Problems · by component

2004 Volkswagen New Beetle visibility problems

68 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle cite visibility, 19% of all 361 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
68
19% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the visibility

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE WINDOWS ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT ROLL UP. THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A VOLKSWAGEN PROBLEM. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE WINDOW SIDE AS OF THIS DATE. IF THERE IS A RECALL, PLEASE ADVISE. I NEED THIS FIXED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE WINDOW REGULATOR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 28, 2015Visibility, Equipment adaptive/mobilityODI 10679519
“THE BACK PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR WAS REPLACED. TODAY 12/09/14 NOT THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW MOTOR NEEDS REPLACED. I THINK THIS IS FAULTY. THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL VW REPAIR DEALERSHIP. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2014Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10663487
“REAR WINDOW WENT UP AND THEN DOWN BY ITSELF...THEN A CRACKING NOISE ENSUED AND NOW WINDOW IS STUCK OPEN. HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF BEETLE CONVERTIBLES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, WHICH IS DUE PRIMARILY TO POOR ENGINEERING. VW MAKES $500-600 FOR EVERY REPAIR. (SEE: HTTP://NEWBEETLE.ORG/FORUMS/NEW-BEETLE-CONVERTIBLE/38354-BACK-WINDOW-REGULATOR-MOTORS-VW-RECALL.HTML). *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 6, 2013VisibilityODI 10523500
“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. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2012Engine and engine cooling, Power train, VisibilityODI 10478940
“1) INFERIOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PUMP VALVE ASSEMBLY CAUSED VERY HARD DOWN AND UP SHIFTING THAT COULD STARTLE THE DRIVER. IT WAS REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. 2) LEFT SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR FAILED AND WAS REPLACED AT TIME OF PURCHASE (FEB. 2012). RIGHT SIDE REAR WINDOW REGULATOR HAS FAILED JULY 2012 AND MUST BE REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 16, 2012Power train, VisibilityODI 10466244
“I HAVE HAD THE REGULATOR REPLACED IN MY REAR DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND MY FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS. IT SEEMS THAT THERE MIGHT BE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WITH THE REGULATORS/WINDOWS. THANK YOU. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 31, 2012Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10460170

Showing 6 of 68 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2004 New Beetle problem areas