NHTSA Complaint #10068010 — 2000 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE

THE 2000 NEW BEETLE THAT MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED APPARENTLY HAS A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN FEBRUARY 2003. AT THAT TIME THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS. THE FIRST TIME I PUT GAS IN THE CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY HUSBAND CONTACTED A LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALER TO SEE ABOUT GETTING IT FIXED. HE WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL PROBLEM. IF THE GAS CAP WASN'T PUT BACK ON AND CLICKED AT LEAST SEVEN TIMES, THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON. HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE THE GAS CAP, PUT IT BACK ON AND TURN IT UNTIL THERE HAD BEEN SEVEN CLICKS. AFTER THAT, WE WERE SUPPOSED TO DO A COLD START TO MAKE THE LIGHT GO OFF. THIS WORKED, BUT WE HAVE HAD TO DO IT SEVERAL TIMES. THE LIGHT WILL COME ON AND GO OFF, EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NO ENGINE PROBLEMS. I HAVE HAD ANOTHER MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR, AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE, SO IT HAD TO BE A PROBLEM IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AFTER SEEING SOME OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT HAVE BEEN POSTED, I AM WORRIED ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF THE CAR STALLING, MALFUNCTIONING, OR, AS IN SOME OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS HAVE SHOWN, THE CAR CATCHING ON FIRE. I FEEL THAT THE VOLKSWAGEN COMPANY NEEDS TO REALLY EXAMINE THIS ISSUE. WE HAD TO HAVE A SENSOR REPLACED FOR THE BRAKING SYSTEM EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT WAS UNDER RECALL, AND WE ONLY GOT IT DONE BECAUSE WE WERE AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. WE HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AT ALL. I DON'T FEEL THAT THE VOLKSWAGEN COMPANY IS CONCERNED ABOUT ANY OF THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE GOING ON WITH THIS MODEL. IT IS VERY DISTRESSING TO THINK THAT I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT ISN'T WORTH WHAT I PAID FOR IT BECAUSE OF DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT. THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CHECK ENGINE IS ONGOING AND I AM NOT PLEASED WITH THE RESPONSE I HAVE GOTTEN FROM THE DEALER. IT HASN'T MADE THE PROBLEM GO AWAY.