NHTSA Complaint #10131377 — 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

I HAVE A 2000 VW BEETLE WITH 47,500 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I PURCHASED IT IN MAY OF 2000 FROM COOLEY. . I HAVE CLOSELY FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES ETC. I HAVE BEEN VERY WELL PLEASED WITH THIS CAR DESPITE SOME UNUSUAL PROBLEMS. FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH A SENSOR THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL ( SHORTLY AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED). THAT COST ME $100. THEN AT ABOUT 35K I WAS TOLD THAT I NEEDED BRAKES $400 +. ON SATURDAY JULY 16, 2005 I WAS ENROUTE TO WELLS, MAINE. APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES BEFORE MY DESTINATION, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MY DESTINATION. AFTER THE CAR HAD COOLED, WE INSPECTED THE HOSES AND COOLANT AND BELT. EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BE OK AND WE THOUGH EVERYTHING WAS GOOD SO WE STARTED OUT TO COME HOME (SUNDAY JULY 17TH, 2005) A SHORT DISTANCE INTO THE TRIP ( 5 -10 MILES). HEAT INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OFF AND THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY CAME BY, CALLED A TOW AND THE CAR WAS TOWED TO BROWN'S AUTO REPAIR IN WELLS, MAINE. MY FRIEND, WHO IS THE FACILITIES MANAGER FOR THE WELLS SCHOOL DISTRICT, HAS HIS FLEET OF CARS AND TRUCKS SERVICED THERE SO I BELIEVED THE REPAIR SHOP TO BE REPUTABLE. MR.. BROWN, REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, THE WATER PUMP, FAN MOTORS, SENSORS, SERPENTINE BELT, TIMING BELT AND COOLANT ETC. AT A COST OF $1396.. THE FIRST TOWING EXPENSE WAS COVERED BY MY ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. BOTH MR... BROWN AND THE VW DEALERSHIP WHERE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WERE PURCHASED SEEMED TO THINK THAT I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE KINDS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE LOW MILEAGE. I AGREE. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT RECOURSE I HAVE. IF OTHER BEETLE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES AND PROBLEMS. I HAVE OWNED FIVE OTHER VW AUTOMOBILES AND AM A VW LOVER BUT THIS DOES NOT MAKE ME A HAPPY VW OWNER. *JB