2003 Volkswagen Beetle

THE ALTERNATOR CABLE IS BURN ALSO THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF BATTERY IS BURN. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THEY SEE THIS HAPPEN ON DIFFERENT VOLKSWAGEN IN THE HOUSTON AREA AND THE FUSE BOX NEEDS SOME KIND OF THERMAL PROTECTION BECAUSE THE BATTERY GETS TO HOT. IF I PLACE SOME KIND OF THERMAL PROTECTION I WILL BE HELD LIABLE. THE DEALERSHIP NOR THE MANUFACTURER ARE WILLING TO HELP, THEY JUST TOLD ME A HAD 12 MONTH WARRANTY AND IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN AFTER 12 MONTHS IT WILL BE MY EXPENSE. I HAD A 40,000 MILE SERVICE ON 10-3-07 WHICH INCLUDE INSPECTING BATTERY WHICH COST OVER $400.00. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILS TO START IN VERY COLD WEATHER. SHE NOTIFIED A REPAIR SHOP THAT CAME OUT AND GOT THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. A FEW MONTHS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST SHOP WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD ENOUGH OIL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THE COMPUTER BOARD WAS CHANGED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 61,000.

LIKE MANY OTHERS WE HAD HIGH HOPES AND DREAMS FOR OUR NEW 2003 BEETLE, WE THOUGHT WRONG. LIKE MANY OTHERS I AM FINDING MORE AND MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE VEHICLES AND THIS CAR JUST FOLLOWS THE TREND. AS FOR THE CLASSIC VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP, THEY HAVE BLESSED US WITH ONE OF THE WORST CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCES THAT WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED FROM A CAR DEALERSHIP. THE VEHICLE IS NOW SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP AWAITING A NEW WIRING HARNESSES FOR THE TURN SIGNALS AND HEADLIGHTS (SINCE THE ELECTRICAL JOBS DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE FIRST 3 TIMES). WE ARE VERY CALM AND UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE AND GONE IN EVERY TIME WITH A SEMI-POSITIVE ATTITUDE AND ASKED THEM TO JUST FIX THE PROBLEM. AFTER BITING MY LIP THE 4TH TIME I WENT TO THE SERVICE MANAGER (PIERRE ANDRE) AND EXPLAINED THE ISSUE TO HIM. PIERRE'S IMMEDIATE REACTION WAS TO PAWN THE ISSUE TO A SERVICE ADVISOR (BRIAN ALEXANDER WHO GIVES EXCELLENT PRESENTATIONS ON PARTIALLY BURNED OUT BULBS). AFTER BECOMING A THORN TO PIERRE HE MADE AN UN-GRATEFUL ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR, I HAD TO FORCE HIM TO TAKE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE ISSUE. TO KEEP A LONG STORY SHORT I HAVE HEARD EVERY EXCUSE FROM THIS DEAL SHIP INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO: PARTIALLY BURNED OUT BULBS, CORRODED SOCKETS, LOOSE WIRING HARNESSES, DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESSES, SUN DAMAGE, USER DAMAGE, ROAD DAMAGE. WE ALSO MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP HEAD MANAGER/PRESIDENT KEN EMERSON WHO NEVER ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT US BY ANY MEANS. IN SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO ESCALATE THE ISSUE TO A HIGHER AUTHORITY I WAS GIVEN THE VW CORPORATE 1-800-BLOWUP NUMBER, WHICH PROVIDED US SEVERAL USELESS OPTIONS. AT THIS POINT WE ARE BITING THE BULLET AND PLANNING AN ATTEMPT OF THE FLORIDA LEMON LAW; IF WE DO NOT SUCCEED WE WILL SELL IT TO SOME PERSON WHO WANTS A PROJECT VEHICLE. *JB