10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
31,986 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.

2004 Volkswagen Beetle body / paint problems

body / paint problem

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2004 Volkswagen Beetle Owner Comments

problem #7

Jan 072009

Beetle

  • 45,000 miles

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

I was driving 25 mph and my front bumper hit a parked car, airbag deployed and rendered me unconscience it caused $12,000 to my teeth and possible head injury and 18 months at a specialist dental, had to have a bone graph and stint in my mouth, liver and abdominal contusion had to pay an attorney $9,000 to an attorney to represent me in court, I lost my job and am now on ssd

- Beaverton, OR, USA

problem #6

Aug 232011

Beetle

  • 102,000 miles
This is for a convertible Beetle: The rear window rolled down while opening the top, made a grinding sound, and now will not go up either with the convertible top close button, nor with the individual window button - the window motor works, but the regulator mechanism makes a grinding sound and the window stays in open position (on-line entry system won't accept correct phone # so I list it here: Correct daytime phone is [xxx]). information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Battle Lake , MN, USA

problem #5

May 102011

Beetle 4-cyl

  • miles
I recently purchased a VW Beetle in may of 2010, for my birthday from hollywood auto brokers in los angeles, ca. The car ran smooth for about a course of five to six months, I had to return to the dealership early on because my head lights were out when I first bought the car. As I continued to drive the car, a jerking and extremely weird deceleration of the car would begin, but it would "pop back to normal" after a while, maybe three to ten seconds. This had gone on and has been going on since five months after I brought it. I finally made it back into the dealership and he rode with me on a test drive around the corner and of course it didn't repeat the previous show of defects. He assured me the car is just being broken in. A year goes by and I decided I want to trade in my car for another car, so I head to Nissan. I test drive a car and love it and then go in for the paper work. The guy runs my VIN to see my car value and come backs and tell me my car title is salvaged. To my disbelief and disgust, I immediately called my financial company, al financial of glendale, ca that I am leasing the car from. They give me the run around and assure me that the title is clean and not a salvage. I continue on my investigation and come to a carfax website to get the real facts on my defected vehicle. The information reveals that not only is the title salvage but it had bodily damage and had been totaled out from the insurance company from it's previous owner. The car had been brought back from Mexico and registered in the states again as a new car I believe. I would really love to get to the bottom of this situation asap and get some closure on a recurring problem that is messing with my income as I am a travel nurse for hospice patients. Recently the water pump has gone out and I'm not sure yet if I need to replace the head gaskets. I hope I can hear an response in a good enough amount of time so I can work out an reimbursement of some kind with payment on either behalf.

- Long Beach, CA, USA

problem #4

May 202011

Beetle

  • 8,900 miles

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

2004 VW Beetle convertible - put rear passenger window down (window open). When I tried to put it up, it only went half-way up, then automatically went back down. After trying to get it to go up two additional times, there was a loud crunching noise and a cracking noise, so I stopped trying to move it. Currently in the half-way position. After reading other VW owner forums online, this is obviously a defect VW needs to address.

- Glendale, CA, USA

problem #3

Jan 102011

Beetle

  • 34,000 miles
This vehicle was subject to a recall for the air bag sensors. We had previously had the sensors replaced (the vehicle was just out of warranty based on time). VW refused ultimately reimbursed us for the repairs and replacement of the sensors. In January of 2011 the air bag light came on. The dealer charged a fee to do a diagnostic test. They determined that the light was due to the failure of the driver side seat belt buckle, and the fact that the battery was discharged and needed to be repaired. They wanted approximately $480 to replace the seat belt buckle, and $245 to replace the battery. I called VW customer service and they agreed to replace the buckle for no charge, but would do nothing about the battery. VW opened a case # 110006836 and regional manager lisa was the contact. We had aaa come to do a test on the battery. The battery and charging system both passed the test. They recommended that a trickle charge would bring the battery to a full charge. In addition, VW agreed to do a one time courtesy replacement of the convertible roof since the fabric had separated from the rear window. A clip recall had already been performed, but the headliner was hanging down and had separated from the rear window. We feared that the window could separate from the roof at highway speeds. Statement indicates that VW performed 61.07-02 tech bulletin to perform modifications to the rear window.

- Sarasota, FL, USA

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problem #2

Jan 012011

Beetle 4-cyl

  • 34,000 miles
The convertible top was defective and the rear window was separating from the top. Previously performed modification to rear window headliner ring. Clip recall already performed and headliner continued to hang down and was separating from the window. Window could separate from roof at higher speeds.

- Sarasota, FL, USA

problem #1

Sep 012005

Beetle 4-cyl

  • miles
Purchased brand new. Problems I have had with this car: 1. rear power windows have both taken turns falling down into the body. Will not power up. One has been replaced. Dealer now won't fix second one because they 'don't see it as a known problem.' 2. headliner around rear window has come undone. 3. headlights have to be replaced constantly. For example; a light bulb was installed on a Saturday, and had stopped working by the following Wednesday. 4. rubber coating on glove box and on interior doors is peeling off. Dealer would not even condsider fixing or addressing. 5. key assembly for arm console broke almost immediately. It took approximately 8 months, and several reminders, to get dealer to replace. 6. sometimes radio stays on after key has been removed from ignition. 7. air bag light stays on. Won't go off. 8. hand release on front passenger seat often gets 'stuck' and will not work. 9. cup holder has come off track. I only drive this car to-and-from work. No kids/passengers ride in it. It has not had any owner abuse. I will never buy another Volkswagen product.

- Richmond, TX, USA

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