NHTSA Complaint #10509120 — 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

WE PURCHASED A USED, ONE OWNER, 2006 VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE (45,000 MILES) FOR OUR DAUGHTER IN COLLEGE, FOUR MONTHS AGO. SINCE THEN SHE HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS CONSTANTLY. SHE DROVE IT HOME OVER EASTER BREAK AND I HAD MY HUSBAND DETAIL THE CAR TO SEE IF HE COULD FIND OUT WHAT WAS CAUSING THE ODOR. WHEN WE TOOK THE FLOOR MATS OUT THEY WREAKED OF TOXIC NOSE BURNING CRAYONS. I THREW THE OLD MATS OUT, SPRAYED THE CARPETS WITH A NONTOXIC CLEANER AND LEFT THE HOOD DOWN IN THE GARAGE FOR 3 DAYS. THE SMELL DIDN'T GO AWAY. THIS WEEK-END SHE DROVE HOME AND BY THE TIME SHE CAME IN THE DOOR SHE WREAKED OF CRAYONS, HAD A STOMACH AND HEAD ACHE SO BAD SHE HAD TO GO TO BED. THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR HER. I BROUGHT IN ALL OF HER LUGGAGE AND IT SMELLED JUST AS BAD. WE REMOVED THE NEW MATS BECAUSE THE SMELLED AS BAD AS THE OLD ONES. I PHONED THE DEALERSHIP IN SAVANNAH AND THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE SMELL. I WENT ON THE INTERNET AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT, YET WHEN I CALLED VW THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM. WE WERE TOLD TO CONTACT THE HILTON HEAD DEALERSHIP AND PAY A $115.00 FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND WHEN I PHONE THEM THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE COULD LOOK AT IT BUT HE'D NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE AND THE BEST THING WOULD BE TO BUY HER A NEW CAR. I'M SORRY, THIS IS A COLLEGE KID AND $10,000 IS PLENTY TO PAY FOR A CAR. I'M NOT LOOKING TO CAUSE PROBLEM OR GET ANY HANDOUTS BUT THIS IS OUR ONLY CHILD AND HER HEALTH IS IMPORTANT TO ME. SHE LOVES THE CAR AND DOESN'T WANT TO GET RID OF IT SO WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF WE CAN REMEDY THE PROBLEM WITHOUT PAYING AN ARM AND A LEG. HAVE YOU HAD ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS.? THANK YOU *TR