VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, 2005 MODEL WITH 105,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION FAILING CAUSING HARD SHIFTING AND SLIPPING GEARS RESULTING IN CAR LURCHING, SUDDEN DOWN SHIFTS AND PAUSING UNEXPECTEDLY IN TRAFFIC. CAUSED REAREND IMPACT WHEN VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. AS TOLD BY THE VW DEALER THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NEW BEETLE 6SPD TIPTRONIC TRANSMISSION, ONE THAT VW WILL NOT ADMIT NOR CORRECT. I HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE FOR SOME TIME FINDING THAT THERE IS NO QUESTION AS TO WHETHER A NEW BEETLE OWNER WILL HAVE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS RATHER WHEN THE PROBLEM WILL BEGIN. WHILE I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE HOW MANY IF ANY ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THIS ISSUE I DO KNOW THERE IS A GREAT CONCERN AMONGST THESE VEHICLE OWNERS THAT ACCIDENTS WILL OCCUR. VW SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL ALL THESE VEHICLES AND CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR