Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-57
I have the special edition 2002 Turbo Beetle - color package, "snap orange". They only made 2000 worldwide. I wanted it for the color only. I didn't care about the turbo, monsoon sound system or leather, etc. I have owned it exactly one year and have 10,000 miles on it.
In that time, the passenger window has stuck or not closed all the way. I flipped the window switch so many times, it broke. Fixed by dealership, turns out it was a recall issue.
The armrest broke with quite a 'snap'. I was merely leaning on it to pull the door closed and the armrest snapped and went limp. Fixed by dealership, mechanism came apart inside.
The rear hatch lifts lost pressure somehow and the hatch came crashing down on my head while I was loading groceries. Fixed by dealership... they claim it was a change in altitude driving from California to Colorado.
The front turn signal lights and fog lights all have condensation in them. It doesn't seem to matter what time of year, day or season it is - or what the temperature or weather is. There is constant condensation in the lights. NOT fixed by dealership. They claim it's from using the high pressure wand to wash my car.
I had a flat tire and when I got a new one, the tire store said that my wheel was so far out of alignment that they couldn't align the wheel at all. Fixed by dealership, with no clear explanation and tried to accuse me of being in an unreported accident!
My monsoon sound-system shorts out and only plays out of two or three speakers at a time, it has eight! I also have the after market CD changer in the trunk which, at least once a week, will shut off and say "CD ERROR". NOT fixed by dealership, the problem will never reveal itself when it's checked (of course not).
The coating on the door handle seems to be wearing off, kind of flaking. I've haven't complained about it... YET!
The leather driver's seat looks too worn for a one year old car. I faithfully moisturize it with leather dressing, but the point of entry (where my body rubs on the side) seems to be worn and faded like an old bomber jacket.
The blue "cold engine" light came on while I was driving through the Mojave Desert in July. And only when I was on and incline or decline. It would go off on flat pavement. Fixed by dealership, faulty sensor of some kind.
The check engine light came on, another faulty sensor.
What led me to this website? I was searching for information on my current problem. Both the EPC (Electronic Power Control) and the ASR (Anti-Slip Regulator) lights came on tonight while I was on the freeway doing 80 mph. The car slowed down to 60 and never got above it again. Then when I parked it and restarted it, the EPC light went out and the oil pressure light came on blinking and beeping! It's going to the dealership tomorrow.
This is the second New Beetle I've owned. I sold my 2000 GLS to get this one. I really do love these cars, but I am just astonished by the problems.
I think they are solid and safe, fast and fun! I love the heated rally style seats and the lumbar adjustment. I love the car more than hate it and I am VERY tempted to buy the new convertible. But all these nit-picky problems are beyond bothersome!! I have yet to pay a dime to have anything repaired, but I am an hourly employee and have lost plenty of wages taking the car to the shop. I even used a vacation day to dedicate to car repair, that's ridiculous!
I have a 2000 1.8 Turbo Bug in reflex yellow, a limited edition color also. I have had NO problems with mine at all. And I think that some of the problems you are talking about are self inflicted. First off, you cannot add aftermarket things to any VW. They all have very sensitive systems, and anything "foreign" causes problems, so I would totally understand why the CD changer is malfunctioning. And about the headlights, a pressure wand will make condensation in the lamps (I used one once and I had to take my fixture out and air dry it for a few days, but it worked fine after that. The back of the headlamp fixture has a vent to let out hot air, and when you use a pressure washer to clean your car, moisture gets into that vent. But I just think you have mistreated your car, not to be mean, but I have had no issues, and I couldn't see why a car one year newer could have any more of less problems, the 2004 bug is a carryover from 1998, they have made no changes since day one...
Hello, I do not think this person is mistreating the bug....I know from personal experience... I've had a 2000 New Beetle 1.8 turbo GLX; this car had so many freaking problems it was comical! Transmission grinding issues (rebuilt, never got right), oil pump, speedo cluster, rear deck-lid lock/mechanism, emergency lever button, leaking power steering lines, etc, etc, etc, and tons of little things I won't go into; i got so aggravated that traded it in on a 2002 New Beetle Turbo S. Now, I am still having some issues with this new one: brakes seem weak (new to pump once for full brake pressure), sensors replaced, button broke on emergency lever (design needs to be changed), power steering pump/rack binds/groans/shutters (can't convince dealer to replace it since its not "broken"), window regulator problems (recall), coil pack failure (recall) etc, etc, Not as bad as the 2000 but still have some issues that have not been resolved. The cd player is a known problem, www.newbeetle.org is a good place to go for help and read other people's problems and issues. Bottom line: I have heard people with tons of problems and others with practically zero problems at all..... weird! I love vws but they have their problems... unfortunately my dealers service department is not very good; this also adds to problems when the service sucks..... which is a common problem... fun car, niggling problems but I love my bug!
To the person who owns the "snap orange" beetle. I own the same car. I have had the same problems. I almost fell out of my chair when I read what was wrong with your car. I live in North Carolina. Everything you have stated has happended to me. Right now I am at war with VW about the engine. It completely gave out on me. I have owned the car for 2 years. 6 months after I drove the car off the lot I had to bring it back because the fuel injector gave out. As for the lights. I had to have them replaced also because the had water damage. And the speakers in my car did not work either. I don't know you, but I would like to know what steps are you taking. This is my first car in my life. And it has been a 2 year nightmare. To give you an example: My car stopped running while I was driving it. The car was less than 1 year old.
So if anyone has any second thoughts about this person treating his car well on not. I am here to tell you that I live on the other side of the US and I am having the same problems. Not similar. But the same problems.
The word is out on these cars, yet people buy 'em anyway, then complain. Thirty years ago we had the same problems with my parent's brand new VW Rabbit. Electrical problems almost right away. My Dad had to wire in a starter button near the shifter, because the dealer couldn't fix the electrical/no start condition.
Fast forward 30 years, same problems! Recently a friend who works at the Post Office told me of a co-worker who used her 2 year old Jetta to deliver the mail, had the thing burst into flames while parked with the engine off (and loaded with mail!)
This is no secret; people who buy these things deserve the grief!
My old Lincoln Town Car just completed another coast to coast run, with 147,000 miles, with no problems; my '97 Nissan 4cyl truck which I bought new has required one $32 temperature sensor in 81,000 miles.
All this info is "on the net," on great websites like this. I just don't get it...
Well, I don't know how to start. My Friend have a 2001 GLS Bettle that she loves so much. To make the whole story short the whole electrical system in the dashboard of her Bettle got replace because of so many issue, meaning all indicators in the dashboard are not working. Her transmission got stuck four times that she have to call tow truck one day. Her gas tank flipper was fixed twice for not functioning. She needs to check her oil because a month after changing engine oil the oil it is almost gone. I'm sure she can add more to these comments.
2003 Convertible Beetle door checks and headlights?
In over thirty years of owning and driving cars I have never needed to replace a headlight or had a problem with door checks.
After the 5th headlight since May 2003, I have come to accept the headlight problem.
My lastest issue is with my driver door check. After I parked one day, my door seemed stuck. I pushed it open and heard a click, then the same click when I closed it. I opened and closed it a couple more times to look at the door and under it. I saw nothing amiss, but called my local dealer to have it checked. An appointment was made for nearly a week later.
I continued to drive my car and used the driver side door to enter and exit my car.
Yesterday my car was examined by the dealer (Holbert) body shop manager who determined that the broken door check was my fault. I must have done something to it.
Up to this point the dealer has been responsive to my needs, including multiple visits for malfunctioning power windows.
I intend to pursue this matter in more detail however I fully believe that a driver should have a reasonable expectation that the driver door can be used to enter and exit the vehicle -- even one with (now) functioning power windows and a convertible top.
It was suggested that other Beetle owners might have experienced a similar door check problem. Well?
I bought a 1999 GL Bettle,2.0 with 84k for our daughter for graduation. The 1st week that we owned it the alternator went out and the engine light came on. The 2nd. week the airbag light came on and both are still on because I havnt taken it to a dealer, because of message boards like these online talking about simular problems not being fixed by dealers after forking out a lot of money. Then in July the clutch just broke all to pieces and had to replace it. Then last week the red hot temp. light started flashing on my daughter coming from work. So I hot wired the electric cooling fan, that didn't fix it. I ordered a thermostate for it because nobody stocks VW parts and that didn't fix it. I ran into a mechanic that I usually does A/C work for me. We started talking and he told me that they had just put a new engine in another bettle that the engine had gotten hot and blew up. He said that when they took the old engine apart, that the water pumps, plastic circulator wheel on the back of the water pump was broken. So he said try that and let me know, I ordered a water pump from a local parts store and it took 3 days to get it. They took it it apart and sure enough it was broken in half and we also know another person who couldnt fix his heating problem, so he traded it off, maybe the same problem?All had 80 some thousand miles on them, one of the mechanics said that he had heard that it might be a recall on it? Please comment if you have had the same problem or problems.
I currently own a 2002 beetle. Its blue. I have had most of these problems. But a new argument has come up with VW. My motor since new has consumed oil. A lot of oil. The VW folks say its normal. I explained to them, "We’ve been making cars for a while now." I think engine oil consumption is something we’ve worked out. Not the Volkswagen support staff, there sure we need to learn this all over again, Like in the 50's, but more expensive. List of other broken items include. (Center armrest, CD player, front dash plastic pieces, glove box, center armrest again, rear hatch not latching, rear hatch not unlatching, rear hatch not latching again, window control buttons front struts-a lot of front struts.) Problems with my 1998 dodge truck. The window washer holding tank sprung a leak. Dodges trucks are known to break down, I accepted this, as it is a workhorse. My bug is not a workhorse. It narrowly fits into the window of automobile. No V.W.'s for us again.
This is directed at the first comment. the statement "you cannot add aftermarket things to any VW. They all have very sensitive systems, and anything "foreign" causes problems". is completely false and this person has obviously no idea what he/she is talking about, and I hope anyone who reads the first comment completely ignores it.
To the person with the October 26, 2005 comment:
I totally agree. When I read that I thought "It's a car, not an eco-system" Sounds like that person is in love with their VW and trying to rationalize why others are having problems.
WOW! I have the same exact car and have had the same exact problems!! Must be the color throwing everything off. My warranty is up this month, and I am considering selling it. I'm glad to know that I am not the only one out of the 2000 snap orange Beetle owners who have been plagued by constant dealership visits.
My CD changer is plain sketchy. Same problems listed above. Sometimes it skips sometimes I get CD error.
My side air bag has gone out twice, this last time I don't want to pay the $350 to fix it so I drive around with the air-bag light on.
My driver side seat seat a rip in the seat and to have it fix by the dealer would cost $1,200 since I would need a whole new chair and airbag. I am going to get just the seat reupholstered for $175.
My side mirror adjustment switch broke two days ago and God knows the price to fix it will be highly inflated.
My window electric motor broke recently which cost a fortune to fix.
They tell me my ABS; (anti locking break computer), is spitting out weird numbers and they want me to replace it and it has an outrageous price to do so. I am driving with old fashion breaks right now and the car stops just fine.
My horn got a short in it so it honks like a deep nasal motorcycle horn. $350 to replace it.
Now, with all of this nonsense going on I still like my beetle because it's safe, gets great mileage, has immense head room that is even more spacious than a Hummer, it's easy to drive and it has a nice design.
Will I get another one. I don't know probably not, but I may. The engine runs good, but the gadgets and the peripherals are so circa 1970's American car.
Hi everyone, I would just like to say that I feel your pain. I have had my 2004 VW Jetta For one year now. I am awaiting delivery on my fourth CD player, under my warranty. Each preceding one had a different problem. I have seen the apparently familiar "CD Error", and other problems. I hope the fourth one works, I am fed up. I have had at least three other issues with that car in a one year period, including chipping paint, a "kill switch" that no one ever told me about, causing me to be stranded at a gas station. Anyone else with these CD player or other VW problems, please don't be shy. We have to continue to get the word out to make sure VW does what is necessary to correct these ridiculous problems.
You can treat a VW Beetle like gold and it will still act up. If you look at consumer buying guides this car has all X's across the reliability section (X's are bad) and no checks (checks are good), so it's definitely not in anyone's mind. The $1,700 VW after-market warranty is just about as good as a piece of toilet paper because nothing is ever covered. It has gotten to the point that i'd wait until about 5 things were broken (about 6 months) and then take it in because I was missing too much work bringing it in every time something broke. My 2001 Turbo Sport has been recalled 4 times!.. on top of that there are endless electrical problems, center console broke, moon-roof plastic broke off, plastic chips off and looks horrible, it stalls when it's cold, etc etc etc etc etc... It's a REALLY cute, quick, sporty, fun car that is 100% unreliable.
I own a '98 Automatic VW Beetle with only 55,000 miles on it. Mine isn't orange... it's silver (apparently colors are NOT an issue). Everything seemed all right until a couple days ago. The gear shift was locked in Park and refused to move past it. Stranded in the grocery store parking lot, I called my friend who is a mechanic. After messing around with it, he determined the vehicle was no longer recognizing the break being pressed while in Park (hence the reason why the gear was locked and wouldn't shift into Reverse).
I've been fighting with the dealership for two days now about it. Trying to get VW to fix their defective cars is like trying to talk a militant vegan into eating a raw steak! Unbelievable!
Lucky for me, my friend and I found a way to fool my Beetle into shifting out of Park. Totally ridiculous that one has to 'trick' their car into working! For those that experience this problem, until you are able to get it fixed, you can 'trick' your Beetle into unlocking from Park by stomping on the break a few times then press the shift button in without moving the stick. You should feel the click in the console and then be able to release it into Reverse.
Some of the other problems I've had: power lock only works on the passenger door, seats are massive junk, the force of The Hulk is needed to close the hood, the air conditioning part of the console only lights up when smacked very hard, etc., etc.
It's really a shame these cars have so many problems because they're so cute and fun. Grrr VW!!!