20th Apr 2010, 22:04
I have owned seven VW Bugs in my life. 57, 59, 64, 74, 74, 66, 01. I have had to work on ALL of them.
Our present bug 2001 has had plenty of problems. We tow our 01 behind our motorhome. It has 175K miles under its own power and 50K being towed.
We just recently put shocks on it, we got two $800 estimates for shocks and that is crazy. Finally found some on sale for $525 installed. A dealer wants $300 per axle for brakes, that's crazy.
Our horn went out and they wanted $191 to replace it, no, not the air bag end, the actual horn. I bought two 1967 horns from JC Whitney for $7.50 a piece and it sounds like a Beetle now!
What gets me is the oil consumption that people talk about on here. I think I have added 1/2 quart of oil in the last 90k miles between oil changes. We DO NOT go the 10,000 as the manual says, we change oil every 5000 miles. I hate that they are going to kill the Beetle, but I think VW has forgot the Beetle is the poor folks car! The company does need to listen to their customers more. We live in Chattanooga where the new VW plant is being built, and the whole town is very excited about it. Beetles forever I say!
13th Oct 2010, 15:44
2003 New Beetle TDI with 280,000 miles.
Headlights have failed repeatedly, plastic around seat belts gone, lost the alternator at 197,000 miles, lost a power steering metal pipe at 230,000 miles, replaced front disk brake pads at 250,000 miles, no oil leaks or high usage (I have never added oil), no water leaks, visits the shop every 10,000 miles, still puts 41 mpg out at 80 mph.
Liked it so well that we bought the new Jetta TDI, and like it also.
I will be sorry to when VW stops production of the Beetle.
18th Dec 2010, 10:58
2001 Turbo GLS 5 speed 93000 miles.
Here is a list of the problem with this car:
Headliner falling out. 200.00
Both door panels need recovering. 150.00
Both windows mechanisms have failed. $450.00 each
Replaced all window and lock switches as well as trunk switch. $120.00
Dip stick handle broke as well as the orange plastic dip stick tube. $40.00
Alternator went out. $600.00
Temperature sensor in engine. $135.00
Back up light sensor in transmission. $140.00
Cooling fan $260.00
A/C pressure switch $100.00
Mine has also filled up with water on the driver's side -- mystery.
Brake light switch replaced.
Still to be repaired:
Driver's heated seat not working.
Airbag light is now on.
Check engine light on -- Right bank lean code repeatedly comes on.
Climate control console not working correctly to adjust air to blow out of defrost vents. Only the A/C vents work.
Heat control also not working.
Car also has musty smell of wet socks (yes, I changed the cabin air filter) and is blowing some type of foam out of the A/C vents.
Most of the dash and door handles have a sticky feel to them with the rubber peeling off.
Speaker for the radio have quit only one working at this time.
Center armrest latch broke - twice.
Interior door light kept falling out of door until silicone in place.
Front blinker falling out as well - silicone to the rescue.
And this is suppose to be a "Quality Built Automobile"
I will not have another one when I get my wife to turn loose of this one. She still thinks it"s a VW of old.
4th Mar 2010, 13:18
Just bought a 2001 Beetle for 6500 cash, turbo leather the works. Engine light stays on with the water light after about 150 miles, no warranty. God only knows how I can keep it running, closest dealer is approx 100 miles away. With the stories I have read above, I think it should be junked.