Tl* the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen beetle. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis where it was stated to the contact that the clutch, pressure plate, and bearings needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the problem persisted. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.
1999 Volkswagen Beetle transmission problems
29 complaints (17% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 50,000.
- owner complaints
- 29
- of this car's complaints
- 17%
- typical mileage
- 50,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Automatic transmission14
- Clutch assembly3
- Manual transmission: column shift assembly2
- Manual transmission2
- Manual transmission: floor shift assembly1
- Driveline: driveshaft1
- Clutch assembly: bell housing1
- Automatic transmission: torque converter1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Volkswagen Beetle transmission problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle transmission
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
What 1999 Volkswagen Beetle owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
K I recently bought a 99 vw beetle and now all of a sudden my car jerks when it hits like 3000rpm and it idles higher then it should.
Tl*the contact owns a 1999 volkswagen beetle which was purchased on february 13, 2010. While driving at speeds of 70 MPH, the vehicle shifted into neutral while in drive mode. The instrument panel indicated that the vehicle was in neutral gear; however, the gear shift selector was in the drive position. She then attempted to shift back into drive and the vehicle began to jerk and lunge violently. The dealer was contacted and they attempted to correct the failure by replacing parts unknown to the contact. While driving home from the dealer, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where they reprogrammed the computer, which also did not correct the failure and the vehicle continued to shift out of gear. The failure and current mileages were under 121,000.
V.w. Beetle automatic transmission failure - hard shift or will not shift.
Driving down nj parkway,65 MPH. Transmission went out,thumping,losing speed in heavy traffic. Nothing done to correct after reading blog about this problem. I can't afford to have it fixed based on this info. Car is now undrivable. Shifting erratically if at all. Jerking between gears.
Problem: gear shifter for automatic transmission locked in park position. On multiple occasions the transmission shifter has locked in the park position. In order to get the car into a drive gear, it was necessary to turn the car off and on several times while pumping the brake pedal. It has taken as long a 30 mins. Of this process to get the car out of park. On each occasion my car was in a parked position. However, this problem could potentially occur if the car were placed into park at a traffic light or stop sign. Should this happen, it would create a traffic hazard. This same problem has been noted by multiple consumers throughout various internet websites.
My 99 vw beetle is a death trap, if it's not one thing it's another. Now the transmission is out. It's a standard shift, it has a clutch, why does it have a transmission to?
I bought my 99 beetle in october of 2007 and the day that I got the car the oil light came on and I took it back they had it for one month they replaced the motor and wire cluster. When I finally got it back about two weeks passed and I was driving on the interstate and my speedometer went from 0 to 120 and then the care lost power on the middle lane of the road. I took it back and they replaced the transmission I have tried numerous times to get them to take the car back and they wont. After I got it back that time the heater stopped working and the speedometer will not go above 40 when I told them this they said they would not fix it that it was my problem. Yesterday my mileage, speedometer, and gas gage stopped working my check engine light came on. And I don't know what to do if you know any one who could help me with these problems please let me know.
I own a 1999 new beetle with the 2.0 engine with 37,000 original miles. The car quit running approx. 2 1/2 yrs ago,approximately two months after I purchased it from a certified volkswagen dealer, used. A few days after delivery there was a rotten egg smell, check engine light on, engine sluggish. After one month the battery went dead completely. Replaced the battery, car would not run. Battery dead again after four days. I found info on the internet that security system must be set or the battery will last only four days. Inspected plugs, found heavy carbon buildup. Inspected pre o2 sensor, found same. Decided to overhaul eng. Found heavy carbon on tops of pistons and valves. Machine shop had to replace pistons, rings, all bearings, oil pump, plane the cylinder head, plane the head mating surface, replace seals, turn the flywheel. I had to also replace the water pump, timing belt, clutch, throwout bearing, o2 sensor, plug wires, and the dipstick holder. After considerable money spent, engine would start but not run. I found out from the dealer that if electrical power is lost, vehicle must be towed to a volkswagen dealer and be reprogrammed. It will not run until that is done. The reason given was that volkswagen did not want any owners to fix their own car. This could be a signifigant safety issue in a life threatening situation! There are reports on several internet forums of the original batteries blowing up and even after replacement of the battery the vehicle would not run until it was reprogrammed. Volkswagen should be required to fix this problem. I would like to see a full investigation on this model to see if it should be sold in the us. There are too many reported defects on this model to list here, some that apply to this car, that are much more dangerous than I described here. I hope that our government will straighten this company out and that owners will somehow be compensated.
While driving clutch went out, and the consumer could not shift the gears. After getting out of the vehicle there was a fire under the hood. The fire department responded and put the fire out. Vehiicle was later towed. The air pump was defective. Vehicle was totaled.
Questions about the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle transmission
Does the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle have transmission problems?
Owners have filed 29 complaints about the transmission of the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle, 17% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 1999 Volkswagen Beetle transmission problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 50,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle transmission?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Volkswagen Beetle have bad transmission?
The Volkswagen Beetle model years with the most transmission complaints are 2004 (157 complaints), 2003 (134 complaints) and 2005 (116 complaints).
Other 1999 Volkswagen Beetle problems
Electrical 39Engine 34Visibility 26Airbags 22Lights 17Body 16Brakes 11Seats 11Acceleration 10Fuel system 7Steering 5Tires 5Locks 4Suspension 4
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