Volkswagen Beetle

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Stephani of Bangor, MI July 13, 2009

I have a 1999 Volkswagen Beetle. I have owned it for almost four years. I bought it used in 2005. I have had many small issues since buying this vehicle. However now there is a big issue. Since early 2008 there has been an issue with the battery. Every time I went to start my Beetle after it had sat for any length of time (maybe one hour or more) it would not start and would need to be jump started. I had it looked at several times; the battery was replaced along with almost every fuse, the starter, and many other options were explored; nothing worked.

Finally in March 2009 I took the car to a Volkswagen dealer service department in Kalamazoo, MI (on west main near US 131). The vehicle was looked at and they replaced something in the driver door along with the recalled break - light switch. This cost me 403.00. I took it home and the next morning it would not start. So I brought it back to them. They then replaced the battery even though the current battery was new and good. This cost me another 150.00.

I then took it home and again it would not start the next day. So, again I brought the car back with agreement from the Service manager that they would now eat the cost of fixing the problem. Now here I am almost four months later. My vehicle is still in the shop, I have paid them 550.00. I have also lost a great deal of money paying to rent a car for this period of time. They never offered me a loner or any assistance for my inconvenience. They still have not fixed the car or discovered the problem and are now looking to my Husband and me for what to do about this.

We are more than angry! I brought a Volkswagen vehicle to a Volkswagen dealer to have it repaired and they can’t even fix – to me that is absurd. I am being taken advantage of, and it is very upsetting. If "you" Volkswagen cannot even fix a vehicle that "you" built (d) and sell; what good are you? I feel that this is inexcusable. I demand a solution! I want my money back and I want vehicle that I can drive without have to jump the car every time I need to drive it. I don't want the worry of being stranded somewhere because I can't start my car after grocery shopping. This has been more than inconvenient for me and my family. The reputation of your company is at stake, if I am not satisfied with this issue very soon I will be taking this to the next level. Please do not make me have to do so. I would appreciate a response soon! Thank you.

Teri of Thousand Oaks, CA June 29, 2009

I own a 2004 VW Beetle that has 54,000 miles. In April my passenger rear window would not roll up and I was told it was a regulator, cost 373 which I paid. Now, June 2009 the drivers rear window has the same problem. VW would not respond in April if this was a common problem and was told there is not a recall (not health & safety?). The recall for the air bag was apparently fixed and the next day the air bag light went on and is still on. VW said that it would cost 200 to determine what the problem was.It was not a problem before the recall fix? Who can I call to have this window & sensor fixed without paying again?

Erika of Wall Township, NJ June 28, 2009

I have a 2003 Volkswagen New Beetle convertible. The rear window has detached from the convertible top leaving a big space below the window.It is only a matter of time befor it falls out completely.(hopefully not hittng the car behind me while driving.)All contact with VW Customer Care is answered with "We are sorry but the warranty is expired."

I have researched this particular problem on the internet and have found that this is a common complaint for the 2003 model of this car and started happening in 2008.I believe that the seal holding the window in place is defective and that this is not a warranty issue or a n issue of wear and tear but a defect in manufacturing.The window cannot be fixed as the fabric of the top is actually shrinking away from the window. The dealer says that the only way to fix this is to replace the whole top .

This will cost about 3000.This repair isn't done by the dealer but outsourced to a specialty shop. I contacted the specialty shop directly and was offered the installation of a salvage top for 1850 including labor which I presented to VW Customer Care as an acceptable resolution to this issue but was again denied. No one has examined my car to either confirm or deny a defect.I made an appointment with the dealer who ,once informed that I had been in contact with VW Customer Care,refered me back to them.I have an appointment, arranged through the dealer,with the VWoA representative in 2 weeks,but have already been told by Customer Care that they consider his case closed.

Norberto of Beaverton, OR June 4, 2009

I bougth a 2004 VW Beetle Convertible, and at 40,000 Miles the water broke while I'm on a freeway. I have no idea what was going, except a warning light was flashing that the enigne is heating up. I stopped and added water and kep doing so until the flahing light stopped and the engine trouble light came on. The car finally stalled and I had it towed to a dealer.

Later I found out the engine needs to be replaced costing ~6000. I later found out that the water failed and this is a common occurance and some reapir tech said that the the water pump only last around two years. If this is the case then why is that VW don't improve thier water pumpw design. It seem kind of ireesponsible of the manufacturer to put products that will fail in a realtively short period of time or just long enough so that the warranty is gone. Is this deliberate? If not why not let the consumer know about it so that they can plan for it replacement. I think is just irespsonsible. I heard this is a common failure.

I cannot afford the ~6000 to replace the engine. The car only has 40,000 miles on it the blue book value is around 10,000 to 15,000. It's a total lost for me since I'm selling the car for 2500 just to get rid of the headache. I love driving the car but now i could never buy anothe VW again because ot manufactures irresponsibility. I lossing close to 10,000 and confidence on any VW cars.

Wayne of Roseville, CA May 7, 2009

I purchased a 2000 Beetle on Valentines Day 2000 for my wife. (I sold her 1996 red Corvette) to buy this thing!!!! The problems started @ around 3000 mi. The water pump went out, & I was told that the warranty would only cover part of the damage because my wife had to drive to a safe location to park on the freeway. (I had it towed into the dealership!) @ 6000 mi. the drivers side headlight went out, @ 22,00 mi. the (REAR BRAKES) wore out @ 34,000 mi. the water pump went out again, @ 39,000 mi. the passenger side headlight went out. @ 80,000 mi had oil & water leaks,also the water pump (Again) @ 91,000 mi. We had a dashboard fire (caused by a faulty heat/air switch) Volkswagon said not their problem! My insurance AAA paid the bill. @ 110,000 mi. The water pump again (FOR THE FOURTH TIME) My mechanic said that it's a design flaw in the pump, the shaft breaks & the impeller comes apart! The radiator split this time causing more problems. (Towed the car from the Sierra's to the shop. Water pump 625.00 Drivers side headlight 75.00 Rear Brakes 146.00 Water pump 556.00 Passenger side headlight 75.00 Water & oil leaks, & water pump (Again) 1,327.00 Dashboard fire (Insurance paid) over 10,000 to Roseville Volkswagon! Plus a rental car for a month. (Roseville Volkswagon would do nothing to help us out!) Replace radiator & water pump (AGAIN) 1328.00

Amie of Roeland Park, KS April 20, 2009

Amie of Roeland Park KS (04/20/09)
I purchased a 1998 Beetle in 1998, and since then have had to have the window regulators replaced at least 5 times, at 300-400 each. I now have duct tape over the window controls so that no one can use them, because I can't afford the repairs if they break again. This has been going on for over 4 years. There are posts all over the Internet from people like me who have had the same problems with their window regulators on their VW Beetles.

I've spent over 1000 replacing window regulators on this car. I currently cannot use the windows. When I'm at a toll booth or bank drive-through, I have to get out of the car to use the machines. I can't re-sell the car because who is going to buy a car that doesn't have windows that work??? Between the costs to fix the regulators and the fact that I can't resell this car, I have lost thousands of dollars.

Wendy of Aliso Viejo, CA April 3, 2009

Wendy of Aliso Viejo CA (04/03/09)
I purchased a Volkswagon Beetle Convertible in 2005 from dealer in San Juan Capistrano, Ca. When I purchased the vehicle, the sales team was very high pressure. I tried to leave and they chased me out of the parking lot and made me stop. I went back into the office and made the purchase. After I signed the contract and went to leave in the vehicle, I noticed some items I did not like. I was told by the salesman that since the contract was signed, there was nothing they could do. I drove off with the car and kept it for 3 years 5 months. (Lease was 4 years)

I recently traded in the vehicle and received a final invoice for payment and excessive wear and tear. The invoice total is now 2600. I do not agree with 500 of the wear and tear charges. This 500 charge I am disputing is for Convertible glass motor inoperable. I do not feel this is an excessive wear and tear issue. If I had taken the vehicle in for repair while I was in possesion of the vehicle, this would have been repaired at no cost to me.

This was a manufacturers defect in my opinion. I was unable to take my vehicle in for repair because the dealership shuttle would not take me back to my place of employment while my vehicle was being repaired. VW credit had denied my claim. The personnel, including the dealership has been less than courteous. They will not speak to me regarding this matter and they have been very abrupt when I tried to discuss with them. I have been a loyal VW customer for 9 years. I do not feel their vehicles stand up to the competion and will never purchase another vehicle from them again.

Lacey of Naples, FL March 31, 2009

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