2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Power Train Problems

my 2005 VW Beetle auotmatic has 96k miles. When taking off the car shudders hard on 1st and 2nd gear. It feels like the transmission is out to fall out of the car. It also stops moving forward at times. I have quit driving it due to fear of getting hit. I feel this is a very dangerous and could cause serious injuries to me and other drivers. Please help

I WASA DRIVING AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND EVERYTHING SHUT DOWN.AOLL THE LIGHTS CAME ON ON THE DASHAND IT JUJST STOP POWER THE STEARING WHEEL LOCKED .I WAS IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOD GOING SPEED LIMIT IF I HAD BEEN ON THE FREEWAY I DONT KNOW WHAT WOULD OF HAPPEN , IM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR NOW

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE HARD SHIFTED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CRAIN VOLKSWAGEN OF FAYETTEVILLE (LOCATED AT 2011 WEST FOXGLOVE DR, FAYETTEVILLE, AR 72704, (479) 695-5900), BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,000. *LN*JB

THE CAR DOWNSHIFTS INTO A LOWER GEAR WITH A 'HARD' SOUND. SOMETIMES AFTER THE CAR IS WARM IT TAKES A MOMENT TO GO INTO GEAR FROM A FAST SPEED TO A SLOW OR STOP.

TRANSMISSION SLIPS OR DOWNSHIFT VERY HARD CAUSES SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE SPEED AND OR LOSS OF CONTROL AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS OR ON SECONDARY ROADWAYS CAUSING FOLLOWING VEHICLES TO EITHER HEAVY BRAKING OR SWURVE TO AVOID REAR END COLLESION WITH THE VEHICLE.

I BOUGHT A USED 2005 VW NEW BEETLE WITH TRIPTONIC TRANSMISSION WITH 82,000 MILES A FEW WEEKS AGO. VERY QUICKLY THE CAR STARTED HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES WHICH APPEAR WHEN THE CAR HAS WARMED UP AFTER ~10/15 MINS. THE PROBLEM I'M EXPERIENCING IS THAT THE CAR WILL NOT SHIFT SMOOTHLY WHEN RUNNING BETWEEN THE 3 AND 4TH GEAR AND OFTEN REVS UP TO 5000 RPM BEFORE IT "CLUNKS" INTO HIGHER GEAR. IT'S ALSO HARD SHIFTING VERY ABRUPTLY SOMETIMES WHICH GIVES ME VERY LITTLE CONFIDENCE IN DRIVING THE CAR. IT SEEMS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IT SUDDENLY LUNGES FORWARD OR GETS STUCK IN GEAR AND DOESN'T ACCELERATE. ONE OF THE WORST INCIDENT FOR ME WAS WHILE IN TRAFFIC GOING SLIGHTLY UPHILL THE CAR GOT STUCK IN THIRD AND STARTED REVVING UP WITHOUT ACCELERATING AND I ALMOST GOT HIT BY A CAR BEHIND WHO DIDN'T EXPECT MY CAR TO MOVE SO SLOWLY. I...

PROBLEMS WITH SHIFTING BETWEEN 3RD & 4TH GEARS, LURCHING, AND LAGGING. I CALLED THE DEALER, GAVE THE SYMPTOMS AND ASKED WHAT THEY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM COULD BE, THEY INSISTED THEY HADN'T HEARD OF VW'S DOING THAT. MY CAR CONTINUED TO DECLINE, BECOMING STUCK IN A GEAR, VIOLENTLY LURCHING, STALLING, AND ALL GEARS LIT UP(BRACKETED) ON THE DASH. WHEN I TOOK CAR TO VW NOV 2011, 80,000 MILES, FIRST THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE, BUT I PERSISTED EXPLAINING MY HORRIBLE, LURCHING DRIVE INTO WORK, WHERE I STALLED SEVERAL TIMES ALMOST GETTING HIT, AND HOW I COULDN'T PUT THE CHILDREN I CARE FOR IN MY CAR FOR FEAR OF SOMEONE HITTING MY STALLED VEHICLE. THE VW MECHANIC TALKED ME INTO FLUSHING OUT THE TRANS AND CHECKING THE MAGNET($560). HE SAID 80% CHANCE IT WAS MY TRANS(QUOTED $6,000), EVEN AFTER THERE WERE NO METAL SHAVINGS IN THE PAN, OR SAID IT COULD BE...

ON THE 2ND MY SON WAS DRIVING MY CAR ON THE HIGHWAY WITH ME AS A PASSENGER AT 70 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE RPM'S SHOT UP AND THE CAR STALLED OUT. FORTUNATELY HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND SAFELY GET US OFF THE HIGHWAY. WE THEN APPROACHED A LIGHT IN WHICH WE HAD TO STOP AT AND THE CAR DID NOT WANT TO GO. I FINALLY FIGURED OUT THE CAR WAS IN A SAFETY MODE AND IS STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. I HAVE HAD THREE MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR. NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT AT THIS POINT IF IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION OR IT IS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. EITHER WAY A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE ISSUES AT UNDER 100,000 MILES. I HAVE ALSO LOOKED ON LINE AND SEEN TO SHOCK HOW MANY PEOPLE WITH THIS CAR ARE HAVE ISSUES WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. WHY...

VW NEW BEETLE TIPTRONIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MANUFACTURER/DESIGN DEFECT: I EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE CLOSE CALLS IN THE FREEWAY WHILE THE CAR BEHIND ME ALMOST HIT ME. I COULD NOT KEEP UP WITH THE TRAFFIC AFTER SLOWING DOWN IN A CONGESTED FREEWAY CONDITION DUE TO THIS TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN TO ALL DRIVERS, NOT JUST ME. ALTHOUGH I WAS DRIVING VERY CAREFULLY TO AVOID ANY ACCIDENTS CAUSED BY THIS TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION PROBLEM; BUT NOT SO FOR OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME. THIS IS A KNOW POTENTIAL SAFETY-RELATED DEFECTS CAUSED BY TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION. THERE IS A CLASS ACTION (CASE # 11-CV-02243, IN THE US DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS). ALTHOUGH THIS WAS DISMISSED IN ARKANSAS, BUT THE JUDGE SAID "OTHER CO-PLAINTIFFS IN THE CASE COULD PURSUE CLAIMS IN CA". TO ME, THIS MEANS THIS DESIGN AND/OR MANUFACTURE DEFECT OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS VALID. IT SHOULD BE ADDRESS IMMEDIATELY...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE TRIPTRONIC SENSORS HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,405.

I ACQUIRED MY VEHICLE ON 7/29/2010 AS A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION GIFT WITH 31,290 MILES ON IT. AS OF DECEMBER 2013 MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING HARD SHIFTING ISSUES.12/15/2013 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VW FOR HARD SHIFTING ISSUES WHEN DECELERATING. VW INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE PART CAUSING THE HARD SHIFTING ISSUES. WHEN THE COVERAGE INFORMATION WAS PULLED UP FOR THE AUTO TRANS VALVE BODY AQ-250 WARRANT EXT. THE END DATE OF THE WARRANTY WAS ON 9/27/2011 OR THE END MILEAGE OF 100,000 MILES. VW DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF THE END DATE, SO I PROCEEDED TO CALL 1-800 VW NUMBER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE EVEN THOUGH I WAS NEVER EXPERIENCING ANY ISSUES AT THE TIME OR HAD ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAD MY VEHICLE FOR ONLY A YEAR. WHEN EXPERIENCING THIS HARD...

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2009 THE BEETLE WAS TAKEN TO BROWN'S VOLKSWAGEN OF RICHMOND DUE TO TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ISSUES. THEY NOTED THE FILE: REMOVED THE TRANS PAN TO CHECK--SMALL SHAVING, CLEANED SCREEN AND REINSTALLED--STILL HAVING PROBLEM. THEY DID NOT PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH HAD BEEN APPROVED BY VW CORPORATE.VW HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY PERIOD ON THE ELECTRONIC TRANS VALVE BODY FOR THE KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE TRANSMISSION. INSTEAD THEY WANTED TO INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION WHICH WAS NOT COVERED BY THEM. THIS WAS NOT AGREED ON. IN MAY OF 2013 I LEARNED OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH HAD BEEN OFFERED BY VW CORPORATE AND CONTACTED VW VIA THEIR WEB SITE AND FILED A COMPLAINT. IN JULY OF 2013 THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WEST BROAD VOLKSWAGEN FOR A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC FOR SHIFTING RELATED ISSUES. IN JULY OF 2013 VW CORPORATE CONTACT ME STATING BROWNS VW HAD NOT LOGGED...

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND AS IT SHIFTED INTO 5TH I FELT A BANG. IT FELT AS THOUGH SOMEONE RAN INTO THE REAR OF MY CAR. IT SNAPPED MY NECK HARD. IT KEEPS DOING THIS. I TOOK IT BACK TO WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY SAID THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION LURCHES WHEN SHIFTING. IT FEELS LIKE IT SLIPS AND WILL REV UP AND . FROM WHAT I AM READING THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. THE DEALERSHIPS WANT $7000 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY ALL SEEM TO BE VERY FAMILIER WITH THIS "COMMON" PROBLEM. SOUNDS LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THESE CARS. GOT THIS CAR FOR MY DAUGHTER TO USE THROUGH COLLEGE AND NOW I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT COST MORE TO FIX THAN ITS WORTH. *JS

UPON INCREASING SPEED VEHICLE SHIFTS EXTREMELY HARD ESPECIALLY IN LOW GEARS. A DECREASE IN SPEED ALSO RESULTS IN EXTREMELY HARD DOWNSHIFTING. SOMETIMES CAR WILL NOT SHIFT. UPON SLOWING DOWN AT SAME RED LIGHT TWO DAYS IN A ROW CAR APPEARS TO DROP INTO FIRST GEAR, BUT THEN BEGINS TO TRY TO ROLL BACK UPON RELEASING THE BREAK. THIS PARTICULAR LIGHT IS ON A HILL WITH 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC. I HAD TO SWITCH THE CAR OFF, SHIFT INTO PARK, AND THEN CRANK THE CAR AGAIN FOR IT TO CATCH FIRST TO BE ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD. I CALLED VW DEALERSHIPS WITH NO RETURN CALL. FINALLY GOT A SVC MGR. COULD NOT TELL ME ANYTHING. GAVE ME AN 800 PHONE # TO CALL. I WAS TOLD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD RUN OUT IN NOV OF 2012 EVEN THOUGH MY CAR WAS STILL UNDER THE 100,000 MILES. I WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT...

PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A DEALERSHIP IN DEL RAY BEACH FLORIDA ON OCTOBER 2011. THE DEALERSHIPS NAME IS AUTOBAHN/USA (1800 NORTH FEDERAL HIGHWAY, DEL RAY BEACH, FLORIDA 33483). THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED "AS IS", WITH NO EXTENDED WARRANTY. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP THERE WAS NO ISSUES WITH SAID VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THIS VEHICLE WAS THEN DRIVEN BACK TO THE STATE OF MICHIGAN WHERE I RESIDE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES REFERENCE THIS VEHICLE FROM THE START. IT APPEARS WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES FEELING LIKE IT IS JUMPING GEARS. I HAVE TALKED WITH A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP IN BAY CITY, MICHIGAN, AND A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP IN GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. BOTH STATED THAT THE YEAR OF VEHICLE I PURCHASED HAD A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION. THEY ALSO NOTED IN ORDER FOR THE RECALL TO BE VALID, I NEEDED TO HAVE PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. I HAVE JUST...

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FAILS TO SHIFT AT THE PROPER ENGINE RPM. THE PROBLEM GETS WORSE AS THE TRANSMISSION GETS HOT. WHEN IT DOES SHIFT IT HITS VERY HARD, JERKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF CONTROL. SECONDLY, THE FAILURE SHIFT WILL LEAVE YOU STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD PLACING YOU IN HARMS WAY SHOULD THIS HAPPEN AT THE WRONG PLACE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT OPERATIONAL DUE TO THIS UNCONTROLLABLE SHIFTING MALFUNCTION. IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN THIS MALFUNCTION WILL OCCUR AND COULD LEAD TO BODILY INJURY OR POSSIBLE DEATH. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED WITH ORIGINAL WARRANTY STILL GOING AND I ALSO PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY (HIGH TECH) WITH IT. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS THE CAR STARTED TO JERK AND THEN SHIFT INTO GEAR OR SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR OR IT WOULD BARELY MOVE. MY MALFUNCTION LIGHTS DIFFERENT ONES WERE COMING ON AND THE CAR STARTED TO OVERHEAT. SOMETIMES IT WOULD LEAK ALL THE WATER OUT AND OTHERS YOU WOULD SEE IT BOILING THE CAR ALSO MADE DIFFERENT NOISES AS I DROVE AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WOULD MAKE THIS PIERCING NOISE AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WOULD GO DOWN AND UP BY ITSELF. WELL THE FOLLOWING HAS BEEN REPLACED PLUS MORE.....(2) HEAD GASKETS, A FEW WATERPUMPS, COOLANT FLANGE MELTED A FEW TIMES, A COUPLE THERMOSTATS, IMPELLOR, TIMING BELT TENSIONER NEEDLESS TO SAY THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING NUMEROUS TIMES AND SEVERAL THINGS HAVE...

2005 VOLKSWAGEN TRANSMISSION WILL LURCH AND SLIP FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. ISSUE IS SUPPOSED TO BE A VALVE BODY ISSUE THAT VW DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO RECOGNIZE THE DEFECTIVE PART. THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN PULLING OUT ONTO TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE BASICALLY WILL NOT GO WHEN SHIFTING BETWEEN THOSE GEARS. IT TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS FOR IT TO SHIFT, THE VEHICLE WILL REV UP AT THAT TIME AND THEN SLAM INTO GEAR. *TR

DEFECTIVE VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING SEVERE CAR TROUBLES ON-ROAD, SIMPLY STOPPED WORKING WHILE GOING 60 MPH ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. *TR

MY 05 VW BEETLE AUTOMATIC BEGAN LURCHING/SLIPPING WHEN GOING FROM FULL STOP TO ABOUT 40MPH.....WHEN TRANS IS GOING FROM 1ST TO 2ND TO 3RD GEARS. *TR

WHEN GEARING DOWN OR STARTING UP AT REDLIGHT, CAR DOWNSHIFTS AND GEARS-UP WITH A JERK; TOOK TO VW DEALER; SAYS IT IS VALVE BODY DEFECT WHICH COULD UTIMATELY CAUSE TRANSMISSION TO GO BAD; WAS TOLD AT DEALERSHIP VW KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND EXTENDED A WARRANTY ON VALVE COVER ONLY WHICH WENT OUT LAST YR ON MY VEHICLE. I NEVER GOT A NOTICE. VW ADMITS THE PROBLEM WAS THERE WHEN MANUFACTURED IN MEXICO. I BELIEVE THAT THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MANY VW OWNERS. ALSO HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH WINDOW REGULATORS MALFUCTIONING - AFFECTING LOCKING OF DOORS AND WINDOW CLOSINGS- EVEN WHEN THESE COSTLY REGULATORS ARE REPLACED, THE PROBLEMS RETURN... MY CAR VALUE IS NOW -0- THANKS TO VW MANUFACTURING ISSUES. *TR

CAR JOLTS INTO GEAR BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEAR; ALSO PROBLEMS BETWEEN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR ON AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. BROUGHT CAR INTO LOCAL VW DEALER IMMEDIATELY, TO HAVE REPAIRED. DIAGNOSED PROBLEM AS NEEDING A NEW VALVE BODY FOR TRANSMISSION. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN SO WIDESPREAD THAT VW ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS 100,000 MI. PROBLEM...REPAIR IS $1,800. VW WILL NOT COVER THIS AND HONOR THE WARRANTY FOR MY VEHICLE WHICH ONLY HAS 49,000 MI. ON IT. THEY SAID I AM 6 MONTH OUTSIDE OF THE TIME WARRANTY (EXPIRED 6/18/12). THEY WILL NOT AUTHORIZE AN EXCEPTION EVEN THOUGH MY CAR ONLY HAS 49,000 MI.. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS IT LUNGES FORWARD AND ALSO GETS STUCK IN GEAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE RECURRED APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER RESTARTING. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 96,534.

THE FIRST TIME I DROVE MY USED OVER 50 MPH ALONG COASTAL ROAD (WITHIN 24 HOURS OF PURCHASE FROM A TOYOTA DEALER), THE ENGINE CUT POWER AND ROLLED TO A STOP. FROM FIRST GEAR, IT BEGAN TO DRIVE AGAIN. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT THE VALVE BODY WAS DEFECTIVE. I AM SCARED TO DRIVE THE CAR OVER 55 ON THE FREEWAY FOR FEAR OF CUTTING POWER. IN AUGUST 2011, THE SAME CUT OF POWER OCCURRED AFTER DRIVING 4 MILES IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE ON THE 405 FREEWAY. I ROLLED OFF THE FREEWAY OFFRAMP AND CAME TO A STOP. THE TRANSMISSION RESET ITSELF AND DROVE UP TO 40 MPH TO MY DESTINATION ON SIDE STREETS. AGAIN THE DEALER ACCUSED THE VALVE BODY. IN JULY 2012, I DECIDED TO LET THE DEALER CHECK THE CAR OUT AGAIN BECAUSE I HAD A STRANGE CUT IN POWER...

AFTER HAVING THE VALVE BODY FIXED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY IN MARCH 2011, I AM CURRENTLY HAVING THE SAME EXACT TRANSMISSION ISSUES. VW REFUSES TO COVER THIS EXPENSE SINCE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY IS NOW VOID, AND THE PARTS WARRANTY IS VOID AS WELL. HOWEVER, I'VE DRIVEN THIS CAR FOR LESS THAN 6K SINCE THE REPAIR. I ALSO JUST HAD THIS VEHICLE AT THE DEALERSHIP A MONTH AGO TO FIX THE TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION WHICH JUST WENT OUT. NOW, TWO WEEKS AFTER THAT REPAIR, THE VALVE BODY JUST DECIDED TO GIVE OUT? WELL, VW IS TELLING US THE ISSUE NOW IS A VALVE BODY HARNESS..? THIS IS JUST STARTING TO SEEM RIDICULOUS ON MY DIME. *TR

SHIFTING AND JERKING OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE JERKING GETS SO BAD THAT IT CAN DELAY ACCELERATION AND MIMIC GETTING REAR ENDED, YET SERVICE STATES NOTHING WAS WRONG. *TR

TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY MALFUNCTIONS AND CAUSES THE CARD TO SHIFT HARSHLY. THIS CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL DURING ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT LOST POWER AND HAD TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY. THE FAILURE PERSISTED REPEATEDLY AS THE CONTACT WAS TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE VALVE BODY COVER HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET AN ANSWER FOR WHY THE FULL TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED INSTEAD OF JUST THE VALVE BODY COVERS. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,040.

TRANSMISSION IS JUMPING WHEN SHIFTING GEARS AND SLOWING DOWN. VOLKSWAGEN HAS ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM BUT NOT IF THE VEHICLE IS OLDER THAT 7 YEARS FROM THE INSERVICE DATE. I REPORTED MY PROBLEM JAN. 2012 AFTER I HAD LEARNED OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM. I HAD BEEN HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR MANY MONTHS EARLIER. I WAS TOLD THAT THE INSERVICE DATE WAS NOV. 2004 THEREFORE I WAS INELIGIBLE BY ABOUT 6 WEEKS. *TR

I'VE BEEN HAVING SHIFTING PROBLEMS BETWEEN 2N AND 3RD GEARS. THE CAR DRAMATICALLY JERKS TO GET INTO GEARS AND THROWS THE GEAR TO FIRST WHEN BREAKING. I TOOK IT TO VOLKSWAGEN TO GET IT CHECKED AND THEY SAID I HAD TWO OPTIONS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. 1. REPLACE THE VALVE BODY AT A COST OF $1950 (AND IT MIGHT FIX THE PROBLEM) 2. REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $6900. THERE IS A WARRANTY EXTENSION ON THE VALVE BODY BUT, SINCE MY CAR IS OVER 100,000 MILES THEY WILL NOT REPAIR MY CAR. I CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA IN HOPES TO GET SOME ASSISTANCE ON THE REPAIR SINCE THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY ALREADY MADE ON EXTENSION ON THE WARRANTY AND COULD NOT ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY OTHER THAN A $500 VOUCHER TO BUY ONE OF THERE NEW CARS. REALLY???...

MY 2005 VW BEETLE IS A TURBO/AUTOMATIC. IT HAS 79,500 MILES ON IT. THE CAR JERKS AND SHAKES WHEN SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOP. IT HAPPENS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, FROM 60 MPH AND LESS. I HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHECKED AND CHANGED, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN MY CAR ANYMORE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO WHICH MIGHT ENDANGER ME OR OTHER DRIVERS AROUND ME. I'VE READ MANY BEETLE OWNER COMPLAINTS ON-LINE ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM, AND IT APPEARS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE. I AM AWARE THAT A LETTER FROM NHTSA WAS SENT OUT TO SOME VW BEETLE OWNERS TO "EXTEND THE WARRANTY THAT COVERS THE VALVE BODY IN YOUR VEHICLE'S TRANSMISSION TO 7 YEARS OR 100,000 MILES". I NEVER RECEIVED THAT NOTICE! TO HAVE A NEW "VALVE BODY" INSTALLED WOULD BE AN EXPENSE I CAN'T AFFORD. I AM A SENIOR CITIZEN,...

MY 2005 VW BEETLE'S TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 49,000 MILES. VW HAS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ITEM ON THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY THAT THEY ACKNOWLEDGE CAN FAIL WHICH HAD FAILED ON MY VEHICLE. HOWEVER I'M BEING TOLD THAT MY TRANSMISSION HAS ALSO FAILED. VW IS CLAIMING THAT THE FAILED VALVE BODY DID NOT CAUSE DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT MYSELF. THIS IS A DEALER MAINTAINED, COMMUTER CAR THAT IS UNALTERED AND UNDER 50,000 MILES THAT I HAVE HAD OTHER PROFESSIONAL MECHANICS LOOK AT AND THEY DO NOT SEE HOW VW CAN CLAIM THE FAILED VALVE BODY WOULD NOT CAUSE THIS KIND OF DAMAGE AND EVENTUAL FAILURE. WE HAVE CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY REFUSE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

MY VW BEETLE 2005, HAS A 2 TO 3 SECOND SHIFT DELAY WHETHER IN MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC. WHEN PULLING OUT IN TRAFFIC OR TAKING OFF FROM A LIGHT OR DOWNSHIFTING TO SLOW DOWN THE CAR ACTS LIKE IT'S IN NEUTRAL. THE ENGINE REVS BUT THE CAR TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 2 TO 3 SECONDS TO RESPOND. SOMETIMES IT WON'T SHIFT OUT OF 4TH GEAR AND I HAVE TO PULL OVER (IN TRAFFIC THAT IS GOING OVER 55) TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. I CONSIDER THIS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN CARS ARE PILING UP BEHIND ME AND ICAN 'T GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO TURN IT OFF. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO A CERTIFIED VW REPAIR SHOP OVER A 100 MILES AWAY BECAUSE I KNEW IT WOULDN'T MAKE IT. THEY INFORMED ME MY TRANSMISSION IS GONE. I NEED A NEW ONE. THEY CAN'T...

THIS CAR IS HORRIBLE! AT 70,000 MILES THE CAR WOULD JERK WHILE IT WAS DRIVING. IT WAS ESPECIALLY SCARY IF IT STARTED TO JERK/KICK WHILE ON THE FREEWAY. I GOT A NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW ENGINE. THEN 20,000 MILES LATER, IT DID IT AGAIN AND NOW VOLKSWAGEN SAID IT NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION! AGAIN! MORE JERKING, AND IT BECAME WORSE AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO GET IT FIXED "UNDER WARRANTY" I WILL COMPLAIN TO THE BBB AS WELL. HORRIBLE THAT I PUT SO MUCH MONEY IN ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE CAR STILL WONT WORK. SAFETY PROBLEMS AS WELL. *TR

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...

RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION VALVE, BROUGHT TO DEALERSHIP, REPLACED VALVE AND THEN TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. VW SAID THIS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE VALVE BEING REPLACED AND WOULD NOT COVER THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH WAS 6500 IN ADDITION TO ANOTHER 1500. WITH THAT BEING SAID, THE CAR IS NOW JUST SUDDENLY LOSING ALL POWER AT RED LIGHTS OR WHENEVER STOPPED, THIS IS A REAL ROAD HAZARD, IT IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THESE 2005 VW ARE DANGEROUS CARS ON THE ROAD. VW NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REIMBURSE FOLKS FOR THE TRANSMISSION SO THAT THEY CAN GO AND GET NEW CARS. IT'S DIFFICULT IN THESE TIMES TO BE ABLE TO GO AND GET A NEW CAR WHEN I HAVE JUST SOCKED 8000 INTO THIS ONE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT VW IS GETTING AWAY WITH THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE, JUST UNBELIEVABLE. AND THE CAR WILL GO BACK IN THE SHOP AGAIN NEXT...

INTERMITTENT HARD SHIFTS BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH GEAR WITH OCCASIONAL SLIPPING BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH GEAR AND ALSO GETTING STUCK IN 4TH GEAR WHICH REQUIRED STOPPING ON SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURNING THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTING IT. TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER RESEARCHING IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. DEALER TOLD US THAT VALVE BODY REPLACEMENT WAS NOT AN OPTION BECAUSE THE HARD SHIFTS WERE BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH, NOT 1ST AND 2ND. CONTACTED VW OF AMERICA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP. THE WEEK PRIOR TO TAKING OUR BEETLE IN FOR SERVICING, WE TOOK OUR 2002 JETTA IN AND WAS TOLD IT ALSO NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION! *TR

SLIPPAGE IN THE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR CAUSING JERKING AND SLOWING. THIS CAUSES UNPREDICTABLE VEHICLE PERFORMANCE WHICH IS A CLEAR SAFETY HAZARD THAT COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, INJURY OR DEATH. REPLACING THE VALVE BODY AS VW HAS INDICATED IT "MIGHT"--IF YOUR VEHICLE MEETS CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS--WILL NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM PERMANENTLY. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION IS AT FAULT AND MUST BE COMPLETELY REPLACED TO ENSURE SAFETY OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS.

I CURRENTLY OWN A 2005 VW BEETLE WITH 72,000 MILES. ABOUT ONE YEAR AGO, IT BEGAN TO VIOLENTLY JERK BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF CITY DRIVING. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN, THE CAR WOULD STALL, THEN BUCK FORWARD AS IF I WAS BEING REAR-ENDED. THE LEVEL OF UNRELIABILITY IS REALLY DANGEROUS, BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO SPEED UP LIKE IT'S SUPPOSED TO. I'M IN CONSTANT FEAR THAT I WILL GET REAR ENDED OR STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. I'VE TAKEN IT TO TWO MECHANICS AND TALKED TO TWO TRANSMISSION SPECIALISTS AND ALL OF THEM HAVE SAID THAT THEY WON'T WORK ON A VW BEETLE'S TRANSMISSION AND THAT I NEED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. I'VE TRIED AIDING THE PROBLEM WITH A NEW BATTERY, BUT THAT HASN'T HELPED. OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE (300 ON TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM) HAVE STATED...

THIS IS ON A CAR WITH A 1.9L BEW ENGINE AND 6 SPEED DSG GEARBOX. PROBLEM EMERGED AS A ROUGH IDLE (LIKE A CYLINDER WAS MISSING) AND KNOCKING SOUNDS WHILE AT IDLE AND DURING ENGINE SHUTDOWN AS ENGINE COMES TO A STOP. CAR WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND DEALER DIAGNOSED AS FAILING DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL, $1398 TO FIX. I GOT LUCKY AND MINE DIDN'T EXPLODE/DISINTEGRATE AS SOME OTHERS HAVE, ALTHOUGH I DON'T KNOW YET IF IT HAS CAUSED OTHER DAMAGE TO ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION. CAR HAS 73,000 MILES ON IT AND IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SPENT EXTRA MONEY ON EXTENDED WARRANTY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW TO HOPEFULLY AVOID SITUATIONS LIKE THIS - THE LONGEST WARRANTY I WAS OFFERED WAS 7 YEARS OR 70,000 MILES. VW HAS RE-DESIGNED THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL TO IMPROVE IT AND THEY HAVE RECALLED THE CARS IN OTHER COUNTRY'S BECAUSE OF THIS FAILURE BUT...

PURCHASED 2005 VW BEETLE WITH 7,300 MILES ASSURED FULL WARRANTY....GUARANTEED PAINT ON FRONT BUMPER WOULD BE CORRECTED...DID IT TWICE STILL PEELING OFF....ELECTRIC WINDOWS REPAIRED TWICE....BEGAN MAKING NOISES WHEN WEATHER WAS DAMP...TOOK IT TO BE CHECKED OUT AND WAS ASSURED IT WOULD NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN BUT NORMAL...TOLD THEM TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO BE SLIPPING....ONE HEADLIGHT HAD A SHORT, AND THEN RECALL ON BRAKELIGHT...THEY DID REPAIR THAT...BUT INFORMED ME THAT WAS ALL THEY HAD TIME TO DO THAT DO DUE TO RECALL...GAS CAP COVER WAS STICKING AS WELL...DIDN'T FIX IT EITHER....THEN MY AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON...TOOK IT IN FOR RECALL ON THAT ...AFTER IT WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED AIRBAG LIGHT DID NOT GO OFF, INSISTED IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SENSOR THAT WAS RECALLED...NOISE IN FRONT END BEGAN AND FLOORBOARD FLOODED DURING HEAVY RAIN....WITH NO OBVIOUS ENTRY POINT....DID SEARCH FOR PROBLEMS WITH VW BEETLES AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS HAVING THE VERY SAME...

DMF FAILED BLEW SHRAPNEL THROUGH BELL HOUSING! NORMAL DRIVING, VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE, 2005.5 DIESEL 1.9L TDI AUTOMATIC TRANS DSG. DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL (DMF) EXPLODED ON THE ROAD UNDER 10MPH. SMALL METAL PARTS OF SPRINGS AND ALUMINUM PUNCHED HOLE IN SIDE OF CASE. CLEAR 'GREASE' AND SHAVINGS EVERYWHERE. COULD HAVE CAUSED ENGINE OR WHEELS TO LOCKUP IF IT HAD JAMMED A LARGER PIECE IN THE DRIVETRAIN. TOWED TO DEALER WITH 95K MILES, SOUNDS LIKE A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE ON ACCELERATION. THIS IS HEAVY PART WITH A LARGE HOLE BLOWN IN THE EDGE WHERE PARTS CAME FLYING OUT. ONLY OFFERED A $750 REBATE ON PURCHASE OF A NEW VW... THIS IS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, IMHO, THAT VWOA DID NOT COVER. REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER FOR DMF, OEM PART NO LONGER AVAILABLE. VW REPLACED WITH PART NUMBER 03G-105-266-BE $785. WORK DONE AT DEALER, ALMOST $2K! MANY DMF FAILURE STORIES BLAME THE CLUTCH, BUT MINE...