Volkswagen Beetle Complaints (1998)

171 consumer complaints on file.

#10132445August 11, 2005
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL
THE TURBO CHARGER ON THE TDI VOLKSWAGONS ARE FAILING AT A VERY HIGH RATE. THE COST FOR REPAIR AVERAGES ABOUT $1600. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE FORCED TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND REPAIR THIS PREMATURE FAILURE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132220August 10, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
I HAVE INVESTED IN A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE I ONLY DROVE IT 3 TIMES IT WHEN DOWN ON ME 6 MILES FROM MY HOUSE THE GUY THAT'S WORKING ON SAID MY HEADON MOTOR WAS CRACK , THEN I HAD ELE , PROBLEMS EVERYDAY I CALL IT IS SOMETHING ELSE I PAY DOWN TO EZWAY AUTO 5,000.00 THEN I PAY 383.00 A MONTH I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR 2 WEEKS . I ASK FOR MY MONEY BACK THEY SAID NO .WHAT SUCH I DO I AM DISABLE ON A LIMIT INCOME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127064June 29, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKE LIGHTS REMAINING ON. THIS OCCURRED WHEN BOTH BRAKE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED AND EVEN WHEN IT WAS NOT. CONSUMER REMOVED BRAKE LIGHT FUSE ON HIS OWN. ALSO, REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH BUT STILL PROBLEM RECURRED. . CONSUMER WAS C WITHOUT ANY BRAKE LIGHTS . CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10118500April 26, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A SERIES OF PROBLEMS SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VOLKSWAGEN ENTHUSIAST. SO WHEN I SAW THE NEW BEETLES I WAS NATURALLY EXCITED AND COULDN'T WAIT TO OWN ONE. WHAT I EXPECTED WAS VOLKSWAGENS USUAL EXCELLENT QUALITY AND VALUE FOR MONEY. WHAT I GOT WAS A VEHICLE THAT NOT ONLY IS AN INCONVENIENCE TO DRIVE, BUT IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AT LEAST 8 MAJOR DEFECTS. I CALL THEM DEFECTS BECAUSE SO MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THEIR NEW BEETLES. KEEP IN MIND THE VEHICLE IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED, AND IS ONLY AT 97,000 MILES. 1. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND VEHICLE STALLS OR CUTS OUT ON A REGULAR BASIS. 2. THE LOW BEAMS ON MY HEADLIGHTS ALWAYS BURN OUT. I CHANGE THE LIGHTS AND THEY JUST BURN OUT AGAIN. I ALWAYS HAVE TO DRIVE INSTEAD WITH MY HIGH BEAMS ON. 3. MY DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS HAVE FALLEN INTO MY DOORS. MEANING THAT THEY WONT ROLL UP, A LOUD, NOISE CAN BE HEARD WHEN YOU TRY. I WAS TOLD BY VOLKSWAGEN THAT THEY WERE "AWARE" OF THE PROBLEM. THEY EVEN TOLD ME THAT IT WAS BECAUSE THEY USED PLASTIC CLIPS TO HOLD THE WINDOWS AND THEY ARE NOW REPLACING WITH METAL CLIPS. FINE AND GOOD, BUT WHILE MY WINDOWS WERE DOWN MY SEATS BECAME SEVERELY STAINED. (THEY STAIN EASY) WHO'S GOING PAY FOR THAT??? 4. THE WINDOW SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE WINDOWS GOING UP AND DOWN BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. 5. THE RADIO TRIES TO LOAD A TAPE WHEN THERE ISN'T ONE. HOOD LATCH BROKE, HAS TO BE OPENED WITH SCREWDRIVER NOW. THANKS VWOA!! 6. HEATER MOTOR TURNS UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN 7. ENGINE HOLDS HIGH RPMS IN HIGHWAY, RAPID IOL CONSUMPTION. 8 REVERSE LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. QUESTIONS VWOA? CALL ME, WE'LL CHAT 269-986-0996 . *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10119021April 21, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING. THE HEADLIGHTS SHORT OUT WHICH BURNS THE BULBS. THE WIRING HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE. THE CONSUMER HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER. THE PROBLEM STILL REMAINS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116492April 6, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
I OWN A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND I WAS LOCKED IN MY CAR. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT USING A NEW REMOTE I HAD JUST PURCHASED.*AK SECONDLY, TWO DAYS AGO I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE, IT WAS WARM, AND I TURNED ON THE FAN. IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED BLOWING 'HIGH' AND WOULDN'T TURN OFF. WITHIN A MINUTE THE DASHBOARD BEGAN SMOKING AND THERE WAS A DISTINCT ELETRICAL SMELL. I STOPPED, RAISED THE HOOD AND THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE FAN STUCK IN THE 'HIGH' POSITION AND CAUSED A FIRE WHICH 'TOTALLED' THE CAR. THE DASH AND SEATS MELTED AND THE FRONT WINDSHIELD BROKE OUT FROM THE FLAMES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10110626February 16, 2005
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY 1998 BUG HAS BURNED APPROX. 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES, DEALERSHIP REPORTED THIS AS NORMAL? DON'T THINK SO. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS EVERY SIX MONTHS UNTIL THE SWITCH ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE FOR THE DAYTIME RUNNINGS LAMPS BROKE. I OPEN THE CAR DOOR (STILL IN WARRANTY) AND THE HANDLE FELL OFF IN MY HANDS. FOG LIGHT HAD MOISTURE IN IT, NOW BOTH HAVE FALLEN OUT. BOTH DOOR HINGES BROKE. YOU CANNOT OPEN DOORS AND SHUT THEM, I HAD TO CLIMB IN AND OUT OF THE WINDOWS TO GET INTO THE CAR. THE TRUNK LATCH HAD TO BE REPAIRED, IT WOULDN'T OPEN. THE GAS LATCH IS BROKEN AND DOESN'T HINGE, THE GLOVE BOX HINGES DON'T WORK, THE COMPARTMENT ABOVE THE CLOCK DOESN'T HINGE PROPERLY. THE RADIO TURNS ITSELF OFF, THE TEMP READ OUT IN THE CAR FADES IN AND OUT, SOMETHING ON THE TRANSMISSION BROKE AND I ONLY HAD 2ND AND 3RD GEAR, I HAVE REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSORS TWICE, MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, I HAVE BEEN TOLD I NEED A NEW SEAT TO CORRECT THIS, EVEN THOUGH IT IS DUE THE THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS EVERY BUG SEEMS TO HAVE. HUB CAP HAS FALLEN OFF SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE LOST ANTIFREEZE, BUT NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHERE II'S GOING. I'M SURE THERE IS MORE, BUT THIS CAR CONSTANTLY HAS SO MANY THINGS WRONG WITH IT, I CAN'T KEEP UP ANYMORE. UNFORTUNATELY THE DEALERSHIPS ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN'T SEEM TO SEE ALL THE CRONIC PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107688January 21, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN MY CAR THE DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHT WENT OUT. THE BRIGHTS STILL WORK BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT DOESN'T UNLESS IT IS ON BRIGHTS, I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST NORMAL MAYBE THE LIGHT WORK OUT BUT I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE CONNECTION AND I HAVE SEEN SO MANY WITH THE SAME HEADLIGHT OUT THIS IS UNSAFE AND CAN POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A TICKET OR A WRECK. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104847December 31, 2004
SEATS
I WAS DRIVING MY 98 BUG WHEN THE ENTIRE SEAT FELL OFF THE TRACK, AND I FELL IN THE BACKSEAT, THE CAR STALLED WHILE ON A 45 MPH ROAD I WAS NOT INJURED.KEFFER VOLK RECURED THE SEAT BUT SAY I WILL COST $1000 FOR A NEW FLOOR TRACK. VOLKS SAYS THIS ISN'T A WARRANTY ISSUE. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A SEAT TO DRIVE THE CAR. MY CONCERN IS HOW MANY OTHER CARS/VOLKS HAVE DONE THIS AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THEIR LACK OF CONCERN. HAD I BEEN INJURED OR WORSE KILLED THERE WOULD BE A HUGE LAWSUIT AT THIS TIME. I DO NOT WEIGH 300 POUNDS NOR AM I ABUSING TO MY VEHICLES. I DO BELIEVE A MOTOR CAR INDUSTRY SHOULD BE ABLE TO BUILD A CAR THAT KEEPS THE SEAT IN PLACE. I RARELY HAVE EVEN MOVED THE SEAT BACK AND FORTH ON THE TRACK. I AM THE SECOND OWNER AND THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN A WRECK. WE ARE GETTING RID OF THE CAR VERY SOON. I HAVE LOST MY CONFIDENCE IN VOLKS. THIS WAS MY SECOND CAR WITH THEM. THANK YOU. PREVIOUS FIREFIGHTER AND ER NURSE AND SAFETY PREVIONTION OFFICER WITH THE FIRE DEPART. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10102665December 11, 2004
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
I OWN A 1998 BEETLE AND I AM MAKING YOU AWARE OF A SAFETY CONCERN THAT CAN POSSIBLY LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT OR EVEN CAUSE A DEATH. I HAVE COMPLAINED BEFORE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. THE EXTERNAL MIRRORS ON THE EARLY NEW BEETLES ARE DANGEROUSLY OVERSIZED THUS CAUSING A SIGNIFICANT BLIND-SPOT(S) WHEN DRIVING. THESE BLIND SPOTS, (ESPECIALLY DRIVERS SIDE) PREVENT VISIBILITY TO THE FRONT SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. EX. IF THERE IS SOMEONE IN THE CROSSWALK IN FRONT LEFT OF YOU, YOU CANNOT SEE THEM OR IT!!! ON TOO MANY OCCASIONS TO COUNT I AND OTHERS HAVE ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN AND ANOTHER ONCOMING VEHICLE DUE TO THIS FAILURE!!! I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MORE TIMES I WILL BE SO LUCKY, BUT I FEEL AS IF I AM DRIVING A TICKING TIME BOMB. VW HAS COME UP WITH THE SOLUTION BY REDESIGNING NEWER BEETLES WITH SMALLER AND RELOCATING THE EXTERNAL MIRRORS THUS ELIMINATING THE PROBLEM. BUT, THOSE OF US WHO HAVE THESES OLDER VERSIONS ARE STUCK WITH THIS VERY CRITICAL SAFETY CONCERN...PLEASE HELP! *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10090999September 14, 2004
SEATS
MY DRIVER SIDE SEAT ON MY 98 BEETLE HAS COLLAPSED AND NEEDS A NEW SEAT FRAME. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10087110September 8, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHEN CRUISE CONTROL WAS ENGAGED VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY ACCELERATE BEYOND THE SET SPEED. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE THROTTLE CONTROL MODULE WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK THE VEHICLE'S SPEEDOMETER WOULD NOT GO PAST 60 MPH. THE A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED A LOUD SQUEALING NOISE WHEN TURNING THE A/C ON. THE MIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR HOSE , AIR PUMP AND MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089830August 26, 2004
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE THE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS NO COLLISION. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. ALSO, THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. RECALL 98V100000 WAS ISSUED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10089281August 12, 2004
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
1998 BEETLE.*MR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IT WAS DRIVER 120 MILES TO THE CONSUMER'S HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP BECAUSE THE CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT EH VEHICLE'S BRAKES AND CLUTCH WERE BAD. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER BUT THE REFUSED TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10082028August 12, 2004
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THE ELECTRIC WINDOW WOULD NOT MOVE IN THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURED ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SAME PROBLEM , HOWEVER THEY REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY REGISTERED IN CANADA. THE (THE OWNER BOUGHT THE PARTS AND REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10078586June 22, 2004
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, EQUIPMENT
MY 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE IS FALLING APART. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE MY HEADLIGHTS 6 TIMES WITHIN THE PAST 4 YEARS THAT I'VE OWNED THIS USED VEHICLE. MY INTERIOR TRIM, WINDOW SWITCHES, GEARSHIFT KNOB & SEVERAL PLASTIC COVERS IN THE CAR HAVE FALLEN NOW FALLEN APART. MY 6 HEADLIGHTS HAVE COST ME APPROX. $600.00 PLUS RENT-A-CAR FEES WHICH MY WARRANTY DOESN'T COVER! PLEASE HELP ME.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10075729June 4, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10064060March 29, 2004
AIR BAGS, EQUIPMENT
DRIVE TIME SOLD ME A CAR THAT HAD THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON, AND SAID THEY WERE GOING TO FIX IT, BUT THEY NEVER DID, NOW THEY HAVE CHANGED MANAGEMENT AND THE PERSON WHO PROMISSED TO REPAIR IS NO LONGER THERE, LEAVING ME IN A POSITION WHERE THE NEW MANAGER SAYS THAT THE COST TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS NOT COVERED BY THEIR BUSINESS. THE CAR SPENT A WEEK AND A HALF ON THEIR REPAIR SHOP, AND NOTHING WAS FIXED, MY DASH WAS SCRATCHED FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THEY BROKE A PIECE BETWEEN THE SEATS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10069625January 15, 2004
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I BOUGHT A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE FROM TORRANCE NISSAN ON 5 JANUARY, 2003: SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE, THIS CAR HAD BEEN OVERHEATING OFF AND ON. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT.? THEY WENT AS FAR AS TAKING IT TO A VW SERVICE REP ON 5 AND 6 JANUARY, 2003 FOR CONFIRMATION. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT VW HAS NO RECORD OF EVER SERVICING OR EVEN SEEING THE VW UNTIL 1 APRIL, 2003! DURING THE MONTHS OF FEBRUARY AND MARCH, 2003 I STILL EXPERIENCED THE VEHICLE OVERHEATING AND EACH TIME I CALLED AMIR, I WOULD FOLLOW UP WITH A VISIT TO TORRANCE NISSAN. THEIR REPLIES WERE ALWAYS THE SAME, THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM FOR THE OVERHEATING? THERE WERE MANY TIMES I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP THAT I NO LONGER WANTED THIS CAR AND EVEN SUBMITTED IT IN WRITING ON 15 APRIL, 2003. ON 1 APRIL, 2003 I TOOK THE BEETLE TO VOLKSWAGEN MYSELF AND HAD IT FIXED, BUT THE WATER PUMP BROKE AGAIN AND WAS REPLACED ON 4-9-03. THREE DAYS LATER, THE CAR WAS GETTING HOT. I TOLD BOTH VOLKSWAGEN AND TORRANCE NISSAN THAT I NO LONGER WANT THIS CAR! I HAVE PROOF OF ALL THE REPAIRS PERFORMED AND STILL IT OVERHEATS! ON 12 APRIL, 2003 I TOOK THE CAR ONCE MORE TO VOLKSWAGEN TO THOROUGHLY CHECK IT OUT AND THEY CALLED THEIR TECHNICAL SUPPORT. A FEW DAYS LATER THEY FOUND A CRACKED HEAD ON THE ENGINE BLOCK. TO TOP IT OFF, I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT ON 28 APRIL, 2003 ON MY WAY TO WORK AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE LONG BEACH HONDA BODY SHOP. LATER THAT NIGHT THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS BURNED DOWN WITH 3 OTHER CARS IN THE BODY SHOP. BEFORE THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE, I WAS IN PROCESS OF A VALID CLAIM UNDER THE LEMON LAW & MAGNUSON-MOSS WARRANTY ACT WITH THE ADAM KROHN OF THE CONSUME LAW CENTER. ISSUES: RENTAL CAR $1,607.78 (MY INSURANCE ONLY COVERED $600.00, MY INSURANCE COVERED ONLY ACTUAL VALUE OF $10,788.31; LEAVING ME WITH A BALANCE OF $1,043.00 OUT-OF-POCKET. WHICH MY INSURANCE INFORMS ME MAKE A CLAIM AGAINST THE BODY SHOP FOR DIFFERENCE ON BALANCE AND $ 1007.78 OF THE CAR RENTAL.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10050523January 8, 2004
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OUT WHILE IN USE WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN VEHICLE IS IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE IT WILL EITHER SURGE OR CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. DEALERSHIP STATED THEY NEED TO SEPARATE THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MOTOR BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. CONSUMER NOTED HE HAS SEEN A LOT OF ONE HEADLIGHT BEETLES AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD. *PH *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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