Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM | |||||
| 800001 | 03/02/2000 | 612463 | Vehicles may experience no air flow adjustment at center air outlet (s). *mjs | 06/08/2000 | |
| VISIBILITY - DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM - WINDSHIELD - BLOWER | |||||
| 0201 | 03/04/2002 | 633842 | Fresh air blower motor, inoperative at ambient air temperatures near or below freezing. *tt | 09/24/2002 | |
| 800101 | 07/18/2001 | 622402 | Experiencing excessive noise and / or vibration originating from the fresh air blower motor assembly. *tt | 10/17/2001 | |
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||||
| 0603 | 04/26/2006 | 10020720 | Door windows, may seperate from window regulator clamps. *kb | 01/03/2007 | |
| 0307 | 04/04/2003 | 10001570 | Driver and passenger door window regulator repairs. *tt | 06/06/2003 | |
| VISIBILITY - SUN ROOF ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 0001 | 09/29/2000 | 9904 | 618423 | Subject regarding sunroof binding or noisy due to broken slide(s). *tt | 04/12/2001 |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY - POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | |||
| 03/12/2000 | 60000 | 6 | 01/15/1999 |
| Ive had multiple failures with my 1998 beetle. the car was overheating--found out that the engine fuses were melted over the battery terminal. my reverse lights stopped working--no one has been able to correct that yet, my daytime running lights don't usually work, but sometimes will come on all by themselves. got locked in my car twice. the alarm sometimes goes off for no reason. the car periodically doesn't start. had it towed to vw twice for this. they could find no problems. also, something in the car's electrical components is drowning the battery--have to buy a new battery every six months. i have replaced both windows once . i had the brake light switch replaced three times and was rear -ended once before vw finally did a recall on that part. i'm sure i have left something out--there is so much it's hard to remember. bottom line--this car is a hazard on the road for the person driving and other motorists. *jb | |||
| 01/15/2005 | 31500 | 1 | 09/26/2000 |
| Dt: the consumer stated that 1998 volkswagen beetle intermittently stalled while driving. the speed was not a factor. the whole electrical system failed when the car stalled. this started happening in january of 2005. the consumer to the car took the dealership, and the dealership could not find the cause of the problem. the consumer did not call the manufacturer. diagnostic testing was done with no results. *ak the consumer stated the problem has been rectified. the window switch was replaced. *jb | |||
| 04/25/2005 | 97785 | 8 | |
| This vehicle has had a series of problems since i have owned it. i have always been a volkswagen enthusiast. so when i saw the new beetles i was naturally excited and couldn't wait to own one. what i expected was volkswagens usual excellent quality and value for money. what i got was a vehicle that not only is an inconvenience to drive, but is also a safety concern. this vehicle has had at least 8 major defects. i call them defects because so many others have experienced similar issues with their new beetles. keep in mind the vehicle is regularly maintained, and is only at 97,000 miles. 1. check engine light is on and vehicle stalls or cuts out on a regular basis. 2. the low beams on my headlights always burn out. i change the lights and they just burn out again. i always have to drive instead with my high beams on. 3. my driver side and passenger side windows have fallen into my doors. meaning that they wont roll up, a loud, noise can be heard when you try. i was told by volkswagen that they were aware of the problem. they even told me that it was because they used plastic clips to hold the windows and they are now replacing with metal clips. fine and good, but while my windows were down my seats became severely stained. (they stain easy) who's going pay for that??? 4. the window switch that controls the windows going up and down broke off in my hand. 5. the radio tries to load a tape when there isn't one. hood latch broke, has to be opened with screwdriver now. thanks vwoa!! 6. heater motor turns up and down on its own 7. engine holds high rpms in highway, rapid iol consumption. 8 reverse lights malfunctioned. questions vwoa? call me, we'll chat 269-986-0996 . *ak | |||
| 05/10/2004 | 1 | ||
| Passenger side power window and driver side power window malfunctioned and driver side plastic switch broke off.*ak | |||
| 07/06/2002 | 53000 | 2 | |
| Both passanger and drive window mechinisms had to be replaced. windows would not go up.*ak | |||
| 06/08/2003 | 1 | ||
| 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, volkswagen needs to take care of this problem. *jb | |||
| 11/01/2001 | 2 | ||
| While in motion, the power windows failed. the driver side window failed when consumer was operating it and it just stopped moving and then fell down into the car door. the passenger side window failed in august 2002. consumer powered the window down and then it would not go back up, leaving it open. the driver window was fixed at the dealership in vermont and the passenger window was repaired at the dealership in washington, dc. a volkswagen representative informed consumer that the power windows were a chronic problem with these vehicles, but that no recall had been issued. consumer requests reimbursement for monies paid for repairs. *jg *scc | |||
| 2 | 08/01/1998 | ||
| The switches that control both the driver's and passenger's side windows have broken. the first time they broke, i took the car to the dealer and had the switch replaced under warranty. the switches soon broke for the second time within a year of purchase, but since i have a long commute to work i was outside of the 24,000 mile warranty. i have not had the switches replaced a second time, but have come to accept this inconvenience. however, after reading some other similar complaints on this website, i wanted to offer further evidence that there may be a problem with these window switches. | |||
| 2 | 08/01/1998 | ||
| The window switches have broken twice. they were repaired under warranty the first time. i have not had them replaced a second time, as the warranty had expired due to mileage (even though the switches broke twice within a year of purchase of the vehicle). i do not plan on having the switches replaced again, as i am convinced that they will simply break again. i have seen similar complaints on this website, so i wanted to submit further evidence that there may be a problem with the switches. the air conditioner stopped working about 2 years after purchase of the vehicle. upon inspection by an independent service station, a leak in the air compressor valve was diagnosed. the mechanic stated that this was unusual and that there did not appear to be any trauma to the unit. i have contacted volkswagen regarding this problem, but am not optimistic about a resolution, due to their response to the high mileage on the car which negates the warranty. as with the switches i have seen similar complaints on this website and wanted to offer further evidence. | |||
| VISIBILITY - REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES - EXTERIOR | |||
| 06/14/2006 | 58997 | 1 | 04/18/1998 |
| Dt*: the contact stated without incident, both the lower pivots for the exterior rear view mirrors fractured. the mirrors are inoperable and cannot be turned. the dealership determined the entire mirror assembly needed to be replaced. | |||
| 12/10/2004 | 60000 | 10 | 08/08/2003 |
| I own a 1998 beetle and i am making you aware of a safety concern that can possibly lead to an accident or even cause a death. i have complained before and nothing has been done. the external mirrors on the early new beetles are dangerously oversized thus causing a significant blind-spot(s) when driving. these blind spots, (especially drivers side) prevent visibility to the front sides of the vehicle. ex. if there is someone in the crosswalk in front left of you, you cannot see them or it!!! on too many occasions to count i and others have almost hit a pedestrian and another oncoming vehicle due to this failure!!! i don't know how many more times i will be so lucky, but i feel as if i am driving a ticking time bomb. vw has come up with the solution by redesigning newer beetles with smaller and relocating the external mirrors thus eliminating the problem. but, those of us who have theses older versions are stuck with this very critical safety concern...please help! *jb | |||
| 05/01/2001 | |||
| The left side, outside rear view mirror in combination with the left, lower a pillar create a severe blind spot. when making a left turn with a vehicle in front of you, the view of that vehicle is completely blocked by the mirro/pillar. if the vehicle in. *ak | |||