Since my last post, I found out about the official changes for the NB and NBC. Not much. Nothing like a new interior or engine. no... Instead, the 6 speed auto is now the only auto available (even on the coupe). The dark blue and red are replaced by , another dark blue and red. (already available on other VWs) The (cool) flaps on the NBC (GLS) are "no more" . I guess replaced by a hole, like in the GL. Satellite radio is a new option , comes with 3 months of service. To me, it's not worth waiting September for the 2005s.
I just purchased the '04 Beetle convertible and within a month the drivers side window is off track(whole assembly is to be replaced) , the drivers side air bag sensor would not go off (has been corrected) and most disturbing to me is that the convertible roof frame on the drivers side, right above the center of the drivers window, is scratched through the black paint/coating down to the shiny metal frame-VW service has said it is fine and I will not accept that-am waiting to meet with the factory rep-has anyone had a similar problem with their beetle convertible??
I have an 04 convertable and love it. So far, knock on wood, not one thing wrong. We chose the 2.0 engine and it seems to be perfect with the 6 sp. tiptronic transm. and the economy is very good although not as good as my Jetta diesel. We have had 20 volkswagens since our first beetle in 1958.
Hi. I just bought a 2004 GL New Beetle Convertible with the 2.0L engine and a manual transmission. (As an aside, we go the GL because I distrust the semi-automatic roof on the GLS). So far my wife and I love it. Looking through the manual, we were surpised to read the part about oil consumption. I was wondering if anyone knew the answers to my following questions:
(1) Does anyone know why the 2.0L engines tend to consume so much oil? I don't mean the technical reason so much as the rationale. Does VW engineer it in for better mileage or long life for the engine?
(2) Does anyone know what weight of oil comes in the car from the factory? That way as I break in the car (640 miles so far) if I need to add oil it's the same type. (tried calling dealership and sat on hold until I gave up)
(3) I can accept 'high' oil consumption...for me it's not a big deal to check the oil and such. But does the use of oil signify anything...such as the engine will not last as long? If it makes no difference (supposing I do encounter 'high' oil consuption) then I would just keep putting oil in and not insist on a new (or remanufactured) engine since I figure the less any dealership's service department touches a car, the better off the car is.
(4) Do you think it's worth putting synthetic in it and if so when (after full breakin)? We plan on keeping the car for over 10 years (a summer car for use in Minnesota). So I don't mind the additional expense...just wondering if it makes sense.
Thanks in advance for any input/advice/info you can give!
Prior to my current Passat, I owned a Jetta with the 2.0. Although I never had any oil consumption issues, this is a known problem with this engine. I have heard and read that the problem can be traced to bad engine seals (O-Rings). I thought that this issue was resolved on newer engines though. The dealer can conduct an oil consumption test. But, if I were you I would wait until your engine is broken in and then I would take it to the dealer if you still experience oil issues.
As far as the type of oil, read your owners manual and follow their advise.
So far I've had it to the dealer to reset the airbag warning light and replace the front driver seat due to the stitching coming apart. This week I'm taking it in to have them look at the driver seat. The leather has a "puck" mark, worn, rough area on the seat where you sit. The airbag warning light is on again. The inside of the top has come away from around the back window. I'm going to insist on a new top. The flaps, when the top is down, are crooked. This car has only 6,000 miles on it. It's my dream car and I just love it, I mean I REALLY love this car, but it's becoming a nightmare. Anyone else have problems like these. Thankfully, it runs great. I sold my SUV when I got this and I'm lovin' the gas milage.
Picked up my bug from the dealer. They fixed the airbag light and said VW will be sending a new computer chip to fix the problem for good. They said, in the mean time, I should not move the passinger seat until the car is started and then wait 30 seconds or so. They put a new gaskit, or something, around the back window and fixed my flaps. I'm happy once again and really hope nothing else goes wrong.
Even after reading all of these negative posts. Even after seeing VW almost last on all of the quality surveys...My wife talked me into getting her a bug cabrio. I figured that I would be different.
I was wrong. We've had it for one week and I already have 8 things to address with the dealer.
The windows screach. The top is mis-aligned. The chrome around the doors and body is pitted and streaked. The Engine whines really loud. The driver's side window likes to do its own thing. The driver's side window will not roll down all the way. They left out the floor mats at the time of delivery. There are already 2 recalls that need to be done.(I was told they were done but they wern't).
I hope it gets better from here. I am thinking I should have bought a PT Cabrio instead. They seem to get rated really high in quality. Maybe next time.
I bought my beetle in May this year/I have no problems at all. The windows retract like they are supposed to, all the time. But the lever to pull up on the seats to make them move out of the way for access to the back seat, keep coming off in your hand. Otherwise the auto roof works great and I truly love the car and the way it handles!!
Yes, Yes, and Yes again! I bought my NBC in May 2004. I love the car!! NOOOOOOOO problems. Everything works, the car is fun to drive, shifts well! I have the manual transmission/mellow yellow/leather/CD model. I had the lever for the seat/to lift it for backseat access break twice. That needs some design help, but otherwise the car is wonderful. I am fast approaching 7000 miles and have done one long roadtrip to North Carolina and it ran like a champ. It handled well in Hurricane force winds in Hatteras during Huricane Alex. We hardly knew there was a storm, no leaks either. Buy the car and love it!!
I've been reading many of the folks messages here. Most have been negitive. It suprises me that those of us who are happy with the car haven't posted messages too. I've posted two good messages. The car is wonderful. The sound system is awsome. Even my 18 year old son (who has spent a small fortune on his system) conceeds that my system in the NBC is as good if not better than his. Ah....the beach boys have never sounded ao good! The top/windows everything works great. Soild car. I am a 45 year old women enjoying my second childhood with this car. The kids are grown and I am having fun!! It's just a fun car with great gas miliage! My 18 year old son asks to borrow it all the time! Even though he says the cars cool but corney! Go ahead and buy the car, you'll love it!! It would be nice if they could offer onstar in the NBC! I don't burn any oil! VW please however fix the release to lift the seats to gain access to the back seats. Otherwise everything is great, I wouldn't change much. The sound system rocks as my kids say!!
I had failed to say that the seat release handle broke at the dealership. We were told to get that fixed at the same time as everything else.
It isn't all bad. My wife grins ear to ear everytime she drives it. It is a solid little car and is truely fun. Her favorite thing is the blue lights in the dash. We have the Platinum GLS 2.0L manual tranny. We chose the 2.0L because of the reported sludge problems with the 1.8L Turbo.
It's just frustrating because everything that is wrong with it should have been addressed when the dealership performed thier PDI (pre-delivery inspection).
Strange but the driver's window rolls up, then back down when we use the global up button. Anybody else have that?
I just bought my 2005 NBC, Harvest Moon, Black Top, Cream Leather Interior, 17-inch sport wheels, Turbo, Manual Transmission, In-Dash CD with FM/AM/XM radio . It took me all year to track one down with everything that I wanted. I settled for 2005 because it just came off the boat at Wilmington, De. Not too many Harvest Moons for some reason. I still have less than 700 miles and love it. The only problem is that the passenger’s side door light stays on all the time. The dealer promised to fix this when I go pick up my permanent tags. No other problems other than not enough sunny days. I hope this car is as fun as my 1979 VW Beetle Convertible that I still drive for all my local commuting needs.
I have been lurking on this forum for a long time. One has to gleen the useful information because sometimes the forums only reflect the negative. Volkswagen has sold thousands of the new beetles and I am sure some of them have problems. I am hoping many more will never have problems, mine included. Time will tell.
You want to know what Beetle owners think?, just walk up to them and ask. Beetle owners tend to be easily approachable. In fact, I believe I met DOTSBUG and her Mellow Yellow NBC in front of the Christmas Store in Manteo, NC, the first week in August.
Now we can add the covertible top to the already long list.
The actuator on the passenger side will not work causing the top to bind itself. As a result, my wife had to drive 5 miles in the pouring rain with the top down to put it in the garage and to have me figure it out.
This morning I took it to the local VW dealership and the service consultant informed me that during the last year, 1 out of 5 NBC's have all of the problems I've had. He also said that this isn't the end of it and to expect a lot more.
What's even funnier (at this point I just have to laugh) is that the clutch went out on the loaner car (2004 Jetta 1.8 T) that they have as soon as I pulled out of the dealerships service department.
No wonder that VW is almost last in JD Power Quality.
Does anyone know if the seatbelt sound chimes are able to be disabled? The beeping drives me nuts. I wear my seatbelt but it chimes to death before it gives me a chance to put it on or immediately after i take it off...please help.
After 3 weeks in the shop, we get it home and now the driver's side window sticks up an inch higher than the passenger side does, when all the way down.
when I picked up the car, the service manager told me "be thankful you didn't get the turbo."
After having it back for one week, the convertible top will not close, the mechanism inside it warped the top structure 3 inches to the right and the driver's side window is still inoperable. Along with that, the gas gauge is still reading 1/4 tank less than what is in the tank.
This is the worst quality piece of crap that I have ever come into contact with.
As a result, I am pursuing the lemon law buy back program.
ANYBODY WHO READS THIS, STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAR, IT IS NOTHING BUT A PIECE OF CRAP!!!! JUST READ ALL OF THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS HERE AND YOU WILL SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE!
I have read several complaints about 1.8 l turbo engine clutches going out at 10k or 20k miles. How many miles did this loaner 2004 Jetta have on it? The most absurd thing is that in some cases, VW will not cover the clutch replacement under warranty, as it is considered a normal wear item, and to make this insult even worse, they charge about $ 2000 to install a new clutch. How can a clutch in a Jetta or New Beetle cost this much to replace? I have a 99 Mazda 626 V6 5 speed manual with a 170 Hp engine (comparable to 1.8 liter turbo engine output and hence clutch size), and the original clutch is still good at 100K miles. It would cost about $ 600 to replace it by a Mazda dealer (parts and labor).
I would ask VW the following question: would you consider it normal if commonly used S,T, or H rated passenger car tires wore out completely at 3000 miles if a vehicle is driven normally, tires kept properly inflated, and alignment in spec? Who in the world would buy such tires? I drive manual transmission cars and I have not worn out any clutch in any of them yet, and I went up to 130K miles in one of them, and the clutch worked perfectly. To wear out a good clutch in 10k miles, one would have to drag race the vehicle all the time or ride the clutch constantly.
I wouldn't say the 1.8 engine has a major clutch failure problem. There may have been a run of bad clutches but my mom and brother both own 01 Audi A4 1.8t and neither of them have had clutch problems. My mom's is front drive and bone stock and she has over 50k. My brother has quattro and a chip making 30 more hp (both would put much more strain on the clutch) and he has around 30k.
I will say that its a shame VW/Audi can't get their quality up. VW used to make good products as seen by my extremely reliable 20 yr old 84 VW GTI. I used to want a new GTI because this one has been so good, but all the owner reprots has scared me away from taking the chance.
nbc, gls, 2003, >16,000 miles. have had 2 trips to the shop for the airbag sensor. different problems each time. they finally got the parts for the recall and did that. the service people are nice enough, but it takes forever to get the work done. they have had to keep the car for over a week twice, just waiting for parts that they promised were coming "any day now". still like the car, but probably wouldn't buy another vw if it weren't for the ragtop.
The airbag light has come on again (third time). remarkably the armrest lock (under which the CD player is stored) is jammed and can't be unlocked. it took them 6 weeks to get the parts... the folks are nice and all, but this seems a little over the top. the car makes me smile when i have it, but it spends too much time in the shop. a lawyer friend of mine is looking into the "lemon law" thing. anyone out there have any experience with the lemon law?
i used to have a miata, which was flawless. but i needed a convertible with a backseat (my dawg insisted). after reading on many cyber auto venues all the negative crap all the vw owners went through i was really hesitant to buy a vw. who the hell wants a german car made in mexico? well, the chrysler was dorky, the solara was auto only, and the bmw/audi/saab were too expensive. so i swallowed hard and bought the vw. obviously these vehicles are hit and miss. a crapshoot. luckily mine has been a winner all the way. what a big relief and pleasant surprise. we keep waiting for something to break! yeah, the front driver's window's no pinch mechanism is a little too touchy. and the interior + exterior styling is a little too cutesy. but you are talking about a 150 hp, std. trans, 4-seat convertible, with heated seats, a push button top, auto rollover protection, a full complement of air bags and the monsoon stereo that will rock your world. all for $23k. what a bargain. bmw/audi/saab have the same electrical issues, similar interior appointments, similar power, yet cost $40k. we now have 10,000 problem-free miles on said bargain convertible. it's certainly not a miata handling wise, but it's sporty enough. and it's warm and solid as a rock. btw, here in georgia 3 out of 4 days are top down days. we're talking mid january here, and it's 65 degree top down weather. if you don't believe me, ask our lab. he's generally sitting up in the back seat 'smiling'. as for the girlie nature of the car, i'm a mud-in-your-mouth talkin', grits eatin', skoal dippin', rebel yellin' he-man in a college town overdosed on testosterone, and i'm smiling by the mile with no shame.
Reading some of this very disconcerting. I just bought a 2005 NBC about 3 months ago, and with 3200 miles on it, (including a trip from north GA to FL), I have had no problems thus far.
I wanted a PT Cruiser, or a Camry Solara but bossywife said no - she wanted one of those cute beetle convertibles. So without doing any research I bought one; if I have problems, do I get to blame them on her? I don't think so!
My NBC is the GLS 2.0 Auto w/ leather, XM, and the wind blocker, (which I will probably never use). My wife insisted on black with the black interior which is fine except that in some recent pictures it is difficult to see our black lab in the back seat. Pearl, that's the dog, seems to enjoy the car but gets terrified if I put the top down while she is in the back seat.
The gas mileage so far is less than what I expected - over the 3000 plus miles, it has averaged 28.5 mpg. I have tried both regular and premium with no appreciable difference. Almost all of my driving is at Hwy speeds of about 70/75 mph which I would like to point out is very slow in the State of Georgia.
For all of you who have had problems, I wish you better luck as time goes on. As for myself, since I live about 80 miles from the nearest VW dealer, if I start having monumental problems, I guess I will test the GA state Lemon Law.
We have been looking at the new convertibles. Can't afford the BMW/Audi/MB models, didn't really like anything from Ford/GM, etc. COuldn't fit in the Miata, or the S2000. Liked the Bug, drove well, not fast, but OK. Having a back seat is nice, and being able to "fit" in the car without "unscrewing" myself out of the driver's seat. I literally had to twist myself and crawl out of the S2000! I am not that big of a guy.
It scares me that there are so many problems that are going on with VW. We are turning in a 02 Passat GLX from a lease. They are offering a good interest rate and a$500 "loyalty" incentive. I guess I liked the fact that I could sit and not have my head bounce off the roof, that there is room to sit and not feel claustrophobic in a convertible. There really aren't many choices for convertibles in the affordable range. Might just get frustrated enough to skip it and buy an Accord. Any suggestions? I really would like a soft top car, but in light of all the negative comments, I'm not feeling very lucky. Thanks
If you want a convertible and are a bit scared of the VW Beetle, I would check out the Chrysler Sebring, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Toyota Solara, or Mitsubishi Eclipse. The Eclipse still requires some ducking to get in due to the rakish windshield, but otherwise, it has a good bit of room and a back seat for groceries and the occasional small passenger. Reliability is very good and the warranty is excellent. The Toyota Solara is very roomy and has typical Toyota quality, although its in the high 20k range. The Chrysler Sebring has the potential for more problems compared to the other two, but its still a relatively good car and has plenty of room. The PT Cruiser is more unique looking and has lots of room and a decent price.
Another possibility would be the new Ford Mustang. It's supposed to come out soon and is very nice looking. But don't expect any good deals since it will be a hot seller.
I am the guy in message 137. I have almost always had a convertible, from a 69 DeVille to a 1999 Miata, and a bunch in between. And for those times that I did not have one, all I could think about was getting the next one. The Accord is a great car but the top does not go down!
Like you, I worry about the potential for problems with the VW, but it was about the only car that I and my very opinionated wife could agree on. So I took the plunge and got the NBC with the 2.0 engine and automatic, (my wife is stick shift challenged). Now with over 4000 miles on it and no problems thus far, it is growing on me. Last evening for the first time I drove it in Atlanta rush hour traffic and it was fine - kept up with everyone else; and got grins from lots of other drivers who apparently think it is as cute as my wife thinks it is, or maybe they were amused at the sight of a 250 lb man driving such a sissy car - takes a REAL MAN to drive a car this girlie.
Anyway, like I say, it is growing on me and I am cautiously recommending it to people who ask - and a lot of people do ask. Maybe the folks at VW have worked out the problems - I certainly hope so. But for now, life with the NBC is good, and I can't wait for spring and quick 3 day trips to Amelia Island.
I hope this helps a bit, and good luck to you. Let us know what you do.
Thanks for your comments. I drove both the auto and the manual. Liked the stick, it was a bit quicker. I looked at a bunch of VERY negative websites about VW's. ALot of very dissapointed customers out there. Just waiting for my other half to drive one. SHe is also manually challenged. But I think she can do it. But I will be the one driving it the most. We have to do something soon, the lease is up in March.
I don't know about the state you live in. However, I know in most states if they keep your car for a month it is considered lemon law. I don't know what laws are in place, but you also have arbitration to utilize. I have done arbitration and it is painless and my truck was bought back by the company and ALL my money invested was refunded.
I love my car. However, all cars have problems. I have had minor stuff like the paint rubbing off on that trunk which will be resolved momentarily. I have had Chrysler products for the past 10 years. I have had less problems with my VW in the past six months than my whole time owning Chrysler products. The main problems for mine was the dealership I purchased the car from. It is one big cattle farm and they absolutely do not care about your car. I have switched dealerships and the new one is faboulous to me and my car. However, I am working on getting the issues the old dealership bestowed upon me fixed. Therefore, any vehicle you buy can always have problems. No vehicle is guaranteed to be problem free, but NEVER buy a vehicle that was built over the Christmas holidays!
Hi! I have a 2003 NBC. I bought it march 2003, obviously it was brand new. It has been amazing!!! The only problem I have ever had with it was the driver and passenger side windows won't come down like they are supposed to when it is snowing and cold outside. I got into an accident 2 days ago. I am fine but my car is not. All of the safety features worked as they should. I hit a guard rail and the passenger air-bag deployed. I must have tilted to at least a 30 degree angle because the roll bar popped up! I noticed a different feel with the steering just before the accident. I was wondering if anyone knew about any steering defects with the NBC. Also any other recalls/complaints that are known would be helpful!!! thanks so much! Shauna
I have a 2004 NB Convertible with gray leather sport seats. I am looking for replacement seats. I would prefer seats from a VW - gray leather, but not the sport seats.
I drove 18 different cars before deciding on my he VW convertible 1.8t. I was surprised at the agility, the acceleration if needed in a pinch, and the look of it. I have had it less than a year and it has already spent more time in the shop than all of my car put together that ive owned over the past 25years. Just tonight the airbag light came back on again. I have experienced the following problems over the past year:
Airbag light malfunction 2X
Top Misalignment 2X / wearing of top (going to upolster to see if it can be repaired if not new top will need to be ordered and Ive been advised a min of a 2months wait is usual and customary by the dealership
Top latch has been replaced
Moonsoon Stereo / Left front door rattles when music plays with too much bass
Right side door misaligned and has scraped the paint off of the inside of the door. Will need to be realigned and painted next week
Both windows "Lock Acutators" will need to be replaced next week. I have to roll the windows down to get out and use the key to roll them back up and lock the car.
Chrome around the top in the back had to be replaced as it was defective.
Although this was to be my dream car, and truly is exciting to drive, the time I spend with it at the dealership going back and forth, taking time off of work, waiting for VW of America to send a representative from SFO to NV, waiting for the VW dealership to send the report to VW of America, and aquiring permission to move forward with repairs, has become tiring. Owning this vehicle has created a feeling of insecurity in my life not having a vehicle I can rely on. At this time in the life having a reliable car is very imortant to me. I'm tiring of the high maintanace this car requires and unfortunately, and I may have to look for a new car, and it wont be a VW. Good luck to the NBC owners out there my experience has not been a positive one.
My wife and I were seriously considering buying a New Beetle Convertible as soon as the turbo became available 2 years ago. The dealer took our name and phone number and was to call us when he received one. Fortunately, he never called. After reading all the problems listed on this message board, we decided to wait and then to buy a 2005 Solara. We are VERY pleased with it--no problems and fun to drive.
Smart move buying the Solara. I have a 2001 Toyota Highlander that uses much the same drivetrain as that of your Solara and it has been rock solid for all 85,000 miles thus far. Everything about the Highlander has been great - it has never been in the shop except for two minor recalls. My total expenditures so far have been for one set of tires at approx. 58,000 miles, and oil changes which I do myself. At 90K miles I will get dealer service to change the timing belt and at that time it will also need some brake work - I expect the bill to be $600 to $800. but that is not bad considering that I will have spent next to nothing for the last 4 years.
The point of this is that I also have a 2005 New Beetle Convertible with about 5K miles on it, and I do not have a lot of confidence in it based on what other owners have written. Although it has not yet given me any trouble, it has already become a bit of a pain in the neck as I discovered when I when to change the oil today. After getting down under, I have decided that I will not be able to change the oil myself, and I had to go to several places to find the recommended 5W-40 weight oil. Once I found the oil, the oil change garage would not do the change because of the position of the skid plate which apparently is in the way! I guess that I drive to the nearest VW dealer which is about 130 round trip miles away.
I wanted the Solara Convertible but my wife said NO - she wanted the VW. Maybe she would like to try her hand at an oil change!
That rock shield that you call a skid plate is not hard to take off. There are only about 3 fasteners on each side that come off easily. Once they are loose the rock shield/splash guard/skid plate slides back and comes off. I can probably get it off in 3 minutes or less. You will however need a Torx bit set which you can purchase at any auto-parts store. The Torx set will cost you around $8-10. How much did you pay to have your oil changed ??
New Beetles may have problems, but getting the rock shield off is not one of the issues as to why you should buy a Solara.
Thanks for your note. I posed my problem to the members of the new beetle org site and got several responses. On the other site there was some disagreement as to whether the fasteners are torx (which I have), or "triple-square" (which I have never heard of). It may be that they were torx on older cars but are now triple-square; I'll try my torx and let you know. What year is your NB and is it a convertible?
Just off hand, do you know the size of the allen wrench that I will need? I have a bunch of those also, some of which are fairly large.
I have not had the oil changed yet but I did find some 5W-40 which the owner manual recommends. It is Shell brand "Rotella" and it is a blend of synthetic and fossil bases. The description indicates that it is acceptable for Diesel engines so it should be fine for the 2.0 gas engine, and it was about $14 for the 5 quart container.
I called it a skid plate but rock shield would be a better term as mine is already scratched up - I have a 1/4 mile driveway half of which is paved and half that is dirt and gravel and somewhat lumpy. My Beetle trips down the drive are at about 3 mph while dodging lumps and furrows.
One last question - how do you get your Beetle high enough up to work under it. I have a couple of stacked 2x8 boards that I fashioned into ramps but they don't give me the clearance that I need for the VW.
Comments
Nothing like a new interior or engine. no...
Instead, the 6 speed auto is now the only auto available (even on the coupe).
The dark blue and red are replaced by , another dark blue and red. (already available on other VWs)
The (cool) flaps on the NBC (GLS) are "no more" . I guess replaced by a hole, like in the GL.
Satellite radio is a new option , comes with 3 months of service.
To me, it's not worth waiting September for the 2005s.
(1) Does anyone know why the 2.0L engines tend to consume so much oil? I don't mean the technical reason so much as the rationale. Does VW engineer it in for better mileage or long life for the engine?
(2) Does anyone know what weight of oil comes in the car from the factory? That way as I break in the car (640 miles so far) if I need to add oil it's the same type. (tried calling dealership and sat on hold until I gave up)
(3) I can accept 'high' oil consumption...for me it's not a big deal to check the oil and such. But does the use of oil signify anything...such as the engine will not last as long? If it makes no difference (supposing I do encounter 'high' oil consuption) then I would just keep putting oil in and not insist on a new (or remanufactured) engine since I figure the less any dealership's service department touches a car, the better off the car is.
(4) Do you think it's worth putting synthetic in it and if so when (after full breakin)? We plan on keeping the car for over 10 years (a summer car for use in Minnesota). So I don't mind the additional expense...just wondering if it makes sense.
Thanks in advance for any input/advice/info you can give!
Paul
As far as the type of oil, read your owners manual and follow their advise.
- Info?
- VW statements?
- Rumors?
- Guesses?
I was wrong. We've had it for one week and I already have 8 things to address with the dealer.
The windows screach.
The top is mis-aligned.
The chrome around the doors and body is pitted and streaked.
The Engine whines really loud.
The driver's side window likes to do its own thing.
The driver's side window will not roll down all the way.
They left out the floor mats at the time of delivery.
There are already 2 recalls that need to be done.(I was told they were done but they wern't).
I hope it gets better from here. I am thinking I should have bought a PT Cabrio instead. They seem to get rated really high in quality. Maybe next time.
Anybody else having any of these problems?
It isn't all bad. My wife grins ear to ear everytime she drives it. It is a solid little car and is truely fun. Her favorite thing is the blue lights in the dash. We have the Platinum GLS 2.0L manual tranny. We chose the 2.0L because of the reported sludge problems with the 1.8L Turbo.
It's just frustrating because everything that is wrong with it should have been addressed when the dealership performed thier PDI (pre-delivery inspection).
Strange but the driver's window rolls up, then back down when we use the global up button. Anybody else have that?
I have been lurking on this forum for a long time. One has to gleen the useful information because sometimes the forums only reflect the negative. Volkswagen has sold thousands of the new beetles and I am sure some of them have problems. I am hoping many more will never have problems, mine included. Time will tell.
You want to know what Beetle owners think?, just walk up to them and ask. Beetle owners tend to be easily approachable. In fact, I believe I met DOTSBUG and her Mellow Yellow NBC in front of the Christmas Store in Manteo, NC, the first week in August.
Ugh...its raining today and I have the ghetto plastic in there for my wife as a rain block...being held in there with duck tape.
My list of warranty problems is now at 11 and I can't make it to the dealership for another 2 weeks. I've only had the car for 2 weeks now.
Should have bought a PT Cabrio.
The actuator on the passenger side will not work causing the top to bind itself. As a result, my wife had to drive 5 miles in the pouring rain with the top down to put it in the garage and to have me figure it out.
This morning I took it to the local VW dealership and the service consultant informed me that during the last year, 1 out of 5 NBC's have all of the problems I've had. He also said that this isn't the end of it and to expect a lot more.
What's even funnier (at this point I just have to laugh) is that the clutch went out on the loaner car (2004 Jetta 1.8 T) that they have as soon as I pulled out of the dealerships service department.
No wonder that VW is almost last in JD Power Quality.
I wear my seatbelt but it chimes to death before it gives me a chance to put it on or immediately after i take it off...please help.
when I picked up the car, the service manager told me "be thankful you didn't get the turbo."
Nice vote of confidence.
This is the worst quality piece of crap that I have ever come into contact with.
As a result, I am pursuing the lemon law buy back program.
ANYBODY WHO READS THIS, STAY AWAY FROM THIS CAR, IT IS NOTHING BUT A PIECE OF CRAP!!!! JUST READ ALL OF THE NEGATIVE COMMENTS HERE AND YOU WILL SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE!
I would ask VW the following question: would you consider it normal if commonly used S,T, or H rated passenger car tires wore out completely at 3000 miles if a vehicle is driven normally, tires kept properly inflated, and alignment in spec? Who in the world would buy such tires? I drive manual transmission cars and I have not worn out any clutch in any of them yet, and I went up to 130K miles in one of them, and the clutch worked perfectly. To wear out a good clutch in 10k miles, one would have to drag race the vehicle all the time or ride the clutch constantly.
I haven't made my first payment yet and the dealership has had it for 3 weeks.
I will say that its a shame VW/Audi can't get their quality up. VW used to make good products as seen by my extremely reliable 20 yr old 84 VW GTI. I used to want a new GTI because this one has been so good, but all the owner reprots has scared me away from taking the chance.
I wanted a PT Cruiser, or a Camry Solara but bossywife said no - she wanted one of those cute beetle convertibles. So without doing any research I bought one; if I have problems, do I get to blame them on her? I don't think so!
My NBC is the GLS 2.0 Auto w/ leather, XM, and the wind blocker, (which I will probably never use). My wife insisted on black with the black interior which is fine except that in some recent pictures it is difficult to see our black lab in the back seat. Pearl, that's the dog, seems to enjoy the car but gets terrified if I put the top down while she is in the back seat.
The gas mileage so far is less than what I expected - over the 3000 plus miles, it has averaged 28.5 mpg. I have tried both regular and premium with no appreciable difference. Almost all of my driving is at Hwy speeds of about 70/75 mph which I would like to point out is very slow in the State of Georgia.
For all of you who have had problems, I wish you better luck as time goes on. As for myself, since I live about 80 miles from the nearest VW dealer, if I start having monumental problems, I guess I will test the GA state Lemon Law.
It scares me that there are so many problems that are going on with VW. We are turning in a 02 Passat GLX from a lease. They are offering a good interest rate and a$500 "loyalty" incentive. I guess I liked the fact that I could sit and not have my head bounce off the roof, that there is room to sit and not feel claustrophobic in a convertible. There really aren't many choices for convertibles in the affordable range. Might just get frustrated enough to skip it and buy an Accord. Any suggestions? I really would like a soft top car, but in light of all the negative comments, I'm not feeling very lucky. Thanks
Another possibility would be the new Ford Mustang. It's supposed to come out soon and is very nice looking. But don't expect any good deals since it will be a hot seller.
Like you, I worry about the potential for problems with the VW, but it was about the only car that I and my very opinionated wife could agree on. So I took the plunge and got the NBC with the 2.0 engine and automatic, (my wife is stick shift challenged). Now with over 4000 miles on it and no problems thus far, it is growing on me. Last evening for the first time I drove it in Atlanta rush hour traffic and it was fine - kept up with everyone else; and got grins from lots of other drivers who apparently think it is as cute as my wife thinks it is, or maybe they were amused at the sight of a 250 lb man driving such a sissy car - takes a REAL MAN to drive a car this girlie.
Anyway, like I say, it is growing on me and I am cautiously recommending it to people who ask - and a lot of people do ask. Maybe the folks at VW have worked out the problems - I certainly hope so. But for now, life with the NBC is good, and I can't wait for spring and quick 3 day trips to Amelia Island.
I hope this helps a bit, and good luck to you. Let us know what you do.
Impe
I got into an accident 2 days ago. I am fine but my car is not. All of the safety features worked as they should. I hit a guard rail and the passenger air-bag deployed. I must have tilted to at least a 30 degree angle because the roll bar popped up! I noticed a different feel with the steering just before the accident. I was wondering if anyone knew about any steering defects with the NBC. Also any other recalls/complaints that are known would be helpful!!! thanks so much!
Shauna
There are no recalls on the 3003 New Beetle.
You can check for recalls at the National Highway Safety administration site www.nhtsa.gov
Used seats: Junk Yard/ Salvage yard or find someone that you can trade seats with on their used VW
How would you know?
I did some research. recalls are public information.
You too can research recalls on your car at www.nhtsa.gov
Airbag light malfunction 2X
Top Misalignment 2X / wearing of top (going to upolster to see if it can be repaired if not new top will need to be ordered and Ive been advised a min of a 2months wait is usual and customary by the dealership
Top latch has been replaced
Moonsoon Stereo / Left front door rattles when music plays with too much bass
Right side door misaligned and has scraped the paint off of the inside of the door. Will need to be realigned and painted next week
Both windows "Lock Acutators" will need to be replaced next week. I have to roll the windows down to get out and use the key to roll them back up and lock the car.
Chrome around the top in the back had to be replaced as it was defective.
Although this was to be my dream car, and truly is exciting to drive, the time I spend with it at the dealership going back and forth, taking time off of work, waiting for VW of America to send a representative from SFO to NV, waiting for the VW dealership to send the report to VW of America, and aquiring permission to move forward with repairs, has become tiring. Owning this vehicle has created a feeling of insecurity in my life not having a vehicle I can rely on. At this time in the life having a reliable car is very imortant to me. I'm tiring of the high maintanace this car requires and unfortunately, and I may have to look for a new car, and it wont be a VW. Good luck to the NBC owners out there my experience has not been a positive one.
A guy in N. NV
Cold New Hampshire driver
The point of this is that I also have a 2005 New Beetle Convertible with about 5K miles on it, and I do not have a lot of confidence in it based on what other owners have written. Although it has not yet given me any trouble, it has already become a bit of a pain in the neck as I discovered when I when to change the oil today. After getting down under, I have decided that I will not be able to change the oil myself, and I had to go to several places to find the recommended 5W-40 weight oil. Once I found the oil, the oil change garage would not do the change because of the position of the skid plate which apparently is in the way! I guess that I drive to the nearest VW dealer which is about 130 round trip miles away.
I wanted the Solara Convertible but my wife said NO - she wanted the VW. Maybe she would like to try her hand at an oil change!
OH WELL!
Have fun with your Solara.
That rock shield that you call a skid plate is not hard to take off. There are only about 3 fasteners on each side that come off easily. Once they are loose the rock shield/splash guard/skid plate slides back and comes off. I can probably get it off in 3 minutes or less. You will however need a Torx bit set which you can purchase at any auto-parts store. The Torx set will cost you around $8-10. How much did you pay to have your oil changed ??
New Beetles may have problems, but getting the rock shield off is not one of the issues as to why you should buy a Solara.
Just off hand, do you know the size of the allen wrench that I will need? I have a bunch of those also, some of which are fairly large.
I have not had the oil changed yet but I did find some 5W-40 which the owner manual recommends. It is Shell brand "Rotella" and it is a blend of synthetic and fossil bases. The description indicates that it is acceptable for Diesel engines so it should be fine for the 2.0 gas engine, and it was about $14 for the 5 quart container.
I called it a skid plate but rock shield would be a better term as mine is already scratched up - I have a 1/4 mile driveway half of which is paved and half that is dirt and gravel and somewhat lumpy. My Beetle trips down the drive are at about 3 mph while dodging lumps and furrows.
One last question - how do you get your Beetle high enough up to work under it. I have a couple of stacked 2x8 boards that I fashioned into ramps but they don't give me the clearance that I need for the VW.
Again, tanks for the info.
Impe