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2001 Volkswagen Beetle Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 203 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Volkswagen Beetle, most often about the engine (25% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles). It is 5th of 19 Beetle model years by number of complaints and has 2 recalls.
Most common 2001 Volkswagen Beetle problems
Engine
51 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system, cooling system.
I have a 2001 vw new Beetle. I have replaced brake light, which was drains the battery, serpentine belt, remoteless key which is still broken- basically 6 days after buying this car- I spent $1200 on repairs- now the check engine light is on, the transmission is acting funny, and basically- my vw dealership has a…
Tl contact owns a 2001 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that the drain plug in the oil pan leaks oil. The failure occurred because the plug is hard steel and the pan that holds the oil is aluminum. If the technician tightens the nuts too tightly on the drain pan, all of the oil will leak out. The dealer performed…
Electrical
43 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 70,500 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition, instrument cluster/panel, alternator/generator/regulator.
I own a new vw Beetle and the instrument cluster has been giving displays that come on and off concerning the ABS system, air bag and engine. I had the car looked at and was told that there is corrosion of the terminal strip from the coolant tank that is causing the problem. I was further told that and given a field…
Throttle body goes out (02-03-2009) cv axel goes out (03-31-2009 brake lights go out (02-18-2010) cv axel goes out again (4-31-2010) alternator goes out (06-21-2010) ignition coils fail (09-13-2010) ignition coils fail again(01-21-2011) brake switch replaced again (01-21-2011) air flow sensor fails (01-21-2011) air…
Air bags
40 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 49,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
Air bag light came on. Took to dealer. The driver side airbag is defective and needs replaced. For $780 they replaced the airbag and wiring harness. This airbag was defective and should be replaced under warranty. This is a life safety issue and Volkswagen is responsible!
Air bag light came on. Took to dealer. The driver side airbag is defective and needs replaced. For $780 they replaced the airbag and wiring harness. This airbag was defective and should be replaced under warranty. This is a life safety issue and Volkswagen is responsible!
Lights
30 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 63,500 miles. Parts named most often: brake lights, hazard flashing warning lights, headlights, turn signal.
Turn signal/hazard flasher on 2001 Volkswagen new Beetle failed in same way as described in your recall #04v584000-which applies to other models but not new Beetle. Occurrence date: 12 january 2006, mileage 64,200 approx. This is same behavior already identified by you. I request that investigation be opened to…
These are secondary safety issues: 1) gas gauge requires $700 instrument cluster 2) headlights shipped from factory missing retainer band and require $650 fix just to align. Vw san jose, ca invoice [] on 2001 vw Beetle lemon []. Updated 07/17/2012 information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia)…
Transmission
24 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 72,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
I have a 2001 vw new Beetle. I have replaced brake light, which was drains the battery, serpentine belt, remoteless key which is still broken- basically 6 days after buying this car- I spent $1200 on repairs- now the check engine light is on, the transmission is acting funny, and basically- my vw dealership has a…
The contact owns a 2001 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated intermittently when down shifting, the vehicle would jerk excessively and would also hesitate when the contact was attempting to accelerate. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop on two occasions where unknown repairs were made to the vehicle yet the…
Brakes
22 complaints · 11%Half of these problems showed up before 52,500 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, antilock, indicator light.
While applying the brakes the consumer heard a loud knocking noise from the rear. The consumer drove the vehicle to the dealer for an inspection and the mechanic determined that the rear brakes and rotors needed to be replaced due to corrosion. The rear brakes needed to be replaced along with the rotors. The front…
I have a 2001 new Beetle. I took ownership in july 2000. My complait is that I had my brake light and ABS light come on and diabled my stopping ability of my vehicle. I had my car repaired replacing the electronic contol unit of my ABS system. This cost me 1300.00 to repair. After researching online I found that this…
Fuel system
11 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 98,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage.
I have a 2001 vw new Beetle. I have replaced brake light, which was drains the battery, serpentine belt, remoteless key which is still broken- basically 6 days after buying this car- I spent $1200 on repairs- now the check engine light is on, the transmission is acting funny, and basically- my vw dealership has a…
Forums concerning this vw model, and other models both older and newer, are replete with reports of the cars stalling with symptoms of starved fuel, usually arising when the tank is less than half full. See, e.g., http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?4971876-car-stalling-while-at-speed-is-low-fuel-the-problem. My…
Seat belts
11 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.
The drivers seat belt is fraying, the car has 38000 miles. I have never seen frayed seat belts on any car no matter the age or miles. Is this a safety issue? The dealer was no help.
Air bag light came on and stayed on. Car shop said the seat belt switch assembly failed, and needed to be replaced. If there was a crash, the seat belt would not lock and the driver would be thrown into the air bag.
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2001 Volkswagen Beetle recalls
Lights: switch
Risk: The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
Fix: Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on april 27, 2007, and will be conducted in several staggered mailings through september 21, 2007. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population may be involved in either this recall or 06v-183, but not both. The remedy is the same for each recall. Volkswagen dealers will apply the remedy based on the VIN number of the vehicle. Owners may contact vw at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.
Lights: switch
Risk: The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. Failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.
Fix: Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on november 27, 2006. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population may be involved in either this recall or 06v-183, but not both. The remedy is the same for each recall. Volkswagen dealers will apply the remedy based on the VIN number of the vehicle. Owners may contact vw at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic or manual transmissions and cruise controls, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly during safety recalls 03v-265 or 04v-096.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Brake light switch failure
Summary
By letters dated may 24, 2006 and august 4, 2006, volkswagen (vw) notified the agency that it is conducting a safety recall (NHTSA recall no 06v-183) involving model year (my) 1998-2002 volkswagen new beetle and 1999-2002 volkswagen jetta vehicles equipped with cruise control.volkswagen?s recall covers 646,246 vehicles.previously, vw recalled these vehicles to replace a defective brake light switch (recalls 03v-265 and 04v-096) that was unique to vehicles with cruise control.volkswagen reports that the brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly during recalls 03v-265 and 04v-096.volkswagen will install a new design brake light switch.based on volkswagen's safety recal
Brake light switch
Summary
The brake light switch used in cruise control equipped my 1998-1999 and all my 2000 and later models has undergone multiple revisions.analysis of warranty and complaint data indicates high replacement rates occurred in vehicles built with brake switch part numbers 1j0 945 511a and 1j0 945 511b, the original and first revision levels, respectively.the failure of the switch could result in failure of the brake lights to illuminate when the brakes are applied, or could cause the brake lamps to stay continually illuminated.either condition results in the inability of the brake lights to notify other motorists of vehicle braking.under safety recall 03v-265, volkswagen will inspect the brake light
Questions about the 2001 Volkswagen Beetle
- What are the most common problems with the 2001 Volkswagen Beetle?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (51 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); electrical (43 complaints, typically around 70,500 miles); air bags (40 complaints, typically around 49,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2001 Volkswagen Beetle have?
- 2 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 20, 2007 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2001 a bad year for the Volkswagen Beetle?
- It is 5th of 19 Beetle model years by number of complaints, with 203 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.