 2010. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY QUOTED ME $2490 FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD A REP HE COULD CALL TO SEE IF "THERE WAS ANYTHING THEY COULD DO" SINCE IT WAS SUCH A SHORT TIME AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. AFTER IT WAS ALL SAID AND DONE, THEY WOULD DEDUCT $750 FROM THE TOTAL REPAIR IF I WOULD SHOW GOOD FAITH AND PURCHASE NEW TIRES ($500), NEW BATTERY ($195 OR $165) AND AN EXHAUST CLAMP ($58) FROM THEIR DEALERSHIP. I'M NO MATH WIZARD, BUT THAT PUT ME RIGHT BACK TO ALMOST THE ORIGINAL REPAIR COST. I AM AT MY WIT'S END WITH THIS CAR. I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT BUT HAVE NO CHOICE AS IT IS MY ONLY MODE OF TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE BEEN READING SEVERAL OTHER COMPARABLE COMPLAINTS, SO I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE. I FEEL THAT A 100,00 MILE WARRANTY SHOULD BE JUST THAT, NOT 7 YEARS/OR.......

Mileage: 82,000

OCCASIONAL VIOLENT SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO THIRD GEAR - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VERY DANGEROUS IN INTERSECTIONS. VW HAD A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THEM LAST MONTH- VW SAID MY CAR WAS 1 YEAR TOO OLD - CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX ON MY OWN - CAR IS WORTHLESS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

OCCASIONAL VIOLENT SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND AND 2ND TO THIRD GEAR - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VERY DANGEROUS IN INTERSECTIONS. VW HAD A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, I WAS NOTIFIED BY THEM LAST MONTH- VW SAID MY CAR WAS 1 YEAR TOO OLD - CAN'T AFFORD TO FIX ON MY OWN - CAR IS WORTHLESS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 98,000

MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, WITH UNDER 50,000 MILES ON IT WILL SHIFT DANGEROUSLY HARD. WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO 1ST OR 2ND GEAR, IT SHIFTS WITH A SLAM AND LURCHES FORWARD. THERE IS A PAUSE BEFORE IT SHIFTS WHICH MAKES IT VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, INSTEAD OF MOVING FORWARD WHEN IT SHOULD THERE IS THAT PAUSE WHILE IT LURCHES DOWN AND SLAMS INTO GEAR. IT DOES THIS ON A REGULAR BASIS. *LN

Mileage: 35,000

THE ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN THIRD GEAR WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO RESET. THIS IS A PERILOUS MANEUVER, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE MANY OPTIONS. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME PROBLEMS SHIFTING BOTH UP AND DOWN. THE UPSHIFTS ARE PROBLEMATIC IN THAT THE CAR CAN SUDDENLY LURCH FORWARD WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGES. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CAR WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND. THE RPMS WILL GO TO @5000, THEN THE SHIFT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO SQUEAL TIRES AND LURCH FORWARD.

Mileage: 88,210

2003 TDI BEETLE (AUTO) JERKS ABRUPTLY WHEN UPSHIFTING. THE CAR ALMOST STALLS IN FAST-MOVING TRAFFIC, CREATING A LIFE-THREATENING CONDITION. DEALER SERVICE DEPT. STATES A TEMPERATURE SENSOR FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID IS NOT FUNCTIONING, AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. THIS IS NOT A PART THAT SHOULD FAIL AS IT THREATENS LIVES, AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY VW. *TR

Mileage: 104,350

2003 VW NEW BEETLE HAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION WHICH IS PRESENTING A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON ROADS AND HIGHWAYS. CAR DOES NOT SHIFT RIGHT, HARD SHIFTS, BUCKING, ETC. AND NOW STALLING, PROBABLY A TOTALLY FAILED TRANSMISSION FOR WHICH VW IS TAKING NO RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

VW BEETLE 2003, 61,000 MILES, I NOTICED IT SHIFTED HARD SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED IT THIS PAST APRIL; JERKS WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND, SECOND AND THIRD, ETC; WENT TO VW AFTER I RECEIVED THE WARRANTY EXTENSION - TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY LETTER (RECEIVED IN DECEMBER 2010, BUT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO COVER THE COST BECAUSE THE EXTENSION IS TO COVER 7 YEARS, AND MY CAR IS 6 MONTHS TOO OLD; THEY'VE ADMITTED THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT. *TR

VEHICLE WOULD LURCH WHEN DOWN OR UPSHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD AND 3RD TO 4TH AT JUST OVER 90,000 MILES. IT WOULD ALSO STICK IN NEUTRAL FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL SHOP FOR REPAIR IN DECEMBER 2010. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY CAUSING A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS. WHILE THE OUR BUG WAS IN THE SHOP WE RECEIVED A LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 2010 FROM VW ABOUT EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES OR 7 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. OUR BUG WAS PURCHASED AUGUST 2003 PUTTING IT OUT OF WARRANTY. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS VW SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING A GENERAL SERVICE RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION LONG BEFORE NOVEMBER 2010..

VW BEETLE 2003, 98,000 MILES, STARTED SHIFTING HARD ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO; JERKS WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND, SECOND AND THIRD, AND 4TH TO 3RD TO 2ND TO 1ST; CALLED VW AFTER I RECEIVED THE WARRANTY EXTENSION - TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY LETTER (DEC 11, 2010) BUT THEY ARE UNWILLING TO COVER THE COST (5 MONTHS TOO OLD); THEY'VE ADMITTED THE PROBLEM BUT REFUSE TO FIX IT. *TR

AFTER WARMING UP, THE CAR'S TRANSMISSION JERKS VERY BADLY, AND RUNS WILDLY BEFORE SHIFTING. THE MILEAGE IS JUST 75K. IT IS REALLY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO THE HARD SHIFT. MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. VW MUST BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS HORRIBLE DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

VOLKSWAGEN, 2003 NEW BEETLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 69,000

DEFECTIVE VALVE BODY FOR 09G ENGINE THAT VW CORPORATE HAS KNOWN ABOUT AND FIXED IN LATER MODELS. *TR

Mileage: 81,200

FAULTY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ACTIVITY. LOW MILEAGE TRANSMISSION FAILURES CAUSING HAZARDOUS DRIVING. DOWNSHIFTING CAUSES JOLTING GEAR CHANGES, ACCELERATING CAUSES SLIP INTO NEUTRAL NEARLY CAUSING REAR-END COLLISIONS. COMPUTER CODES FAIL TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE FAILURE, CAUSING DANGEROUS DRIVING HAZARD. *TR

Mileage: 76,100

FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS MY 2003 AUTOMATIC VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH 56K MILES HAS BEEN SHIFTING HARD (LURCH FEELING) INTERMITTENTLY GOING UP OR DOWN HILLS. WHEN THE MECHANIC INSPECTED IT THE TRANSMISSION READOUT SAID IT WAS FINE AND THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. ON NOVEMBER 15, 2010 WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 15MPH, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED GRABBING AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL. I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT IT TO THE TIPTRONIC SYSTEM TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE SAFELY OUT OF THE WAY. UPON INSPECTION THE VW DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW THE EXACT CAUSE AND ONLY DIRECTION THEY GOT FROM VW NATIONAL WAS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FOR $7K. *TR

Mileage: 56,375

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN SHE CHANGED GEARS. THE FAILURE PROGRESSED OVER TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WHICH WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT BOTH THE FRONT WINDOW REGULATOR MOTORS FAILED; THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED AND WERE REPAIRED AT A REPAIR SHOP. THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS BEGINNING TO DETACH FROM THE STRUCTURE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,347 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93,800.

Mileage: 75,347

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IN 2003. A FEW YEARS AGO, I REPORTED A NUMBER OF INSTANCES OF A LURCHING PROBLEM TO MY SERVICE GUY AT THE VW DEALERSHIP, AND HE SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE PROBLEM CAME BACK FULL FORCE, AND HE SAID EVENTUALLY I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR HAS BEGUN LURCHING AND SHUDDERING VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING, AND TODAY, MY RPM'S WERE HIGHLY ELEVATED, DESPITE MY LOW SPEED. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF, DESPITE BEING ON THE 101 FREEWAY IN LA. IT COULDN'T DRIVE. IT STARTED UP AGAIN, AND THIS EVENING THE SAME THING HAPPENED. I'M AFRAID TO CONTINUE TO DRIVE MY CAR. IT'S SEVEN YEARS OLD AND IT ONLY HAS 40,000 MILES ON IT. THERE'S NO REASON FOR THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM TO OCCUR, AND THERE SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE A RECALL. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC WAS "HARD SHIFTING" AFTER WARMING UP FOR 15-20 MINUTES FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, AND DOWN FROM 4TH ALL THE WAY TO 1ST. THIS ISSUE STARTED AFTER 75,000 MILES. FIX = REPLACE VALVE BODY...AROUND $2000. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE, AND THAT VW HAS ADDRESSED THIS DEFECT IN NEWER MODELS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IF IT IS A KNOWN, COMMON, AND FIXED PROBLEM BY VW. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

THE CAR SURGES WHEN SHIFTING CAUSING THE WHEELS TO SPIN OUT ON WET SURFACES. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I TOO HAVE FALLEN VICTIM OF THE LATEST TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HAVE A 2003 VW BEETLE WITH 90,000 MILES IN IMMACULATE CONDITION AND EXPERIENCED JERKINESS IN THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL. WHEN I WOULD PRESS ON MY BRAKES I NOTICED THAT AS MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS TRYING TO SHIFT ITSELF DOWN, IT BEGIN TO JERK AS IT WAS SHIFTING DOWN. I MADE SURE I MAINTAINED THIS CAR AND WAS TOLD ALL WAS WELL. THEN ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE FREEWAY AND AS I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL IT WOULDN'T GO ANY MORE. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT IT OFF. WHEN I STARTED UP THE CAR AGAIN I PUT IT IN D (DRIVE) IT WOULD JERK FORWARD AND TURN ITSELF OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS STUCK IN 4TH GEAR. WHEN THE MECHANIC CHECKED IT OUT I WAS TOLD THERE WERE LOTS OF METAL PIECES IN THE OIL AS IF POSSIBLY SOMETHING BROKE INSIDE. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN????????? MY WARRANTY WILL ONLY PAY $2,000. 00 AND THE COST IS APPROX. $6,000.00 TO REPAIR. WHY DO I HAVE TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE? I KNOW IT'S MINE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

VW NEW BEETLE,2003, WITH ONLY 75,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, RAMPING UP AND THE CAR WAS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. ITS AN AUTOMATIC. I WASN'T ABLE TO DOWN SHIFT. I HAD TO COAST OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. THE DEALERSHIP DECIDED I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. LUCKILY I WAS 13 MILES UNDER MY WARRANTY AND THEY FIXED IT WITHOUT CHARGE. I WANTED YOU TO KNOW THIS BECAUSE I SEE MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I COULD HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 74,000

I HAVE VW 03' BEETLE AND TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT EARLY. JERKS BETWEEN GEARS, AND FEELS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

THE CAR HAS A TRANSMISSION THAT IS NEEDING REPLACING AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 59,000

NEAR COLLISION CAUSED BY DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SOLENOID VALVE BODY PRODUCED AND INSTALLED ON THE VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE AND CABRIO CONVERTIBLE MODELS. THE TRANSMISSION IS A 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TIP-TRONIC SHIFT STYLE SPECIFICALLY USED BETWEEN 2001 - 2004 MODEL YEARS. THE DEFECTIVE PART CAUSES A SUDDEN JUMP OR JERKING MOTION BETWEEN GEAR SHIFTING. IN OUR INSTANCE THE CAR JERKED AND STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION WHICH NEARLY CAUSED A VEHICLE COLLISION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ON ONE OCCASION. FURTHER RESEARCH DISCOVERED THAT VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART AND THAT IT HAS CAUSED OR BEEN THE POSSIBLE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS INVOLVING THESE VEHICLES AS WELL AS NUMEROUS AND CONSTANT COMPLAINTS TO VW DEALERS AND ON LINE COMPLAINT FORUMS. A REPLACEMENT OF THE DEFECTIVE DESIGNED INTERNAL SOLENOID VALVE BODY IS NEEDED TO AVOID FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSIONS AND MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE TO DRIVE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY AN ISSUE FOR LESSER EXPERIENCED DRIVERS AND WHEN HE VEHICLES ARE ENGAGED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. *TR

Mileage: 65,955

2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHOWING SIGNS OF TROUBLE WELL OVER A YEAR AGO. PROBLEM STARTS AFTER 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING. DOWNSHIFTS HARD AROUND 30-25 MPH. ALSO SHOWS HESITATION COMING OUT OF 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. CAR HAS 75,000 MILES. HAD TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED/FLUSHED TWICE IN PAST 6 MONTHS HOPING THAT WOULD HELP. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TODAY, QUOTED ME $1900 TO REPLACE VALVE BODY. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT THIS CAR HAS HAD THE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR GO OUT -COST $300 TO REPAIR. THE GLUE AFFIXING THE REAR GLASS WINDOW TO CONVERTIBLE TOP IS BREAKING DOWN. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND APPEARS TO BE SOME SORT OF MALFUNCTION WITH THE GAS CAP...NO MATTER HOW OFTEN I TIGHTEN IT. THEN IT MYSTERIOUSLY GOES OFF. OH, AND SHOULD YOU EVER NEED A REPLACEMENT KEY, GOOD LUCK. WHY COULDN'T VW USE NORMAL SIZED/TYPE KEYS? VW IS MAKING CRAPPY PRODUCTS. NHTSA PLEASE DO SOMETHING. THIS MANUFACTURER SHOULD NOT BE PERMITTED TO RELEASE ANOTHER VEHICLE OFF ITS ASSEMBLY LINE UNLESS IT FIXES THE MANY PROBLEMS AFFECTING INNOCENT, UNFORTUNATE VW OWNERS LIKE MYSELF. YIELD YOUR POWER AND ENFORCE SOME ACTION. VW NEEDS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE JUNK THEY PRODUCE. MAYBE THEN THEY'LL THINK TWICE BEFORE TURNING OUT ANYMORE CRAPPY PRODUCTS. I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER VW PRODUCT. *TR

Mileage: 75,066

TRANSMISSION BAD. *TR

Mileage: 95,000

MY 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS APPROX 89K MILES ON IT. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD CAUSING A JERKING MOTION. IT HAS PROGRESSED FROM A MILDLY NOTICEABLE TO A MORE OBVIOUS JERKING UPON SHIFTING. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS SITUATION ONLINE, IT SEEMS AS IF IT IS A WIDELY REPORTED COMPLAINT ABOUT THESE VEHICLES. I FEEL LIKE VW SHOULD RESOLVE THE PROBLEM BEING EXPERIENCED BY SUCH A HIGH NUMBER OF OWNERS. *TR

Mileage: 88,000

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERVIBLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

I BOUGHT A USED 2003 VW BEETLE CONV. IN 2006. I IMMEDIATELY REPORTED TO THE SERVICE DEPT. THAT IT THERE WAS SOME JERKING HAPPENING WHEN THE CAR CHANGED GEARS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS NORMAL FOR VW. RECENTLY THE JERKING GOT REALLY BAD, AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION HESITATED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND THEN I COULD NOT REGAIN ANY SPEED. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO BEING HIT BY AN ONCOMING CAR. THE REPLACEMENT COST WILL BE AROUND 5800. MY MECHANIC TALKED TO VW AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FIXED IT IN THE NEWER MODELS. *TR

Mileage: 91,000

I'VE BEEN DRIVING MY 2003 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE FOR 7.5 YRS. BEEN TAKING IT IN FOR THE LAST 2 YRS ABOUT HESITATION/GRABBING WHILE DRIVING. WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. THIS WEEK, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND I GET THE DIAGNOSTICS RUN AND FOUND OUT I HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. AND IT'S BEEN GOING ON FOR A WHILE, WHICH IS WHAT THE GRABBING AND HESITATION IS. I ONLY HAVE 78K MILES ON A NEARLY 8 YEAR OLD CAR (AGAIN, ONLY OWNER) AND SHOULDN'T HAVE THIS ISSUE. FOUND OUT THAT VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THESE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION BUT WAITED UNTIL I WAS WELL OUT OF WARRANTY. NOW I'M LOOKING AT MINIMUM OF $5K, MOST LIKELY $6.5K IN REPAIRS. *TR

Mileage: 78,248

2003 VW BUG STALLS WHEN HITTING AROUND 35 MILES PER HOUR, ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED - TAKES A WHILE TO START BACK MOVING BUT IS SLUGGISH. TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION. I ONLY HAVE 80,000 MILES ON THIS CAR - HOW COULD THIS BE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 83,000

OVERHEAT LIGHT REMAINS ON AFTER REPLACING THERMOSTAT AND COVER AND TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP. THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN FLUSHED MULTIPLE TIMES. I TOOK IT TO THE VW DEALER THAT I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM ON 8/25/10 AFTER OVERHEATING LIGHT. THE DEALER SAID IT WAS THE ENGINE COOLANT SENSOR MY PREVIOUS MECHANIC HAD REPLACED IN THE CAR. (A VW FACTORY PART). $244.00 REPAIR FROM COOLEY-MAZDA VW DEALER. I DROVE HOME 10 MILES AND THE OVERHEAT SENSOR WAS ON IN MY CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED BACK TO DEALER AT MY EXPENSE THAT DAY. RENTED A CAR FOR THE WEEKEND. RETURNED ON MONDAY 8/30/10. CAR WASN'T WORKED ON. PICKED UP CAR ON WEDNESDAY, 9/1/10. PAID ADDITIONAL 170.00 FOR REPAIR, OF THERMOSTAT COVER WHICH WAS SAID TO BE LEAKING. DEALER HAD SAID THERE WERE NO LEAKS PRIOR TO THIS. SYSTEM FLUSHED. SAID THERE WAS AIR IN THE SYSTEM. CAR OVERHEAT SENSOR AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 20 MILES. CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALER. CAR WAS PICKED UP ON 9/3/10. DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT GET THE OVERHEAT LIGHT TO GO ON. I DROVE CAR HOME 15 MILES. OVERHEAT LIGHT ON. I CALLED DEALER. SERVICE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME THAT THE INCREASED CITY DRIVING I WAS DOING WAS CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT. INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CAUSING THE CAR TO OVERHEAT AND THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HE INFORMED ME THAT SINCE I SAID OKAY AT THE SHOP WHEN THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SENSOR WAS NOT GOING ON AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THAT I KNEW THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THAT IS MY FAULT AND MY PRIOR MECHANICS. I HAD CAR TOWED TO A RECOMMENDED INDEPENDENT SHOP WHO WAS GOING TO LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION. I CAN NOT DRIVE MY CAR AND I STILL OWE MONEY ON IT. I DESPERATELY NEED A VEHICLE TO DRIVE. *TR

Mileage: 103,600

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TRANSMISSION. THE COST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH THE BEETLE IS WAY OUT OF LINE. AN VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. WITH ALL THE OTHER HARD WORKING PEOPLE THAT HAS HAD THE SAME PART TO BREAK. PLEASE LOOK AT THIS AND DO SOMETHING. *TR

Mileage: 96,000

2003 NEW VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS.... LOOK ON THE VW FORUMS AND EDMUNDS- THERE ARE 100S OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS CARS ISSUES. I HAVE A 2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND IT HARD SHIFTS DOWNWARDS FROM 3RD TO 2ND. I AM TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR OFF THE RECORD THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH BEETLES IN GENERAL, AND HE HAS SEEN OVER 100 IN HIS ONE YEAR WITH THE COMPANY THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. MINE HAS WHAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED- BRACKETS AROUND ALL THE DRIVES (P,R,N,D,S) SO THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT KNOW WHAT GEAR IT IS IN, IT GETS STUCK IN 3RD SOMETIMES AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO SHUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT, AND WHEN IT DOWNSHIFTS, THE CAR JERKS AND PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD (THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC, AND DOES NOT DOWNSHIFT PROPERLY). PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND RECALL....PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE. IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND WE AS CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE NEW TRANSMISSIONS WHEN THERE IS OBVIOUS FAULTS WITH THESE CARS. *TR

Mileage: 56,000

VW BUG 2003, 87,000 MILES, ORIGINAL OWNER. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ROUGH. DEALER SAID WE NEEDED TO HAVE THE "VALVE BODY" CHECKED ($1413). IF THIS WASN'T THE PROBLEM WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ($5761). I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY IT COSTS SO MUCH BEFORE WE EVEN KNOW IF THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD, OR WHY THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING ON SUCH A RELATIVELY YOUNG CAR. *TR

Mileage: 87,935

2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 6SP. TIPRTONIC TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED AT 78,500 MILES. I PULLED OUT OF A PARKING LOT AND ONTO THE ROAD AND THE CAR ACCELERATED LIKE IT WAS SUPPOSED, SHIFTER THROUGH FIRST, SECOND, AND THIRD, THEN NEVER SHIFTED TO FOURTH JUST REVVED. WAS TOLD TRANSMISSION NEED TO BE REPLACED AND QUOTED $4,800 BY MECHANIC. HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ABOUT THIS TOPIC SINCE AND HAVE DISCOVERED SEVERAL OTHERS IN THE SAME SITUATION. I FEEL VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD AT LEAST HELP US OUT. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN ON MAY 12TH AND WAS TOLD BASICALLY THEY WOULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. WITH EVERYTHING I HAVE SEEN ON DISCUSSION FORUMS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION, I FEEL A RECALL MAY BE IN ORDER TO FORCE VOLKSWAGEN TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE. THANKS YOU FOR TIME AND CONSIDERATION ON THIS MATTER. *TR

Mileage: 78,500

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT OUT THIRD GEAR, TRIPTRONTIC AUTOMATIC, LEAK IN TRUNK, TOP WILL NOT GO UP. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

2003 VW BEETLE, TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE ...ORIGINAL OWNER, REGULAR SERVICING,COMPLETED. AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED SPORT SHIFT. RUNS FINE WHEN THE CAR IS COLD. DRIVE 10 MILES OR SO AN THE CAR STARTS TO JERK AND FAILS TO SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR. YESTERDAY GOT STUCK IN 3RD GEAR WHILE ON HWY, CREATED A DANGER FOR ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. TOOK IT TO A TRANY PLACE, NOT THE TRANSMISSION, BUT SUGGESTS IT IS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE. WHEN THE CAR FAILS TO SHIFT THE RPMS GO TO 5K OR 6K THEN THE CAR JERKS AND TIRES SCREECH, I CALLED VW AND THE PARTS GUY SAID THAT A NEW TRANY RUNS7 K OR SO AND HE IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS I DESCRIBED IT ABOVE. *TR

Mileage: 118,000

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IN 2003 VW BEETLE. WHILE BRAKING CAR JERKS AND JUMPS. CAR HAS 56K MILES AND HAS BEEN CONSISTENTLY SERVICED BY VW. VW STATES CAR NEEDS NEW VALVE BODY AND TIPTRONIX SWITCH TOTALING $2500+ . *TR

Mileage: 55,000

TRANSMISSION ON THE VW NEW BEETLES ARE FAULTY. CARS SHOULD LAST MORE THAN 45,000 MILES BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION GOES. THIS HAS BEEN A DOCUMENTED PROBLEM ON WEBSITE FORUMS LIKE NEWBETTLE.ORG AND I HOPE THAT YOU CAN DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

NORMAL DRIVING WITH RECOMMENDED SERVICE INTERVALS. TRANSMISSION STARTS HARD DOWNSHIFTS. TRANSMISSION WILL ALSO WIND OUT AND SLIP OR WIND OUT AND NOT SHIFT INTO 5TH AND 6TH GEAR. *TR

Mileage: 70,134

MY 2003 WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP AND CERTIFIED MECHANICS. I ONLY HAVE 75,000 MILES ON MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED. I HAVE SINCE FOUND MANY OF THE SAME YEAR CAR WITH THE IDENTICAL COMPLAINT OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

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

Mileage: 62,000

THE EPC LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME, EVEN AFTER BEING FIXED. THE WINDOW REGULATORS BREAK. THE BATTERY HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE. THE CV BOOT BROKE. *TR

PURCHASED 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IN JUNE 2003. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAD APPROX. 69 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT. THE CAR NOW HAS 39,038 MILES AS OF THIS WRITING. WITHIN THE LAST MONTH (WHEN THE CAR TURNED OVER TO 39,000), I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING MAJOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP, ACCELERATING, THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 1ST GEAR. INSTEAD, THE TRANSMISSION GRINDS & THEN JUMPS (LURCHES) FORWARD, CAUSING THE TIRES TO SCREECH. WHEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD, THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES WHEN IT JUMPED SO AS TO ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT & SEEMS TO OCCUR ONCE I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR FOR 10 MILES OR MORE. THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON FOR THIS PROBLEM, & I CANNOT PREDICT WHEN OR WHERE IT WILL HAPPEN. I WOULD SAY THAT IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. I HAVE READ ON LINE THAT MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL/YEAR OF CAR HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. SOME PEOPLE HAVE INDICATED THAT AN ACCIDENT WAS BARELY AVOIDED - - SAME SCENARIO THAT I AM COMPLAINING OF IN THIS COMPLAINT. MY QUESTION - WHY IS VOLKSWAGEN NOT RECALLING THIS CAR FOR THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED BY THIS UNEXPECTED LURCHING PROBLEM. LIKE THE TOYOTA ACCELERATOR PROBLEM OF RECENT WEEKS, INJURIES COULD BE PREVENTED IF THE CAR MANUFACTURER WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. I AM UNABLE TO AFFORD TO REPAIR MY CAR & HAVE AN AD ON CRAIGS LIST FULLY DISCLOSING THE PROBLEM I AM EXPERIENCING. HOPEFULLY, I WILL BE ABLE TO SELL THE CAR TO SOMEONE WHO CAN AFFORD THE $4,000+ REPAIR TO REPLACE/REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 39,000

THE TRANSMISSION BANG INTO GEAR SOMETIME AND GETS STUCK IN GEAR BETWEEN 3TH AND 4TH. YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT GOING TO HAPPEN, WHEN ACCELERATING ON TO THE INTERSTATE IT CAN BE DANGEROUS.*TR

Mileage: 73,000

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. CAR ONLY HAS 74K MILES ON IT AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING BADLY. WHEN DOWNSHIFTING IT SHIFTS REALLY HARD AND LUNGES FORWARD. THIS ALSO HAPPENS WHEN UPSHIFTING IN THE AUTO TRANS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A BIG PROBLEM WITH THE NEW BEETLES. THE ONLY FIX IS REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH COST ABOUT 6,000. THERE IS NO REASON FOR A TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 74K MILES. *TR

Mileage: 74,000

I HAVE 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND THE TRANSMISSION HAS GONE BAD ONCE ALREADY AND WAS REPLACED BY A NEW ONE...BUT THE TRANNY HAS GONE BAD AGAIN JUST AFTER 35,000 MILES AFTER THE NEW TRANNY WAS REPLACED...ITS REALLY SCARY DRIVING THAT CAR BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS GOING TO SKIP...IT RUNS WELL FOR A WHILE THEN IT JUST STARTS SKIPPING GEARS...WE HAVE CHANGE THE TRANNY FLUID ABOUT 3 TIMES AND NOTHING HAS WORKED OUT...ITS GOING TO COST ME $1,700 TO FIX....I THINK VW SHOULD HAVE A RECALL ON NEW BEETLES TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS... *TR

Mileage: 95,000

I STARTED EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION SHIFT PROBLEMS ON MY '03 VW BEETLE TURBO, JUST AROUND ONE YEAR AFTER PURCHASE FROM A VW DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS PRE-CERTIFIED AT THE TIME, SINCE I COULDN'T AFFORD THE WARRANTY, BUT THE DEALER HAD, I PRESUME, DECLARED IT FREE OF DEFECTS AND PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO CHECK THE PROBLEM, UPON WHICH I WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $4200. NO FURTHER DETAILS WERE GIVEN AS TO THE REASON OR POSSIBLE CAUSE FOR THE PROBLEM, IN SPITE OF MY REQUESTS FOR A DESCRIPTION. THE SERVICE ADVISOR JUST STATED "IT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED". I HAVE SINCE VISITED ONLINE AUTOMOTIVE FORUMS AND FOUND OUT THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS AS WELL. I AM CONCERNED NOW THAT EVEN IF I REPLACE IT, THE REPLACEMENT MAY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IN THE MEAN TIME THE TRANSMISSION UNPREDICTABLY STARTS SLIPPING, OR MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN SLIPPING AND AT OTHER TIMES WON'T EVEN SHIFT FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. *TW

Mileage: 78,400

2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS A TRANSMISSION FLAW WHICH RESULTS IN JERKY SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR CAUSING WHIPLASH TO THE DRIVER AS WELL AS A HESITATION (AND HIGH ENGINE REVVING) SHIFTING INTO 5TH GEAR. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WITH SOME KIND OF SHIFTING CONTROL PROBLEM. THE TRANSMISSION WORKS FINE WHEN IT IS COOL (FIRST START DRIVING) BUT GETS WORSE AS THE CAR WARMS UP. AFTER 15 MILES THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING IS VERY JERKY AND UNSETTLING. THERE IS A HESITATION AND THEN A VERY HARD CLANKING SOUND WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE AND NEUTRAL TO DRIVE. HIGHWAY DRIVING IS VERY DANGEROUS DUE TO HESITATION BETWEEN GEARS 4 AND 5 AT AROUND 60 MILES PER HOUR. CITY STREET DRIVING IS DANGEROUS DUE TO THE JERKY SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR AT AROUND 20 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS HAPPENING 1 DAY AFTER HAVING THE CAR IN THE VW SHOP FOR 4 DAYS HAVING THE TIPTRONIC GEAR SHIFT CONTROL MODULE REPLACED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. THIS CONDITION HAS BEEN HAPPENING TO A LESSER DEGREE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THE CAR HAS HAD THE TRANSMISSION CHECKED 4 TIMES IN 5 YEARS TO ADDRESS THE ROUGH SHIFTING CONDITION. THE VW DEALERS\SERVICE PEOPLE REPORT THE TRANSMISSION IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOT DESIGNED TO JERK ROUGHLY BETWEEN GEARS NOR TO HESITATE BETWEEN UPPER GEARS. ANY HESITATION AT 55 TO 60 MPHS SHIFTING FROM 4TH TO 5TH GEAR (SIMILAR TO PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH BUT NOT SHIFTING GEARS IN A MANUAL TRANNY) CAN RESULT IN SOMEONE RUNNING INTO TEH REAR END OF THE CAR. IN A SMALL VEHICLE LIKE THE BEETLE, A REAR END COLLISION AT 60 MPH CAN RESULT IS FLIPPING THE CAR AND DEATHS. PLEASE TAKE ACTION AGAINST VW AMERICA TO ADDRESS AND RESOLVE THIS UNSAFE CONDITION. THANK YOU. *TW

Mileage: 84,335

I OWN A 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, 4 CYL, 6 SP AUTO. IT HAS 80,000 MILES ON IT. WITHIN THE PAST YEAR, IT'S STARTED JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FIND I'M NOT ALONE. THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF OTHERS IN THE SAME POSITION. ACCORDING TO VW, THE TRANSMISSION IS $6,800. WOW - I KNOW! YOU HAVE TO USE THE DEALER BECAUSE THE PARTS AREN'T AVAILABLE TO THE AFTER MARKET. IN ANY EVENT, THE CAR HESITATES WHEN YOU ATTEMPT TO PULL OUT, JERKS WHEN YOU STOP. I'VE NARROWLY AVOIDED SEVERAL REAR END COLLISIONS AS WELL AS SAID SEVERAL PRAYERS WHEN IT DIDN'T ACCELERATE AS QUICKLY AS IT SHOULD HAVE. I'M NOT A MECHANIC, BUT I'M NOT STUPID EITHER. THE TRANSMISSION IS FINE UNTIL THE ENGINE IS WARM. I CAN SHIFT GEARS WITH NO PROBLEM USING THE TIPTRONIC PART OF THE SYSTEM - BUT OTHERS HAVE SAID THIS ONLY WORKS FOR A SHORT PERIOD. THERE ARE NO METAL SOUNDS WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHIFTING. THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION, IT IS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE. VW REFUSES TO PUT THE TIME AND EFFORT INTO DETERMINING WHAT THE REAL PROBLEM IS. THEY JUST REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS AND POCKET $6,800. BY THE WAY, THE BLUE BOOK VALUE OF THE CAR IS $6,800. IRONIC, I KNOW. I'VE READ POST AFTER POST FROM PEOPLE WHO HAD THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY VW ONLY TO FIND THE PROBLEMS PERSIST. I UNDERSTAND THEY DON'T WANT TO FIND THE ISSUE, BUT I REALLY LOVE MY CAR AND WANT IT FIXED. CORRECTLY. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE STRONGLY ENCOURAGE VW TO DO THE RIGHT THING, FIND THE PROBLEM AND FIX IT. ANY HELP YOU CAN OFFER IS APPRECIATED. *TR

LIKE ALMOST ALL 2005 VW NEW BEETLES WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS, MINE (AFTER WARMING UP) SHIFTS VERY HARD BOTH UP AND DOWN THE GEARS AND REVS UP BETWEEN GEARS. OCCASIONALLY IT HANGS UP IN THIRD GEAR UNTIL IT SITS AND COOLS DOWN FOR SEVERAL HOURS. I HAVE HAD IT FAIL ON MULTIPLE LANE HIGHWAYS CAUSING ME TO BECOME TRAPPED BETWEEN LANES. THIS TRANSMISSION IS FAILING IN MOST IF NOT ALL VW BEETLES AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. JUST DO AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR "NEW BEETLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE" AND YOU'LL SEE HOW PERVASIVE IT IS. MY BEETLE BEGAN GIVING PROBLEMS AT 45,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKWAGEN BEETLE WHICH WAS PURCHASED IN 2008. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH AND ACCELERATING OR SHIFTING GEARS, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACT AS IF IT WAS GOING TO STALL AND BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AT A COSTS OF OVER $6,000 AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO DATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNDER 100,000.

Mileage: 100,000

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 59,500K MILES. IN LOWER GEARS THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD, SHIFTS VIOLENTLY AND TRANSMISSION SLIPS. CAR CANNOT GET ENOUGH POWER IN LOWER GEARS TO MOVE AT A SAFE RATE OF SPEED. WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR VISA VERSA CAR VIOLENTLY JERKS. THERE HAVE BEEN LOUD BANGING NOISES WHEN CAR IS SHIFTING IN LOWER GEARS. MANY TIMES WHILE DRIVING CAN CANNOT MOVE FAST ENOUGH BECAUSE OF VIOLENT SHIFTING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC. HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN SEVERAL ACCIDENTS BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION ISSUES. TRANSMISSION ISSUES HAPPEN EVERY TIME THE CAR IS USED. NOT USING CAR MUCH BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS AND CONCERNED OF SAFETY ISSUES. PROBLEM HAS BEEN GOING ON NOW FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 YRS AND IS GETTING WORSE OVER TIME. TAKING CAR TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE ESTIMATE ON REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 60

I HAVE A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH AUTO AND TIPRONIC TRANSMISSION. AT ABOUT 64,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED "SLIPPING". AS IT WOULD AUTOMATICALLY CHANGE TO A HIGHER GEAR THE CHANGE WOULD SLIP AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO REV UP UNTIL IT CHANGED INTO THE NEXT GEAR THIS WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO JUMP OR LURCH. WHEN IN THE TIPTRONIC MANUAL MODE THE GEAR WOULD SLIP ALSO. ALSO WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE IT JUMPS IN REVERSE AND WANTS TO ACCELERATE BACK QUICKLY. A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN DRIVING THE CAR AND GETTING INTO TRAFFIC THE CAR WOULD TAKE SO LONG TO GET INTO GEAR THAT IT CAUSED TRAFFIC BEHIND TO ALMOST REAR END ME. NO CRASH BUT ALMOST. *TR

Mileage: 64,000

THE TRANSMISSION JERKS IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THIS HAPPENS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND IS VERY DANGEROUS! I HAVE READ FROM OTHER OWNERS THAT THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUES. MY AUTO REPAIR SHOP SAYS THERE IS NOTHING OTHER THAN REPLACING THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 71,000

I PURCHASED MY VW 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE NEW IN 2003. I HAVE KEPT VEHICLE MAINTAINED- MOSTLY AT DEALERSHIP ACCORDING TO THE SCHEDULE. I HAVE ABOUT 115,000 MILES. OVER THE PAST MONTH IT HAS BEGUN "REVVING UP" OR "JERKING"- ESPECIALLY WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP OR ACCELERATING FROM STOP. THIS HAPPENS VERY SPORADICALLY, BUT IS VERY SCARY WHEN IT OCCURS. I AM NOT SURE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT HAVE AN AMATEUR GUESS THAT IT IS TRANSMISSION RELATED. *TR

Mileage: 112,000

CAR JERKING, LURCHING, AND SHIFTING GEARS- TRANSMISSION- AS CAR STARTS AND STOPS IT JERKS REALLY BAD THIS MAKE IT HARD TO STOP THE CAR...VERY SCARED THAT I WILL HAVE AN INCIDENT. *TR

VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS, MAY OTHER INDIVIDUALS ARE COMPLAINING ALSO. VERY UNSAFE AND THE COMPANY DOES NOT SEEM TO BELIEVE IT IS A DEFECT IN THEIR PRODUCT. CONSUMERS NEED HELP. *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. 77315 MI. TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY. SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR...BANGS INTO GEAR SHIFTING FROM 3 TO 4. ENGINE REVS WHILE TRANSMISSION TRIES TO "FIND" THE NEXT GEAR. THIS IS DANGEROUS ! PLEASE DON'T WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED BEFORE FORCING VW TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT !! *TR

Mileage: 77,000

WITH ONLY 64000 MILES ON THE CAR, MY 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE'S MANUAL TRANSMISSION LET GO AND SOMETHING TORE A 3/4" BY 2" HOLE IN THE BELL HOUSING. LUCKILY, THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE OPEN ROAD. THE RESULTING GUSH OF TRANNY FLUID COULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 64,000

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT REGARDING MY 2003 VW BEETLE WHICH I PURCHASED BRAND NEW IN APRIL OF 2003. I HAVE JUST OVER 60K MILES AND IT APPEARS THAT MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. I HAVE TAKEN IT A REPUTABLE MECHANIC WHO TELLS ME IT COULD BE APPROX $3000 TO FIX IT. I HAVE READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE VW'S AND I THINK THAT VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD RECALL THE TRANSMISSIONS AND PAY TO HAVE THEM REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

2003 VW BEETLE, TRANSMISSION SLIPS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR ON UPSHIFT. VW 'REBUILT' THE TRANSMISSION LAST YEAR BUT PROBLEM RETURNED. *TR

Mileage: 53,000

OVER THE LAST MONTH OR TWO MY WIFE'S 2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE HAS HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION THAT PROGRESSIVELY HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. DEALER SAYS TRANS IS BAD WITH ONLY 120K MILES. TRANS IS NON SERVICEABLE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. WHEN ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING TRANS SLAMS BETWEEN GEARS MAKING CAR UNDRIVABLE. DEALER WANTS $6500 TO REPLACE. FORUMS ON THE INTERNET CLAIM THIS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE FOR YEARS AND VW IS NOT DOING SQUAT ABOUT IT. $6500 TO FIX A '!@#$% TRANSMISSION IS RIDICULOUS. WHEN WILL THERE BE A RECALL. THIS IS UNSAFE! *TR

Mileage: 120,000

TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT INTO MANUAL FROM AUTOMATIC WHILE STOPPED. IT WAS INTERMITTENT AND AT ABOUT 58,000 FAILURE IS PERMANENT AND NO LONGER IS USABLE. *TR

Mileage: 58,000

2003 VW BEETLE SHIFTS SO VERY HARD BETWEEN 2ND, 3RD AND 4TH GEAR IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO BREAK. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC. THEY SAID IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION GASKET. I REPLACED IT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW ROLLS DOWN ON ITS OWN. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW HITS THE TOP (WHEN PUTTING IT UP) THEN ROLLS DOWN. DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE. *TR

CAR BOUGH USED FROM VS DEALERSHIP ON 7/31/2006. BEEN IN FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT 4TIMES, AIRBAG LIGHT 3 TIMES, A/C BROKE ONCE, WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL UP ONCE, NEEDED NEW ROTORS ONCE, RATTLING UNDER HOOD ONCE, BATTERY DIED TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT IT AND I HAD TO TOW IT BACK TO VW. CAR JERKS WHEN GOING OUT OF FIRST GEAR-I TOLD VW THIS REPEATEDLY AND THEY ONLY TRIED TO FIX IT AFTER THE WARRANTY WAS UP. THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE $700 TO FIX. ON 12/9/2008 MY CAR WOULD NOT GO OUT OF FIRST GEAR WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT. IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY HOUSE AND HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS OUT OF THIS CAR. I CAN NOT PUT ANYMORE MONEY INTO IT. WHEN THE WARRANTY WENT UP, ALL OF THE SUDDEN EVERYTHING STARTED GOING WRONG. I REQUESTED PRIOR INFORMATION FROM THE VW DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE OTHER OWNER BEFORE ME. I FEEL THAT THIS CAR WAS DOCTORED SO THAT I WOULD BUY IT AND THEN IT STARTED FALLING APART. *TR

Mileage: 86,273

I HAVE A TRANSAXEL ON MY 2003 BEETLE CONV. THAT HAS A SETTING FOR MANUAL SHIFT OR AUTO. I CAN NO LONGER SHIFT TO THE MANUAL SETTING. AT FIRST IT WOULD ALLOW ME TO SHIFT INTO MANUAL IF I STOPPED THEN, I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND SHIFT QUICKLY FROM PARK TO MANUAL. NOW, NOTHING. THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A NEW TRANSAXEL INSTALLED. I HAVE DRIVEN OLDER VW FOR 20 YEARS, NOW I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER VW PRODUCT OF ANY KIND. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHILE DRIVING MY 2003 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. I WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE AND AVOID A SEMI-TRUCK THAT WAS IN DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED BETWEEN 30-40 MPH BUT DID LOSE CONSCIENCE SO AM NOT SURE IF REMEMBER EXACTLY HOW FAST I WAS GOING. MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND MY SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK CAUSING MY FACE TO SLAM DIRECTLY INTO THE STEERING WHEEL. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG WHICH CONTAINED NO PASSENGERS NOR ITEMS DID DEPLOY. I SUFFERED FACIAL FRACTURES AND A BROKEN NOSE. MY FRACTURES HAVE HEALED BUT MY NOSE NEEDS TO BE RECONSTRUCTED. MY CAR WAS SERVICED AT A COLLISION CENTER AND THEN SENT TO THE AUTOBARN IN COUNTRYSIDE, IL WHERE THE CAR WAS BOUGHT USED IN AUGUST OF 2006. THE CAR WAS RETURNED TO ME ON DEC 27 BUT NO EXPLANATION WAS GIVEN FOR THE AIRBAG NOT DEPLOYING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO NOT WORKING PROPERLY SO I RETURNED THE CAR FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICE A FEW DAYS LATER. THE CAR WAS FINALLY RETURNED TO ME 2 WEEKS LATER WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION BUT STILL NO EXPLANATION FOR THE AIRBAG. UPON LEAVING THE AUTOBARN ON JANUARY 17 WITH MY CAR, THE AIR BAG LIGHT TURNED ON AND STAYED ON WHILE I DROVE ABOUT 10 MILES. I RETURNED THE CAR THE NEXT DAY AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT STATED THE LIGHT DID NOT GO ON FOR THEM AND OFFERED AGAIN NO EXPLANATION. *TR

Mileage: 65,056

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PUT CAR INTO REVERSE BRAKE SWITCH DOES NOT RESPOND. THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW GOES BACK DOWN BY ITSELF. ALSO CAR SHIFTS REAL HARD IN SECOND AND THIRD GEAR. SOUNDS LIKE TRANSMISSION WILL BREAK. *AK

Mileage: 56,000

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AROUND 20 MPH. JERKS SO HARD SOMETIMES IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR WILL STALL OUT. DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT IT IS GOOD ON THE TRANSMISSION!? THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS.

Mileage: 10,000

2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE FAILED. *TS THE VEHICLE JERKED LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. THE DEALER HAS INSTALLED A NEW TRANSMISSION BUT THE PROBLEMM HAS RECURRED. *NM

2003 VOLKSWAGEN JERK WHEN SLOWING DOWN AND ACCELERATING. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE COVERED FOR 60,000 MILES. *JB