2003 Volkswagen Beetle

TL* - THE CONTACT'S AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT TURNED ON AFTER THE VEHICLE REACHED 51,000 MILES. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER CONTROLLER FOR THE AIR BAG SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BY THE OWNER AT A COST OF $1000. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON DECEMBER 27, 2006, WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH ,THE RIGHT SIDE PASSENGER'S AIR BAG / CURTAIN DEPLOYED FOR NO REASON, BRUISING A PASSENGER IN THE CAR. THE WEATHER AT THE TIME THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WAS NICE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WANTED TO PURSUE VOLKSWAGEN TO GET AIR BAG REPAIRED AND WORKING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT VOLKSWAGEN SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR. *AK

HAD JUST ENTERED FREEWAY, GOING PROBABLY 55 MPH, WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THOUGHT THE TIRE HAD BLOWN, BUT THE RIM ACTUALLY HAD A HOLE IN IT, WITH THE IMPACT DIRECTION GOING AWAY FROM THE TIRE, LIKE IT IMPLODED. HAD TO MANEUVER CAR TO SIDE OF FREEWAY AND STOP. PUT SPARE TIRE ON CAR AND TOOK BLOWN-OUT RIM AND TIRE TO DEALER. TIRE WAS FINE, THEY REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE RIM BECAUSE WE WERE OUT OF WARRANTY ON THE CAR, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A DEFECTIVE RIM THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A MUCH MORE HARMFUL ACCIDENT. TOOK CAR TO TIRE SHOP AND THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE; ORDERED NEW RIM AND ENDED UP PUTTING SAME TIRE ON NEW RIM. *NM

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

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN THE CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT FRONT AREA. THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE; APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HIT THE CURB. THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID HITTING A LIGHT POLE. THIS DID MINIMIZE THE HITTING OF THE LIGHT POLE. UPON IMPACT, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE ONLY IMPACT ON THE VEHICLE WAS ABOVE THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO COOPERATE BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY WILL RESPOND WITHIN 24 HOURS. *AK *NM