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2018 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle, and owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
17
owner complaints to NHTSA
29
MPG combined (EPA)

3 safety recalls for the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Inflator module (air bags)

    NHTSA 24V834000 Reported 248,330 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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…

  2. Anti-theft device (steering) and electrical system: control module

    NHTSA 19V615000 Reported 679,027 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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.…

  3. Caliper (service brakes) Do not drive

    NHTSA 18V369000 Reported 10,225 vehicles potentially affected Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

    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…

17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 44,107 miles. Complaints peaked in 2025 with 6 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I am submitting a formal vehicle safety report regarding a hazardous mechanical reassembly failure involving my 2018 Volkswagen Beetle Coast. On August 14, 2026, the vehicle underwent service evaluati”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 5, 2026 · Structure

“The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contac”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 24, 2025 · Air bags

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle (Beetle Convertible, Beetle Dune, Beetle Dune Convertible). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined29 mpg
City / Highway26 / 33–34
FuelRegular
EPA classCompact Cars, Subcompact Cars
Engine4 cyl, 2 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S6)

Compare Volkswagen Beetle model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Volkswagen Beetle model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1965 Volkswagen Beetle01
1968 Volkswagen Beetle10
1969 Volkswagen Beetle01
1970 Volkswagen Beetle01
1971 Volkswagen Beetle30
1973 Volkswagen Beetle31
1974 Volkswagen Beetle04
1977 Volkswagen Beetle10
1998 Volkswagen Beetle2171
1999 Volkswagen Beetle1174
2000 Volkswagen Beetle1263
2001 Volkswagen Beetle2203
2002 Volkswagen Beetle2165
2003 Volkswagen Beetle2314
2004 Volkswagen Beetle3349
2005 Volkswagen Beetle3261
2006 Volkswagen Beetle3124
2007 Volkswagen Beetle256
2008 Volkswagen Beetle360
2009 Volkswagen Beetle233
2010 Volkswagen Beetle330
2012 Volkswagen Beetle665
2013 Volkswagen Beetle693
2014 Volkswagen Beetle550
2015 Volkswagen Beetle583
2016 Volkswagen Beetle348
2017 Volkswagen Beetle315
2018 Volkswagen Beetle317
2019 Volkswagen Beetle314

Checking a specific 2018 Volkswagen Beetle

How do I know if my 2018 Volkswagen Beetle has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Volkswagen dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 18V369000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Volkswagen models

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.