When we first bought the car the previous owner had no problems whatsoever, so she claims.
First thing the Oil Pan had a crack and had to be replaced.
The lights flicker constantly.
The throttle Body had to be replaced.
Head lights and Brake Lights burnt out.
The car is now at the Dealer sitting waiting to figure out what to do with it. It has burnt out 2 ECM units and the ignoramus of a dealer put another one in and sent me on my way. The Electronic Control Module burnt out again and they want nothing to do with me.
Called VW of America they don't want nothing to do with me. I have to take the Dealer in Puente to Court to get the ECM replaced!!!
The problem is still not resloved with a new ECM now they want 3000. estimate to find the Short in the electrical system and a new harness might be necessary that would be about 5K.
This car is very cute and drives very well and have always owned VW: Bug, Rabbit, Jetta and now a Beetle. Never have had so many problems. The cost to fix the car is just unbelievable. Everything has to be done at the Dealer and the Service Dept are the worse I've ever expereinced.
Hoping to find someone who has had this type of electrical problem with their beetle and hopefully find a solution to my nightmare so I can get rid of the piece of junk.
"Distance when acquired
700000 miles
Most recent distance
9500000 miles"
Those figures are misprints, of course.
If the lights flicker constantly you may have a bad earth connection somewhere. Constant fluctuations in the power supplied to the ECU may cause it to fail.
I think you ought to try an independent mechanic rather than a VW dealer.
Do find yourself a good mechanic outside of the dealer. My mechanic works on a lot of VWs. His prices are much much lower than what the dealer charges. For instance, he charges about $70 to change a headlight bulb on the New Beetle. That is high, but when you see how the bulb has to be installed, it is understandable. It is the only car that he has to charge labor on to change a headlight bulb. I have seen more than one person stroke a check for that job and every single one of them says that the dealer wanted well over $100 for the job and would frequently keep the car overnight.
I think I will start a NEW buisness changing vw headlight bulbs. I can CHANGE them in a bout 2 minutes. I'll charge 10 bucks a bulb. Damn people are stupid to pay 100 bucks a bulb.
I agree. Learn how to replace the bulb yourself and do it for the price of the bulb. I did it for a lady on the side of the road in less than 5 minutes. The first time was the hardest, but then it was easy. Just keep on on hand in the car. The dealer used to charge my father-in-law $400.00 to do it and keep it over night. When I went back to the dealer and showed him that I could do it he said they have to check the electrical system each time, that's why its $400.00. Right!
I own a 98 Beetle. I got it at 65000 and now it's got 145,000.
Problems I have had are:
Window wire mechanism made of plastic. Both sides broke and it's very hard to fix. There was a recall but mine was out of warranty. I did fix it myself but it is out of the hands of most. Dealer wanted $500!
Reverse lights never worked.
Handbrake switch that turns on front lights broke. Never worked. Dealer fix is very expensive.
Water cooling system is mostly plastic parts including the WATER PUMP propeller! They all broke or disintegrated and had to be replaced. VERY EXPENSIVE even though I did it myself.
Antenna stopped the radio working and then the radio buttons broke. You cannot replace the radio without the dealer help and you cannot even remove the radio without the right keys. Dealer not at all helpful and wanted to charge $50 to remove the radio.
DO NOT lock yourself out of this car. It's a nightmare to get it open. The good news is its near impossible to steal!
Other than that the car is a fun car to drive. It drinks oil and is not economic at all. I used a lot of gas in this car. Long trips are very uncomfortable.
I would never buy another VW. I have a Volvo that makes this look like a junker.
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