2004 Volkswagen Beetle: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Nov 6, 2017 · Electrical · 164,500 miles · TX

Continued headlamp failure re: headlamp cover glass / lexan comes off and flys off of car. Several owners report same problem. Creates hazerdous debris when it happens on highway and also exposes headlamp lights directly to weather and causes failure.

Filed Jul 8, 2014 · Electrical · 102,000 miles · FL

My 16 year old daughter drives this car. Initially the headlight was burnt out. Ordered a new headlight and installed it and it worked fine for about an hour. Then my daughter drove the car approximately 10 miles. When she arrived at her destination she attempted to turn the car off but the key would not come out of the ignition. When I arrived I could smell something burning and the car battery was now dead. I had the battery jumped but now the headlight that I just replaced was not working again, and now the brake lights and the running lights were not working. The next morning the battery was dead again. When we finally got over to the mechanic the wiring was completely melted and the headlamp modulator was blown. The window washer fluid reservoir was melted and ruined. After about $1000 in repairs the mechanic is explaining this is just the one side, the wiring for the other side is going to need to be replaced in next 6 months or so. He explained this is a common occcurance with these cars. I am honestly afraid to allow my daughter to drive the car as it seems it is a fire hazard.

Filed Jun 29, 2014 · Electrical, Fuel system · 95,400 miles · TX

My engine light came on and the AC stopped blowing cold air. I also noticed a beep sound that would come on when I turned the headlights on but the sound would turn off and on while I drove. Then the alarm stopped working and the interior lights malfunctioned, the radio also gave out and the vehicle seemed to hesitate while driving it. I checked the fuse box on the battery and discovered that the slot where the fuse slips into on top of the vehicle battery was melted and there was something on the driver side headlamp cover like some type of gas or fumes had escaped the battery and sprayed the headlampcover. I changed the fuses around and got the AC going again, then I changed them all out, and everything worked great for about 5 days, then the interior lights went out again, the alarm stopped working, radio is out, the beeping sound is back and when I checked the fuse, it was melting again. I am afraid that while in the vehicle with my children I will have a malfunction and be injured. I just paid off the vehicle... What a gift for paying off a vehicle... Seems like everything in and on that vehicle is a hazard and an accident waiting to happen.. Its sad because I use to love my new beetle.

Filed Dec 29, 2012 · Airbags, Electrical · 80,000 miles · MA · fire

Car wouldn't excel while driving suddenly 1 mile from town suddenly traffic slowed from snow storm in town,the vehicle smell was funny black smoked slowly leaked inside the car windows up heard a misfire engine light went on blinked then I heard loud blast like I thought it was a plow trucks muffler loudness realized ir was my vehicle stopped immediately less 1/3 mile at bank. Shut off motor m now seeing smoke slowly entered in the middle of the 2 front seatsand console. Feeling hot under belly of floors. Orange glow through electrical outlet in back of console appeared to be hotwith plastic casing in and under floors hot sizzling crackling under center casing/I try to call 911 misused the cell wouldn't operate effectively flagged down a man n woman at the corner light of bank they declined to help so I went to car put snow on compartment and wet it down and aired out smoke with passenger door open .I went in bank for assistance .this vehicle was recalled for safety issues by manufacturer in the past .were said to be corrected by repairman also said seatbelt harness was a issue heated seats were a issue and airbags tranny also recalled for electrical issues and or transmission and air bags on some 2004 vw vehicle beetles recalls so far occurred to this vw were airbag sensors/ also the seatbelt harness cases were breaking repeatedly once purchased due to putting the seats up and back to get in the vehicle. Now this mysterious fire and headlamp issue..

Filed Aug 22, 2011 · Airbags, Body · CA

I recently purchased a vw beetle in may of 2010, for my birthday from hollywood auto brokers in los angeles, ca. The car ran smooth for about a course of five to six months, I had to return to the dealership early on because my head lights were out when I first bought the car. As I continued to drive the car, a jerking and extremely weird deceleration of the car would begin, but it would "pop back to normal" after a while, maybe three to ten seconds. This had gone on and has been going on since five months after I brought it. I finally made it back into the dealership and he rode with me on a test drive around the corner and of course it didn't repeat the previous show of defects. He assured me the car is just being broken in. A year goes by and I decided I want to trade in my car for another car, so I head to nissan. I test drive a car and love it and then go in for the paper work. The guy runs my VIN to see my car value and come backs and tell me my car title is salvaged. To my disbelief and disgust, I immediately called my financial company, al financial of glendale, ca that I am leasing the car from. They give me the run around and assure me that the title is clean and not a salvage. I continue on my investigation and come to a carfax website to get the real facts on my defected vehicle. The information reveals that not only is the title salvage but it had bodily damage and had been totaled out from the insurance company from it's previous owner. The car had been brought back from mexico and registered in the states again as a new car I believe. I would really love to get to the bottom of this situation asap and get some closure on a recurring problem that is messing with my income as I am a travel nurse for hospice patients. Recently the water pump has gone out and I'm not sure yet if I need to replace the head gaskets. I hope I can hear an response in a good enough amount of time so I can work out an reimbursement of some kind with payment on either behalf.

Filed Feb 13, 2011 · Lights · 20,000 miles · GA

Headlight bulbs burn out every three months or so. I am an engineer, and have insured that the connections are tight, and the housing is free of moisture. I have googled this issue and found many similar complaints!!

Filed Feb 1, 2011 · Electrical · 75,000 miles · AL

The rear window regulators went out on both windows, convertible top won't work 90% of the time. Replaced headlight 4 times in 2 years.

Filed Aug 25, 2010 · Electrical, Lights · 78,563 miles · IL

My left front headlamp failed while driving. I thought it would be just a bulb. I went to pull the bulb and the headlamp harness was melted and fused. I contacted the local vw dealer and they claimed this can happen and I would have to replace the entire assembly. This is a $400.00 repair. Why does the harness melt , this is a fire hazard under the hood. Plus what if this happens to both headlights at the same time ??

Filed Jul 15, 2010 · Engine, Lights · 64,000 miles · NV

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 volkswagen beetle gls. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle began abnormally jerking while switching gears. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the engine was repaired. The failure recurred within one month. The dealer then replaced the transmission gear box. Shortly after, the headlights and tail lights failed which were also repaired by the dealer. On a separate occasion, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to immediately restart the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where the contact was awaiting a diagnosis of the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000 and the current mileage was 64,000.

Filed Nov 17, 2009 · Airbags, Body · 70,000 miles · NJ

Vw beetle convertible '04 (approx. 80k miles) - slipping and banging transmission. Slams and bangs hard with each downshift (automatic) after about 15 miles or driving. Slips or will not move when accelerating after slamming and banging begins. Cannot drive car in traffic for fear or being rear ended or broadsided, therefore, cannot safely or dependably drive the car. Expected thousands to repair if a mechanic who understands the problem can be found. Many of the know issues with car have also occurred; broken plastic water pump, rear window seal broken, passenger side window will not go all the way down, passenger side seat belt light malfunction, headlights uneven brightness, short in dash, heated seat too hot to use (fear of fire) and incredible door rattles.

Filed Aug 27, 2009 · Electrical · 37,000 miles · TX

The electrical system shorted out and shut down in the middle of traffic. And front headlight goes off and on the drivers side.

Filed Jun 1, 2009 · Lights · 52,000 miles · SC

Headlights went out on my 2004 beetle convertible while driving at night and was pulled over and given a ticket. Vw replaced the wiring the next day.