Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | |||
| 11/14/2012 | |||
| There seems to be an issue with the rear windows and rear window regulators in the new beetles from 2003-2010. i have experienced and read numerous testimonials that indicate this is a design flaw that vw is making money repairing. | |||
| 07/11/2012 | 75000 | ||
| Left rear window regulator stopped working in july 2012. in october 2012 the right rear window regulator stopped working. both have to be replaced. car is very well maintained but was bought used. vw dealer covers nothing but charges an enormous amount to fix. reading other blogs there are many, many with the same issue. there should be a recall and vw should be responsible for replacing the rear window regulators. the rear windows not working means you can not put the convertible top down without risking further damage to the car. | |||
| 07/12/2012 | 68000 | ||
| Both rear window regulators have become defective. do not work. | |||
| 08/01/2012 | |||
| The airbag light remains on the dashboard, mechanics have said they cannot fix it, makes me concerned there is an issue with the passenger airbag both the passenger window and the driver's side window regulators are both broken. the driver's side window will not go down when you press the window button, and the passenger door/ window rattles when driving and when you shut the door | |||
| 08/30/2012 | 65000 | ||
| 2005 vw beetle convertible. rear windows regulator/motors broke. vw issued an extended warranty for front windows (7 years) rear windows have the same problem. dealer wants $700.00 per side to fix. windows do not roll down on command. often fall on their own after a bump in the road. *tr | |||
| 08/01/2012 | |||
| The airbag light remains on the dashboard, mechanics have said they cannot fix it, makes me concerned there is an issue with the passenger airbag both the passenger window and the driver's side window regulators are both broken. the driver's side window will not go down when you press the window button, and the passenger door/ window rattles when driving and when you shut the door | |||
| 08/30/2012 | 65000 | ||
| 2005 vw beetle convertible. rear windows regulator/motors broke. vw issued an extended warranty for front windows (7 years) rear windows have the same problem. dealer wants $700.00 per side to fix. windows do not roll down on command. often fall on their own after a bump in the road. *tr | |||
| 09/15/2009 | 32000 | ||
| The car is convertible and both rear windows stopped operating normally and there was a window-crunching sound and the windows were stuck, had to move them in the upright position by hand and put some kinds of rubber door stops to keep them in the up position. it is funny how both stopped working arround the same time (probably a week apart) literally right after the warranty expired. it seems from what i have seen to be a standart problem in these cars and i just wanted to share my experience as well. also the front window regulator started acting up and you could feel something was not properly aligned because when you move the window you could feel like it was not moving as smoothly as the passenger's door. it would not go all the way down and it would be sticking up like an inch or so, then other times it will go down all the way but it will make this funny sound like it is stucck on something. i tried opening the door cover and before even got to disassembling of the inner panel and realized the cable had broken. i dont know what is the reasoning for all this but it looks that because of the fact that the windows will travel a bit down everytime you have to put the roof up or down it might put extra strain and wear that was not planned for initially. in my honest opinion if you get 3 out of 4 window regulator problems in less than the cars first 4-5years, there has got to be something wrong or flaws with the design thanks | |||
| 09/20/2006 | |||
| The window regulators on the vehicle are predictably failing approximately every 2 years without much use at all. the part is poorly engineered and expensive to replace. it is a known issue that vw refuses to fix. i have had my window regulators replaced on each of my 4 windows twice: september 30, 2006right rear window regulator replacement july 18, 2007left rear window regulator replacement april 29, 2009left front regulator replacement august 15, 2009right front window replaced (shattered when a friend closed, not slammed, the door) july 21, 2010left rear window regulator | |||
| 09/10/2012 | 91000 | ||
| After having the valve body fixed under an extended warrenty in march 2011, i am currently having the same exact transmission issues. vw refuses to cover this expense since the extended warrenty is now void, and the parts warrenty is void as well. however, i've driven this car for less thatn 6k since the repair. i also just had this vehicle at the dealership a month ago to fix the tiptronic transmission which just went out. now, two weeks after that repair, the valve body just decided to give out? well, vw is telling us the issue now is a valve body harness..? this is just starting to seem rediculous on my dime. | |||
| 08/30/2012 | 40000 | ||
| Driver side rear window dropped and could not be raised. about 2 years ago the driver front window did the same thing. | |||
| 08/12/2012 | |||
| According to all the info i have gathered. it seems my car ,along with so many bothers have this same problem. it happens way too often for it not to be a major problem for the owners to pay for the repair. whan it is a fault of the vw makers. my rear passenger window regulator is broken. something should be addressede about this bissue. vw is responsible for the bad mechanical desighn of the windows in these vehicles. why should we (as consumers)have to pay for their screw up?sincerely,maggie allesi | |||
| 01/05/2012 | 79500 | ||
| My 2005 vw beetle is a turbo/automatic. it has 79,500 miles on it. the car jerks and shakes when slowing down for a stop. it happens at various speeds, from 60 mph and less. i had the transmission fluid checked and changed, but the problem still occurs. i don't feel safe in my car anymore. i don't know what it's going to do which might endanger me or other drivers around me. i've read many beetle owner complaints on-line about the same problem, and it appears to be a common occurrence. i am aware that a letter from nhtsa was sent out to some vw beetle owners to extend the warranty that covers the valve body in your vehicle's transmission to 7 years or 100,000 miles. i never received that notice! to have a new valve body installed would be an expense i can't afford. i am a senior citizen, and i occasionally have my grandchildren in the car with me. i don't feel my car is safe enough to have them in the car now. when i purchased the vehicle, i expected it to last me longer than 7 years, especially since vw has a good reputation. i checked the blue book value of my car, and the repairs would probably be about half of what the car is worth. i can't sell it and make any money on it; i can't trade it in and get much for it; and if i had to purchase another car, i'd have car payment that i can't afford. i am now stuck with a car that doesn't work properly and possibly dangerous to drive. i am very disappointed. | |||