Faults:

Instrument cluster failed early on.

Numerous electrical problems.

Exhaust problems.

Catalytic converter replaced.

Rear brakes constantly seizing.

Lousy paint.

General Comments:

Bought this car new in 2002...a base model GL with manual tranny. Creature comforts were good, but reliability was horrible. The issues we had were:

The gauge cluster failed early on and had to be replaced TWICE by the (incompetent) dealership because they couldn't program that odometer correctly.

The catalytic converter failed at 35K miles (covered by warranty thankfully), but we had to pay to replace part of the exhaust system because it broke due to faulty design (the flexible exhaust pipe near the engine is poorly positioned and prone to breaking).

Ignition module/plugs/wires all had to be replaced at 36K miles due to stumbling/hesitation issues. Mechanic showed me the plugs... they wore out prematurely and unevenly.

Car burned oil from day one, despite the fact that I followed the necessary VW engine break-in procedures. Burned about 2 quarts between changes.

The rear brake calipers seized up a few times necessitating early rear brake replacement. Same thing happened on my old Passat... must be a VW thing.

Driver side MANUAL window mechanism broke, dropping window into the door. Glass didn't break, but this happened in the middle of the COLD winter. Not fun.

Paint job (yellow) was terrible... developed a number of chips/cracks in it over time.

The car is also a horrible car to work on mechanically... engine compartment is very cramped and pretty much every part is a wickedly expensive and proprietary VW part that you have to get from the dealership.

For our last year of ownership, we drove it 2500 miles and put $1000 worth of repairs into it. Not worth the trouble, so we got rid of it and picked up a cheap old Saturn SL to be our second car. It may rattle like a sewing machine, but it starts every time and is way easy (and cheap) to work on.

This was our second AND LAST Volkswagen. My wife wanted a yellow Beetle for a long time and loved driving around in it, but even she doesn't miss the money pit.

Faults:

I have owned this Beetle for one year.

When I first bought the car, Two days later the (EPC) light went on and my car would not start. The dealer fixed at his reluctance.

Yes my car has a horrible, horrible smell especially when my air condition is on.

Makes you want to gag.

I love my car, However this is beyond anything I could ever imagine.

Thanks for posting it helps to know others are in same shoes. Sorry for you as well as me and my family

Linda Bybee teaoff22@yahoo.com.

Faults:

Me and my husband went and got me a 2002 VW Beetle in February of 2008. We used my income tax to put a down payment of 2000 dollars on what we thought was a deal. They were only wanting 9,000, but what I didn't know were all the problems that were about to happen.

I have only had the car for 6 months, and problems started happening in the first month.

The check engine light is on, the brake light on the dashboard is on, air bag light on, wheel bearings went bad, A/C unit quit working, sunroof visor off track - had to remove it, driver side window won't roll up or down, and the list goes on.

This car is a piece and I will never own another VW again.