O2 Sensor Problems of Volkswagen New Beetle

Almost too many to list O2 sensor at 20k miles - twice temp sensor for cooling fan ($5 part - $200 to install) at 30k miles ignition coils at 50k miles. Vw had initiated a "customer action" on all 1. 8l engines for defective ignition coils on vw and Audi models. Customer service action means nothing, cost me $600 without rental car added. They refused to acknowledge this press release when contacted directly. Water pump went south at 61k miles electronic control module went south at 61k miles also. Warranty covered still cost me $300 for rental car for 5 days. Timing belt damaged when water pump went. Voa will tell you to "check" it at 50k but it should last to 108k. Paid full labor even though engine was apart for pump work. Vw should be forced to honor the quality problems with this car. Nhtsa should investigate and force a recall on the coils, potentially the O2 sensor and definitely the ecm. The repair costs are insane. Ecm on this car is $1300 no labor. Current warranty on new is 60k. Mine went at 61k. 2001 warranty was 10/100 and 8/80. They know they have problems. Car is a lemon, contact lawyer too much hassle - they win again.

See all problems of the 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle 🔎.

I own a 1999 New Beetle with the 2. 0 engine with 37,000 original miles. The car quit running approx. 2 1/2 yrs ago,approximately two months after I purchased it from a certified Volkswagen dealer, used. A few days after delivery there was a rotten egg smell, check engine light on, engine sluggish. After one month the battery went dead completely. Replaced the battery, car would not run. Battery dead again after four days. I found info on the internet that security system must be set or the battery will last only four days. Inspected plugs, found heavy carbon buildup. Inspected pre O2 sensor, found same. Decided to overhaul eng. Found heavy carbon on tops of pistons and valves. Machine shop had to replace pistons, rings, all bearings, oil pump, plane the cylinder head, plane the head mating surface, replace seals, turn the flywheel. I had to also replace the water pump, timing belt, clutch, throwout bearing, O2 sensor, plug wires, and the dipstick holder. After considerable money spent, engine would start but not run. I found out from the dealer that if electrical power is lost, vehicle must be towed to a Volkswagen dealer and be reprogrammed. It will not run until that is done. The reason given was that Volkswagen did not want any owners to fix their own car. This could be a signifigant safety issue in a life threatening situation! there are reports on several internet forums of the original batteries blowing up and even after replacement of the battery the vehicle would not run until it was reprogrammed. Volkswagen should be required to fix this problem. I would like to see a full investigation on this model to see if it should be sold in the us. There are too many reported defects on this model to list here, some that apply to this car, that are much more dangerous than I described here. I hope that our government will straighten this company out and that owners will somehow be compensated.

See all problems of the 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle 🔎.

While driving my 2001 vw New Beetle the car suddenly lost power and began to shake violently. I immediately slowed down but the car continued to idle very roughly. The esc and check engine lights illuminated. I pulled the car off the highway and turned off the engine. I was able to re-start the engine and drive the car home. I took the car to the dealer and was informed that the O2 sensor and the throttle body had failed and required replacement. The total cost was $1097. 00 and was my responsibility even though the car is a 2001 model with just over 18000 miles on the odometer. A call to the Volkswagen "customer advocate" center proved hopeless as they refused to pay for the repair. I was told that the 2001 vw beetle came with a 2 year 24000 mile warranty. The lack of warranty leads me to believe that vw knew these cars were of substandard quality from the date of manufacturer.