2004 Volkswagen New Beetle
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Volkswagen › New Beetle › 2004
These records cover every 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle. Newest first.
On certain passenger vehicles, the tire information label IS incorrect identifying the vehicle as a five-passenger vehicle, instead of a four-passenger vehicle.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Exceeding the correct seating capacity in a vehicle puts occupants at risk for injury in a crash, and can result in vehicle overloading, which can affect vehicle handling and put you at risk for a crash.
Remedy
Owners will be sent a new label and installation instructions. owner notification began on february 9, 2004. owners should contact vwoa at 1-800-822-8987.
On certain passenger vehicles, the passenger detection function of the passive occupant detection system (pods) may become disabled.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Should the pods control unit malfunction, the air bag system in the vehicle will not work as designed and may not be able to properly protect occupants in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will reprogram the pods. owner notification originally began october 3, 2003. VW has determined that additional vehicles need to be repaired. the recall for the additional vehicles IS expected to begin on december 17, 2004. owners should contact vwoa at 1-800-822-8987.
Owner complaints
12 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module
Whenever the passenger/driver seats are moved within 10 seconds of starting the car airbag light comes on in the console and does not turn off until done so manually by a mechanic. The "pod" device IS then disabled. If light IS on, then airbag might not deploy in an accident, injuries or death may…
Whenever the passenger/driver seats are moved within 10 seconds of starting the car airbag light comes on in the console and does not turn off until done so manually by a mechanic. The "pod" device IS then disabled. If light IS on, then airbag might not deploy in an accident, injuries or death may occur. on 2 separate occasions, one in august and one in october the light was reset by a mechanic and took 3 days each time. I have been advised to have the computer in the car reprogrammed, but the dealership's mechanics have not done so, assuming that IS why the light keeps appearing.*ak
- Engine and engine cooling
When changing the oil, a frame support pan found only on convertible catches the motor oil. this support pen IS concaved and traps a large mount of oil. if not wiped out with rags it stays there causing a potential fire hazard from a spark. *ak *nm
- Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module · Seats · Structure
While driving srs light appeared on the dashboard and remained on. the consumer was able to maintain control of the vehicle, and drove it to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic determined that the air bag sensor needed to be reset, and reset it six times. however, the problem recurred. *ak the seat latch was broken and the rear console was falling apart. *sc
- Visibility › Sun/moon roof assembly
The convertible top has been a major failure point. it has been "fixed" several times now and IS still failing.*ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
2004 VW beetle buy 8-19-04. ransmission failure 4 since 9-8, letter 9-18 sent certified *VW tech hotline gave no case # service mgr gave customer two 800#S & customer spoke W/3 men but no case #s & said they would call back in 10-15 days. a/o 9-29, no return call & car back in shop for 4TH…
2004 VW beetle buy 8-19-04. ransmission failure 4 since 9-8, letter 9-18 sent certified *VW tech hotline gave no case # service mgr gave customer two 800#S & customer spoke W/3 men but no case #s & said they would call back in 10-15 days. a/o 9-29, no return call & car back in shop for 4TH time same thing. dealer wants customer to drive around, leave service ticket open in case happens again. customer requested full refund under lemon law, but no responses to request. incidents: 1. 9-8 tried different gears and moved into first gear only, check engine light on and gear shift indicator light would not light up. salesman advised to drive to service department, which took over 45 minutes at a top speed of 10 mph. work order #87669 indicates possible electrical contact and reads: hook-up vas 5051 codes po1626 data-bus power-train missing message from tcm, codes 01315 and 01315 inst cluster and data bus gearbox control unit no communication. Performed all test with vas 5051 and per tech hotline, no faults found advise to clear codes and test drive. If no further problem or codes, return vehicle to customer. VW tech help contact no case #. Further overnite road test-all ok on test. discrepancy-mileage wo #87669 reads 143 miles in, but mileage changed to 561 in and 602 out when car picked up. 2. 9-16 september 16 same happened around lunch, drove to dealer salesman said it was fine 3. 9-16 eve out of gear-towed, service ordered cluster to install 4. 9-27 vehicle wouldn't engage. still at shop. they say they replaced more stuff, customer doesn't trust afraid of safety-self, family, others on the road. *ak
- Visibility › Power window devices and controls
Driver door power window:new beetle conv. When closing,will roll back down by itself and clunks when hits bottom. Happens almost every time window IS opened then closed. reported and taken to dealer april 20 2004, they found window glass almost falling off clip. Reinstalled. Released back to me.…
Driver door power window:new beetle conv. When closing,will roll back down by itself and clunks when hits bottom. Happens almost every time window IS opened then closed. reported and taken to dealer april 20 2004, they found window glass almost falling off clip. Reinstalled. Released back to me. Before I left the service area, window failure happened again. Dealer then replaced motor 2 times. Still same problem. Dealer contacted VW. And was told software update needed and shorter cables. as of today august 21,2004 window still has problem and still waiting on software up. I have reported the case to VW. No resolution as of yet. *Jb
- Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
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. *Ak
- Latches/locks/linkages › Doors › Latch · Structure · Visibility
When opening and closing the door window catches on the convertible top. as a result, driver has to close the door three to six times before it IS completely closed. *ak this problem caused wear to the soft top. the armrest would not secure and the window would intermittently roll down by itself. *sc
- Visibility › Power window devices and controls
2004 VW beetle convertible. The windows catch on the top when the doors are open. This action IS wearing top. The windows actually bend under stress when door IS open. The auto-up option IS interupted with when the window goes up, hits top and comes back down.this problem has been ongoing since I got the car new in oct. 2004.*Ak
- Exterior lighting › Headlights · Exterior lighting › Tail lights · Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages
Purchased my third volkswagen new beetle - recognize that my second one, a 2003 was a lemon 5 right rear tail lights replaced and 2 headlights. also had to have the intermittent wiper relay replaced - see odi #10074539.*ak dealer traded me for a 2004, on 4/6/04 and not even 2 weeks into my…
Purchased my third volkswagen new beetle - recognize that my second one, a 2003 was a lemon 5 right rear tail lights replaced and 2 headlights. also had to have the intermittent wiper relay replaced - see odi #10074539.*ak dealer traded me for a 2004, on 4/6/04 and not even 2 weeks into my purchase, the drivers side window would not operate properly. thought I was imagining things, especially after my last experience. I put the window down (electronically) and then put it up and it comes down by itself certainly another safety fault of this car. it happened 2 more times before I called the dealer they told me oh, we knew about that bring it in and get it fixed . oh, here we go again! I buy a new car about every 3-4 years, as I drive a lot and want a very dependable car, with no repairs needed. I will never feel safe in a VW new beetle again. no matter if I never have another problem&& incidient date noted IS when the dealer took my car to fix it...............
- Seat belts › Front › Warning light/devices
The 2004 volkswagen beetle has a safety belt warning system that triggers a series of warning beeps every thrity seconds if the safety belt IS not fastened. this presents a serious distraction while driving and clearly poses a safety hazard. aside from the obvious case of someone choosing to…
The 2004 volkswagen beetle has a safety belt warning system that triggers a series of warning beeps every thrity seconds if the safety belt IS not fastened. this presents a serious distraction while driving and clearly poses a safety hazard. aside from the obvious case of someone choosing to break the law by choosing not to wear a seat belt, the problem also presents itself to those who don't use a safety belt for medical reasons, those who live in or travel to a state that does not reuire use, or most importantly anyone who places a package weighing more than 25 +/- lbs on the front passenger seat (which IS quite common because of the limited truck space in the convertible). the warning beeps are loud and clearly disracting while driving.
- Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Winshield wipers quit working while driving on the freeway in rain. ble to get off freeway without accident by sticking head out door window.hanging fuses did not get them working again. *ak
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.
- 10009898The amplifier may not completely switch off when the ignition IS turned off. Service action circular to check/replace amplifier on vehicles with monsoon sound system.
- 10009886Airbag monitoring light on, passenger occupant detection system (pods), diagnostic trouble code 02511 014 stored.
- 10008912Passenger occupant detection system (pods) fault.
- 10007887Malfunction indicator light (mil) on, diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) stored in diagnostic trouble code (dtc) memory.
- 10007820Hard starting (extended cranking required) or no start when wet, runs rough on initial start, may be accompanied by light gray smoke.
- 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.
- 10006517Reverse gear, difficult to engage or disengage.
- 10006080After replacement of the passenger occupant detection system (pods), the passenger seat bolster or the airbag control module, fault code 02511 014 - seat occupied recognition control module faulty - appears.
- 10006057New style brake light switch requires care during installation to prevent damage to switch.
- 10005664Front turn signal blinks too fast. Front turn signal, replacing bulb socket.
- 10004520Passenger air bag off indicator light in center dash cover may stay on depending on passenger seat occupancy as registered by the weight sensing mat.
Every Volkswagen New Beetle model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.