Vw beetle 2003, 98,000 miles, started shifting hard about 6 months ago; jerks while shifting between first and second, second and third, and 4th to 3rd to 2nd to 1st; called vw after I received the warranty extension - transmission valve body letter (dec 11, 2010) but they are unwilling to cover the cost (5 months too old); they've admitted the problem but refuse to fix it.
2003 Volkswagen Beetle transmission complaints
Page 4 of 6: complaints 71 to 100 of 134, newest first, as owners wrote them.
After warming up, the car's transmission jerks very badly, and runs wildly before shifting. The mileage is just 75k. It is really dangerous especially driving on the highway due to the hard shift. Many other owners have similar experience. Vw must be responsible for this horrible defect.
Volkswagen, 2003 new beetle transmission problem.
Defective valve body for 09g engine that vw corporate has known about and fixed in later models.
Faulty automatic transmission activity. Low mileage transmission failures causing hazardous driving. Downshifting causes jolting gear changes, accelerating causes slip into neutral nearly causing rear-end collisions. Computer codes fail to correctly diagnose failure, causing dangerous driving hazard.
For the last 6 months my 2003 automatic vw beetle convertible with 56k miles has been shifting hard (lurch feeling) intermittently going up or down hills. When the mechanic inspected it the transmission readout said it was fine and this was normal wear and tear. On november 15, 2010 while driving in traffic at about 15mph, the transmission stopped grabbing and went into neutral. I was able to shift it to the tiptronic system to drive the vehicle safely out of the way. Upon inspection the vw dealer stated that they did not know the exact cause and only direction they got from vw national was to replace the transmission completely for $7k.
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen new beetle convertible. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked when she changed gears. The failure progressed over time. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced which was done at that time. The contact also stated that both the front window regulator motors failed; the vehicle was repaired at a local repair shop. The door lock actuators failed and were repaired at a repair shop. The air bag light illuminated and the contact was informed that the air bag sensor had failed. The vehicle was being repaired. The rear windshield was beginning to detach from the structure of the vehicle. The failure mileage was 75,347 and the current mileage was 93,800.
I bought a brand new vw beetle convertible in 2003. A few years ago, I reported a number of instances of a lurching problem to my service guy at the vw dealership, and he said they couldn't find a problem. A few months ago, the problem came back full force, and he said eventually I would need a new transmission. The car has begun lurching and shuddering violently when shifting, and today, my RPM's were highly elevated, despite my low speed. I pulled over and turned the car off, despite being on the 101 freeway in la. It couldn't drive. It started up again, and this evening the same thing happened. I'm afraid to continue to drive my car. It's seven years old and it only has 40,000 miles on it. There's no reason for this dangerous problem to occur, and there should absolutely be a recall. Thank you.
2003 volkswagen beetle convertible automatic was "hard shifting" after warming up for 15-20 minutes from 1st to 2nd gear, and down from 4th all the way to 1st. This issue started after 75,000 miles. Fix = replace valve body...around $2000. I was told that this is a very common issue, and that vw has addressed this defect in newer models. This seems to be a manufacturer defect if it is a known, common, and fixed problem by vw.
The car surges when shifting causing the wheels to spin out on wet surfaces.
I too have fallen victim of the latest transmission problems. I have a 2003 vw beetle with 90,000 miles in immaculate condition and experienced jerkiness in the transmission as well. When I would press on my brakes I noticed that as my automatic transmission was trying to shift itself down, it begin to jerk as it was shifting down. I made sure I maintained this car and was told all was well. Then one day I was driving it on the freeway and as I pressed the gas pedal it wouldn't go any more. I pulled over and shut it off. When I started up the car again I put it in d (drive) it would jerk forward and turn itself off. I took it to the mechanic and they told me it was stuck in 4th gear. When the mechanic checked it out I was told there were lots of metal pieces in the oil as if possibly something broke inside. How does this happen????????? My warranty will only pay $2,000. 00 and the cost is approx. $6,000.00 to repair. Why do I have to repair this vehicle? I know it's mine, but the transmission was faulty.
Vw new beetle,2003, with only 75,000 miles the transmission failed. I was on the highway, ramping up and the car was stuck in 3rd gear. Its an automatic. I wasn't able to down shift. I had to coast over to the side of the highway. The dealership decided I needed a new transmission. Luckily I was 13 miles under my warranty and they fixed it without charge. I wanted you to know this because I see many other owners having the same problem. I could have been in an accident because of this problem.
I have vw 03' beetle and transmission is going out early. Jerks between gears, and feels unsafe to drive on road.
Near collision caused by defective automatic transmission solenoid valve body produced and installed on the volkswagen beetle and cabrio convertible models. The transmission is a 6 speed automatic tip-tronic shift style specifically used between 2001 - 2004 model years. The defective part causes a sudden jump or jerking motion between gear shifting. In our instance the car jerked and stopped in the middle of an intersection which nearly caused a vehicle collision. This has happened on more than on one occasion. Further research discovered that vw has known about the defective part and that it has caused or been the possible cause of accidents involving these vehicles as well as numerous and constant complaints to vw dealers and on line complaint forums. A replacement of the defective designed internal solenoid valve body is needed to avoid further damage to the transmissions and make the vehicle safe to drive. This is especially an issue for lesser experienced drivers and when he vehicles are engaged in heavy traffic conditions.
The car has a transmission that is needing replacing after only 60,000 miles.
2003 vw beetle convertible. Automatic transmission began showing signs of trouble well over a year ago. Problem starts after 15 minutes of driving. Downshifts hard around 30-25 MPH. Also shows hesitation coming out of 2nd to 3rd gear. Car has 75,000 miles. Had transmission fluid changed/flushed twice in past 6 months hoping that would help. Took to dealership today, quoted me $1900 to replace valve body. Are you kidding me? Not to mention the fact that this car has had the rear window regulator go out -cost $300 to repair. The glue affixing the rear glass window to convertible top is breaking down. The check engine light comes on and appears to be some sort of malfunction with the gas cap...no matter how often I tighten it. Then it mysteriously goes off. Oh, and should you ever need a replacement key, good luck. Why couldn't vw use normal sized/type keys? Vw is making crappy products. The federal safety agency please do something. This manufacturer should not be permitted to release another vehicle off its assembly line unless it fixes the many problems affecting innocent, unfortunate vw owners like myself. Yield your power and enforce some action. Vw needs to be responsible for the junk they produce. Maybe then they'll think twice before turning out anymore crappy products. I will never own another vw product.
Transmission bad.
2003 volkswagen beetle convervible transmission problems.
My 2003 vw new beetle convertible has approx 89k miles on it. The automatic transmission shifts hard causing a jerking motion. It has progressed from a mildly noticeable to a more obvious jerking upon shifting. After researching this situation online, it seems as if it is a widely reported complaint about these vehicles. I feel like vw should resolve the problem being experienced by such a high number of owners.
I bought a used 2003 vw beetle conv. In 2006. I immediately reported to the service dept. That it there was some jerking happening when the car changed gears and they told me that this was normal for vw. Recently the jerking got really bad, and almost caused an accident because the transmission hesitated in the middle of an intersection and then I could not regain any speed. I was very close to being hit by an oncoming car. The replacement cost will be around 5800. My mechanic talked to vw and they told him they were aware of the problem and have fixed it in the newer models.
I've been driving my 2003 beetle convertible for 7.5 yrs. Been taking it in for the last 2 yrs about hesitation/grabbing while driving. Was told that they couldn't find any problems. This week, the engine light comes on and I get the diagnostics run and found out I have transmission problems. And it's been going on for a while, which is what the grabbing and hesitation is. I only have 78k miles on a nearly 8 year old car (again, only owner) and shouldn't have this issue. Found out that vw has known about these issues with the transmission but waited until I was well out of warranty. Now I'm looking at minimum of $5k, most likely $6.5k in repairs.
2003 vw bug stalls when hitting around 35 miles per hour, almost was rear ended - takes a while to start back moving but is sluggish. Took it to the mechanic and he said it was the transmission. I only have 80,000 miles on this car - how could this be the transmission.
Overheat light remains on after replacing thermostat and cover and timing belt and water pump. The system has been flushed multiple times. I took it to the vw dealer that I purchased the car from on 8/25/10 after overheating light. The dealer said it was the engine coolant sensor my previous mechanic had replaced in the car. (a vw factory part). $244.00 repair from cooley-mazda vw dealer. I drove home 10 miles and the overheat sensor was on in my car. I had the car towed back to dealer at my expense that day. Rented a car for the weekend. Returned on monday 8/30/10. Car wasn't worked on. Picked up car on wednesday, 9/1/10. Paid additional 170.00 for repair, of thermostat cover which was said to be leaking. Dealer had said there were no leaks prior to this. System flushed. Said there was air in the system. Car overheat sensor after driving about 20 miles. Car was towed back to dealer. Car was picked up on 9/3/10. Dealer told me they could not get the overheat light to go on. I drove car home 15 miles. Overheat light on. I called dealer. Service technician informed me that the increased city driving I was doing was causing car to overheat. Informed that the transmission was causing the car to overheat and that I would need a new transmission. He informed me that since I said okay at the shop when they told me that the sensor was not going on and the transmission was slipping. That I knew that the transmission needed to be replaced. That is my fault and my prior mechanics. I had car towed to a recommended independent shop who was going to look at the transmission. I can not drive my car and I still owe money on it. I desperately need a vehicle to drive.
2003 new vw beetle transmission issues. Please look into this.... Look on the vw forums and edmunds- there are 100s of complaints on this cars issues. I have a 2003 vw beetle convertible and it hard shifts downwards from 3rd to 2nd. I am told by the service advisor off the record that this is a problem with beetles in general, and he has seen over 100 in his one year with the company that need to be replaced. Mine has what many people have reported- brackets around all the drives (p,r,n,d,s) so the transmission does not know what gear it is in, it gets stuck in 3rd sometimes and I have to pull over to shut it off and restart it, and when it downshifts, the car jerks and pushes my head forward (this is an automatic, and does not downshift properly). Please investigate and recall....please please please. It is a very common problem, and we as consumers should not have to purchase new transmissions when there is obvious faults with these cars.
2003 volkswagen beetle transmission. The cost to fix this problem with the beetle is way out of line. An volkswagen should have to fix the problem. With all the other hard working people that has had the same part to break. Please look at this and do something.
Vw bug 2003, 87,000 miles, original owner. Transmission shifting rough. Dealer said we needed to have the "valve body" checked ($1413). If this wasn't the problem would need to replace the transmission ($5761). I do not understand why it costs so much before we even know if the transmission is bad, or why the transmission is going on such a relatively young car.
2003 volkswagen new beetle convertible 6sp. Tiprtonic transmission needs replaced at 78,500 miles. I pulled out of a parking lot and onto the road and the car accelerated like it was supposed, shifter through first, second, and third, then never shifted to fourth just revved. Was told transmission need to be replaced and quoted $4,800 by mechanic. Have been doing research about this topic since and have discovered several others in the same situation. I feel volkswagen should at least help us out. I contacted volkswagen on may 12th and was told basically they would do nothing about it. With everything I have seen on discussion forums about this particular transmission, I feel a recall may be in order to force volkswagen to look at the issue. Thanks you for time and consideration on this matter.
Transmission will not shift out third gear, triptrontic automatic, leak in trunk, top will not go up.
2003 vw beetle, transmission control module ...original owner, regular servicing,completed. Automatic 6 speed sport shift. Runs fine when the car is cold. Drive 10 miles or so an the car starts to jerk and fails to shift into 4th gear. Yesterday got stuck in 3rd gear while on hwy, created a danger for me and others on the road. Took it to a trany place, not the transmission, but suggests it is the transmission control module, which is located under the dash on passenger side. When the car fails to shift the rpms go to 5k or 6k then the car jerks and tires screech, I called vw and the parts guy said that a new trany runs7 k or so and he is aware of the problem as I described it above.
Transmission problem in 2003 vw beetle. While braking car jerks and jumps. Car has 56k miles and has been consistently serviced by vw. Vw states car needs new valve body and tiptronix switch totaling $2500+ .
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