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 | |||
| 09/17/2010 | 63782 | ||
| Problem with transmission, gear stuck in low. | |||
| 05/28/2009 | 70000 | 1 | |
| Vw beetle convertible '04 (approx. 80k miles) - slipping and banging transmission. slams and bangs hard with each downshift (automatic) after about 15 miles or driving. slips or will not move when accelerating after slamming and banging begins. cannot drive car in traffic for fear or being rear ended or broadsided, therefore, cannot safely or dependably drive the car. expected thousands to repair if a mechanic who understands the problem can be found. many of the know issues with car have also occurred; broken plastic water pump, rear window seal broken, passenger side window will not go all the way down, passenger side seat belt light malfunction, headlights uneven brightness, short in dash, heated seat too hot to use (fear of fire) and incredible door rattles. *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY | |||
| 05/30/2012 | 114000 | ||
| I have had the regulator replaced in my rear driver's side window and my front and rear passenger side windows. it seems that there might be a manufacturer defect with the regulators/windows. thank you | |||
| 05/20/2011 | 8900 | ||
| 2004 vw beetle convertible - put rear passenger window down (window open). when i trided to put it up, it only went half-way up, then automatically went back down. after tryng to get it to go up two additional times, there was a loud crunching noise and a cracking noise, so i stopped trying to move it. currently in the half-way position. after reading otheer vw owner forums online, this is oviously a defect vw needs to address. | |||
| 01/10/2011 | 34000 | ||
| This vehicle was subject to a recall for the air bag sensors. we had previously had the sensors replaced (the vehicle was just out of warranty based on time). vw refused ultimately reimbursed us for the repairs and replacement of the sensors. in january of 2011 the air bag light came on. the dealer charged a fee to do a diagnostic test. they determined that the light was due to the failure of the driver side seat belt buckle, and the fact that the battery was discharged and needed to be repaired. they wanted approximately $480 to replace the seat belt buckle, and $245 to replace the battery. i called vw customer service and they agreed to replace the buckle for no charge, but would do nothing about the battery. vw opened a case # 110006836 and regional manager lisa was the contact. we had aaa come to do a test on the battery. the battery and charging system both passed the test. they recommended that a trickle charge would bring the battery to a full charge. in addition, vw agreed to do a one time courtesy replacement of the convertible roof since the fabric had separated from the rear window. a clip recall had already been performed, but the headliner was hanging down and had separated from the rear window. we feared that the window could separate from the roof at highway speeds. statement indicates that vw performed 61.07-02 tech bulletin to perform modifications to the rear window. | |||
| 01/01/2011 | 34000 | ||
| The convirtable top was defective and the rear window was seperating from the top. previously performed modification to rear window headliner ring. clip recall already performed and headliner continued to hang down and was seperating from the window. window could seperate from roof at higher speeds. | |||
| 01/10/2011 | 34000 | ||
| This vehicle was subject to a recall for the air bag sensors. we had previously had the sensors replaced (the vehicle was just out of warranty based on time). vw refused ultimately reimbursed us for the repairs and replacement of the sensors. in january of 2011 the air bag light came on. the dealer charged a fee to do a diagnostic test. they determined that the light was due to the failure of the driver side seat belt buckle, and the fact that the battery was discharged and needed to be repaired. they wanted approximately $480 to replace the seat belt buckle, and $245 to replace the battery. i called vw customer service and they agreed to replace the buckle for no charge, but would do nothing about the battery. vw opened a case # 110006836 and regional manager lisa was the contact. we had aaa come to do a test on the battery. the battery and charging system both passed the test. they recommended that a trickle charge would bring the battery to a full charge. in addition, vw agreed to do a one time courtesy replacement of the convertible roof since the fabric had separated from the rear window. a clip recall had already been performed, but the headliner was hanging down and had separated from the rear window. we feared that the window could separate from the roof at highway speeds. statement indicates that vw performed 61.07-02 tech bulletin to perform modifications to the rear window. | |||
| 01/01/2011 | 34000 | ||
| The convirtable top was defective and the rear window was seperating from the top. previously performed modification to rear window headliner ring. clip recall already performed and headliner continued to hang down and was seperating from the window. window could seperate from roof at higher speeds. | |||
| 01/10/2011 | 34000 | ||
| This vehicle was subject to a recall for the air bag sensors. we had previously had the sensors replaced (the vehicle was just out of warranty based on time). vw refused ultimately reimbursed us for the repairs and replacement of the sensors. in january of 2011 the air bag light came on. the dealer charged a fee to do a diagnostic test. they determined that the light was due to the failure of the driver side seat belt buckle, and the fact that the battery was discharged and needed to be repaired. they wanted approximately $480 to replace the seat belt buckle, and $245 to replace the battery. i called vw customer service and they agreed to replace the buckle for no charge, but would do nothing about the battery. vw opened a case # 110006836 and regional manager lisa was the contact. we had aaa come to do a test on the battery. the battery and charging system both passed the test. they recommended that a trickle charge would bring the battery to a full charge. in addition, vw agreed to do a one time courtesy replacement of the convertible roof since the fabric had separated from the rear window. a clip recall had already been performed, but the headliner was hanging down and had separated from the rear window. we feared that the window could separate from the roof at highway speeds. statement indicates that vw performed 61.07-02 tech bulletin to perform modifications to the rear window. | |||
| 01/01/2011 | 34000 | ||
| The convirtable top was defective and the rear window was seperating from the top. previously performed modification to rear window headliner ring. clip recall already performed and headliner continued to hang down and was seperating from the window. window could seperate from roof at higher speeds. | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - HOOD - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | |||
| 11/02/2008 | 38600 | 1 | |
| Safety latch on front hood mechanism not durable and has broken just out of warranty. car under 30k miles. only used 6 months out of every year. model year 2004. design flaw on a major safety item. dealer claims entire assembly needs removal and replacement. under my examination i found that the component failure was a spring on inner side of assembly. spring definitely not heavy enough to withstand normal usage. hood could become un-latched and safety latch will not catch it causing hood to fly up and onto windshield. properly damage and personal injury/crash highly possible at higher speeds. *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE - BODY - ROOF AND PILLARS | |||
| 06/24/2008 | 500 | 1 | |
| Convertible roof does not work properly. it does not go completely up or down. the vehicle can not be driven because of the location of the roof. it is unsafe to drive the vehicle with the roof in any position other than completely up or down. the roof blocks the field of view and therefore makes it unsafe to drive. additionally the wind catches on the roof and causes the vehicle to have control issues. the car has been repaired many times each year at the dealership. *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | |||
| 08/26/2010 | 77000 | ||
| Vw 2004 new beetle convertible rear window inoperable. the rear window regulator fails and vw will not repair under the extended 7 year window warranty. i had both door windows replaced under the extended warranty. the driver rear window regulator was replaced under warranty. but the passenger rear window didn't fail under the car's warranty. however, vw has an extended 7 year warranty that they implemented only for the front regulators (why were the rear window regulators excluded? it is clear they fail just like the front ones do). the extended warranty should cover all window regulators as all of them have failed on my car and many others. | |||
| 11/16/2009 | 35000 | 1 | |
| The rear windows on my vw convertible keep breaking and the dealer wants to charge me $600 for the part that includes the motor and will not sell the regulator separately for $70. this will be the second one broken in less than 1 year. *tr | |||
| 10/30/2009 | 39000 | 1 | |
| Left rear window is stuck in down position. the component part is unavailable in the united states and has to be ordered from the factory in mexico. it will take 2-3 weeks for it to arrive. cost of repair is $800 for one side. complaints to manufacturer who will not stand behind their product as there are no recalls filed even though this is an on-going problem with many of their vehicles. additionally, the vehicle is a convertible. the hydraulic top has malfunctioned since the date it was purchased. it finally snapped off portions of the hydraulic mechanisms and portions of the interior flaps which are now all over the back seat. the top had to be manually raised and secured and does not function at all. although they repaired it previously, manufacturer will not repair because vehicle is no longer under warranty. driver's seat spring poked through the upholstery a month after purchase. additionally, there is a terrible blind spot while backing out. the rag top completely blocks vision on the right rear. i have complained numerous times to the manufacturer who offers nothing. i believe the entire vehicle should be recalled. i feel ripped off by the manufacturer. *tr | |||