10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
77,582 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 accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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2003 Volkswagen Beetle Owner Comments

problem #6

Dec 092018

Beetle

  • 76,000 miles

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

Passengers side headlight shorting out for 7th bulb replacement and new electrical problems. Strange, all within 6 months. My 21 yr old nursing student of ECU university has had the exact same issue while on her 4 hour trip home 7 times now. The wiring continues to fry itself in the main fuse box, now affecting theabs braking system. I paid $9K in cash and have electrical receipts, seat belt, convertible top, blower door, front end replacement, radiator, water pump, trunk latch, hydro licks on convertible, timing belt, 4 batteries, air bags! I could continue with a longer list. I added up to $17,000 I have in this piece of crap that continues to break monthly. I would be ecstatic to provide all receipts. Isn't problems of this great nature unreasonable for a car with 70,000 miles also considered a lemon? all incidents have left my daughter stranded on interstate 85 where she has feared her life fight off the homeless psychotic people. It has left me unable to buy her a new car with no savings due to fixing something new each month. And 27 degrees outside with no ability to start it. The seat levers back and forth have had to be bolted in one position to prevent seat belt electrical too short electrical cord so the faulty airbags may by chance deploy if she ever got into an accident. Latest is. She needs another water pump and timing belt from just being done 2 years ago!! something major defects with this car. I fear for her life! last trip home a car did not see her pulled over on interstate and side swiped her bumper. Water pump again.see photo of it leaking more when we had it towed home in garage. Also rear bumper of inciden

- Thomasville, NC, USA

problem #5

Sep 192018

Beetle

  • 80,000 miles
Electrical main fuse box under hood burnt and melted into battery. See pics of burnt fuse box, and indention of melted battery. Car cut off while in motion on highway, causing my 19 year old college daughter to almost wreck in route to school last week at 8pm est. Her major is nursing. I want to make sure she's alive to see her graduate. Outside air temp was 65 degrees. This is extremely dangerous, not to mention the cost that will be associated with paying for volkswagons poor design electrical misengineering flaw, a new alternator, all electrical wiring, a new battery, and possibly new convertible top motor. Her VW is/was in mint condition with fewer than 80K miles. VW estimates costs to fix over $5K to 6K. Kbb value is much less. My daughters life is priceless. Also, the wiring harness for the seatbelts underneath the seat are too short!! if you slide the seats back, it breaks electrical connections which triggers seatbelts light to come on, which disengages airbags to work in the event of an accident. The 2 front seats also must slide forward in order for back seat passengers to enter vehicle. Is this how VW saves money, by shortening electrical wire to connect seatbelts" perhaps it's on purpose to avoid millions of electrical lawsuits"

- Thomasville, NC, USA

problem #4

Dec 092017

Beetle 8-cyl

  • 152,000 miles
Regarding/related to claim 0484819107 69 complaints: 2003 Volkswagen jetta seats: Front assembly: Seat... I own a 2003 VW jetta 1.8T with front heated seats. Drivers side seat caught fire due to a short in the seats heater 2 days ago on 12/13/2005 after the heater was on for less than 2 minutes. Burning a small hole trough the seat to the bottom area of my left side (buttock) I have come to find since this happened, my NHTSA has... https://www.carcomplaints.com/Volkswagen/.../seats-front_assembly-seat_ heater_cooler.shtml 29 complaints: 2003 Volkswagen Beetle electrical system problems the problem is that the entire fuse box assembly frequently melts into a glob of plastic, and represents a significant fire hazard. I have owned two new Beetles ( 2003 & 2004), and have experienced this problem four time between the two. My own investigation into the cause(s) has shown me that if the vehicle battery is... https://whttps://www.carcomplaints.com/search/?cx=partner-pub-6745124734283845%3A6pv4ih4brad&cof=forid%3A10&ie=iso-8859-1&Q=VW+fire&sa=search&siteurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.carcomplaints.com%2fvolkswagen%2fbeetle%2F2002%2fseat_belts_air_bags%2fww.carcomplaints.com/Volkswagen/.../electrical_system.shtml wasn't in the vehicle personal assistant/project consultant helping hard working people like you for more than 25 years! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).?

- Kaufman, TX, USA

problem #3

Nov 152005

Beetle

  • 49,491 miles

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

Air bag light and the warning light for malfunction indicator lamp comes on and does not go out also driver seat is stuck. The vehicle was taken on 11/15/2005 at that time it was only the air bag cause; 00591. Drivers seat belt switch faulty it was replaced on 12/12/2007 the same problem and more but, this time I have done a lot of research on the internet and I have found a alot of people have had the same problem and NHTSA is aware of it.the car is no longer under warranty I have had repair driver seat slider. It has been very frustrating, never purchase another VW.

- Downey, CA, USA

problem #2

Oct 152007

Beetle

  • 70,000 miles
Drivers seat will not stay latched to the floor of the car, and seat bounces as I drive. Was repaired at dealership in Dec 2007, broke again in June 2008. Dealership refuses to accept responsibility. Suggests replacing the seat frame for $700. Normal use of a drivers seat should not cause this type of an issue.

- Lilburn, GA, USA

problem #1

Oct 012007

Beetle 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 38,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen Beetle. The welding has failed on the driver's seat track. As a result, the seat moves back and forth and, in the event of a crash, the seat would detach from the vehicle. The dealer stated that they were aware of the failure, but were not obligated to make the repair. The failure mileage was 38,000 and current mileage was 39,000. Updated 01-11-08. Updated 12/12/07

- Buffalo, NY, USA

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