Faults:

After 5 years with my 1999 VW Beetle (I purchased it used): 11 replaced headlights, 2 repaired axles, 4 new engine mounts, 1 shattered window, broken ABS, brakes failing on 3 occasions, radiator cracked, defective airbags, a hood that wouldn't shut, a slipping transmission, replaced the air conditioning and heating system twice, cruise control broken, and now broken turn signal switch and hazard lights wiring exposed. I guess if I don't laugh, I'll cry.

The general appearance of the car is shabby, and I take very good care of it. The knobs to control the position of the seat have all fallen off on various occasions, the vinyl seats have cracked, odd unexplained chemical smell (apparently something to do with fire preventive materials?)

General Comments:

When it's running properly, this car is wonderful. Unfortunately this rarely happens. I don't feel morally right selling this to someone.

Faults:

Things I have replaced in two years:

- Radiator (FOUR TIMES!).

- Thermostat (TWICE!).

- Two different mechanics have informed me that my ENGINE is falling out. WTF?!

- Catalytic converter.

- Oxygen sensor.

- Expansion tank.

- Throttle.

- Timing belt.

- Alternator.

- Battery.

- Generator.

- Alternator belt.

- Cylinder #3 has misfired countless times.

- Brakes.

^ In just two years!! And I'm sure there are many things I have gotten replaced that I can't remember right now. I have to block out some of the financial pain. Never get a VW of any kind. Especially not a Beetle.

- Mass air flow sensor (TWICE).

- Serpentine belt.

- Water pump.

- Mirror knobs.

- AC doesn't work.

- Lower control arm.

- My axle is somehow semi-broken??

General Comments:

I really wanted to love this car. It broke my car loving heart.

Faults:

Check engine light repeatedly comes on, window rolls all the way down when I go to roll it up - sometimes won't roll up at all, noise, brake lights constantly come on, trans problems, bad speakers, lights above mirrors and in back don't work, takes four+ tries to close the trunk.

Also the dashboard is so poorly made, it very very easily scratches and looks terrible!

General Comments:

Basically, if I didn't have a mechanic in the family, I would not be able to AFFORD the repairs of the car at all! Not for someone who is looking for something affordable! It's very cute though, I get tons of compliments on it! Can't decide if it's worth getting a new one when I get a new car. Not bad for a ten year old car, but from the reviews, they don't seem to get better the newer they are!

Faults:

I have only owned my 99 VW beetle for a couple of weeks, it had 72,000 miles and I am already nervous that I made a wrong decision.

After driving the car for only 120 miles, the check engine light came on, so the next day I took my VW to the local VW dealer, and they said that they needed to put the car on the shop computer to find out what the problem was, and that it would cost me 98.00 dollars. That's 100 bucks before we even get started on the 100 dollar an hour labor they provide. I was thinking that I could drive to parts America and have them put their computer on it for free, so that's what I did, Parts America said it was showing "multiple misfires" so I thought I would give it a shot and fix the thing myself, just as I have done with all my previous cars, after all, it's only plugs..

I removed the engine shroud and I couldn't believe my eyes the way the engine was built, you couldn't work on anything without taking something off that was in front of something else. This engine is designed so bad that you can't change plugs, nor wires because things are so tight that you can't get your hands on anything to do anything. VW doesn't even let you add brak fluid, instead they say to bring it to your dealer.. If this car was sold without the engine shroud, I am sure no one in their right mind would buy this car, the shroud is only there to hide this hideously designed cluster puck of an engine.

I did notice that the shroud was also just trapping the dirt and oil that drips from the oil filler cap onto the engine, and that the heat from the engine was being trapped from the shroud and caused the vacuum hoses to crack and shrink, and come off its connection. I bought a new hose for 2.00 and the check engine light went back off and the problem was fixed. I was lucky that the vacuum was the problem and not the plugs, vacuum can also cause multiple misfires, I fixed the car myself this time, but I'm not counting on being this lucky next time.

Fun car to drive, but built by a group of morons.