Faults:

Turbo.

A/C compressor.

ECU.

General Comments:

Inherited this car from my family back in 2011. My dad loved this car and spent thousands of dollars on it after it stopped running. It was sad that he never drove it after it was fixed. Prior to it quitting he drove it everywhere, a thousand mile trip was never out of the question. For the short time I drove it I found that I could run it hard and get 42 mpg or drive it easy and get 45 mpg. Now it is a reminder of days long gone, but I still crank and move it every few months. Maybe years from now I will put it back on the road when diesel Beetles are not so common.

Faults:

Air conditioning compressor, transmission second gear and reverse, driver's side power window failing, can't open the trunk or gas hatch without prying them manually, check engine light on all the time, overall sluggishness.

General Comments:

Very cute and very fuel efficient. However, a disastrous money pit. It has cured me of my VW fetish -- I'm done, Honda here I come.

Faults:

A multitude of various electrical problems plagued the car from the moment I drove it from the dealership. The car left me stranded on several occasions. Battery dead. Starter malfunctions. Alternator failed at 7000 miles. During the first year of ownership the following was replaced.

Alarm system and associated electronics. Ignition switch. Alternator and starter. Rocker panels had to be repaired and painted after the dealer lifted the car under them.

The second year of ownership marked the deteriation of the coatings that are on the interior door handles and other surfaces on the dash. Very unattractive looking like a skin peeling off.

One of the glass fog lights shattered. $$$

The power window regulator on the driver side door failed and shattered the glass inside the door. I had to open the window because the air conditioning began to fail. Back to the dealer. Replaced the window and failed regulator part. Put additive in the Air Conditioning system to find the leak and was told to return once the freon drained down. Upon returning to the dealer at just over 36,000 miles I was told that the Air Conditioning would require $1500 in repairs that were not covered under the warranty that ended at 36,000 miles. As you can imagine I became furious and told them to keep the car. I was able to negotiate the price down to $750 but had decided that it was the last VW I would ever buy.

General Comments:

Loved the diesel engine. The handling and comfort of the car were lovely.

The reliability ruined what was my "dream car".

The three VW dealerships that I took the car to were awful to deal with. It was the worst experience with any type of purchase that I have ever had.

Faults:

My headlights went out two years after having the problem fixed. You can get something called a "harness" that will keep headlights from going out every few months like mine did before I got the harness. I can't believe that this problem hasn't been taken care of by the manufacturer,. I found out about the harness from a Toyota service manager. My VW dealer didn't even know about it.

My check engine light came on and it cost 300.00 to have problems fixed.

The switch in my emergency light box which controls those lights and my turn indicator lights, inside and out, went out at 85,000 miles.

I consider myself extremely lucky after all I have read here.

General Comments:

I love my car, it's green. It is safe and handles well, is sporty and roomy. I feel claustrophobic in most cars because the windshield comes close to my head.