U.S. public vehicle records

Volkswagen NEW BEETLE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

191 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

23,467 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 to 2006 model years. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 83 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 191 complaints (7.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	33	17.3%
Electrical and battery issues	20	10.5%
Transmission and shifting	15	7.9%
Engine operation	13	6.8%
Steering behavior	8	4.2%
Fuel system concerns	4	2.1%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System

Exterior Lighting:Headlights

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Unknown Or Other

Vehicle Speed Control

Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Electrical System	15
Exterior Lighting:Headlights	14
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	14
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls	11
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	7
Unknown Or Other	7
Vehicle Speed Control	7
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module	6

Electrical System: 15; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 14; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 14; Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Unknown Or Other: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 6

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 45; 25,000 to 49,999: 21; 50,000 to 74,999: 12; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (45). 108 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

1998: 1; 1999: 6; 2000: 8; 2001: 27; 2002: 27; 2003: 57; 2004: 64; 2005: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 20 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 744896 · 2001-05-03 (May 3, 2001)

DRIVER FRONT SEAT BRACKET BROKE AWAY DURING ACCELERATION FROM A STOP SIGN CAUSING ME TO BE FORCED INTO A LYING DOWN POSITION AGAINST THE BACK SEAT. MY HANDS WERE PULLED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL AS MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. I BROKE A CUP HOLDER ON THE CONSOLE IN ORDER TO RIGHT MYSELF AND JUST MISSED A TELEPHONE POLE. I HAVE DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE BRACKET AND SEAT AND WILL BE GLAD TO EMAIL THEM TO YOU. I AM IN A PISSING MATCH WITH THE DEALER AS TO WHO GETS TO KEEP THE DEFECTIVE BRACKET. I WONDER WHY THEY DO NOT WANT ME TO KEEP IT?*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744896 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 764841 · 2002-07-28 (July 28, 2002)

WHILE EXECUTING A RIGHT TURN AT LOW SPEED, THE DRIVERS'S SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM THE TRACK AT THE FRONT OF THE SEAT. THE SEAT REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE TRACK AT THE REAR OF THE SEAT. THIS CAUSED THE SEAT AND ME (THE DRIVER) TO SUDDENLY ROLL TOWARD THE BACK OF THE CAR, ALMOST LOSING CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. ONLY BY GRASPING THE STEERING WHEEL AND PULLING MYSELF FORWARD WAS I ABLE TO REACH THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS. I THEN GUIDED THE CAR TO A SAFE STOP. THIS DEFECT COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN MY DEATH AND THE DEATH OF OTHER DRIVERS. I HA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 764841 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10039328 · 2003-09-23 (September 23, 2003)

HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTIONS, BURNS OUT. UPON REPLACEMENT, WIRING HARNESS MELTED. CAR NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.

Owner-reported narrative. 48,210 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039328 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10098549 · 2004-11-09 (November 9, 2004)

1998 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE SEVERELY OVERHEATED, CHECKING OUT CAUSE FOUND THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF THE BATTERY HOUSING HAD MELTED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT! VWOA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM ALTHOUGHT INTERNET SURVEYS SHOW 26% FAILURE IN NEW BEETLES. PLACEMENT OF THE FUSE BOX ON THE BATTERY HOUSING DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A VERY SAFE IDEA!*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 95,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10098549 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 560280 · 2000-03-11 (March 11, 2000)

SINCE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SLOW TO SHIFT INTO GEAR FROM PARK OR NEUTRAL, THE CONSUMER HAS HAD NEAR ACCIDENTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560280 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10030682 · 2003-08-03 (August 3, 2003)

BRAKE SWITCH MALFUNCTION EDON THE 2000 ,VOLKSWAGEN, NEW BEETLE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO STICK IN PARK. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10030682 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 740272 · 2001-02-01 (February 1, 2001)

CAR STALLED ON BUSY INTERSTATE DUE TO AIR INTAKE FAILURE, BATTERY FAILURE PROMPTED ME TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT FROM MY ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC. ONCE THE REPLACEMENT WAS INSTALLED, WE DISCOVERED THE DIAGNOSTIC CONNECTOR WAS VW SPECIFIC, NOT OBD II COMPLIANT AS REQUIRED BY LAW. IN ORDER TO RESET THE COMPUTER CODES, I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO A VW DEALER, THE ONLY PARTY WHO HAS THE VW COMPLIANT CONNECTOR. MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS AND THE WAY THE CAR JUST DIES AT SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING MAKE IT A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 740272 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 889261 · 2001-05-29 (May 29, 2001)

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON NINE OCCASIONS, AND VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH OR MORE ON TWO OCCASIONS. DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. *AK CONSUMER STATES OTHER BEETLE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED, HOWEVER SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTIFICATION. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 889261 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 750971 · 2001-08-23 (August 23, 2001)

THE BOLTS AT THE BOTTOM FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAME LOOSE, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO "WIGGLE" IN ITS TRACKS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE BOLTS WORKED THEMSELVES FREE AND ALLOWED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH IN ITS TRACKS, THUS PREVENTING THE SETTING OF A SAFE, STATIONARY POSITION. ALSO, BECAUSE THE FRONT BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SEAT TO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS HAVE FAILED, VEHICLE MOVEMENTS ALLOW THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO TIP UP AND DOWN IN AN ARCHING DIRECTION. THIS MEANS THAT UNLESS THE DRIVER IS HOLDING ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL FIRML…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 750971 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10082798 · 2004-07-27 (July 27, 2004)

TODAY, JULY 27,2004, THE OUTPUT CONNECTION ON MY FUEL PUMP CAME APART (DISCONNECTED) AND WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR DUMPED ABOUT A QUART OF GASOLINE ON THE GROUND UNDER THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. I WAS IN A CROWDED POST OFFICE PARKING LOT AND IT WAS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE FIRE DEPT CAME AND RECONNECTED THE LINE AND I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED TO THE VW DEALORSHIP AND HAVE IT CHECKED AND CERTIFIED SAFE TO CONTINUE OPERATING. THE CAR IS VW NEW BEETLE, 1998 YEAR OF MANUFACTURING. THE DEALORSHIP VW MECHANIC SAID HE HAD HEARD OF THIS HAP…

Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082798 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 875140 · 2000-11-17 (November 17, 2000)

AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND FUEL TANK. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES OIL LEAKS. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, DEALER SECURED LOOSE CONNECTOR CLEAR CODES. PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. TRUNK VERY HARD TO CLOSE, DEALER ADJUSTED UPPER AND LOWER TRUNK LOCK ASSEMBLY. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 875140 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2006

1998: 1; 1999: 1; 2000: 2; 2001: 3; 2002: 1; 2003: 0; 2004: 2; 2006: 0

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Volkswagen NEW BEETLE model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1998	30	1	Not available
1999	34	1	0
2000	40	2	+1
2001	39	3	+1
2002	15	1	-2
2003	20	0	-1
2004	12	2	+2
2006	1	0	Not available

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

191 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

43.5%Usable mileage83 / 191 records

91.6%Valid incident date175 / 191 records

100.0%Valid filing date191 / 191 records

91.6%Ordered incident and filing dates175 / 191 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2006
Electrical System	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	12.9% ODI 875140 AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND FUEL TANK. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES OIL LEAKS. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, DEALER SECURED LOOSE CONNECTOR CLEAR CODES. PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. TRUNK VERY HARD TO CLOSE, DEALER ADJUSTED UPPER AND LOWER TRUNK LOCK ASSEMBLY. *SLC Look up ODI 875140 at NHTSA ↗	410.0% ODI 10014129 MY 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE GLX CAUGHT FIRE FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER I PARKED IT IN MY GARAGE, CAUSING THE DESTRUCTION OF THE GARAGE, THE BEETLE, AND TWO OTHER CARS. *NLM Look up ODI 10014129 at NHTSA ↗	512.8% ODI 10003232 · 17,000 mi I AM FRUSTRATED AND SCARED BY A PROBLEM VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI ARE HAVING WITH THE IGNITION SYSTEM ON THEIR TURBOCHARGED FOUR-CYLINDER ENGINES. THE SIBLING AUTOMAKERS, PARTS OF VOLKSWAGEN AG OF GERMANY, ADMIT THERE IS A "HIGHER-THAN-NORMAL" FAILURE RATE OF THE FOUR IGNITION COILS ON 2001 AND 2002 TURBOCHARGED, 1.8-LITER ENGINES USED IN ABOUT 300,000 VEHICLES, INCLUDING THE GOLF, NEW BEETLE, JETTA, PASSAT AND AUDI A4. I HAVE ALREADY HAD ONE COILPAC REPLACED, AND FEAR FOR THE TIME WHEN THE OTHERS WILL GO TOO. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY ARE G… Look up ODI 10003232 at NHTSA ↗	320.0% ODI 10016051 · 8,268 mi THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DROPPED DRAMATICALLY, AND THEN STALLED. *JB THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK(REPEATEDLY), LOCK UP, SIT FOR HOURS/FROZEN, START BUT NOT COME OUT OF PARK, ABS AND EPC LIGHT PROBLEMS WHICH WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THE OVERLOAD PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED, WHILE DRIVEN, THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN TO 30 MPH AND DOWN TO 20 MPH ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE MOTOR SOUNDED LOUD AND THE VEHICLE HAD SHAKEN, THE DEALER FOUND THREE FAULT CODE FOR THROTTLE CONTROL A… Look up ODI 10016051 at NHTSA ↗	15.0% ODI 10040661 TEXAS LEMON LAW/ TEXAS DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES ACT/ BREACH OF WARRANTY.MR CB Look up ODI 10040661 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 10141624 · 3,000 mi DT:THE CONTACT PURCHASED A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AND THE COMPUTER SYSTEM STOPPED FUNCTIONING, RESULTING IN A FAILURE OF ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH WITH A LOSS OF POWER. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER SAID THE IP CONTROLLER WAS FAULTY, AND IT WAS AN ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAW. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT VOLKSWAGEN ATTEMPTED TO REDESIGN. IN THE MEANTIME, NO REPAIRS OR CORRECTIONS COULD BE MADE. *AK Look up ODI 10141624 at NHTSA ↗
Exterior Lighting:Headlights	930.0% ODI 10010457 LEFT HEADLAMP BULB BURNED-OUT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP AT LEAST 5 TIMES OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP BULB HAS ONLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT ONCE OVER THE SAME TIME PERIOD. *JB Look up ODI 10010457 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	25.1% ODI 10025960 · 32,000 mi I HAVE HAD THE HEADLIGHT BULBS (LOW BEAMS) 3 TIMES IN MY NEW BEETLE. THE MANUFACTURER SUGGESTED THAT I NOT RUN THE LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAY. THEY SAID THAT EXCESSIVE USE OF THE HEADLIGHTS WILL CAUSE THE BULBS TO BURN OUT FASTER. SORRY, BUT THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON AUTOMATICALLY WHEN THE CAR IS ON AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS RELEASED. SO THE LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME THE VEHICLE IS AVAILABLE FOR MOTION. THE DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL ON THE USE OF THE HEADLIGHTS ORTHER THAN ENGAGING THE PARKING BRAKE WHILE DRIVING. HMMM, DOES NOT SOUND LI… Look up ODI 10025960 at NHTSA ↗	16.7% ODI 10088497 · 41,583 mi SEATBELT AIR BAG SENSOR- AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON 11/8/03 TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ORDERED THE PART. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THOSE, TURN SIGNALS WERE GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS, WAS TOLD THESE NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. CALLED IN 2 WEEKS AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ON MANUFACTURE BACKORDER AND THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY CAME IN. I CALLED EVERY 2 WEEKS THEY PART WERE NOT IN. 3/3/04 SMOG TEST DONE TO REGISTER MY CAR- FAILED SMOG, TOOK CAR TO DEALER CAT C… Look up ODI 10088497 at NHTSA ↗	15.0% ODI 10074544 FROM SEPT 03 THROUGH APRIL 04, I HAD 5 RIGHT REAR BRAKE LIGHTS REPLACED AND 2 LEFT HEADLIGHTS REPLACED ON MY 2003 VW NEW BEETLE. NO REASON WAS EVER GIVEN AS TO WHY THEY KEPT FAILING. THE DEALERSHIP JUST KEPT REPLACING THEM. MY SON WAS STOPPED BY THE STATE PATROL ONCE BECAUSE A REAR LIGHT WAS OUT - I HAD TOTAL STRANGERS TELL ME THAT THE LIGHTS WERE OUT AND MY NEIGHBORS AND I ARE KEEPING TRACK OF HOW MANY VW NEW BEETLES HAVE AT LEAST ONE LIGHT OUT I COUNT AT LEAST 4 EACH WEEK. I WANT ALL VW NEW BEETLE OWNERS TO KNOW THAT THIS IS A MALFUNCTIO… Look up ODI 10074544 at NHTSA ↗	18.3% ODI 10074541 PURCHASED MY THIRD VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE - RECOGNIZE THAT MY SECOND ONE, A 2003 WAS A LEMON 5 RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHTS REPLACED AND 2 HEADLIGHTS. ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE INTERMITTENT WIPER RELAY REPLACED - SEE ODI #10074539.*AK DEALER TRADED ME FOR A 2004, ON 4/6/04 AND NOT EVEN 2 WEEKS INTO MY PURCHASE, THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT OPERATE PROPERLY. THOUGHT I WAS IMAGINING THINGS, ESPECIALLY AFTER MY LAST EXPERIENCE. I PUT THE WINDOW DOWN (ELECTRONICALLY) AND THEN PUT IT UP AND IT COMES DOWN BY ITSELF CERTAINLY ANOTHER SAFETY FAULT OF… Look up ODI 10074541 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	12.9% ODI 560280 SINCE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SLOW TO SHIFT INTO GEAR FROM PARK OR NEUTRAL, THE CONSUMER HAS HAD NEAR ACCIDENTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. NLM Look up ODI 560280 at NHTSA ↗	25.0% ODI 10030682 BRAKE SWITCH MALFUNCTION EDON THE 2000 ,VOLKSWAGEN, NEW BEETLE CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO STICK IN PARK. *AK Look up ODI 10030682 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	533.3% ODI 10016049 AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR FROM PARK TO DRIVE. *JB Look up ODI 10016049 at NHTSA ↗	525.0% ODI 10020869 · 489 mi TRANSMISSION - INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. OCCURRED BEGINNING THE THIRD WEEK AFTER PURCHASE OF THIS BRAND NEW CAR. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP - THEY ADJUSTED TRANSMISSION BUT SAID THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO I WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT GETS WORSE OR LEAVE IT UNTIL THEY EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. NOW THE TRANSMISSION (AS OF 1 WEEK AGO) OCCASIONALLY "SLAMS" INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. I AM SCHEDULING ANOTHER SERVICE WITH THE DEALER. I ADVISED THEM THE FAILURE TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IS A SAFETY HAZARD (I HAVE B… Look up ODI 10020869 at NHTSA ↗	18.3% ODI 10093320 · 143 mi 2004 VW BEETLE BUY 8-19-04. RANSMISSION FAILURE 4 SINCE 9-8, LETTER 9-18 SENT CERTIFIED *VW TECH HOTLINE GAVE NO CASE # SERVICE MGR GAVE CUSTOMER TWO 800#S & CUSTOMER SPOKE W/3 MEN BUT NO CASE #S & SAID THEY WOULD CALL BACK IN 10-15 DAYS. A/O 9-29, NO RETURN CALL & CAR BACK IN SHOP FOR 4TH TIME SAME THING. DEALER WANTS CUSTOMER TO DRIVE AROUND, LEAVE SERVICE TICKET OPEN IN CASE HAPPENS AGAIN. CUSTOMER REQUESTED FULL REFUND UNDER LEMON LAW, BUT NO RESPONSES TO REQUEST. INCIDENTS: 1. 9-8 TRIED DIFFERENT GEARS AND MOVED INTO FIRST … Look up ODI 10093320 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls	620.0% ODI 10021308 DRIVER SIDE WINDOW "FELL OUT". I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, TRYING TO PUT THE WINDOW UP WHEN IT BECAME STUCK. ONCE STOPPED, I AGAIN TRIED TO PUT THE WINDOW UP WHEN THERE WAS A CRACKING SOUND AND THE WHOLE WINDOW JUST FELL INTO THE DOOR. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THE SECRETARY WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AND WAS EVEN ABLE TO TELL ME THAT THE ORIGINAL CLIPS TO HOLD THE WINDOW WERE PLASTIC AND THEY REPLACE THEM WITH METAL ONES. IF THIS PROBLEM IS THAT COMMON THAT THE SECRETARY KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND WHAT THE REMEDY IS, … Look up ODI 10021308 at NHTSA ↗	25.9% ODI 749207 POWER WINDOW SWITCH BREAKS AND MUST BE REPLACED OFTEN. WE KNOW MANY NEW BEETLE OWNWERS - NEARLY ALL HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM. WINDOW CAN STICK DOWN AND NOT BE CLOSEABLE, IN ANY WEATHER, IN ANY AREA - DEFINITE SECURITY PROBLEM IN THE WRONG NEIGHBORHOOD. OURS WAS FIXED ON WARRANTY LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AGO - PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT WE ARE BUYING EXTRAS TO CARRY WITH US. VW IS DEFINITELY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS SILENT. FOUR YEARS WORTH OF CARS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE SWITCH, AND CURRENT PRODUCTION IS UNCHANGED, TO MY … Look up ODI 749207 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.7% ODI 10100587 · 10,000 mi THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 NEW BEETLE FAILS TO ENGAGE FOR A SECOND OR TWO AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. DOESN'T DO IT AT OTHER TIMES, ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AN HOUR OR MORE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION MODULE TWICE (TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS) AND THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BEHAVE THIS WAY. INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS THIS SMALL DELAY FOR EMISSIONS REASONS. I AM NOT BUYING IT, NOT WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUE… Look up ODI 10100587 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	216.7% ODI 10082729 2004 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE WINDOWS CATCH ON THE TOP WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPEN. THIS ACTION IS WEARING TOP. THE WINDOWS ACTUALLY BEND UNDER STRESS WHEN DOOR IS OPEN. THE AUTO-UP OPTION IS INTERUPTED WITH WHEN THE WINDOW GOES UP, HITS TOP AND COMES BACK DOWN.THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE I GOT THE CAR NEW IN OCT. 2004.*AK Look up ODI 10082729 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	13.3% ODI 889261 ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON NINE OCCASIONS, AND VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH OR MORE ON TWO OCCASIONS. DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. AK CONSUMER STATES OTHER BEETLE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED, HOWEVER SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTIFICATION. SLC Look up ODI 889261 at NHTSA ↗	25.9% ODI 10021316 · 55,000 mi I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH, WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND MY CAR WENT UP ON THE CENTER DIVIDER. I COULD NOT STEER MY CAR OFF THE DIVIDER, AND THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING AS WELL EITHER. I IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE ENGINE STOPPED AND MY CAR POWERED OFF WITHOUT WARNING (THE CAR HAS A HISTORY OF FAILED WARNING LIGHTS OR WARNING LIGHTS GOING ON FOR NO REASON, HAVING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED ONCE, BUT NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM). MY CAR ENDED UP SPINNING OUT ACROSS THE ROAD AND SLAMMING INTO A TREE ON THE … Look up ODI 10021316 at NHTSA ↗	25.0% ODI 10018976 · 3,000 mi ONGOING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS/FALSE POSITIVES FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. GEL-LIKE SUBSTANCE IN THE OIL. FREQUENT REPLACEMENT OF INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS. NLM Look up ODI 10018976 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.7% ODI 10016051 · 8,268 mi THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DROPPED DRAMATICALLY, AND THEN STALLED. *JB THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK(REPEATEDLY), LOCK UP, SIT FOR HOURS/FROZEN, START BUT NOT COME OUT OF PARK, ABS AND EPC LIGHT PROBLEMS WHICH WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THE OVERLOAD PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED, WHILE DRIVEN, THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN TO 30 MPH AND DOWN TO 20 MPH ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE MOTOR SOUNDED LOUD AND THE VEHICLE HAD SHAKEN, THE DEALER FOUND THREE FAULT CODE FOR THROTTLE CONTROL A… Look up ODI 10016051 at NHTSA ↗	15.0% ODI 10040661 TEXAS LEMON LAW/ TEXAS DECEPTIVE TRADE PRACTICES ACT/ BREACH OF WARRANTY.MR CB Look up ODI 10040661 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Unknown Or Other	26.7% ODI 10006355 · 35,000 mi THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SERIOUS MALFUNCTIONS, WHICH MADE IT TOTALLY UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE. AK SCC NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS739197 Look up ODI 10006355 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	12.5% ODI 745087 ENGINE WOULD NOT START, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT STARTED BUT CHECK ENGINE & AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER 23 MILES, BUT AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON UNTIL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED BY DEALER. *AK Look up ODI 745087 at NHTSA ↗	25.1% ODI 10074638 A FAMILY MEMBER OF MINE RECENTLY BOUGHT, I BELIEVE, A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. AFTER WAITING A WHILE FOR HER TAGS SHE AND HER FATHER LOOKED INTO THE DOCUMENTS GIVEN TO HER BY THE DEALERSHIP AND NOTICED A DISCREPANCY IN MILEAGE AFTER THEY DID A FULL CARFAX REPORT ON THE CAR. THE CARFAX REPORTED THAT THE CAR HAD 76000 MILES ON IT IN NOVEMBER OF 2003 BUT THE DOCUMENT ATESTING TO MILEAGE FROM THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT HAD ONLY 66K WHEN BOUGHT IN MARCH ON IT AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SOLD TO THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL FEBRUARY WITH WHO KNOWS HOW MANY MILES.… Look up ODI 10074638 at NHTSA ↗	213.3% ODI 10100587 · 10,000 mi THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 NEW BEETLE FAILS TO ENGAGE FOR A SECOND OR TWO AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. DOESN'T DO IT AT OTHER TIMES, ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AN HOUR OR MORE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION MODULE TWICE (TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS) AND THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BEHAVE THIS WAY. INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS THIS SMALL DELAY FOR EMISSIONS REASONS. I AM NOT BUYING IT, NOT WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUE… Look up ODI 10100587 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Vehicle Speed Control	13.3% ODI 748666 NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK Look up ODI 748666 at NHTSA ↗	25.9% ODI 739275 RUNAWAY ENGINE - ENGINE SPEEDED, TACHOMETER TO RED LINE. *AK Look up ODI 739275 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	37.7% ODI 10018400 · 55,000 mi DRIVING AT 65 MPH, ENGINE SPEED 2200 RPM, VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATES TO ENGINE SPEED 1200 RPM (35 MPH). APPROX 5-10 SECONDS LATER THE MIL ("CHECK ENGINE") LIGHT COMES ON SOLID AND THE GLO-PLUG LAMP BLINKS. OBD-II DIAGNOSTIC CODE "P0226" (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR) CODE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY READ. THROTTLE CONTROL MAY BE MOMENTARILY REGAINED BY TURNING VEHICLE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SPEED (OBSERVING CARE THAT ROAD IS STRAIGHT SO THAT STEERING WHEEL LOCK DOES NOT LOCK UP). FAILURE MAY RE-OCCUR WITHIN 50-100 YARDS, REPEATED… Look up ODI 10018400 at NHTSA ↗	16.7% ODI 758474 CAR DOWNSHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP, CAUSING DRIVER AND PASSENGERS TO BE LUNGED FORWARD IN THEIR SEAT.. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND INCREASES WHEN VEHICLE IS WARMED UP. ON OCCASION DOWNSHIFT OCCURRED SO HARD THAT I THOUGHT I WAS JUST REAR -ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR MY WIFE AND NOW SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT.*AK Look up ODI 758474 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module	13.3% ODI 10097977 · 85,000 mi SOME TYPE OF 'CONTROL MODULE' NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WITHOUT IT THE AIR-BAG SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH HELPED IN THE DECISION TO BUY THE CAR, AND AFTER 5 YEARS IT FAILS RENDERING THE SYSTEM USELESS AND REQUIRING OVER $700 TO REPLACE. THIS IS WRONG! Look up ODI 10097977 at NHTSA ↗	12.9% ODI 875140 AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND FUEL TANK. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES OIL LEAKS. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, DEALER SECURED LOOSE CONNECTOR CLEAR CODES. PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. TRUNK VERY HARD TO CLOSE, DEALER ADJUSTED UPPER AND LOWER TRUNK LOCK ASSEMBLY. *SLC Look up ODI 875140 at NHTSA ↗	12.5% ODI 10017880 · 17,500 mi THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB Look up ODI 10017880 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.7% ODI 10088497 · 41,583 mi SEATBELT AIR BAG SENSOR- AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON 11/8/03 TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ORDERED THE PART. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THOSE, TURN SIGNALS WERE GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS, WAS TOLD THESE NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. CALLED IN 2 WEEKS AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ON MANUFACTURE BACKORDER AND THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY CAME IN. I CALLED EVERY 2 WEEKS THEY PART WERE NOT IN. 3/3/04 SMOG TEST DONE TO REGISTER MY CAR- FAILED SMOG, TOOK CAR TO DEALER CAT C… Look up ODI 10088497 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	216.7% ODI 10095162 WHILE DRIVING SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR NEEDED TO BE RESET, AND RESET IT SIX TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. AK THE SEAT LATCH WAS BROKEN AND THE REAR CONSOLE WAS FALLING APART. SC Look up ODI 10095162 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Electrical System	6,300–21,000 mi	17,000 mi	11	ODI 10018976 · 3,000 mi ONGOING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS/FALSE POSITIVES FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. GEL-LIKE SUBSTANCE IN THE OIL. FREQUENT REPLACEMENT OF INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS. NLM Look up ODI 10018976 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10023387 · 5,500 mi WITHIN 5,500 MILES OF PURCHASING MY 2000 BEETLE I STARTED EXPERIENCING SUDDEN MAJOR POWER LOSS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. WHEN I TOOK IT IN THEY WOULD RUN A DIAGNOSTIC AND COME UP WITH NOTHING. ACCORDING TO THEM THE PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST. THEY SAID TO ME, THEY WERE NOT GOING TO START THROWING PARTS AT IT. THEY REFUSED TO TAKE ANY CORRECTIVE STEPS TO TRY AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT WASN'T SHOWING UP ON THE DIAGNOSTIC EQUIPMENT. NOW WITH A TOTAL OF 12,455 MILE ON THIS CAR ( I DON'T DRIVE IT MUCH BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM) VW HAS RECALLED THE… Look up ODI 10023387 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10068010 · 36,000 mi THE 2000 NEW BEETLE THAT MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED APPARENTLY HAS A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2003. AT THAT TIME THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. THE FIRST TIME I PUT GAS IN THE CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY HUSBAND CONTACTED A LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER TO SEE ABOUT GETTING IT FIXED. HE WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL PROBLEM. IF THE GAS CAP WASN'T PUT BACK ON AND CLICKED AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES, THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE THE GAS CAP, PUT IT BACK ON AND TURN IT UNTIL THERE HAD BEEN … Look up ODI 10068010 at NHTSA ↗
Exterior Lighting:Headlights	32,000–48,210 mi	41,583 mi	5	ODI 10014503 · 15,000 mi I HAVE A 1998 VW BEETLE. I BOUGHT THE BEETLE NEW. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR HAD 15,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT GET THE LIGHT TO REMAIN OUT, HOWEVER SINCE I HAD REPORTED IT THEY WOULD HONOR THE WARRANTY ON IT IF IT WENT OUT AGAIN. IT DID THE MONTH THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH VW AND THEY SAID SETTLED IT WITH THE DEALER. AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH I FINALLY PAID 80.00 TO GET IT REPAIRED. TWO MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST … Look up ODI 10014503 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10039328 · 48,210 mi HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTIONS, BURNS OUT. UPON REPLACEMENT, WIRING HARNESS MELTED. CAR NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. Look up ODI 10039328 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10068206 · 49,000 mi HEADLIGHTS CONSTANTLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE MANY TIMES DUE TO NO LIGHTS OR HAVING TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON. THIS PAST TIME HAD TO PARK THE CAR AND HAVE SOMEONE TAKE US HOME, COULD NOT DRIVE CAR UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING. REPAIR BILLS ARE BECOMING REDICULOUS.*AK Look up ODI 10068206 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	260–10,000 mi	489 mi	5	ODI 10100587 · 10,000 mi THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 NEW BEETLE FAILS TO ENGAGE FOR A SECOND OR TWO AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. DOESN'T DO IT AT OTHER TIMES, ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AN HOUR OR MORE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION MODULE TWICE (TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS) AND THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BEHAVE THIS WAY. INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS THIS SMALL DELAY FOR EMISSIONS REASONS. I AM NOT BUYING IT, NOT WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUE… Look up ODI 10100587 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10020869 · 489 mi TRANSMISSION - INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. OCCURRED BEGINNING THE THIRD WEEK AFTER PURCHASE OF THIS BRAND NEW CAR. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP - THEY ADJUSTED TRANSMISSION BUT SAID THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO I WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT GETS WORSE OR LEAVE IT UNTIL THEY EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. NOW THE TRANSMISSION (AS OF 1 WEEK AGO) OCCASIONALLY "SLAMS" INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. I AM SCHEDULING ANOTHER SERVICE WITH THE DEALER. I ADVISED THEM THE FAILURE TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IS A SAFETY HAZARD (I HAVE B… Look up ODI 10020869 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10030564 · 260 mi CAR WILL NOT SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES, AND I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR A WEEK!*AK Look up ODI 10030564 at NHTSA ↗
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls	Too few reports for a range	10,000 mi	3 (sparse)	ODI 10047728 · 53,000 mi BOTH PASSANGER AND DRIVE WINDOW MECHINISMS HAD TO BE REPLACED. WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP.*AK Look up ODI 10047728 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10100587 · 10,000 mi THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 NEW BEETLE FAILS TO ENGAGE FOR A SECOND OR TWO AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. DOESN'T DO IT AT OTHER TIMES, ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AN HOUR OR MORE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION MODULE TWICE (TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS) AND THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BEHAVE THIS WAY. INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS THIS SMALL DELAY FOR EMISSIONS REASONS. I AM NOT BUYING IT, NOT WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUE… Look up ODI 10100587 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10088319 · 2,175 mi DRIVER DOOR POWER WINDOW:NEW BEETLE CONV. WHEN CLOSING,WILL ROLL BACK DOWN BY ITSELF AND CLUNKS WHEN HITS BOTTOM. HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME WINDOW IS OPENED THEN CLOSED. REPORTED AND TAKEN TO DEALER APRIL 20 2004, THEY FOUND WINDOW GLASS ALMOST FALLING OFF CLIP. REINSTALLED. RELEASED BACK TO ME. BEFORE I LEFT THE SERVICE AREA, WINDOW FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN. DEALER THEN REPLACED MOTOR 2 TIMES. STILL SAME PROBLEM. DEALER CONTACTED VW. AND WAS TOLD SOFTWARE UPDATE NEEDED AND SHORTER CABLES. AS OF TODAY AUGUST 21,2004 WINDOW STILL HAS PROBLEM AND… Look up ODI 10088319 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Too few reports for a range	16,634 mi	4 (sparse)	ODI 10021316 · 55,000 mi I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH, WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND MY CAR WENT UP ON THE CENTER DIVIDER. I COULD NOT STEER MY CAR OFF THE DIVIDER, AND THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING AS WELL EITHER. I IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE ENGINE STOPPED AND MY CAR POWERED OFF WITHOUT WARNING (THE CAR HAS A HISTORY OF FAILED WARNING LIGHTS OR WARNING LIGHTS GOING ON FOR NO REASON, HAVING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED ONCE, BUT NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM). MY CAR ENDED UP SPINNING OUT ACROSS THE ROAD AND SLAMMING INTO A TREE ON THE … Look up ODI 10021316 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10018976 · 3,000 mi ONGOING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS/FALSE POSITIVES FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. GEL-LIKE SUBSTANCE IN THE OIL. FREQUENT REPLACEMENT OF INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS. NLM Look up ODI 10018976 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10041043 · 25,000 mi I PURCHASED A 2000 VOLKSWAGON BEETLE ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO AND ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER I BROUGHT IT HOME THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I READ THAT THESE CARS WERE COMING WITH SOME KIND OF SAFTEY DEFECT IN THE ENGINE AND THAT'S THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM THE DEALER HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIX TWICE ALREADY GOING ON THREE TIMES. THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND THESE PEOPLE SEEM TO BELIEVE THEY KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. WHAT SHOULD I DO I DON'T WANT THE CAR TO CAUSE SOME KIND OF ACCIDENT OR ENDANGER MY FAMILY OR ME. Look up ODI 10041043 at NHTSA ↗
Unknown Or Other	Too few reports for a range	22,500 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10006355 · 35,000 mi THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SERIOUS MALFUNCTIONS, WHICH MADE IT TOTALLY UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE. AK SCC NLM *DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS739197 Look up ODI 10006355 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10100587 · 10,000 mi THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 NEW BEETLE FAILS TO ENGAGE FOR A SECOND OR TWO AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. DOESN'T DO IT AT OTHER TIMES, ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AN HOUR OR MORE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION MODULE TWICE (TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS) AND THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BEHAVE THIS WAY. INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS THIS SMALL DELAY FOR EMISSIONS REASONS. I AM NOT BUYING IT, NOT WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUE… Look up ODI 10100587 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle Speed Control	Too few reports for a range	55,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10018400 · 55,000 mi DRIVING AT 65 MPH, ENGINE SPEED 2200 RPM, VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATES TO ENGINE SPEED 1200 RPM (35 MPH). APPROX 5-10 SECONDS LATER THE MIL ("CHECK ENGINE") LIGHT COMES ON SOLID AND THE GLO-PLUG LAMP BLINKS. OBD-II DIAGNOSTIC CODE "P0226" (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR) CODE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY READ. THROTTLE CONTROL MAY BE MOMENTARILY REGAINED BY TURNING VEHICLE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SPEED (OBSERVING CARE THAT ROAD IS STRAIGHT SO THAT STEERING WHEEL LOCK DOES NOT LOCK UP). FAILURE MAY RE-OCCUR WITHIN 50-100 YARDS, REPEATED… Look up ODI 10018400 at NHTSA ↗
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module	Too few reports for a range	41,583 mi	3 (sparse)	ODI 10097977 · 85,000 mi SOME TYPE OF 'CONTROL MODULE' NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WITHOUT IT THE AIR-BAG SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH HELPED IN THE DECISION TO BUY THE CAR, AND AFTER 5 YEARS IT FAILS RENDERING THE SYSTEM USELESS AND REQUIRING OVER $700 TO REPLACE. THIS IS WRONG! Look up ODI 10097977 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10017880 · 17,500 mi THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB Look up ODI 10017880 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10088497 · 41,583 mi SEATBELT AIR BAG SENSOR- AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON 11/8/03 TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ORDERED THE PART. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THOSE, TURN SIGNALS WERE GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS, WAS TOLD THESE NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. CALLED IN 2 WEEKS AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ON MANUFACTURE BACKORDER AND THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY CAME IN. I CALLED EVERY 2 WEEKS THEY PART WERE NOT IN. 3/3/04 SMOG TEST DONE TO REGISTER MY CAR- FAILED SMOG, TOOK CAR TO DEALER CAT C… Look up ODI 10088497 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2004: 10 complaints · 2006: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2004	10	10	10
2006	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2004	10	0	2
2006	0	0	1

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Electrical System	Exterior Lighting:Headlights	Power Train:Automatic Transmission	Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Unknown Or Other	Vehicle Speed Control	Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
Electrical System	—	1 ODI 10088497 · 41,583 mi SEATBELT AIR BAG SENSOR- AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON 11/8/03 TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ORDERED THE PART. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THOSE, TURN SIGNALS WERE GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS, WAS TOLD THESE NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. CALLED IN 2 WEEKS AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ON MANUFACTURE BACKORDER AND THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY CAME IN. I CALLED EVERY 2 WEEKS THEY PART WERE NOT IN. 3/3/04 SMOG TEST DONE TO REGISTER MY CAR- FAILED SMOG, TOOK CAR TO DEALER CAT C… Look up ODI 10088497 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	4 ODI 875140 AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND FUEL TANK. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES OIL LEAKS. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, DEALER SECURED LOOSE CONNECTOR CLEAR CODES. PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. TRUNK VERY HARD TO CLOSE, DEALER ADJUSTED UPPER AND LOWER TRUNK LOCK ASSEMBLY. SLC Look up ODI 875140 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10018976 · 3,000 mi ONGOING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS/FALSE POSITIVES FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. GEL-LIKE SUBSTANCE IN THE OIL. FREQUENT REPLACEMENT OF INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS. NLM Look up ODI 10018976 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10016051 · 8,268 mi THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DROPPED DRAMATICALLY, AND THEN STALLED. JB THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK(REPEATEDLY), LOCK UP, SIT FOR HOURS/FROZEN, START BUT NOT COME OUT OF PARK, ABS AND EPC LIGHT PROBLEMS WHICH WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THE OVERLOAD PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED, WHILE DRIVEN, THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN TO 30 MPH AND DOWN TO 20 MPH ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE MOTOR SOUNDED LOUD AND THE VEHICLE HAD SHAKEN, THE DEALER FOUND THREE FAULT CODE FOR THROTTLE CONTROL A… Look up ODI 10016051 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	2 ODI 875140 AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND FUEL TANK. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES OIL LEAKS. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, DEALER SECURED LOOSE CONNECTOR CLEAR CODES. PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. TRUNK VERY HARD TO CLOSE, DEALER ADJUSTED UPPER AND LOWER TRUNK LOCK ASSEMBLY. *SLC Look up ODI 875140 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10088497 · 41,583 mi SEATBELT AIR BAG SENSOR- AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON 11/8/03 TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ORDERED THE PART. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THOSE, TURN SIGNALS WERE GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS, WAS TOLD THESE NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. CALLED IN 2 WEEKS AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ON MANUFACTURE BACKORDER AND THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY CAME IN. I CALLED EVERY 2 WEEKS THEY PART WERE NOT IN. 3/3/04 SMOG TEST DONE TO REGISTER MY CAR- FAILED SMOG, TOOK CAR TO DEALER CAT C… Look up ODI 10088497 at NHTSA ↗
Exterior Lighting:Headlights	1 ODI 10088497 · 41,583 mi SEATBELT AIR BAG SENSOR- AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON 11/8/03 TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ORDERED THE PART. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THOSE, TURN SIGNALS WERE GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS, WAS TOLD THESE NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. CALLED IN 2 WEEKS AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ON MANUFACTURE BACKORDER AND THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY CAME IN. I CALLED EVERY 2 WEEKS THEY PART WERE NOT IN. 3/3/04 SMOG TEST DONE TO REGISTER MY CAR- FAILED SMOG, TOOK CAR TO DEALER CAT C… Look up ODI 10088497 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0	0	0	0	1 ODI 10088497 · 41,583 mi SEATBELT AIR BAG SENSOR- AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON 11/8/03 TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ORDERED THE PART. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THOSE, TURN SIGNALS WERE GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS, WAS TOLD THESE NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. CALLED IN 2 WEEKS AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ON MANUFACTURE BACKORDER AND THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY CAME IN. I CALLED EVERY 2 WEEKS THEY PART WERE NOT IN. 3/3/04 SMOG TEST DONE TO REGISTER MY CAR- FAILED SMOG, TOOK CAR TO DEALER CAT C… Look up ODI 10088497 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	0	0	—	1 ODI 10100587 · 10,000 mi THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 NEW BEETLE FAILS TO ENGAGE FOR A SECOND OR TWO AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. DOESN'T DO IT AT OTHER TIMES, ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AN HOUR OR MORE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION MODULE TWICE (TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS) AND THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BEHAVE THIS WAY. INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS THIS SMALL DELAY FOR EMISSIONS REASONS. I AM NOT BUYING IT, NOT WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUE… Look up ODI 10100587 at NHTSA ↗	0	1 ODI 10100587 · 10,000 mi THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 NEW BEETLE FAILS TO ENGAGE FOR A SECOND OR TWO AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. DOESN'T DO IT AT OTHER TIMES, ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AN HOUR OR MORE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION MODULE TWICE (TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS) AND THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BEHAVE THIS WAY. INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS THIS SMALL DELAY FOR EMISSIONS REASONS. I AM NOT BUYING IT, NOT WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUE… Look up ODI 10100587 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 758474 CAR DOWNSHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP, CAUSING DRIVER AND PASSENGERS TO BE LUNGED FORWARD IN THEIR SEAT.. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND INCREASES WHEN VEHICLE IS WARMED UP. ON OCCASION DOWNSHIFT OCCURRED SO HARD THAT I THOUGHT I WAS JUST REAR -ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR MY WIFE AND NOW SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT.*AK Look up ODI 758474 at NHTSA ↗	0
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls	0	0	1 ODI 10100587 · 10,000 mi THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 NEW BEETLE FAILS TO ENGAGE FOR A SECOND OR TWO AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. DOESN'T DO IT AT OTHER TIMES, ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AN HOUR OR MORE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION MODULE TWICE (TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS) AND THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BEHAVE THIS WAY. INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS THIS SMALL DELAY FOR EMISSIONS REASONS. I AM NOT BUYING IT, NOT WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUE… Look up ODI 10100587 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	1 ODI 10100587 · 10,000 mi THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 NEW BEETLE FAILS TO ENGAGE FOR A SECOND OR TWO AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. DOESN'T DO IT AT OTHER TIMES, ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AN HOUR OR MORE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION MODULE TWICE (TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS) AND THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BEHAVE THIS WAY. INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS THIS SMALL DELAY FOR EMISSIONS REASONS. I AM NOT BUYING IT, NOT WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUE… Look up ODI 10100587 at NHTSA ↗	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	4 ODI 875140 AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND FUEL TANK. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES OIL LEAKS. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, DEALER SECURED LOOSE CONNECTOR CLEAR CODES. PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. TRUNK VERY HARD TO CLOSE, DEALER ADJUSTED UPPER AND LOWER TRUNK LOCK ASSEMBLY. SLC Look up ODI 875140 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10018976 · 3,000 mi ONGOING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS/FALSE POSITIVES FOR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. GEL-LIKE SUBSTANCE IN THE OIL. FREQUENT REPLACEMENT OF INTERIOR/EXTERIOR LIGHTS. NLM Look up ODI 10018976 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10016051 · 8,268 mi THE VEHICLE'S SPEED DROPPED DRAMATICALLY, AND THEN STALLED. JB THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: THE LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK(REPEATEDLY), LOCK UP, SIT FOR HOURS/FROZEN, START BUT NOT COME OUT OF PARK, ABS AND EPC LIGHT PROBLEMS WHICH WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY AND WAS TOLD THE OVERLOAD PROBLEMS SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED, WHILE DRIVEN, THE VEHICLE DROPPED DOWN TO 30 MPH AND DOWN TO 20 MPH ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE MOTOR SOUNDED LOUD AND THE VEHICLE HAD SHAKEN, THE DEALER FOUND THREE FAULT CODE FOR THROTTLE CONTROL A… Look up ODI 10016051 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	—	1 ODI 889261 ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON NINE OCCASIONS, AND VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH OR MORE ON TWO OCCASIONS. DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. AK CONSUMER STATES OTHER BEETLE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED, HOWEVER SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTIFICATION. SLC Look up ODI 889261 at NHTSA ↗	0	1 ODI 875140 AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND FUEL TANK. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES OIL LEAKS. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, DEALER SECURED LOOSE CONNECTOR CLEAR CODES. PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. TRUNK VERY HARD TO CLOSE, DEALER ADJUSTED UPPER AND LOWER TRUNK LOCK ASSEMBLY. *SLC Look up ODI 875140 at NHTSA ↗
Unknown Or Other	0	0	1 ODI 10100587 · 10,000 mi THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 NEW BEETLE FAILS TO ENGAGE FOR A SECOND OR TWO AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. DOESN'T DO IT AT OTHER TIMES, ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AN HOUR OR MORE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION MODULE TWICE (TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS) AND THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BEHAVE THIS WAY. INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS THIS SMALL DELAY FOR EMISSIONS REASONS. I AM NOT BUYING IT, NOT WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUE… Look up ODI 10100587 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 10100587 · 10,000 mi THE TRANSMISSION IN MY 2002 NEW BEETLE FAILS TO ENGAGE FOR A SECOND OR TWO AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR A WHILE. DOESN'T DO IT AT OTHER TIMES, ONLY WHEN THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING AN HOUR OR MORE. DEALERSHIP REPLACED TRANSMISSION MODULE TWICE (TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS) AND THE THIRD AND FOURTH TIME I BROUGHT IT IN WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO BEHAVE THIS WAY. INHERENT TO THE DESIGN OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS THIS SMALL DELAY FOR EMISSIONS REASONS. I AM NOT BUYING IT, NOT WITH ALL THE OTHER ISSUE… Look up ODI 10100587 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 889261 ONGOING PROBLEM WITH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEP COMING ON. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON NINE OCCASIONS, AND VEHICLE STALLED OUT WHILE TRAVELING AT 40 MPH OR MORE ON TWO OCCASIONS. DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. AK CONSUMER STATES OTHER BEETLE VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECALLED, HOWEVER SHE HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTIFICATION. SLC Look up ODI 889261 at NHTSA ↗	—	1 ODI 752498 EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON///CAR LOSES POWER......EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS MOST OF MY DRIVE TO WORK IS ON FREEWAY...HAPPENED 7/4 AND 7/5..TAKEN INTO METRO VW 7/5....TOLD OT PROBLEMS FOUND....HAPPENED AGAIN 7/9 RETURNED TO METRO VW/CHECKED/NOTHING WRONG....HAPPENED AGAIN 7/12/13...ETURNED TO METRO VW....THROTTLE REPLACED....HAPPENED AGAIN 7/12 7/13 AGAIN TO METRO VW THROTTLE BODY REPLACED......HAPPENED AGAIN 7/30 THROTTLE BODY REPLACED.....AGAIN 9/10 9/11...CONTROL MOD. REPLACED AGAIN 9/12...THOUGHT I WAS GOIN TO DIE THIS TIME....WHEN LO… Look up ODI 752498 at NHTSA ↗	0
Vehicle Speed Control	0	0	1 ODI 758474 CAR DOWNSHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP, CAUSING DRIVER AND PASSENGERS TO BE LUNGED FORWARD IN THEIR SEAT.. DEALER STATES THAT THIS IS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE CAR. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND INCREASES WHEN VEHICLE IS WARMED UP. ON OCCASION DOWNSHIFT OCCURRED SO HARD THAT I THOUGHT I WAS JUST REAR -ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR. I BOUGHT THE CAR FOR MY WIFE AND NOW SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE IT.*AK Look up ODI 758474 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	1 ODI 752498 EPC AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON///CAR LOSES POWER......EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS MOST OF MY DRIVE TO WORK IS ON FREEWAY...HAPPENED 7/4 AND 7/5..TAKEN INTO METRO VW 7/5....TOLD OT PROBLEMS FOUND....HAPPENED AGAIN 7/9 RETURNED TO METRO VW/CHECKED/NOTHING WRONG....HAPPENED AGAIN 7/12/13...ETURNED TO METRO VW....THROTTLE REPLACED....HAPPENED AGAIN 7/12 7/13 AGAIN TO METRO VW THROTTLE BODY REPLACED......HAPPENED AGAIN 7/30 THROTTLE BODY REPLACED.....AGAIN 9/10 9/11...CONTROL MOD. REPLACED AGAIN 9/12...THOUGHT I WAS GOIN TO DIE THIS TIME....WHEN LO… Look up ODI 752498 at NHTSA ↗	—	0
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module	2 ODI 875140 AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND FUEL TANK. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES OIL LEAKS. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, DEALER SECURED LOOSE CONNECTOR CLEAR CODES. PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. TRUNK VERY HARD TO CLOSE, DEALER ADJUSTED UPPER AND LOWER TRUNK LOCK ASSEMBLY. *SLC Look up ODI 875140 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10088497 · 41,583 mi SEATBELT AIR BAG SENSOR- AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON 11/8/03 TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ORDERED THE PART. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THOSE, TURN SIGNALS WERE GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS, WAS TOLD THESE NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. CALLED IN 2 WEEKS AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ON MANUFACTURE BACKORDER AND THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY CAME IN. I CALLED EVERY 2 WEEKS THEY PART WERE NOT IN. 3/3/04 SMOG TEST DONE TO REGISTER MY CAR- FAILED SMOG, TOOK CAR TO DEALER CAT C… Look up ODI 10088497 at NHTSA ↗	1 ODI 10088497 · 41,583 mi SEATBELT AIR BAG SENSOR- AIR BAG MALFUNCTION LIGHT CAME ON 11/8/03 TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY ORDERED THE PART. BOTH HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING BY THE TIME I GOT TO THE DEALER, THEY REPLACED THOSE, TURN SIGNALS WERE GOING ON AND OFF ALONG WITH THE HAZARD LIGHTS, WAS TOLD THESE NEEDED TO BE ORDERED. CALLED IN 2 WEEKS AND WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ON MANUFACTURE BACKORDER AND THEY WOULD CALL ME WHEN THEY CAME IN. I CALLED EVERY 2 WEEKS THEY PART WERE NOT IN. 3/3/04 SMOG TEST DONE TO REGISTER MY CAR- FAILED SMOG, TOOK CAR TO DEALER CAT C… Look up ODI 10088497 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	1 ODI 875140 AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND FUEL TANK. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES OIL LEAKS. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, DEALER SECURED LOOSE CONNECTOR CLEAR CODES. PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. TRUNK VERY HARD TO CLOSE, DEALER ADJUSTED UPPER AND LOWER TRUNK LOCK ASSEMBLY. *SLC Look up ODI 875140 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

7 patterns with matching reports.

Warning lights and dashboard alerts

17 mentions · 8.9% of complaints

Median mileage: 17,500 mi (11 usable records).

ODI 10021316 · 55,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH, WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND MY CAR WENT UP ON THE CENTER DIVIDER. I COULD NOT STEER MY CAR OFF THE DIVIDER, AND THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING AS WELL EITHER. I IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE ENGINE STOPPED AND MY CAR POWERED OFF WITHOUT WARNING (THE CAR HAS A HISTORY OF FAILED WARNING LIGHTS OR WARNING LIGHTS GOING ON FOR NO REASON, HAVING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED ONCE, BUT NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM). MY CAR ENDED UP SPINNING OUT ACROSS THE ROAD AND SLAMMING INTO A TREE ON THE …

Look up ODI 10021316 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 765117

WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE. DRIVER TURNED CRUISE CONTROL OFF MANUALLY TO AVOID ACCIDENT. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD NO BRAKE LIGHT ACTIVATION. THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT TO ADVISE OF PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM. DEALER EMPLOYEE ADVISED THERE ARE NUMEROUS INCIDENTS AND SWITCH HAS BEEN REDESIGNED AT LEAST ONCE. NO RECALL OR NOTICE OF THIS SAFETY PROBLE…

Look up ODI 765117 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10017880 · 17,500 mi

THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS BAD AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*JB

Look up ODI 10017880 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(warning light\w*|check engine|dashboard warning\w*|malfunction indicator)\b

Stalling or loss of power

15 mentions · 7.9% of complaints

Median mileage: 19,509 mi (8 usable records).

ODI 740272

Look up ODI 740272 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 889261

Look up ODI 889261 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 875140

Look up ODI 875140 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b

Brake response concerns

6 mentions · 3.1% of complaints

Median mileage: 27,234 mi (2 usable records).

ODI 765117

Look up ODI 765117 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 732395

BRAKE PEDAL MUST BE DEPRESSED SIGNIFICANTLY (1 INCH OR MORE) BEFORE ANY SENSATION OF THEM BEING APPLIED. YOU LOSE 1/4 TO 1/2 SECOND OF BREAKING TIME, COULD BE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING OR NOT HAVING AN ACCIDENT. THE PEDAL DOESN'T FEEL SOLID BUT SPONGY.

Look up ODI 732395 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 755652

WHILE COMING TO AN INTERSECTION AND DOWNSHIFTING, INSTEAD OF THE CAR SLOWING DOWN, THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED ITSELF ON AND PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE. BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CRUISE CONTROL TURNED OFF. THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONE TIME. MY CAR HAS NOW BEEN IN THE SHOP 8 TIMES FOR NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND VW OF AMERICA DOESN'T SEEM TOO INTERESTED ON SOLVING THE PROBLEMS.

Look up ODI 755652 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Hard or delayed shifting

4 mentions · 2.1% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 10023493

I BOUGHT A VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE ON THE 12TH OF JUNE BEFORE WE WENT ON VACATION. WE TRAVELED 860 MILES ONE WAY. THE CRUISE LIGHT WOULD NEVER COME ON, NOT EVEN WHEN YOU STARTED THE VEHICLE. ANYWAY WE COULD GO ANYWHERE FROM 10 MILES TO 100 MILES AND THE CRUISE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY KICK OFF, JERKING THE CAR. WE CALLED OUR DEALER IMMEDIATELY BUT HE COULD NOT HELP. WHEN WE GOT BACK FROM VACATION WE TOOK IT UP THERE. THEY SAID THAT IT WAS SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. ALSO IN THE MANUAL IT SAYS THAT THERE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A FUSE FOR CRUISE: THERE IS NOT ON…

Look up ODI 10023493 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 750426

WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPLIED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHES FORWARD. THIS HAPPENS ALMOST DAILY AND SOMETIMES MULTIPLE TIMES CONSECUTIVELY. IN ONE INSTANCE, THE CAR THRUST FORWARD INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.*AK

Look up ODI 750426 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 759383

TRANSMISSION NOTED TO BE DOWNSHIFTED VERY HARD WHEN COMING TO A SLOW STOP. WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP AND REACHING THE 15-20 MPH AREA CAR WILL JERK HARD. TOOK BACK TO TONY HONDA FOR SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING CHECKS OUT TO VOLKSWAGEN SPECS AND THEY WERE NOT GOING TO CHECK INTO IT ANY FURTHER. VOLKWAGEN WAS CONTACTED BY ME AND TOLD TO TAKE CAR FOR SECOND OPINION AT CUTTER VOLKWAGEN HERE IN HONOLULU. STEVE FROM SERVICE DROVE THE CAR AND COULD NOT BELIVE IT WAS DOING THE DOWNSHIFTING. AFTER SEVERAL DAYS IN THE SHOP THEY REPLACED PAR…

Look up ODI 759383 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Steering assistance concerns

3 mentions · 1.6% of complaints

Median mileage: 55,000 mi (2 usable records).

ODI 10021316 · 55,000 mi

Look up ODI 10021316 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10018400 · 55,000 mi

DRIVING AT 65 MPH, ENGINE SPEED 2200 RPM, VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATES TO ENGINE SPEED 1200 RPM (35 MPH). APPROX 5-10 SECONDS LATER THE MIL ("CHECK ENGINE") LIGHT COMES ON SOLID AND THE GLO-PLUG LAMP BLINKS. OBD-II DIAGNOSTIC CODE "P0226" (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR) CODE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY READ. THROTTLE CONTROL MAY BE MOMENTARILY REGAINED BY TURNING VEHICLE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN SPEED (OBSERVING CARE THAT ROAD IS STRAIGHT SO THAT STEERING WHEEL LOCK DOES NOT LOCK UP). FAILURE MAY RE-OCCUR WITHIN 50-100 YARDS, REPEATED…

Look up ODI 10018400 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10037118

POWER STEERING PUMP CONTIUOUSLY RUNS OUT OF FUEL AND THERE IS NO EVEDENCE OF LEAKAGE.*AK

Look up ODI 10037118 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\b

Battery drain and no-start mentions

1 mentions · 0.5% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 745087

ENGINE WOULD NOT START, AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IT STARTED BUT CHECK ENGINE & AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER 23 MILES, BUT AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON UNTIL INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED BY DEALER. *AK

Look up ODI 745087 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Oil consumption or dilution

1 mentions · 0.5% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 895766

2.0 LITER ENGINE IS BURNING OIL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

Look up ODI 895766 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(oil consumption|burn\w* oil|consum\w* oil|oil dilution|gas(?:oline)? in (?:the )?oil)\b