The interior smells strongly of crayons and will not go away with shampooing, cleaning and/or other methods of odor removal. The odor is very strong and rubs off on clothing and skin whilst seated.

- Santa Clarita, CA, USA

Since I bought the vehicle, I had all kinds of problems all the way from changing my whole engine, and changing all kinds of sensors and now I have this big concern with this strange smell problem which I can't get rid off, I had spray and bought all kinds of deodorants and still can't get rid off. I'm having light headaches and allergy problems, but once I get out of the car I'm ok now im to the point that I have to drive with my windows down bcuz this smell is horrible and I get a headache.

- Irving, TX, USA

Any time I turn on my air conditioner it sounds like my car is going to blow up. Cold air comes out, but the noise and the shaking of my car scares me. It started about 4 months ago. I would have the ac on and if my car was idling the noise would start up and my car would vibrate, it felt like my car was idling very heavily. It sounded like a jack hammer. Now, it happens just when I turn the air on, but it's even louder than before. Also I hear the jack hammer sound when the air is not on and hasn't been turned on at all when my car is at a stop or when I turn the car off. I don't have the money to fix it so I haven't even bothered to take it in anywhere to get it fixed. On top of it all, I can't put my windows down because in Nov '05 my passenger side window disconnected from the track. After a couple of months I started to get the feeling the driver side window was not too far behind with it doing the same. Sure enough, this past April, it did the deed. I called the dealership about this to see if fixing it would be covered under warranty, but because my warranty was either 5 years or 60,000 miles and my car being about 62,000 miles was told it was no longer under warranty. I do not have the money to fix this car, I've been having a tough time just paying for the car itself and fighting with Volkswagen credit about this.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

Transmission replaced three times, still not working properly, lunges into forward and reverse, and will drop into and out of high and low gear when driving. Sunroof leaked because the drainage tubing was not connected at factory causing water damage to leather seats and now mold is growing inside of vehicle, making it difficult to be inside and have had one sinus infection already.

- Fresno, CA, USA

The transmission in my 2002 New beetle fails to engage for a second or two after the car has been sitting for a while. Doesn't do it at other times, only when the car has been sitting an hour or more. Dealership replaced transmission module twice (two different dealerships) and the third and fourth time I brought it in with the same complaint, they said it was normal for the transmission to behave this way. Inherent to the design of the transmission was this small delay for emissions reasons. I am not buying it, not with all the other issues I have had with this car. I have had it in four times for power window problems and getting ready to bring it in for a fifth. The monsoon stereo has been replaced once and is malfunctioning again. The parking brake assembly broke and had to be replaced. Lots of bothersome problems and now I hear what sounds like a valve tap.

- Bowie, MD, USA

I bought my New beetle brand new in August 2001. The day after I brought it home (over 2 hours away), the check engine light came on. I called the dealer and they said it didn't mean anything unless it was flashing so I thought nothing of it. 2 months later my ABS went out while I was an hour from my house and it had to be towed and replaced. The windows continually go up and down by themself but the dealer can't fix it. I took my car back to the dealer yesterday because it was leaking brake fluid and told them again about the cel light. They then told me I needed to have the mass air flow sensor replace (nearly $400) and that is why my car has been downshifting by itself and losing power while driving. This makes me feel unsafe to drive the car that I had wanted for so long.

- Burkesville, KY, USA