I purchased a 2001 new Beetle gls turbo with 42K miles on it in 2008 for my teenage daughter. I have had this car garaged, oil changed, and have only put 8K miles on it in the three years I've owned it. At my most recent oil change, I explained to the VW dealership of the transmission issue which they brushed off as being the way VW transmission's do in and that they are not smooth running transmissions. During this 8K miles, I have went through two new batteries until the dealership made me aware of the need for a new alternator. After getting the new alternator fixed this week at the tune of $500, the tech informed me the transmission needed replacing at a cost between $4K-$6K. I had been noticing when I stop and then accelerate again, the engine hesitates and then slings forward so fast the tires will bark. It's hesitation almost cost me a rear-end accident not long ago. Thankfully, everyone was just shaken up a bit. I have also had to replace the cabin air filter when it disintegrated and started blowing filter in her face as she was driving. All these repairs in the 8K miles I've put on it. The car at this moment now has only 50K miles and sits in my garage as I am afraid for my teenage daughter to drive it because of it's unreliability and safety issues. Also, the console has broken, the clear coat is pealing off the interior doors, handles and dash. Please help us because there are alot of people that depend on the VW's and cannot afford new, safer cars.

- Dalton, GA, USA

2001 brand new Beetle started developing stains on the seat from day one. Blue jeans and dark sweaters stain the interiors to that color everytime someone sits down in the car. The throttle body has gone out three times, costing me over countless dollars in repair fees and is now out for the fourth time. Crown Volkswagen in tyler, tx has repaired it each time, the longest repair lasting about four months. They've paid for the repair once, but do not provide me with a replacement rental vehicle, refuse to pick up the phone during the day or return phone calls, and has cost me tons of time and money traveling from dallas to tyler to check on the car and pick it up. Once, I drove two hours from nacogdoches, tx to tyler, tx on the scheduled pick up day, having tried to call before leaving town to make sure it was ready, only to find that they hadn't gotten to the car when I arrived. This happened twice during the same repair which lasted a couple of weeks. They have been uncooperative, and the car is horrible. The arm rest broke one day as I lifted it, it just fell apart in my hands, the interior covering on the doors and dashboard flakes off, the sunroof broke numerous times while driving over a railroad track to get to work everyday. It finally jammed the visor so that it no longer works. The seat moving mechanisms no longer work. The airbag is in constant malfunction, the check engine and eps lights are always on. I constantly have to pull my car over onto the side of the road because it loses power and I have to restart it to get it to work again, although it never has a lot of power. This particular issue has nearly caused several wrecks. I am incredibly lucky. The cruise control no longer works, and it takes about 200 dollars a month to fill it up with gas because the engine problems effect the fuel efficiency.

- Cedar Hill, TX, USA

Instrument panel malfunctioned. As a result, speedometer and fuel gauge read improperly. The cause has yet to be determined.

- Metropolis, IL, USA