Automatic Transmission problems of the 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible

My 2003 New Beetle Convertible with a 2. 0 automatic transmission (code: ggz) has a bad transmission that needs to be replaced and I see many other people are having the same problem. I cannot afford $6,000 for a new transmission and $3,500 for used. The used transmissions have more miles than my poor car. I want to file a complaint against vw.

While driving at a speed of around 45+ mph my wife's vw beetle randomly downshifted to the point that it squealed the tires and threw her forward. The dealership determined that the transmission will have to be replaced. Their estimate is $4900 for a used transmission or $6000+ for a new one from vw. They also said that this is a "known" problem with this specific transmission. The dealership said we should have received a letter from vw extending the warranty on the transmission to 100,000 miles for this problem. I have the letter but my wife's car has 128,000 miles so vw has refused to help at all with the problem. I also checked with two other vw dealerships in the kc metro and they immediately started nodding their head in agreement about this being a "known" problem with this transmission. As I was trying to locate a used transmission online at a cheaper price I was absolutely in shock at the volume of people that have had this same problem with this transmission. That random downshift is going to cause a wreck if it hasn't already. If someone is following too close, the pavement is wet, snow on the ground, gravel roads, whatever scenario you can imagine - a downshift of that nature could easily result in a wreck. I also checked with a national transmission company (certified transmission) and they said that due to a "design flaw" with that transmission they will only warranty their work to 12mos/12,000 miles instead of their normal 3yr/50,000. Vw's own letter acknowledging a problem due to "customer complaints", 3 dealerships stating this is a "known" problem, a national transmission company reducing their warranty due to a "design flaw" and the literally hundreds of discussions with the same problem - it is obvious there is a known issue with vw's "ggz" transmission.

2003 volkswagon beetle convertable. . Transmission company stating I need a new valve body. . Very dangerous to drive. Received the extension letter but was a little to late. My young daughter was driving has been stranded on the side of the road. Something needs to be doen about this. .

Volkswagen, 2003 new beetle transmission problem.

Defective valve body for 09g engine that vw corporate has known about and fixed in later models.

I bought a brand new vw beetle convertible in 2003. A few years ago, I reported a number of instances of a lurching problem to my service guy at the vw dealership, and he said they couldn't find a problem. A few months ago, the problem came back full force, and he said eventually I would need a new transmission. The car has begun lurching and shuddering violently when shifting, and today, my rpm's were highly elevated, despite my low speed. I pulled over and turned the car off, despite being on the 101 freeway in la. It couldn't drive. It started up again, and this evening the same thing happened. I'm afraid to continue to drive my car. It's seven years old and it only has 40,000 miles on it. There's no reason for this dangerous problem to occur, and there should absolutely be a recall. Thank you.

2003 vw beetle convertible. Automatic transmission began showing signs of trouble well over a year ago. Problem starts after 15 minutes of driving. Downshifts hard around 30-25 mph. Also shows hesitation coming out of 2nd to 3rd gear. Car has 75,000 miles. Had transmission fluid changed/flushed twice in past 6 months hoping that would help. Took to dealership today, quoted me $1900 to replace valve body. Are you kidding me? not to mention the fact that this car has had the rear window regulator go out -cost $300 to repair. The glue affixing the rear glass window to convertible top is breaking down. The check engine light comes on and appears to be some sort of malfunction with the gas cap. . . No matter how often I tighten it. Then it mysteriously goes off. Oh, and should you ever need a replacement key, good luck. Why couldn't vw use normal sized/type keys? vw is making crappy products. Nhtsa please do something. This manufacturer should not be permitted to release another vehicle off its assembly line unless it fixes the many problems affecting innocent, unfortunate vw owners like myself. Yield your power and enforce some action. Vw needs to be responsible for the junk they produce. Maybe then they'll think twice before turning out anymore crappy products. I will never own another vw product.

I've been driving my 2003 beetle convertible for 7. 5 yrs. Been taking it in for the last 2 yrs about hesitation/grabbing while driving. Was told that they couldn't find any problems. This week, the engine light comes on and I get the diagnostics run and found out I have transmission problems. And it's been going on for a while, which is what the grabbing and hesitation is. I only have 78k miles on a nearly 8 year old car (again, only owner) and shouldn't have this issue. Found out that vw has known about these issues with the transmission but waited until I was well out of warranty. Now I'm looking at minimum of $5k, most likely $6. 5k in repairs.

2003 Volkswagen beetle transmission. The cost to fix this problem with the beetle is way out of line. An Volkswagen should have to fix the problem. With all the other hard working people that has had the same part to break. Please look at this and do something.

As happened to many other owners of this vehicle, the automatic transmission on my 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible began to bang very hard when shifting and locked up periodically in third gear. When the transmission locked up in third gear while stopped at a light, the car was very slow to move. This left me nearly stranded in the middle of major busy intersections several times. I had to get out of the car to push it to the side of the road with cars whizzing past. This defect is very dangerous and is a known frequent problem with these cars through several year models. It cost me over $3000 to have the transmission fixed. Vw is well aware of the problems with the control valve in this defective transmission and has extended the warranty, but has left out cars sold at the time mine was.

My 2003 vw New Beetle Convertible has approx 89k miles on it. The automatic transmission shifts hard causing a jerking motion. It has progressed from a mildly noticeable to a more obvious jerking upon shifting. After researching this situation online, it seems as if it is a widely reported complaint about these vehicles. I feel like vw should resolve the problem being experienced by such a high number of owners.

Vw beetle 2003, 98,000 miles, started shifting hard about 6 months ago; jerks while shifting between first and second, second and third, and 4th to 3rd to 2nd to 1st; called vw after I received the warranty extension - transmission valve body letter (Dec 11, 2010) but they are unwilling to cover the cost (5 months too old); they've admitted the problem but refuse to fix it.

2003 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible 6sp. Tiprtonic transmission needs replaced at 78,500 miles. I pulled out of a parking lot and onto the road and the car accelerated like it was supposed, shifter through first, second, and third, then never shifted to fourth just revved. Was told transmission need to be replaced and quoted $4,800 by mechanic. Have been doing research about this topic since and have discovered several others in the same situation. I feel Volkswagen should at least help us out. I contacted Volkswagen on may 12th and was told basically they would do nothing about it. With everything I have seen on discussion forums about this particular transmission, I feel a recall may be in order to force Volkswagen to look at the issue. Thanks you for time and consideration on this matter.

2003 Volkswagen beetle convervible transmission problems.

Transmission problem in 2003 vw beetle. While braking car jerks and jumps. Car has 56k miles and has been consistently serviced by vw. Vw states car needs new valve body and tiptronix switch totaling $2500+ .

2003 vw beetle convertible has transmission problems that are a safety issue that vw of America does not want to do anything about. Car hesitates after stop with transmission jerking and causing cars behind vw to almost rearend vw. Transmission jerks when shifting between 2nd, 3rd and 4th gears causing front drive tires and steering tires to lose grip on pavement. This happens after car warms up (approximately 15 minutes). This is a large safety issue. If the car jerks when in a turn it will crash! my fiancee drives this car and I am concerned for her safety and anyone else driving near this car. This is a common issue with the 6-speed transmission that vw knows about but disavows any responsibility for. Can my government help the vw owners? will you do your job and forcee a safety recall onto vw of America or will more owners have to be injured or die for any concern to be shown? vw just says they want to replace transmission at over $6000. The whole car is worth just $8000.

Transmission on the vw new beetles are faulty. Cars should last more than 45,000 miles before the transmission goes. This has been a documented problem on website forums like newbettle. Org and I hope that you can do something about it.

I own a 2003 vw New Beetle Convertible, 4 cyl, 6 sp auto. It has 80,000 miles on it. Within the past year, it's started jerking when shifting gears. I've been told by I need a new transmission. After doing some research, I find I'm not alone. There are literally hundreds of others in the same position. According to vw, the transmission is $6,800. Wow - I know! you have to use the dealer because the parts aren't available to the after market. In any event, the car hesitates when you attempt to pull out, jerks when you stop. I've narrowly avoided several rear end collisions as well as said several prayers when it didn't accelerate as quickly as it should have. I'm not a mechanic, but I'm not stupid either. The transmission is fine until the engine is warm. I can shift gears with no problem using the tiptronic part of the system - but others have said this only works for a short period. There are no metal sounds when the engine is shifting. There is nothing wrong with the transmission, it is an electrical issue. Vw refuses to put the time and effort into determining what the real problem is. They just replace the transmissions and pocket $6,800. By the way, the blue book value of the car is $6,800. Ironic, I know. I've read post after post from people who had the entire transmission replaced by vw only to find the problems persist. I understand they don't want to find the issue, but I really love my car and want it fixed. Correctly. Please, please, please strongly encourage vw to do the right thing, find the problem and fix it. Any help you can offer is appreciated.

After around 36000 miles we noticed that the car would shift rough. The dealer told us it was not under warranty because it had a leak. The problem has persisted and we were told by a transmission shop that the leak was not severe enough to cause these problems. It now shifts so rough that when it goes into gear it pull hard left or right when it engages. Upon downshifting it actually lunges forward and has caused many concerns with me and my wife.

Normal driving with recommended service intervals. Transmission starts hard downshifts. Transmission will also wind out and slip or wind out and not shift into 5th and 6th gear.

The transmission jerks in and out of gear. This happens in stop and go traffic and is very dangerous! I have read from other owners that they are having the same exact issues. My auto repair shop says there is nothing other than replacing the transmission.

Car jerking, lurching, and shifting gears- transmission- as car starts and stops it jerks really bad this make it hard to stop the car. . . Very scared that I will have an incident.

2003 Volkswagen new beetle. 77315 mi. Transmission is faulty. Slips in and out of gear. . . Bangs into gear shifting from 3 to 4. Engine revs while transmission tries to "find" the next gear. This is dangerous ! please don't wait until someone is killed before forcing vw to be responsible for their faulty product !!.

I would like to file a complaint regarding my 2003 vw beetle which I purchased brand new in April of 2003. I have just over 60k miles and it appears that my transmission is going out. I have taken it a reputable mechanic who tells me it could be approx $3000 to fix it. I have read on the internet that this seems to be a very common problem with the vw's and I think that Volkswagen should recall the transmissions and pay to have them replaced.

Over the last month or two my wife's 2003 vw beetle convertible has had some issues with the manual transmission that progressively have gotten worse. Dealer says trans is bad with only 120k miles. Trans is non serviceable and would need to be replaced. When accelerating or decelerating trans slams between gears making car undrivable. Dealer wants $6500 to replace. Forums on the internet claim this has been an issue for years and vw is not doing squat about it. $6500 to fix a !@#$% transmission is ridiculous. When will there be a recall. This is unsafe!.

I have 2003 Volkswagen new beetle and the transmission has gone bad once already and was replaced by a new one. . . But the tranny has gone bad again just after 35,000 miles after the new tranny was replaced. . . Its really scary driving that car because you never know when its going to skip. . . It runs well for a while then it just starts skipping gears. . . We have change the tranny fluid about 3 times and nothing has worked out. . . Its going to cost me $1,700 to fix. . . . I think vw should have a recall on new beetles to replace the transmissions. . .

The contact owns a 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked when she changed gears. The failure progressed over time. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced which was done at that time. The contact also stated that both the front window regulator motors failed; the vehicle was repaired at a local repair shop. The door lock actuators failed and were repaired at a repair shop. The air bag light illuminated and the contact was informed that the air bag sensor had failed. The vehicle was being repaired. The rear windshield was beginning to detach from the structure of the vehicle. The failure mileage was 75,347 and the current mileage was 93,800.

2003 vw new beetle transmission valve body. Rough shifting up and down. 1st and 2nd. . Could not be driven safley. I had to have it repaired at aamco. Vw is rufusing to reimburse me. 4k +.

Car bough used from vs dealership on 7/31/2006. Been in for check engine light 4times, airbag light 3 times, a/c broke once, windows would not roll up once, needed new rotors once, rattling under hood once, battery died two days after I bought it and I had to tow it back to vw. Car jerks when going out of first gear-I told vw this repeatedly and they only tried to fix it after the warranty was up. They told me it would be $700 to fix. On 12/9/2008 my car would not go out of first gear while I was driving it. It had to be towed to my house and has not been driven since. I have had nothing but problems out of this car. I can not put anymore money into it. When the warranty went up, all of the sudden everything started going wrong. I requested prior information from the vw dealership about the other owner before me. I feel that this car was doctored so that I would buy it and then it started falling apart.

I have a transaxel on my 2003 beetle conv. That has a setting for manual shift or auto. I can no longer shift to the manual setting. At first it would allow me to shift into manual if I stopped then, I had to turn the engine off and shift quickly from park to manual. Now, nothing. They told me I would have to have a new transaxel installed. I have driven older vw for 20 years, now I will never buy another vw product of any kind.