2001 Volkswagen Beetle transmission problems

Filed Feb 24, 2015 · Engine, Transmission · 170,000 miles · AZ

I am the 2nd or 3rd third owner, and I should have checked this car out further, since whomever ('s) sold it to me didn't tell me a [xxx] thing was wrong with the car. I am so disgusted about this incident of buying basically a lemon from dishonest creeps. I only drove it once before I handed over every hard earned penny I had saved over such a lengthy time due to the fact I am a struggling single mother. I don't get child support nor welfare, thank you! I paid all I had literally ever saved up ever in my whole life. (yes I am that poor to be quite frank) I paid $4500 for a 2001 vw new beetle. I have always only ever heard excellent things of vw's, there for I just pray and wish that vw would help!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I am without transportation to get to and from work, as well as my children to and from school. I can't even drive to get groceries or anything! Help!! Why can't vw at least pay to have it fixed? I am just to poor. I am looking into a law suit. Dishonest vw, why can't you just be honest and fix your error and wrong doing? They sell these beetles knowingly to innocent trusting families, single moms, etc: etc;, and that alone I believe should be grounds enough for a hell of a law suit. They knowingly put women, children, and innocent people's lives in serious danger with no conscience what so ever. Buying a vw is like playing russian roulette. For you, your children, your family, loved ones and friends. [xxx] even innocent by standers and passer byes. Fix my beetle evil creeps. May god deal with you eventually either way amen! Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

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 Apr 5, 2013 · Transmission · 112,478 miles · OH

First of all the problem is the transmission>>>>> I was driving at 45 MPH, suddenly transmission slips into neutral. Pressing accelerator did not help. Coasted to side of road. Moved transmission selector thru gears including reverse. Car did not move, then suddenly the transmission jumped into gear and lurched forward. Very scary! I was pointing towards the road when the car lurched forward from a stop, my quick response avoided me lurching into passing traffic. I kept moving,along the shoulder, but the car wasn't upshifting until I reached approx 45 MPH, then it slammed into the next gear. Jumped back into neutral, then slammed into next gear.

Filed Apr 24, 2012 · Engine, Transmission · FL

Automatic transmission has problem and sometimes while driving does not advances, this could be a safety issue.

Filed Apr 24, 2012 · Transmission · 131,033 miles · IN

After only having this car for one year, this is the fifth time I have had this issue. The car is running fine, then all of a sudden, the transmission downshifts and jerks terribly. On two separate occasions, this has happened in intersections and I was almost t boned in the drivers side door the last time. I have contacted vw and am told "we have had no complaints or issues with the transmission on these cars". Yet, a simple google search finds hundreds of similar complaints regarding the "new" vw beetle transmission issues. More people end up getting killed if vw is not held responsible. Corrective actions that include acknowledging they have a problem and publicly issuing a fix and contacting all owners should be at a minimum. I can tell you that my car is now worthless, no repair shops will work on it, and vw wont' admit to a problem. I am thinking of contacting a lawyer.

Filed Nov 7, 2011 · Acceleration, Electrical · 69,890 miles · GA

Throttle body goes out (02-03-2009) cv axel goes out (03-31-2009 brake lights go out (02-18-2010) cv axel goes out again (4-31-2010) alternator goes out (06-21-2010) ignition coils fail (09-13-2010) ignition coils fail again(01-21-2011) brake switch replaced again (01-21-2011) air flow sensor fails (01-21-2011) air flow sensor fails again (07-26-2011) timing belt replaced (06-15-2011) thermostat replaced (06-15-2011) water pump replaced (06-15-2011) now having problems with throttle body/ throttle body sensor/ electrical issue. Dealer is not sure what the problems is and wants to throw money at it to see what the problems is. This car is just one problem after another after another.

Filed Nov 6, 2011 · Acceleration, Transmission · 40,750 miles · TX

Approximately one week ago I noted that when I put my 2001 beetle into drive, the transmission did not catch. As I pushed the gas peddle down, it was necessary to rev the engine and then it would finally catch. The problem has gotten worse over the course of the week and will go into the shop this week. The safety issue is that it is necessary to rev the engine to get it into gear. I have almost hit the car in front of me on 2 occasions, but was able to hit the brake in time. I now push the brake and accelerator at the same time to avoid this possibility. I have read of similar transmission problems on the new beetle and want to add my experience at a paltry 41,000 miles to the list. I have not had the problems described in other postings such as difficulty shifting from 1st to 2nd or 2nd to 3rd. I also have not had the car downshift or shift to neutral as others have described. The major reason for posting this is the two episodes of almost hitting the car in front of me when the transmission engaged.

Filed Aug 26, 2011 · Transmission · 75,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2001 volkswagen bettle. The contact stated that the vehicle would downshift abnormally between gears and he would have to manually shift from fourth into third. The vehicle would then roar loudly and lose all power. The failure recurred intermittently. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure however, did not offer any assistance. No repairs were performed. The current mileage was 86,000. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

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 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.