2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
30
Owner Complaints
0
Recalls
8
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE
The 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE has received a total of 30 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 8 technical service bulletins have been issued by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Trainautomatic Transmission (5 complaints), Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline (2 complaints), and Air Bags (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE
There are no recalls on file with NHTSA for the 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. No Active Recalls
Owner Complaints for the 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE
30 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
THE CAR SLAMS INTO GEAR WHEN STARTING FROM A COLD START. IT WAS IN THE SHOP OVER A MONTH, AND IT WAS GIVEN BACK TO ME WITH "WE CAN FIND NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH IT, IT MAY BUCK A BIT, BUT THERE ARE NO SAFETY HAZARDS." LIVE WITH IT BASICALLY. VW THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN OF NO HELP WHATSOEVER IN RESOLVING THIS ISSUE. *NM
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILED TO COME ON. ON TWELVE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, UNDER VARYING BUT RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED BY MYSELF OR MY WIFE, THE WIPERS FAILED TO COME ON WHEN SWITCHED ON. ON FOUR OF THESE OCCASIONS THE RAIN BEGAN TO FALL QUICKLY WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT HIGHWAY SPEED WHICH CAUSED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. ON ALL OCCASIONS, WE HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, AND ONLY AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF REPEATEDLY TURNING THE WIPER SWITCH ON AND OFF AND/OR DOING NOTHING BUT WAITING, THE WIPERS WOULD SUDDENLY COME ON BY THEMSELVES. WE HAVE RETURN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS (THE THIRD BEING NEXT WEEK) WITH THIS COMPLAINT. THE DEALER REPLACED A RELAY, BUT THIS HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM AS SUDDEN RAIN AT 70 MPH LEAVES YOU COMPLETELY BLIND. THE INCIDENT DATE IS TODAY'S DATE AS TODAY IS THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE. *JB
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON. I WANTED TO PULL OVER SINCE THE CAR IS FAIRLY NEW AND HAD NEVER SEEN THAT LIGHT ON WHILE DRIVING. I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD TO CHECK THE MANUAL AND SEE WHAT THE LIGHT MEANT. THE CAR WAS IN PARK. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. AFTER CALLING ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE...I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THING IS, ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS BEFORE. THEY HAD ME DO A "PROCEDURE" TO GET THE CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND BE ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. ONCE HOME THE CAR GOT STUCK INTO NEUTRAL. I THEN HAD IT TOWED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON. I WANTED TO PULL OVER SINCE THE CAR IS FAIRLY NEW AND HAD NEVER SEEN THAT LIGHT ON WHILE DRIVING. I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD TO CHECK THE MANUAL AND SEE WHAT THE LIGHT MEANT. THE CAR WAS IN PARK. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. AFTER CALLING ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE...I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THING IS, ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS BEFORE. THEY HAD ME DO A "PROCEDURE" TO GET THE CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND BE ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. ONCE HOME THE CAR GOT STUCK INTO NEUTRAL. I THEN HAD IT TOWED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON. I WANTED TO PULL OVER SINCE THE CAR IS FAIRLY NEW AND HAD NEVER SEEN THAT LIGHT ON WHILE DRIVING. I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD TO CHECK THE MANUAL AND SEE WHAT THE LIGHT MEANT. THE CAR WAS IN PARK. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. AFTER CALLING ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE...I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THING IS, ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE HAD HEARD ABOUT THIS BEFORE. THEY HAD ME DO A "PROCEDURE" TO GET THE CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK AND BE ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. ONCE HOME THE CAR GOT STUCK INTO NEUTRAL. I THEN HAD IT TOWED. *AK
Safety Rating for the 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. has issued 8 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
VH — STRUCTURE:BODY
VOLKSWAGEN HAS FOUND THAT THE WINDOW CLAMP BOLTS ON SOME 2003 MODEL YEAR NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES MAY BECOME LOOSE. ADDITIONALLY, THE PRESS BUTTON FOR THE CONVERTIBLE TOP AND THE HEADLINING CABLES ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP OF THESE VEHICLES REQUIRE REPLACEMENT AND THE LEFT AND RIGHT FLAP OPENING MECHANISM STOPS...
VF — STRUCTURE:BODY
WINDOW CLAMP BOLTS MAY BECOME LOOSE ON CERTAIN CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES. ADDITIONALLY, THE PRESS BUTTON ON THE CONVERTIBLE TOP REQUIRES REPLACEMENT. *TT
VE — STRUCTURE:BODY
WINDOW CLAMP BOLTS ON CERTAIN CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES MAY BECOME LOOSE. *TT
0401 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
REVERSE GEAR, DIFFICULT TO ENGAGE OR DISENGAGE. *MR
0305 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL
FRONT TURN SIGNAL BLINKS TOO FAST. FRONT TURN SIGNAL, REPLACING BULB SOCKET. *TT
0303 — STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
CONVERTIBLE TOP FRAME, MODIFYING TO NEW ROOF LEADING EDGE TRIM. *TT
0302 — STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
TAILGATE/TRUNK LID HARD TO CLOSE. *TT
0301 — STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
TAILGATE/TRUNK LID HARD TO CLOSE. *TT
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE
- 1998 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE — 37 complaints
- 1999 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE — 40 complaints
- 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE — 45 complaints
- 2001 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE — 56 complaints
- 2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE — 35 complaints
- 2003 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE (current)
- 2004 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE — 18 complaints
- 2006 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE — 1 complaint
Other VOLKSWAGEN Models
- VOLKSWAGEN JETTA — 13,715 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — 10,288 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE — 3,613 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN TIGUAN — 3,104 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN ATLAS — 2,635 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN GOLF — 1,991 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN GTI — 1,916 total complaints
- VOLKSWAGEN ID.4 — 1,568 total complaints