NHTSA Complaint #10093320 — 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE

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 GEAR ONLY, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR LIGHT WOULD NOT LIGHT UP. SALESMAN ADVISED TO DRIVE TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT, WHICH TOOK OVER 45 MINUTES AT A TOP SPEED OF 10 MPH. WORK ORDER #87669 INDICATES POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL CONTACT AND READS: HOOK-UP VAS 5051 CODES PO1626 DATA-BUS POWER-TRAIN MISSING MESSAGE FROM TCM, CODES 01315 AND 01315 INST CLUSTER AND DATA BUS GEARBOX CONTROL UNIT NO COMMUNICATION. PERFORMED ALL TEST WITH VAS 5051 AND PER TECH HOTLINE, NO FAULTS FOUND ADVISE TO CLEAR CODES AND TEST DRIVE. IF NO FURTHER PROBLEM OR CODES, RETURN VEHICLE TO CUSTOMER. VW TECH HELP CONTACT NO CASE #. FURTHER OVERNITE ROAD TEST-ALL OK ON TEST. DISCREPANCY-MILEAGE WO #87669 READS 143 MILES IN, BUT MILEAGE CHANGED TO 561 IN AND 602 OUT WHEN CAR PICKED UP. 2. 9-16 SEPTEMBER 16 SAME HAPPENED AROUND LUNCH, DROVE TO DEALER SALESMAN SAID IT WAS FINE 3. 9-16 EVE OUT OF GEAR-TOWED, SERVICE ORDERED CLUSTER TO INSTALL 4. 9-27 VEHICLE WOULDN'T ENGAGE. STILL AT SHOP. THEY SAY THEY REPLACED MORE STUFF, CUSTOMER DOESN'T TRUST AFRAID OF SAFETY-SELF, FAMILY, OTHERS ON THE ROAD. *AK