Ownership Cost for 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle TDI
Estimated: $22494 over the next 5 years
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4 | Year 5 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | $984 | $472 | $413 | $374 | $335 | $2578 |
| Insurance | $1451 | $1502 | $1554 | $1609 | $1665 | $7781 |
| Fuel | $1592 | $1640 | $1697 | $1765 | $1844 | $8538 |
| Maintenance | $40 | $253 | $137 | $225 | $1038 | $1693 |
| Repairs | $91 | $323 | $353 | $487 | $612 | $1866 |
| Taxes & Fees | $24 | $24 | $24 | $24 | $24 | $36 |
| Total Ownership Costs | $4182 | $4193 | $4158 | $4462 | $5498 | $22494 |
| Model year | COMPONENT | Complaint |
| 2003 | POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | TRANSMISSION - INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. OCCURRED BEGINNING THE THIRD WEEK AFTER PURCHASE OF THIS BRAND NEW CAR. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP - THEY ADJUSTED TRANSMISSION BUT SAID THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO I WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT GETS WORSE OR LEAVE IT UNTIL THEY EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. NOW THE TRANSMISSION (AS OF 1 WEEK AGO) OCCASIONALLY "SLAMS" INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. I AM SCHEDULING ANOTHER SERVICE WITH THE DEALER. I ADVISED THEM THE FAILURE TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE IS A SAFETY HAZARD (I HAVE BEEN ALMOST REAR ENDED 3 TIMES IN A PARKING GARAGE). THEY ARE NOT THE LEAST BIT CONCERNED. I ASKED FOR A NEW REPLACEMENET CAR SINCE IT HAD 500 MILES ON IT AT THAT POINT - THEY WOULD NOT EVEN DISCUSS THIS. I AM NOT OPTIMISTIC AS THEY WILL LIKLEY GIVE ME THE "WE CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM - YOU WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL IT GETS WORSE" ROUTINE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I WANT A NEW CAR OR A NEW TRANSMISSION.*AK |
| 1998 | SEATS | THE BOLTS AT THE BOTTOM FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAME LOOSE, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO "WIGGLE" IN ITS TRACKS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE BOLTS WORKED THEMSELVES FREE AND ALLOWED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH IN ITS TRACKS, THUS PREVENTING THE SETTING OF A SAFE, STATIONARY POSITION. ALSO, BECAUSE THE FRONT BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SEAT TO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS HAVE FAILED, VEHICLE MOVEMENTS ALLOW THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO TIP UP AND DOWN IN AN ARCHING DIRECTION. THIS MEANS THAT UNLESS THE DRIVER IS HOLDING ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL FIRMLY, THE SEAT TENDS TO TIP BACK WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES FROM A STOP OR A STEADY SPEED. THE SEAT ALSO TENDS TO TIP UP AND DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE REBOUNDS AS IT COMPLETES A STOP. ON THE FIRST OCCASION THAT THE SEAT ANCHORING SYSTEM FAILED (JANUARY 2000), THE SEAT MOVED ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF ITS TRACK, BREAKING THROUGH THE BACK END OF THE LEFT PLASTIC RAIL COVER AND ALLOWING THE THE LEFT SIDE SEAT ROLLER TO JUT OUT IN THE OPEN. THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WAS ALSO REPORTED TWICE TO NHTSA IN 1999 ACCORDING TO PHIL EDMONSTON AUTHOR OF LEMON-AID CAR GUIDE 2001. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTUER DEFECT, AS IT OCCURS UNDER NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS.*AK |
Vehicle identification numbers: