Five problems related to transmission stuck in gear have been reported for the 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
I couldn't wait for the New Beetle Convertible to come out. I bought it brand new from the dealership. Now, after only 60,000 miles, I am told I need a new transmission. The car is completely unsafe to drive--it will get stuck in first gear, it will kick between gears one and two, and it will jolt suddenly and without warning. These vehicles are unsafe for the road.
My 2003 New Beetle Convertible has been having transmission problems where it will jerk violently when it shifts up or down and sometimes it will not shift at all. It will get stuck in a gear and I have to stop it and turn the engine off and restart it. It will jerk even when stopped at a light. I have to make sure I am far away from the car in front of me. I no longer drive it because I don't know what will happen at any time. My airbag light stays on and will not turn off also, so I'm not sure if it will even work if there was an accident. Transmissions should not be jerking that way at all and if someone was to walk in front of my car at a stop light or sign, it could jerk forward and hit them. Not a safe car.
I too have fallen victim of the latest transmission problems. I have a 2003 vw beetle with 90,000 miles in immaculate condition and experienced jerkiness in the transmission as well. When I would press on my brakes I noticed that as my automatic transmission was trying to shift itself down, it begin to jerk as it was shifting down. I made sure I maintained this car and was told all was well. Then one day I was driving it on the freeway and as I pressed the gas pedal it wouldn't go any more. I pulled over and shut it off. When I started up the car again I put it in d (drive) it would jerk forward and turn itself off. I took it to the mechanic and they told me it was stuck in 4th gear. When the mechanic checked it out I was told there were lots of metal pieces in the oil as if possibly something broke inside. How does this happen????????? my warranty will only pay $2,000. 00 and the cost is approx. $6,000. 00 to repair. Why do I have to repair this vehicle? I know its mine, but the transmission was faulty.
The transmission bang into gear sometime and gets stuck in gear between 3th and 4th. You never know when it going to happen, when accelerating on to the interstate it can be dangerous.
Vw new beetle,2003, with only 75,000 miles the transmission failed. I was on the highway, ramping up and the car was stuck in 3rd gear. Its an automatic. I wasn't able to down shift. I had to coast over to the side of the highway. The dealership decided I needed a new transmission. Luckily I was 13 miles under my warranty and they fixed it without charge. I wanted you to know this because I see many other owners having the same problem. I could have been in an accident because of this problem.