2001 Volkswagen Beetle GLS from North America - Comments

Bought car in August 2005.

Oil light and beeping started in Sept 2005.

2006 - Oil light still going off and car beeping. Temp light flashed blue when started.

2007 - Oil light still going off and beeping (yes I change my oil and use synthetic). Temp light changes from blue to red and beeps three times when started.

Summer 2007 - Recall on brake lights. Also had no blinkers. So I had no brake lights, no blinkers and was carrying precious cargo, my 5 year old son.

2008 - Oil light and beep, beep, beep at every single stop. Temp light still red. Repeated replacement of headlights and one tail light.

September 2008 - Car will not start after a couple of trips in a day.

Hatch will not pop. Have to pop it twice sometimes.

Car locks itself if you don't start it immediately. Paid locksmith two separate times since I left my only key in the car.

Looks like previous owner didn't take care of the keys. I only received one and it looked like it had been ran over. In 2007 the metal key broke off. Cost $300 to replace it and the maintenance manager at the dealership said that he'd only seen that happen one other time.

Plastic peeling from door handles.

In the summer of 2007 I took the car immediately to the dealership when I realized that I had no brake lights no tail lights and also no blinkers. The recall took care of the tail lights but my hazard sensor had gone out hence, no blinkers. Took $250 to fix. When asked why my oil light was going off every time I braked and RPM's went below 1000. They said it was some part that needed to be replaced, can't remember what it was called so that tells you how happy I was to hear the news that I'd have to pay $1200 to fix it. My husband asked if it was going to eventually kill the car, they said no. He asked if he could hook up mechanical gauges to monitor oil pressure and the Volks guy looked at him with the deer in the headlights look.

Found out not using synthetic oil on a turbo will muck up the oil screen and stopping causes the oil to be sucked up into the oil pan alarming the car to think it's low on oil. A huge thank you to the previous owners for not keeping up with the oil changes. But the BEEP-BEEP-BEEP every time I stop was at first annoying but after three years I got used to it.

Bought a gauge pod for a Volks Beetle and have put a oil pressure, water temp and boost gauge and have cut the throat of that beeping beep.

We just replaced the air flow meter. My husband is a mechanic so thankfully don't have to take a trip to a price gouging mechanic or dealership. Parts are still expensive though but I knew that when I bought the car.

I purchased the car, and have all of the same problems.

Remote key broke off the housing.

Trunk release has been adjusted twice, necessitating multiple opening attempts.

Plastic parts break off in your hand. This includes control for side mirrors, side panel to moon roof, splitting of liquid cup holders and decomposing of stick shift fabric cover. Seems that VW is using cheap plastic that won't last.

While I like the car, I would never recommend or buy another VW product. The car is manufactured to be disposable.

I two have the same problems with my 2001 beetle. I bought it last June and after the first week of having it everything seem to be breaking. I was told that from the years 2001 to 2004 that VW Beetles had very bad problems. Mind you this was after I bought the car! And I was also told that the new models are so much better. I love my car but it sure cost a lot to fix it..

I bought my 2001 turbo beetle new in Houston. It is a joy to get in and drive. It's comfortable and great gas saver. No real problems with the car except maintenance which involves a tune-up once every year or so and oil changes. I could drive from Texas to California and the only break I would need is a bathroom break. I can't say enough good things about my car. I would definitely buy another one if I knew it was going to be as good as the one I have.