2001 Volkswagen Beetle: engine stalls while driving

Filed May 4, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 145,000 miles · SC

A huge amount of 2.0l engines (1998-2006) seem to stall when driving or stationary after 20 min from cold start in high temps (+75f) . Loss of power steering and power assist brakes. It happened to me 2x while driving 45 MPH. Scary. Dealers and mechanics can't locate issues because its intermittent. Cars operate normal again after 10-20 mins. See http://newbeetle.org/forums/2-0-liter-gas/139065-hot-weather-stop-go-car-stalls-dangerous-2.html#post1508562 for a list of different sites all listing similar issues. Apparently, and according to my research, the issue stopped on model yr 2007 and higher.

Filed Aug 6, 2015 · Fuel system · 121,000 miles · WA

Forums concerning this vw model, and other models both older and newer, are replete with reports of the cars stalling with symptoms of starved fuel, usually arising when the tank is less than half full. See, e.g., http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?4971876-car-stalling-while-at-speed-is-low-fuel-the-problem. My vehicle suffers from identical symptoms. Other owners attempt to solve the problem by (1) cleaning the fuel tank; (2) replacing the fuel pump; (3) replacing the speed sensor; (4) replacing the crank sensor; (5) replacing the fuel filter; (6) replacing the fuel pump relay; and (7) cleaning the fuel tank. In most cases, based on review from these forums, the problem is not permanently solved and recurs while driving causing the car to stall and creating a threat to life safety. I cannot believe vw is unaware of this problem based on the multitude of reports. Yet, I have seen nothing from vw that addresses this issue. If no investigation has been launched on this issue, the federal safety agency should launch one.

Filed Jul 20, 2015 · Engine · 155,000 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen beetle. While driving approximately 55 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the sprocket fractured and caused the timing belt to fracture. In addition, the water pump failed. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. In addition, while driving at any speed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the alternator assembly. The vehicle was not included in the federal safety agency campaign id number: 14e007000 (engine and engine cooling). The vehicle was repaired by the dealer twice. The manufacturer was notified of the failures. The approximate failure mileage was 155,000.

Filed Aug 13, 2013 · Transmission · 59,000 miles · CA

First noticed it when starting it up in the morning.rough and stalling when putting it in reverse. Never did that before. It has to warm up before I can drive it because it will either stall in reverse, or in drive the car will shudder and take off, it will not idle.when in park it is fine when in drive at stoplights it will surge forward. I have to either press the brake pedal as hard as I can and that doesn't always work,or put it in park or neutral!!!! That was the beginning of my troubles.it gradually over time stopped shifting either before it reaches 3rd gear or after. I only have 60,000 plus miles on it and it still should be in the powertrain warranty. That it is 2013 it is 12 years after I purchased it !! That's an average of 5,000 miles a year driving! And it still has a defective transmission!! I cannot believe there is no recall on this! They say it is the valve body that is the culprit! Then vw better issue me a free replacement! I cannot believe I have to shell out my hard earned money for their screw up! If this valve body has done irreparable damage to my tranny they will have to replace the whole transmission as well! Less than 65,000 miles and having a defective part they know about they have to honor that powertrain warranty! I will need and or the federal safety agency help in this matter! [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jul 30, 2011 · Brakes · GA

I bought my 2001 vw beetle and I started having problems the day I brought it home. Within 45 min my epc light came on, my ABS light came on and my check engine light came on. The car stalled. I lost power steering, breaks, and car would not idle. Called the dealer and they said it sounded like the throttle body had went out. They replaced it with no charge, because I threatened to return the car under the lemon law, ever since I have had nothing but problems. Starting in nov. Of 2010 I had a lot of miss fire. Took it to the vw dealer they said that the coils were recalled and they replaced them for free. Since then my coils and spark plugs have been replaced four times due to faulty manufacturing. About two weeks (july 2011) I went out and started my car, once again my epc light, my ABS light and check engine light came on. Once again I lost my power steering, brakes, car wouldn?t idle. Took it to the dealer they said it was the mass airflow sensor. Changed it car ran fine for one day. The next day the lights came on again. Took it back to the dealer they said it?s the coils and sparks plugs. Had them changed less than a month ago (june 2001) when I had the timing belt changed. Took it back again now they are saying it?s the throttle body again. Last time I checked a throttle body should last more than 2 year. I was looking for a used throttle body and was at a parts store the guy said that there has been a huge issue with the wiring harness and it cost about $2000 hoping this is not my problem?. Within the last two years I have sunk 3500 in to this crap car.

Filed Jul 3, 2011 · Electrical, Engine · 67,860 miles · MA

2001 vw beetle. From the very beginning, it has been nothing but problems. For the first few years it was covered under the warranty, free of charge repairs. I have low mileage so I thought that by the time these items were repaired it would be fine when the warranty expired. There is always something wrong with the car and in particular the electrical system. The check engine light is always going off. The safety issue comes in with its current problem. I had a fuel injection flush which included the carbon deposits removal known as induction, air filter replaced, engine fuel filter replaced, and a brake fluid flush plus 4 new spark plugs. Prior to this service, my car was having difficulty starting with major shaking. I had to put my foot on the accelerator to get it going while starting. Now after the service it runs much better but the problem is that now stalls when I come to a traffic light and stop for a period of time. This is extremely dangerous. The other malfunctions that have happened over the years are an expense but it was something that I could somehow manage. This is incredibly dangerous. I have no control over traffic lights and the generator comes on when I stop, it is worse when the light changes fast and then I have to stop even more suddenly. Imagine if I am on the highway and it stops. This has happened once, a few weeks prior to the cleaning service. Now, I am afraid to drive that vehicle. I have looked online at message boards from other vw beetle owners and had read similar stories of such dissatisfaction, incredible financial expense with the electrical system and other components of cars. I have even read that these cars can become inflamed , necessitating the fire dept. To put it out. This is a lemon and so many other vw owners have written similar account message boards. The consumer stated the oxygen sensor and mass air flow sensor had to be replaced. Also, the epc light illuminated. Updated ivoq 07/07/11. *jb

Filed Jul 1, 2011 · Electrical · 81,000 miles · NC

Car is stalling, sputtering, but not dying completely. Coil packs have been determined to be the issue. There is an open recall on the coil packs, but I never received the recall notice. The coil packs on this car need to be replaced, free of charge, free labor and diagnostic services. Please send details on how to accomplish this for my 2001 vw new beetle glx 1.8t.

Filed Apr 2, 2011 · Transmission · 137,520 miles · CA

I have a 2001 vw new beetle. The transmission keeps failing, lurching, skidding, & the dealer & mechanics have done/found out nothing about it. I am one of thousands experiencing this problem with no reply from vw. I have never received anything about the recalls they order. My car is totally unsafe & I have put $5,500 in it to be told I need more work. They are taking no responsibility & we that own these cars are forced to drive them unsafely. My car jumps & skids forward from a stop. It goes so slow before the skidding that cars almost rear end me. The car cannot be traded in broken & vw refuses to address any problems we all have. My mom has a 2005 new beetle that is beginning to lurch and stall out on the freeway & during regular driving. We own 2 of these cars and never receive any recall info and we are forced to pay $5,700 each to fix the faulty transmission, $900 each for sensors, who know what for computers that all fail and cause our vehicles to be extremely unsafe. My car right now will not reverse, it only drives forward. Vw needs to be forced to recall there faulty unsafe cars for not only those that drive them but for others on the road. This is a huge safety issue for drivers and anyone on the road. I should not have to fear for my life when driving a vehicle I have maintained and the maker will not recall the problems it knows these vehicles have. They are not safe and all of us that own them are stuck paying thousands of dollars to fix a problem vw is aware of and will do nothing about. It is scary and dangerous to be a vw new beetle owner.

Filed Aug 24, 2010 · Electrical · 148,000 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen beetle. The contact stated that when driving at high speeds or idling, the vehicle would suddenly hesitate and would attempt to stall. The digital clock would independently reset to midnight and the fuel level gauge needle would drop to zero. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the ignition switch was replaced. The failure recurred. The fuel level gauge had not moved back up so the contact was unaware of how much fuel was in the tank. The contact scheduled another appointment with the dealer at the time of the complaint. The manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was unavailable. The current and failure mileage was approximately 148,000.

Filed Dec 30, 2008 · Engine · 68,000 miles · AZ

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen beetle. Ever since the vehicle was purchased, the mass air flow sensor has been repaired 4 times. When the vehicle was started and placed into first gear, the vehicle would shutter, stall, and then fail. A local technician stated that the mass air flow sensor was failing and the vehicle was repaired at the cost of $350. The mass air flow sensor has been replaced four times since the vehicle was purchased. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 68,000 and current mileage was 69,900. Updated 02/05/09 *bf updated 02/06/09.

Filed Apr 2, 2008 · Engine · 53,000 miles · ID

This problem has been a on going problem for about 2 years now, each time this happens you have to take the car to the vw dealer only to get screwed ,check engine light comes on car starts misfiring has no power uses lots of gas stalls runs ruff . I am afraid to drive this car on the freeway in heavy traffic for fear of it stalling and getting ran into by another car its a public endangerment these cars are. In april of 2007 I had to take it to the dealer they gave it a quick fix costing 450.00 the last time they told me I had a bad fuel injector they replace it . It ran fine for a couple of months then in nov 15 2007 the car stalled again daughter limped it home the check engine light was on the car was missing bad it was night and getting close to zero outside . We parked it this time because we did not have the money to fix the car it has 53,000 miles on it. I refuse to take it to another vw dealer , and all vw of america will say is we are sorry for you trouble but because you are not the first buyer of the car and are the second buyer of this car that was a lease return you are not entitle to the 10 years 100.000 mile powertrain warranty that come with the car. If you are the first buyer of the car. Then these repair would be covered . The week of jan 15 2008 we took the car to an independent auto mechanic shop . I took them 2 days to find the problem the mass airflow sensor was bad and the tps sensor is bad in all it will take 1,400.00 dollars to fix this car. We paid for the mass airflow sensor to be replaced and the cost to find the problems. Then we took the car home and parked it . It still needs the tps sensor replaced that will cost 1,000.00 and the car will be drivable .

Filed Sep 19, 2007 · Engine · NY

Epc light came on numerous times, causing the engine power to be reduced greatly. The light was never constant it would come on at random times. Brought to dealer 6/13-6/15. Engine failed on 6/16 due to a coolant component failure. New engine put in, I had to pay $1,360 even thought still under warranty. Vehicle was picked up 7/9. Epc light on again the next week, brought back to dealer, when I went to pick it up the light was still on accompanied by the check engine light and the car was barely running, it sounded like it would stall out at any minute. Car was picked up a few days later. Epc and check engine light on again on 9/11 before bringing it to the dealer I had my brother look at it, he states its a problem with the throttle, the same problem as all the other times. I brought the car to dealer on 9/13 and still waiting for repairs.