2003 Volkswagen New Beetle
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Volkswagen › New Beetle › 2003
These records cover every 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Owner complaints
20 complaints2 involved a crash2 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Power train › Automatic transmission
The car slams into gear when starting from a cold start. it was in the shop over a month, and it was given back to me with "we can find nothing mechanically wrong with it, it may buck a bit, but there are no safety hazards." live with it basically. VW themselves have been of no help whatsoever in resolving this issue. *nm
- Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Windshield wiper failed to come on. on twelve different occasions, under varying but rainy weather conditions, while the vehicle was being operated by myself or my wife, the wipers failed to come on when switched on. on four of these occasions the rain began to fall quickly while the vehicle was…
Windshield wiper failed to come on. on twelve different occasions, under varying but rainy weather conditions, while the vehicle was being operated by myself or my wife, the wipers failed to come on when switched on. on four of these occasions the rain began to fall quickly while the vehicle was at highway speed which caused a very dangerous situation. on all occasions, we had to pull to the side of the roadway, and only after a few minutes of repeatedly turning the wiper switch on and off and/or doing nothing but waiting, the wipers would suddenly come on by themselves. we have return the vehicle to the dealer on two occasions (the third being next week) with this complaint. the dealer replaced a relay, but this has not corrected the problem. this IS a very dangerous problem as sudden rain at 70 mph leaves you completely blind. the incident date IS today's date as today IS the most recent occurrence. *jb
- Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator · Electrical system › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module · Electrical system › Ignition › Switch · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline · Equipment · Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
While driving at night the epc light came on. I wanted to pull over since the car IS fairly new and had never seen that light on while driving. I pulled the car off the road to check the manual and see what the light meant. the car was in park. I could not get the car to shift out of park.…
While driving at night the epc light came on. I wanted to pull over since the car IS fairly new and had never seen that light on while driving. I pulled the car off the road to check the manual and see what the light meant. the car was in park. I could not get the car to shift out of park. after calling road side assistance...i had the car towed to the dealership. thing IS, road side assistance had heard about this before. they had me do a "procedure" to get the car to shift out of park and be able to drive home. once home the car got stuck into neutral. I then had it towed. *ak
- Electrical system · Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Texas lemon law/ texas deceptive trade practices act/ breach of warranty.*mr *cb
- Air bags · Power train › Automatic transmission
Powertrain problems-- vehicle has tiptronic. Intermittent failure shifting from automatic to tiptronic manual functionality. In addition, passenger frontal airbag failed within the first week of purchase of the vehicle. Multiple service related complaints.*ak
- Exterior lighting › Brake lights · Exterior lighting › Headlights
From sept 03 through april 04, I had 5 right rear brake lights replaced and 2 left headlights replaced on my 2003 VW new beetle. No reason was ever given as to why they kept failing. the dealership just kept replacing them. my son was stopped by the state patrol once because a rear light was out…
From sept 03 through april 04, I had 5 right rear brake lights replaced and 2 left headlights replaced on my 2003 VW new beetle. No reason was ever given as to why they kept failing. the dealership just kept replacing them. my son was stopped by the state patrol once because a rear light was out - I had total strangers tell me that the lights were out and my neighbors and I are keeping track of how many VW new beetles have at least one light out I count at least 4 each week. I want all VW new beetle owners to know that this IS a malfunction of their car and it IS a safety issue and the dealer must repair it for free VW IS not consistent with recording their recalls on the internet, so I did not know that this was a problem. I finally got sick and tired of this problem and took my car back to the dealer I purchased it from. the dealer finally acknowledged the problem by giving me a new car; however I am now having problems with the driver window going back down on its own. refer to #odi 10074541 and #10074539. (i recorded the last incident as the incident date)
- Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
Refer to # 10051120 my windshield wipers would operate normally and then just stop in mid-swipe, right in front of my face, while I was driving. then after clicking the switch back and forth, I could finally get them to work. the dealer indicated that it could be the intermittent wiper relay …
Refer to # 10051120 my windshield wipers would operate normally and then just stop in mid-swipe, right in front of my face, while I was driving. then after clicking the switch back and forth, I could finally get them to work. the dealer indicated that it could be the intermittent wiper relay , but it would have to be ordered. I should drive the car until then, unless it became a problem well, duh! when would it not be a problem to drive in the rain/snow with non-operable wipers? Took my car back in, got a loaner and the intermittent wiper relay was replaced.*ak
- Air bags › Side/window · Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
While driving at 20 mph consumer's vehicle crashed into the rear end of another vehicle. consumer was wearing a seat belt that did not lock up. also, passenger's side airbag deployed, but driver's side air bag did not. Consumer sustained minor bruises to the chest and head.*ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Hard shifting between second and third gears of automatic transmission of 2003 volkswagen new beetle
- Power train › Clutch assembly
The clutch on my 2003 volkswagen new beetle failed at 2000 miles, approximately two months after purchase. *ak
- Latches/locks/linkages · Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system › Rear window
We have a 2002 and a 2003 VW beetle. The 2002 has door locks that only lock part of the time. the first seven times the dealer attempted to repair it they said it was an internal malfunction or they could not reproduce the problem. on the eighth repair attempt they finally decided that our power…
We have a 2002 and a 2003 VW beetle. The 2002 has door locks that only lock part of the time. the first seven times the dealer attempted to repair it they said it was an internal malfunction or they could not reproduce the problem. on the eighth repair attempt they finally decided that our power locks are not supposed to lock all the time becaues we have crank windows!!! the first fourteen months (until they replaced the instrument cluster for another problem) the locks worked perfectly all the time. They said that the locks meet VW specs but refused to give me a copy of the specs they are referring to. VW said our owner's manual IS our VW specs and it says to push the button and the doors will lock. that only happens part of the time. this IS a real safety issue. our teenaged daughter drives this car and needs to be able to lock her doors when she gets in and know that they will lock. The locks have done multiple other strange things also but the inconsistant locking IS the most common problem. our 2003 beetle has a safety issue with the rear defogger. it takes anywhere from 9 - 20 minutes to begin to clear the rear window. the dealer says that it clears in 7 minutes and that meets "VW specs" but the 2002 VW we have and the loaner beetles we have driven all clear the window in 1-3 minutes. the fact that the window doesn't begin to clear, at times, for 20 minutes IS a real safety hazard. the 2003 also has lock problems. it locked itself while in our garage and would not unlock for two days. if that had been a dark parking lot it could have been a disaster.*ak
- Structure › Frame and members › Underbody shields
2003 olkswagon new beetle-the rear bumper had been removed to repair damage to the left drivers side fender.once removed it was noticed that the right rear passangers side, foam underbumper guard was cracked in 2 places, the crackes were filled with a black strip of sticky glue. This IS the 5MPH…
2003 olkswagon new beetle-the rear bumper had been removed to repair damage to the left drivers side fender.once removed it was noticed that the right rear passangers side, foam underbumper guard was cracked in 2 places, the crackes were filled with a black strip of sticky glue. This IS the 5MPH impact guard, it was cracked which caused its interigity to be gone. During manufacturing the piece should have been replaced with a new non-broken piece of foam.*ak
- Seats › Front assembly › Seat heater/cooler
Since purchasing our 2003 VW beetle turbo s with heated front seats, the seat warmers get extremely hot on the highest setting (#5). If set at a lower setting, the seats do not get warm at all. We are noticing there IS a change in the leather material on the seats used. *la
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
The throttle failed to respond in my new 2003 volkswagen beetle. it didn't respond when accelerator pedal was depressed. this IS sporadic and unpredictable in nature. Vehicle remains at idle even when accelerator pedal IS depressed all the way. Sometimes it responds by revving up the engine too…
The throttle failed to respond in my new 2003 volkswagen beetle. it didn't respond when accelerator pedal was depressed. this IS sporadic and unpredictable in nature. Vehicle remains at idle even when accelerator pedal IS depressed all the way. Sometimes it responds by revving up the engine too high and causes the vehicle to accelerate rapidly. I had it repaired three times and as of this date the problem remains. *la
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Power steering fluid
Power steering pump contiuously runs out of fuel and there IS no evedence of leakage.*ak
- Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
When attempting to move the gear shift out of park, the vehicle failed to respond. The vehicle had to be towed to the dealership. The driver indicated the epc light came on while driving previously. Please describe details. vehicle was repaired and it failed again on the same day as the repair. the failure occurred three times as a result of a faulty brake light switch. *ph
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Car will not shift from park to reverse. this has happened 4 times, and I have only had the car for a week!*ak
- Tires
While driving front left side wall tire blew out it caused the tire to become flat. It caused the wheel to go left and glance off the concrete divider this caused damage to wheel and wheel alignment. dealer notified. *Ak *cb.
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Transmission - intermittently will not shift from reverse to drive. occurred beginning the third week after purchase of this brand new car. took to dealership - they adjusted transmission but said they cannot replicate the problem so I will have to wait until it gets worse or leave it until they…
Transmission - intermittently will not shift from reverse to drive. occurred beginning the third week after purchase of this brand new car. took to dealership - they adjusted transmission but said they cannot replicate the problem so I will have to wait until it gets worse or leave it until they experience the problem. now the transmission (as of 1 week ago) occasionally "slams" into first and second gear. I am scheduling another service with the dealer. I advised them the failure to shift from reverse to drive IS a safety hazard (i have been almost rear ended 3 times in a parking garage). they are not the least bit concerned. I asked for a new replacemenet car since it had 500 miles on it at that point - they would not even discuss this. I am not optimistic as they will likley give me the "we cannot replicate the problem - you will have to wait until it gets worse" routine. This IS a safety hazard. I want a new car or a new transmission.*ak
- Structure › Frame and members
After about 500 miles driven the car developed numerous rattles and buzzing of the interior pieces. the workmanship involved in the manufacture of this vehicle leaves a lot to be desired.*jb
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 10008405Volkswagen has found that the window clamp bolts on some 2003 model year new beetle convertible vehicles may become loose. Additionally, the press button for the convertible top and the headlining cables on the convertible top of these vehicles require replacement and the left and right flap opening mechanism stops must be switched.
- 10007887Malfunction indicator light (mil) on, diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) stored in diagnostic trouble code (dtc) memory.
- 10007711Evaluating fuel mixture diagnostic trouble codes- how to perform effective diagnosis related to fuel system adaptation - system too rich/too lean. Volkswagen.
- 10007012Window clamp bolts on certain convertible vehicles may become loose.
- 10007011Window clamp bolts may become loose on certain convertible vehicles. Additionally, the press button on the convertible top requires replacement.
- 10006517Reverse gear, difficult to engage or disengage.
- 10006057New style brake light switch requires care during installation to prevent damage to switch.
- 10005665Replacement of the ignition coils. It IS possible that if one of the vehicle's ignition coil fails, rough idling or reduced driving power could occur in addition to illumination of the malfunction indicator lamp light.
- 10005664Front turn signal blinks too fast. Front turn signal, replacing bulb socket.
- 10005663Accelerator pedal assembly, installing replacement part. Replacement accelerator pedal assembly does not fit over lower mounting stud.
- 10003931Convertible top frame, modifying to new roof leading edge trim.
- 10002062Tailgate/trunk lid hard to close.
- 10002061Tailgate/trunk lid hard to close.
- 10000811Armrest, loose, does not ratchet correctly.
Every Volkswagen New Beetle model year
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