1999 Volkswagen Beetle from North America - Comments

Be prepared for a long list.

Front headlights blew 4 times - yes 4 times each!!

Fuses in the car keep failing - I've had it fixed 3 times, and can't bother anymore.

The whole car wears very badly.

The window buttons keep falling off, had replaced once already, again can't bother anymore.

Air bag indicator light keeps flashing, had to get this fixed twice.

Get ready for this one... Passenger side window came crashing down.

Better yet, was driving today made the 100,000 Km mark on the car, cheered that the car made it, and then at 100,003 NO joke, the driver side window came crashing down.

Catalytic converter failed completely, I was told after they replaced it that it completely fell apart inside its casing. I was also told by many mechanics, that it shouldn't fail.

Car Battery died after 2 years. It's a new car, c'mon!

This has got to be the worst car I've ever purchased.

Service from Volkswagen is scary, they couldn't care.

Once had to print out from beetleforum. org how to fix something that was wrong and show service manager.

Calling headoffice, leads you to call centre, who do everything in their power to make sure you don't get anything accomplished.

Honestly I can say that this is probably the worst company I've ever come across in my life.

Worst Service, worst product.

You need John Muir's, "How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive" - a very, loving zen-style treatise written in the early 70s before flower-power had wilted.

I agree. Sad to say, I own a GLS myself. Prior to purchasing this vehicle, the New Beetle was my dream car. After over 9 visits, 8 rental cars, 3 different service centers, all for the same problem or similar, in less than 10 MONTHS of owning this car, it has been a nightmare. The dealership I purchased this car from so "generously" offered to buy it back... at a much lower price, of course. Leaving me $1000++ in debt and no car. I cannot it clear conscience sell this car to an actual person. VW never again. Carmax never again.

I bought my wife the car she wanted so bad and have regretted it ever since. A 1999 VW Beetle GLS.

The second day of owning this car the main crankshaft seal blew. VW fixed. Windows fell into door and would not work three times. VW fixed. AC cooling fan stopped working causing Compressor to fry six months later. VW would not fix. Battery died only 2 years old. Lost codes and went in limb home mode. VW not fix. AC fan switch not working. No fix. Electrical hazards stay on. NO fix. This is by far the worst excuse for a car that I have ever witnessed. I will never purchase a VW product again.

I have had most of the problems listed above with my 1999 Beetle, and more... or different (something to look forward too). Even though the dealership has been good about fixing things with no charge in the past, they are now suckering me into things that are adding up in cost. AND unfortunately, since no one I know can fix a Volkswagen, I don't even really know if I am being ripped off. After my temperature gage was blinking, I checked my radiator to find no coolant! Needing something to get it to the dealership, I poored some in, and when I got to the dealership they told me I used the wrong color coolent, and that the whole system needed to be flusched out. The Water pump was broken, COVERED... howver the system flush out wasn't. They told me to replace the water pump they had to remove the engine... and while the engine was removed, they really should replace my belts... its all adding up?? Has anyone found a solution through Volkswagen that is decent? Can anyone tell me if I'm getting ripped off?

I borrowed my dad's 1999 Beetle after I sold my 1997 Honda Civic EX while my new 2008 Honda Civic Ex is being made. Nothing but trouble there. The ABS light and the check engine light came on right away. The dealer said the ABS speed sensor is bad and the rear O2 sensor is bad. The window mechanism would not roll up or down. They supposedly fixed it under warranty in 2004, but it did it again and this time cost me, since the warranty only is covered for 7 years. The window got scratched by the gears and it wrecked the weather strip when it got stuck. The door lock switch also conveniently went bad when they opened up the door panel.

I also had a hard time changing the oil in this thing. There are 2 hard hoses (I think a/c) and a radiator hose right under the filter. It was nearly impossible to get it off. And when I did, it dripped oil all over those hoses making a mess when the new filter was installed. A major pain to deal with. Also, the seat is not very comfortable and is very hard on the back of my hamstrings.

I would not buy a Volkswagen Bug or a Volkswagen for that matter. I will continue to stick with Honda.