My check engine light came on shortly before my car starting slowing down and going on back up power. I pulled over and turned my car off to see what the issue was but when i turned my car back on it was fine. Well I took it to the dealer just in case and they said one of my wires that pulgs into the engine had been crushed. They replaced it (but not under warranty) but when i left, my car was lurching forward and idling very odd. So i took it back to them 10 minutes later to find they hadn't plugged all the wires back in...... you can imagine how angry I was to find a professional dealership making tiny mistakes like this.
1 week later.... the light came on again. I was out on the town and my car broke down at a stop light. I had it towed to the same dealership and they said THIS TIME that it was the wire harness that plugs into the engine. I asked them "Why the HELL didnt you guys notice this when i was in here JUST LAST WEEK FOR WIRING PROBLEMS?!" All they said was...."we overlooked it...."
After 2 weeks being without a car, I finally got it back. the guys at the dealership worked hard to get it covered by warranty, which helped me out alot.
It still handles horribly and I found out that 1.8 liter turbo engines on Beetles have had this problem in the past; the mechanics note it as a factory defect, since the wire harness is twisted in an awkward position to connect into the engine. They looked up the history on my car and this same problem had already happened once.
This is not the only issue I've had with this Beetle either....computer problems, anti-freeze problems, stereo system problems, head light problems, wiring problems, alignment problems.... the list goes on.
I HIGHLY recommend looking into this car before buying one!! This used to be my dream car when I was younger and all these problems have RUINED it for me!!
We have owned the car since 2001 and it has been in the shop at least 4 times a year for the check engine light. The dealership said it would replace the engine the last time the car was in if the light comes on again. They said that was under warranty - now the car is back and they want $2000 to fix it - not replacing the engine. There's lots of other things that have been wrong - coolant leaking etc, but this is the main issue.
- Sam P.,
Rye Brook, NY, US
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
My check engine light came on shortly before my car starting slowing down and going on back up power. I pulled over and turned my car off to see what the issue was but when i turned my car back on it was fine. Well I took it to the dealer just in case and they said one of my wires that pulgs into the engine had been crushed. They replaced it (but not under warranty) but when i left, my car was lurching forward and idling very odd. So i took it back to them 10 minutes later to find they hadn't plugged all the wires back in...... you can imagine how angry I was to find a professional dealership making tiny mistakes like this.
1 week later.... the light came on again. I was out on the town and my car broke down at a stop light. I had it towed to the same dealership and they said THIS TIME that it was the wire harness that plugs into the engine. I asked them "Why the HELL didnt you guys notice this when i was in here JUST LAST WEEK FOR WIRING PROBLEMS?!" All they said was...."we overlooked it...."
After 2 weeks being without a car, I finally got it back. the guys at the dealership worked hard to get it covered by warranty, which helped me out alot.
It still handles horribly and I found out that 1.8 liter turbo engines on Beetles have had this problem in the past; the mechanics note it as a factory defect, since the wire harness is twisted in an awkward position to connect into the engine. They looked up the history on my car and this same problem had already happened once.
This is not the only issue I've had with this Beetle either....computer problems, anti-freeze problems, stereo system problems, head light problems, wiring problems, alignment problems.... the list goes on.
I HIGHLY recommend looking into this car before buying one!! This used to be my dream car when I was younger and all these problems have RUINED it for me!!
- Nicole M., Kent, WA, US