21st May 2007, 14:53

Wish I had seen this site before I bought the Beetle I have now! We all agree, they are fun to drive, but things keep breaking and falling off.

I have spent over $800 with two dealers to get the "Check Engine" light to go off... it is still on and the dealer wants more to "fix" it... even though the last $350 fix lasted 50 miles!

VW Corp said that was my problem because it is now out of warranty even though the problems with the light started when it was still under factory warranty.

Never again!

15th Jun 2007, 16:45

I bought a used 2002 1.8 turbo about 4 months ago with 32000 miles, and I've spent more money on this car already then I spent on my little mercury tracer in 11 years! I got the car in winter so I didn't realize the air conditioner was broken when I bought it. I took it to the mechanic (VW dealer is not getting my business-they said they checked out the car before they sold it to me-either they have really incompetent mechanics or they are big liar heads). The mechanic found that the alternator was bad and the battery was bad. $1200 bill. The little turbo tail that pops up stays up sometimes. The passenger side window got stuck down-had to yank on it to get it back up, so for now I'm just not using that window. The inside of the front window ices up in the winter, and takes about 20 minutes to defrost. It's only been four months. I'm very scared. But it is really cute.

4th Jul 2007, 11:46

2001 beetle is a money pit. Rear hatch indicator light on dash stays on. Hatch works fine, any suggestions?

4th Jul 2007, 14:07

My wife has a 2002 5 speed Turbo Diesel with 35,000 miles. after going through the comments my problems are minor. I did have the check engine light fo on and it cost me $350.00 too fix, It was some wiring. Other than that it has performed well.

My complaint is the changing os exterior lamps. I had a tail light replaced, the book says take it to your dealer, it cost 50.00 and they would not show me how they did it. Now I need to replace the front right turn signal lamp and the dealer is 40 miles away.

Typical German Engineering, it's real good or real bad.

This is my 6th VW, the first was a cloth sun roof, and than two convertibles, all bugs, a rabbit and a dasher. I am not sure I want to go that route again, I think I will try the Asain route.

4th Jul 2007, 14:37

What do you expect? It's manufactured in Mexico for one thing and one thing only... cheap labor!! You get what you pay for, and just because it's being built cheaper doesn't mean that VW is passing along the savings... VW is still asking for top dollars and pocketing the profit margin. Mexico has a long way to go to get to NAFTA standards... NAFTA because of their geography, and not much of anything else.

26th Jul 2007, 22:50

I have a 98' Beetle which my wife was anxious to buy to be the first one on the block to own one. Yeah it's cute, but in the 8 years I probably have spent enough repair money to buy a second beetle! Headlights, transmission, warning lights on the dash, exhaust system, hazard light modules, electric window modules, tires, battery, and today my repair shop drops me an estimate for: rt-ft axle assembly since the car vibrates during acceleration, ft upper struts worn due to clacking noise when I turn, drive belts cracking, but the kicker is the air bag light which will not go off - their solution replace the the air bag in the passenger seat for $840! Total Bill - $1744! I am going nuts! It still looks great, but who is going to buy it with 140k miles?? I can't afford a new car and I can't afford not to repair since we the need transportation! Good thing I have a Honda - best advice don't buy a VW!

6th Aug 2007, 21:47

I have a 2002 Beetle diesel. The only trouble I have had was the glow plug, which I've replaced twice. The second time the dealer told me of a $40 part that would resolve the problem. I have 131,000 miles on it and have always gotten 50 mpg on the highway with it. I absolutely love the car.

This is the third VW diesel that my immediate family has owned. We had a rabbit and then a golf. They both got 50 mpg as well, with no trouble or problems.

19th Aug 2007, 01:41

I have a 2002 VW Beetle that I HAVE to go to the dealer to get the oil changed. I took it to a 'speedy' place once and they stripped the oil pan screw so much that the oil leaked and I needed a new pan. (They paid for some of it not all.)

I took it in again for an oil change and this time they tried to drain the oil thru the transmission fluid plug. They just don't know how to work on Beetles!!

25th Aug 2007, 14:08

Yikes! I was thinking about getting a 01-03 beetle TDI. good thing I checked here first.

12th Sep 2007, 23:51

I narrowly avoided buying a VW Jetta when I was car shopping. Instead of buying a VW with 44k, I bought a honda with 104k and haven't heard a peep from it (knock on wood). There's no excuse for such a poorly designed car.

30th Sep 2007, 10:56

I'd have American, Korean, Japanese without problems, but after VW Beetle the only thing I have to say that is the worst car I have ever had.

9th Nov 2007, 15:31

I have a 2002 Beetle that I bought used in 2004. I'm sorry for all the problems you all are having we now have 57,000+ miles and the only thing I have had to do is change oil & tires. Good luck.

9th Nov 2007, 21:28

2001 beetle 2.0 beutiful of course cute, I have two lights on so far after two weeks I got the car used, I will get them fix and see what is next, got it for my daughter, one light is the air bag the other the front brake pads, $289. and $250. hopefully that is it, otherwise I will get the new Toyota Yaris, will keep you posted, and also I will tell the dealer, they are been very nice and of course like wise, one more thing want to tell you the less electronics on your car, the less worries. :)