2010 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that while having a routine inspection with an independent mechanic, the contact was informed that the vehicle had failed the inspection due to the emissions system. The vehicle was not repaired due to the part being on backorder. The vehicle was undriveable. The local dealer was contacted but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Beetle equipped with Barum Tires, Tire Line: Bravuris, Tire Size: 225/45/R17, DOT Number: (Not Provided). The contact stated that while his daughter was driving approximately 65 MPH, the front passenger’s side of the vehicle started to shake, vibrate, and wobble. After stopping to inspect the vehicle, it was discovered that the sidewall of the front passenger’s side tire had completely separated. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The tire manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 200.

My car only has 43K miles, I had issues when it was 10K miles, where the key will not turn to start the engine, it gets stuck, and sometimes it gets stuck with the steering wheel. The issue was reproducible when I brought it in to the VW dealership near me. The service rep told me it is very common for this model (bug) but they don't know why. They quoted me $1200 to get the LOCK|BOLT|CYLINDER replaced, but the warranty is only 12 months/12K miles. Mind you that it happened when it was 10K miles. Imagine, my wife and 7-year-old stop at a gas station at night and can't start the car because everything is locked. I contacted VW Care, but they don't care unless there is a recall. So, I am filling out this complaint form. Thank you.

2010 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FAILED SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 10 MPH AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED TO ASSIST WITH 30% OF THE REPAIR COSTS. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE FULL AMOUNT SHOULD BE REIMBURSED DUE TO THE FAILURE BEING KNOWN BY THE MANUFACTURE. *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MIGHT NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED; HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

THE HEADLIGHT ON MY 2010 NEW BEETLE WENT OUT. IT STARTED TO DIM WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO WORK TONIGHT AND THEN WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE HE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. HE CALLED AND WAS TELLING ME THAT THE LEFT HEADLIGHT WAS DIM AND DID NOT LOOK BRIGHT LIKE THE RIGHT SIDE. HE SENT ME A PICTURE--AND JUST THEN THE LEFT LIGHT WENT COMPLETELY OUT! THE HEADLIGHT BULB WAS JUST REPLACED AT A VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE CENTER EARLIER TODAY. THIS CAR HAS LESS THAN 17,000 MILES! THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE OF OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND CONTINUOUSLY HAVING TO HAVE THEIR HEADLIGHTS FIXED--ONLY TO HAVE THEM GO OUT AGAIN. FORTUNATELY IT WAS ONLY THE ONE SIDE THAT WENT OUT. I HAVE READ THAT PEOPLE WITH 2010 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLES ARE EXPERIENCING PREMATURE HEADLIGHT BULB BURN OUT, HEADLIGHT HARNESS FAILURES AND DAMAGED CONNECTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.

TAKATA RECALL. HAS LEFT ME STRANDED SWITCH WILL NOT ALWAYS TURN ON. THE CALENDAR BELOW WANTS A DATE. THIS CAN BE A DAILY THING, AS I DRIVE IT BACK AND FOURTH TO WORK.09

WATER LEAK INTO REAR HATCH; THIRD BRAKE LIGHT PREMATURE PLASTIC PART FAILURE AT 75,016 MILES. THIS IS SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE RISK OF ACCIDENT OR WATER/ELECTRICAL FIRE.

WHEN I BRAKE, THE BRAKE LIGHTS DOES NOT COME ONE SOMETIME AND COMES ON SOMETIMES. I'VE HAD SEVERAL COMPLAINTS, PEOPLE FOLLOWING BEHIND ME AND CURSE AT ME FOR MY LIGHTS NOT WORKING.

ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE CAR AND IT STALLS, YOU TRY TO ACCELERATE IT AND IT DOESN'T MOVE AND TURNS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY. BIG SAFETY CONCERN. IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AND HAS BEEN TO THE VW DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT 4 TIMES ALREADY AT KUHN'S IN FLORIDA. ALL SERVICE RECORDS ARE AT THIS DEALER. STILL THE PROBLEM HASN'T BEEN FIXED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS ABLE TO FULLY ROTATE UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE ON AND WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INDICATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH, HOUSING, AND LOCK SET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.

HEAD LIGHT HOUSING ON BOTH SIDES HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE NOT TO MENTION HOW MANY BULBS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON BOTH SIDE. OCCASIONALLY, IF A BULB GOES OUT THEN ALL LIGHTING SYSTEMS FAIL EVEN IF YOU ARE DRIVING!

REPORTING AS OF INITIAL COMPLAINT NUMBER 10790654. WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT NHTSA REALIZES THERE ARE TWO GAS TANK LEAKS FOR THE 2010 VW BEETLE.

FEBRUARY 2015 MY FUEL TANK BEGAN LEAKING FROM A PRESSED RIDGE AREA OF THE TANK, NOT IN A SEAM, NOT IN A GASKET. TANK REPLACED. SIX MONTHS LATER SECOND FUEL TANK LEAKING IN SAME AREA. APPEARS TO BE A PRODUCTION AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT RELATED TO A WEAK AREA OF THE METAL. FUEL LITERALLY DRIPPING FROM THE TANK ONTO THE GROUND. CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE FUEL AND FUMES. THIS HAPPENED RANDOMLY WITHOUT ANY ISSUE OF DAMAGE TO THE TANKS. CONTACTED VW WHO REFUSED TO HELP IN ANY WAY. WE HAVE KEPT THE FIRST TANK FOR OBSERVATION. AT THIS TIME VEHICLE IS PARKED LEAKING FUEL AND UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE ANOTHER TANK, AND END UP WITH SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE.

AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 HOURS IN 80 DEGREE WEATHER, I STOP THE CAR TO FILL FOR GASOLINE, AND WHEN STARTING THE CAR TO DRIVE FORWARD ON MY TRIP, THE STEERING WHEEL ERRATICALLY MOVES ON IT'S OWN, AND THEN THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING GOES INTO A FAULT THUS LOSING ALL POWER STEERING. I HAVE BEEN TO NUMEROUS VW DEALERS OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, AND HAS NEVER BEEN RESOLVED. WHEN I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATE, THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THE FAULT CODE CLEARS ITSELF SO THAT WHEN IT IS BROUGHT INTO THE DEALER, THE DEALER DOES NOT SEE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING THE CAR CANNOT BE OPERATED SAFELY WITHOUT THE POWER STEERING, AND THIS SHOULD BE A VEHICLE SAFETY RECALL, SINCE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE COULD CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. I ALSO HAVE A VIDEO RECORDED ON MY PHONE OF THE LATEST INCIDENT.

FUEL TANK FAILURE WITH METAL CASTING OF THE TANK CAUSING THE ESCAPE OF EXPLOSIVE FUEL VAPORS AND VEHICLE STALLING. BOTH VW OF AMERICA AND THE SERVICING DEALERSHIP HENDRICK VW OF LEWISVILLE TEXAS WOULD NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE SERVICE PROBLEM FIRST AROSE AT 66K MILES THEN FINALLY DIAGNOSED/CORRECTED AT 100K MILES. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WOULD NOT WAIVE THE REPAIR COST OF $3165.43 WE HAD TO PAY TO CORRECT THIS MANUFACTURER CASTING DEFECT AS DIAGNOSED BY THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DEALER MANAGER. VW OF AMERICA REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILTY OF THEIR MANUFACTURE DEFECT AND THE HENDRICK VW SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THEY DID NOT REPRESENT VW!

DOOR HINGE SUSPENSION THIS IS THE 2ND VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WE HAVE OWNED. 1ST WAS A 2006. BOTH CARS HAVE EXPERIENCED DOOR HINGE ISSUES. MY FEELING IS THE DOORS ARE TOO HEAVY FOR THE HINGE SUSPENSION. IT HAS HAPPENED ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE. NOISE, THEN THE SMALL PIN SUSPENSION SNAPS.

NOTICED A SIMILAR COMPLAINT AND WANTED TO ADD THAT SINCE OWNING THE 2010 VW BEETLE, WHEN THE TEMPERATURE GETS VERY WARM, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK FEATURE IS VERY DIFFICULT TO DISENGAGE, CAUSING THE IGNITION KEY SWITCH TO REMAIN LOCKED. I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR 4 YEARS AS THE DEALER SHOWED ME HOW TO DISENGAGE THE LOCKED STEERING WHEEL (PRESS BRAKE PEDAL, TURN KEY IN IGNITION) BUT HAD NO RESPONSE TO THE TEMPERATURE SITUATION. I AM NOT AN IDIOT, I AM SHORT THOUGH, SO IT IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ME TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE CAR WITHOUT BUMPING THE STEERING WHEEL AND LOCKING IT. AS I KEEP THE DOOR OPEN (AIR BRINGS INSIDE TEMPERATURE DOWN), I SWEAT AWAY AS I WAIT FOR THE BRAKE TO DISENGAGE THE LOCK SO I CAN TURN THE KEY. ANNOYED. *TR

AT 7AM ON A 5 DEGREE ABOVE ZERO MORNING, MY VW PULLED OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE FINE, I DROVE ONE BLOCK, FINE, AT THE SECOND BLOCK'S STOP SIGN, MY BRAKES DID NOT RESPOND. FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY COMMUTE TO AND FROM WORK I HAD TO DRIVE VERY SLOWLY, BRAKE VERY HARD FOR THE CAR TO COME TO A STOP. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS AN ISSUE WITH THE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT ALTHOUGH NEVER PART OF A RECALL, THAT THIS SITUATION HAS OCCURRED BEFORE, AND HAS POTENTIAL TO BE DANGEROUS. FOR EXAMPLE, MY KNEE IS VERY SORE FROM PRESSING ON THE BRAKES, AND IF I HAD BEEN GOING AT A HIGHER SPEED WHEN I FIRST DISCOVERED THE ISSUE - I WOULD HAVE INHERENTLY SLID INTO THE CAR(S) AHEAD OF ME, POSSIBLY CREATING A BAD SITUATION. THE MECHANIC ALSO TOLD ME THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER DUE TO AN UNEXPECTED DEMAND. THIS IS A SITUATION THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY VW OF AMERICA, FOR SAFETY ISSUES ON A RELATIVELY NEW VEHICLE (LESS THAN 55,000 MILES / 4.3 YRS OLD). *TR

WINDOW HAD BEEN STICKING GOING BACK UP, THEN COMPLETELY FAILED AND FELL DOWN WHILE DRIVING. *TR

TWO ISSUES: THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS UNABLE TO LATCH DOWN. AT THE DEALER, THEY STATED THAT A PIN HAD BROKEN. THEY REPLACED THE ENTIRE SEAT BASE. AT OUR REQUEST, THEY PROVIDED US WITH THE BROKEN SEAT BASE. UPON MY INSPECTION, I NOTICED THAT A C CLIP HAD COME OFF OF A PIN. AS A RESULT, THE SEAT LOCKING MECHANISM SLID OFF THE PIN. THEREFORE, THE SEAT WOULD NOT LOCK INTO PLACE. I INSPECTED THE PASSENGER SEAT. A CLIP HAD FALLEN OFF OF THIS SEAT AND WAS LYING ON THE CARPET IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT SECTION. WHEN I SHOWED THIS BROKEN PART TO THE DEALER, HE INDICATED THAT THIS PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND THEY DID NOT RECOMMEND THAT I TAKE ANY ADDITIONAL ACTION AS THIS TIME. THE PASSENGER SEAT STILL LATCHES DOWN. THE CLIP THAT FELL OFF IS DIFFERENT THAN THE C CLIP THAT FELL OFF ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. THE CONTACT HAD TO TWIST THE STEERING WHEEL SEVERAL TIMES EXTREMELY HARD IN ORDER TO TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

VOLKSWAGEN OF ORANGE PARK IS NOT FOLLOWING SAFETY STANDARDS. THEY REPLACE CARPET AFTER FLOOD. DAMAGE BY SLICING THE CARPET UNDER THE DASH AND NOT REMOVING THE DASHBOARD AS THEY ARE PAID. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE CARPET BECOMING LODGED UNDER CONTROL PEDALS AS ITS COMPROMISED. *TR

THIS CONVERTIBLE ONLY HAS 6,000 MILES AND WE GET THIS CEL CODE (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) OF P0456 (EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK DETECTED (VERY SMALL LEAK). TOOK IT TO VW IN MARCH 2013 WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY DID SOMETHING WITH THE VALVE AND RESET THE CEL. THE SAME CODE CAME BACK IN LATE MAY 2013. OUR 3-YEAR 50,000 MILES WARRANTY EXPIRED BY THEN. THE VW DEALER WANTED TO CHARGE US $140 FOR JUST DIAGNOSTIC BEFORE FIXING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I BOUGHT A NEW GAS CAP AND RESET THE CEL AND IT STILL CAME BACK. SOME THING IN THIS CAR NEEDS A RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF THE REPAIRS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

CAR WAS SERVICED AT AUDI OF HUNTSVILLE ON 7/11/11. NEW INJEC PUMP, TOOTH BELT, TENSIONER, WATER PUMP, COOLANT AD, ADDITIVE, 3 ROLLERS, RIBBEDBELT AND FUELFILTER INSTALLED. REMOVED TIMING COVERS. REMOVED INTAKE PIPING AN THE TENSIONER, WATER PUMP AND BELT. REINSTALLED REMOVED COMPONET AND RETESTED. SET PUMP TIMING. CAR WAS GIVEN A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. YESTERDAY 2/1/12 CAR SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND WILL EITHER NOT SWITCH GEARS OR SWITCH GEARS AND UNEXPECTEDLY JERK THE CAR. UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR DUE TO SAFETY REASONS. RESEARCHED ONLINE TO FIND THAT OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE THE SAME ISSUES. PLEASE HELP US RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED AND THE BRAKES DO NOT RESPOND IMMEDIATELY WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. THE TRUNK WOULD NOT OPEN, THE DRIVERS WINDOW WOULD NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE WINDOW AND TRUNK WAS REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THE IGNITION HAD TO BE REPLACED, BUT THE PART WAS ON BACK ORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 10/03/11 *BF UPDATED 3/27/12 *CN

NO ADAPTER FOR ANTI THEFT LUG NUTS IN SPARE TIRE KIT. NOBODY CAN REPAIR FLAT TIRE.

THE BACK PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW STUCK IN THE 1/2 DOWN/UP POSITION. WHEN WE TRIED TO LOWER IT WITH POWER WINDOW MECHANISM, IT CRUSHED UPON ITSELF. DURING ITS REPLACEMENT FOR $880, OUR VW TECHNOLOGY, INC. SERVICEMAN OFFERED THAT ALL CONVERTIBLE BEETLE VOLKSWAGEN HAVE THIS PROBLEM, EVEN TO THE 2010 MODEL . OURS IS A 2002 MODEL. THE LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WANTED OVER $1,000 FOR THE SAME REPLACEMENT WORK. WE CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN'S NATIONAL SERVICE WHO DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS ON ANY OTHER VEHICLE. *TR

2003 NEW VW BEETLE. WAS ROLLING UP THE REAR WINDOW AND IT STOPPED WORKING AND WILL NOT ROLL UP ANY MORE. WINDOW WAS NOT IN A BIND NOTHING WAS IN THE WAY OF IT, AFTER IT BROKE I WENT ON LINE AND SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. *TR