NHTSA Complaint #10479874 — 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

I OWN A 2003 VW NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION. RECENTLY , AT RANDOM TIMES, WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP PAST 4000 RPM AND JUMP INTO GEAR. ESSENTIALLY A VERY HARD SHIFT. WITH PLANS TO KEEP THIS VEHICLE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TRUSTED MECHANIC. AFTER TEST DRIVING AND EXPERIENCING THE "HARD SHIFT", I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS MOST DEFINITELY TRANSMISSION RELATED, HOWEVER, ONLY VW CAN ACCESS THE TRANSMISSION DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS COMPLETELY SEALED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DAVID MAUS VOLKSWAGEN OF ORLANDO FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS "COMING APART FROM THE INSIDE" AND THAT IT WAS A "TICKING TIME BOMB". BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OVER 100000 MILES , IT DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY RECALL. THE REPAIR COST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION IS $6000.00. I FEEL THAT THIS IS GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, TO KNOWINGLY PLACE THIS VEHICLE WITH SUCH A MAJOR DEFECT ON THE MARKETPLACE. I NOW HAVE AN UNUSABLE HUNK OF SCRAP METAL SITTING IN MY GARAGE FOR FEAR OF THE TIME BOMB UNDER THE HOOD. I REFUSE TO DRIVE THIS CAR AND POTENTIALLY PUT OTHERS LIVES AT RISK. VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWINGLY PUTTING A CAR WITH SUCH A MAJOR DEFECT ON THE ROAD. *TR