NHTSA Complaint #10241103 — 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

WE HAVE A 2000 NEW VW BEETLE THAT WE BOUGHT NEW IN 2000. IT HAS BECOME A HIGH MAINTENANCE VEHICLE THAT SEEMS TO HAVE A LOT OF DEFECTIVE PARTS THAT HAS TO BE REPLACED. MOSTLY ELECTRICAL. WINDOW ONCE FELL INSIDE OF DOOR. FOG LIGHT THAT HAS WATER IN THEM. TODAY A WEEK AFTER TAKING THE CAR INTO VW SERVICE TO REPAIR ANOTHER THING FOR AROUND $200.00. I HAD RETURNED TO THE SHOP AGAIN BECAUSE WITH IN A DAY AFTER CAR WAS OUT OF THE SHOP A NEW PROBLEM CROPPED UP. THE SEAT BELT LIGHT WAS STAYING ON. I TOOK IT INTO THE SHOP TO HAVE THE SEAT BELT LIGHT REPAIRED. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR MOST OF THE DAY. I JUST RECEIVED A CALL FROM VW SERVICE DEPT. AND WAS TOLD THE SEAT BELT DENSER WAS THE PROBLEM. IT CONTROLS ALL THE SEAT BELT AIR BAGS AND SOME OTHER SAFETY THINGS. IT IS DRIVABLE AND SEAT BELT MAY BE OK. I WAS ALSO TOLD IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATE OVER $700.00. OUR VW BEETLE ONLY HAS 69,000 MILES ON IT AND WE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON IT FOR REPAIRS. IT OVER HEATED LAST SUMMER AND WAS IN THE SHOP FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THEY COULD FIND WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT..I THINK THIS WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND SENSORS. WE HAVE REPLACE MAY\NY SENSORS IT SEEM S SEVERAL TIMES. MOST OF THESE REPAIRS WAS NO UNDER A RECALL. THIS IS A VERY HIGH MAINTENANCE CAR. IT HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE MANY TIMES AND COST IS STARTING DRAIN US. I AM A RETIRED IOWA POLICE OFFICER ON A FIXED INCOME..SO THIS CAR IS A STRAIN ON OUR BUDGET. SO MANY PROBLEMS.. ALL OUR VEHICLES ARE PAID FOR AS WELL AS OUR HOME. *TR