Volkswagen Beetle power steering loss problems

Filed Sep 12, 2021 · Engine, Fuel system · FL

2018 Beetle with 2.0 TSI. Vehicle is extremely well maintained and all work has been done by VW dealers. This is not our primary vehicle and, as a result, it only has about 8600 miles. Stopped at a store for a few minutes. Vehicle would not restart. Many fault lights appeared on the dash (e.g., battery, check engine, EPC). Pushed vehicle into another area of the parking lot where there was more room in case it needed to be towed. Waited a few minutes and tried to restart. Vehicle sputtered and seemed to be running on only 1 or 2 cylinders for a few seconds. Gave it a little gas, all lights went off, full engine power resumed. Sat there a few minutes evaluating engine performance, everything seemed fine. Decided to head to the dealership instead of going home. After about 2 miles engine stopped running. Many fault lights appeared including battery, EPC, check engine, and so many others I can’t even recall. Had almost no steering. Struggled to coast vehicle to shoulder. Weather was very hot and traffic was heavy, not a pleasant situation or place to get stranded. Waited a minute or two. Tried to restart. Vehicle coughed, sputtered, and shook like it was only running on 1 cylinder. Shut vehicle off and sat. Tried to restart 2 or 3 more times without success. On next attempt vehicle sputtered to life, lights went off, and full power resumed. Tested engine performance and it seemed fine. EPC light came on. Still heading to the dealership. Got another 1.5 miles or so. EPC and check engine light came on. Another engine failure. Super heavy traffic on a 6-lane highway. Luckily I had enough speed to coast off the road and into a dirt parking lot. Many fault lights on the dash. Waited a few minutes. Tried to restart vehicle, no luck. Vehicle was towed to closest VW dealership. Absolutely terrifying and horrific 3 hours.

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 May 4, 2018 · Driver assistance, Engine · 92,000 miles · CA

Engine stallig usually when turning, after a stop, when going slow... We have tried to fix this issue by taking the car to mechanics and they can't rule out a solution because it happens randomly and it seems to be when the car has been warmed up. No check engine light. Very scary because there's loss of steering wheel power and it happens intermittently. We have changed numerous things and it keeps giving us this issue. Sometimes it idles rough. Sometimes the needle where the rpms are drops but comes back up. We have exhausted our options and we can't find a solution

Filed Feb 15, 2015 · Airbags, Electrical · 65,551 miles · IN

Vehicle engine stopped while driving. Battery dead, no power in vehicle at all. Found melted battery fuse box under hood. Root cause determined to be corrosion on alternator power supply cable that created heat enough to melt plastic (~450f) and burn the protective cover off the alternator supply wire back 2 inches. Poor contact due to corrosion caused battery to drain, which eventually could no longer sustain engine ignition. No warning lights prior to engine stopping. No battery power also means no power steering, no power brakes, no airbags during collision. Online forums indicate this is happening to a lot of people. It would appear to be as deadly as the gm ignition switch issue, but it is not being taken seriously by vw.

Filed Jul 10, 2014 · Engine · 89,000 miles · NY

Engine stalls while driving. Epc and check engine light goes on. Loss of power steering. It is a very dangerous problem. It has happened multiple times. The last time was 7/8/2014, the vehicle is in the shop. I am afraid to drive it. Repairs have not been successful in the past. Volkswagen has been contacted they say not recalls are listed.

Filed Jun 10, 2014 · Steering, Transmission · 65,000 miles · MA

While driving around a corner the battery indicator light came on, power steering went out and no acceleration. It did not appear that the engine stalled. The light went out and the power steering and acceleration came right back without touching the ignition key. My daughter almost lost control of the vehicle. No other dash warning lights came on other than the battery indicator. This car is a deathtrap!

Filed Nov 6, 2011 · Transmission · 60,000 miles · CA

While driving the car stop and go-when I stepped on the gas, the transmission would not shift to the next gear-the rpms would rev and finally the next gear would "catch" really slam into gear and the car would shift. I had many near miss accidents due to my car failing to move forward in traffic. I took it to the dealer several times and each time they could not duplicate the problem. No repairs were made. I finally drove it directly to the dealer while the problem happened and the mechanic was able to "witness" the problem, the repair was made-replaced transmission parts at 62,000 miles. Now at 80,000 miles, the car does 2 things-while driving on the freeway, the car feels as if it has lost power-the car stays on, but there is no power to the engine-step on the gas and nothing happens-no rpms, nothing, the car slows down immediately, but because it happens so suddenly, cars that are following me don't always react in time and I have almost been rear ended-after a few seconds all of a sudden the car will regain power. The 2nd problem happens randomly-as I am driving, the car just shuts off. All of the dash lights flash on and the car dies-no power steering, nothing, just a dead car. I have to put the car in gear, turn everything off (radio, air etc), and turn the car back on. This has happened during a left turn, at a stop sign, while driving on the street. Again vw mechanic finds nothing on the computer. This car is a lemon-I have had to replace 2 batteries, several headlights, tail and turn lights, air bag sensors, all 4 window regulators, plus 2 of the same window regulators twice, trunk latch, rear ashtray holder, convertible straps, rear convertible window clips, and now whenever it rains my car leaks. I am terrified to drive the car in it's current condition, afraid to cause or be involved in an accident. This car is not safe, please help.

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 Jun 27, 2010 · Electrical · 50 miles · VA

2004 vw turbo beetle--after last two dealer servicing the car dies on turns--dash lights come on, no power steering. Car regains power in @ 2 seconds. A definite safety concern. The dealer and vw america want to start replacing parts and see what works at my expense. Have been without my car for three weeks.

Filed Feb 9, 1999 · Steering, Transmission · CT

Failure 1-power steering pump broke down, no power steering fluid in reservoir. Failure 2-while driving off of a highway exit vehicle lost acceleration and coasted to a stop in traffic. It was found that the bolts came off the axel. Also, the driveshaft needed to be removed and fixed. The left driveshaft flange was also replaced.