3.0

hardly worth mentioning
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
46,927 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Volkswagen Beetle seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2003 Volkswagen Beetle Owner Comments

problem #7

Sep 182009

Beetle 4-cyl

  • 69,896 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is my second complaint to safercar.gov and I haven't received any contact from anyone on this matter. All I want is for my air bag system to be fixed for free by VW in stockton ca. My airbag light is on for the fourth time in four years that I have had the 03 VW Beetle convertible and every time, VW has found that the sensor is at fault. Now this time, VW wants to charge me $678 to fix it. There is no recall on this. It is 00003 control module defective. I am extremely angry that they will not fix this knowing that this is the fourth time that the air bag light came on. VW knows that my airbag light comes on and they supposedly fix the sensors free of charge each time, but this time, they will not. They need to make a recall on this thing. Im sick and tired of having to have my car serviced over a light. Please help me.

- Ca, CA, USA

problem #6

Sep 182009

Beetle 4-cyl

  • 69,896 miles
1) I drived my car and the air bag light came on in March 2007. The following three times the air bag light came on, was when I would start my car up. 2) March 2007-first time air bag light comes on:hammer lane VW charged me for the diagnosis. December 2007-air bag light on again:elk grove VW did not charge me Jan 2008-air bag light on again:elk grove VW did not charge me June 2008-air bag light on again:elk grove VW did not charge me September 2009-air bag light on again:elk grove VW wants to charge me $230 for labor and $678.63 for parts to fix air bag light and kerry from VW states that this has nothing to do with the recall. The self diagnosis protocol says 00003 control module defective and 00532 supply voltage lower limit not reached sporadic. The software part number is 6Q0909605E 3)bob from bob's german auto repair replaced air bag sensor pass side front the first time. Second time: Elk grove replaced and replaced seat belt driverside and reset faults. Third time:elk grove VW replaced sensor in passenger side seat. Fourth time: I declined service from elk grove VW and they charged me $115 for the diagnosis. I don't think that this is fair and I shouldn't have to go through all of this hassle and pay unfair fees when there is recalls on this Beetles all of the time. Im young and I am going to college. I don't have the time and the money to go through all of this.

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #5

Oct 222010

Beetle 4-cyl

  • 93,000 miles
Turned on my car and the air bag light will not turn off on the dash board panel.

- Fort Mohave, AZ, USA

problem #4

Apr 132009

Beetle 4-cyl

  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The plastic window is separating from the cloth top of my convertible VW. Also, the headlights are constantly blowing bulbs and the sensor light of the passenger side airbag stays on. After fixing the light one time, the dealership mechanics said it was the seatbelt connector problem. They just want money, money, money and I am stuck with a Volkswagen that is not functional for daily use.

- Wetumpka, AL, USA

problem #3

Jul 152009

Beetle

  • miles
VW new Beetles have a susceptibility to constant airbag light coming on due to poor quality wiring under the seat and in the seat belt harness. Volkswagen of american does not want to take responsibility for the poor quality workmanship. Parts are too expansive and only a dealer item. There are a lot of VW Beetle owners out there that have the some problem with the air bag light.

- Rosenberg , TX, USA

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problem #2

Jul 222003

Beetle

  • 5,694 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen new Beetle convertible. The contact stated that the air bag light in his vehicle would illuminate while driving various speeds. The dealer replaced the passenger side air bag due to resistance in the warning light; however, the failure recurred. He took the vehicle back to the dealer a total of eight times. The most recent time the vehicle was taken to the dealer was in December of 2006 and the light turned off. In July of 2008, the light illuminated again. The contact consulted the manufacturer about NHTSA campaign id number 08V178000 (air bags:frontal:sensor/control module), but they claimed to have no knowledge of the recall. The recall was scheduled to begin on approximately July 31, 2008. The contact is currently waiting for someone from Volkswagen to call back. The current mileage was approximately 65,000 and failure mileage was 5,694.

- Riva, MD, USA

problem #1

Apr 282007

Beetle

  • 25,000 miles
Frontal air bag crash sensor is bad barley out of warranty. I have read about this problem alot on the internet and believe this should be a recall by Volkswagen's it is a safety issue.

- Nampa, ID, USA

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