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NEW BEETLE WOES
rmarchant
Member Posts: 5
If anyone has experience with this, please help!
2 weeks after purchase, rearview mirror adjustor fell off.
2 more weeks, gas cap cover line broke.
9 months; drivers side window fell into door. Part was on order for 4 months.
12 months; O2 sensor came on.
18 months; rear break light went
21 months; drivers side window would not open... different part this time, out of warranty.
21 months; transmission went, gaskets not sealed properly at the factory.
23 months; Car squeaking while driving (not breaking). Back break and rotors went at 34K miles. Told that the squeak was the warning for me. Told first that I drove with emergency break on. Told second that the calibration of the back breaks is difficult on beetles. Told last that it is normal wear.
23 months; front left light went. Gas cap cable went (2nd time).
23 months; car continues to squeak while driving (not breaking). Told that this is normal for the beetle and to be prepared to change the back breaks twice for every time I change the front breaks.
24 months; right front light went
I have called and written to the home office numerous times. They recite their warranty.
I am not convinced that the car is safe. I do not know if the transmission problem will trigger other problems. I do not know how to tell when the breaks are going (squeak?)
Does anyone have any advise or experience here?
2 weeks after purchase, rearview mirror adjustor fell off.
2 more weeks, gas cap cover line broke.
9 months; drivers side window fell into door. Part was on order for 4 months.
12 months; O2 sensor came on.
18 months; rear break light went
21 months; drivers side window would not open... different part this time, out of warranty.
21 months; transmission went, gaskets not sealed properly at the factory.
23 months; Car squeaking while driving (not breaking). Back break and rotors went at 34K miles. Told that the squeak was the warning for me. Told first that I drove with emergency break on. Told second that the calibration of the back breaks is difficult on beetles. Told last that it is normal wear.
23 months; front left light went. Gas cap cable went (2nd time).
23 months; car continues to squeak while driving (not breaking). Told that this is normal for the beetle and to be prepared to change the back breaks twice for every time I change the front breaks.
24 months; right front light went
I have called and written to the home office numerous times. They recite their warranty.
I am not convinced that the car is safe. I do not know if the transmission problem will trigger other problems. I do not know how to tell when the breaks are going (squeak?)
Does anyone have any advise or experience here?
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This discussion has been closed.
Comments
As for the stuff falling off, that is sort of inexcusable, but if VW orders the parts and fixes the problem, that's all they are required to do.
I think you should try not to get too negative about this....there are perhaps 15,000 parts on your car, and some of them have been defective; most, however, have worked very well...a few cables, gaskets, glue here and there and brake pads...well, they let you down and caused problems, but basically the car is probably still good and will give you good service.
If you start thinking LEMON, you're just going to make everything worse and spoil your enjoyment of the car. Maybe the car will settle down...they often do.
So demand what's coming to you, by all means, but try to be realisitic about what VWs obligations are.
on" etc. I appreciate the third party advise.
With all due respect to Mr Shiftright, my experience with cars is that they do not "settle down", but instead, minor problems get worse, and soon something major will go wrong. And if you expect something to go wrong, your enjoyment of this car will probably go down.
If you like the Beetle for its features, sell your and get another one. Every manufacturer makes an occasional lemon, and it's possible your current Beetle is one.
We put $3,000+ into our Dodge Neon last year only to have the same problems recur this year. We are selling it before the next thing goes wrong.
My wife & I are seriously considering a New Beetle, so keep us updated on yours.
Okay, let's agree to disagree....my reasoning is that a) a car has defects and b) you fix those defects and c) your car is fine. Cars aren't "cursed", they can be repaired.....oh, sure, some fixes take time and patience, but if they are done right, then the car has a perfectly good chance of giving years of faithful service.
It would be virtually statistically impossible to build a "lemon"...you'd have to make or install 15,000 parts incorrectly! Even Yugo couldn't do that (they tried, but....)
I do think about selling but I can not sell to an individual with all these problems. I would like the opportunity to give this car another try and trade it... but how much more will I loose with that option?
I am sincerely curious; does anyone think they should get what they pay for any more?
I had 2 VW Rabbits in the 70s and early 80s. Some of your problems are the same as mine, like squeaky brakes. Plus I had to have the clutch replaced on the first one at 13K miles.
I'd recommend buying just about any Toyota, Honda, Nissan, or Subaru if you want to get your money's worth and not have to worry about things continually breaking.
A quick trip to the local VW dealer confirmed that the entire airbag module, and relay were defective, and the remedy was 380 hard earned dollars. I am well past the 24 mo, 24,000 mile warranty period.
The dealer was very nonchalant in his manner. This irritated me, and I decided not to repair it after all, and I decided instead to contact VW of America. Great choice!
After talking to customer service, they responded favorably, and even with 50,000 miles on the car, they picked up the entire repair cost, AND refunded my 40 dollar diagnostic fee.
I have heard of some horror stories about VW, and I was really afraid of what kind of flack I would receive, but I was PLEASANTLY suprised to know that they stepped up to the plate and did the right thing. I expected to go half and half, or something like that, but they paid it all.
I hope that it is fixed right the first time.
I have read numerous stories about problems in the early model beetles 1998/1999. Does anybody own a 2001? Any problems so far? I am hoping that the major electrical problems on the 98's have been corrected.
I'm looking to purchase a 2001 NB in September.
-susan
A word of warning. You might want to look into the reliability as rated by consumers. My new beetle turbo is in the shop for the 4th time in 7 months due to engine problems. Each time I bring it in I rack up costs in rental cars and also the inconvenience of having to bring it in. If I had to do it all over again, I can't say that I would buy another beetle. I have a turbo so maybe that has something to do with the unreliabile nature. I love the car (the way it drives and the comfort), but it is not reliable. I am considering pursuing the lemon law in my state.