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VW New Beetle Defective Transmission Class Action Lawsuit
By Matt O’Donnell
UPDATE 6/17/13: A federal judge dismissed the VW New Beetle Defective Transmission Class Action Lawsuit in February. Despite tossing the lead plaintiff’s claims, the judge said the co-plaintiffs could pursue a class action lawsuit in their home states of California and Louisiana. Top Class Actions reached out for comment from the law firm representing the plaintiffs to see if they plan on filing an amended complaint. Our request was not returned. We will update you as soon as we get new information on if a new class action lawsuit will be filed.
A federal class action lawsuit claims the 2003-2007 Volkswagen New Beetle has a defective Tiptronic automatic transmission that the automaker refuses to deal with, leaving owners in the lurch with either an expensive repair bill or malfunctioning vehicle.
According to Volkswagen New Beetle class action lawsuit, the transmission defect causes it to malfunction and require replacement, forcing vehicle owners to pay expensive repair charges and leaving them with a malfunctioning vehicle. The class action lawsuit claims Volkswagen has been aware of the defect, but at first chose to ignore it “and shirked all responsibility.”
“When the clamor of affected vehicle owners grew, Volkswagen eventually agreed to extend the warranty but only for the valve body of the transmission for the subject vehicles. This warranty extension, however, is of little use because it does not cover any damage to the vehicle’s transmission which, as a direct result of the defective transmission valve body, fails and needs replacement at a cost of several thousands of dollars,” the VW New Beetle class action lawsuit states.
“In effect, Volkswagen’s offer to extend the warranty but to limit that extended coverage only to the transmission’s valve body while washing its hands of any liability for the resultant damage to the transmission itself, is tantamount to relying on the proverbial ‘finger in the dike’ approach to dealing (or refusing to deal) with the defects prevalent in VW’s transmission.”
The VW Beetle defective transmission class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of all owners and lessees of a model year 2003-2007 Volkswagen New Beetle within the United States equipped with a Tiptronic automatic transmission. It is seeking damages and restitution for Class Members to reimburse them for their out-of-pocket expenses as well as a Court Order requiring Volkswagen to pay to repair the defective transmissions if Class Members have not done so already.
A copy of the Volkswagen New Beetle Defective Transmission Class Action Lawsuit can be read here.
The case is Shirley J. White v. Volkswagen Group of America, Inc., Case No. 11-cv-2243, U.S. District Court, Western District of Arkansas.
Updated June 17th, 2013
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424 thoughts onVW New Beetle Defective Transmission Class Action Lawsuit
I have a 2006 V W Beetle i purchased used with about 150 k. I have nothing but those same problems as everyone else. It has cost me so much money. I would like to be in on the law suit as well.
Please add me to the list with the many others that have experienced the same problem I have with my 2006 New Beetle. So sad because I love this car…but it has the potential of actually causing a fatality at some point when the gears act up in the middle of an intersection or at a stop light. Its too dangerous for me to even drive!
Same deal, Bought cute little 03′ Beetle for wife and started having hard shifts,not a cute little problem! Bad Valve body! I’d like to add my name to the list.
2005 Beetle……Just hit 70,000 and WHAM…. Bought it new October 2004. Add me to another dissatisfied consumer. Sad the lawsuit was dismissed.
How can I join this class action? My 06 Beetle requires a new transmission and WOW it’s costly. It’s been sitting up for a while now.
I want in on the lawsuit when it is viable again!
I have had some frightening transmission related experiences recently with my beloved 2004 TDI Beetle – one that had me unable to move while fully exposed to oncoming traffic at an intersection while turning left. Currently my car is in the shop *again* while the technicians try to recreate the problem. $800 to flush the transmission has not helped. Do I pay the $6000 to replace the transmission when the shop cannot recreate the intermittent low gear shifting issues? So frustrating! Please add me to this lawsuit if it becomes a reality.
As a 23rd Anniversary gift my husband brought me my little red convertible 2007 VW Beetle last month. I’ve been so happy until about a week and a half ago. Taking off from a stop light it started lurching and jumping and I wasted my coffee all over myself. The car has 95,000 miles. I took it back to the dealership twice and they cant find anything wrong with it. I knew that this lurching between gears was not normal. It’s kind of scary sometimes. I’m very disappointed that VW didn’t do a recall on these cars. It should have never come to a class action lawsuit having to be filed. Now, I know why we got such a great deal on this car…because it looks like I’m going to have some very costly repairs coming up in the near future! If by chance that class action lawsuit is continued in Louisiana or California or a new one is started I’d like to be a part of it.
Me and my fiance just bout a 2005 new beetle with a little under 60k miles on it , seemed great for a day ( it was cold out) then the next afternoon driving it the same transmission jerks have started occurring. What a waste of money, assistance please, inhave owned many vehicles thay have had some isssues but this is by far the most ridiculous issue for a company not to fix.
Just want to be counted as one more individual with a 2004 tip tiptronic/automatic transmission that is defective. Started feeling shifting problems at about 90k miles, when shifting up or down 3rd to 4th gear; had it checked by a transmission specialist and was shown very dark (dirty) transmission fluid and was told it could be a valve body problem or the transmission or both. VW doesn’t require any transmission oil changes. I parked the car for over a year; found out it was worth about $1000 and then decided that I would drive it until it wouldn’t drive. I’ve found that it shifts very smoothly while the engine is warming up. This makes me think that a transmission oil change with increased viscosity may help. I also am careful with the engine power if I feel the transmission slipping. I also use the triptronic shifter to keep it from going into 4th, if possible, and from downshifting into 3rd if on the highway; once past 4th gear, I shift it into 6th and cruise. I’m up to 93k and still driving it. What a shame that VW won’t stand behind its products! This was my 1st and last VW product unless they decide to make complete restitution on this issue. The diesel fuel EPA issue is likely to take them to there knees.