2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Complaints

STEERING COLUMN LOCK HOUSING IN 2014 & 2016, WE BOUGHT 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLES FOR OUR COLLEGE-BOUND KIDS. SINCE THOSE PURCHASES WE'VE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE INSTANCES OF EACH VEHICLE'S IGNITION KEYS BEING STUCK IN ITS IGNITION SWITCH. THESE OCCURRENCES HAPPENED BOTH WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE RUNNING (INABILITY TO TURN THE VEHICLES OFF) AND WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE NOT RUNNING. WHEN THE VEHICLES WERE RUNNING, THE INABILITY TO EXTRACT THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE VEHICLES ENGINES OFF. THIS PRESENTED SAFETY HAZARDS. IN APRIL, 2018, WE RECEIVED LETTERS FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. REGARDING A 'WARRANTY EXTENSION' AFFECTING BOTH VEHICLES. IT EXTENDED COVERAGE OF THE 'STEERING COLUMN LOCK HOUSING' ON EACH VEHICLE FOR 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES, WHICHEVER OCCURRED FIRST. BOTH VEHICLES ARE JUST 5 YEARS OLD. HOWEVER, ONE HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES (ANGELA'S) AND THE OTHER 105,000 MILES. SO WE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN REGARDING THEIR LETTERS AND STATED THAT BOTH VEHICLES HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND THEY EACH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED AT THEIR EXPENSE. SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET CONFIRMED THAT THIS ISSUE IS SYSTEMIC WITHIN VOLKSWAGEN AND SHOULD HAVE LED TO SOME TYPE OF VEHICLE RECALL BEFORE NOW. WE NEED FOR YOUR ORGANIZATION TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND PROVIDE SOME RELIEF FOR THOSE OF US VEHICLE OWNERS WHO ARE STUCK WITH MASSIVE REPAIR BILLS DUE TO A LACK OF OVERSIGHT OF THIS SYSTEMIC ISSUE BY NHTSA. YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO OUR CONCERN IS SOLICITED AND GREATLY APPRECIATED. THE MOORES, BRASELTON, GA

I PURCHASED 2013 VW BEETLE AS CERTIFIED PRE OWNED,IN 2016, AT 30,000 MILE APPROXIMATELY STEERING GEARS HAD TO BE REPLACED,2 MONTHS LATER THE WINDOW MOTORS AND SWITCHES NEEDED REPLACED AND THAT WAS THE 3RD SET. 2 WEEKS LATER,THE DRIVER WINDOW NEEDED TO BE REINFORCED AND SWITCHES NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP KEPT MY VEHICLE FOR 2 SOLID MONTHS BC THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT ON THE INTERIOR CAUSING DOOR PANEL TO PEEL, THEN THE AMBIENT LIGHTING BROKE. VW EXEC CUST SERVICE HAD BEEN INVOLVED FOR 6 MTHS AT THIS POINT, IT TOOK UNTIL 3/9/18 TO GET THE DOOR PANEL FIXED, MEANWHILE EVERYTIME I PICKED UP THE CAR SOMETHING DIFFERENT WENT WRONG, INTERMITTENT SEATBELTS MALFUNCTION, SPEED SENSORS, SEAT HEATER PO PROTRUDING THROUGH SEAT POSING ELECTRICAL SHOCK ONCE IT COMPLETELY PENETRATED. PASSENGER SEATBELTS, AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAYED AND 11MTHS OF INSTRUMENT PANEL BACKLIGHT FLICKERING, ROUGH IDLE, AC REPAIRED 2X. DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX DROPPING WINDOWS, INTERMITTENT SEATBELTS ISSUE OR SEAT HEATER ISSUE BC THEY CLAIM THAT THE SEAT GOT WET AT SOME POINT AND THEREFORE THE MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY WONT COVER IT. HOWEVER ON 06072017, WHEN WINDOW SWITCHES AND MOTORS BC POSSESSED GOING UP AND DOWN AND INTERFERING WITH LOCKING CONTROLS DURING A MONSOON, AND THE CAR CLEARLY WAS CAUGHT IN A STORM LASTING 10 HRS THEY WILL NOT FIX AND CLAIM THAT ALL THE SAFETY CONTROLS FOR THAT SEAT ARE DAMAGED BC OF GETTING WET AT SOME POINT,AND SO I CANNOT PUT MY DISABLED CHILD IN IT BC OF THAT AND IT'S BEEN IN THE SHOP 13 TIMES IN 18MTHS, ALL FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES. THE REAR TRAIL ARMS RECALL CORP HAS AS BEING COMPLETED, HOWEVER THAT RECALL WAS ONLY IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN A REAR SIDE ACCIDENT WHICH IT WAS SOLD WITH A CLEAN CARFAX.

INCIDENT 1 SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, I PULLED UP TO A STOP LIGHT. AS THE VEHICLE NEARED A COMPLETE STOP, THE ENGINE STALLED. I WAS UNABLE TO RE-START THE VEHICLE FOR 20 MINUTES. (THE ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NEVER START.) INCIDENTS 2 THROUGH 4 THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE RESTARTING ON HOT DAYS, BUT I DON'T HAVE DETAILED INFORMATION BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE DRIVER. INCIDENTS 5 THROUGH 16 I DROVE THE VEHICLE AND SHUT IT OFF. I RETURNED WITHIN ABOUT 15 MINUTES. THE ENGINE WOULD CRANK BUT NOT START. ONLY AFTER WAITING 20-25 MINUTES WITHOUT ATTEMPTING TO START DID THE VEHICLE START. THIS HAPPENED 12 TIMES IN ONE DAY. THE HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR THE DAY WAS ABOUT 85 DEGREES. I CONTACTED MY MECHANIC ABOUT THE PROBLEM. HE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A FAULTY FUEL-PUMP CONTROL MODULE, AND THAT I SHOULD SPEAK TO VW ABOUT THE RECALL. VW DEALER SAID NO RECALLS ARE PRESENT FOR MY CAR. AFTER SPEAKING WITH A PARTS SPECIALIST AND A MANAGER, THEY DETERMINE THAT, THOUGH MY VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, IT USES THE SAME DEFECTIVE PART AS THE PASSAT AND CC. THEY TOLD ME TO CALL VW AND ASK FOR AN EXCEPTION TO THE RECALL. I CALLED VW CORPORATE AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE. THE AGENT WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE PASSAT AND CC RECALL AND CONFIRMED THAT NO RECALLS WERE PRESENT FOR MY VEHICLE. AFTER REQUESTING INFORMATION ON THE SITUATION, THE REP TOLD ME THE FOLLOWING: "YES, THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. NO, VW WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT UNLESS THE RECALL IS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE YOUR VEHICLE. YOU CAN PAY US TO INSTALL A REPLACEMENT PART AND THAT REPLACEMENT PART WILL ALSO BE DEFECTIVE BECAUSE WE HAVEN'T YET RELEASED AN IMPROVED PART." THE REP EXPLAINED THAT RECALLS ARE GOVERNMENT-MANDATED, AND VW DOES NOT CREATE THEM. I DON'T THINK THIS IS 100% ACCURATE, BUT IT WAS AN "EXCUSE" SHE GAVE. I WAS HORRIFIED BY VW'S ATTITUDE, ADMITTING A DEFECT BUT REFUSING TO FIX. CAN YOU PROVIDE ANY HELP?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD, AND FAILED TO ENGAGE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP IN THE PARKING SPACE. THE CONTACTED CALLED AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER IN ORANGE, CA TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND TO INQUIRE OF WHY NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE INSPECTED FOR FURTHER FAILURE INFORMATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TOWED TO THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL CRACKING NOISE AND THE PANORAMIC SUN ROOF CRACKED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 17079053. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

TAKATA RECALL ON 8/13/16 WHILE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING, THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 MPH ON A CITY STREET AND AS I ATTEMPT TO MOVE OVER THE ENGINE SHUT OFF AND I COULD NOT STEER THE VEHICLE. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DID THIS SEVERAL MORE TIMES BEFORE I WAS TO SEND IT BACK TO THE CAR LOT. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANK SHAFT WAS REPAIRED ON THE VEHICLE. ON 9/13/2016 (1MONTH LATER) WHILE TRAVELING SOUTH ON A BUSY CITY STREET AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, IN FRONT OF AN 18 WHEELER THIS CAR SHUT OF AND IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED ON ITS VERY OWN. I MOVED OVER TO A SLOWER LANE TO PREVENT ANY ACCIDENTS. I PROCEEDED TO MY DESTINATION AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUT OFF AGAIN, ONLY THIS TIME I HAD TO MANUALLY RESTART THE VEHICLE. I PARKED THE CAR AT AN AREA RESTAURANT FOR AT LEAST 2 HOURS. I WENT OUT TO START THE CAR AND THERE WAS NO POWER AT ALL. I CALLED TRIPE AAA, THEY CHECKED THE BATTERY AND THE CAR STILL WOULD NOT START. FINALLY A TOW TRUCK WAS DISPATCHED AND ARRIVED ABOUT 15 MINS AFTER THE BATTERY CHECK AND ALL LIGHTS WERE OWN. IN ABOUT 10 MINS I ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT STARTED WITHOUT ANY HESITATION. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE VEHICLE SINCE BECAUSE I ABSOLUTELY FEAR FOR MY SAFETY.

ENGINE SMOKING DEFECTIVE FUEL FILTER O-RING GASKETS CAUSING FUEL LEAKS--VW DEALERS NOT HONORING WARRANTY. BETWEEN APRIL 2015 - JULY 2016, VW DEALERS HAVE REPLACED THIS FUEL GASKET FIVE TIMES, REPEATEDLY CHARGING ME FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART AND UNNEEDED FILTERS. I SAVED ONE OF THE DEFECTIVE GASKETS AND HAVE BEEN TO TWO DIFFERENT VW DEALERSHIPS, GRAHAM IN SIOUX FALLS SOUTH DAKOTA AND JENSEN IN SIOUX CITY IOWA. THE ENGINE SMOKES, I FIND THE FUEL LEAK, TAKE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM BEFORE EVEN OPENING THE HOOD, BECAUSE "THE PROBLEM IS SO COMMON." I CONTACTED THE VW REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER, TAMAR T., AND VW CUSTOMER CARE (REFERENCE # 160555387) AND WAS ADVISED THAT REPLACING A FUEL GASKET FIVE TIMES IN JUST OVER A YEAR IS A REGULAR "MAINTENANCE ITEM". ATTACHED ARE A PHOTO OF THE DEFECTIVE GASKET, RESPONSE FROM VW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND MY MAINTENANCE RECEIPTS/LOG.

1. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN MY DRIVE WAY (AND ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, PARKED IN A LOT), CONVERTIBLE ROOF STALLS UPON OPENING. YOU HAVE TO STOP PRESSING BUTTON AND TRY AGAIN. EVENTUALLY IT STARTS AGAIN AND OPENS. VW SERVICE UNABLE TO REPLICATE. THEY GREASE THE EQUIPMENT INVOLVED HOPING IT CORRECTS THE PROBLEM. 2. WHEN CAR WAS NEW, NOT WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEMS WERE NOTED. AFTER A YEAR THE DRIVERS SIDE SQUIRTS OUT IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE WIPER DOESN'T GET WET ENOUGH TO CLEAN WINDOW, THUS LEAVING BLURRY STREAKS THAT IMPEDES DRIVER'S SIDE VISION. PASSENGER SIDE OK. TOOK CAR IN 2 TIMES, THEY SAY THEY ADJUST SPRAY. PROBLEM STILL THERE EVEN AFTER REPLACING WIPERS WITH BRAND NEW (VOLKSWAGON BRAND) WIPERS. JUST HAD THE SPRAY FIXED AGAIN LAST WEEK. AFRAID TO SEE IF IT IS ANY BETTER. WILL WRITE ANOTHER REPORT IF PROBLEM PERSISTS. HAD CONVERTIBLE TOP GEARS GREASED AGAIN LAST WEEK. I WONDER IF HOT WEATHER IS EFFECTING THE TOP TO OPEN?

WINDSHIELD RANDOMLY CRACKED WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY IN 80 DEGREE WEATHER, IN THE SHADE. CRACK GOES FROM ROOF, DOWN BEHIND REAR-VIEW MIRROR, THEN TOWARD THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT APPEARS TO BE A STRESS FRACTURE, AS THERE IS NOT VISIBLE SIGN OF ROCK DAMAGE. THE TOP LINE OF THE WINDSHIELD IS CLEARLY UNLEVEL NOW. APPEARS TO BE A STRESS FRACTURE FROM IMPROPER DESIGN OR INSTALLATION. OTHER OWNERS WITH SIMILAR MAKE/MODEL/YEAR HAVE REPORTED THE SAME, WITH COMPARABLE PHOTOS OF THE DAMAGE.

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. I PULLED OVER AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. AFTER A MINUTE IT RESTARTED. THE VW DEALER RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND NO PROBLEMS. HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO PULL OVER ON THIS BUSY HIGHWAY, IT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT.