2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Complaints

MY VW BEETLE 2005, HAS A 2 TO 3 SECOND SHIFT DELAY WHETHER IN MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC. WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR TAKING OFF FROM A LIGHT OR DOWNSHIFTING TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR ACTS LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE REVS BUT THE CAR TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 3 SECONDS TO RESPOND. SOMETIMES IT WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 4TH GEAR AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER (IN TRAFFIC THAT IS GOING OVER 55) TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. I CONSIDER THIS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CARS ARE PILING UP BEHIND ME AND ICAN 'T GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO TURN IT OFF. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A CERTIFIED VW REPAIR SHOP OVER A 100 MILES AWAY BECAUSE I KNEW IT WOULDN'T MAKE IT. THEY INFORMED ME MY TRANSMISSION IS GONE. I NEED A NEW ONE. THEY CAN'T REBUILT IT. A NEW TRANSMISSION IS $4500. NOT INCLUDING LABOR. I GOT MY CAR IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR. I HAVE $8000. INVESTED IN IT ALREADY. MY CAR IS WORTHLESS. I AM 60 YEARS OLD. I HAVE NO STEADY INCOME AT THIS TIME AND I CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY ANOTHER $6000. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND THEY INFORMED ME THEY WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT IT. MY DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW IS ALSO ACTING UP AND THEY WILL PAY FOR THAT, BUT REALLY, BIG DEAL. I HAVE HEARD, UNFORTUNATELY TOO LATE, THAT VW'S WITH MY KIND OF TRANSMISSION ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND I THINK VW OF AMERICA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR CAR ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY STILL HAVE LOW MILES. MY CAR IS NOW CONSIDERED A THROWAWAY CAR BUT I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY TO THROW AWAY. THIS HAS HURT ME DEEPLY FINANCIALLY AND ALL VW OF AMERICA WILL OFFER ME IS A LOYALTY CUSTOMER COUPON TOWARDS A NEW CAR. IF I COULD AFFORD A NEW CAR I WOULDN'T HAVE BOUGHT A USED ONE. *TR

THIS CAR IS HORRIBLE! AT 70,000 MILES THE CAR WOULD JERK WHILE IT WAS DRIVING. IT WAS ESPECIALLY SCARY IF IT STARTED TO JERK/KICK WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. I GOT A NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW ENGINE. THEN 20,000 MILES LATER, IT DID IT AGAIN AND NOW VOLKSWAGEN SAID IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION! AGAIN! MORE JERKING, AND IT BECAME WORSE AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED "UNDER WARRANTY" I WILL COMPLAIN TO THE BBB AS WELL. HORRIBLE THAT I PUT SO MUCH MONEY IN ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE CAR STILL WONT WORK. SAFETY PROBLEMS AS WELL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR STOP AND GO-WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR-THE RPMS WOULD REV AND FINALLY THE NEXT GEAR WOULD "CATCH" REALLY SLAM INTO GEAR AND THE CAR WOULD SHIFT. I HAD MANY NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS DUE TO MY CAR FAILING TO MOVE FORWARD IN TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. I FINALLY DROVE IT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER WHILE THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AND THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO "WITNESS" THE PROBLEM, THE REPAIR WAS MADE-REPLACED TRANSMISSION PARTS AT 62,000 MILES. NOW AT 80,000 MILES, THE CAR DOES 2 THINGS-WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT HAS LOST POWER-THE CAR STAYS ON, BUT THERE IS NO POWER TO THE ENGINE-STEP ON THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS-NO RPMS, NOTHING, THE CAR SLOWS DOWN IMMEDIATELY, BUT BECAUSE IT HAPPENS SO SUDDENLY, CARS THAT ARE FOLLOWING ME DON'T ALWAYS REACT IN TIME AND I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED-AFTER A FEW SECONDS ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WILL REGAIN POWER. THE 2ND PROBLEM HAPPENS RANDOMLY-AS I AM DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH ON AND THE CAR DIES-NO POWER STEERING, NOTHING, JUST A DEAD CAR. I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, TURN EVERYTHING OFF (RADIO, AIR ETC), AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED DURING A LEFT TURN, AT A STOP SIGN, WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET. AGAIN VW MECHANIC FINDS NOTHING ON THE COMPUTER. THIS CAR IS A LEMON-I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 BATTERIES, SEVERAL HEADLIGHTS, TAIL AND TURN LIGHTS, AIR BAG SENSORS, ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS, PLUS 2 OF THE SAME WINDOW REGULATORS TWICE, TRUNK LATCH, REAR ASHTRAY HOLDER, CONVERTIBLE STRAPS, REAR CONVERTIBLE WINDOW CLIPS, AND NOW WHENEVER IT RAINS MY CAR LEAKS. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE CAR IN IT'S CURRENT CONDITION, AFRAID TO CAUSE OR BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE, PLEASE HELP. *TR

HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE FRONT AUTOMATIC WINDOWS IN THIS CAR SINCE AUGUST 2008. IN MAY 2010 THE REAR WINDOWS WOULD GO UP PART WAY AND THEN GO BACK DOWN. I HAD REPAIRS DONE (REINSTALLED WINDOW SEAL AT A COST OF $96.00) THEN IN SEPTEMBER OF 2011 THE OTHER REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP AND THE DEALER SAID THAT I NEEDED A "KIT" TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM OF THE CABLES BINDING UP AND KEEPING THE WINDOW FROM GOING UP. THIS REPAIR COST $800. TODAY THE OTHER REAR WINDOW WILL NOT GO UP AND IS MAKING THE FAMILIAR GRINDING SOUND. I SUSPECT THAT I WILL NEED TO GO TO THE DEALER AND GET A "KIT" FOR THIS WINDOW WHICH IS THE ONE THAT HAD THE SEAL REPLACED ON IT. ANOTHER $800.00 OR SO FOR SOMETHING THAT WILL ONLY TEMPORARILY FIX THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ONLY HAD THE BACK WINDOWS DOWN ON THIS VEHICLE MAYBE A DOZEN TIMES SINCE I'VE OWNED IT. THIS IS CLEARLY A CHEAP AND FAULTY DESIGN BY THE MANUFACTURER. IF I DO NOT CONTINUE TO MAKE THESE REPAIRS I CANNOT PROPERLY SECURE MY VEHICLE AND RISK DAMAGE OR THEFT. *TR

HAD A VERY HARD TIME GETTING THE TOP TO COME UP ENOUGH TO LATCH NUMEROUS TIMES ON A ROAD TRIP. AS SUDDENLY AS THE PROBLEM STARTED IT WENT AWAY. BUT WHEN THAT PROBLEM STOPPED, I WAS LEFT WITH A SEVERE RATTLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AND A QUARTER BACK WINDOW ON THE SAME SIDE THAT LOOKS MIS-ALIGNED WITH THE FRONT WINDOW AND LEAVES A GAP, LETS WIND IN AND QUITE OFTEN DOESN'T COME COMPLETELY SHUT. ON OCTOBER 6, I PUT MY TOP DOWN TO DRIVE ABOUT 5 MILES HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME, THE TOP WOULDN'T COME UP. I GOT OUT AND GENTLY PULLED ON THE TOP, GOT BACK IN AND EVENTUALLY IT CAME UP. EXACTLY ONE WEEK LATER, I PUT THE TOP DOWN AND I NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK 1/4 WINDOW WAS STUCK HALFWAY DOWN. TRIED TO PUT IT UP AND HEARD A NASTY LITTLE SOUND WHICH CONTINUED WHENEVER I PRESSED THE BUTTON FOR THAT WINDOW. I HAD TO FINALLY GET A GENTLEMAN TO HELP ME PULL IT UP. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS I REPLACED THE BATTERY (A REAL WHIPPING TO GET IN AND OUT) FOLLOWED A WEEK LATER BY A DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT LIGHT BULB FOR WHICH I WAS CHARGED $100 AND THE MECHANIC DID THE CHANGE IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. I'VE REPLACED BACK-UP LIGHTS SO MANY TIMES I'VE ACTUALLY LEARNED HOW TO DO IT MYSELF. VW OF AMERICA NEEDS TO BE FORCED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE WINDOW REGULATORS, TOP PROBLEMS, ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ETC. ETC. I AM A SINGLE FEMALE WITH NO GARAGE TO PARK IN IF THE QUIRKY TOP AND WINDOWS DECIDE NOT TO COME UP. I AM ALSO LIMITED ON BUDGET AND THE DESIGN OF THIS CAR CAUSES LABOR CHARGES THAT ARE ASTRONOMICAL TO DO THE SIMPLIST OF THINGS. PRETTY SURE I HAVE THE WINDOW REGULATOR PROBLEM WHERE THEY WANT TO CHARGE $900 PER SIDE. THE LABOR CHARGE TO REPLACE A BATTER IS OVER $100. THE WINDOW PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN GOING ON WITH VW FOR A VERY LONG TIME. I'VE HAD 3 AND HAD NUMEROUS WINDOW PROBLEMS IN EVERY ONE OF THEM. *TT

LEFT REAR WINDOW REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY 3/11, WARRANTY ENDED 5/11, RIGHT REGULATOR GOES OUT 8/11. EVERY TIME THE DOORS OPEN ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS ACTIVATE. APROX 100 TO 200 CYCLES SEPARATE THE FAILURES. *TR

MY PASSENGER WINDOW REGULATOR NEEDS TO BE FIXED $400-500. OK, BUT I ALREADY REPLACED THE ONE ON THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR WINDOW. I AM READING THIS IS A PROBLEM. SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM. *TR

RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION VALVE, BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP, REPLACED VALVE AND THEN TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. VW SAID THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE VALVE BEING REPLACED AND WOULD NOT COVER THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WAS 6500 IN ADDITION TO ANOTHER 1500. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE CAR IS NOW JUST SUDDENLY LOSING ALL POWER AT RED LIGHTS OR WHENEVER STOPPED, THIS IS A REAL ROAD HAZARD, IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THESE 2005 VW ARE DANGEROUS CARS ON THE ROAD. VW NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REIMBURSE FOLKS FOR THE TRANSMISSION SO THAT THEY CAN GO AND GET NEW CARS. IT'S DIFFICULT IN THESE TIMES TO BE ABLE TO GO AND GET A NEW CAR WHEN I HAVE JUST SOCKED 8000 INTO THIS ONE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT VW IS GETTING AWAY WITH THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE, JUST UNBELIEVABLE. AND THE CAR WILL GO BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN NEXT WEEK. I AM REALLY ASKING FOR THIS GOVERNMENT AGENCY TO INVESTIGATE AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR ALL VW BEETLE OWNERS THAT ARE GOING THROUGH THIS. THE RECALL IS SURELY A COVER UP FOR THE REAL ISSUE, A "FAULTY" TRANSMISSION. *TR

INTERMITTENT HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH GEAR WITH OCCASIONAL SLIPPING BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH GEAR AND ALSO GETTING STUCK IN 4TH GEAR WHICH REQUIRED STOPPING ON SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT. TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. DEALER TOLD US THAT VALVE BODY REPLACEMENT WAS NOT AN OPTION BECAUSE THE HARD SHIFTS WERE BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH, NOT 1ST AND 2ND. CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP. THE WEEK PRIOR TO TAKING OUR BEETLE IN FOR SERVICING, WE TOOK OUR 2002 JETTA IN AND WAS TOLD IT ALSO NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION! *TR

WE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT MY GRANDDAUGHTERS 2005 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE VIN/[XXX] CURRENTLY IN SHOP FOR FRONT DRIVERS SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOW RELAY PROBLEM. WAS ADVISED THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON SOME VW BEETLES FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT THIS WAS NOT ONE OF THE RECALLED ONES. IN SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT APPEARS IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN , SEEMS THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WE HAVE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *TR