2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Power Train Problems

DRIVING MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE IS DANGEROUS. THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION IN THE 2004 VW BEETLE IS KNOWN BY VOLKSWAGEN TO BE DEFECTIVE. AT ANY POINT THE VALVE BODY CAN FAIL, WHICH CAUSES DELAYED SHIFTING, AND HARD JERKING BETWEEN GEARS. MY 2004 BEETLE FAILS TO SHIFT WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO COAST FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, SOMETIMES REQUIRING PULLING OFF THE ROAD BECAUSE OF TRAFFIC. WHEN DOWNSHIFTING IT JERKS EXTREMELY HARD. YOU GET IN, START THE ENGINE, AND RECEIVE NO WARNINGS THAT ANYTHING IS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. NO CHECK-ENGINE LIGHT PROVIDES ANY INDICATION THAT THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS. YOU DRIVE DOWN SOME CITY STREETS AND HOP ONTO THE FREEWAY TO GO TO YOUR FAVORITE GROCERY STORE. AFTER GETTING OFF THE FREEWAY THE CAR IS FULLY WARMED UP, AND AS IT DOWNSHIFTS FROM 4TH TO 3RD GEAR IT LURCHES. IT FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE IS TRYING TO JUMP OUT OF THE CAR! NO ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THEN YOU STOP AT THE END OF THE OFF-RAMP, AND WAIT FOR A TRAFFIC LIGHT TO TURN. AFTER TURNING THE CAR SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. THEN IT FAILS TO SHIFT FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. THE GEAR DOESN'T ENGAGE, AND THE CAR COASTS DOWN THE ROAD WITHOUT ANY POWER. DRIVERS PASSING BY ARE STARING. THE SUV BEHIND YOU IS RIGHT ON YOUR BUTT; THEY BEGIN HONKING. THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO. FINALLY, AFTER 20 SECONDS OF COASTING THE CAR ENTERS 3RD GEAR WITH A GIANT LURCH. IT FEELS LIKE IT'S GOING TO EXPLODE! YOU PULL INTO THE GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT, HEART RACING, KNOWING THAT THE CAR YOU'RE DRIVING ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD KILL A HALF A DOZEN PEOPLE. AND YOU KNOW TO GET HOME IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM IS REPORTED BY HUNDREDS OF OWNERS. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD. VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO RECALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES AND PAY DAMAGES FOR THOSE WHOSE TRANSMISSIONS WERE DESTROYED BY THIS DEFECTIVE VALVE BODY AND TRANSMISSION.

Mileage: 160,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BATTERY AND ABS INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE SEIZED AND WAS MOVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRE HARNESS FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FUSE BOX WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. LEITH VOLKSWAGEN OF CARY (2300 AUTOPARK BLVD, CARY, NC 27511, (919) 842-5624) AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 157,000.

Mileage: 157,000

2004 BEETLE WITH 85,000 MILES HARD SHIFTING DOWN - IT JERKS FROM GEAR TO GEAR UNTIL IT COMES TO FULL STOP. . NOW WHILE UPSHIFTING IT COULDN'T MAKE IT OUT OF 3RD GEAR AND HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED 3 TIMES. CAR JERKS ,SHUDDERS, LURCHES . TRANSMISSION PROBLEM IS CONSISTENT WITH LOW MILEAGE VW BEETLES

I BOUGHT THE NEW BEETLE NOT EVEN A MONTH AND I NOTICED A JERKING IN THE TRANSMISSION. I FOUND OUT USING SPECIALIZED WEBSITES FOR ENTHUSIASTS THAT VOLKSWAGEN ISSUE LETTERS TO OWNERS OF NEW BEETLES IN 2010 INFORMING THAT TONS OF OWNERS COMPLAINED ABOUT THE HARD SHIFT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OFTHEIR NEW BEETLE. VOKSWAGEN OFFERED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. THE MODELS AFFECTED SPANS FROM 2003 TO 2008. IN OTHER WORDS, VOLKS SOLD FAULTY CARS WITHING THIS TIME RANGE AND ONLY RECOGNIZED LATER IN 2010 ABOUT THE ISSUE. HOWEVER, THE VALVE BODY FAILURE IN THE TRANSMISSION IS ACROSS THE BOARD AND A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR THE RANGE OF 2003-2008. THE COMPONENT WAS DESIGNED TO FAIL BY DESIGN. NOT EVEN THE REPLACEMENT WOULD FIX IT BECAUSE IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN. IMAGINE THE DANGER WHEN THERE IS A HARD-SHIFT AND THE CAR STARTS TO JERK AND CHANGING GEARS ERRATICALLY ? IMAGINE THIS HAPPENING ON I95 OR ANY OTHER HIGHWAY. VW JUST EXTENDED THE WARRANTY BUT A RECALL IS NEEDED HERE. I CALLED VW AND THEY ARE REFUSING TO FIX IT SAYING IT IS AN OLD CAR AND WARRANTY IS EXPIRED, BUT THE TRUTH IS SINCE 2003 THE HARD SHIFT CONDITION EXISTED. IT TAKES TIME FOR THE VALVE BODY TO FAIL BUT IT WILL FAIL. I HAVE OTHER CARS, BUT WHEN I NOTICED THE JERK I INVESTIGATED. I ATTACHED THE LETTER THAT I OBTAINED FROM THE NEW BEETLE.ORG SITE AND THERE THERE IS A DETAIL EXPLANATION HOW THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL DUE TO THE DESIGN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER IN PARK AND THEN BACK INTO DRIVE, AND WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD TO REPEAT THE SAME PROCEDURE FIVE TIMES UNTIL SHE REACHED HER DESTINATION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PERRYSBURG AUTO MALL (26875 N DIXIE HWY, PERRYSBURG, OH 43551, PHONE NUMBER: (419) 874-4331) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

Mileage: 63,000

THE GEARBOX SLIPS, STUTTERS AND JERKS . AND WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR AND NOT GO BACK IN GEAR UNTIL ENGINE IS RESTARTED. THIS HAPPENS WHEN STARTING TO MOVE FROM A STOP.

Mileage: 130,000

TRANSMISSION LOCKS UP, NOISY UPSHIFT AND DOWNSHIFTS. WHILE DRIVING UNPREDICTABLE GEAR SHIFTS.

Mileage: 85,000

MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ALL AT ONCE MY AIRBAG/SEATBEILT LIGHT ON ALL THE TIME

Mileage: 118,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, WHEN THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO APPROACH A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT, IT WOULD DOWNSHIFT INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE AND HAD TO BE PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

Mileage: 90,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT COOLANT WAS LEAKING AND AN UNKNOWN HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, A BURNING ODOR EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN AND THE WATER PUMP KIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND SWITCHED INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, IT FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLUTCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

Mileage: 15,000

FOR THE PAST 3-4 YEARS MY BEETLE HAS HAD WORSENING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. SOMETIMES IT JUST TURNS OFF ALL BY ITSELF. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL GOES OUT. IT HAS EVEN HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING, I WAS IN TRAFFIC AND IT SHUT OFF. I WAS NEARLY KILLED.

Mileage: 75,000

APRIL 2014, THE MECHATRONIC UNIT FOR MY 2004 VW NEW BEETLE TDI FAILED. IT WOULD SURGE IN AND OUT GEAR. THIS PART WAS RECALLED OVERSEAS BUT NOT IN THE USA. THIS JANUARY 2015 WHAT I HAD A TURBO FAILURE AND A DUAL MASS CLUTCH FLYWHEEL FAILURE. THIS IS THE DSG 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE SPECIAL FLYWHEEL HAS FAILED, IT HAS A HOLE IN THE OUT CASING AND THE INTERNAL SPRINGS INSIDE ARE SLOWING BREAKING UP AND WERE SHOOTING OUT THE ASSEMBLY. THESE PIECES THEN SOMEHOW MANAGED TO MACHINE THE TRANSMISSION BELLHOUSING CREATING AT LEAST 3 HOLES IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE. THE CAR SERIOUSLY VIBRATES AT IDLE BUT WHEN UNDER POWER THE CAR RUNS NORMAL. THERE IS A GRINDING SOUNDS ALSO WHEN AT IDLE. I AM AMAZED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HASN'T CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED YET. THIS WOULD BE A POTENTIAL CRASH IF NOT REPAIRED. ARE THERE ANY OTHER CASES SIMILAR TO THE AFOREMENTIONED PROBLEMS. PLEASE HELP! *TR

Mileage: 90,000

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM ONLY WHEN AT USE FOR 20MIN STARTS TO THUMP IN ALL GEARS. BUT MOSTLY NOTICEABLE AT 3 AND 4. SOMETIME LOCKS AT 3 AND HAVE TO TURN OFF AND LET REST TO ENGAGE 1 AGAIN. *TR

Mileage: 112,000

CAR HAS SUDDEN JERKY WHEN SHIFTING ALSO REAR WINDOWS WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. DEALERSHIP SAID NEEDS NEW TRANSMISSION BUT HAVE ONLY HAD CAR 8 MONTHS. THE WINDOWS QUIT WORKING AFTER OWNING IT FOR ONE WEEK COST 400 JUST TO FIX ONE WINDOW. DEALERSHIP ESTIMATE TO FIX TRANSMITION 6700.00. *JS

Mileage: 60,000

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR. THE LIGHTS ON THE DASH INDICATING PRND2 ALL HAVE BRACKETS AROUND THEM AND DON'T INDICATE WHAT GEAR THE CAR IS IN. IT FEELS LIKE WE HIT A ROAD HAZARD EVERY TIME THE TRANSMISSION DOES CHANGE GEARS, THE DEALER TOLD US THIS IS NORMAL, BUT IT IS GETTING WORSE AND AFTER LOOKING THROUGH ONLINE FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

SIMPLY WHAT HAPPEN WAS I BOUGHT THE WRONG CAR IT SEEMS.ONE NIGHT I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND ALL THE SUDDEN AS I PRESS THE ACCELERATOR I NOTICE THE CAR WAS JUST REVVING AND NOT GOING ANYWHERE AT ALL AND ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER THE PNRDS WAS FLASHING SO I PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND MOVED INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE AND WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. *TR

Mileage: 128,000

CAR SLIPPED COMPLETELY OUT OF GEAR WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4TH GEAR. IT CONTINUES TO DO THIS WHEN THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY WARMED UP. GOING OUT OF GEAR ESSENTIALLY MAKES US A SITTING DUCK ON THE HIGHWAY FOR A REAR END COLLISION. VERY MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE CHILDREN RIDING IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR

Mileage: 67,850

VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD WHEN STARTING FROM STOP. LURCHING IS SEVERE AND BECOMES WORSE AND TRANSMISSION WARMS. TRANSMISSION IS DSG TYPE OF AUTOMATIC. *TR

Mileage: 104,200

EVER SINCE WE PURCHASED OUR USED 2004 BEETLE CONVERITBLE, THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN A PROBLEM. WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1-3 GEARS THE CAR JUMPS AND HALTS. IT IS HORRIBLE. WE HAD THE TRIP TRON SWITCH REPLACED AND STILL NO HELP. I WAS INFORMED BY THE MECHANIC THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS FROM 2003 TO 2008. A NEW TRANSMISSION IS OVER $6000. APPARENTLY, IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. *TT

Mileage: 89,000

I FOUND OUT TODAY THAT MY 2004 VW BEETLE HAS A FAULTY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. UPON RESEARCHING IT MORE, IT BECAME CLEAR THAT VW WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DENIED ANY RESPONSIBILITY IN CORRECTING THE PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, VW CONTINUED TO PRODUCE CARS FOR YEARS WITH THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS. I BOUGHT THE CAR USED IN 2011, WHICH WAS ALREADY OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM UNTIL LAST MONTH WHEN IT STARTED LURCHING AND SHIFTING HARD. MY CAR HAS FEWER THAN 55,000 MILES, AND IS ONLY DRIVEN TO WORK AND BACK (9 MILES A DAY). IT WAS NOT UNTIL I READ THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS THAT I FOUND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NOT ISOLATED TO MY CAR. I AM SHOCKED THAT VW WILL NOT CORRECT AN EXPENSIVE AND DEBILITATING ISSUE WITH THEIR CARS THAT CAUSES TRANSMISSIONS TO SHUT DOWN. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING TO A CAR WITH LOW MILES AND IS NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. VW REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND BASICALLY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP. I AM HOPING THIS COMPLAINT WILL FORCE THEM TO CORRECT THIS KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ANY VW BEETLE PRODUCED IN THE YEARS (2003-2010) THAT HAS THIS DEFECT. IT IS THE SAFE AND RIGHT THING TO DO. *TR

Mileage: 53,000

MY CAR WAS FINE AND IT STARTED RUNNING A LIL FUNKY SO I TOOK IT TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND TURNS OUT THERE IS A RECALL ON MY AIR BAGS ! TRANSMISSION AND BODY VALVE ? IT ABSOLUTELY DOESN'T WANT TO GO IN REVERSE ANYMORE AND I BARLEY BOUGHT THE CAR IN JULY OF 2012 AND THIS INCIDENT HAPPENS JUST 5 MONTHS LATER. VERY DISAPPOINTED PLEASE HELP I AM A WORKING NURSING STUDENT THAT STILL MAKES PAYMENTS ON THIS CAR. I KNOW MY RIGHTS AND I FEEL YOU CAN HELP ME OUT PLEASE AND THANK YOU. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##

Mileage: 75,000

CAR WOULDN'T EXCEL WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY 1 MILE FROM TOWN SUDDENLY TRAFFIC SLOWED FROM SNOW STORM IN TOWN,THE VEHICLE SMELL WAS FUNNY BLACK SMOKED SLOWLY LEAKED INSIDE THE CAR WINDOWS UP HEARD A MISFIRE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON BLINKED THEN I HEARD LOUD BLAST LIKE I THOUGHT IT WAS A PLOW TRUCKS MUFFLER LOUDNESS REALIZED IR WAS MY VEHICLE STOPPED IMMEDIATELY LESS 1/3 MILE AT BANK. SHUT OFF MOTOR M NOW SEEING SMOKE SLOWLY ENTERED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE 2 FRONT SEATSAND CONSOLE. FEELING HOT UNDER BELLY OF FLOORS. ORANGE GLOW THROUGH ELECTRICAL OUTLET IN BACK OF CONSOLE APPEARED TO BE HOTWITH PLASTIC CASING IN AND UNDER FLOORS HOT SIZZLING CRACKLING UNDER CENTER CASING/I TRY TO CALL 911 MISUSED THE CELL WOULDN'T OPERATE EFFECTIVELY FLAGGED DOWN A MAN N WOMAN AT THE CORNER LIGHT OF BANK THEY DECLINED TO HELP SO I WENT TO CAR PUT SNOW ON COMPARTMENT AND WET IT DOWN AND AIRED OUT SMOKE WITH PASSENGER DOOR OPEN .I WENT IN BANK FOR ASSISTANCE .THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED FOR SAFETY ISSUES BY MANUFACTURER IN THE PAST .WERE SAID TO BE CORRECTED BY REPAIRMAN ALSO SAID SEATBELT HARNESS WAS A ISSUE HEATED SEATS WERE A ISSUE AND AIRBAGS TRANNY ALSO RECALLED FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND OR TRANSMISSION AND AIR BAGS ON SOME 2004 VW VEHICLE BEETLES RECALLS SO FAR OCCURRED TO THIS VW WERE AIRBAG SENSORS/ ALSO THE SEATBELT HARNESS CASES WERE BREAKING REPEATEDLY ONCE PURCHASED DUE TO PUTTING THE SEATS UP AND BACK TO GET IN THE VEHICLE. NOW THIS MYSTERIOUS FIRE AND HEADLAMP ISSUE.. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER RESTARTING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114,888. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NEWLY PURCHASED VEHICLE THAT HAS A KNOW ISSUE. THE TIPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING GEAR CHANGING. VW REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF THE 4 YEAR WARRANTY BUT THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAT 50000 MILES. THERE IS A KNOW ISSUE FOR THIS BUT I WILL HAVE TO PAY $6500 FOR THE REPAIRS>??? NOT FAIR FOR NEW BUYERS WHO ARE KEPT IN THE DARK ABOUT A KNOW ISSUE.. *TR

Mileage: 49,500

THE CAR JOLTS AFTER IT IS WARMED UP. USUALLY AT SLOWER SPEEDS. TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 85,776

CAR WAS SHIFTING VERY HARD, TIRES WOULD SQUEAL AS SHIFTING BETWEEN 1-2 AND 2-3RD GEARS. TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION IT WILL BE BETWEEN 2-5000.00 DOLLARS WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE WINDOW REGULATORS, THERMOMETER. *TR

Mileage: 69,000

ERRATIC SHIFTING UP AND DOWN BETWEEN 1ST AND 3RD GEARS. CAR LURCHES TO THE POINT THAT A NATURAL REACTION IS TO RELIEVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE WHICH COULD CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION IN SOME CASES. PROBLEMATIC PART IS INTERNAL VALVE BODY WHICH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH VW'S OF THIS MAKE AND MODEL. WE HAD THE PROBLEM FIXED THEN CALLED VW CUSTOMER CARE TO SEE ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT AND WERE TOLD THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS ISSUED FOR 7 YEARS OR 2010. SINCE MY CAR HAD LOW MILEAGE THE INTICATION OCCURRED OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND I WAS TOLD BY VW THAT IT IS NOW MY PROBLEM TO TAKE CARE OF IT TO THE TUNE OF $2300 PARTS AND LABOR. INCIDENTALLY, I ALSO DID NOT RECEIVE THE WARRANTY AS I WAS TOLD IT WOULD HAVE GONE TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER ANYWAY. CONSIDERING THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY VW TO BE PROBLEMATIC UP TO 70,000 MILES I FEEL THAT VW SHOULD OFFER UP COMPENSATION IN THAT IT IS THEIR FAULTY PART. ANY HELP IN RECOUPING COSTS INCURRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

Mileage: 67,000

VEHICLE JUST STARTED DOWNSHIFTING VERY HARD (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). BROKE TWO MOTOR MOUNTS WHILE DRIVING DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING THIS HARD. *TR

Mileage: 87,000

TRANSMISSION SLIPS SECOND GEAR THROUGH FIFTH GEAR. CONTACTED 2 VW DEALERS AND WAS TOLD BY THEM VW MADE BAD TRANSMISSIONS IN THIS YEAR. THEY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM AND WANT 6000 DOLLARS TO FIX IT! *TR *JS

Mileage: 66,548

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP OR FROM A LOW SPEED, WHEN SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR, THE ENGINE REVS TO A VERY HIGH RPM, AND I HAVE NO POWER AND NO ACCELERATION. IF I TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE GAS, IT WILL THEN SHIFT WITH A HARD CLUNK. SHIFTING IN OTHER GEARS IS STARTING TO BE CLUNKY AS WELL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH A CAR DRIFTING TO A LOWER VELOCITY, WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCELERATE! *TR

Mileage: 58,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE GLS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE GEARS WERE SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE THERE WAS A BRIEF DELAY ON THE VEHICLE ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD A THREE SECOND DELAY WHICH WAS CONSIDERED NORMAL BUT AS A SAFETY PRECAUTION THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

Mileage: 57,000

THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING AND N FLARING. THE CAR HESITATES AND THEN LUNGES FORWARD UPON ACCELERATION. I HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND HE SAID THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN PROCESS FOR THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

1) INFERIOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PUMP VALVE ASSEMBLY CAUSED VERY HARD DOWN AND UP SHIFTING THAT COULD STARTLE THE DRIVER. IT WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. 2) LEFT SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT TIME OF PURCHASE (FEB. 2012). RIGHT SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR HAS FAILED JULY 2012 AND MUST BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.

Mileage: 55,600

MY AUTOMATIC 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE JERKS SO HARD FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR, IT FELLS LIKE I HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED, OR POPPED THE CLUTCH. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE SEVERITY OF THE JERKING, AND HAVE HAD THE WHEELS ACTUALLY SQUEAL. THE CAR WORKS FINE FOR THE FIRST 20-30 MINUTES, BUT THEN GETS SO BAD I FEAR I MAY GET WHIPLASH. IT IS NOW BEGINNING TO REV TO 6000 RPM WHEN IT SHIFTS INTO 6TH GEAR, OR HESITATES AND I LOSE POWER. HAVE BEEN TOLD I WILL NEED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION, BUT THAT WILL COST ALMOST AS MUCH AS THE CAR IS WORTH. *JS

Mileage: 80,000

THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DIPLAYED AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE ALSO JUMPED GEARS WHEN SHIFTING. IT IS A TRIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. IT ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. WHEN LOOKING ON THE WEBSITE WWW.ABOUTAUTOMOBILE.COM/COMPLAINT/NEW+BEETLE+CONVERTIBLE/AUTOMATIC+TRANSMISSION I FIND MANY VW BEETLE OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. THESE TRANMISSIONS SHOULD BE RECALLED. FAULTY AND DANGEROUS. *TR

Mileage: 63,370

THIS VW BEETLE A SIX SPEED AUTOMATIC. ANY TIME I DRIVE SLOWER THAN 40 MILES PER HOUR (AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP - 15 MINUTES OR SO) IT STARTS TO LURCH BETWEEN GEARS - BOTH WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. SPEEDING UP, IT REVS HIGH AND THEN FEELS LIKE IT JUMPS INTO THE NEXT GEAR. SLOWING DOWN, IT JERKS SO HARD IT FEELS LIKE I'M BEING REAR-ENDED. ONE TIME, AS I WAS PARKING IT, IT CLUNKED SO LOUDLY WHEN I SHIFTED FROM R TO D, I THOUGHT THE TRANSMISSION WAS GOING TO DROP TO THE GROUND! IT SEEMS THE WORST GOING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. I FEEL LIKE I'M BEING DRIVEN AROUND BY SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A STICK SHIFT. BUT IT'S AN AUTOMATIC. I'M BEING CHARGED TO REMANUFACTURE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. IT WILL COST $6,700! I ONLY BOUGHT THE CAR FOR $8,400. THIS 2004 CAR WILL COST ME $16,100 BY THE TIME IT'S DRIVABLE. (BY THE WAY - YOUR DROP DOWN FOR VEHICLE COMPONENTS DOESN'T WORK IN IE 9.) *JS

Mileage: 52,220

BOUGHT MY CAR IN 2011 AUGUST. STARTED NOTICING PROBLEMS IN NOVEMBER 2011. GEARS SHIFTING PROBLEMS IN JAN 2012. MY MILEAGE WAS ONLY 77,000 COULD NOT DRIVE CAR. VW SAID MY WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND WANTED $3,500 FOR NEW TRANSMISSION. PAID MONEY AND IN 2 WEEKS WAS BACK IN SHOP WITH SAME PROBLEM. BUT I ALMOST GOT IN A CAR ACCIDENT, MY GEARS STALLED IN MIDDLE OF ROAD. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF ME OR IN BACK. SCARED ME AND I WOULDN'T DRIVE IT ANYMORE. FRIEND TOOK IT BACK IN AND THEY REPLACED TRANSMISSION TWO TIMES. (THIS WAS ALL VW TRANSMISSIONS). AND ITS STILL IN THE SHOP BECAUSE IT TOOK OUT THE CAR COMPUTER NOW. ITS BEEN 2 MONTHS WITHOUT A CAR AND IM A SINGLE WORKING MOTHER. GETTING RIDES. THEY ALSO WANTED TO CHARGE ME LABOR FOR THE ADDITIONAL TRANSMISSION ERRORS!!!!! ITS BEEN A NIGHTMARE! VW HAS BEEN RUDE AND NOT SENSITIVE TO PROBLEMS AT ALL. THEY COULD CARE LESS. *TR

CAR OCCASIONALLY STOPS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT WARNING. TAKES SEVERAL MINUTES TO RESTART. MECHANIC SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. USED CAR WARRANTY REQUIRES EXPENSIVE TESTING ON TRANSMISSION BEFORE GIVING A DECISION AS TO WHETHER THEY WILL PAY FOR IT OR NOT. IF THEY WON'T PAY FOR IT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO DO IT OURSELVES. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN SEPT. 2011. THE MILEAGE IS TOO HIGH TO BE PART OF THE RECALL ON MANY OF THE BEETLES BUILT DURING THAT TIME. VW IS VERY CAGEY ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGING THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 101,362

TRANS SHIFTING BADLY, PROBLEM STARTED SHORTLY AFTER VEHICLE PURCHASE TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE. VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND NOTHING WAS DONE.TODAY VEHICLE HAS 94000 MILES AND LOOKS LIKE TRANS AND VALVE BODY WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WISH SOMEONE WOULD GET ON VW OF AMERICA SO THEY WOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE. THEY COME TO THISCOUNTRY SELL A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE GET TAKEN HOPE THE GOVERNMENT WILL STEP IN. I AM AN AMERICAN VET AND CANNOT BELIEVE THIS IS HAPPENING. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

VEHICLE IS SEVEN YEARS OLD WITH 59,100 MILES AND ALREADY NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION DUE TO INCORRECT GEAR RATIO FAULT 17114, AND PO330. ALSO, NEEDS A CATALYTIC CONVERTER, HAS AIR LEAK FROM BRAKE BOOSTER VACUUM PIPE. VW CORPORATION ADVISED CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY AND OFFERED $1,000 TOWARD A NEW OR USED VW. THE TRANSMISSION IS APPROXIMATELY $4,000. I DECLINED THEIR OFFER. I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THREE WINDOW REGULATORS. ...UPDATED 01/30/12 *BF

Mileage: 59,100

THE CAR JERKS BETWEEN GEARS AND IT IS GETTING WORSE. THE PROBLEM IS THE VALVE BODY. IT IS A KNOWN PROBLEM. (HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET COMPLAINING.) VW HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 100,000 AND WE ARE ONLY AT 69,000, BUT IT ENDED IN OCTOBER 2010. WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM NOR DID THE MECHANIC TELL US OF THE PROBLEM. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOW SUDDENLY JAM UP AND THIS HAS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC. THE VW DEALERSHIP NOW WANTS $2,317 FOR THE REPAIR! CLEARLY THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY VW. *TR

Mileage: 69,160

I HAVE A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN 1.8 TURBO CONVERTIBLE BEETLE. THE CAR IS JUMPING BACK AND FORTH WHEN IT TRIES TO SHIFT GEARS. I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE LOCAL VW DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO RUN DIAGNOSTICS IN ORDER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. BY LOOKING ON LINE WE HAD A PRETTY GOOD IDEA THAT IT WAS THE VALVE BODY OR THE TRANSMISSION. AFTER THEY RAN THE DIAGNOSTICS THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS THE VALVE BODY. THEY HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FROM 5 YEARS 70,000 TO 7 YEARS 100000 MILES. WE WHERE THEN ADVISED THAT THE CAR HAD MISSED THE WARRANTY BY A FEW MONTHS BUT THAT WE SHOULD STILL PROCESS DIAGNOSTICS AS VW NORMALLY ASSISTS WHEN SO CLOSE TO WARRANTY EXPIRING. THEY KNOW THESE CARS HAVE THIS DEFECT. THE DEALER CONTACTED VW AMERICA AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR BECAUSE I WAS THE THIRD OWNER OF THE CAR. I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2007 FROM A VW DEALER AND IT WAS A CERTIFIED VEHICLE. I AM THE 2ND OWNER. I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT THE WAY THE CAR THRASHES BACK AND FORTH WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS. I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED AS I AM PREGNANT. IT IS UNACCEPTABLE THAT VW IS UNWILLING TO MAKE THIS REPAIR WHEN THEY KNOW THAT THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. THIS WAS OUR THIRD VOLKSWAGEN. THE CAR ONLY HAS 72000 MILES. *KB

Mileage: 72,000

THE TRANSMISSION STARTED OUT SHIFTING ROUGH. THEN IT PROGRESSED TO A POINT THAT IT WILL SHIFT SO HARD THAT IT WILL THROW YOU FORWARD IN YOU SEAT. WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. THEN LAST YEAR THE VW SENT US A LETTER SAYING THE WARRANTY HAD BEEN EXTENDED AS THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. HOWEVER, THEY SENT IT TO US A MONTH AFTER THE EXTENSION EXPIRED. WE COMPLAINED TO VW AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. *TR

Mileage: 61,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN SHIFTING GEARS. A LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Mileage: 60,000

MY PROBLEM WITH THE CAR IS THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE THAT HAS COMPLAINED...IDENTICAL PROBLEMS! ALL TOLD THE COST, WITH A RENTAL CAR IS $6,500.00, SO FAR. THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP AND I AM HAVING TO WAIT FOR THE REMANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION TO BE DELIVERED. THIS IS INSANITY AND I WON'T EVEN BEGIN WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUES THE CAR HAS HAD AND STILL HAS! THE TRANSMISSION IS/WAS A SAFETY HAZARD. WAKE UP PEOPLE! I KNOW A FEW OF US MUST DIE FOR YOU TO WAKE UP...GET REAL... WE ARE MAD AS [XXX]. I WANT VW TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THANK YOU. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

Mileage: 95,100

IN CITY TRAFFIC, MY VEHICLE HAS A VIOLENT JERKY DOWN-SHIFT WHEN APPROACHING A STOP, APPROXIMATELY 25MPH TO 20 MPH. IT FEELS LIKE THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR IS FALLING OUT. WHEN THESE OCCURRENCES FIRST HAPPENED, THEY WERE OCCASIONAL. ON THE HIGHWAY I BELIEVE IT SLIPS FROM ONE GEAR TO ANOTHER. TODAY, A FEW MONTHS LATER THE OCCURRENCES ARE MORE FREQUENT AND I AM FORCED TO SEEK PROFESSIONAL CARE FOR MY VEHICLE. I HAVE REGULARLY MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE WITH CARE AND ATTENTION TO THE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS. MY ONLINE RESEARCH HAS INDICATED THAT THIS EVENT IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT, BUT THIS OCCURRENCE DESCRIBES A TYPICAL VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION WITH MILEAGE BETWEEN 50K AND 70K; THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF LIKE COMPLAINTS. I HAVE FOUND TWO SEPARATE FORUMS ONLINE SUPPORTING THIS VERY COMPLAINT. THIS IS VERY LOW MILEAGE FOR A FAILED TRANSMISSION, ESPECIALLY WHEN MANY SIMILAR SMALL VEHICLES ARE OFFERING WARRANTIES FOR 100K MILES OR MORE. THE VW CUSTOMER CARE HAS FAILED TO RESPOND TO MY INQUIRIES. I BELIEVE MY CAR HAS BECOME UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND I AM FEARFUL THAT IT WILL BREAK DOWN ON THE FREEWAY OR A POTENTIALLY DARK ROAD OR IN BAD WEATHER. I WOULD ASK THAT THE NHTSA PLEASE LOOK INTO THESE RECURRENT ISSUES WITH VOLKSWAGEN AND MAKE VOLKSWAGEN ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FAILING TRANSMISSION, OR, AT THE VERY LEAST LOOK INTO THE VALVE BODIES AND WHETHER THEY ARE UP TO STANDARDS, STANDARDS THAT WOULD PREVENT THIS VEHICLE FROM FAILING ON THE HIGHWAY AND CAUSING POTENTIAL HAZARDS TO DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS. THANK YOU, *TR

Mileage: 63,250

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 60 MPH WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT FROM SECOND GEAR BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY HARD SHIFT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Mileage: 58,000

AT LESS 60K MILES, I'VE BEEN HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD BY 2 REPAIR SHOPS THAT IT NEED TO BE REPLACED . BOTH REPAIR SHOPS ADMITTED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH VW BEETLE. I PURCHASE THE CAR NEW AND MAINTAINED AND SERVICE AT SUGGESTED TIMES AT SAME PLACE OF PURCHASE. I PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY AND HAVE COMPLAINED IN THE PAST. THE PROBLEM THEN WAS INTERMITTENT AND SHOP NEVER FOUND THE PROBLEM UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED A MONTH LATER. I HAVE READ SIMILAR PROBLEM FROM SEVERAL OWNERS AND SOME WERE REPAIRED FREE WHILE OTHER WERE TURNED AWAY. SINCE THE PROBLEM IS INCONSISTENT WITH MANY OWNERS AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE, THIS PROBLEM QUALIFIES UNDER LEMON LAW. I REQUEST THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE THIS MECHANICAL PROBLEM AND CONSIDER A RECALL BASED ON MANY COMPLAINTS. EVEN REPAIR SHOPS KNOW THIS PROBLEM EXISTED AND WE NEED HELP FORM THIS GOVERNMENT BODY TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT CONTINUES TO COMPROMISED SAFETY. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND THEN THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE ENGAGED IN ORDER TO SHIFT BACK INTO DRIVE. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER WHO WAS TOLD THAT THE CONTROL VALVES CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE WOULD INCREASE IN SPEED AND THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED DOWN TO 5TH GEAR. UPDATED 12/02/11

Mileage: 64,000

MY 2004 BEETLE RAN FINE FOR THE FIRST SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER A PURCHASED IT FROM THE DEALER, NOW THE CAR STOPS RUNNING AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK, DURING MY TRAVEL TO WORK. I HAVE READ SEVERAL POSTINGS ON THE INTERNET STATING THE SAME ISSUES FROM THOUSANDS OF VW OWNERS. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD MY CAR DIAGNOSIS STATING I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANS, BUT THERES NO INDICATION TRANS FAILURE. ONE WEEK THERE CAR RUNS GREAT THEN, NEXT IT STOPS DURING TRAVEL AND HAS JERKY FEELS DURING MOVEMENT. I'M SURE THERE HUNDRED OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME ISSUES AND THAT'S JUST ONE OF THE MANY TOO MANY TO LIST. *KB

Mileage: 75,000

MY CAR IS A CERTIFIED USED VW BEETLE. THE TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING A FEW MONTHS AGO, ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS OF THE CAR. THIS WAS AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD ON THE CAR, AND I KNOW IT IS USED, BUT I NOW COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED, IN FACT ARE BLATANTLY ON THIS WIKI FOR THE CAR (WHICH UNFORTUNATELY, EITHER WAS NOT UP WHEN WE BOUGHT THE CAR, OR I DID NOT READ IT CAREFULLY) HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/VOLKSWAGEN_NEW_BEETLE "THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, FOR EXAMPLE, IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED ISSUE, OFTEN FAILING AFTER ONLY A RELATIVELY SHORT PERIOD OF USE." THERE ARE NUMEROUS PAGES WHERE THIS IS NOTED NOW ACROSS THE WEB: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F124D77 HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/VW_BEETLE.HTML SOME INCIDENTS NOTED SHOW THE DANGER OF THIS SITUATION. LUCKILY THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED TO ME, BUT NOW I AM LOOKING AT REPLACING A WHOLE TRANSMISSION (ALONG WITH FAILED DOOR MOTORS AND SUCH). IF THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, HOW CAN VW GET AWAY WITH CERTIFYING THIS CAR, WITHOUT AT LEAST A WARNING OR A LONGER WARRANTY ON PARTS THEY KNOW WILL FAIL. I CONSIDER THIS A FRAUD PERPETRATED ON ME. UNFORTUNATELY THIS REPAIR IS GOING TO COST MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH, AND YET, WE STILL OWE MONEY ON IT TO VW FOR OUR LOAN. I AM VERY FRUSTRATED HERE. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

PURCHASED MY 2004 CONVERTIBLE BEETLE IN MAY OF 2011 WITH 83,000 MILES AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING AND JERKING. IT STARTED GETTING WORSE AS TIME WENT ON, SO WE HAD A MECHANIC PUT IN SOME LUCAS TRANS FIX, IT HELPED A LITTLE BUT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE SLIPPING AND JERKING IS A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS TO BE RECALLED. NOTICED ON EDMUNDS.COM THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND JERKING. ALSO NOTICED THAT VW AMERICA HAS NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ISSUE. SO I AM DOCUMENTING MY COMPLAINT AND I AM ASKING ALL 2004 BEETLE OWNERS TO DO THE SAME IN HOPES TO PUT PRESSURE ON VW TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. THE ENGINEERS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION FAILED THIS PROGRAM, I HOPE YOU IDIOTS TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR MISTAKES. *TR

Mileage: 83,008

6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTING VERY ROUGH AFTER 45,000 MILES. I AM CONCERNED THE TRANSMISSION WILL FAIL POTENTIALLY CAUSING A FATAL ACCIDENT, ESPECIALLY IF DRIVING ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY. VW DEALER SAYS THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AND IT WILL COST $7200! THE TRANSMISSION VALVLE BODY ON THIS MODEL CAR HAS ALREADY BEEN DECLARED DEFECTIVE BY VW. *TR

Mileage: 45,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE SHIFTING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUMP GEARS UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE VALVE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE BODY BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AND HAD BECOME WORSE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE VALVE BODY A SECOND TIME BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER RE-INSTALLED THE ORIGINAL VALVE BODY, ADVISING THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE INITIAL VALVE BODY. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

Mileage: 63,000

2004 VW BEETLE TURBO BEGAN JERKING, SURGING, ETC, SEPT/OCT OF 2010. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS, AS OBVIOUS. STAFF SAID NO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, BUT PAID OVER $1000 FOR "OTHER" ISSUES. DEC. 2010 CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE. LOST ALL POWER! CAR WILL SURGE UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. UNABLE TO CONTROL AS CAR SHIFTS ITSELF INAPPROPRIATELY. THE HAPPENS EVERYDAY AFTER THE CAR IS WARMED UP. EVERY TIME YOU BRAKE OR ACCELERATE, IT JERKS, SURGES, STALLS, ETC. FINALLY, APRIL 19, 2011, (3 CAR SHOPS LATER), ANOTHER TRANSMISSION SHOP CONFIRMED MY PROBLEMS. ONLY 69,000 MILES ON MY CAR . . NEED NEW TRANSMISSION! VW DEALERSHIP HAS TURNED THEIR BACK ON ME AND "COVERED UP" THE FACT THAT THIS MODEL CAR HAS MAJOR TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEMS AND WAS MADE DEFECTIVE. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THIS HORRIFIC ORDEAL. A RECALL IS IMPERATIVE. I COULD HAVE HAD TWO CARS FOR THE PRICE THAT I AM STILL PAYING FOR THIS CAR. VERY UNSAFE AND SCARY RIDE. AN INJUSTICE AND INSULT TO THE PUBLIC, HARD-WORKING TAX-PAYERS!!! *TR

Mileage: 67,000

2007 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TRANSMISSION, VALVE BODY DEFECT. VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT AND ONLY SOLUTIONS IS REPLACING BOTH WITH A COST OF ABOUT 6000.00 FOR TRANSMISSION AND 2000.00 FOR VALVE BODY. VERY UNSAFE CONDITION WHEN YOU ARE ON THE FREEWAY AND YOUR CAR WILL NOT SHIFT. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

MY 2004 VW NEW BEETLE WITH 81,000 MILES ON IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. HARSH SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS; DID A TRANS FLUSH; NOW IT WON'T COME OUT OF 3RD GEAR. BEEN SITTING SINCE JANUARY IN MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH IS $5,800 + TAX. MY DAUGHTER WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES! VW HAS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE FAILED TRANSMISSIONS. PURCHASE 2-1/2 YEARS AGO - STILL OWE ANOTHER 2-1/2 YEARS OF PAYMENTS AND I THOUGHT THIS CAR WOULD GET MY DAUGHTER THROUGH COLLEGE AND BEYOND - BOY WAS I WRONG. THEY CERTAINLY DON'T MAKE VWS THE WAY THEY USE TO. I HAD A BUG WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE AND THE FLOORBOARDS RUSTED OUT BEFORE THE MECHANICS OF THE CAR! *TR

Mileage: 81,503

[XXX] I RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IN NOVEMBER 2010 EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON MY 2004 VW BEETLE FOR HARD SHIFTING CAUSED BY THE VALVE BODY. MY BEETLE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEMS DESCRIBED IN THE LETTER. I SUBMITTED THE FORM FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS MADE TO THE VALVE BODY. MY CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS REFUSED BY MARTIN A. CUSTOMER CARE ADVOCATE. HE STATED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED BECAUSE THE EXTENSION COVER REPAIRS TO THE VALVE BODY ONLY. I AM SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE VALVE BODY ONLY. WHEN THE REPAIR SHOP INSPECTED MY BEETLE FOR THE HARD SHIFTING ISSUE, THEY ALSO INSPECTED THE TRANSMISSION AND FOUND EXCESSIVE METAL DEBRIS IN THE 'PAN'. THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME THAT THEY RECOMMENDED REPAIRING THE TRANSMISSION AT THE SAME TIME AS REPLACING THE VALVE BODY. I COULD HAVE ELECTED NOT TO HAVE REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION AT THAT TIME. I AM BEING TOLD THAT MY CLAIM IS BEING REFUSED BECAUSE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VALVE BODY WAS RELATED TO THE REPAIR OF THE TRANSMISSION WHICH IT CLEARLY WAS NOT. VW OFFERED THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY AND I FEEL AS THOUGH THEY ARE TRYING TO FIND ANY EXCUSE TO NOT FULFILL THIS OFFER. I CONTACTED VW CUSTOMER CARE ON FRIDAY AFTERNOON FEBRUARY 25TH TO EXPLAIN THAT THE VALVE BODY REPLACEMENT WAS NOT RELATED TO THE REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION AND WAS VERY FRUSTRATED WHEN THE ADVOCATE REPEATEDLY INTERRUPTED ME AS I ATTEMPTED TO EXPLAIN THIS TO HER. MY DAUGHTER AND I HAVE PURCHASED MULTIPLE VEHICLES FROM VW OVER THE YEARS AND ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY VW IS DENYING THIS VALID CLAIM, WE WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO BE LOYAL VW OWNERS AND ARE HOPEFUL THAT VW WILL DO THE RIGHT THING FOR US. PLEASE REVIEW THE DOCUMENTS THAT I HAVE INCLUDED AND I'M SURE YOU WILL BE IN AGREEMENT THAT THIS CLAIM SHOULD BE APPROVED. PLEASE CONTACT THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES. PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR

Mileage: 93,767

I DO NOT KNOW WHO TO TURN TO NOW. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. I PURCHASED THE CAR MARCH, 2010 AND A FEW WEEKS AGO IT STARTED ACTING UP. THE GEARS HAVE BEEN SHIFTING VERY VIOLENTLY, SO MUCH SO THAT IT FEELS LIKE SOMEONE REAR ENDED ME EVERY TIME. MIND YOU, THIS ONLY HAPPENS AFTER I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR FOR MORE THAN 15 MILES, SO I FIGURE THAT IT'S ONCE THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY COOLED. I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VOLKSWAGEN IN NOVEMBER, 2010 FOR AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOTICED THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THIS. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THIS FIXED AND NOW THEY TELL ME THAT I WAS ONLY COVERED UNTIL SEPTEMBER, 2010. THE LETTER SAYS IT WILL COVER TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST FROM THE VEHICLE'S ORIGINAL IN-SERVICE DATE. THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO ME BECAUSE TECHNICALLY I'M STILL ON THE 7TH YEAR AND I'M CURRENTLY AT 54K MILES. I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND THAT THERE A LOT OF BEETLE OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME MISFORTUNE AND VOLKSWAGEN IS DOING NOTHING OF THE MATTER BECAUSE THEY KNOW IT WILL COST THEM MILLIONS. THIS IS VERY UPSETTING, SEEING THAT I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR LESS THAN A YEAR AND IT'S HAD 2 PREVIOUS OWNERS. I TRIED CALLING VOA AND THE "MANAGER" TELLS ME THAT THEY'RE LOOKING INTO THE MATTER BECAUSE THEY HAVE GOTTEN A HIGH VOLUME CALL THIS WHOLE WEEK REGARDING THIS. I CALL 2 DAYS LATER AND THEY TELL ME THAT I AM OUT OF LUCK. IT REALLY DOES SEEM THAT THIS IS A DESIGNER FLAW, AND VW IS FAILING TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE. *TR

Mileage: 53,000

WELL IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. FIRST THING, THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD AND THEN RIGHT AFTER THAT THERE WAS NO BRAKE LIGHTS. THE TOP WILL NOT COME DOWN BY IT SELF. THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON ( AIR BAG, BRAKES, CHECK ENGINE, EMISSIONS). SOUNDS LIKE THERE ARE HOLES IN THE MUFFLER. LAST BUT NOT LEAST THE RIGHT REAR WINDOW FELL DOWN AND THEY WON'T 800 TO FIX, THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA REGARDING MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AT 71,000 MILES, IT HAS HAD HARD SHIFTING ISSUES AND HAS ACTUALLY JERKED FORWARD WHEN I CAME TO A STOP AT A LIGHT, AND THEN HAS PROCEEDED TO GET STUCK IN 3RD GEAR UNTIL IT WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. VOLKSWAGEN HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY, BUT THEY HAVE DETERMINED, $300.00 LATER, THAT IT IS NOT THE VALVE BODY, BUT NEEDS THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT A COST OF $6,300.00. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSIONS! *TR

Mileage: 71,000

I HAVE A COMPLAINT AGAINST VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA ABOUT MY 2004 AUTOMATIC NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TRANSMISSION. I RECEIVED A WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR A SKIPPING TRANSMISSION. A YEAR AGO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDED THAT I REPLACE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION TO FIX THE PROBLEM, WHICH I DID FOR $6,500.00. THE NEW EXTENDED WARRANTY SAID I COULD BE REIMBURSED FOR WORK DONE, I FILLED OUT ALL THE PAPERWORK AN HAD COPIES OF THE ORIGINAL WORK REQUESTS AND RECEIPTS AND SENT THEM IN AS INSTRUCTED. I HAVE SINCE RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THAT I DO NOT QUALIFY BECAUSE I HAD THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED (AS RECOMMENDED) AND NOT JUST THE VALVES. IT IS A CATCH 22 AND UNFAIR AS I JUST FOLLOWED THE DEALERS RECOMMENDATION IN GETTING THE CAR REPAIRED. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

2004 VW BEETLE - FAULTY TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VIOLENTLY INTO 2ND AND 3RD GEARS CAUSING THE CAR TO JOLT FORWARD. AT OTHER TIMES IT BECOMES STUCK IN 1ST GEAR SO AS YOU ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO INCREASE SPEED ENOUGH TO STAY OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC APPROACHING FROM BEHIND. A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS ON LINE FOR SAME PROBLEM. VW ADMITS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND SHIFTING DIFFICULTY ON 1998 - 2006 AUTOMATIC'S. THEY HAVE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR REPAIRS, BUT ONLY COVER THE VALVE BOX, WHICH ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL VW DEALER IS NOT THE PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

2004 VOLKSWAGEN 'NEW BEETLE' HAS SERIOUS DESIGN / OEM-COMPONENT FLAWS IN THE TRANSMISSION AND/OR TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE, CREATING VERY-DANGEROUS AND UNPREDICTABLE 'STALLS' (STEP ON GAS, MOTOR REVS, BUT TRANSM. DOES NOT ENGAGE IMMEDIATELY) IN TRAFFIC. VW IS AWARE OF THIS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE SENT A 'WARRANTY-EXTENSION / REPLACEMENT OFFER' LETTER FOR THE VALVE-BODY OF THE TRANSM., HOWEVER, DEALER 'COMPUTER' SAYS IT'S NOT THE VALVE-BODY, BUT RATHER A 'MECHANICAL ISSUE DUE TO AN INCORRECT GEAR RATIO' AND OFFERS A COMPLETE TRANSM. REPLACEMENT FOR $5500. (!) NOT A VERY 'HELPFUL' SOLUTION FOR A CAR WORTH THAT OR LESS. IT WOULD SEEM THERE IS A 'CONTROL' PROBLEM WITH ONE OF THEIR OEM COMPONENTS (IE: TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND/OR SOLENOID-PACK) AS THERE ARE *THOUSANDS* OF OWNERS WITH SUCH PROBLEMS, ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, AND IMHO, VW NEEDS TO RECALL THESE CARS AND FIX / REPLACE THE TRANSMISSIONS - HERE IS A LINK TO A 20-PAGE THREAD DETAILING OTHERS' EXPERIENCES: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F124D77/[email protected]@ - THIS IS *NOT* A 'SINGLE-CONSUMER' OR 'PERSONAL PERIODIC-MAINTENANCE ISSUE', AND MAY HAVE GRAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR SOMEONE / SOME FAMILY(IES) IF NOT RECALLED BY VW -PLEASE, HELP US! *TR

Mileage: 76,500

I HAVE A 2004 VW NEWBEETLE. MY CAR WAS SHIFTING FUNNY AND SHAKING AS IT DROVE. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A TRIPTONIC SWITCH. THEY REPLACED IT. AFTER TEST DRIVING THE CAR WITH THIS NEW PART THEY DETERMINED THIS WASN'T THE PROBLEM AND THAT I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF 5400.00. *TR

Mileage: 72,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A SCRAPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED A HOLE IN THE TRANSMISSION CASE CAUSED BY THE SEPARATION OF THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT BOTH THE FLYWHEEL AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 113,000.

Mileage: 113,000

2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. IT STARTED AROUND 67000 MILES AND HAPPENS JUST AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHES OPERATING TEMPERATURE. DEALERSHIP SAYS TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT $7000. I HAVE ALSO READ ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE NOTED THERE HAVE BEEN EXTENSIVE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR YR MODEL BEETLE WITH THE SAME TYPE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. DEALER WILL NOT HELP, BUT STATED THEY KNOW OF THE ISSUE BUT ARE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL VW TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THE ISSUE, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL ISSUED YET ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD AND SLIPS IN LOWER GEARS. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

MY 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH TRIPTONIC TRANSMISSION, WITH ONLY 55,000 MILES, LURCHES IN THE LOWER GEARS AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY BETWEEN THE LOWER GEARS AND OFTEN REVS UP TO 5000 RPM BEFORE IT "CLUNKS" INTO HIGHER GEAR. THE VW DEALER MECHANIC WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, AT A COST TO ME OF $6800. MY RESEARCH HAS LEARNED THAT THE FIRST GENERATION OF VW?S DOUBLE CLUTCH TRANSMISSIONS HAD A CHRONIC WEAK POINT. THEY COMBINE A WET CLUTCH (AS IN TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC) AND A GEAR PART (AS IN TRADITIONAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION), HOWEVER BOTH ARE LUBRICATED OUT OF SAME OIL SUMP. THE GEAR PART CAUSES THE OIL TO BE MORE CONTAMINATED WITH WEAR PARTICLES (VS. TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THIS CONTAMINATED OIL IS USED ALSO IN THE VALVE BODY AND THE WET CLUTCH, AND THESE WEAR PARTICLES CAN DETERIORATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WET CLUTCH (CLUTCH MATERIAL, RESULTING IN SLIPPAGE, OR CLUTCH AND GEAR CHANGE HYDRAULIC CONTROLS, RESULTING IN DEFECTIVE SHIFT STRATEGIES). ONCE THAT HAPPENS, DAMAGE IS USUALLY IRREVERSIBLE. VW CHANGED THE OIL SERVICE RECOMMENDATION RECOMMEND FROM (FILL FOR LIFE) OR 100,000 MILES TO 40,000 MILES. EVEN AT THIS REDUCED AMOUNT, THEY CLEARLY STILL HAD A PROBLEM. THEY PROBABLY MODIFIED THE DESIGN SINCE BUT HAVE NOT ADMITTED IT. VW HAS NOT BEEN ETHICAL IN THEIR HANDLING OF THE DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION DESIGN. THE TRANSMISSION CAN FAIL AT ANYTIME CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION ON THE FREEWAY, TURNING ACROSS TRAFFIC, ETC. VW OF AMERICA ACTS LIKE THIS IS A NEW PROBLEM THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. SUGGESTS REPLACING A PRESSURE SENSOR AND REPLACING TRANSMISSION FLUID AT A COST OF $700 PLUS THE $150 FOR DIAGNOSING. LOCAL EUROPEAN REPAIR (WELL RESPECTED) SAYS PRESSURE SENSOR AND TRANSMISSION VALVE CASING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED TOGETHER (COST $2000)...IF LUCKY THIS WILL DELAY FULL BLOWN TRANSMISSION SELF DESTRUCTION. VW OF AMERICA IS SCREWING LOYAL CUSTOMERS BY NOT REPAIRING DESIGN FLAW. *TR

Mileage: 55,000

MY VEHICLE HAS 75,000 MILES ON IT AND IS A 2004 NEW BEETLE. IT IS NO LONGER DRIVABLE AND THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. I TOOK IT TO AAMCO AND THEY HAVE TOLD ME IT IS AN UNSAFE VEHICLE AND WILL COST ANYWHERE FROM $5,000 TO $7,000 TO REPAIR. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, I CAN SEE THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH THE 2004 NEW BEETLES. I AM CURRENTLY NOT DRIVING IT BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY BUCKS SO BADLY THAT IT CAUSES MY CAR TO JUMP ANYWHERE FROM 1 TO 5 FEET AND IT COULD HIT A VEHICLE OR A PEDESTRIAN. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

2004 NEW BEETLE CONV TURBO . ALWAYS IN SHOP. ALWAYS HAD PROBLEMS. IN THE SHOP MORE THAN AT HOME. ELEC ISSUES,WINDOWS NOT WORKING, AIR BAG LIGHTS FLASHING, TOP STAYING DOWN WONT GO UP ONE REPAIR AFTER ANOTHER. NOW THE TRANSMISSION IS GONE. WHAT A PIECE OF [XXX]. JUST HOPE SOME ONE READS THIS AND TALKS THEIR DAUGHTER OR WIFE OUT OF MAKING A 20,000 DOLLAR MISTAKE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 96,000

AT 64,000 MILES MY 2004 VW , AUTOMATIC, BEGIN TO "JUMP" GEARS BETWEEN THE 1ST AND 2ND GEAR AFTER IT WARMED UP. IT GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AND I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER. AFTER BEING TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OUT, I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE CERTAIN IT WAS THE GEAR BOX BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHOW UP IN THE DIAGNOSTIC AS THE PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE GEAR BOX WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. I DID NOT AUTHORIZE THE WORK AND TOOK IT TO ANOTHER VW REPAIR. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION, BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH IT NOT SHOWING UP IN THE DIAGNOSTIC. I HAVE NO CONFIRMATION OF THE PROBLEM AND THE WORK IS EXPENSIVE, THE ESTIMATE FOR THE GEAR BOX REPLACEMENT (WITHOUT GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM WAS IN EXCESS OF $2,000. THE OTHER GAMBLE WAS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT THE COST OF $5,000 PLUS LABOR. I STILL DON'T HAVE CONFIRMATION OF WHAT THE PROBLEM IS, BUT THE REPAIR OPTIONS ARE COSTLY AND A GAMBLE AT BEST. *TR

Mileage: 64,000

I OWN A 04 BEETLE CONV. AND AT AROUND 78,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION STARTED ACTING SLUGGISH AND WOULD MAKE A LOUD POPPING SOUND AS IT SHIFTED INTO GEAR AND JOLTED U FORWARD, NOW IT IS AT AROUND 81,000 AND WILL ONLY SHIFT THROUGH FIRST AND SECOND GEARS SAFELY. WHEN IT HITS 35MPH THE RPM'S RAISE RAPIDLY AND THE CAR WILL EVENTUALLY COME TO REST AT 25 MPH AND GO NO FASTER. IF I SLAM ON THE BREAKS IT GETS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR AND WILL ONLY BE ABLE TO REACH 50 MPH MAX AT 5,500 RPM'S.. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AND THEY JUST TELL ME THAT A MY ONLY OPTION IS TO REPLACE THIS TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF 5,813.00+LABOR OR TRADE IT IN FOR A VALUE SOMEWHERE AROUND 1,500.00 AND REFUSE TO DO ANYTHING FURTHER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM BETWEEN BEETLES, JETTAS, GOLFS, AND GTI'S. WITH CAR TRANSMISSIONS COMPLETELY GOING OUT OR ACTING LIKE THIS ON THE ROAD, IM A LITTLE CONFUSED AS TO WHY VW HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO DEAL WITH THIS AND WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED? *TR

Mileage: 81,400

2004 VW BEETLE SLIPPING BANGING TRANSMISSION 4500-7000 DOLLAR FIX SEEMS TO BE ON MOST CARS. SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM VW. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

I OWN A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE THAT HAS A TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION WITH ALMOST 69,000 MILES. IT STARTED JERKING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS, WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. I TOOK IT TO AN INDEPENDENT VW/AUDI REPAIR SHOP HAD DIAGNOSTICS RUN AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD, AND THAT IT WAS A PROBLEM FREQUENTLY SEEN WITH 2004 BEETLES THAT HAVE THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. THE COST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION WOULD BE $5700.00 PLUS TAX, AND A USED TRANSMISSION WOULD BE $4400.00 PLUS TAX. I CALLED THE LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP TO ASK ABOUT THE FREQUENCY OF THE PROBLEM AND WHETHER VW WAS PLANNING ANY TYPE OF RECALL DUE TO THE LARGE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS WITH THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION, AND WAS TOLD THE PROBLEM DIDN'T WARRANT A RECALL AT THIS TIME. I THINK A $6200.00 REPAIR FOR A CAR THAT IS WORTH AROUND $10,000.00 IS INSANE. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2004 BEETLES AND THE EXCESSIVE COST OF REPAIR, VW SHOULD RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *TR

Mileage: 68,911

TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH 2004 VW BEETLE TURBO, ABRUPT SHIFTING, AND ACCELERATING AT LOW SPEED TO A SUDDEN STOP DEALERSHIP CANT FIND SOLUTION IT IS FRUSTRATING MIGHT NEED TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION AND THE CAR IS ONLY 68000 MILES, NO WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM. ALREADY PAID VW DEALERSHIP 500DLLS WITHOUT A DIAGNOSE, CAR IS GETTING WORSE HAS ENGINE LIGHT ON, ESP AND ASR LIGHTS ON, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, YET THEY CANT FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

Mileage: 65,000

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, IT STARTED TO JUST JERK RIGHT AROUND THE TIME I WOULD BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. INITIALLY, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKES BUT HAD THEM CHECKED OUT AND THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. THEN THE CAR STARTED GETTING WORSE. WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS IN LOW GEARS WHETHER SHIFTING UP OR DOWN THE CAR JERKS AND SOMETIMES STALLS. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE TURBO, AUTOMATIC CONVERTIBLE, WITH 77,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSIONS DOES NOT CHANGE GEARS PROPERLY, AND AT WILL NOT OPERATE AT ALL. THE DEALER HAS INDICATED IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $6,800. THE VEHICLE IS NOT WORTH MUCH MORE THAN THAT!! IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

MY CAR IS A 2004 VW BEETLE. IT ONLY HAS OVER 48,000 MILES. THE CAR BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY SHIFT GEARS. VW SERVICE STATED IT NEEDED THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND QUOTED ME $7,000.00. I NOW HAVE IT AT A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO IS REBUILDING IT AND IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $3,000. I HAVE A RENTAL CAR THAT WHEN ALL IS SAID AND DONE WILL BE AN ADDITIONAL $400.00. VW HAS A MONOPOLY ON THEIR CARS. I HAVE READ ON-LINE PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. HOW IS IT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER IN THIS ECONOMY FOR VOLKSWAGEN NOT TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR DEFECTIVE CARS AND SHIFT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON THE UNKNOWING CONSUMER? *TR

Mileage: 48,000

PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION, GEAR STUCK IN LOW. *TR

Mileage: 63,782

THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS IN TRAFFIC DRIVING UP THE DALLAS NORTH TOLLWAY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC...WHEN I DEPRESSED THE PEDAL THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE SO I FINALLY HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PULL OVER AND LET THE CAR COOL DOWN. AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD I WAS AGAIN ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR. I CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO REPAIRED THE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD THEM I AM HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM...SAD THING IS I HAVE HAD THE CAR AT THE DEALERSHIP ON 3 OTHER TIMES SINCE LATE MAY FOR THEM TO 1) REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, 2) REPLACE THE COMPUTER TRANSMISSION CHIP, 3) REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE TRANSMISSION...ALL IN ALL I HAVE BEEN OUT ABOUT $7K INCLUDING RENTALS AND EVERYTHING. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THAT IN THE OTHER CASES I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS IT WAS WHEN I WAS GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AFTER DRIVING A BIT THEN THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP. THIS TIME HOWEVER COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR ACCIDENT SINCE IT OCCURRED WHILE I WAS IN MAJOR TRAFFIC. IN TOTAL THE VW DEALER HAS HAD MY CAR A TOTAL OF ABOUT 10 WEEKS SINCE LATE MAY...THIS IS TERRIBLE. I AM NOT THE ONLY CONSUMER WITH VW BEETLE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION SEVERAL OUT THERE ARE HAVING PROBLEMS. CAN SOMETHING BE DONE ABOUT THIS INSTEAD OF THE CONSUMER SUFFERING?? OR DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THERE ARE WORST CASES SIMILAR TO TOYOTA OR FORD? *TR

Mileage: 69,760

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT PROPERLY AND IT BEGAN CLANKING, JERKING AND SOMETIME IT FAILED TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE SHE WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE VALVE BODY THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN WITHOUT REPAIRING THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND ADVISED HER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING SO THAT THEY COULD DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. THE VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,900.

Mileage: 55,900

2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 77K MILES. TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED/REBUILT AT A COST OF $4,500. *TR

Mileage: 77,250

I OWN A 2004 VW NEW BEETLE, GLS 2.0 AUTOMATIC, WITH 56,000 MILES ON IT. I WAS MAKING A QUICK TRIP DOWN THE STREET AT AROUND 30MPH WHEN MY GEARS SUDDENLY STARTED SLIPPING, CAUSING MY RPM TO SHOOT DANGEROUSLY HIGH AND MY CAR TO SLOW DOWN. THE NEXT DAY I DROVE THE CAR UNDER 30MPH TO WORK (1.5 MILES AWAY) AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE ONLY WAY I COULD DRIVE SAFELY WAS TO LET OFF OF THE GAS EVERY TIME THE GEAR CHANGED AND SLIPPED. I THEN TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT. THE GENTLEMAN I SPOKE WITH AT THE SHOP SAID HE HAD SEEN A LOT OF VW BEETLES COMING IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, ALL UNDER 100K MILES. UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE $4,000 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY CAR AND AM NOW LEFT WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION INDEFINITELY. I AM EXTREMELY ANGERED BY THE FACT THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO A CAR AT ONLY 56,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 56,148

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 45 MPH UPHILL WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN UNUSUAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHERE THE FLY WHEEL AND CLUTCH WERE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000. UPDATED 12/15/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/27/10

Mileage: 37,000

I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TRANSMISSION. IT HAS BEEN INTERMITTENTLY JERKING AND STALLING. I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY THROUGH A DOCTOR'S OFFICE PARKING LOT VERY MINDFUL OF PEDESTRIANS WHEN THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY JERKED FORWARD AND I NEARLY HIT A PEDESTRIAN. IT HAPPENED AGAIN AT A CROSS WALK WHERE I WAS SLOWING DOWN TO STOP BUT BEFORE I DID STOP THE CAR DOWNSHIFTED ABRUPTLY AND HAD I NOT HAD A FIRM GRIP ON THE BREAK I WOULD HAVE HIT CHILDREN IN THE CROSS WALK. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE AND VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOT ADDRESS THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PAGES ONLINE OF SIMILAR CASES. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE VW TRANSMISSIONS ARE THE CAUSE OF A SERIOUS INJURY IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. VERY FRIGHTENING AND VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. *TR

Mileage: 76,000

DRIVE TRAIN ON 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, VEHICLE WILL NOT DOWN SHIFT WHEN STOPPED UNLESS VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, THEN WHEN PUT IN GEAR JUMPS FORWARD. SEALED TRANSMISSION, DEALER SAID IT HAPPENS A LOT BUT VW OF AMERICA WILL DO NOTHING TO FIX. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

I HAVE A 2004 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE W/ 85K MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN "CLUNKING" ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO. I WAS TOLD I WILL NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION COSTING MORE THAN $4000. I CAME TO THIS SITE AND SAW TIME AND TIME AGAIN THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING. MANY HAVE RESEARCHED FURTHER AND IT APPEARS TO BE AN OBVIOUS DEFECT. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE A FORMAL RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 82,000

2004 VW NEW BEETLE WITH DSG TRANSMISSION. CAR DROPS INTO LIMP MODE. HAPPENED ON EXPRESSWAY RESULTING IN LOW SPEED TO GET TO MEDIAN. HAPPENS WHEN PULLING AWAY FROM INTERSECTION AND GOES INTO NEUTRAL. CAR WILL NOT MOVE UNTIL ENGINE IS STOPPED AND RESTARTED. ABOVE ISSUES HAPPENED 4 TIMES OVER A 3 DAY PERIOD. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. DSG TRANSMISSION WITH THE MECHATRONICS UNIT IS RARE IN 04 BEETLES. NOT INCLUDED IN FACTORY RECALLS OF 07 AND UP. HAD MECHATRONICS UNIT REPLACED FOR $2250.00 MY EXPENSE. 80,000 MILES ON CAR. 07 AND UP HAVE WARRANTY EXTENSION TO 100,000 MILES. 04 NOT INCLUDED BECAUSE OF LOW FREQUENCY OF EVENT. LOW FREQUENCY BECAUSE NOT MANY AROUND. CAR IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY SAME AS O7 VW & AUDI CARS. *TR

Mileage: 83,445

TRANSMISSION HAS MECHANICAL PROBLEMS, WONT SHIFT SMOOTHLY FROM 1ST TO 2ND INITIALLY, THEN WHEN IN TRAFFIC THE TRANSMISSION KICKS IN LIKE I WAS REAR-ENDED CAUSING MY HEAD TO SNAP. I CANNOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WITHOUT THE VEHICLE NOT SHIFTING INTO GEAR CAUSING A DELAY DRIVING THROUGH AN INTERSECTION. I ALMOST HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED MANY TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED AND FLUID REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THIS IS VERY ALARMING BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT GOING TO SHIFT, THE RPMS REV TO 6 AND 7 BEFORE THE SHIFT TAKES PLACE. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHEN I HAVE BEEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION HAS SUDDENLY REVVED INTO THE 7 AND 8. ALSO THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON, THE RECALL COVERED THE DEFECT IN 2008 BUT, THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND IS NOT COVERED UNLESS I GET A DIAGNOSTIC FROM THE DEALERSHIP WHICH THEY WANT ME TO PAY 150.00 THEN THEY WILL CONSIDER ON A CASE BASES. *TR

Mileage: 60,000

I HAVE A 2004 VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE THAT I HAVE HAD LESS THAN 2 YEARS. OBVIOUSLY I BOUGHT IT USED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE VW DEALER FOR A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG, DROVE IT 5 DAYS AND LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. AT THE SAME TIME THAT LIGHT CAME BACK ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON & HAD TO REPLACE AN 0-2 SENSOR. DROVE IT ANOTHER APPX. 8 MO. & HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP. THE LAST FEW MO. HAVE BEEN HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH THE TRANSMISSION, IT ALL STARTED WITH IT NOT SHIFTING OUT OF 3RD GEAR AFTER STOPPING. I WOULD HAVE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND SIT AND WAIT FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES, START IT UP AND CONTINUE ON MY WAY. THIS IS REALLY DIFFICULT IN TRAFFIC ON THE INTERSTATE AND DANGEROUS!! IT ALSO BEGAN TO SHIFT VERY HARD FROM 2ND, TO 3RD AND 4TH. IT JERKS SO HARD I'M AMAZED I DON'T HAVE WHIPLASH! ANYWAY, I TOOK IT TO THE MECHANIC AND IT NEEDS A NEW $6000 TRANSMISSION. I REALLY BELIEVE THAT VW SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPLACING FAULTY PARTS. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND A DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE. ONE LAST THING IS THAT BOTH MY REAR WINDOWS SEEM TO BE STICKING, I'M AFRAID TO ROLL THEM DOWN. I'M NOT DRIVING IT NOW ANYWAY, IT CAN'T SAFELY BE DRIVEN. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THESE ISSUES. WE BOUGHT THE CAR WITH EARLY WITHDRAWAL RETIREMENT MONEY, BECAUSE WE NEEDED A RELIABLE CAR. NOW IT JUST SITS! THANK YOU *TR

Mileage: 90,000

MY 2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH TRIPTONIC TRANSMISSION, ONLY 53,800 MILES, LURCHES IN THE LOWER GEARS AFTER THE CAR WARMS UP IN ABOUT 10 MINUTES. THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY BETWEEN THE LOWER GEARS AND OFTEN REVS UP TO 5000 RPM BEFORE IT "CLUNKS" INTO HIGHER GEAR. THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE PROPERLY, LEFT TURNS INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ARE DANGEROUS. THE CAR MAY DECIDE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL RATHER THAN LURCH INTO GEAR. AFTER STOPPING AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS, I AM OFTEN TAILGATED BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT GET UP TO SPEED QUICKLY. LUCKILY I HAVE NOT BEEN REAR-ENDED AS SOME OTHERS HAVE. THE VW DEALER MECHANIC WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST TO ME OF $6800. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT FAIL AT ONLY 53,800 MILES UNLESS THERE IS A MAJOR DESIGN DEFECT. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS IN VARIOUS CAR FORUMS, IN PARTICULAR HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM WHERE THERE ARE MORE POSTS ABOUT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS FOR THE NEW BEETLE THAN ANYTHING EXCEPT MAINTENANCE. MY RESEARCH HAS LEARNED THAT THE FIRST GENERATION OF VW'S DOUBLE CLUTCH TRANSMISSIONS HAD A CHRONIC WEAK POINT. THEY COMBINE A WET CLUTCH (AS IN TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC) AND A GEAR PART (AS IN TRADITIONAL MANUAL TRANSMISSION), HOWEVER BOTH ARE LUBRICATED OUT OF SAME OIL SUMP. THE GEAR PART CAUSES THE OIL TO BE MORE CONTAMINATED WITH WEAR PARTICLES (VS. TRADITIONAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). THE CONTAMINATED OIL IS USED ALSO IN THE VALVE BODY AND THE WET CLUTCH, AND THESE WEAR PARTICLES CAN DETERIORATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE WET CLUTCH (CLUTCH MATERIAL, RESULTING IN SLIPPAGE, OR CLUTCH AND GEAR CHANGE HYDRAULIC CONTROLS, RESULTING IN DEFECTIVE SHIFT STRATEGIES). ONCE THAT HAPPENS, DAMAGE IS USUALLY IRREVERSIBLE. VW CHANGED THE OIL SERVICE RECOMMENDATION FROM "FILL FOR LIFE" OR 100,000 MILES TO 40,000 MILES. EVEN AT THIS REDUCED AMOUNT, THEY CLEARLY STILL HAD A PROBLEM. THEY PROBABLY MODIFIED THE DESIGN SINCE BUT HAVE NOT ADMITTED IT. VW HAS NOT BEEN ETHICAL IN THEIR HANDLING OF THIS DESIGN DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 53,800

I HAVE A 2004 VW BUG WITH 51,000 MILES . THE CAR STARTED JERKING SO HARD ITS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS TO ME AND OTHERS ! VW SAYS IT NEEDS A NEW 7000 DOLLAR TRANSMISSION! THEY WONT ADMIT THE PROBLEM IS OF EPIC PROPORTIONS WITH THIS MODEL . IT'S ALL OVER THE INTERNET. MY CAR HAS ALSO HAD THE WINDOW MOTOR GO OUT AND MANY PARTS JUST FALL OFF SUCH AS SEATBELT LATCH COVER. THESE CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED FOR SAFETY!PLEASE HELP ME GET VW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM! [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 48,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT WINDOW MOTORS FAILED AND WERE REPLACED AT HER EXPENSE. THE SEAT BELTS LATCHES HAD ALSO FAILED. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD INTERMITTENTLY JERK VIOLENTLY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO UP SHIFT FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

Mileage: 48,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AND STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,000.

Mileage: 96,000

MY 2004 VW BEETLE AT 44,000 MILES HAD TO HAVE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPLACED, I ALLOWED THE VW DEALER TO DO ALL THE WORK.. THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURS IS IT JERKS AND WON'T SHIFT GEARS WHEN ON THE FREEWAY OR IN OTHER DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. OVER A YEAR LATER AT 54,000 MILES MY SAME CAR IS NOW DOING THE SAME THING ON THE FREEWAY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND OCCURRING ON A SO-CALLED "BRAND NEW" TRANSMISSION VW CLAIMS TO HAVE PUT IN. MY PARTS WARRANTY FROM A YEAR AGO RECENTLY EXPIRED. A CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE TWO AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS UNDER 54,000 MILES! I FOUND SEVERAL MESSAGE BOARDS FULL OF THE SAME COMPLAINT, SAME PROBLEM IN THE BEETLES FROM THIS TIME PERIOD. THE TRANSMISSION JERKS ON PEOPLE WHEN THEY ARE DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY OR ROAD. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I AM FILING MINE WITH YOU IN HOPES YOU WILL START INVESTIGATING THESE COMPLAINTS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED DRIVING FROM THEM. *TR

Mileage: 44,646

PURCHASED A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 2 DAYS AGO. DROVE IT HOME, DROVE IT TO AND FROM WORK (FOR ONE DAY), TODAY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. TOOK IT TO THE GARAGE AND THEY TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $6500. THE CAR ONLY HAS 57,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS INSANE. I HAVE A 3 YEAR OLD AND THIS CAR COULD AND PROBABLY WILL LEAVE US STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 57,761

2004 VW CONVERTIBLE BEETLE NEEDS THE VALVE BODY REPLACED. CAR ONLY HAS 61,900 MILES ON IT. REAR WINDOWS BOTH HAVE BROKEN AIR BAG SWITCH NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

Mileage: 61,900

HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES WITH MY 2004 NEW BEETLE. ON 5/12/10, I STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED IT WAS A FAULTY "TURBO RECIRCULATION VALVE" AND REPLACED THE PART (PICKED UP SAME DAY-$250). ON 5/18/10, I TOLD THEM I WAS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHERE THE RPMS GOES UP BUT THE SPEED OF THE CAR DOES NOT MOVE..CLOSE TO REDLINE. THIS TIME THE DEALER TOLD ME THE TRANSMISSION WAS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED (PICKED UP ON 5/25/10-$4,269). WHEN I RECEIVED THE CAR I TOLD THEM THE CAR STILL DID NOT PERFORM LIKE IT SHOULD. ON 5/26/10, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND NOW THEY TELL ME THE TRANSMISSION CONTROLLER UNIT AND CIRCUIT WAS FAULTY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED...THIS TIME IT TOOK A WHILE (PICKED CAR UP ON 6/29/10 - $1,888). AROUND THE WEEK OF JULY 9TH I CALLED THE DEALER AND TOLD THEM THE CAR STILL FELT IT WAS SLIPPING AT TIME WHEN THE WEATHER WAS HOT AND I HAD BEEN DRIVING IN IT. ON, 7/14/10 I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN TO DEALER AND THEY HAD IT FOR A DAY...NOW THEY TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT RECREATE THE PROBLEM SO I PICKED UP THE CAR ON 7/15/10...NO COST THIS TIME. THEY MAY HAVE MADE A FEW TWEAKS AS THE CAR LASTED TILL NOW 8/07/10 WHERE I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR AT A LOCAL POST OFFICE AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM WORK IN A 105 DEGREE HEAT IN TEXAS (I DROVE ABOUT 37 MILES). IT IS JUST AS I SUSPECTED I WAS ABLE TO ASK MY BROTHER TO TAKE ME TO THE CAR IN THE EVENING AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT HOME. I LEFT A MESSAGE FOR THE DEALERSHIP IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN I HAD THE PROBLEMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER TO NOT DEFRAUD THE CONSUMER BY SELLING THEM DEFECTIVE VEHICLES/PARTS. *TR

Mileage: 66,642

MY TRANSMISSION SLAMS BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR TO FIX IT EITHER NEED A NEW VALVE BODY OR A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

I OWN A 2004 VW NEW BEETLE AND THE TRANSMISSION SEEMS TO BE GOING BAD. IT IS A SEALED SYSTEM SO NO ONE HAS TAMPERED WITH IT. AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WILL JERK VERY HARD WHEN TRYING TO DOWNSHIFT FROM A HIGHER SPEED TO A LOWER SPEED (ESPECIALLY WHEN TRYING TO STOP). AT TIMES, IT WILL NOT SHIFT UP WHEN TRYING TO GO FROM A LOWER SPEED TO A HIGHER SPEED, THEREBY CAUSING A JERKING IN THE VEHICLE. THE PEOPLE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE ARE ALSO BEING JERKED FORWARD AND BACKWARD AS IN A WHIPLASH MOTION. THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH A VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE THAT CLAIM TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE IS A WEBSITE WHERE PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED/BLOGGED ABOUT THEIR PROBLEMS AND VW IS CLAIMING NO LINKAGE TO ANY OF THE EFFECTED VEHICLES. CAN YOU ASSIST IN THIS MATTER OR TELL ME WHERE I CAN GO TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE? *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILED. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

VW NEW BEETLE WITH TRANSMISSION ISSUES THAT ARE DANGEROUS. IT WILL JUMP UNEXPECTEDLY AND AT ONE POINT I ACTUALLY REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM THE UNCONTROLLABLE TRANSMISSION ISSUES. IT WILL ALSO HESITATE IN AN INTERSECTION MAKING FOR A HAZARDOUS SITUATION. *TR

Mileage: 74,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE GLS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ABNORMALLY JERKING WHILE SWITCHING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITHIN ONE MONTH. THE DEALER THEN REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION GEAR BOX. SHORTLY AFTER, THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED WHICH WERE ALSO REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A DIAGNOSIS OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 56,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,000.

Mileage: 64,000

I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION SLIPPING AND JERKING ON HI WAYS AND STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. MY VEHICLE MILEAGE WAS APPROX 68,000 MILES AT THE TIME. I HAVE HAD A FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE CAR DID NOT MOVE ON THE FREEWAY SINCE THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. THIS PROBLEMS OCCURS EVERYDAY AFTER THE CAR IS RAN FOR AROUND 5 MILES. MY VW IS A 2004 VW BEETLE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO VW THINKING IT WAS DUE FOR AN ADJUSTMENT OR AN OIL CHANGE. I WAS GIVEN RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THE OIL MAY NEEDED TO BE TOPPED OFF OR THE COMPUTER MAY NEEDED TO BE CHECKED. I WAS TOLD THAT FOR 120.00 I COULD HAVE THE CAR DIAGNOSED. I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO COME BACK IN A FEW HOURS. AFTER CALLING BACK I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS COOLING OFF AND THAT THE DEALER WAS GOING TO TOP OFF THE OIL FOR 40 DOLLARS MORE. I PAID A TOTAL OF 160.00 AND THAN WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD POSSIBLY NEED TO BUY A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR 7,000 DOLLARS. THE SERVICE REP SAID I COULD PURCHASE A PART FOR 2,000 DOLLARS AND SEE IF THAT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT HE ALREADY HAS 5 TRANSMISSIONS HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON THAT NEED TO BE REPLACED. I FELT THAT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT NEW THIS WAS NOT GOING TO HELP BUT SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF ME SINCE I WAS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THIS ISSUE. I THAN CHECKED THE BLOGS FOR VW TRANSMISSION AND TO MY SURPRISE FOUND 240+ REASONS WHY I WAS NOT ALONE ON THIS ISSUE. PLEASE READ THE COMPLAINTS OF OTHER CONSUMERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. THESE PEOPLE ARE OUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIENDS WHO CAN NOT AFFORD TO SPEND THEIR MONEY ON THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX?14@@.F124D77/0 PLEASE HELP US IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. AS ON BLOGGER SAID, WE DIDN'T BUY A VW SO WE COULD PAY EXPENSIVE MAINTENANCE COST. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. GOD BLESS HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX?14@@.F124D77/0. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

I STRONGLY FEEL THAT WE OWNERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR REPLACING AN EXPENSIVE TRANSMISSION WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS A RECOGNIZABLE "PRE-EXISTING CONDITION" THAT COULD VERY WELL CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. MY 2004 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE 6-SPEED AUTOMATIC TURBO BEGAN SHIFTING GEARS ROUGHLY, JERKING AND SLIPPING ON UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING A FEW MONTHS AGO AT 52K MILES. ONLY AFTER WARMING UP. SOUND FAMILIAR? YES, MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $6000, ACCORDING TO THE DEALER AND A PRIVATE AUTO TRANS SHOP. I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND THE CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICED ON TIME BY THE SAME DEALER. NEVER ABUSED. SINCE MANY PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THESE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS, AND SINCE IT MIGHT LEAD TO AN ABRUPT GEAR FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THE NHTSA INVESTIGATE. WEB SEARCHES REVEAL THE PROBLEM TO BE ACROSS MODEL YEARS. WEAR & TEAR? NO, I LIVE IN A SMALL TOWN IN NO.CAL. AND DRIVE MOSTLY FREEWAY MILES IN LIGHT TRAFFIC WITH FEW GEAR CHANGES. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

A FEW MONTHS AGO, MY 2004 VW BEETLE CONV STARTED EXPERIENCING ERRATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTING-IT WOULD "CLUNK" INTO 1ST/2ND/3RD GEARS, SOMETIMES TO THE POINT OF "SCREECHING" OFF AND ALMOST LAYING RUBBER. THIS HAPPENS AFTER ENGINE IS WARM--AFTER GETTING OFF A FREEWAY OR DRIVING FOR A FEW MILES. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS TO MY MECHANIC, AND HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO FIX PROBLEM, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE VW NEW BEETLE AFTER 60,000 MILES AND THAT THE ONLY FIX IS A NEW VALVE AND ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSION COSTING FROM $4000 TO $7000. THIS INFO IS FROM MY TRUSTED MECHANIC OF OVER 30 YEARS. VW WILL NOT ADMIT TO ANY ENGINEERING FLAWS AND WILL NOT PAY TO FIX VEHICLE. IT DOES THIS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AT STOPLIGHTS AND INTERSECTIONS AND HAS NEARLY CAUSED ACCIDENTS. PLEASE ADVISE IF I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH VW TO GET THIS FIXED AT THEIR EXPENSE. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED SHE DROVE AND ESPECIALLY WHEN SHE WAS SLOWING DOWN. THE VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP FOR A TRANSMISSION RECALL REMEDY IN APRIL 2007 FOR THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN AND WAS ADVISED THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED SINCE THE RECALL REMEDY WAS ALREADY PERFORMED, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

Mileage: 82,000

I BOUGHT MY DAUGHTER A 2004 BEETLE IT HAS BEGUN SHIFTING HARD 1ST THRU 3RD BOTH UP AND DOWN SHIFTING. I'VE HAD IT AT THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND AM GETTING THE SAME RUN AROUND. THERE'S NO WAY VW ISN'T AWARE OF THIS ISSUE, I CALLED VW AMERICA TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THE DEALERSHIP BUT GOT NOWHERE. I'M FED UP AND TIRED OF BEING SCREWED, THE CAR ONLY HAD 65K MILES AND I FIRST TOOK IT IN WITH 58K MILES ON IT. TODAY THEY SAY I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $6500.00 AND IS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY SO I 'D HAVE TO FORK OVER OUT OF MY POCKET. LOOKING ON THE INTERNET THERE ARE OVER 100 PEOPLE POSTING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 65,000

THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IS DEFECTIVE. IT SLAMS INTO GEAR FROM 2 TO 3 AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD TO FIX THE PROBLEM WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $6000. ALSO THE REAR WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL UP AND THE TAIL LIGHT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS GONE OUT THEREFORE CREATING TURN SIGNAL PROBLEMS. I HAVE CHECKED ON LINE AND THESE PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE AN ISSUE FOR OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE AND OTHER YEARS. I ALSO HAVE HAD THE WATERPUMP GO OUT WHICH ALSO SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

I HAVE A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE PURCHASED IN 2008. I'M PUTTING IN THIS COMPLAINT ALONG WITH THOUSAND OF OTHER VW BEETLE OWNERS. THE PROBLEM IS THE 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION. IT JERKS REAL HARD WHEN DOWN SHIFTING AND THEN AGAIN WHEN COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP. NOW IT'S TO THE POINT WHERE IT WON'T PULL AT ALL. I HAVE TRIED TO CALL VW OF AMERICA TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS PROBLEM BUT NO WILL RETURN MY CALLS SO I WENT ON EDMUNDS.COM AND REALIZED THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE CAR AND VW. I ALSO CALLED VW CREDIT WHO I STILL OWE FOR THIS CAR THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, AND TO CALL VW OF AMERICA. MY QUESTION IS WHAT AM I TO DO WITH A VEHICLE THAT I CAN'T DRIVE AND I OWE $9,000 ON. THAT HAS A TRANSMISSION THAT THEY ARE TELLING ME I GOING TO COST $6,000 TO REPLACE. PLEASE! IS THERE ANYONE WHO CAN HELP MY SITUATION ? [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 75,000

SIX SPEED AUTO TRANS BEGAN SLAMMING DOWNSHIFTING AND SLIPPING UP AT AROUND 75K. CAR HUNG IN NEUTRAL 3 TIMES ON A 20 MINUTE COMMUTE NEARLY CAUSING NEAR REAR END COLLISIONS AS IT WAS NECESSARY TO PULL OFF ROAD TO STOP AND RESTART CAR. BLOGS ARE FILLED WITH MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME SCARY PROBLEM. VW DENIES. REPAIR BILL $5000. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE MOVING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED NEEDED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

Mileage: 54,000

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND MY CAR HAS JUST HIT 75,000 MILES. A FEW WEEKS AGO I NOTICED THAT WHEN MY CAR WOULD GO IN OR OUT OF 3RD GEAR, IT WOULD JERK. AT ONE POINT I WAS STOPPED AT A LIGHT AND WHEN I WENT TO ACCELERATE IT MADE A HUGE LURCH AND SPUTTERED BEFORE GOING FORWARD. I'VE ALSO HAD ISSUES SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. I TOOK IT INTO THE VW DEALERSHIP YESTERDAY AS I RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION IN THE MAIL THAT I MAY HAVE A FAULTY CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I SPOKE WITH THE DEALERSHIP THIS AFTERNOON AND THEY ARE SAYING I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. AT ONLY 75,000 MILES? I LOOKED THIS ISSUE UP ONLINE AND HAVE DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. SOME HAVE EVEN HAD THIS ISSUE APPEAR AT 10,000 MILES. FROM WHAT I'VE READ, MOST HAVE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION ONLY TO HAVE IT FAIL AGAIN. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A MAJOR DEFECT AND AM WONDERING IF THIS SHOULDN'T FALL UNDER A RECALL. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

MY 2004 VW CONV. BEETLE RECENTLY HAD TO BE SMOGGED FOR THE FIRST TIME,REQUESTED BY THE DMV. I HAVE SUBMITTED ALL DMV FEES BUT WAS UNABLE TO SEND A SMOG CERTIFICATE BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT PASS SMOG TEST DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. I HAVE HAD MY CAR SMOGGED TWO SEPARATE TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, AND MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. I WAS TOLD I CAN ONLY BUY A CATALYTIC CONVERTER FROM A VW DEALER ONLY FOR APPROXIMATELY $1000.00 VW AMERICA AGREED TO EXTEND MY EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEMS WARRANTY FOR A CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACEMENT TO 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES. I TOOK IT INTO A V W DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED & REPLACED BUT WAS UNABLE TO BECAUSE THE MECHANIC REFUSED TO REPLACE THE CONVERTER BECAUSE HIS DIAGNOSIS SUPPOSEDLY FOUND TROUBLES WITH THE TRANSMISSION TO BE THE PROBLEM, AND HE STATES THAT ALL PRIOR DIAGNOSIS ARE INCORRECT AND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS TESTING NORMAL. THIS DIAGNOSIS COST ME A FEE OF 110.00 BECAUSE THEY FOUND THERE TO BE NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAT. CONV, AND THE FEE WAS CHARGED DUE TO THEM FINDING A SEPARATE PROBLEM. MEAN WHILE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON AND THE CAR IS RUNNING TERRIBLE, I AM TOLD I HAVE NO HOPE OF RECEIVING ANY EXTENDED WARRANTY HELP FROM VW , AND NOT TO MENTION THERE HAS ALREADY BEEN A RECALL ON MY TRANSMISSION BACK IN 2007 WHICH ALREADY REQUIRED MAJOR REPLACEMENTS AND REPAIRS ,NOW ONLY 3 YEARS LATTER AND HERE I AM ONCE AGAIN WITH MAJOR TRANSMISSION TROUBLE WITH NO WARRANTY. I FIND IT VERY HARD TO BELIEVE THIS YEAR OF CAR IS SUPPOSE TO GO THROUGH TWO TRANSMISSIONS IN ONLY SIX YEARS. I ALSO FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE TWO PRIOR SMOG STATIONS AND THERE MACHINES COULD BE WRONG ABOUT THERE DIAGNOSIS AND FOUND THERE TO ONLY BE CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM AND MIL LIGHT ON. THE BOTTOM LINE IS I CANT GET MY TAGS FROM DMV BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON DUE TO EMISSIONS(FUNCTIONAL) FAILING. AND MY CAR HARDLY RUNS. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH 71314 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT NEEDS A NEW ONE. THEY WANT $4500 TO $6000 FOR A TRANSMISSION. THEY ALSO SAID THAT IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO BUY A USED ONE SINCE THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I ASKED TO THE GUY WHO WAS HELPING ME AFTER 3 HOURS WITH HIM; IF THE TRANSMISSION ON THESE CARS WERE THAT BAD? HE SAID 'YES THEY ARE'. THAT WAS BETTER TO SELL IT AND GET ANOTHER YEAR. IT WAS THE SAME FOR ALL THE TRANSMISSIONS (TRIPTRONIC) FOR VW AND AUDI. VW KNOWS THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD ON THESE CARS AND ALL THE ONES THAT CARRY THIS TRANSMISSION. EVEN IF THEY FIX IT THERE IS NO WARRANTY THAT IS GOING TO LAST BECAUSE THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM IS NOT FIXED. I'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH AND YOU WILL FIND THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO BE MAINTENANCE FREE. WELL, THAT IS NOT TRUE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THESE TRANSMISSIONS ARE GOING BAD AROUND 30K, 40K, 50K. THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE VALVE BODY OVERHEATING. THE DUCTS FOR THE COOLING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH WHICH CAUSE THE VALVE BODY TO GET HOT AND IT START BENDING MAKING THE HOLD CAR TO SHAKE, HIT INSIDE, IT FEELS VERY HARD AND ROUGH. DEALERS KNOW THAT THE PROBLEM DOESN'T HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY IT CAN TAKE 30MIN TO 2 HOUR FOR THE CAR TO ACT UP. THEY TAKE ADVANTAGE AND SELL YOU THE CAR ANYWAY BECAUSE THE CAR IS SOLD AS IS AND THERE IS NO WARRANTY. THERE IS NO REAL WAY TO FIX THIS TRANSMISSION ONLY TO PUT A DIFFERENT ONE. NO THE SAME WITH THE UPGRADE. THAT IS WHAT THEY DO. THEY SELL YOU ONE WITH ANOTHER VALVE BODY KIT AND NEW SOFTWARE FOR $6000. HOWEVER THAT IS NOT ENOUGH. YOU WILL FIND THAT AFTER SOMETIME A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AGAIN. THERE IS THOUSAND OF COMPLAINS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN THE GOVERNMENT DO SOMETHING? THE TRANSMISSION CAN FAIL AT ANY TIME WHILE DRIVING AND CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION WHICH CAN RESULT IN AN INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. AGAIN DEATH. *TR

Mileage: 71,314

I ALSO HAVE THE VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2004 CONVERTIBLE VW BEETLE. EVERY TIME I DOWNSHIFT THERE'S AN EXTREMELY HARD JERK. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL. THERE ARE MANY MANY OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM! *TR

UNDER NORMAL USE AND REGULAR MAINTENANCE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD UP AND DOWN THE GEARS. IT DOES THIS UNDER BOTH LIGHT AND HEAVY ACCELERATION. SEARCHING YOUR WEBSITE I SEE OVER 20 COMPLAINTS ON THIS VERY ISSUE YET, I SEE NO INVESTIGATION OR RECALLS LISTED. MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS WILL COST ME AROUND 7000.00 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, JUST FROM CALLING IN AND DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM. THE DANGER COME FROM UNEXPECTED JERKS AND LAGS IN ACCELERATION. YOU CAN NOT DEPEND ON THE CAR TO OPERATE NORMALLY MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO MAKE LEFT HAND TURNS AND USE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THIS STARTED OFF SLOWLY, OCCURRING RANDOMLY AND NOW SEEMS TO OCCUR NO MATTER HOW FAR YOU DRIVE OR HOW WARM THE CAR IS. *TR

Mileage: 40,000

THE PROBLEM IS REGARDING MY 2004 VW BEETLE - TRANSMISSION. I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON MY VW AT 86,000 MILES WITH NO HELP FROM VW...THE CAR WAS RUNNING VERY HARD, IT WOULD STAY IN 2 OR 3RD GEAR (THOUGH AN AUTOMATIC) AND THEN WOULD GO INTO "NEUTRAL"....THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 95 WITH HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS CHECKED BY A VW DEALER AND THEN TRIED A FEW THINGS, BUT COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT...THEN FINALLY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION - $6500 WITHOUT LABOR! I THEN BROUGHT IT TO A LOCAL AAMCO AND THEN CONFIRMED THE NEED FOR A TRANSMISSION(FOR A LOT LESS) AND THEY ALSO NEEDED TO REBUILT SOME OTHER PARTS THAT WERE FAULTY. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DESIGN ISSUE FOR VW BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE IT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AND A REFUND FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE ALREADY SPENT THE MONEY. *TR

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION/SHIFTING PROBLEMS. EVERYTIME THE CAR SHIFTS INTO A GEAR, ITS VERY ROUGH AND INFACT WILL JERK VERY HARD. THIS STARTED EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE AND BEGAN HAPPENING MORE REGULAR AS A MONTH OR SO WENT ON. NOW IT WILL STICK IN 3RD GEAR AND JUST STAY THERE. WE CAN STOP AT A REDLIGHT, AND IT WILL REMAIN IN 3RD GEAR, THEN DRIVE FROM THE REDLIGHT WITH THE CAR STARTING IN 3RD GEAR! THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BECAUSE THE CAR WILL STICK WHEN SHIFTING ALMOST EVERYTIME AND YOU COULD PUSH THE GAS BUT ONLY THE RPMS WILL GO UP..NOTHING ELSE. THIS COULD CAUSE ME TO BE REAR ENDED OR HIT FROM THE SIDE WHEN TURNING LEFT. I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS DUE TO THIS ISSUE! I HAVE CHILDREN, AND THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ANYMORE. I HAVE PRICED WHAT WOULD FIX THIS, AND ITS NOT ONLY THAT I CAN NOT AFFORD IT, BUT THE SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM IS ONLY TEMPORARY! I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE SAME CAR, AND THEY HAVE SPENT COUNTLESS DOLLARS ON A PROBLEM THAT STILL PERSISTS. THIS PAST SATURDAY MY FAMILY WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR STUCK IN GEAR GOING 45 MPH, WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO DESCEND IN SPEED, GIVING THE PEOPLE BEHIND US HARDLY NO TIME TO REALIZE WHAT WAS HAPPENING. WE WERE VERY VERY CLOSE TO AN ACCIDENT. TO ADD TO THIS PROBLEM I HAVE HAD AN AIRBAG SENSOR COME ON THE DASH ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I HAD THIS LOOKED AT BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY RECALL, BUT THE VW DEALER TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NO ONE OF THE VINS, BUT LOOKED AS IF IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM! THIS IS SERIOUS! THEY SAID THEY COULD FIX IT, FOR A VERY HIGH AMOUNT, BUT IF IT WAS DEFECTIVE THAT I COULD BE BRINGING IT BACK IN FOR REPAIR! THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE!!! WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LIFE OR DEATH IN A CRASH! *TR

Mileage: 82,000

2004 VW BEETLE DOWNSHIFTS WITHOUT REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED IN CITY TRAFFIC TWO TIMES. THE LAST TIME THE CAR WAS DRIVEN, BECAUSE IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE, IT DOWNSHIFTED FROM 6TH GEAR TO 2ND GEAR WHILE BEING DRIVEN ON THE INTERSTATE. *TR

Mileage: 58,600

I HAVE A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION JERKING AND SHIFTING HARD. THE CAR HAS 55,000 MILES, AND THE DEALERSHIP CANT TELL ME NOTHING ONLY THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR AROUND $7000. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND TALKED WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE VERY SAME ISSUES. *CN

Mileage: 55,000

2004 VW BEETLE DOWNSHIFTS FROM HIGHER GEAR DOWN TO 2ND GEAR WITHOUT REASON OR WARNING. TWICE I WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH AND THE 3RD TIME HAPPENED ON INTERSTATE 26 AT 60 MPH. VERY DANGEROUS. EACH TIME THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED. WHEN THE CAR COOLED DOWN, IT COULD BE DRIVEN 8-10 MILES WITH NO PROBLEM AND THEN IT WOULD DOWNSHIFT AGAIN. THIS CAR HAS BEEN AT THE AUTO REPAIR SHOP FOR 8 MONTHS. VW WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM.

Mileage: 58,010

AT ABOUT 35,000 MILES MY CAR STARTED SLIPPING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IT WOULD JERK FORWARD AND SOMETIMES GET STUCK IN BETWEEN 1, 3, AND 4TH GEARS. THIS WAS NOT A HUGE PROBLEM AT THIS POINT AND DURING MY REGULAR CHECK UPS, VW DEALERSHIP ALWAYS SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM DETECTED. 2. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOW FAILING AT 60,000 MILES. IT HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME SEVERAL ACCIDENTS, ESPECIALLY AT INTERSECTIONS. PEOPLE ALMOST REAREND ME DAILY. NOT ONLY IS THE CAR JERKING FORWARD AND BACKWARD UPON GEAR SHIFTING, BUT NOW IT GETS STUCK PERIOD AND WILL NOT MOVE..THE RPM'S GOING ALL THE WAY TO 6-7. THE TIRES SPIN, THE CAR GROANS HORRIBLY, THE GEARS SHOW UP ON MY DASH IN BRACKETS. WHEN I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE AT THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO, AND I EXPLAINED IN DETAIL THE TRANNY PROBLEM, THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. NOW, I CAN TELL IT IS ALMOST UNDRIVABLE AT THIS PT. ON MY FIFTEEN MILE COMMUTE HOME TODAY, I HAD TO PULL OVER SEVEN TIMES BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I COULD NOT GET OUT OF FIRST GEAR THEN IT JUMPED TO SIX. I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AT A RED LIGHT, ALMOST GETTING BACKENDED. THIS IS TERRIFYING. I HAD A PANIC ATTACK. I HAVE AN APPT. TOMORROW AT THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HOW MUCH MONEY THIS WILL COST ME. MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN CHECKED UP REGULARLY. *TR

Mileage: 61,500

HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP THE TRANSMISSION STICKS FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN JERKS INTO GEAR, CAUSING A DANGEROUS LURCH FORWARD. IT IS MY DAUGHTERS CAR AND SHE IS SCARED TO DRIVE IT BECAUSE SHE HAS ALMOST WRECKED ON A FEW OCCASIONS WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR

Mileage: 96,000

FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS, AFTER DRIVING MY 2004 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE FOR ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES, MY CAR STARTS TO SHIFT (IT FEELS AS IF I HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED) AND MY CAR IS JERKED FORWARD. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RISK TO ME, MY PASSENGERS AND THE VEHICLES AROUND ME. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION ($7,000). AFTER MUCH THOUGHT AND SEVERAL WEEKS, I MOVED MY VEHICLE TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE BEETLE CONVERTIBLES HAD A SPECIAL TRANSMISSION AND THAT REPLACING ONE WOULD BE EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND THAT I SHOULD PUT IN A SALVAGED TRANSMISSION. COSTS BETWEEN $4000-$5000. THIS TRANSMISSION WILL ALSO HAVE THE RISK OF DEFECTION. I VOICED MY COMPLAINT WITH VOLKSWAGEN CORP. AND THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME SINCE MY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. I AM EXTREMELY UPSET ABOUT THIS. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN MY 2004 VW BEETLE. BEGAN SHIFTING VERY HARD AFTER ENGINE WARMED UP. IT WILL SHIFT SO HARD THE TIRES BURN RUBBER ON THE PAVEMENT BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. IT ALSO RANDOMLY SHIFTS BETWEEN GEARS AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY AT AROUND 60,000 MILES. WE HAVE OUR 04 VW AT A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND I AM BEING TOLD THAT THIS SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH OF A PROBLEM THAT VW CHANGED THE DESIGN FROM 2004 TO 2005. VW DOES NOT ADMIT ANYTHING AND SAYS THAT THE CAR MUST BE TAKEN TO A VW DEALERSHIP IN ORDER THAT THEY CAN ADDRESS THIS ISSUE, I DO NOT BELIEVE THEM. *TR

Mileage: 57,000

I HAVE A 2004 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE W/60,000. MILES ON IT. TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM A STOP, IT WON'T GO INTO PROPER GEARS. IT JERKS REALLY BAD AFTER BOGGING DOWN (NOT GOING INTO GEAR). I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES IN GETTING REAR-ENDED. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON & THE VW DEALER JUST SAYS THEY NEED TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM SO TO START IT IS $150. & I WAS TOLD IT COULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION; BUT, I SEE OTHER POSTING OF SIMILAR ISSUES ON WEB SITES WHEN I DID A SEARCH ABOUT IT. THAT IS WHERE I FOUND THIS LINK, I THINK THIS IS A DANGEROUS & COSTLY ISSUE! I BELIEVE IT IS A RECALL ISSUE FOR VOLKSWAGEN. *TR

Mileage: 59,432

THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY HAS TROUBLE UPSHIFTING AND DOWNSHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. IT JERKS, HESITATES AND THEN LURCHES FORWARD. IT STARTS OCCURRING AFTER ABOUT 5-10 MIN DRIVE. IT IS ESPECIALLY UNCONTROLLABLE WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. THE CAR SLOWS DOWN, THE PANEL SHOWS DOWNSHIFTED GEAR, CAR ALMOST STOPS, THEN MAKES A SHARP SUDDEN MOVEMENT FORWARD. IT IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS AT INTERSECTIONS, BECAUSE OF UNCONTROLLABLE JERKS. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

I BOUGHT A 2004 AUTOMATIC VW BEETLE LAST YEAR FROM A DEALER. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN TO GO INTO NEUTRAL IN BETWEEN SHIFTING, AND SOMETIMES LOCKS INTO 3RD GEAR UNTIL I DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. I HAVE READ ONLINE THAT ALMOST ALL THE 6 SPD. AUTOMATIC VOLKSWAGEN CARS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT 80,000 MILE, MINE HAS 84,000 ON IT NOW. I HAVE BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER, AND THEY SAY "THERE ARE NO ENGINE CODES, WE CAN'T FIX IT", BUT IT IS A HAZARD TO DRIVE BECAUSE IF YOU NEED TO ACCELERATE QUICKLY, IT WILL SLIP INTO NEUTRAL SOMETIMES, AND THE ENGINE JUST REVS UNTIL IT FINALLY SLAMS INTO GEAR. I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED, BUT THAT HAS NO EFFECT. *TR

Mileage: 84,000

TRANSMISSION FAILURE ----- I BOUGHT A 2004 BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, IT IS SO CUTE AND I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A LOT OF FUN. WHEN RUNNING COLD THE CAR WAS FINE, AFTER WARMING UP, IT STARTED JERKING AND THE TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. *TR BY THE WAY, WHY TRANSMISSION IS NOT ONE OF THE COMPONENT IN YOUR SITE? I HAVE TO CHOOSE UNKNOWN/OTHER INSTEAD.

Mileage: 84,518

I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH 80K AND A TRANSMISSION THAT IS JERKING AND SHIFTING TERRIBLY FOR MONTHS, AND I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING IT. I'VE SPENT TOO MUCH ON THIS CAR ALREADY, AND 7500 TO REPLACE A TRANSMISSION THAT IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IS AWFUL. THERE ARE MANY OF US OUT THERE WITH PROBLEM TRANSMISSIONS WITH THIS CAR. PLEASE HELP! *TR

Mileage: 73,000

2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE WITH LESS THAN 40,000 MILES WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING; NOW, WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES, IT IS SLIPPING CONSTANTLY, RESULTING IN INCREASED DRIVING DANGER. ACCORDING TO NUMEROUS WEBSITES, THIS APPEARS TO BE AN UNCOMFORTABLY WIDESPREAD PROBLEM FOR MANY OWNERS OF NEW BEETLES, 2003 - 2005. THIS WILL BE AN EXPENSIVE FIX, REQUIRING A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

I HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS MY CAR'S GEARS HAVE BEEN ACTING UP, SLIPPING IN AND OUT OF GEAR; AND IN MORE THEN 10 CASES COMPLETELY GOING OUT OF GEAR AND LEAVING MY CAR IN NEUTRAL WHILE IM DRIVING (IN SOME CASES ON THE FREEWAY). THE CAR JERKS WHEN IT DOWN SHIFTS, AND ALSO JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING INTO CERTAIN GEARS. AT FIRST, IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED RARELY. NOW IT HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR. *TR

Mileage: 100,000

BOUGHT MY VW NEW. HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH JERKY SHIFTING FROM EARLY ON. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY "COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM". THEY ACTED LIKE THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, WHICH HAS TO BE A LIE CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS HERE. I'M NOW PAST THE WARRANTY, THE CAR IS PAID FOR, AND I WORRY EVERY TIME I GET IN IT THAT I'LL GET STUCK IN A GEAR. VOLKSWAGEN KNEW THE TRANSMISSIONS WERE BAD IN THESE CARS AND THEY DID NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

1. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SLIPS DURING ACCELERATION. ON DE-ACCELERATION DOWNSHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION JERKS. 2. IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND IS VERY DANGEROUS IF TRYING TO SPEED UP TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT OR PEDESTRIAN. 3. CURRENTLY OBTAINING ESTIMATE TO REPAIR VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE HAS 80,000 MILES AND I NOTICED OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. REPAIR COST OF $4,000 TO $6,000. *TR

Mileage: 80,000

2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2.0 LITER ENGINE. WHEN SLOWING DOWN, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION JERKS FROM 5TH GEAR DOWN TO 3RD GEAR, SEVERELY AFFECTING BRAKING. VW DEALERSHIP, WHERE PURCHASED THE CAR, AND WHICH HAS PROVIDED ALL REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE, ADVISED TRANSMISSION IS SEALED, CAN'T REPLACE FLUIDS, CAN'T FIX, AND THAT THE CAR NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. ONLY 121K HIGHWAY MILES. REPLACEMENT WILL COST OVER $6K. ACCORDING TO EDMUNDS CARSPACE.COM THIS PROBLEM IS RAMPANT WITH VW BEETLES. DANGEROUS SITUATION DESERVES A RECALL BY VW AMERICA. *TR

Mileage: 120,000

2004 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TURBO...2.0 LITER ENGINE...THE TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING DOWN OR UP....FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HAS REARENED IT IN THE BACK....HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP AND COUPLE OF OTHER TRANSMISSION PLACES...THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY THING WRONG WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY...NOW THAT IT HAS 94000 MILES AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY DECIDE IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION.....WE HAVE HAD IT SERVICED JUST LIKE WE SHOULD...IT DOESN'T MATTER...WE DON'T HAVE 6000.00 TO GET IT FIXED...SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE...I'VE TALKED WITH MANY, MANY VOLKSWAGEN OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM..HOW MANY DOES IT TAKE BEFORE YOU GUYS DO A RECALL? *TR

Mileage: 75,000

VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE '04 (APPROX. 80K MILES) - SLIPPING AND BANGING TRANSMISSION. SLAMS AND BANGS HARD WITH EACH DOWNSHIFT (AUTOMATIC) AFTER ABOUT 15 MILES OR DRIVING. SLIPS OR WILL NOT MOVE WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER SLAMMING AND BANGING BEGINS. CANNOT DRIVE CAR IN TRAFFIC FOR FEAR OR BEING REAR ENDED OR BROADSIDED, THEREFORE, CANNOT SAFELY OR DEPENDABLY DRIVE THE CAR. EXPECTED THOUSANDS TO REPAIR IF A MECHANIC WHO UNDERSTANDS THE PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND. MANY OF THE KNOW ISSUES WITH CAR HAVE ALSO OCCURRED; BROKEN PLASTIC WATER PUMP, REAR WINDOW SEAL BROKEN, PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW WILL NOT GO ALL THE WAY DOWN, PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LIGHT MALFUNCTION, HEADLIGHTS UNEVEN BRIGHTNESS, SHORT IN DASH, HEATED SEAT TOO HOT TO USE (FEAR OF FIRE) AND INCREDIBLE DOOR RATTLES. *TR

Mileage: 70,000

2004 VW NEW BEETLE: THE CAR WOULD SHIFT TO "NO" GEAR WHILE DRIVING, WHICH WOULD MAKE IT IN "NEUTRAL." WHEN AFTER A STOP THE CAR WOULD NOT GO RIGHT INTO A GEAR....CARS BEHIND WOULD HAVE TO SLAM ON BRAKES BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT MOVE INTO GEAR. HAD THE CAR CHECKED BY AT LEAST TWO MECHANICS - ONE WHO WORKS WITH EUROPEAN CARS; AND MY VW DEALERSHIP. AFTER A MIS-DIAGNOSING BY VW - I AM TOLD INDEED A NEW TRANSMISSION!! 88,000 MILES! I NEED A CAR - COULDN'T AFFORD THE $6000 + THAT VW WAS GOING TO CHARGE, SO BROUGHT IT TO A AAMCO AND HAD IT FIXED FOR JUST OVER $4000.00...THIS IS A RECALL PROBLEM...I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD TO PUT ALL THIS MONEY INTO THE CAR, ESPECIALLY SINCE IT CANNOT BE TRADED IN FOR ANY OTHER CAR. IT WAS CERTAINLY A SCARY RIDE WHEN THE CAR WOULD GO OUT OF GEAR(AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION). PLEASE HELP. *TR

Mileage: 84,000

I HAVE A 04 VW BEETLE CONV. THE TRANSMISSION IS ACTING UP. IT SHIFTS LATE & BANGS INTO GEAR OR DOESN'T SHIFT AT ALL. THE DEALER SAY THE TRANS NEEDS TO BE REPLACED @ A COST OF 6K. I BROUGHT IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP & THEY CAN NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AFTER HAVING THE VEH FOR OVER 2 MONTHS. IN READING THE WEB PAGES I FIND MANY OTHERS WITH THIS VEH HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, WITH LOW & HIGHER MILEAGE. VW KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT ADDRESS IT. I ENDED UP HAVING THE TRANS REBUILT, BUT ITS STILL DOING THE SAME THING, NO CHANGE. THE TRANS SHOP IS BAFFLED. *TR

Mileage: 101,000

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR IT WILL NOT SHIFT OUT AND THEN JERK REAL BAD. DOWNSHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT COME OUT OF GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO A STOP. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN TAKING OFF THE CAR WILL STALL AND THEN ENGAGE IN GEAR ALMOST CAUSING ME TO BE REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

I HAVE A 04 VOLKS.BEETLE THAT HAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IT JERKS REAL HARD WHEN YOU BREAK AND SWITCHING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR THEN FROM 4TH TO 3RD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GO TO STOP AND IT SEEMS NOT TO CATCH THEN JERK. MY CAR HAS ONLY 53,000 MILES AND ALREADY NEEDS A TRANSMISSION. I BROUGHT IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY QUOTED ME $5000.00 TO REBUILD THEY ALSO SAID THAT THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT HAVE A COOLANT SENSOR AND THAT'S WHY IS JERKING CAUSE ITS HOT. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $7000.00. I'M A SINGLE PARENT OF 4 WHO TRULY CANNOT AFFORD THIS. *TR

Mileage: 56,551

MY VW BEETLE WILL NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR AND GETS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. IT SHIFTS HARD AND SURGES AT TAKE OFF . HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET HIT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN LEAVING A REDLIGHT. THE LATEST WAS TODAY WHEN TRYING TO TURN AND IT WAS STUCK IN 6TH GEAR. I HAVE TO STOP THE CAR AND TURN IT OFF IT RESET THE COMPUTER TO GET IT BACK IN FIRST GEAR. THIS OCCURS ONCE THE CAR HEATS UP AND SOMETIMES WILL NOT SHOW YOU WHAT GEAR IT IS IN AND WILL NOT SHIFT DOWN. HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND THEY WANT A NEW TRANSMISSION. HAVE LOOKED AT EDMONDS.COM AND MY VW IS NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. WHEN HE TRIED TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN "DRIVE" OR SHIFT GEARS THEY LOCKED BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. THE VEHICLE ALSO LOST SPEED WHILE DRIVING AND THE DASHBOARD ILLUMINATED DISPLAYING ALL OF THE GEARS AT ONCE ( P, R, N, D, S,). A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION OR THE TIP TRONIC SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT SINCE THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS, THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 124,000.

Mileage: 124,000

TRANSMISSION HARD TO SHIFT AND JERKING AT ALL SPEEDS THEN LOCKS IN 5TH GEAR. REPAIR SHOP WANTS $6,000. TO REPAIR. HAVE SEARCHED FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER WENT TO VW DEALERSHIP BUT WAS TOLD DON'T WORRY THAT JERKING WAS NORMAL. NOW I HAVE LOST THE USE OF MY 2004 VW RED CONVERTIBLE BEETLE. MY WIFE IS HEART BROKEN. THE CAR IS USELESS WITHOUT A TRANSMISSION. THE DEALERSHIP COULD HAVE PREVENTED THE PROBLEMS ON THE ONSET WHEN WE FIRST TOLD THEM OF THE PROBLEM. SHE WAS SO IMPRESSED WHEN WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW THAT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS BOUGHT ON THE INSET WITH THE CAR. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WE FOUND OUT THAT THE WARRANTY COMPANY HAS SINCE WENT OUT OF BUSINESS THE YEAR BEFORE IN 2008 AND WAS NEVER INFORMED OF THIS FACT. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2004 NEW BEETLE TDI WITH THE DSG TRANSMISSION FOR MY DAUGHTER. THE CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 75,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CAR HAD BEEN MAINTAINED AT A VW DEALER AND WAS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE. WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL SELF DESTRUCT AND TOOK OUT THE TRANSMISSION WITH IT. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE IT WAS JUST MY BAD LUCK UNTIL I GOOGLED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND OUT THAT MANY VW'S WITH THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL HAVE SUFFERED FROM THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. VW OF AMERICA STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE VW TDI'S ARE NOT RACE CARS AND THIS TYPE OF FAILURE SHOULD NOT OCCUR ON A CAR THAT OPERATES AT THE LOWER RPM RANGE AS THESE CARS DO. THIS IS EITHER A DESIGN FLAW OR A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM AND IS LEAVING PEOPLE WITH HUGE REPAIR BILLS, $6600 IN MY CASE. *TR

Mileage: 75,000

THE CAR WENT INTO "LIMP MODE" ABOUT 12 MILES FROM HOME. IT DROPPED INTO FIRST GEAR AND LIMPED HOME AT 15 MPH. NEXT MORNING IT PERFORMED NORMALLY. THAT NIGHT STARTED INTO TOWN, IT DUMPED AGAIN DOWN TO LIMP MODE, THEN REFUSED TO MOVE AT ALL. HAD TO DOLLY IT HOME. DOLLIED IT TO DEALER A WEEK LATER. THEY DID THE COMPUTER SCAN AND SAID IT WAS THE "VALVE BODY" ON THE TRANSMISSION. WANTED $1700 TO REPLACE IT. DOLLIED IT BACK HOME. TRIED TO GET SOMEONE TO LOOK AT IT FOR A SECOND OPINION. NO ONE WOULD TOUCH IT. A GERMAN IN THE GERMAN AIR FORCE WHO WORKED FOR VW IN GERMANY AGREED TO WORK ON IT. SCAN HE DID INDICATED "VALVE BODY", SO HE REMOVED THAT AND WE TRIED TO ORDER ONE FROM THE SAME DEALER. THE DEALER NOW TELLS US THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE AND A NEW VALVE BODY WON'T FIX IT ANYWAY. THAT TELLS US THEY HAVE OTHER BEETLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY COULDN'T FIX THOSE EITHER. TALKED TO VW OF AMERICA SEVERAL TIMES. THEY WERE NOT HELPFUL AT ALL AND BASICALLY WOULD NOT COOPERATE IN ANY WAY. NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING. WE HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT IT HAS A UNIQUE TRANSMISSION USED ONLY DURING 2004 AND ALMOST EVERYONE WHO HAS A BEETLE WITH THAT TRANSMISSION HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. CAN'T GET PARTS. NO ONE WILL WORK ON IT. VW OF AMERICA IS AWARE OF THESE PROBLEMS AND MAKE NO EFFORT TO HELP. WE WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT HOW TO START A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT! BASICALLY, WE HAVE A $16,000 PIECE OF JUNK THAT WE DROVE FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND IT IS NOW COMPLETELY WORTHLESS! RECENTLY THEY TOLD US THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 73,000

2004 VW NEW BEETLE CONV. 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION FAILS AND SLIPS CAUSING ERRATIC SHIFTING AFTER ONLY 65000 MILES. VW SUGGESTS TO REPLACE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION FOR $6500. *TR

Mileage: 62,000

2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION SLIPPING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR. IN MY VEHICLE IT STARTED AROUND 66500 MILES AND HAPPENS JUST AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHES OPERATING TEMPERATURE EVERY DAY. I HAVE MADE AN APPT WITH DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THIS LOOKED AT. I HAVE LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND I HAVE NOTED THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PARTICULAR YR MODEL BEETLE AND THE SAME TYPE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL YET ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 66,500

ON AUGUST 22, 2007 THE DSG 6 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 TDI VW BEETLE STARTED TO DISINTEGRATE. SMALL PIECES OF COIL SPRINGS AND METAL FRAGMENTS FELL ONTO THE BELLY PAN AND A GRINDING NOISE COULD BE HEARD. FROM RESEARCH I HAVE DONE, THIS SEEMS TO BE A FREQUENT PROBLEM WITH VW'S WITH THIS TYPE OF TRANSMISSION. *TR

Mileage: 52,000

MECHATRONIC UNIT FAILURE IN TRANSMISSION. FAILURE CAUSED CAR TO GO INTO "LIMP MODE" (ONLY ABLE TO TRAVEL IN 1ST AND 3RD GEARS, REVERSE INOPERABLE, CAR NEARLY STALLED AT 20 MPH GOING FROM 1ST TO 3RD GEAR). REPAIR HAS BEEN MADE: $1800 FOR PART, $400 FOR LABOR, $200 FOR RENTAL CAR DURING TIME CAR WAS IN THE SHOP. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

CAR WAS IN FOR A RECALL ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2006 FOR THE EGR COOLER. THE DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE FLYWHEEL WAS GOING BAD. I TOLD THEM THAT I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE MASTER CYLINDER. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE FLYWHEEL AND NOT THE MASTER CYLINDER. A MONTH LATER THE FLYWHEEL WENT BAD CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO GO BAD. THIS WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC AND MADE THE CAR IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE. DEALER WAS AWARE THE FLYWHEEL WAS GOING BAD BUT DID NOT OFFER TO REPAIR IT FOR ME OR INFORM ME IT WAS A WARRANTY ITEM. WHEN THE CAR WAS REPAIRED THE FLYWHEEL AND THE CLUTCH WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE FLYWHEEL (PARTS ONLY) BECAUSE THEY HAD NOTICED IT WAS GOING BAD BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. BUT THEY DID NOT COVER THE LABOR. IN ORDER TO GET TO THE FLYWHEEL, YOU HAVE TO GET TO THE CLUTCH. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LABOR AND THE FLYWHEEL. I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE IN REGARDS TO THIS FLYWHEEL PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW IF THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WOULD PROBABLY KNOW THIS.

Mileage: 37,221

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PLACING A CUP OF COFFEE INTO THE CUP HOLDER, COFFEE WAS SPILLED INTO THE TRANSMISSION. THE CUP HOLDER IS LOCATED RIGHT ABOVE THE CLUTCH. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, THE TRANSMISSION HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. OTHER THAN GOING INTO THE PARK, DRIVE AND REVERSE MODE, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT OPERATE. THE CONSOLE AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS DUE TO EXTERNAL FACTORS, NOT A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERNS OF THE LOCATION OF THE CUP HOLDER AND THE TRANSMISSION PLAYING A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE CURRENT TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS..

Mileage: 26,000

DT: CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS; THE SPEAKERS DIDN'T WORK/WINDOWS KEPT GOING UP AND DOWN, AND TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CAR WAS NOT EVEN A ONE YEAR OLD. *AK THE REPLACED TRANSMISSION STILL PERFORMS POORLY. THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON AT LEAST 3-4 TIMES. *TT *NM

Mileage: 18,000

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE BEFORE ACCELERATING FORWARD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

Mileage: 98,000