Manual Transmission problems of the 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle

Two problems related to manual transmission have been reported for the 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2006 Volkswagen New Beetle based on all problems reported for the 2006 New Beetle.

1 Manual Transmission problem

Failure Date: 04/29/2010

I bought a 2006 New Beetle convertible. It is a 5 speed. At approx. 10,000 miles it jerked, wouldn't shift and then was disabled in the fast lane of traffic. It was pushed onto the shoulder, towed back to dealer. I was then given instructions on how to drive a 5 speed (after approx. 35 year of it). I was also told that you cannot drive this 5 speed in traffic - you cannot let it get hot. I was also told I must be "driving my clutch". All in all - it was my fault it became a bucking bronco out there. Thank god I'm a driver. Vw has a wonderful 100,000 warranty on their drive train but they do not consider the clutch a part of the drive train. I have always said "go ahead - drive your car without your clutch fellas". At any rate - I have been painfully loyal to vw all my life. This was and is my first dog. I was told to give them $3,500 to fix my faulty flywheel assembly. I said no. Took it to 3 other places and they said "drive it". I did. I totally changed my driving habits to accommodate the car. No hills - no traffic. God forbid I was in traffic. Got off the road - on the shoulder. Stopped the car. Mind you - this is right from the beginning of my ownership. Everyone is all owner the consumer websites about this problem. I am so insulted by what vw did to us. In the meantime they quietly stopped making 5 speeds. Oh no kidding? why do you think that was?? so - no traffic, no hills - no hot days. It finally took it's last breath last week. And that $3000 is now due plus the $150 to tow it from where I was stranded. Little did I know everyone also had the headlight issues - sometimes yes. Sometimes no. The car is a death trap. For someone as ethnocentric as me the car is quite a disappointment. But far more disappointing is the way vw treated me. It had a manufacturing defect. Thousands have had it. I don't have the money for this. It is disgraceful. There should have been a recall. They knew all about it.

2 Manual Transmission problem

Failure Date: 04/22/2009

I was driving and the clutch seemed to be different. It is hard to explain how but when you are the driver 99% of the time you kind of know. On Wednesday April 22 I depressed to clutch coming to a stop and heard a definite noise. Then as I was pulling off from the stop in 1st gear the car did not want to move easy. There was another noise as I was releasing the clutch, as well. There is just over 29000 miles on the 2006 vw New Beetle. I was able to continue without causing an incident. I thank god for helping me to recognize a problem and make slow easy moves. I hope there does not need to be an accident, death, fire to suspect a continuing problem with a car to lodge a complaint to review the cause.




Fuel Economy of New Beetle Vehicles
New Beetle Service Bulletins
New Beetle Safety Recalls