VW New Beetle Problems
lepto
Member Posts: 3
purchased June 1998 I/ $1500.oo Master Guard Platinum Plus warranty
at 23357mi :
1) stereo problems (they replaced it) warranty covered
2) engine hesitating at takeoff (replaced engine control unit due to ROM fault) warranty covered
at 40000mi :
1) the battery has died out on me twice (needed jump start) NO warranty cover
2) electrical rob. with door lock/arming system (currently replacing something in my driver door) warranty covered
3) driver window control switch sticks up and down position (replace under warranty)
4) check engine light (replace vacuum hoses) warranty covered
the dealer, McKenna in Hunting ton Beach, CA, told me that the vacuum hoses were cracked and broken causing my check engine light to come on. I asked if he thought that this was peculiar being the car is not very old at all and he said "Nope." just like that..
I told him I thought it was very strange.
also my battery needs to be replaced at my expense ($140) after only 3 years!!!!!! i asked him about it being related to the short with the door problem draining the battery and he said "Nope, it's just an old battery that needs replacing"
i told him that USUALLY batteries last 5 - 6 years minimum these days.. no response from him.
they've had my car 6 days now and i asked about getting a loner car because my warranty provides for one after the dealer keeps the car 24hrs.. he told me that they had no loners and that if i was told that by the sales person when i purchased the car, i was lied to..
he told me that "ALL salesmen LIE" those exact words came out of his mouth, i couldn't believe it!!!!
thanks VW of America!!!!!!!!!!!
ps. mine also burns approx. 1QT oil every 1000-1500mi
at 23357mi :
1) stereo problems (they replaced it) warranty covered
2) engine hesitating at takeoff (replaced engine control unit due to ROM fault) warranty covered
at 40000mi :
1) the battery has died out on me twice (needed jump start) NO warranty cover
2) electrical rob. with door lock/arming system (currently replacing something in my driver door) warranty covered
3) driver window control switch sticks up and down position (replace under warranty)
4) check engine light (replace vacuum hoses) warranty covered
the dealer, McKenna in Hunting ton Beach, CA, told me that the vacuum hoses were cracked and broken causing my check engine light to come on. I asked if he thought that this was peculiar being the car is not very old at all and he said "Nope." just like that..
I told him I thought it was very strange.
also my battery needs to be replaced at my expense ($140) after only 3 years!!!!!! i asked him about it being related to the short with the door problem draining the battery and he said "Nope, it's just an old battery that needs replacing"
i told him that USUALLY batteries last 5 - 6 years minimum these days.. no response from him.
they've had my car 6 days now and i asked about getting a loner car because my warranty provides for one after the dealer keeps the car 24hrs.. he told me that they had no loners and that if i was told that by the sales person when i purchased the car, i was lied to..
he told me that "ALL salesmen LIE" those exact words came out of his mouth, i couldn't believe it!!!!
thanks VW of America!!!!!!!!!!!
ps. mine also burns approx. 1QT oil every 1000-1500mi
0
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http://carpoint.msn.com/Vi/Safety/Volkswagen/New%20Beetle/2001.asp
cheers!
I would appreciate any hints at what is wrong and how to fix it as the warranty is expiring.
1) The mud guard under the front bumper breaks apart easily. I was just driving on snowy roads, and the snow knocked them off - $200.
2) Both headlights and the headlight switch burnt out. Original dealer mechanic said that the special connector to hold the right headlight housing was broken, so they would have to cut up and destroy the housing to get to the light bulb. Replacement was $336. Luckily, a second mechanic overheard, and said all you need to do is giggle it just right.
On the light switch, that was $200 which luckily (and with some convincing) was covered by the Wynns Extended Warranty. Extended Warranties seem to make sense on this car.
3) Just found out that both front and rear brake rotors need to be replaced - and oh by the way, rear rotors are on National back order - might be a couple weeks or a couple months.
4) This car is also burning a quart of oil about every 2,000 miles.
I am convinced that my car is lemon!!
Problems:
1. Listening to everyone complain about the power windows switch's yes I have had the driver's side windows switch fall out, this already seems a given.
2. Try this one, last week, the passenger window came crashing down when rolling down the window!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3. The week before that the temperature gage, was flashing on and off, vw dealer wanted to charge me a $45.00 diagnostic fee, I opened the manual in front of them and told them what it said, either to check the coolant level or that there was an electrical problem.
4. This week's problem: The air bag indicator light is on constantly, meaning that the air bag is malfunctioning - and this is suppose to be a safe car!
5. The fuses in my car have blown out 3 times already, and they keep replacing the cigarette lighter.
6. the alarm on my remote stop working
7. Oxygen sensor has been replaced already once before - that was another light that was flashing
8. In February, the driver side headlight went out.
9. Last week, the passenger side headlight went out.
10. ABS and brake lights come out during the winter for no reason in park!
Of course, my warranty is 40K and of course I am out of warranty 48K. All the major problems started happening right after the warranty ended.
They've replaced my lighter 3 times to have the fuses fixed.
Guess what the dealer told me to do - buy extended warranty!
The car is a lemon!!
If anyone is having similar concerns please email to discuss.
That's it.
appears to be clean only 25k
alloys and spoiler with ad changer
owner says she lost her job
pinons wanted
wayne2970@yahoo.com
Also, I do feel that VW Service Centers don't really care about VW owners (this is my first VW). They act like they are doing me "favors" by taking my car in for service (either I pay or warranty covered). And I almost have to "BEG" them for a loaner for warranty works which never happened at my BMW & Acura dealers when I took my cars in for warranty works. Anybody has the same feeling or it is just my bad luck at VW dealers?
I FIGURED AFTER MAKING THIS CAR NOW FOR A FEW YEARS THEY WOULD HAVE CORRECTED THE SITUATION.
CANT' WAIT FOR MY LEASE TO RUN OUT.
1) Uses oil
2) Driver's power window switch fell out for the second time.
3) Air Conditioning died (and the window doesn't work!)
4) Can't change my own headlights, have to have a dealer replace them, so much for German engineering.
5) Fog light lens broke, would cost $350 to replace cause have to pull grill apart. So much for German engineering. I left it broken.
Going back to Toyotas.
I understand, from one of you previous posts, your position on lemon laws and I agree - please e-mail me at spindoctorseven@yahoo.com - I'd like to give you some interesting (I think) observations.
1st time - the dealer just reset the code. That lasted for 2 miles.
2nd time - Anti-slip light was also on and engine had no power. Dealer replace combination valve. Fix lasted 10 days and 600 miles.
3rd time - replaced accelerator pedal w/potentimeter (what ever that is!) Fix lasted 300 miles.
Anyone have any ideas (other than finding a new dealer and/or getting rid of the car) or had experience with EPC light?
In reply to Dradie - my wife really babies the car. She doesn't accelerate hard when the engine is cold. In fact, the EPC seems to come on when the car gets hot. Last time was in Stop/Go traffic.
I have confidence that it was a faulty computer. Time will tell. If it happens again, the dealer will have the opportunity to buy the car back.
I took it into the dealer, and they replaced the throttle body. These cars (the 1.8 T and new for the 2.0 in 2001 according to my service advisor) do not have a throttle cable. When I step on the accelerator pedal, an electronic signal (think of a radio knob) sends a signal to the computer, which then sends a signal to the throttle body and actuates the throttle. The part of the throttle body receiving the electronic signal was not operating properly in my vehicle setting off the warning lights. My car now has 3500 miles without further incident. I saw the internal dealership paper work for my repair, and the part alone cost like $600. I hope this helps you fellow Beetle owners facing a similar problem.
As an aside, my 2001 Beetle with 3500 miles on it registers full on the oil dipstick. Something must be screwy when I read about so many peoples experiences with high oil consumption on the 2.0 engine in various VW models. I have not had to add a drop, so I assume that there is some significant variable in the manufacture of the 2.0 engine (my engine code begins with the letters AZG)
William
The saga continues.
dradie
Within the past month (at 26,000 miles and five months from the 20,000 scheduled maintenance) I have replaced the fuel filter, the battery and now am looking at the passenger window, which started sinking into the passenger side door this morning. I called VW about the fuel filter, because the Owner's Manual says that it should be replaced at 20,000 and it wasn't--the gentleman on the phone said that he'd "have to look into it" because they had been replacing it at 30,000 miles, not 20,000. I offered the page number in my manual. Of course, I haven't heard any updates there. The battery really has me stumped--as well as my mechanic. He said it just didn't make sense to him that the battery should be dead at 26,000...but then he doesn't work for VW. The only VW service departments that returned my call within 60 miles couldn't set an appointment for three weeks.
I understand that we Americans have grown accustomed to no-maintenance cars, and on some level we sound like whiners most of the time...but dropping more than $300 (not including the upcoming window repair), and having to use non-VW service because the dealerships are booked for weeks--that is exasperating. And now I'm reading about problems with clutches...yikes.
I thought I would have this car forever, and I'm really thinking about ditching it. THAT'S really disappointing. I have a friend with a Jetta and he has had lots of problems with his power windows as well. He's an avid VW fan--talked his parents into buying one too--and he's switching to Suburu. I may just follow suit.
Seems to be running just fine now and has for the past few weeks.
She also has had to replace the driver's power window switch and the radio...she said the tape player is acting up again. I guess the problems are not so unusual.
I didn't know about it until a few months ago, when I took the car to a nondealer for my 15000 service (not covered by the 'free scheduled maintanence service for the first 24,000 miles'). No one in the dealership ever told me anything about burning oil. If this is normal, why didn't they say anything so I can properly maintain the car? I don't understand why VW schedule maintenance service every 5000 miles if they know that the car burns oil, and without adding engine oil, the car will consume ALL the engine oil!
VW should really do something about it.
Can we file a class action lawsuit under the lemon law or something?!
-A/C did not work right off the lot
-Battery died at 24 k, I had to pay $200.00 for the dealer to reset the computer
-The trunk will not open with the remote, or using the console.
-I just paid $277 to replace the driver side electronic window opener
-Oil pan ripped open with a small rock
-Door panel vinyl is coming off
-Cap on emergency brake came off
I will never ever buy another VW and would advise others to do the same. It is no wonder you see so many used Beetles for sale right now. I don't even feel good selling the car directly to somebody, so I will have to let the dealer have that on their conscience after I trade that piece of [non-permissible content removed] in.
-electrical problem
-clutch slave cylinder went out (towed)
-ignition switch loose - replaced - still loose
-A/C works intermittently
-unstable idle hunt
-suspension loud squeak over sp. bumps
-interior door handles delaminated
-gas intake switch broke twice
My questions are these: I have had this car at the dealership six times to fix the squeaky suspension. It keeps getting worse instead of better, and the service dept. does not know what it is, just replacing parts. Also, does anyone know about the unstable idle/hunt problem? There is a tech bulletin on it, but when I asked for it at the dealership they would not give it to me, and said this is the way VW engines run. I also tried to order it from VW, and they were "out" of it. Now we are trying to make a deal with the dealership and VW to trade this car in for a new 2001 model without loosing our shorts! This may be a mistake after reading complaints on this site.
It has 20,000 miles and is 17 months old and I had it in service for several times:
- Fuel door didn't close ("repaired" twice)
- Window lift switch fell off
- Wheel cover fell off
- Fuel door didn't open
The VW "service" sucks. Despite having a repair appointment today, bringing it in at 12:30, they told me at the end of the day that they didn't get to work on my car due to scheduling problems/work load. They don't care that customers take time off work to accommodate their schedules, and how they get to work due to their delays. Quite upset here.
Below is a link to the Federal Trade Commission web site http://www.ftc.gov/opa/predawn/F88/vwcons.txt
Oil burning is not a new problem of VW. However, according to the consent order from FTC, Volkswagen must place advertisements in national magazines, distribute posters to its dealers, and add statements to its owner's manuals which disclose the availability of arbitration to owners. These notices will also highlight the fact that arbitration is available to remedy certain past oil consumption-related problems. Under the consent order, Volkswagen also will make publicly available, for 1984 and later model cars, the product service bulletins it routinely sends to its dealers. In addition, it will also prepare easy-to-understand summaries of the more
significant bulletins. Volkswagen will advertise the availability of service bulletins through new car window stickers, owner's manuals, brochures, and other printed promotional materials.
Did VW really comply with the above consent order? How many VW oil burning victims bought the vehicle without knowing the previous oil burning issue VW has because VW didn't disclose it? If these victims knew ahead of time, will they still buy the vehicle? Oil burning victims, please document all your repair orders, and file a complain at the www.ftc.gov. Hopefully, when the FTC is flooded with complains regarding similar issues, they will investigate into it. Also, remember to check out the lemon law, hire a lemon law attorney if needed, or check out the BBB arbitration program.
JANUARY Road & Track magazine has their long term update on their VW Beetle (50,000 miles or so) and it isn't pretty. Nothing DRASTIC happened, but the car seemed to fall apart after 20K miles. It's an interesting read if you want to look at it. Their car was a '99 model.
Clutch
Fuel pump relay
Timing belt
Timing belt tensioner
Cam shaft oil seal
2 valve cover gaskets
Cruise control module
Outside temp display
Outside temp sensor
Instrument console
Rack and pinion
The lower intercooler hose popped off requiring the car to be towed back to the dealer. The rear trunk lid could not be adjusted correctly. When we dumped the lemon, the airbag light had come on as well as the check engine light. The car was well maintained and not abused. It is a fine example of German engineering gone haywire.
Beware of the NB. Look at car point for all the other horror stories.......
My driving habbits are pretty much the same.
A daily 60 mile commute on a busy Highway. Rt 17 in North Jersey. I sometimes drive a little fast around 70. Normally it's around 62 mph. I am surprised that I use so much oil.I am equally surprised that the dealer & VW of America say that is the normal consumption on this vehicle. After reading the Manual I knew I was toast. It has an entire page on oil consumtion. VW might not spend time fixing the problem but they quickly added the disclaimer to the Manual.
Oh well, Since I Love My New Beetle
I'll be adding the oil. My Dad is a mechanic & you would be surprised on how tough it is to find the specified oil 5w 40 / The book says I can use 10w 40 so I'll have to settle. Because of the consumption I'll try to find the exact oil.
Other than that I've been lucky.
I am checking with the New Jersey Lemon Law people. They are going to send me an info kit.
Hey Ya' never Know.
Peace Love & Happy Motoring..
Mikey............