Tl*the contact owns a 1998 volkswagen beetle. The vehicle had ex the same failure as indicated in recall # 98v100000. The contact stated that the vehicle began to overheat after the engine ran for five minutes. The vehicle was brought to the dealer, savage kia, and the cause was diagnosed as wiring failure. The dealer remedied the failure. On april 12, 2007, the contact drove the vehicle for three miles at 45 MPH and the vehicle overheated once more. The check engine indicator light also illuminated. The vehicle was returned to the dealer , who stated that the electrical wires were too close to the battery. This failure could cause the wires to heat and short out, preventing the fans from operating. The contact called the manufacturer, and was told that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The current and failure mileages were 75,000. *ak updated 05/21/07.
1998 Volkswagen Beetle electrical complaints
Page 2 of 3: complaints 11 to 40 of 53, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I"ve had multiple failures with my 1998 beetle. The car was overheating--found out that the engine fuses were melted over the battery terminal. My reverse lights stopped working--no one has been able to correct that yet, my daytime running lights don't usually work, but sometimes will come on all by themselves. Got locked in my car twice. The alarm sometimes goes off for no reason. The car periodically doesn't start. Had it towed to vw twice for this. They could find no problems. Also, something in the car's electrical components is drowning the battery--have to buy a new battery every six months. I have replaced both windows once . I had the brake light switch replaced three times and was rear -ended once before vw finally did a recall on that part. I'm sure I have left something out--there is so much it's hard to remember. Bottom line--this car is a hazard on the road for the person driving and other motorists.
Dt: the consumer stated that 1998 volkswagen beetle intermittently stalled while driving. The speed was not a factor. The whole electrical system failed when the car stalled. This started happening in january of 2005. The consumer to the car took the dealership, and the dealership could not find the cause of the problem. The consumer did not call the manufacturer. Diagnostic testing was done with no results. *ak the consumer stated the problem has been rectified. The window switch was replaced.
This vehicle has had a series of problems since I have owned it. I have always been a volkswagen enthusiast. So when I saw the new beetles I was naturally excited and couldn't wait to own one. What I expected was volkswagens usual excellent quality and value for money. What I got was a vehicle that not only is an inconvenience to drive, but is also a safety concern. This vehicle has had at least 8 major defects. I call them defects because so many others have experienced similar issues with their new beetles. Keep in mind the vehicle is regularly maintained, and is only at 97,000 miles. 1. Check engine light is on and vehicle stalls or cuts out on a regular basis. 2. The low beams on my headlights always burn out. I change the lights and they just burn out again. I always have to drive instead with my high beams on. 3. My driver side and passenger side windows have fallen into my doors. Meaning that they wont roll up, a loud, noise can be heard when you try. I was told by volkswagen that they were "aware" of the problem. They even told me that it was because they used plastic clips to hold the windows and they are now replacing with metal clips. Fine and good, but while my windows were down my seats became severely stained. (they stain easy) who's going pay for that??? 4. The window switch that controls the windows going up and down broke off in my hand. 5. The radio tries to load a tape when there isn't one. Hood latch broke, has to be opened with screwdriver now. Thanks vwoa!! 6. Heater motor turns up and down on its own 7. Engine holds high rpms in highway, rapid iol consumption. 8 reverse lights malfunctioned. Questions vwoa? Call me, we'll chat 269‑986‑0996 .
While driving. The headlights short out which burns the bulbs. The wiring harness is defective. The consumer has taken the vehicle into the dealer. The problem still remains. Please provide any further information.
I own a 1998 volkswagen beetle. About a year ago the electrical system malfunctioned and I was locked in my car. Fortunately I was able to get out using a new remote I had just purchased.*ak secondly, two days ago I was driving on an interstate, it was warm, and I turned on the fan. It immediately started blowing 'high' and wouldn't turn off. Within a minute the dashboard began smoking and there was a distinct eletrical smell. I stopped, raised the hood and there was no fire. The fan stuck in the 'high' position and caused a fire which 'totalled' the car. The dash and seats melted and the front windshield broke out from the flames.
My 1998 bug has burned approx. 1 quart of oil every 1000 miles, dealership reported this as normal? Don't think so. I have also replaced the headlights every six months until the switch on the emergency brake for the daytime runnings lamps broke. I open the car door (still in warranty) and the handle fell off in my hands. Fog light had moisture in it, now both have fallen out. Both door hinges broke. You cannot open doors and shut them, I had to climb in and out of the windows to get into the car. The trunk latch had to be repaired, it wouldn't open. The gas latch is broken and doesn't hinge, the glove box hinges don't work, the compartment above the clock doesn't hinge properly. The radio turns itself off, the temp read out in the car fades in and out, something on the transmission broke and I only had 2nd and 3rd gear, I have replaced the oxygen sensors twice, my air bag light is on, I have been told I need a new seat to correct this, even though it is due the the electrical problems every bug seems to have. Hub cap has fallen off several times. I have lost antifreeze, but no one seems to be able to find out where ii's going. I'm sure there is more, but this car constantly has so many things wrong with it, I can't keep up anymore. Unfortunately the dealerships are the only people who can't seem to see all the cronic problems with this vehicle.
My 1998 volkswagen beetle is falling apart. I've had to replace my headlights 6 times within the past 4 years that I've owned this used vehicle. My interior trim, window switches, gearshift knob & several plastic covers in the car have fallen now fallen apart. My 6 headlights have cost me approx. $600.00 plus rent-a-car fees which my warranty doesn't cover! Please help me.
Defective battery on a 1998 volkswagen beetle. *mr the battery was replaced. The battery did not accept charging due to a dead cell. The battery was only 7 1/2 months old. *scc
Beetle has had a number of major repair problems. Air conditioning system failed at 3years old resulting in a complete rebuild. Recently, window parts failed on both sides resulting in windows falling down into the doors. Power window on driver side, hatch release and gas tank door release switches have all failed or broke resulting in replacement. Ecm module has been replaced. Glove box door broke and has been replaced. Currently dealing with another series of check engine lights and awaiting diagnosis.
Consumer states that battery cables are melting. Dealer notified.
The vehicle experienced symptoms of recall 98v-100000 which was related to the vehicles electrical wiring under the hood. The consumers vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN.
The vehicle experienced the same problem regarding the electrical system as stated in recall#98v100000, however the vehicle identification number was not included in the recall.
Plastic part on orig. Harness melted on both front headlamps. The part was changed to eliminate the plastic but no recall was initiated. I have had no problems since the redesign of the part. Dt
When jump starting or replacing the battery vehicle would run approximately three miles or less before it stalls completely out. Vehicle had to be towed to a dealer shop to reset all of electrical components to get vehicle to run again . If this occurs in a town or city that does not have a volkswagen dealer shop, what can one do? Asking the federal safety agency to look into this matter. *ak
Left headlight went out first, then again. Air compressor replaced 3 times. Car now stalls. Replaced fuel/air filters, still stalls. Car was recalled for the electrical system wiring harness under hood, recall states all problems I have had. I was not the owner at time of recall. Apparently was not fixed at recall.
When jump starting or replacing battery vehicle would run approximately three miles or less before it stalls compelety out. Vehicle had to be towed to dealers shop to reset all electrical components in order to get vehicle to run again. If this occurs in a town or city that does not have a volkswagen dealer shop, what can one do? Asking the federal safety agency to look into this matter. Feel free to provide any further information concerning this matter.
Many problems/failures between 10600 and 19000 miles. Dashboard left turn signal indicator intermittent failure persists for >1 year and devonhills vw refuses to fix the problem because it would be expensive for them (in the mean time, the light is useless since half the time it is on, half off).
No summary listed for above vehicle.
Bad wiring, alarm goes off in the middle og the night, rear hatch light comes on and off, wiring is bad in cold weather, front headlights keep burining out, excessive oil consumption, at about 2000 miles engine will be bone dry, excessive road nosie, radio no longer works, in general the car is in bad shape after two years of use and it seesm to be all factory related type of problems.
While driving in rain, low beams went out without warning due to a wiring harness malfunction. Dealer replaced both headlight bulbs, and replaced headlight harness.
Battery problem. I stopped at signal and when I restarted the engine stopped and I was almost rear end. The ABS and brake lights came on. The car was towed. Apparently the battery was falling out of the car at 13,000 miles. A few months later I heard a noise and slipping within the transmission. As it turned out, engine coolant had leaked into the transmission and a rebuilt was put in. Within a few weeks after the rebuilt was put in, it was making some noise and it had intermittent lurching. I complained to vw of america and the dealership. They took care of the noise and said they would be unable to help with the lurch problem. I was in an accident a month and a half after getting the rebuilt. I went into a pole sideways. I had an independent transmission specialist test drive it after the car was repaired. He reported an unusually long pause for engagemet. I believe that when I was in a roll forward motion and would put my foot to the gas, it would not engage properly and lurched. The reason it was intermittent , is due to the fact that sometimes when you would be in a rollforward motion it would be in gear and not lurch. If it was not in gear due to the long pause, you would get a lurching movement. My first transmission never had this problem. There is a potential design flaw with this transmission. When I was talking to the service manager at commonwealth, with my first transmission, he had stated they were having problems with the jetta transmissions.
Electrical wiring located in engine compartment was routed too close to endge of vehicle battery tray. Wiring became damaged by chafing. Air conditioner compressor and fuel pump could malfunction. Please provide further information.
While driving plastic cover that protects engine/ exhaust system and plugs disengaged from under vehicle. Please give any further details.
Am doing this form to let people know there are beetles and problems. Also that vw is not standing behind repairing these problems. The headlights have blown (bad wiring) 4 times at night. Not a fun thing to have happen at 65 MPH. You try stopping blind.
The vw dealership repaired this electrical problem caused by the engine fan control box which also burned wires in the engine harness the dealership only repaired what they considered necessary. I was driving 12/14/00, during the rain and stopped the vehicle and the windshield wipers, signal lights, air condition, fan control for heat, etc., and the ememergency brake light remained on without being pulled up. I do not know what else may have not been working in the vehicle during the rain. I paid almost $700.00 tp have this electrical problem fixed after only owning the car for only 4 months. Could someone please assist me in finding out repair information before I invest any more $$$ into this vehicle?
I am stuck paying $650.00 in repairs for something I think the vw or my extended warranty should cover. No safety defect listed.
Multiple problems with car since purchase.
I have had my car for a little over a year now and this is the problems I have had... The lights keep going out on me .. Always the left one first then the right follows... Leaving me with only the brights... Dealership has fixed them maybe three times now... And now they work when they want to .. Leaving me only my bright lights... Dealership explained to me that the electrical was not done properly and said could be fixed at a price of 350.00... No way.. I should have to pay that when he said they were made with a defect... The second thing gone wrong was my battery... The first time.. It just gave a loud pop and everything died... Dealership fixed it and.. The second time the battery went out it gave another loud pop but this time the acid from the battery exploded out of the battery and onto the driveway...the dealership fixed it .. The third time the fuses needed to be changed that are on the battery...the cooling system stopped working as well which caused the car to over heat... They fixed it and my water pump... A month later.. The cooling system failed again... Had to take it back to fixed a second time... . The switches on the left door that control the windows are broken and this is the second time.. The first time they fixed it.. Now they wont even fix it.. They claim its not on my warranty and want me to pay 400.00 to have it fixed... When warranty covered it the first time... And now my right window dont want to go up... Dealership again claims warranty wont cover it... When my insurance agent says it will... Dealership refuses to fix it.. Want me to pay 600.00 to have it fix... Now the dealership says my left window wont go up... So now I have two windows that wont go up ...so in a brief summary.. My headlights failed four maybe five times.... My cooling system twice... My water pump once... My window switches twice.... My battery twice... And the dealership does not help matters any either... Please get back to me on this...thank you.
Battery blew up, causing windows to lock/ door locks not to work. Volkswagen was contacted.
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