2000 Volkswagen Beetle Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT 15 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIMING BELT AND THE MOTOR MOUNT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED WHITE SMOKE BEHIND THE VEHICLE, THEN ALL ELECTRONICS FAILED BUT CAR REMAINED RUNNING, PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE CAR WAS QUICKLY ON FIRE FROM THE DASH FORWARD. TRIED CALLING VW COSTUMER CARE AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE PERTAINING TO FIRE. AFTER SEARCHING ONLINE FOUND DOZENS OF SIMILAR IF NOT EXACT INCIDENTS. THIS WAS MY DAUGHTERS CAR (17) AND CARRIED ONLY LIABILITY. ONLY REASON FOR WRITING IS TO EDUCATE SO THAT OTHERS ARE NOT FACING A LIFE THREATNING EVENT, AS VW DENIES ANY WRONG DOING.

ENGINE TIMING BELT PREMATURELY FAILED AT 89,000 MILE. VW OWNERS MANUAL SUPPLIED WITH VEHICLE STATES THAT FOR THE 1.8L TURBOCHARGED ENGINE, THE TIMING BELT DID NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED UNTIL 105,000 MILES. THE FAILURE OF THE BELT CAUSED BENT VALVES. TOTAL SERVICE BILL AS A RESULT CAME TO ABOUT $4500. LOSS OF POWER WHEN THE BELT FAILED ALSO PUT MY SAFETY AT RISK AS MY CAR WAS STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TR

MY SON WAS DRIVING OUR 2000 VW BEETLE ON THE WESTBANK EXPRESSWAY IN NEW ORLEANS, HE HEARD A LOUD POP, AND THE CAR STARTED TO FILL WITH "WHITE SMOKE", HE PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY, AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF. WITHIN MINUTES, THE CAR WAS ON FIRE. THIS CAME WITHOUT WARNING, WE DID NOT HAVE ANY ISSUES WITH THE CAR PRIOR TO YESTERDAY, 7-17-10. *TR

2.0 AEG MOTOR USES EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AND EXHIBITS PISTON SLAP ON COLD START. ENGINE USES A QUART OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE PISTON RINGS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED UPSIDE DOWN AT THE FACTORY, WHICH IS THE REASONING BEHIND THE POOR OIL CONTROL. VW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. CAR HAS BEEN IN THE FAMILY FOR TWO OUT OF THE LAST THREE OWNERS. *TR

VW CATALYTIC CONVERTER WARRANTY EXTENSION. WAS 8 YEARS/80K MILES. EXTENDED TO 10 YEARS/120K MILES. I HAVE A 2000 VW NEW BEETLE GLS, WHICH I PURCHASED NEW IN 1999. MY MODEL IS CURRENTLY COVERED UNDER THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY. MY CAR IS NOT PASSING SMOG - GROSS POLLUTER STATUS. ONLY HAS 73,000 MILES ON IT. THE ISSUE: BECAUSE THE CAT CONVERTER IS NOT FORMALLY LISTED AS A "RECALL" BY VW AMERICA, THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC (EVEN THOUGH I'M PROVIDING THE DETAILED PAPERWORK FROM MY SMOG STATION), AND WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, THEY WANT ME TO REPAIR ANY AND ALL ISSUES THAT ARISE AT A COST TO ME, BEFORE THEY WILL REPLACE MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY. THE PROBLEM WITH THIS IS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COVERS NUMEROUS ISSUES THE CAR MAY BE HAVING, INCLUDING SOME THAT MAY NOT BE RELATED TO THE CAR NOT PASSING SMOG. AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON. DEALERSHIP TURNS IT OFF - COMES RIGHT BACK ON WITHIN DAYS. I WANT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED FIRST, THEN SEE IF IT PASSES SMOG, THEN I WILL REPAIR ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. I DON'T WANT TO PUT MONEY INTO PROBLEMS POSSIBLY UNRELATED TO SMOG, IF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WON'T FIX THE ISSUE. BUT PER THE VW DEALERSHIP, I CANNOT PROCEED WITHOUT SPENDING MONEY ON SUPPOSED OTHER PROBLEMS, BECAUSE THE CAT CONVERTER WAS NOT TECHNICALLY LABELED A RECALL. I WROTE THE EPA - THE EMAIL I RECEIVED BACK FROM THEM SAID THEY CONSIDER IT A RECALL, BUT BECAUSE VW AMERICA DID NOT SEND OUT A FORMAL RECALL NOTICE ON THE CAT CONVERTER, AND INSTEAD JUST PROVIDED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY, THERE'S NOT MUCH THAT CAN BE DONE. DEALERSHIPS CAN REQUIRE A DIAGNOSTICS RUN AND ASK YOU TO PAY TO FIX OTHER PROBLEMS PRIOR TO FIXING THE CAT CONVERTER. VW EXTENDED THE WARRANTY, SO CLEARLY THEY ARE AWARE THERE IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD JUST CALL IT A FORMAL RECALL (SINCE THE EPA DOES), FIX THE PROBLEM THEY KNOW EXISTS. CURRENTLY, I'VE BROUGHT TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. SAME ISSUE. DON'T HAVE ANY OTHER CHOICE. *TR

WE OWN A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE...IN 2008 THE WATER PUMP WENT IN IT...HAD THAT REPLACED AND 4 WEEKS LATER HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED AGAIN THEN THE FOLLOWING YEAR 2009 THE WINDOW MOTORS IN BOTH WINDOWS WENT..HAD TO HAVE THOSE REPLACED... THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE FALLING OUT HAVE TO CONSTANTLY PUSH THEM BACK IN....NOW 2011 THE WATER PUMP WENT IN IT AGAIN..NOW THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE DRIVE WAY ACTING AS A PAPER WEIGHT..HAD I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SO MANY ISSUES WITH THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE I WOULD HAVE NEVER BOUGHT ONE..I HOPE THAT VOLKSWAGEN IS HAPPY RAKING PEOPLE OVER THE COALS BY SELLING THEM NOTHING BUT JUNK AND GOD FORBID IF YOU HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER THEY WANT EVERYTHING UP TO AND INCLUDING YOUR FIRST BORN CHILD... *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH PRODUCED "ERROR CODE 5". A MECHANIC REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AND RESET THE COMPUTER; HOWEVER, THE INDICATOR CONTINUES TO ILLUMINATE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 126,000. UPDATED 02/24/09. *LJ UPDATED 02/26/09. *JB

ON APRIL 4, 2008, OUR 2000VW GLS BEETLE CAUGHT FIRE AS IT WAS BEING DRIVEN ON THE INTERSTATE. CAR HAD BEEN HESITATING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, SO WE HAD IT SERVICED AT OUR LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP ON MARCH 28. DIAGNOSTICS DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WE WENT AHEAD AS ASKED FOR FUEL FILTER AND THE COOLANT SENSOR TO BE REPLACED. FOR THE NEXT WEEK, THE CAR CONTINUED TO HESITATE, ESPECIALLY AFTER BEING DRIVEN FOR MORE THAT 20 MINUTES. WE MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND AS MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO THIS APPOINTMENT SHE NOTICED THE HESITATION AGAIN, AND ABOUT 10 MILES LATER, NOTICED SMOKE IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. SHE PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY AND SMOKE STARTED POURING INSIDE THE CAR. ALL OF THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS CLICKED ON, THEN OFF. WITHIN 2 MINUTES, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND WAS NOT PHYSICALLY HARMED. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

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. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE BATTERY AND THE ECP WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE TIMING BELT. THE MANUFACTURER WILL NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR FOR FREE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AT 38,000 MILES AND 49,000 MILES. THE TIMING BELT WAS REMOVED TO REPLACE THE PUMP. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

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!!! *NM

2000 TURBO ENGINE BEETLE WITH 68,700 MILES WAS 'CHUGGING' LIKE A DIESEL IMMEDIATELY AFTER NON-RELATED WARRANTY REPAIR AT THE DEALER. TOOK BACK TO THE DEALER WHO QUOTED $1500 TO REPLACE TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP. PAID $95 FOR THEIR DIAGNOSIS AND TOOK THE CAR TO MY REGULAR MECHANIC WHO DID THE SAME REPAIR FOR $450! HOWEVER, MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THE "TIMING BELT TENSIONER" WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE BELT TO WEAR OUT. THIS WAS AN ADDITIONAL $150 COST FOR THAT PART. I HAVE ALL THE PARTS FROM THE REPAIR. *JB

THE SERVICE REP AT UNIVERSITY VW REPORTED MY CAR NEEDED A NEW TIMING BELT AND WATER PUMP - COST $1,500 (THE WORD WARRANTY WAS NEVER MENTIONED, SO I NEVER CONSIDERED THIS REPAIR MIGHT BE COVERED.) ANOTHER MECHANICS QUOTE FOR THE SAME JOB WAS $448. DURING REPAIR HE FOUND THE TIMING BELT TENSIONER WAS DEFECTIVE, SO MY TOTAL COST WAS $615 - STILL LESS THAN HALF OF THE QUOTE BY UNIVERSITY VW. (I ALSO HAD TO PAY UNIVERSITY $96 FOR THEIR RIP-OFF QUOTE.) I CONTACTED VW, WHO TOLD ME TO TAKE THE PART TO THE DEALER FOR CONFIRMATION OF DEFECT. DEFECT WAS CONFIRMED BY THEIR LEAD MECHANIC. (NOTE THAT HE CONFIRMED DEFECT AND NOT WORN OUT PART. I STILL HAVE ALL PARTS.) SERVICE MANAGER STATED HE WOULD FILE A CLAIM WITH VW FOR ME. HE CALLED ON 2/19 AND REPORTED MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. THE REQUEST WAS NOT MADE TO VW, BUT DECIDED BY HIS REGIONAL MANAGER. I CALLED VW ABOUT A CLAIM. ON 2/20 VW CLAIMS CALLED STATING MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. SHE STATED THAT MY CLAIM WAS DENIED. SHE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THE REPAIR WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY - IF I HAD NOT TAKEN IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC. I TOLD HER I WOULD NOT HAVE TAKEN IT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC, IF I HAD KNOWN IT WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY! (THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME I LEARNED THE PROBLEM WAS COVERED BY THE WARRANTY!) I TOLD HER I WANTED TO APPEAL THIS DECISION, SO WHOM SHOULD I CONTACT? SHE STATED, "I AM EMPOWERED BY THE CEO OF VOLKSWAGEN, SO THERE ISN'T ANYONE HIGHER. YOUR CLAIM WILL NOT BE PAID." AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, THIS ENTIRE PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY A SERVICE CONSULTANT NOT TELLING ME THIS REPAIR WOULD BE (OR EVEN, MIGHT BE) COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. AS A NON-MECHANICAL CUSTOMER, I FEEL I SHOULD HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO EXPECT THAT SERVICE. IF I HAD BEEN TOLD THAT, I DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE LEFT MY CAR AT UNIVERSITY VW FOR THE REPAIRS, BUT I FELT I HAD NO CHOICE - EITHER PAY $1,500 OR $500. *NM

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY MY CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING A LOUD, HORRENDOUS NOISE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND LOOKED AT THE MUFFLER, IT APPEARED INTACT. I DROVE SLOWLY TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE THEY TOLD ME THAT THE PIPE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THAT LEADS TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD DETACHED. THEY TOLD ME THE PIPE WAS STAINLESS STEEL AND THEY WERE NOT EVEN SURE HOW IT HAD EVER ATTACHED. THEY CALLED VOLKSWAGEN TO ASK WHAT COULD BE DONE. THE PEOPLE AT VOLKSWAGEN WANTED TO KNOW WHAT YEAR THE CAR WAS AND THE MILEAGE, 61,000 MILES. AFTER A HESITATION THEY TOLD THE MAN AT THE SERVICE STATION THAT IT WOULD COST $800 - $900 FOR A NEW SYSTEM. THE MAN AT THE SERVICE STATION DID AN EMERGENCY WELD, ALTHOUGH HE DIDN'T THINK THAT IT WOULD HOLD. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE SAW NO DAMAGE UNDER THE CAR THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THIS PIPE TO DETACH. HE ALSO SAID HE WAS SUSPICIOUS OF THE MANNER IN WHICH THE VOLKSWAGEN REPRESENTATIVE HAD QUESTIONED HIM ABOUT THE YEAR AND MILEAGE AND SUGGESTED I CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN MYSELF. I CALLED VOLKSWAGEN AND WAS TOLD THAT THE WARRANTY ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ON THAT MODEL HAD BEEN EXTENDED TO 80,000 MILES OR 8 YEARS. I EXPLAINED THAT I WASN'T SURE IF IT WAS THE CONVERTER BUT IT WAS THE PIPE LEADING TO IT, I WAS ASSURED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY COVERED. I TOOK MY CAR TO PITCAIRN VOLKSWAGEN IN LANGHORNE, PA. THE PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY CONTACTED VOLKSWAGEN DIRECTLY AND SHOWED THEM PICTURES OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF MY CAR. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT I HAD CAUSED THE DAMAGE. WHEN I ARGUED THAT THERE WAS NO DAMAGE, I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE I HAD THE EMERGENCY WELD DONE. THEY AGREED TO REINFORCE THE WELD BUT THAT WAS ALL. *JB

THE CAR OVERHEATED AND THE TEMPERATURE LIGHTS CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE AUTOMOBILE TO A SERVICE STATION. THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A DEFECTIVE WATER PUMP. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE BLADES TO THE FAN LYING ON THE ENGINE. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP WITH PARTS ORDERED FROM VOLKSWAGEN. THE MECHANIC WAS ASTONISHED AT THE PLASTIC PARTS USED BY VOLKSWAGEN. THERE WAS ONLY 60,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. *JB

THE A/C QUITE WORKING WHILE DRIVING, ONCE IT WAS PARKED IT TURNED COOL FOR A MINUTE OR TWO THEN WENT HOT AGAIN. WE TOOK IT FOR A/C CHECK, ALL WAS FINE FOR ABOUT 5 MILES THEN IT WENT HOT AGAIN. THE NEXT DAY TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, JUST BEFORE WE GOT THERE THE TEMP GAUGE CAME ON. THE DEALER FOUND THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, AND TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE PROBLEM IS THE LIGHT DIDN'T COME UNTIL THE DAMAGE WAS ALREADY DONE. *NM

DT: CONSUMER'S CAR STALLED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO WITH MOSTLY DECELERATION AND DOWN SHIFTING. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE LOST POWER. EVERY TIME IT STALLED AND STOPPED, BUT ALWAYS RESTARTED. WAS TAKEN TO DEALER TWICE BEFORE, BUT CURRENTLY A TOTAL OF 3 TIMES. YESTERDAY AT FULL SPEED WHILE PASSING A TRUCK WITH NO INDICATION THE CAR BEGAN TO DECELERATE AND LOST POWER. WHEN TRYING TO MOVE INTO ANOTHER LANE THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALER, IS CURRENTLY AWAITING AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT MAKES THIS HAPPEN. *AK

TO MAKE THIS SHORT THIS LINK TELLS THE WHOLE STORY IN DETAIL ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON WITH MY CAR. HTTP://FORUMS.VWVORTEX.COM/ZEROTHREAD?ID=1941470 CURRENTLY MY CAR IS STALLING RANDOMLY ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. VW OF AMERICA TELLS ME TO TAKE IT UP WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPT. WHICH I HAVE BEEN FOR 2 YEARS. THE DEALERSHIP KEEPS GIVING IT BACK TO ME UNFIXED BUT STILL REPLACING PARTS! THE DANGEROUS PART OF THIS IS THE STEERING LOCKS UP WHEN THE CAR DIES AND I'TS STILL MOVING. I AM FEARFUL OF DRIVING IT AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN ANYWHERE WITH VW. IF YOU GO TO THE LINK ABOVE AND READ THE THREAD YOU WILL SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE AND THAT IT SEEMS TO BE THE SAME PARTICULAR YEAR AND ENGINE AS MINE IN MOST REPLIES. PLEASE CONTACT ME IF MORE DETAILS OR INFORMATION IS NEEDED. I WOULD LIKE TO HELP FIND A SOLUTION BEFORE ANY SERIOUS ACCIDENTS HAPPEN OR ANYONE IS HURT. THANK YOU, DAVE WERBECK

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? *AK