Volkswagen New Beetle stalling problems

Filed Aug 23, 2004 · Fuel system · 24,000 miles · TN

Car stalled out several times right after starting it. It would always start right back up normally, once the vehicle died on the interstate at approx. 70mph also came right back on. Took it to an independant repair shop (got no help from vw dealer at all) they told me it was an idle motor which is connected to the throttle body ($700 repair). We'll see if it works or not.

Filed Aug 10, 2004 · Acceleration · FL

While driving consumer applied the brake pedal and vehicle stalled. Consumer restarted the vehicle, and drove it to dealer. Mechanic informed consumer that it was designed that way.

Filed Apr 28, 2004 · Electrical · 36,000 miles · NC

The 2000 new beetle that my husband and I purchased apparently has a defect in the electrical system. We purchased the car in february 2003. At that time there were no problems. The first time I put gas in the car the check engine light came on. My husband contacted a local volkswagen dealer to see about getting it fixed. He was told that this was a normal problem. If the gas cap wasn't put back on and clicked at least seven times, the light would come on. He was instructed to remove the gas cap, put it back on and turn it until there had been seven clicks. After that, we were supposed to do a cold start to make the light go off. This worked, but we have had to do it several times. The light will come on and go off, even though there are no engine problems. I have had another mechanic look at the car, and was told there were no problems with the engine, so it had to be a problem in the electrical system. After seeing some of the complaints that have been posted, I am worried about the possibility of the car stalling, malfunctioning, or, as in some of the other complaints have shown, the car catching on fire. I feel that the volkswagen company needs to really examine this issue. We had to have a sensor replaced for the braking system earlier this year that was under recall, and we only got it done because we were at the dealership for routine maintenance. We had not received a recall notice at all. I don't feel that the volkswagen company is concerned about any of the problems that are going on with this model. It is very distressing to think that I am stuck with a car that isn't worth what I paid for it because of defective equipment. This problem with the check engine is ongoing and I am not pleased with the response I have gotten from the dealer. It hasn't made the problem go away.

Filed Feb 4, 2004 · Engine · GA

Numerous nuisance problems since purchase of this vehicle as follows: passenger window will not close with electric switch at 42,000 miles, trunk latch defective at 35,000 miles so that trunk relocks prematurely, electric mirror switch broken at 35.000 miles, horn inoperative at 35,000 mi, floor mat snaps nearly all broke at 35,000 and were no longer available, driver window switch broke at 20,000 mi. Leaving window in open position, ignition lock cylinder broken at 19,000 mi. Leaving radio on after car turned off, cigarette lighter inoperative upon purchase, air bag light on spontaneously at17,000 mi., passenger vanity mirror spontaneously broken at 17,000 and then again immediately after replacement by dealer. Finally car stalled at 31,000 mi. Dealer claimed that new clutch was needed. Nondealer, however, found that when dealer had inspected engine after a collision 3 months earlier, they had not put bolts back on properly, causing bolts to be lost likely one at a time over the 3 months. Transmission slipped when last bolt was lost (which I had found on the road at the time of the stall). Dealer is incompetent and irresponsible. Complaint filed with manager who made no amends. Run, don't walk, away from any vw!!!!

Filed Jan 18, 2004 · Fuel system · 5,000 miles · TN

Car has a history of stalling when it is decelerating, since original purchase date in june 2000. Problem still has not been resolved by dealer. Here is the history of the problem. July 2000: car spatters and stalls. I took it to the dealer in tampa where I had purchased the car from and they fixed it under warranty saying it was a fuel injection problem. September 2001 begins stalling again periodically. Took it to dealer in nashville, december 2002. They replaced the air intake sensor for the fuel injection. October 2003 car still stalling periodically but with more frequency. Took it to dealer and they said the air intake censor for the fuel injection was faulty and they replaced part for free as it was under one-year warranty. October 2003: a few days later the car begins to stall. Monday, january 12, 2004: take car back to dealer who said fuel injection gaskets were leaking. Work is covered under warranty. Picked up car on thursday, january 15. Car stalled again saturday, january 17. Car stalls again sunday, january 18. Car has stalled around 50 times over its history. It has stalled in very dangerous circumstances such as while I driving on the interstate.

Filed Jul 30, 2003 · Electrical, Engine · 8,268 miles · TN

The vehicle's speed dropped dramatically, and then stalled. *jb the vehicle experienced the following: the lights would come on, would not come out of park(repeatedly), lock up, sit for hours/frozen, start but not come out of park, ABS and epc light problems which was fixed under warranty and was told the overload problems should have been fixed, while driven, the vehicle dropped down to 30 MPH and down to 20 MPH on another occasion, the motor sounded loud and the vehicle had shaken, the dealer found three fault code for throttle control and faulty throttle body(dealer assured consumer that the problem wouldn't happen again), and the consumer was told that there was a misfire on all cylinders and that the plug wires were replaced. On one occasion where vehicle did not come out of park, the dealer suggested that the problem had come from the brake switch and assured that the freeze up(s) were solved. The vehicle sat for five hours, then the vehicle finally started and the dealer stated that the problem was the wiring harness to the ECM(the part had to be ordered). *scc

Filed Feb 3, 2003 · Fuel system · 34,420 miles · WI

On january 16, 2003 while driving my vw new beetle tdi (diesel) on the interstate with a half of a tank of no. 1 diesel fuel with the temperature below 0 degrees f and wind chill in the -40 to -50 f range, my vehicle died several times and took several minutes to restart each time. By the time I got it to an independent repair shop 12 miles from my residence 5 days later (I live over 100 miles from the nearest dealership) the vehicle would stall under light load (any speed above 20-40 m.p.h.) or trying to drive up a hill and, after stalling 4 times the battery was becoming drained. The repair shop made several calls to a dealership in burnsville, mn. (which had 4 or 5 other vws with the exact same problem) and was told that volkswagon recommended to the dealership service department to remove (not replace) the anti-siphon flap in the fuel tank because moisture was freezing on it thus letting air into the fuel lines. While at the repair shop I took my vehicle to there were also 3 or 4 others come in or be towed in with the exact same problem. Since this was not an isolated incident on just my vehicle and volkswagon recommended to the dealership to remove this part, I would consided this to be a design flaw and am expecting to be reimbursed. The vw customer care center in rochester hills, mi. Does not agree. So, I am not contacting you necessarily to help me be reimbursed for this $200 expense but more importantly to inform you of the severity of this problem. Not only has it cost me and others hundreds of dollars in towing and repair costs but is leaving people stranded in very dangerous weather conditions where frostbite will set in literally in a couple of minutes. It seems apparent that vw has no plan to correct this problem in spite of them knowing there is a problem so I hope you can help or at least investigate this. Thank you for your time and efforts.

Filed Jan 27, 2003 · Electrical · 20,517 miles · CA

The coil pack on my 2001 volkswagen new beetle burned out causing me to practically stall on a very busy freeway. So far, vw doesn't seem to think this a saftey issue yet and will not require a recall on these parts. These coils will burn out. Not if, but when. I would hate to be going up a hill when one of these coil packs go out.

Filed Dec 27, 2001 · Electrical · MA · fire

Car began to hesitate but did not stall. All panel lights began to flash, also a ''clicking'' sound. There also was a smell of burning wires. The car became fully engulfed in flame in less than 10 minutes. The fire began on drivers side.

Filed May 29, 2001 · Engine · NY

Ongoing problem with engine check light keep coming on. This has occurred on nine occasions, and vehicle stalled out while traveling at 40 MPH or more on two occasions. Dealer unable to locate cause. *ak consumer states other beetle vehicles have been recalled, however she has not received any recall notification.