NHTSA Complaint #10350160 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

WHILE THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS BEING LOWERED BY THE 20 YEAR OLD FEMALE DRIVER IT MADE A HORRENDOUS GRINDING NOISE WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO NEARLY LOSE CONTROL AS SHE TRIED TO STOP QUICKLY. SHE FEARED SOMETHING IN THE REAR WHEEL WAS BREAKING. A SHORT TIME LATER THE PASENGER SIDE WINDOW GROUND TO A STATE OF DISREPAIR. NOW THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WINDOW NEEDS TO BE LOWERED VERY CAREFULLY TO AVOID ENGAGING THE AUTOMATIC FEATURE AS THIS CAUSES THE WINDOW TO MAKE A TERRIBLE NOISE. THIS IS VERY DISTRACTING TO THE DRIVER TO HAVE TO STOP THE WINDOW JUST BEFORE IT REACHES THE FULLY OPEN POSITION. THE REAR WINDOWS HAVE TO BE MANUALLY POSITIONED JUST RIGHT TO ALLOW THE CONVERTIBLE TOP TO BE LOWERED PROPERLY. ALSO, WHEN SMALL CHILDREN ARE IN THE BACK SEAT THEY MAY BE ABLE TO CAUSE THE WINDOWS TO FALL DOWN ALL THE WAY SUBJECTING THEM TO EJECTION OR THE ABILITY TO FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON THEIR OWN. WHEN IT IS RAINING OR SNOWING THE ELEMENTS FLY IN THROUGHT THE WINDOWS BECAUSE THEY WON'T STAY UP. THIS IS ALSO VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. REPAIR ESTIMATES FOR THE REAR WINDOWS START AT $1500.00 WHICH THIS PARTICULAR OWNER/DRIVER CANNOT BEGIN TO AFFORD!. VW REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. *TR