1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Exterior Lightingbrake Lightsswitch Problems

IN NOV 2003 I HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON MY 1999 VW NEW BEETLE GLX UNDER RECALL 03V-265. TODAY (MARCH 19, 2008) I LEARNED THAT A SECOND RECALL (#06V183000) WAS ISSUED ON MAY 4, 2006 WHICH STATED THAT "ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265" AND THAT THE CORRECTIVE ACTION WAS "DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE" I CONTACTED VW ABOUT THIS RECALL (06V183000 ) AT THE NUMBER LISTED IN IT AND THEY SAY THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT. THIS IS PROBABLY BECAUSE PER ACTION RQ06004 THIS RECALL WAS LISTED AS CLOSED ON AUGUST 7, 2006. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE OF THIS SECOND RECALL FROM VW EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE SWITCH IN MY CAR WAS PERFORMED AS PART...

TL*- THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID 03V265000 CONCERNING EXTERIOR LIGHTING: BRAKE LIGHTS: SWITCH ON THE 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004. EVER SINCE THE FIRST FAILURE, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE 4 TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND A SOLUTION OTHER THAN REPLACING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, WHICH WOULD BE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE SINCE THEY PERFORMED THE RECALL ONCE ALREADY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62000 AND THE CURRENT WAS 82810. NEITHER THE SPEED NOR THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE A FACTOR IN THE FAILURE.*AK THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE SWITCH, HOWEVER IT FAILED AGAIN. UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

1999 WW BEETLE WITH MANY PROBLEMS INCLUDING SHIFTING, BRAKE SWITCH (RECALL N4)**CC THE CONSUMER COULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF PARK, WHICH WAS RELATED TO THE BRAKE SWITCH. THE CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AFTER ALREADY HAVING THE REPAIRS DONE. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER BECAUSE THEY WOULD ONLY HAD PAID FOR THE SWITCH AND NOT THE LABOR BECAUSE AT THE TIME, THE RECALL WAS NOT IN EFFECT. THE SERPENTINE BELT AND STARTER WAS REPLACED. *JB

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT MADE A SAFETY REPAIR ON HIS VEHICLE, AND HE LATER RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL LETTER. THE CONTACT HAS MADE ATTEMPTS TO BE REIMBURSED BY THE MANUFACTURER, AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED, STATING THAT THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF THE SAFETY RECALL AFTER THE FACT, AND HE WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED. *AK

MY WIFE BECAME STUCK AND COULD NOT DRIVER HER 1999 VW NEW BEETLE AFTER DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH WAS PUSHING ON HER BRAKE PEDAL. SO I HAD TO INSTRUCT HER TO REMOVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH SO THE CAR COULD MOVE. ALSO THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH IS ON IT THIRD OR FOURTH RECALL FROM VW. WHY SO MANY RECALLS? CAN'T VW GET IT RIGHT? *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE BRAKE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. TO DISENGAGE THE BRAKE LIGHT THE FUSE WAS REMOVED. A NHTSA RECALL, #03V265000 WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT OFFER A SECOND REPAIR WITHOUT A CHARGE. THERE IS A SECOND NHTSA RECALL, # 06V183000, REGARDING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. THE RECALLED PART FAILED TWICE SINCE THE ORIGINAL PART WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS BECOMING INOPERATIVE, THE TRANSMISSION ALSO LOCKS RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE BEING INOPERABLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, 03V265000 CONCERNING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, HOWEVER THE RECALL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED TO REIMBURSE THE CONTACT FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART THAT WAS PURCHASED.

VEHICLE PURCHASED 03/1999. PROBLEM: BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER NON-FUNCTIONING OR STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY. REPAIRS: REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH VOLKSWAGEN PART#1J0945511A,B,& D. OCCURENCES: 05/12/1999, 09/24/1999 AND 04/23/2001 OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE. THREE OTHER OCCURENCES UNTIL 2003 REPLACED UNDER IN-HOUSE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION "WARRANTY". SAFETY RECALL ISSUED 10/2003. RECALL REPAIRS COMPLETED 11/2003. OCCURENCE: 06/2005 RECALLED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AGAIN. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. REPLACES BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, BUT REFUSES TO HONOR ANY KIND OF WARRANTY OF THE PART THAT FULFILLED THE ORIGINAL RECALL. THIS NEGATES THE 10/2003 RECALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. IT LEAVES ME, THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, JEOPARDIZED WITH THE SAME REAR CRASH SAFETY SITUATION I WAS ENCOUNTERING BEFORE THE RECALL. I AM REPLACING THE PART, OF COURSE, BUT AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND WITHOUT ANY CONCERNS FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. QUESTION: HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY THE MALFUNCTION OF THIS SAME RECALL MANDATED REPAIR? WILL THERE BE...