Volkswagen Beetle Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 32 safety recalls and 2,596 owner complaints across 29 model years of the Volkswagen Beetle (1965–2019). The most-complained-about year is 2004.
Pick your Volkswagen Beetle model year
- 1965
- 1968
- 1969
- 1970
- 1971
- 1973
- 1974
- 1977
- 1998
- 1999
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
- 2006
- 2007
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2012
- 2013
- 2014
- 2015
- 2016
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Volkswagen Beetle | 3 | 14 |
| 2018 Volkswagen Beetle | 3 | 17 |
| 2017 Volkswagen Beetle | 3 | 15 |
| 2016 Volkswagen Beetle | 3 | 48 |
| 2015 Volkswagen Beetle | 5 | 83 |
| 2014 Volkswagen Beetle | 5 | 50 |
| 2013 Volkswagen Beetle | 6 | 93 |
| 2012 Volkswagen Beetle | 6 | 65 |
| 2010 Volkswagen Beetle | 3 | 30 |
| 2009 Volkswagen Beetle | 2 | 33 |
| 2008 Volkswagen Beetle | 3 | 60 |
| 2007 Volkswagen Beetle | 2 | 56 |
| 2006 Volkswagen Beetle | 3 | 124 |
| 2005 Volkswagen Beetle | 3 | 261 |
| 2004 Volkswagen Beetle | 3 | 349 |
| 2003 Volkswagen Beetle | 2 | 314 |
| 2002 Volkswagen Beetle | 2 | 165 |
| 2001 Volkswagen Beetle | 2 | 203 |
| 2000 Volkswagen Beetle | 1 | 263 |
| 1999 Volkswagen Beetle | 1 | 174 |
| 1998 Volkswagen Beetle | 2 | 171 |
| 1977 Volkswagen Beetle | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 Volkswagen Beetle | 0 | 4 |
| 1973 Volkswagen Beetle | 3 | 1 |
| 1971 Volkswagen Beetle | 3 | 0 |
| 1970 Volkswagen Beetle | 0 | 1 |
| 1969 Volkswagen Beetle | 0 | 1 |
| 1968 Volkswagen Beetle | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 Volkswagen Beetle | 0 | 1 |
What Volkswagen Beetle owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 2,596 complaints with NHTSA. The 2004 model year has the most, with 349.
All Volkswagen Beetle recalls (32)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Volkswagen Beetle, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Inflator module (air bags)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's…
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Inflator module (air bags)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Beetle and Beetle Convertibles vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side air bag, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed October 26, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this…
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Air bags: frontal
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number…
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Unknown or other
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle…
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7.…
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Anti-theft device (steering) and electrical system: control module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro…
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.…
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Service brakes and instrument cluster/panel (electrical system)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when a brake system failure is detected. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light vehicle brake…
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's…
Model years: 2019
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Caliper (service brakes) Do not drive
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the…
Model years: 2018
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Labels (equipment)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Beetle and Jetta GLI vehicles. The affected vehicles have incorrect information on the tire information label, possibly causing the operator to overload the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected tire information label, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.…
Model years: 2017
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Engine (engine and engine cooling) and vacuum (service brakes)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
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Fuel rail (fuel system)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle…
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's…
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Suspension: rear
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, to November 30, 2012, and 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles manufactured March 1, 2011, to July 31, 2013. The durability of the rear trailing arms may be reduced in vehicles whose rear trailing arms have been…
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a sheet metal inlay on the rear axle trailing arms designed to prevent a sudden loss of control in the event of trailing arm sudden fracture, free of charge. The…
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Sun/moon roof assembly (visibility)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Beetle vehicles manufactured June 13, 2013, to July 3, 2014. The glass sunroofs in the affected vehicles may break when the vehicles are operated over a hard road surface or strike a pothole.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this…
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Cooling unit and lines (power train)
Volkswagen of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, and Passat vehicles equipped with a 1.8T engine and torque converter automatic transmission. In the affected vehicles, the O-ring seals between the oil cooler and the transmission may leak fluid.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the O-ring seals in the transmission oil cooler, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on April 16, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at…
Model years: 2014
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Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles, manufactured from February 2012, through August 2012, and equipped with leather sport seats. If the right front passenger seat gets wet, the occupant control module may not properly detect the presence of a child restraint installed in the seat.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and replace the control modules, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during January 2013. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
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Tires
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2012 beetle vehicles. Some vehicles may be equipped with summer tires that fail to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards 110 "tire selection and rims" and 139 "new pneumatic tires for light vehicles."
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and replace the noncompliant tires, free of charge. The safety recall began on september 12, 2012. Owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Model years: 2012
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Seats
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2010 new beetle and new beetle convertible manufactured from september 1, 2010, through september 22, 2010, for failing to comply with the barrier test requirements of federal motor vehicles safety standards no. 208, "occupant crash protection," that went into effect on september 1, 2010.
Remedy: Dealers will offer to replace their vehicle with a comparable vehicle that was produced prior to september 1, 2010, compliant with FMVSS 208 requirements. The safety recall began on january 28, 2011. Owners may contact…
Model years: 2010
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 jetta, new beetle, new beetle convertible, model year 2009 jetta sportwagen and model year 2007-2009 rabbit vehicles equipped with 2.5l engines. The jetta, jetta sportwagen, and rabbit vehicles may have a small plastic tab located on the windshield washer fluid reservoir that may…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the underhood fuel line. Additionally, depending on the vehicle model, dealers will either remove the plastic tab from the windshield washer fluid reservoir, or inspect the…
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Air bags: sensor/control module-inactive
Volkswagen is recalling 76,900 my 2004-2005 new beetle and my 2003-2005 new beetle convertibles equipped with an advanced (dual-stage) air bag system. This system may have air bag frontal crash sensors that contain a solder joint on the circuit board that may crack under certain high temperature conditions. If this occurs, the air bag…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect each vehicle to determine that the specific defect crash sensor is present on one or both sides of the vehicle. All of the defect crash sensors will be replaced free of charge. The recall is…
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Roof and pillars (structure)
On certain special edition triple white sedan vehicles, an incorrect adhesive may have been used to attach the roof spoiler to the rear glass of the vehicle. If the incorrect adhesive was used, the spoiler could become loose or fall from the vehicle without warning, even though initially the spoiler may feel secure.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the roof spoiler on these vehicles. The recall began on february 29, 2008. Owners may contact vwoa at 1-800-822-8987.
Model years: 2008
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Switch (exterior lighting)
On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.
Remedy: Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on april 27, 2007, and will be conducted in several staggered mailings through september 21, 2007. Vehicles within the make,…
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Switch (exterior lighting)
On certain passenger vehicles equipped with automatic or manual transmissions and cruise controls, a brake light switch on these vehicles may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly during safety recalls 03v-265 or 04v-096.
Remedy: Dealers will install the newly designed brake light switch free of charge. The recall began on november 27, 2006. Vehicles within the make, model, and model year of this population may be involved in either this recall…
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Labels (equipment)
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 17-inch wheels and a 2.5l engine fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were produced with a tire information label that lists an incorrect front tire size. The correct front tire size should be listed as…
Remedy: Owners will be provided with a new tire information label and installation instructions. At the customer's option, a dealer can perform the installation for them free of charge. The recall began on february 27, 2006.…
Model years: 2006
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Fuel system, diesel
On certain passenger vehicles, the high pressure diesel pumps were produced with an improper fastener, which could allow diesel fuel to escape from the pump.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the diesel pump. The recall began on february 8, 2005. Owners should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
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Electrical system: front underhood
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The electrical wiring located in the engine compartment was routed too close to the endge of the vehicle's battery tray. The wiring can become damaged over time by chafing and the air-conditioner compressor and/or the fuel pump can malfunction.
Remedy: Dealers will install a modified battery tray and inspect, properly route, and securing the wiring in accordance with the recall repair instructions.
Model years: 1998
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Tail lights (exterior lighting)
On the involved vehicles, lenses were installed in an inverted position. This fails to comply to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices and associated equipment".
Remedy: Dealer will replace both the left and right tail light lenses on all affected vehicles, free of charge.
Model years: 1977
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Anchorage (seat belts)
Model years: 1973
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Bumpers (structure)
Model years: 1973
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Labels (equipment)
Model years: 1973
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Suspension: front
Model years: 1971
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Tie rod assembly (steering)
Model years: 1971
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Master cylinder (service brakes)
Model years: 1971
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Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (wheels)
Model years: 1968
Other Volkswagen models
- Jetta10,000 complaints
- Passat7,705 complaints
- Tiguan2,300 complaints
- Atlas1,999 complaints
- Golf1,439 complaints
- GTI1,405 complaints
- ID.41,007 complaints
- Cc983 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.