Ask the Car People.SM


Volkswagen Beetle Transmission Problems

777 messages,  Last post on May 10, 2013 at 4:52 AM

You are in the Volkswagen Beetle Forum.

What is this discussion about? Volkswagen New Beetle, Transmission, Convertible, Hatchback

    
Go to NHTSA to file a safety complaint.
Or call Monday-Friday (8 am to 8 pm ET) (888) 327-4236 TTY: (800)424-9153

Messages Page 78 of 79

#766 of 777 2000VW tranmission problem by speedshifter65

Feb 06, 2013 (8:46 pm)

After owning this car since Feburary 2000 I have suddenly come up with a serious problem. Last week I noticed a puddle of oil under the car. When the weekend hit I got the car up on ramps and tried to find the source of the leak. I could see the oil running onto the skid plate but could not determine where it was coming from. I called my service center and they told me to get it to them to find the problem. The service center was 50 miles away so I had a tow service take it for me (cost of $255). That day I was told that they couldn't tell, without taking the transmission out, what the problem was ($700 to pull tranny). Upon getting the transmission out they told me the case has a hole that is the source of the leak. Apparently a pin in the output shaft had started working its way out and had grooved a hole in the case. The technician suspected this before he pulled the transmission but couldn't verify until he pulled the unit. I have 145,000 miles on car and haven't had any problems until this time. VW America told me that since the car was 13 years old that its life was probably over but offered $750 toward the purchase of a new car.(Whoopie) cost to repair is $4800 on a car I've bought twice and paid off twice. I have enjoyed the car and the milege and do not feel that this car has ended its life. I told corp. that I think is is a defect since there is no way to see problem or fix the problem without pullin the transmission. If this is a potential problem, then why is there no way to check or reset this pin?
I'm really miffed and letdown thinking I have to repurchace my car to get it fixed. Guess thats what we get having our cars built in Mexico!!!!">link title

#767 of 777 Re: Beetle auto transmission issue when warm [elenewlife] by allinron

Feb 11, 2013 (8:40 am)

Replying to: elenewlife (Feb 03, 2013 5:05 am)
I'm very encouraged that you say VW will now pay the bill for this transmission jerking problem. My wife's is a 2004 with less than 80,000 miles.
Who is the contact at VW? The dealerships don't seem to know anything about it. Thanks for any guidance you can provide.
We bought our first beetle while in the army in Germany. This is our fourth. They sure have gotten complicated over the years.

#768 of 777 vw transmission by buggedout1

Feb 11, 2013 (4:43 pm)

I really doubt that VW is paying for all of our transmissions problems. Maybe they could have reimbursed all of us, and not do the super bowl commercial! hopefully waiting.

#769 of 777 Re: Beetle auto transmission issue when warm [elenewlife] by inetta

Feb 25, 2013 (11:54 am)

Replying to: elenewlife (Feb 03, 2013 5:05 am)
I have a 2004 VW beetle convertible. Just love the car! But the trans is shot and it was shot when I bought it but didn't know. I've spent 1500 on the windows, another 200 on the top, another 400 on electrical and now looking at spending 3500-5000 on the transmission and it's a 2004 with 110,000 miles. Is it worth it?

#770 of 777 not another vw! by buggedout1

Feb 28, 2013 (5:16 am)

I certainly would not bring it to a vw place, the AAMCO mechanics did a great job on my 2004 beetle...at a couple $ less than vw. It has been about 45,000 miles since the work has been done and drives fine..127,000 miles. It is tough because you really can't trade the car in for anything - so you might have to just fix it and drive it. Still boggles me why VW does nothing about this....like they don't think anything is wrong.

#771 of 777 MPH vs RPM by leviat

Mar 15, 2013 (7:55 pm)

Hi I recently bought a beetle (transmission 5-speed manual) and I saw that on the highway the car to 63mph in the 3,000 rpm this, a very high RPM, my question is, I can change the differential to decrease engine speed if I can help To fix this, Thanks!

#772 of 777 Re: Beetle auto transmission issue when warm [buggedout1] by bubbakat

Mar 31, 2013 (8:48 am)

Replying to: buggedout1 (Feb 03, 2013 6:33 am)
My 2004 Turbo beetle needs new transmission at 66K. I want to keep the car as long as possible, but my mechanic warned that if I have the transmission replaced, I might have further problems considering the luck I have had with this car. I would consider going to AAMCO -- which AAMCO did you have your car repaired? Any recommendations?

#773 of 777 Re: Beetle auto transmission issue when warm [bubbakat] by jmargaret

Mar 31, 2013 (11:29 am)

Replying to: bubbakat (Mar 31, 2013 8:48 am)
I have a 2004 turbo covertible transmission that went out at 70,000 miles
Paid a lot to get new one and still doesn't sound or feel the way it should.
I had a headlite out that VW wanted 80.00 to fix. No one can get to it w/o
Tearing off the bumper. Passenger door rattles. Water gets in when I go thru carwash. It goes on and on. Too bad cuz I like the look of it. And had a
1973 bug for 10 yrs that never gave me a problem. Ugh!

#774 of 777 Transmission History by beetleyp

Mar 31, 2013 (7:55 pm)

Hi all,
 
I purchased my 2005 VW Beetle Convertible used in 2010 when it was just over 80,000 - It was 5-years old, seemed like someone finished paying it off and traded it in for something new, and VW was phasing out the convertible at the time. I bought it because it seemed very stable, drove fine, and I'd had a 70 VW convertible before that I restored from bare metal back in 1988-1990. About a week after purchase, the check engine light came on. I took it into my local dealer/repair and it was the fan system for the coolant. $1,000 +/- later - I had new fans and no light. Yeah! I hadn't driven a new beetle before, so I didn't know that it wasn't supposed to shift down hard from 3rd to 2nd or 4th to 3rd. Occasionally, during the next 6 months, it would take a moment to kick into reverse - it'd rev and then jerk back once it kicked in.
I stopped by my local dealer/repair for something else and asked if the hard shifting was normal - they did a peak on the computer system and there had been an alert by VW about it and an extended warranty for 6-years or 100,000 miles covering the Transmission Valve Body repair. So, they pulled it in and I was good as new a few days later. I thought that a letter was sent to all current owners, but figured that it went to the previous owner and they had no idea who I was.
I then started to do more research. I haven't experienced the window motor issues, but that seemed to have happened earlier for most folks, so I'm assuming the previous owner had to deal with it. I did, however notice that whenever my tank is about 1/4 full, and I'm going up or down hill, it will suddenly gasp for air and cut out. When it happens, I just lift my foot off the gas for a moment and it goes back to normal and I'm off and going again after a brief coast. I thought that maybe I had gunk in the gas tank from previous owner and later had the fuel pump go out. When VW was replacing that, they sucked everything out of the tank and it was clean. I thought it was maybe the fuel pump starting to go out, but it's still doing it and I've heard from others that theirs do it too right about 1/4-tank.
 
There are lots of issues with this batch of New Beetles. If you're looking to buy one, I can't recommend more highly that you purchase one of those after-market car warranty plans that they sell online.
If your car hasn't hit 100,000 or 6-years, go to your dealer now and tell them that your transmission seems to be shifting hard. Ask them to look up the service bulletins from VW and any recalls. It can save you a world of hurt later on.
 
Good luck.

#775 of 777 2004 NBTDI - Needs new Transmission by maxprice

Apr 04, 2013 (11:24 pm)

Purchased this car new with the Tiptronic 6 speed transmission. The car now has 136,XXX miles. Highly maintained. The car would slip out of gear when driving or would not go into gear when shifting at an idle position. Towed to VW dealership - $4800 for new tranny. Towed it to AAMCO - rebuilt transmission for $4500. Going to try one more place tomorrow. This is frustrating. Should be put the money into the car or put it into a new car and sell the 2004 for parts and then scrap it? So sad to do that to a 10 year old car. It is a diesal and should have lasted longer than this. Suggestions anyone?

Messages Page 78 of 79

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement