Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS - UNDERBODY SHIELDS | |||||
| 2015831 | 08/28/2008 | 10026848 | Volkswagen: exhaust heat shield, replacement guidelines. heat shields are to be inspected after completion o any type of repair to the underbody (exhaust system transmission, etc.), and if damaged, replaced. *pe | 12/29/2008 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | |||
| 09/15/1999 | 30 | 2 | 09/15/1999 |
| Dt: volkswagen beetle 1999. the consumer is not satisfied with mirrors on the left driver's side. they have too much of a blind spot for oncoming vehicles. also, the post between the windshield and the left and right sides, before getting to the doors, are also giving the consumer trouble, as being a blind spot. the consumer pulled out onto the highway in front of oncoming traffic, and didn't see another vehicle because of the blind spots from the car. *ak *sc *jb | |||
| 3 | |||
| Problems with vehicle's instrument panel and radio.*mr the instrument panel had to be replaced twice. the radio operated on it's own and the windows rolled down on their own. the consumer was unable to use the power controls to. he wrote a letter to the vw dealership and has not received any response. the car was taken and auctioned off. the consumer was trying to find a way to make sure volkswagen be held accountable. *cb the consumer also stated the odometer rolled up approximately 9000 miles, the dealer ran a computer check but found nothing wrong with the vehicle. *jb | |||
| 03/25/2001 | 1 | 12/01/1999 | |
| When consumer backed up into 6 inches of snow engine skid plate, which was attached by 3 bolts on either side to a plastic component, disconnected from vehicle. dealership replaced bolts and replaced skid plate to vehicle. *ak the shields under the vehicle were broken. *yh | |||
| 10/23/1999 | 1 | ||
| Low bottom chassis clearance caused damage to vehicle while going over curbs edges. yh | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - BUMPERS | |||
| 03/20/2000 | 2 | 02/01/1999 | |
| Gravel gaurd fell off while driving down drive way. took to local dealer. dealer said it was not under warranty because of outside contact. dealer(santa cruz volkswagon) said it was caused by parking at curbs. i asked them why they didn't tell me the car couldn't be parked up to a curb when i bought it. i then called volkswagen. they refused responsibility even though my car is still under warrenty. they stated the same thing as santa cruz. i told them that when i learned how to drive the drivers training instructor told us to touch the tire to the curb, or parking block. they agreed that they learned the same thing. but the supervisor at volkswagen of america still refused and would not give superiors phone number. called bob lewis volkswagon, they said the gravel gaurd falls off of 99% of the beetles that they sell. and they have not seen volkswagon warrenty one yet. *ak | |||
| 05/07/1999 | 05/01/1999 | ||
| Concealed damage due to poor design of front bumper. car has no visible defects to exterior but has extensive internal damage. manufacturer and dealer refuse to acknowledge that there is a problem and correct damage*ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR | |||
| 1 | |||
| The passenger side door will not open from the inside. *jg | |||
| 11/01/2000 | |||
| All of the electrical problems occur periodicaly. one day the gas gauge will show empty when the tank is full. the electric window went down and never came back up, they had to replace a switch in side the door. the right side door handle has to be pulled on twice to open from the outside. the rear hatch will not always open when released, you must push the buttom again to open it. and the reason i am filling out this questionnaire is because the car tonight would not start. the lights would come on, then off, then dim, then go bright. (the radio shows on its small window the word safe) the ignition switch does not seem to be working. so i decided to check out your web site for any recalls or service bulletins. the car will be heading to the dealership in the morning. thank you for your time and consideration. | |||
| 07/01/1998 | 1 | 06/10/1998 | |
| Keyless entry failed. *slc | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | |||
| 08/20/2002 | 58000 | 1 | 06/01/2001 |
| 1)driver's side window had difficulty going up since vehicle purchase, have to push with hand to assist. 2) just a few months after purchase sensor behind brake pedal failed, vehicle would shift from park, replaced. 3) air bag came on and then engine light soon after, catalytic converter replaced. both warning lights off and replaced. 4) headlights are constantly blowing out, evidence of a short when replaced. burn marks, and exposed wiring because plastic on connectors got brittle and cracked off. 5) air bag light on again, two weeks later engine light on. told two sensors on mass air flow and some others are malfunctioning and now been replaced. told there is a broken clock spring in steering column along with bad wiring harness, both affecting air bags. also, told air bag is now bad and needs to be replaced because other defective components have shorted igniter in air bag out. i am a college student and cannot continue to fund repairs to this vehicle. cannot sell either because of these problems, and now reputation of beetle for problems. vehicle has never been in an accident, even so much as bumped. meticulously maintained. dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis----------------770755. *ak *nlm | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE | |||
| 05/24/2000 | 0 | ||
| Hatchback rattles while driving. also when putting vehicle in drive , vehicle hesitates and stalls. *ak | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - TRUNK LID | |||
| 1 | 02/17/1999 | ||
| While driving at 35 mph vehicle began to stall, and shake, showed a sign of vehicle losing power.engine check light illuminated on the dash panel, and vehicle shut off. dealer has been contacted. *ak engine also hesitates when accelerating from the start. vehicle has had complaints regarding trunk and fuel release actuator cable. steering rods came loose and had to be resecured and mounting bolt.. window motor failed. *yh | |||
| 07/20/2000 | 1 | 06/10/1998 | |
| The hatch will not open from the switch inside, but will always open with the remote when raining, the actuator/motor was replaced. *slc | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | |||
| 03/11/2000 | 1 | 03/01/1999 | |
| Engine cover pulled off while driving through 5 inches of show due to low clearance and poor fastener design. dealer refused to fix under warranty. vw hotline refused to help. | |||
| 06/28/1999 | 1 | 06/01/1999 | |
| Dealer contacted about damage to rails of car. dealer stated that car may have been damaged during offloading/transport. *ak | |||