I recently purchased a 2000 VW new Beetle on October 10, 2007. My significant other drove the car to work. When she got ready to leave the car would not start. She called a mechanic and they checked the vehicle. They determined that the timing belt had broken. The car has less than 90,000 miles on it. I went a researched and found other similar complaints about low mileage Beetles of this year having the same problem. I am concerned that such an expensive repair is required at such low mileage in order to own this vehicle and have it operate properly. I am not the original owner so I realize that this repair is not covered for me. There should be some form of disclaimer placed on this year of Beetle so that perspective owners will know that they have an expensive repair coming up (timing belt) if it hasn't been corrected already.

- Fraser, CO, USA

Car has been a problem since first week of ownership. Many electrical problems. Aaa has seen this car more than I have over the last 2 years. Currently at 51,000 miles the timing belt broke causing serious engine damage. VW says it is out of warranty even though I bought a certified vehicle with an extended warranty. Whoever heard of a timing belt breaking at 51,000 miles!!!

- Yulan, NY, USA

Driving on a two lane road in an isolated area, limited shoulder; without warning car stopped running. Had to be towed to a service station & then to a dealer. It turned out the timing belt had failed and had destroyed the vavles and pistons requiring a new engine to fix. My car had 99,000 miles on it. Warranty on timing belt for first owner is to 100,000 miles. VW service recommendations say the timing belt should be replaced at 105,000 miles for year 2000 models. I am concerned not only about the extraordinary cost that is involved in repairing this failure but also in the fact that there is no warning and it caused complete failure of my engine. I have read about other timing belt failures on this vehicle. Dealer asked for and was supplied invoices for every repair and oil change but repair under the warranty was denied because I did not have the vehicle serviced by a dealer at 60,000 & 80,000 miles. I called the 800 number for VW but Volkswagen was completely uninterested in my story. The only time the issue of checking the timing belt was mentioned to me was after it broke! even when I had other service performed at 88,000 miles by the dealer. My feeling is this type of failure which is so severe that it requires a new engine is unacceptble and unexpected. I have owned other cars of a different make that had well over 100,000 miles with little or no problems. Why would VW recommend replacing the timing belt at 100,000 miles if there is a probability that it may not even make it that far" what use is a 100,000 mile power train warranty if there are so many loop holes that VW does not expect to have to honor the warranty"

- Apex, NC, USA

Driving on the freeway in construction zone with close cement barriers on both sides, no shoulder; without warning car stopped running. It turned out the timing belt had failed and had destroyed the vavles and pistons requiring a new engine and timing belt to fix. My car had 68,000 miles on it. Warranty on timing belt for first owner is to 100,000 miles, but only 50,000 miles for second owner. I am second owner. I am concerned not only about the extraordinary cost that is involved in repairing this failure but also in the fact that there is no warning and it caused complete failure of my engine. It was extrememy dangerous. I have read about other timing belt failures on this vehicle. Volkswagen is completely uninterested in my story because I am a second owner. My feeling is this type of failure which is so severe that it requires a new engine is unacceptble and unexpected and unsafe on a car with only 68,000 miles. It used to be a timing belt failure made a car run poorly not get destroyed.

- Durham, NC, USA