1998 Volkswagen Beetle LX from North America - Comments

I bought the 1998 Beetle used in 2002. Within two weeks the battery died and had to be replaced.

The key then had to be re-keyed to the satellite.

Then the engine light came on. The mechanic said that the brake light switch needed to be replaced.

The left fog light needed to be replaced.

Then the fan stopped working; the mechanic replaced melted fuses.

A headlight needed to be replaced; it took an hour's labor due to the fact that the headlight is part of the general electrical system.

The radio was playing, when it suddenly sucked in a cassette tape that was perched in the radio. The tape wound round inside and killed the radio. Radios weren't on hand, so the part took six weeks to order.

The battery suddenly went dead. The mechanic said that this had nothing to do with the radio draining juice, but that the battery was bad. The dealer replaced the battery for free, but I'll have to pay for the bizarre death of the radio.

The driver window switch, apparently plastic, suddenly broke with a loud bang while I was driving, practically giving me a heart attack. The window couldn't be raised; the part had to be replaced. The mechanic said I should replace the other window switch while I was at it. I heard that this is a common problem.

All this happened within six months of buying the car.

The car is cute and is fun to drive -- while it works.

I'll never buy another Volkswagon product.

These window parts and battery failures are part and parcel of the engineering and there should be a recall or a major discount on electrical repairs -- at all times, not just under warranty until the design problems are corrected.

I can't blame the dealer -- exactly. How can the Dealer be expected to absorb the costs of poor design. However, the Dealer needs to be up front with the car's problems. (Dream on.)

Hello everyone.

I brought my beetle in 2000. It would be a really fun car to drive if minor problems does not appear every 2 to 3 months. My car is 3 1/2 years old and without the first two year warranty the maintains fees are sky high. Here are my list of problems for the past years :

1) infected muffler ~~ replace

2) ticking noise coming through radio when using signals (gets louder as volume turned up) ~~replace roof mounted antenna

3) Right brake bulb replace X 2

4) Right head light replace X 3

5) replace front power outlet

6) left and right power window switch broken

7) replace fuel pump relay

8) sun roof clips broken

9) replace emission Evap purge valve

10) mirror button broken

after warranty

1) malfunction indicator light on ~ replace evap purge valve

2) left window slow to go down ~ replace window regulator

switch

3) replace rear brake pads and DISCS

** I paid 954.95 for that visit at VW dealer **

4) malfunction indicator light on ~ replace mass air flow sensor 520.00

** I paid another 520.00 at the VW dealer **

The malfunction light went ON too many times that it doesn't border me anymore.=)

Note: I lost a few repair invoice through out the years or else the list would have been longer.

1998 diesel vw beetle

40 mpg is the good part

head light replacement : $ 65 (part labor) every 8 months

gas cover : need to wiggle from time to time

front end section : chip and ding from freeway driving

do to the nose shape

glow plugs : $ 215+labor, compare to

regular plugs $1.99 each

air intake meter : $ 432

cont modul : $ 132

gas cooler : $ 968 part labor

reset engine light : $ 118

side marker light : broke do to the fact,you have to

pop to open, instead srew

all that within : 70,000 mile

timing belt is next : $ 565

i cannot wait to the day my wife said :let sell the beetle.

Hmmm I start staring to honda civic.

I drove jetta basic model seem to be okay,so far.

>>>>all info base to the fact and dealer repair invoice <<<<