2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Power Train Problems

Vehicle does not shift properly, vehicle does not shift to drive correctly and either shifts down or stays in neutral

. GETS STUCK RANDOMLY IN 1ST GEAR ... SOME OF THE TIME IT SHIFTS BUT IF I LEAVE IT RUNNING IN PARK FOR A FEW MINUTES (ESPECIALLY THEN) OR WHEN IT WARMS UP NICELY AND I THEN HAVE TO SLOW DOWN INTO 1ST LIKE AT A LIGHT AFTER I EXIT THE HIGHWAY AND THEN TRY TO DRIVE AGAIN IT WON'T SHIFT OUT OF FIRST . AND. I KNOW WHEN IT'S ABOUT TO START THIS BECAUSE IT STARTS SHIFTING SO HARD THE CAR LURCHES (SOMETIMES SO ROUGHLY THAT IF I HADN'T MADE SURE TO BE EXTRA FAR AWAY FROM ANY VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME THEN MY CAR WOULD HAVE LEAPED RIGHT INTO THEIRS - EVEN IF I AM BRAKING) VERY SCARY:( AND I FEEL UNSAFE ESPECIALLY WHEN IT LURCHES BADLY AND ALSO WHEN THE CAR STOPS GAINING SPEED BECAUSE IT GOT STUCK IN 1ST AND THE CARS BEHIND ME ALMOST...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND ROLLED BACK. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS APPLIED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND AND THE SAFE MODE ENGAGED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 133,437.

ON 11/3/2018 AT AROUND 11:00PM, I WAS DRIVING MY 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE ON THE HIGHWAY (90E TOWARDS CLEVELAND) GOING 65MPH. SUDDENLY, MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND HARD DOWNSHIFTED. THIS CAUSED A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED, AND I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A SEMI-TRUCK WHICH WAS BEHIND ME . LUCKILY, THE DRIVER OF THE SEMI WAS ALERT AND SWERVED OUT OF THE WAY JUST IN TIME. THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME THAT THIS AUTO TRANS HAS ACTED UP EITHER. HOWEVER, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WHERE I REALLY COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF IT. THIS TRANSMISSION IS FAULTY, THE SYMPTOMS POINT TO A MALFUNCTIONING VALVE BODY UNIT, AND THERE NEEDS TO BE AN INVESTIGATION OR A RECALL. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN INTO ACCIDENTS,HURT, OR EVEN KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS BAD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (JERKING/POPPING OUT OF GEAR AT RANDOM) NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY?...

THE CAR RUNS FINE WHILE IT IS COLD BUT WHEN IT WARMS UP THEN IT BEGINS TO "JERK", SHIFT UP AND DOWN "HARD". WE WERE TOLD IT WAS A TIPTRONIC SWITCH WAS BAD SO WE REPLACED IT AND NOW WE ARE TOLD THAT THE VALVE BODY TRANSMISSION IS BAD. THE CAR HAS LESS THEN 100K MILES ON IT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS WE HAVE ALMOST BEEN REAR-ENDED WHEN THE CAR BEGAN JERKING.

ONCE THE CAR WARMS UP, THE TRANSMISSION BEGINS TO SHIFT VERY ERRATICALLY. THIS INCLUDES WHILE UPSHIFTING - THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO REV UP AND SUDDENLY SHIFT INTO THE NEXT HIGHER GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETIMES THE UPSHIFT IS SO SUDDEN THAT IT CAUSES THE TIRES TO BREAK FREE. IT ALSO OCCURS WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO COME TO A STOP - THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS INTO LOW GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY AT TOO HIGH OF A SPEED CAUSING EVERYTHING IN THE VEHICLE (INCLUDING OCCUPANTS) TO LURCH FORWARD. THE SUDDEN DECELERATION COULD CAUSE REAR END COLLISIONS FROM FOLLOWING VEHICLES. EDMUNDS.COM HAS A FORUM FULL OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM - HTTP://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/7375/VOLKSWAGEN/NEW-BEETLE/VOLKSWAGEN-BEETLE-TRANSMISSION-PROBLEMS/P2

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2003 VW BEETLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT SHE WAS HAVING AN ISSUES WITH HER RPM'S REVVING VERY HIGH. SHE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AFTER AWHILE. SHE GOT BACK ON THE HIGHWAY AND CONTINUED TO DRIVE HOME, HER SPEED WAS ROUGHLY 65. ALL OF A SUDDEN HER VEHICLE DROPPED HER SPEED DOWN TO 50 CAUSING HER TO ALMOST BE REAR ENDED ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 TIMES. AS SHE IS AWAY AT COLLEGE SO HER CAR IS NOT DRIVEN MUCH, SO WE ARE UNSURE IF THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE AND WAS TAKEN TO A CAR REPAIR SHOP AND WE WHERE TOLD THE TRANSMISSION IS HAVING ISSUES. *TR

WE HAVE PURCHASED THIS 2003 BEETLE BUG FOR MY DAUGHTER AND THE TRANSMISSION IS HARD SHIFTING AND DOWN SHIFT REALLY BAD. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THIS MODEL AND YEAR. THERE AS BEEN NOTHING BUT COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE TRANSMISSION (VALVE BODY). MY UNDERSTANDING THE EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES. THIS BEETLE BUG ONLY HAS 86560. WE CAN'T EVEN DRIVE THIS CAR. I CAN'T BELIEVE WITH ALL THE ISSUE THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAS HAD WITH TRANSMISSION THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR. *TR

WE JUST BOUGHT A 2003 BEETLE BUG AND ONLY HAS 86560 AND SHIFTING AND JERKING REALLY HARD AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR A COUPLE MILES. IT SHIFT HARD AND DOWN SHIFT THRU 1, 2, 3 GEARS. AFTER READING SEVERAL REPORTS THERE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL. EVERY WHERE I READ, THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY UNTIL 2010 AND 100,000 MILES. WE ARE UNDER THE MILEAGE BY FAR. I FEEL THE DEALER NEED TO FIX THIS ISSUE SINCE THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE FOR THIS YEAR. YOU DON'T KNOW YOU HAVE AN ISSUE UNTIL YOU HIT AROUND 80,000 MILES MARK. I NEED SOME HELP AND DIRECTION WHAT CAN BE DONE FOR THIS CAR, *TR

VEHICLE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE DRIVING. BATTERY DEAD, NO POWER IN VEHICLE AT ALL. FOUND MELTED BATTERY FUSE BOX UNDER HOOD. ROOT CAUSE DETERMINED TO BE CORROSION ON ALTERNATOR POWER SUPPLY CABLE THAT CREATED HEAT ENOUGH TO MELT PLASTIC (~450F) AND BURN THE PROTECTIVE COVER OFF THE ALTERNATOR SUPPLY WIRE BACK 2 INCHES. POOR CONTACT DUE TO CORROSION CAUSED BATTERY TO DRAIN, WHICH EVENTUALLY COULD NO LONGER SUSTAIN ENGINE IGNITION. NO WARNING LIGHTS PRIOR TO ENGINE STOPPING. NO BATTERY POWER ALSO MEANS NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES, NO AIRBAGS DURING COLLISION. ONLINE FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF PEOPLE. IT WOULD APPEAR TO BE AS DEADLY AS THE GM IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE, BUT IT IS NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY VW. *TR

I WAS OUT DRIVING MY 2003 BEETLE ON THE FREEWAY AND THE VEHICLE BEGIN TO STALL AND SLOW DOWN. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE ENGINE JUST REV VERY HIGH AND STARTED JERKING. I IMMEDIATELY GOT OFF THE FREEWAY AS SOON AS I CAN. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE ON GOING. AFTER DRIVING FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 TO 30 MINUTES THE TRANSMISSION WILL REV HIGH AS THOUGH I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND EVENTUALLY JERKS AND LUNGES. IF I STOP AT A RED LIGHT THE CAR WILL STALL AND LURCH FORWARD UPON ACCELERATION. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 106,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY VOLKSWAGEN. *TR

MY CAR WAS PURCHASED AS A USED CAR. I PURCHASED IT WITH 100000 MILES (APPROX.), AND I HAVE PUT ON 31000 ADDITIONAL MILES SINCE (WITHIN 5 YEARS). MY CAR HAS ALWAYS BEEN ROUTINELY MAINTAINED/SERVICED. I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF MY BEETLE. IN NOVEMBER 2013, MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SLIP. IT HAS BECOME WORSE, AND IT LURCHES FORWARD WILL IN DRIVE, AND AT A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION MY CAR EITHER HESITATES TO TAKE OFF OR IT ROCKS BACK AND FORTH. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE FIX, HAVING CONSULTED TWO MECHANICS AND RECEIVING THEIR ESTIMATES. I FEEL THAT THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE POSES A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MYSELF, OTHER DRIVERS, AND PEDESTRIANS WHO MAY BE CROSSING IN FRONT OF MY LURCHING VEHICLE. I THINK THAT WITH THE MULTITUDE OF 2003 TRANSMISSION ISSUES/FAILURES, VW NEEDS TO STAND BEHIND THEIR FAULTY PRODUCT WITH A RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000. UPDATED 11/15/13*CN

THE AUTOMATIC 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. *TR

I AM THE THIRD OWNER AND I SHOULD HAVE CKED THIS CAR OUT SINCE THE PERSON WHO SOLD IT TOO ME DIDNT TELL ME A THING ABOUT THE CAR.I AM SO DICUSTED ABOUT THIS ADORABLE LOOKING CAR. I ONLY DROVE IT ONCE AND TOOK IT TOO OUR MECHANIC. WISHED I HAD TAKEN IT THERE FIRST$800.00 LATER AND JUST THE BEGINNING! I PAID TOO MUCH TO BEGIN WITH. IPAID $4500 FOR A 2003 VW BECAUSE IT WAS CUTE! SO I WISH VW WOULD HELP US AMERICAN PEOPLE. I WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR BUT HAVE ONLY DRIVEN IT ONCE.! HELP !! STILL AT THE MECHANICS! WISH PEOPLE COULD BE HONEST ! THIS WOULD NOT HAPPENED IN THE 60"S . WE HAVE A GOOD MECHANIC! THANK GOD! *TR

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS MY 2003 VW BEETLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT SEEMS TO HAVE TROUBLE CHANGING GEARS (IT'S AN AUTOMATIC) AND HAS GOTTEN STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. IT WILL JERK AND LUNGE WHEN SLOWING DOWN. EACH TIME THE MECHANIC HAS "RESET THE CODES" AND THE TEST DRIVE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ANYMORE TROUBLE. IT HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE AND NOW AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 25 OR 30 MINUTES IT BEGINS THE JERKING AND LUNGING. AFTER RESEARCHING, I SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. I LOVE MY CAR, BUT NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING IT AND I CERTAINLY CANNOT RELY ON IT. I NOW FEEL THAT I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT I CANNOT DRIVE NOR CAN I SELL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT AND WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL BANGING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL PROBLEM AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 82,200. *TR

MY DAUGHTERS 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE SHIFTS VERY HARD AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, ALMOST TO THE POINT OF POSSIBLE CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT! I'VE READ MESSAGE BOARDS AND HAVE REALIZED THAT THIS YEAR OF BEETLE NEEDS TO HAVE A RECALL ON THIS BEFORE SOMEONE LOSSES THEIR LIFE! IT SHIFTS THE WORST BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS. SHE IS SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS CAR! *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE HAS STARTED HARD SHIFTING WHEN WARM, CAUSING ERRATIC SPEED CHANGES AND POSSIBLE LACK OF TRACTION. VWOA ISSUED A RECALL AROUND A YEAR AGO HOWEVER ONLY WITHIN A VERY LIMITED NUMBER OF MILES DONE, SHOWING THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT TAKE ADEQUATE ACTION TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 VW BEETLE THAT I PURCHASED ON MAY 18, 2003 OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR OF MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. IT CURRENTLY IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE AS I HAVE EXPERIENCE ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMSSION SLIPPING HARD INTO GEAR OR JERKING TO A HARD STOP WHEN SLOWING DOWN. THIS STARTED IN APRIL, 2012, I TOOK IT IN TO THE VW DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND I ONLY HAVE 85,000 MILES. WELL, I TOOK IT TOO SEVERAL INDEPENDENT REPAIR LOCATIONS AND THEY SAID THE SAME WITH A COST UP TO AROUND $6,000. I WORKED HARD TO PAY MY CAR OFF AND NOW IT SITS COVERED IN MY GARAGE AS I HAVE READ THEIR ARE POSSIBLE CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS AGAINST VW FOR THIS ISSUE. I DID RECEIVE A NOTICE FROM VW IN NOVEMBER OF 2010 REGARDING WARRANTY EXTENSION - TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. IT COVERS THE VALVE...

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY AND ERRATICALLY DOWN SHIFTS OR HARD UP SHIFTS, CREATING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. *TR

WAS DRIVING MY BEETLE CONVERTIBLE AT AROUND 40MPH THERE WAS A CAR THAT STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME AND I STARTED SLOWING DOWN AS THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED IT JERKED SO HARD IT MADE ME GO INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND ALMOST HAVE A HEAD ON COLLISION VW IS AWARE OF THESE CARS DOING THIS AND WARRANTIED THE VALVE BODY'S BUT WHEN I CALLED AND TOLD THEM ABOUT MINE THEY SAID I WAS TO LATE THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OVER!!! THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND COULD RESULT IN PEOPLE BEING KILLED VW DIDN'T EVEN OFFER ME THE PART TO PAY SOMEONE TO FIX MY CAR SO NOW IT SITS IN THE YARD AND I CAN NOT DRIVE IT DUE TO I HAVE CHILDREN AND I'M SCARED IT WILL GETS US IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT AND HARM US! THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS BEFORE SO MANY...

TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY FAILED! *TR

THE VEHICLE STARTS UP FINE AND ACCELERATES NORMAL AT FIRST. JUST BEFORE THE VEHICLE SWITCHES TO SECOND GEAR IT GETS STUCK. THE ONLY WAY TO GET IT TO PROPERLY SHIFT TO SECOND GEAR IS TO GIVE IT MORE GAS, WHICH MAKES THE RPMS GO UP TO 7,000. AT THIS POINT THE VEHICLE CHANGES TO SECOND GEAR AND LUNGES FORWARD. I HAVE ALMOST REAR ENDED MULTIPLE PEOPLE DO THIS PROBLEM. ONCE THE VEHICLE GETS INTO SECOND GEAR IT ACCELERATES NORMALLY AGAIN, JUST UNTIL IT CHANGES TO THIRD GEAR AND DOES THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I DESCRIBED ABOVE. THIS PROBLEM IS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS, BUT ALSO FINANCIAL HURTFUL. I HAVE READ HUNDREDS OF REVIEWS ON THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ALL DESCRIBE THE SAME THING, ALONG WITH THEIR VEHICLES BEING VERY LOW IN MILEAGE. *TR

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...

THE 2003 VW BEETLE HAS STARTED TO SLIP AT 96,500 MILES GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. I HAVE DONE ALOT OF ONLINE RESEARCH AND THERE ARE SEVERAL FORUMS AND THOUSANDS OF SIMILAR CASES AS THE ONE I AM HAVING. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA CUSTOMER CARE AND TALKED TO TIM AND HE SAID BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. I MENTIONED THAT THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE THE VALVE BODY AND HE AGREED BUT STILL COULD NOT HELP ME. FURTHER RESEARCH LED TO ME FINDING A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINS VW AMERICA FOR EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. SINCE THERE ARE SO MANY DOCUMENTED CASES, I FEEL THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY AS THIS CAN LEAD TO A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE ON THE ROAD. WORSE YET, VW KNOWS ABOUT IT AND IS NOT DOING ANYTHING! PLEASE HELP. *TR *JS

THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTS ON ITS OWN AT ANY GIVING TIME. WAS CLOSE TO GETTING REAR ENDED SEVERAL TIMES.. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION DOWN SHIFTED AUTOMATICALLY AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO JERK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE JERKED WHEN THERE WAS A SHIFT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SLID OUT OF GEARS BY ITSELF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, HOWEVER NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,000.

WHEN THIS CAR SHIFTS INTO THIRD GEAR, IT IS VERY HARD AND VIOLENT WITH AN AWFUL LUNGE, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE CAR IN CONTROL. I AM STILL DRIVING IT, BUT WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT TO HAPPEN. *TR

MY VEHICLE WILL DOWN SHIFT REALLY HARD FROM 3RD TO 2ND WITH A LOUD CLUNK NOISE. THE TRANSMISSION AT TIMES WILL GET STUCK IN A GEAR AT A INTERSECTION AND NOT MOVE AT ALL..THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WILL TAKE OFF REALLY FAST. IT HAS DONE THIS ON THE FREEWAY AS WELL. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS CAR AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. I HAVE CONTACTED VW AND THEY SAID I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THEY KNOW THAT THEIR IS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS BUT FAIL TO FIX IT. THEY SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION A LOT OF THESE CAR OWNERS ARE YOUNG (NEW ) DRIVERS AND THIS IS NOT A SAFE CAR! *TR

2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE OWNER BLOGS, FAILED TRANSMISSION IS A COMMON AND FREQUENT OCCURRENCE. *05/31/12*BF THE CONSUMER STATED THAT UPON STARTING THE CAR AND SHIFTING IT MOVED FORWARD FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN STOPPED. THE ENGINE STILL RAN FINE BUT, THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT SHIFT TO HIGHER GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. UPDATED 06/06/12 *JS

AT 70,000 MILES, MY VW STARTING SHIFTING HARD CAUSING IT TO BE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. VW STATES THAT THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN THIS EARLY BUT THAT THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO DOWN SHIFT CONTINUOUSLY INTO LOWER GEARS. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO YEARS LATER. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE MOST RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

MY TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY IS FAULTY, BUT VW'S EXTENDED WARRANTY ONLY COVERS VEHICLES AFTER 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES. MY CAR WAS JUST 4 MONTHS TOO OLD TO QUALIFY AND THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE ANYTHING, DESPITE IT BEING A MAJOR ISSUE AFFECTING DRIVE PERFORMANCE. OTHER CARS IN MY SAME MODEL YEAR QUALIFIED, BUT MINE DID NOT. HOW IS THIS FAIR? *TR

MY 2003 BEETLE HAS BEEN VIOLENTLY JERKING AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MINUTES OF DRIVING (WHEN IT WARMS UP). IF I'M AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT AND ACCELERATE - IT VIOLENTLY JERKS INTO GEAR !! IF I BABY IT AND BARELY MOVE (WHERE TRAFFIC IS PRACTICALLY RUNNING INTO ME FROM BEHIND), IT IS NOT SOOOO BAD, BUT STILL BAD AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. VW ALSO EXTENDED THE WARRANTY UNTIL 2010 OR 100,000 WHICH EVER CAME FIRST, AND UNFORTUNATELY 2010 CAME FIRST AND THEY REFUSE TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY TO BE USED UNDER THE 100,000 MILES RULE. THIS IS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, I'VE READ THOUSANDS OF THE SAME EXACT COMPLAINTS IN THIS CAR -- THOUSANDS, THE VERY SAME THING AND VW WILL NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO CHANGE IT TO 100,000 MILES AND NOT JUST 2010 (WHICH OBVIOUSLY HAS PAST 2 YEARS AGO). THIS IS DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE. IT IS...

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND AS I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY, MY CAR SHIFTED DOWN VERY HARD AND THE STEERING WHEEL JERKED CAUSING ME TO HIT A GUARDRAIL. I TOOK MY CAR TO A SHOP AND HAD THE BODY REPAIRS DONE ($3910.00), AND UPON TAKING MY CAR, IT DID THE SAME THING AGAIN. I HAD IT TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND HE STATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THOSE VW'S AND THEY HAD A RECALL ON IT. MY LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR ME BECAUSE THE WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE WAS UP. I WAS HOPING THAT SOMEONE THERE COULD HELP ME RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE ESTIMATED COST OF THE REPAIR IS 5900.00 FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND THE BODY DAMAGE WAS 3910.00. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

FROM DAY ONE THIS CAR HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHICH WERE DENIED BY THE DEALER ON 5 VISITS, AFTER I SOLD THE CAR I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM VW, NOW THAT I AM LOOKING AT BLOGS THEY HAVE APPARENTLY RECALLED THIS RECALL TO SUIT THEM. OTHER COMPLAINTS WITH THIS VEHICLE ARE WINDOW TROUBLES, CONVERTIBLE ROOF TROUBLES, ELECTRONIC TROUBLES, SEATBELT TROUBLES, AIRBAG TROUBLES. I CAN'T BELIEVE ANYONE WILL ALLOW THIS CAR TO STILL BE SOLD OR ON THE ROAD. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD ON WHEELS. *TR

THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW AND WITHIN THREE MONTHS HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. RECENTLY IT STARTED TO LURCH AT STOPS AND STARTS, AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A FAILED VALVE BODY ON THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSITION COMPANY REFERRED ME TO WEBSITES WHERE THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN IN MI AND WAS TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A WARRANTY EXTENSION, OF WHICH I WAS NOT INFORMED, BUT THAT IT WOULD NOT APPLY TO ME NOW. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE FREQUENCY OF THIS PROBLEM WARRANTS A LOOK AT THIS MODEL AND ITS TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER WARNED MY TRANSITION SPECIALIST THAT THE REPAIR WHICH HAS BEEN FREQUENT ONLY WORKS ABOUT 50% OF THE TIME. I ASKED IF IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE AS IS AND WAS WARNED ONLY FOR SHORT DISTANCES. IT APPEARS TO E THAT THIS SHOULD HAVE TRIGGERED...

I PURCHASED MY 2003 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE BRAND SPANKING NEW IN DEC 2002. THE CAR HAD 32 MILES ON IT WHEN I BOUGHT IT; THE CAR NOW HAS 77K MILES AS OF TODAY. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A MAJOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT VW IS ACUTELY AWARE OF. THE CAR IS A 6 SPEED AUTO TRANSMISSION WITH TRIP TRONIC. THE CAR HESITATES UPON ACCELERATION AND BEFORE SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR. INSTEAD, THE TRANSMISSION LURCHES FROM 1ST INTO 2ND, CAUSING THE TIRES TO SCREECH. WHEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD IT CAUSES THE FRONT DRIVE/STEERING TIRES TO LOSE GRIP ON THE PAVEMENT WHICH IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW TIMES WHEN IT JUMPED SO HARD IT ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND SOMETIMES THE LURCH IS SO STRONG IT FEELS LIKE ANOTHER CAR HIT ME FROM BEHIND. THE TRANSMISSION WORKS FINE WHEN IT IS COOL BUT GETS...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BETTLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE RPMS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN MINUTES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

I COULDN'T WAIT FOR THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE TO COME OUT. I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP. NOW, AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES, I AM TOLD I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CAR IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE--IT WILL GET STUCK IN FIRST GEAR, IT WILL KICK BETWEEN GEARS ONE AND TWO, AND IT WILL JOLT SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THESE VEHICLES ARE UNSAFE FOR THE ROAD. *KB

THE SIX SPEED TRANSMISSION SHIFTS AT RANDOM I GOT THIS CAR FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND IM SCARED TO LET HER DRIVE IT. GOT A NOTICE IN THE MAIL FROM VW ABOUT IT THEY DROVE IT AND SAID IT WAS OK BUT OBVIOUSLY ITS NOT. THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOME ONE GETS INJURED. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. WHEN DECELERATING TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK BEFORE SWITCHING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND AFTER INSPECTION THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE AT A COST OF $6,000. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

RECALL ON AIRBAG CRASH SENSOR BACK IN 2008, WHICH WE HAD REPLACE . HOWEVER THIS PROBLEM CONSTANTLY HAPPEN WERE THE AIR BAG CREASE SENSOR LIGHTS COMES ON AND STAYS ON. WHEN YOU CALL THE DEALERSHIP THEY WANTS TO CHARGE THE CONSUMER. THERE IS ALWAYS A JERKING IN THE POWER TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING . THIS IS DANGEROUS YOU WOULD THINK THE CAR IS GOING TO STOP GOING UP HILL. I MADE A COMPLAINT BACK IN 2009 COMPLAINT #102868 NEVER RECEIVED A RESPONSE. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ONE EVENING THE CAR LOST THE ABILITY TO SHIFT INTO HIGHER GEARS ON HIGHWAY, THUS LIMITING THE SPEED TO LESS THAN 35 MILES PER HOUR IN A POSTED ZONE OF 55 MPH. THIRD -SIXTH GEARS FAILED.

DROVE 600 MILES TO PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE-MY DREAM CAR. HAD IT FOR 2 DAYS, PUT THE TOP DOWN TWICE AND THE CABLE TO THE CONVERTIBLE TOP SNAPPED. COULDN'T AFFORD TO HAVE IT FIXED RIGHT AWAY (MISSED THE WHOLE FIRST SEASON OF USING THE CONVERTIBLE). FINALLY GOT ENOUGH $$ TOGETHER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND FOUND OUT A PIECE OF SOMETHING MUST HAVE FALLEN DOWN INTO THE CHANNEL OF THE REAR WINDOW AND BROKE A PART INSIDE SO ADDED THAT TO THE EXPENSE, AROUND $800. REPLACED THE BRAKES NEXT (O.K. WITH THAT, NORMAL REPAIR OF ANY VEHICLE). BUT, NOT TOO LONG AFTER, NOTICED TRANSMISSION HAD A TINY "SLIP". IGNORED THAT SINCE I DIDN'T WANT TO THINK SOMETHING ELSE WAS GOING WRONG ALREADY. PROGRESSED TO WHERE I AM NOW, SLAMMING DOWN INTO THE LOWER GEARS WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP. RECEIVED A LETTER FROM VW STATING IF ANY REPAIRS HAD BEEN INCURRED...

THE ELECTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN THIRD GEAR WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO RESET. THIS IS A PERILOUS MANEUVER, BUT I DIDN'T HAVE MANY OPTIONS. THE TRANSMISSION HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING SOME PROBLEMS SHIFTING BOTH UP AND DOWN. THE UPSHIFTS ARE PROBLEMATIC IN THAT THE CAR CAN SUDDENLY LURCH FORWARD WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGES. FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE CAR WILL NOT IMMEDIATELY SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND. THE RPMS WILL GO TO @5000, THEN THE SHIFT WILL CAUSE THE CAR TO SQUEAL TIRES AND LURCH FORWARD.

VEHICLE WOULD LURCH WHEN DOWN OR UPSHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD AND 3RD TO 4TH AT JUST OVER 90,000 MILES. IT WOULD ALSO STICK IN NEUTRAL FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGING. WE TOOK IT TO OUR LOCAL SHOP FOR REPAIR IN DECEMBER 2010. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY CAUSING A NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS. WHILE THE OUR BUG WAS IN THE SHOP WE RECEIVED A LETTER DATED NOVEMBER 2010 FROM VW ABOUT EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 100,000 MILES OR 7 YEARS FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. OUR BUG WAS PURCHASED AUGUST 2003 PUTTING IT OUT OF WARRANTY. CONSIDERING THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS VW SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOING A GENERAL SERVICE RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION LONG BEFORE NOVEMBER 2010..

THE CAR HAS A TRANSMISSION THAT IS NEEDING REPLACING AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES. *TR