NHTSA Complaint #10354344 — 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

LURCHING IN SHIFT OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WE BOUGHT AN OFF LEASE CONVERTIBLE 05 NEW BEETLE. IT DROVE FINE AT FIRST BUT WE CONTINUALLY NOTICED A LURCHING OR BUCKING SHIFTING BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND. THIS OCCURRED AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES OF DRIVING. AFTER LOOKING UP THE ISSUE ON THE INTERNET WE FOUND IT TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. WE WERE JUST OUT OF THE MONTHLY WARRANTY BUT UNDER THE MILEAGE WARRANTY. WE TOOK IT TO OUR CERTIFIED VW MECHANIC AND HE SAID WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER DOING A DRAIN AND FILL. WE CONTACTED VW AND THEY SAID WE NEEDED A DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSIS FOR THEM TO GET INVOLVED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID WE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. VW OFFERED A GOODWILL REMEDY OF $1000 OFF A NEW BEETLE. WE TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALTY SHOP AND THEY FIXED THE VEHICLE WITH AN AFTERMARKET THROTTLEBODY KIT WITH A TOTAL COST OF $1025.00. THE KIT THEY USED ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM OF THE SHIFT PRESSURE. I DON'T BELIEVE THE OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. SO FAR NO PROBLEMS. *TR