2001 Volkswagen Beetle Suspension Problems

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AT ABOUT 12 AM IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE ON HIGHWAY 217 IN TIGARD OREGON, JUST PASSED EXIT 4 MY STEERING STARTED PULLING ME TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD, TOWARDS THE GUARD RAIL. (WAS TRAVELING AT APPROX. 55 MPH) I TRIED TO CORRECT BY PULLING THE STEERING WHEEL LEFT, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. I THEN HEAR A VERY LOUD SNAPPING/BREAKING NOISE UNDER MY LEFT FOOT AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW MY CAR SLIDES TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE, INTO THE GUARD RAIL. I THEN BOUNCED OFF OF THE GUARD RAIL AND THE CAR CONTINUED SLIDING/SPINNING UNTIL COMING TO REST IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. TIGARD POLICE ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND STATED THAT IT LOOKED LIKE THE "SUSPENSION BROKE AND THE WHEEL FELL OFF", CAUSING THE WRECK. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END (LEFT SIDE) AND MARKS ON THE REAR BUMPER. WITNESS FOLLOWING BEHIND ME STATED THAT THEY SAW ME DRIVING IN FRONT OF THEM AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED SPINNING, APPARENTLY FOR NO REASON SINCE THERE WAS NO IMPACT. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE DIESEL. THE VEHICLE WILL SWAY BACK AND FOURTH AND THIS WAS HARD FAST SWAYS. THIS OCCURRED A LOT WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THE SWAYING WAS CAUSED BY THE FAILURE OF CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE CONTACT HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS FROM THIS BECAUSE IT WAS UNSAFE. THE VOLKSWAGEN MANUFACTURER REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA. THIS HAS OCCURRED FOR AT LEAST TWO MONTHS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE WHEELS ALIGNED AND THIS DID NOT HELP THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT PROGRESSIVELY WAS GETTING WORSE. IT OCCURRED AT ALL SPEEDS AND PROGRESSIVELY BECAME WORSE THE FASTER THAT THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING. *AK *JB

I AM WILL REINECKE AND WILL BE SUBMITTING THIS COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF MS. ROSSI. WE HAVE A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE WITH 15500 MILES ON IT [THE VEHICLE HAD 1220 MILES ON IT WHEN WE BOUGHT IT]. WE NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR THAT BECAME INCREASINGLY WORSE. IN AS MUCH AS THE CAR WAS OUT OF WARRANTY [12 MONTHS OR 12000 MILES], A FRIEND AND MYSELF SEARCHED FOR THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE THAT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM BOTH SIDES, REAR OF THE VEHICLE. WE FOUND THE CAUSE TO BE THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER MOUNTINGS. INSIDE THESE MOUNTINGS IS A FIBER OR NEOPHRENE GASKET/GROMMET THAT WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY DISINDEGRADED IN BOTH MOUNTINGS. WHEN WE REMOVED EACH SHOCK WE DISCOVERED AN ORANGE DUST/CRUMB LIKE SUBSTANCE ON THE SHAFT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION LED US TO WHAT WAS LEFT OF THESE GASKETS EMBODIED WITHIN THE MOUNTINGS. I HAVE THE REMAINS OF THESE GASKETS ALONG WITH THE CRUMB LIKE RESIDUE IN MY POSSESSION AND WILL GLADLY SEND IT TO YOU SHOULD YOU SO DESIRE. I CONTACTED THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AS WELL AS THEIR CUSTOMER CARE CENTER AND RECEIVED NO HELP AT ALL WITH THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL AS THOUGH IT IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD OCCUR ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 15500 MILES ON IT THAT IS MAINLY DRIVEN WITHIN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY BY A SENIOR CITIZEN.