Vw Recall! Important Notice!

[scruffer]

do u guys know anyone that has a 2003 new beetle convertible? any "pointers". today, all "shift letters (P R N P, etc.) had the ( ) around them... is this weird? just wondering...

[Cumulus]

I asked my dealer about this because there was a similar recall some time ago, the dealer said that I would need this done regardless of the previous recall fix.

[TJ3]

Originally Posted by ristinkay

I got mine done when we tried to use the cruise control and it would not work because it was like the brakes were in constant play.

Hey, my cruise mysteriously stopped working too. I haven't had it in for the brake light recall yet, but i had a question. Did your brake lights stay on when your cruise wouldn't work or was it just the cruise wouldn't engage?
Thanks!

[Turbo_S_DJ]

How do you know if it's been fixed?

[bman]

Originally Posted by ristinkay

I got mine done when we tried to use the cruise control and it would not work because it was like the brakes were in constant play.

Wow... I never thought of that trick! I use my cruise all the time... I mean, every time I'm on a stretch of road where I don't need to slow down for anything in front, I have the cruise on... city, highway, country roads... keeps the boys in blue away!

But I always wondered about my brake light switch - I've received several recall letters telling me it's very important... yadda yadda yadda. Every time I looked at my brake lights I could see they were working just fine so I never went in to get a new (probably less reliable than my stock) switch...

Now it's painfully obvious that I don't have a problem, because I've never had an issue with using my cruise control. Brilliant.

[hestersu]

Originally Posted by TJ3

Hey, my cruise mysteriously stopped working too. I haven't had it in for the brake light recall yet, but i had a question. Did your brake lights stay on when your cruise wouldn't work or was it just the cruise wouldn't engage?
Thanks!

I seem to recall that my brake lights failed to light but it has been awhile.

It is interesting to note that the first sign of the failing switch is the cruise failing to engage. The brake lights themselves may still be working.

[hestersu]

Originally Posted by bman

Wow... I never thought of that trick! I use my cruise all the time... I mean, every time I'm on a stretch of road where I don't need to slow down for anything in front, I have the cruise on... city, highway, country roads... keeps the boys in blue away!

But I always wondered about my brake light switch - I've received several recall letters telling me it's very important... yadda yadda yadda. Every time I looked at my brake lights I could see they were working just fine so I never went in to get a new (probably less reliable than my stock) switch...

Now it's painfully obvious that I don't have a problem, because I've never had an issue with using my cruise control. Brilliant.

Are you being sarcastic here? It is a known problem. The feds don't have companies issue recalls for non-defective parts. The poster you quoted was not manually pushing on the brake pedal. The switch was defective and sending a signal implying the brakes were in use thus causing the cruise to fail to engage. Your switch is still working from what you say but do not assume that your switch is somehow more reliable. You are one of the lucky few who's switch is still functioning. Don't be surprised if it does fail at some point. If your cruise fails to engage at some point, your switch has failed.

[Dogzilla]

And THEN....at THAT time....get it fixed. I tend to follow the old idea that if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

[mysticdiva]

This doesn't effect new 08 Beetle convertibles does it?

[ghostRder1]

I'm thinking up to the 2007 models. You could call your
dealer to make sure.

bandit

[katwalk]

I discovered this this weekend when the EPC light went on, and when I took it in it was a burnt bulb o_O
Scare for nothing.

[FLYTDI00]

Originally Posted by jyeesf

Funny i just got a recall notice for the pre-2002 Beetle brake light problem. I had already fixed it out of warranty a number of times. IIRC, there was already a recall for that item that i had fixed. I guess i'll have to dig up all of my old receipts and get a reimbursement.

Since then, i traded for a 2006 Beetle convertible. Am i to understand that i should be expecting another recall notice for my new car??

I already had mine changed under a recall a few years ago but the dealer told me that the replacements were also being recalled so I had it changed again.

[Beetlescott]

I just bought my 99 Ernie, I called to get a birth certificate and they told me this recall was still outstanding on him. I am gonna call today and get it fixed.

[franbeezy]

I took my beetle to get serviced a month ago because a dashboard light came on and the service guy said it was because one of my brake lights was burned out. Beforehad, I was told by a friend that at night, the backlights do not both go on but when the brake was pressed, they would turn on and off. It was bizarre.

[NBTurboFreak]

My brake switch has been changed out 4 times since I have had the car. 3 times by the dealership and once by me.

[2005Beetle]

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." -a wise man

[Ol' Timer]

"Fix It Till It Breaks" - Volkswagen of America

[Turbomania]

I received a recall notice for this years ago... Is this a new problem or just the same old recall finally reaching most all VW owners? My 99 GLS turbo never had a problem but the recall affected my car so I had it done anyway just to avoid any further problems. It was of course a no charge fix as have been various other warranty repairs done by my dealer. The supplier of this brake light switch was just one of the many vendors that VW had problems with as far a supplying parts that met VW's strict performance and longevity guidelines. Window guides were another... No car is perfect but a good dealerships service department can certainly make your car feel that way... JK

[bsmanly]

I just bought my '00 beetle used, does that mean this modification will have to be an out of MY pocket expense, or will the recall honor a second owner? anyone know?

[Beetlescott]

You won't have to pay. Just call VW and give them your VIN number, I just got mine done two weeks ago. If there isn't a recall, it's possible the previous owner already had it done.