Front Air Bag Sensor Control problems of the 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible

Problems with transmission/shifting problems. Everytime the car shifts into a gear, its very rough and infact will jerk very hard. This started every once in a while and began happening more regular as a month or so went on. Now it will stick in 3rd gear and just stay there. We can stop at a redlight, and it will remain in 3rd gear, then drive from the redlight with the car starting in 3rd gear! this is a safety issue, because the car will stick when shifting almost everytime and you could push the gas but only the rpms will go up. . Nothing else. This could cause me to be rear ended or hit from the side when turning left. I have had many close calls due to this issue! I have children, and the car is not safe to drive anymore. I have priced what would fix this, and its not only that I can not afford it, but the solution to the problem is only temporary! I have seen many, many people have the same issues with the same car, and they have spent countless dollars on a problem that still persists. This past Saturday my family was driving and the car stuck in gear going 45 mph, which caused the car to descend in speed, giving the people behind us hardly no time to realize what was happening. We were very very close to an accident. To add to this problem I have had an airbag sensor come on the dash about 2 months ago and will not go off. I had this looked at because it was a safety recall, but the vw dealer told me that my car was no one of the vins, but looked as if it had the same problem! this is serious! they said they could fix it, for a very high amount, but if it was defective that I could be bringing it back in for repair! this is not acceptable!!! we are talking about life or death in a crash!.

The contact owns a 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle Convertible. The VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign id number 08v178000 (air bags:frontal:sensor/control module); updated 03-04-09 the consumer stated around 50,000 miles the air bag light illuminated. The dealer stated the problem was a faulty air bag sensor on the passenger side which rendered the air bag inoperative. 6 months later, the air bag light illuminated again. Vw stated the air bag sensor/module was faulty again. Updated 03/05/09.

Dealer states that the safety belt latch sensor has malfunctioned and needs replaced. Rendering the airbag inoperative!.