3.7

definitely annoying
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
33,431 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2001 Volkswagen Beetle miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2001 Volkswagen Beetle Owner Comments

problem #7

Dec 122016

Beetle

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Car was illegally repossessed (I own the vehicle but used it as collateral in a small loan) November 29, 2016 while I was in another state. I then received a email from carfax that the odometer was changed and gave me the new mileage. I purchased the car in March of 2015 and the mileage was over 155,000 miles but now it reports 124, 685 miles which is not an error but intentional and obvious odometer fraud! I have attached several photos showing the dealership website's log of mileage when I bought it, the picture of my odometer as of October 2015 (when it was no longer able to drive due to oil leak from valve cover), and the email screenshot from carfax showing the odometer fraud. The new owners of the vehicle are peter landry of for financial in donaldsonville, Louisiana 225 473 7652

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #6

Jun 292016

Beetle

  • 20 miles
Coolant system can not be fixed. When driving, sometimes the coolant will be boiling. Sometimes the coolant level is low lead the coolant system light on. When add more coolant to the water tank, after several miles driving, the coolant level will be higher than normal. It runs well then the coolant system/overheating light will be on. Keep driving then the light will be off. Then it will be off. Mechanics tried to clean and replace the whole coolant system. But the overheating issue happened again and again. Then after they tried four times, I was told that I need to get rid of the car cause they cannot fix it. And they knew other people's VW new Beetle(2000) has the same issue. Seems like not only my Beetle bug's problem.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #5

Feb 102015

Beetle 4-cyl

  • 170,000 miles
I am the 2nd or 3rd third owner, and I should have checked this car out further, since whomever ('s) sold it to me didn't tell me a [xxx] thing was wrong with the car. I am so disgusted about this incident of buying basically a lemon from dishonest creeps. I only drove it once before I handed over every hard earned penny I had saved over such a lengthy time due to the fact I am a struggling single mother. I don't get child support nor welfare, thank you! I paid all I had literally ever saved up ever in my whole life. (yes I am that poor to be quite frank) I paid $4500 for a 2001 VW new Beetle. I have always only ever heard excellent things of VW's, there for I just pray and wish that VW would help!!!!!!!!!!!! now I am without transportation to get to and from work, as well as my children to and from school. I can't even drive to get groceries or anything! help!! why can't VW at least pay to have it fixed" I am just to poor. I am looking into a law suit. Dishonest VW, why can't you just be honest and fix your error and wrong doing" they sell these Beetles knowingly to innocent trusting families, single moms, etc: Etc;, and that alone I believe should be grounds enough for a hell of a law suit. They knowingly put women, children, and innocent people's lives in serious danger with no conscience what so ever. Buying a VW is like playing russian roulette. For you, your children, your family, loved ones and friends. [xxx] even innocent by standers and passer byes. Fix my Beetle evil creeps. May god deal with you eventually either way amen! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #4

Nov 062006

Beetle

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine and transmission overheating just a terrible car. Wax material interior removes easily with nails children can eat it has crayola smell.should have been made of plastic or vinyl. This whole car should be recall. Epc brake switch always on had it repaired 3 times engine light is always on. Bad electrical. Interior ac light is always off. In and out of mechanic.

- Hialeah, FL, USA

problem #3

Apr 262005

Beetle 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 64,000 miles
My ABS dash indicator came on steady, the brake indicator on the dash started flashing and what sounded like the interior chime started sounding continuously. I pulled over into a parking lot and turned off the engine. A puff of smoke/steam came up from the passenger front wheelwell and there was a horrible hiss and whine coming from under the hood on the same side and a burning plastic smell. The dealer said it was the ABS module (which they changed for $950!!!) and that only fixed the ABS light. No clue on the flashing brake idiot light and now they say the ac does not work at all. No refrigerant, so obviously a leak. It seems way too coincidental. I heard about an ABS module recall back in '03 which could short circuit and cause an engine fire. I don't have any idea about the engine compartment geography and I've only had the car (bought used) for about a year and a half. It appears I am not the only person to have experienced this problem. See attached link: forums.newbeetle.org/showthread.php?S=&threadid=50457

- Fairfield, OH, USA

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problem #2

May 242004

Beetle

  • miles
A family member of mine recently bought, I believe, a 2001 Volkswagen beetle. After waiting a while for her tags she and her father looked into the documents given to her by the dealership and noticed a discrepancy in mileage after they did a full carfax report on the car. The carfax reported that the car had 76000 miles on it in November of 2003 but the document atesting to mileage from the dealership stated it had only 66K when bought in March on it and the vehicle was not sold to the dealership until February with who knows how many miles. I believe that the dealership or the previous owner rolled back the mileage. In my mind it is more likely that it is the dealer. I would like to know the steps we need to take, the information we need to have and how to get it, and who to contact in South Carolina (preferably in rock hill, SC) in order to take care of this problem.

- Piedmont, SC, USA

problem #1

Sep 242001

(reported on)

Beetle

  • miles
Epc and check engine lights come on///car loses power......extremely dangerous as most of my drive to work is on freeway...happened 7/4 and 7/5..taken into metro VW 7/5....told ot problems found....happened again 7/9 returned to metro VW/checked/nothing wrong....happened again 7/12/13...eturned to metro VW....throttle replaced....happened again 7/12 7/13 again to metro VW throttle body replaced......happened again 7/30 throttle body replaced.....again 9/10 9/11...control mod. Replaced again 9/12...thought I was goin to die this time....when lost power 18 wheeler was turnin my way.....again to metro VW.....worked on wiring overlay....waitin to see what happens next!!!

- Arlington, TX, USA

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