NHTSA Complaint #10434354 — 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

WHILE DRIVING THE CAR STOP AND GO-WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR-THE RPMS WOULD REV AND FINALLY THE NEXT GEAR WOULD "CATCH" REALLY SLAM INTO GEAR AND THE CAR WOULD SHIFT. I HAD MANY NEAR MISS ACCIDENTS DUE TO MY CAR FAILING TO MOVE FORWARD IN TRAFFIC. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. I FINALLY DROVE IT DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER WHILE THE PROBLEM HAPPENED AND THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO "WITNESS" THE PROBLEM, THE REPAIR WAS MADE-REPLACED TRANSMISSION PARTS AT 62,000 MILES. NOW AT 80,000 MILES, THE CAR DOES 2 THINGS-WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR FEELS AS IF IT HAS LOST POWER-THE CAR STAYS ON, BUT THERE IS NO POWER TO THE ENGINE-STEP ON THE GAS AND NOTHING HAPPENS-NO RPMS, NOTHING, THE CAR SLOWS DOWN IMMEDIATELY, BUT BECAUSE IT HAPPENS SO SUDDENLY, CARS THAT ARE FOLLOWING ME DON'T ALWAYS REACT IN TIME AND I HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED-AFTER A FEW SECONDS ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR WILL REGAIN POWER. THE 2ND PROBLEM HAPPENS RANDOMLY-AS I AM DRIVING, THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. ALL OF THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH ON AND THE CAR DIES-NO POWER STEERING, NOTHING, JUST A DEAD CAR. I HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR, TURN EVERYTHING OFF (RADIO, AIR ETC), AND TURN THE CAR BACK ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED DURING A LEFT TURN, AT A STOP SIGN, WHILE DRIVING ON THE STREET. AGAIN VW MECHANIC FINDS NOTHING ON THE COMPUTER. THIS CAR IS A LEMON-I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 2 BATTERIES, SEVERAL HEADLIGHTS, TAIL AND TURN LIGHTS, AIR BAG SENSORS, ALL 4 WINDOW REGULATORS, PLUS 2 OF THE SAME WINDOW REGULATORS TWICE, TRUNK LATCH, REAR ASHTRAY HOLDER, CONVERTIBLE STRAPS, REAR CONVERTIBLE WINDOW CLIPS, AND NOW WHENEVER IT RAINS MY CAR LEAKS. I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE THE CAR IN IT'S CURRENT CONDITION, AFRAID TO CAUSE OR BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS CAR IS NOT SAFE, PLEASE HELP. *TR