1999 VW Beetle
katyandrew
Member Posts: 1
I purchased my '99 Beetle at the end of December
and have put only 2,000 miles on the GLS Bug.A
problem developed in the ignition on June 13.I took
the car to my dealer and they diognosed the
problem as a bad ignition switch.They ordered the
replacement part on June 14.They called on June 15
and said the part was in at the dealer.I took the
car back and later that day they called and told me
VW sent the wrong ignition switch.They re-ordered
the part June 15.Today is June 23 and they have not
gotten the correct part from VW.I was told it
would take 10-21 days to get the part from VW.Has
anyone else had this problem with VW?
I have called VW customer service and have
E-mailed VW but I have still not gotten the correct
part.
and have put only 2,000 miles on the GLS Bug.A
problem developed in the ignition on June 13.I took
the car to my dealer and they diognosed the
problem as a bad ignition switch.They ordered the
replacement part on June 14.They called on June 15
and said the part was in at the dealer.I took the
car back and later that day they called and told me
VW sent the wrong ignition switch.They re-ordered
the part June 15.Today is June 23 and they have not
gotten the correct part from VW.I was told it
would take 10-21 days to get the part from VW.Has
anyone else had this problem with VW?
I have called VW customer service and have
E-mailed VW but I have still not gotten the correct
part.
0
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Has anyone else heard of a cracked rim? Does anyone have any advice for me. After all, the car is still covered under warranty, and I feel that the rim was a defect.
Even if you drive so aggressively that your tire life is poor, the dealer is wrong to blame your "driving habits."
I believe you will be on firm ground to hold the manufacturer responsible for the replacement if there is no physical evidence of wheel denting, abrasion, or other external evidence of mechanical abuse which could have initiated the cracking. These points apply to both aluminum and steel wheels. If your tires are seen to be free of scuffing, point this out as it can only strengthen your argument.
The cracked wheel is likely to be a safety hazard so please don't let the administrative problems delay you in getting it replaced.
Assuming you do not have evidence of damage from your driving, I suggest you calmly explain the situation in the above terms to the VW zone office, requesting they provide they replacement. Don't say anything too harsh to the local dealer because the zone office will surely require you to get the replacement through that dealer. Good luck; let us know how it goes.
For that matter, my boyfriend who is 6'2" wonders about the leg room up front. Any comments? I'd love to here them. Including performance comments on the GLS. Thanks!
6 months and love it! As far as room goes...in
the back, I'm 5'4" and have ridden in the back for
about 2 1/2 hours. I do have to agree that there
is not a lot of head room in the back, but if it
were a shorter person or a child...no problem. As
for front seat room...my husband is 6'4" and has no complaints about feeling "cramped". Hope this helps.
tntjackson
I have a yellow gas turbo on order, auto, cd changer, luxury package ... $22,500. MSRP for the most part, the dealer has a $495 dealer prep (I'm not sure what I'm getting there) but they are installing the cd changer. I'm purchasing from Miller VW in Winchester VA. Good luck!
Thanks,
Gus
Conference Host
www.vwvortex.com
You will find test reports and lively discussion forums about all VW and some Audi models. Lots of good information to be had there (although the forums are down right now, they are having server troubles).
Dave
Invoice+destination: $19,900
Priceline.com est. of realistic price: $20,800
Saleman's "best offer" $21,375
MSRP+destination: $21,600
So, should I hold out for $20,800 or less or go with $21,375?
carlady/roving host
Thanks,
-Dave
1. Ride a snail darter to work
2. Walk to work
3. Buy an electric car but make sure that the commute is not over 100 miles round trip. Most LA commuters drive at least 100 miles per day. This will take a LONG extension cord !!!!
This is a MAINTENANCE topic...not a FINANCE/ACCESSORIES topic...
Sorry if I seem harsh but dog-gone-it everybody's just ignoring that fact!
As for safety, it is the safest small car you can buy. Check out http://www.highwaysafety.org/vehicle_ratings/ce/small_cars/crashsmall.htm. I'd hate to have a wreck in a Kia Sephia.
Thx
rv4daj@yahoo.com
Toyota's. Any feedback on this? Thanks.
First of all, it seems some people hate the car, I found human saliva on my car twice after returning from class. Scrathed, keyed, spit at.
this car gets too much attention.
this car is full of bugs:
This car had a bad power door locks, bad engine valve intake, an annoying creek from the dashboard, a bad remote transmittier for the door locks, the entire electical system failed at 1500 miles, the technicians at almost every vw shop didn't know how to fix the car, the part for the electrical system took 2 months to get, the engine and suspension started feeling sluggish after 9000 miles. Almost like the old Chryslers.
and a lot of little things, 6 recalls, some dealers did'nt even know about the recalls.
I also had a 1989 golf, the most problems I ever had with a car seemed to be with Volkswagens.
Yeah, the cars ride well for a short time, and at a high cost. Get the extended warranty or be sorry. In 1998 vw club article, Piech, CEO admitted that VW had quality problems with parts.
disclosure, yeah, anybody doing something to fix it? same with Audi
I own a 1999 nissan maxima, it's great , no problems, full of power, and comfortable.
A lingering though it seems I still love the car so much that I've considered buying another beetle, but with a the thrill this car has to offer, it has more than its share of problems.
If I do buy another one, it'll be the turbo and this time I'll wait for may be the last year, then again, maybe not.
Can anyone clear up this confusion for me? I would like a black 1999 GLS New Beetle with gray leather interior. Also, a side note, the New Beetle was listed just above INVOICE!! Amazing. But I didn't want an automatic.
What gives? Thanks.
But on the whole, I haven't had any mechanical issues with the car yet-- we're nearing that 20,000 mile mark. I've occasionally smelled what I thought was burning oil, but I'm not sure if it's the cars NEAR me or my car. Anyone notice that the New Beetle seems to use more oil than other VW's? The dealership reassured me that nothing was wrong, but I'm still curious.
If anyone has any list of 'known problems' with the 1998 New Beetle that I should get checked with the dealership on the 20,000 maintenence, please let me know!
Thanks!
jb
After just winning a lemon action on my 1999 Caddy, I am afraid of the maintenance horror stories that I am reading here and on the NHTSA site...
So it comes down to this: did VW fix its maintenance nightmare for the New Beetle during 1998-1999 and is the 2000 set to go? Or will the maintenance horrors of those years continue?
Any info or opinion would be appreciated.
What are some of the maintenance horrors of the 1998& 1999 beetles? Any help out there?
I love this car and am pretty attached to it but I'm so disappointed with my experience so far. When it's good, it's great, but when it's bad, it's pretty much useless. Tomorrow I'm meeting with the dealer to talk about the status of my car and the possibility of trading it in for another Beetle. Any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks!
I don't think the car can be fixed. But for all you gear heads out there, this particular example happened to be a 1.8T auto. And it looked to be in good shape. Did I mention the leather interior and those nice alloys. I am sure somebody could take it off the dealers hands as a basket case.
On 9/26 I was involved in an accident that required the front end of my Beetle to be completely replaced. The repair shop indicated that it would take 15 business days to make the necessary repairs. VW was contacted and informed the repair shop that all needed parts would be available by 10/19/99. On 10/14 VW was contacted and informed us that the front bumper was en-route to the repair shop. On several different occasions over the next two weeks VW was contacted to determine the whereabouts of the bumper and each time we were given a different story. Finally after calling the VW Consumer Customer Service Hotline and getting the run-around for two more weeks, a call was made directly to the parts depot in CA and the needed part was taken directly from the cargo container on a ship.
42 DAYS WAS NEEDED TO MAKE THE REPAIRS TO MY BEETLE.
Upon contacting VW to ascertain if they would share the costs of a rental due to THEIR INABILITY TO OBTAIN PARTS FOR VW PRODUCTS, I was told they didn't see any obligation on their part to share this cost.
IF YOU ARE GOING TO BUY A VW PRODUCT... BE AWARE OF VW's STAND OF NOT HELPING THEIR CUSTOMERS WITH COSTS RELATIVE TO VW'S LACK OF ABILITY TO PROVIDE NEEDED REPAIR PARTS IN A TIMELY MANNER. BUYING THIS PRODUCT WILL DRAIN YOUR POCKET FOR YEARS TO COME!!
its: OLEPETE@AOL.COM and JHBE@PGE.COM
I'd appreciate any information you may have regarding problems with VW OF AMERICA.
I have had no problems with it what so ever. It runs perfectly. It maneuvers through traffic and on the hi-way like a pro. I am even able to smoke past some of the sporty models on the road.
I have been on 2 road trips with it, and my passengers were equally impressed and enjoyed the ride.
Given my experience, I would of course wholeheartedly recommend this car.
My problem is with the corporate entity of VW OF AMERICA. When you have to wait several weeks, renting a car to replace your Beetle because VW can't provide the parts needed to complete a repair on your car. A part that ANY OF THE OTHER CAR MANUFACTURES HAS IN STOCK and, you contact them to see if they will share in the cost of the rental and they flat out inform you that they won't help in any way even if it was their fault that the part wasn't available..., that's when I become disgruntled and decide not to support a company that won't stand behind their products or their inability to provide needed parts in a timely and reasonable manner.