NHTSA Complaint #10554739 — 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

TODAY, 12/3/13, I HAD MY 3RD WINDOW REGULATOR GO OUT IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS. EACH OCCURRENCE HAS BEEN ON A DIFFERENT WINDOW, AND EACH REPAIR HAS COST FROM $400 - $600. THE SERVICE ADVISORS I'VE SPOKEN TO HAVE ALL SAID THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLES BECAUSE THE PART IS POORLY ENGINEERED AND THEY'RE SURPRISED A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN MADE. THIS POORLY ENGINEERED PART IS NOT ONLY A FINANCIAL ABUSE TO THE CONSUMER, BUT ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE. IF THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CONVERTIBLE IS DOWN, THEN ONE IS NOT ABLE TO PUT THE TOP BACK UP, WHICH NOW DOES NOT ONLY COST YOU A NEW WINDOW, BUT THE LOSS OF THE CAR IF IT'S STOLEN WHILE UNATTENDED. ADDITIONALLY WHAT COULD HAPPEN, AS IT DID IN MY CASE. THE WINDOW MADE A NOISE ON SUNDAY, THIS MORNING (TUESDAY) I TOOK MY CAR IN, THE PART WON'T BE IN UNTIL TOMORROW OR POTENTIALLY THURSDAY. IN THE MEAN TIME, IT'S RAINING IN MY CITY AND I LIVE IN APARTMENTS AND HAVE TO PARK ON THE STREET. THEREFORE, MY CAR RUNS THE RISK OF NOT ONLY GETTING STOLEN, BUT THE INTERIOR BEING DAMAGED IF THE PLASTIC ON THE OUTSIDE COMES OFF DURING THE HEAVY RAIN. AGAIN, MAJOR INCONVENIENCE TO THE CONSUMER, WHILE THE MANUFACTURER NOT ONLY POCKETS THE CUSTOMERS CAR PAYMENT ON A MONTHLY BASIS, BUT IS ALSO MAKING MONEY IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WITH A VEHICLE THAT WAS PRODUCED BY THEM WITH FAULTY PARTS IN THE FIRST PLACE. FINALLY, THE WINDOW AT ANY MOMENT CAN FALL INTO THE DOOR AND SHATTER, WHICH WOULD MAKE THE BROKEN WINDOW A HEALTH RISK IF THE INDIVIDUAL IS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE WINDOW SHATTERS; THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER COULD BE INJURED BY THE GLASS. IN CONCLUSION, THERE SEEMS TO BE MULTIPLE RISK AND CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME ISSUE, IT IS LUDICROUS THAT A RECALL OR PERMANENT SOLUTION HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. *TR