2003 Volkswagen Beetle: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Aug 29, 2021 · Transmission · SD

Vehicle does not shift properly, vehicle does not shift to drive correctly and either shifts down or stays in neutral

Filed Jan 2, 2019 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · NC

. Gets stuck randomly in 1st gear ... Some of the time it shifts but if I leave it running in park for a few minutes (especially then) or when it warms up nicely and I then have to slow down into 1st like at a light after I exit the highway and then try to drive again it won't shift out of first . And. I know when it's about to start this because it starts shifting so hard the car lurches (sometimes so roughly that if I hadn't made sure to be extra far away from any vehicles in front of me then my car would have leaped right into theirs - even if I am braking) very scary:( and I feel unsafe especially when it lurches badly and also when the car stops gaining speed because it got stuck in 1st and the cars behind me almost run right over me ) from what I've read while researching this, this issue is a well known defect. V w made a minuscule effort to address it ... An extended warranty which is useless because it doesn't cover fixing the damage to the transmission that this defect causes, leaving us owners to have buy a new transmission basically because of this known defect. Vw should fix it since they clearly know about this as a defect. It effects new beetles years 2003 to 2007! And in my research it is clear that many many '03-'07 new beetle owners have very similar problems and most feel like I do...that these cars are scary and unsafe to drive.vw is aware of this but doesn't care so I implore you to please take a deep and serious look into this problem and help make vw take responsibility and fix this dangerous and unpredictable defect. Thank you very much and look forward to hearing from you. Respectfully, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jul 22, 2013 · Transmission · 79,000 miles · NY

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 volkswagen beetle. The contact stated that the transmission would not shift and would exhibit an abnormal banging sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was determined that there was an internal problem and the transmission would need to be replaced. The failure mileage was 79,000 and the current mileage was 82,200.

Filed May 31, 2012 · Transmission · NY

2003 volkswagen beetle owner blogs, failed transmission is a common and frequent occurrence. *05/31/12*bf the consumer stated that upon starting the car and shifting it moved forward for a few seconds and then stopped. The engine still ran fine but, the transmission did not shift to higher gears. The transmission slipped and the car would not move forward. Updated 06/06/12

Filed Mar 31, 2012 · Transmission · 71,000 miles · CA

My 2003 new beetle convertible has been having transmission problems where it will jerk violently when it shifts up or down and sometimes it will not shift at all. It will get stuck in a gear and I have to stop it and turn the engine off and restart it. It will jerk even when stopped at a light. I have to make sure I am far away from the car in front of me. I no longer drive it because I don't know what will happen at any time. My airbag light stays on and will not turn off also, so I'm not sure if it will even work if there was an accident. Transmissions should not be jerking that way at all and if someone was to walk in front of my car at a stop light or sign, it could jerk forward and hit them. Not a safe car.

Filed Nov 1, 2011 · Transmission · 75,000 miles · CA

I purchased my 2003 new beetle convertible brand spanking new in dec 2002. The car had 32 miles on it when I bought it; the car now has 77k miles as of today. I have been experiencing a major transmission problems that vw is acutely aware of. The car is a 6 speed auto transmission with trip tronic. The car hesitates upon acceleration and before shifting into 2nd gear. Instead, the transmission lurches from 1st into 2nd, causing the tires to screech. When the car lurches forward it causes the front drive/steering tires to lose grip on the pavement which is a safety issue. There have been a few times when it jumped so hard it almost hit the car in front of me and sometimes the lurch is so strong it feels like another car hit me from behind. The transmission works fine when it is cool but gets worse as the car warms up - after about 5 miles. The other gears have shifting problems too; just not as harsh as going into 2nd. This happens when the car is downshifting as well. I have also experienced the car getting stuck in 2nd gear while traveling in traffic which created a danger for me and others on the road. The only way to cure the problem is to safely make my way to the side of the road, turn the engine off, wait a few minutes, then turn it back on. This doesn't completely make the lurching go away but it gives me several travel miles before getting stuck in gear again. I contacted my local dealership who looked up my VIN. They told me I was over my years for the recall on the valve body which is what should correct my transmission problem. I have lived at the same address since I purchased the vehicle in 2002 and never received a recall notice for this item. I am very disappointed in vw of america! I waited several years for the convertible version to come out and this was a birthday present to myself (this is how much I love this car!)

Filed Sep 19, 2011 · Transmission · 64,000 miles · CA

I couldn't wait for the new beetle convertible to come out. I bought it brand new from the dealership. Now, after only 60,000 miles, I am told I need a new transmission. The car is completely unsafe to drive--it will get stuck in first gear, it will kick between gears one and two, and it will jolt suddenly and without warning. These vehicles are unsafe for the road.

Filed May 26, 2011 · 73,525 miles · CT

On april 25, 2008 we took our 2003 vw beetle convertible to our vw dealer for service and a complaint about the transmission shifting hard or clunking at times. They said the noise was the exhaust and adjusted it and signed off. That was not the problem. The hard shifting continued occasionally for some time. Then it started to happen more often and be more severe. On october 23, 2009, we returned to our dealer for service and told them again about our concerns about the hard shifting as we had on several occasions in the past. At this time they ran a diagnostic ($90.00) on the transmission. They had to order a part and we returned on november 5, 2009 to have the cable installed. ($1406.36) the problem got worse and we returned november, 10, 2009 for another diagnostic and another cable install.($179.78) still not fixed the car goes into limp mode when you try to drive it. We left the car with our dealer for them to try to find a used transmission. No luck. On december 2, 2009 we decided to contact a transmission shop a friend told us about. I called a transmission shop to pick up the car at our dealer and take it to their shop to look into rebuilding the transmission. All to no avail they could not get parts for that transmission. The next step was to look for a used one again. Still unable to locate a used transmission we decided to have a vw rebuilt transmission installed. ($5469.60) this was done and the car was picked up on january 7, 2010. Now on december 14, 2010 we receive a letter that describes our original complaint about the hard shifting. The letter was extending the warranty on the transmission. I then sent a claim to vw to ask for reimbursement. That claim was not accepted.

Filed Jan 3, 2011 · Transmission · 82,000 miles · NY

2003 vw new beetle has a faulty transmission which is presenting a safety concern as the vehicle is driven on roads and highways. Car does not shift right, hard shifts, bucking, etc. And now stalling, probably a totally failed transmission for which vw is taking no responsibility.

Filed May 21, 2010 · Body, Transmission · 40,000 miles · OH

Transmission will not shift out third gear, triptrontic automatic, leak in trunk, top will not go up.

Filed Mar 12, 2010 · Transmission · 39,000 miles · CA

Purchased 2003 new beetle convertible in june 2003. I am the only owner of the vehicle. The car had approx. 69 miles on it when I bought it. The car now has 39,038 miles as of this writing. Within the last month (when the car turned over to 39,000), I have been experiencing major transmission issues. Starting from a complete stop, accelerating, the car will not shift into 1st gear. Instead, the transmission grinds & then jumps (lurches) forward, causing the tires to screech. When the car lurches forward, there have been a few times when it jumped so as to almost hit the car in front of me. The problem is intermittent & seems to occur once I have driven the car for 10 miles or more. There is no rhyme or reason for this problem, & I cannot predict when or where it will happen. I would say that it happens frequently. I have read on line that many people with this make/model/year of car have experienced this problem. Some people have indicated that an accident was barely avoided - - same scenario that I am complaining of in this complaint. My question - why is volkswagen not recalling this car for the transmission issues before someone is injured by this unexpected lurching problem. Like the toyota accelerator problem of recent weeks, injuries could be prevented if the car manufacturer would take responsibility for this problem. I am unable to afford to repair my car & have an ad on craigs list fully disclosing the problem I am experiencing. Hopefully, I will be able to sell the car to someone who can afford the $4,000+ repair to replace/repair the transmission. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Mar 1, 2010 · Transmission · 73,000 miles · PA

The transmission bang into gear sometime and gets stuck in gear between 3th and 4th. You never know when it going to happen, when accelerating on to the interstate it can be dangerous.