NHTSA Complaint #10327213 — 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

I PURCHASED A 2005 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IN 10/2009 AS A WAY TO "SAVE MONEY" AND TRADED IN MY SUV. IT HAD 48000 MILES AND NOW HAS 56000. IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD. I TOOK IT IN TO A LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOP TO HAVE MY TRANS FLUID CHANGED, THINKING THAT MIGHT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. FOUND OUT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY RUINED AND NEEDED TO BE REBUILT, WHICH COST $4600+ DOLLARS. MY HUSBAND STARTED LOOKING ONLINE AND THERE ARE PAGES AND PAGES OF TESTIMONIALS REGARDING THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I TALKED TO THE VW CUSTOMER CARE DEPT, THEY DIDN'T KNOW OF ANY PROBLEMS OR COMPLAINTS AND BECAUSE I DIDN'T GO TO A DEALERSHIP FOR MY REPAIRS, OR PURCHASE THEIR EXTENDED WARRANTY, I AM OUT OF LUCK. I'M AFRAID IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. AT LEAST I WENT TO AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP, BECAUSE LOOKING AT ALL THE COMPLAINTS FROM PEOPLE THAT HAD THEIR TRANSMISSIONS REPLACED AT THE VW DEALER, LOTS OF THEM ARE NEEDING THEM REPLACED AGAIN. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE A RECALL ISSUE. ALTHOUGH I DIDN'T HAVE AN ACCIDENT, I AM THANKFUL THAT MY TRANSMISSION DIDN'T GO OUT OR ACT UP WHEN I WAS ON THE FREEWAY OR SOMEWHERE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE MAKE VW BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS, COME TO FIND OUT, COMMON DEFECT. THE PROBLEMS STARTED PROBABLY IN 1/2010 AND JUST HAD THE TRANS REBUILT 4/2010. *TR