NHTSA Complaint #10274768 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

REAR WINDOW IS DEATTACHING FROM CONVERTIBLE TOP CREATING OPEN SPACE INTO CAR. FABRIC SHRINKING BACK FROM GLASS. HEADLINER DEATTACHED FROM INSIDE WINDOWS EVEN THOUGH CLIPS HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED. $1850 FOR NEW TOP PER DEALER PLUS 6-8 HOURS FOR LABOR AT $98 AN HOUR.GLASS CANNOT BE RE GLUED ..WHOLE TOP MUST BE REPLACED. VWOA CUSTOMER CARE CONTACTED MANY TIMES AND WAS TOLD SORRY YOU ARE OVER WARRANTY. MANY MANY PEOPLE ON LINE REPORTING SAME PROBLEM ON THE 2003 MODEL. VWOA NOT INTERESTED IN CHECKING INTO THE PROBLEM ONLY REPEATING THAT I AM OUT OF WARRANTY. WHAT HAPPENS IF IT FALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING..OR FALLS IN TO THE BACKSEAT AND HITS PASSENGER OR GOD FORBID SOMEONE WITH A BABYSEAT BACK THERE. VWOA WAS NOT INTERESTED IN THE PROBLEM JUST IN LETTING ME KNOW THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND IT IS NOT COVERED. THERE IS NOTHING ELSE WRONG WITH THE TOP IT IS A DEFECT IN THE HEAT SEAL OR ADHESIVE HOLDING THE WINDOW IN PLACE. I HAVE ALSO HAD THE SAME WINDOW PROBLEMS AS THE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON THE SITE BUT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AT THE TIME. HOWEVER ,FROM MY INTERNET SEARCH IT SEEMS THAT THE REAR CONVERTIBLE TOP WINDOW STARTED FALLING OUT STARTING FOR MOST IN 2008. I BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 04 AND CAN'T BELIEVE I CANT EVEN DRIVE IT SAFELY EVEN THOUGH I'M STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON IT WITHOUT MAKING A $3000 REPAIR. *TR