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2004 Volkswagen Beetle Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 349 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle, most often about the transmission (45% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Beetle model year since 2000 and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2004 Volkswagen Beetle problems
Transmission
157 complaints · 45%Half of these problems showed up before 70,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, manual transmission.
Vw Beetle convertible '04 (approx. 80k miles) - slipping and banging transmission. Slams and bangs hard with each downshift (automatic) after about 15 miles or driving. Slips or will not move when accelerating after slamming and banging begins. Cannot drive car in traffic for fear or being rear ended or broadsided…
The transmission intermittently has trouble upshifting and downshifting between gears. It jerks, hesitates and then lurches forward. It starts occurring after about 5-10 min drive. It is especially uncontrollable when downshifting. The car slows down, the panel shows downshifted gear, car almost stops, then makes a…
Air bags
73 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
4th electrical failure, 3rd airbag light/malfuction. 5 days after servicing car for airbag safety issue, same repeated problem. (see complaint 10148516, 10148511).
Dealer performed recall on crash test sensors on 2004 new Beetle tdi, on the way home airbag warning light comes on, vw wants US to pay over $1000.00 to repair.
Visibility and wipers
65 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 54,000 miles. Parts named most often: power window devices and controls, rear window wiper/washer, glass, side/rear.
The passenger side rear window will not go up. The dealership charged me $100 to diagnose the problem and determined that the regulator needs to be replaced. I purchased the premium vw extended warranty, but the dealership didn't repair the window (they claimed they didn't know if the extended warranty would pay for…
2004 Volkswagen new Beetle convertible - driver side window rolled down and will not roll back up. Investigation revealed a broken rear window regulator- apparently under recall by Volkswagen but can't get confirmation.
Electrical
47 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, instrument cluster/panel, alternator/generator/regulator.
Headlamp assembly shorting out and burning assembly beyond repairable. Heat being produced by headlamp too high and shorts out headlight. Replacement of assembly is an option, but cause of assembly shorting out is not removed, with high probability of a repeat short.
The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle convertible. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH with the accelerator pedal depressed, the vehicle jerked and stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to be restarted but the failure recurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the…
Engine
33 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 67,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, cooling system, exhaust system.
Erratic shifting up and down between 1st and 3rd gears. Car lurches to the point that a natural reaction is to relieve your foot from the brake which could cause a rear end collision in some cases. Problematic part is internal valve body which is a known problem with vw's of this make and model. We had the problem…
Car was shifting very hard, tires would squeal as shifting between 1-2 and 2-3rd gears. To replace the transmission it will be between 2-5000.00 dollars we have had to replace window regulators, thermometer.
Body and structure
16 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Left rear window is stuck in down position. The component part is unavailable in the united states and has to be ordered from the factory in mexico. It will take 2-3 weeks for it to arrive. Cost of repair is $800 for one side. Complaints to manufacturer who will not stand behind their product as there are no recalls…
Safety latch on front hood mechanism not durable and has broken just out of warranty. Car under 30k miles. Only used 6 months out of every year. Model year 2004. Design flaw on a major safety item. Dealer claims entire assembly needs removal and replacement. Under my examination I found that the component failure was…
Lights
15 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 64,000 miles. Parts named most often: headlights, brake lights, tail lights, turn signal.
The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle gls. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate, the vehicle began abnormally jerking while switching gears. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the engine was repaired. The failure recurred within one month. The dealer then replaced the transmission gear box.…
Headlamp assembly shorting out and burning assembly beyond repairable. Heat being produced by headlamp too high and shorts out headlight. Replacement of assembly is an option, but cause of assembly shorting out is not removed, with high probability of a repeat short.
Seat belts
14 complaints · 4%Half of these problems showed up before 36,000 miles. Parts named most often: front.
Tl contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag indicator constantly illuminated. Also, the seat belt indicator illuminated intermittently even when the vehicle was unoccupied. In addition, the daytime running lamps would shut off, but the dealer replaced the bulbs. The…
The air bag warning light came on. This was the subject of an earlier recall due to sensors. We were told that this was due to a faulty seat belt buckle and not due to sensors. We were also originally told it was due to a faulty battery. However, the battery was checked by aaa and was not faulty. Eventually vw agreed…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Volkswagen Beetle recalls
Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
Risk: In low-severity frontal impacts, the front air bags may deploy more forcefully than designed, increasing the possibility of injury to out-of-position front seat occupants.
Fix: Dealers will inspect each vehicle to determine that the specific defect crash sensor is present on one or both sides of the vehicle. All of the defect crash sensors will be replaced free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on or before july 31, 2008. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
Volkswagen is recalling 76,900 my 2004-2005 new beetle and my 2003-2005 new beetle convertibles equipped with an advanced (dual-stage) air bag system. This system may have air bag frontal crash sensors that contain a solder joint on the circuit board that may crack under certain high temperature conditions. If this occurs, the air bag indicator light will illuminate and the fallback algorithm will ensure that the front air bags always deploy in a frontal crash in which the vehicle's deceleration is high enough to activate the frontal air bags.
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.
Fuel system: fuel system, diesel
Risk: Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the diesel pump. The recall began on february 8, 2005. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the high pressure diesel pumps were produced with an improper fastener, which could allow diesel fuel to escape from the pump.
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
Front air bag crash sensor failure
Summary
Certain subject vehicles, model year (my) 2003 convertible and my 2004 sedan and convertible vehicles are equipped with an advanced dual-stage air bag system.the air bag crash sensors (#1f0 909 606) contain a solder joint on the circuit board that may crack under certain high temperature conditions.if this occurs, the air bag indicator light will illuminate and the control module will enable a fallback algorithm that will ensure that the front air bag always deploys in a frontal crash in which the vehicle's deceleration is high enough to activate the frontal air bags.however, in low-severity frontal impacts, the front air bags may deploy more forcefully than designed, increasing the possibil
Questions about the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (157 complaints, typically around 70,000 miles); air bags (73 complaints, typically around 45,000 miles); visibility and wipers (65 complaints, typically around 54,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 17, 2008 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Volkswagen Beetle?
- It is the most complained-about Beetle model year since 2000, with 349 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.