Major Problems with Volkswagen Beetle Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Volkswagen Beetle to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

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Best and Worst Years for Volkswagen Beetle

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Volkswagen Beetle.

Model Year	Complaints
2019 Beetle	2
2018 Beetle	3
2017 Beetle	3
2016 Beetle	7
2015 Beetle	31
2014 Beetle	28
2013 Beetle	41
2012 Beetle	46

Worst 3 Volkswagen Beetle complaints

2014 Volkswagen Beetle ENGINE Victims: 2 Mileage: 22000 miles

2014 Volkswagen Beetle STRUCTURE Victims: 1

2015 Volkswagen Beetle AIR BAGS Victims: 1 Mileage: 4300 miles

Browse Volkswagen Beetle complaints by category

Problems with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY/WIPER and BODY are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Volkswagen Beetle owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM the vehicle is equipped with manual transmission and keyless ignition. this is an unsafe combination should the car be stalled....	48 ~ 23997 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER rear-ended a car in stop and go traffic on freeway - fender bender-no air bags went off. both cars drove...	25 ~ 11834 miles
VISIBILITY/WIPER tl* the contact owns a 2014 volkswagen beetle. the contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph the brake pedal...	20 ~ 18577 miles
ENGINE tl* the contact owned a 2014 volkswagen beetle. while driving approximately 30 mph the contact's vehicle rear ended the preceding...	19 ~ 19288 miles
STEERING clockspring in steering broke causing failure of abs airbag esc and tire pressure monitoring system.car was brand new with 259	14 ~ 25238 miles
AIR BAGS clockspring in steering broke causing failure of abs airbag esc and tire pressure monitoring system.car was brand new with 259	12 ~ 17599 miles
SERVICE BRAKES tl* the contact owns a 2014 volkswagen beetle. the contact stated that while driving approximately 35 mph the brake pedal...	11 ~ 20945 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE the vehicle is equipped with manual transmission and keyless ignition. this is an unsafe combination should the car be stalled....	9 ~ 12524 miles
POWER TRAIN the vehicle is equipped with manual transmission and keyless ignition. this is an unsafe combination should the car be stalled....	9 ~ 17347 miles
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY drivers window does not function properly. will at times not go up or down. dealer states this is a known	9 ~ 1066 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM sun roof and noise when i back up...	8 ~ 48042 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL clockspring broke for the second time causing failure of abs airbag esc and tire pressure monitoring system. second failure of	7 ~ 28565 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2014 vw 'clock spring' failure affecting the driver-side air bag horn and cruise control. i would like to request the...	4 ~ 10654 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING sunroof crack after 2 times change very unsafe condition. when rain front light the get full of water and they	4 ~ 15878 miles
SUSPENSION after exiting the freeway and completing a curve to the right i was on a straight section of the off...	4 ~ 36750 miles
WHEELS contiprocontact tire 23540r19 blow out dec 2012. same tire replaced in 2014. now for the last couple weeks (may 11...	4 ~ 9101 miles
TIRES contiprocontact tire 23540r19 blow out dec 2012. same tire replaced in 2014. now for the last couple weeks (may 11...	4 ~ 4376 miles
SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen beetle. while driving 60 mph the contact heard a loud abnormal noise. the...	3 ~ 41310 miles
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2012 volkswagen beetle. the contact stated that the electronic windows failed and would open and...	3 ~ 13083 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL exited the interstate and once on the off ramp tried to speed up and the engine service light started to...	2 ~ 6525 miles
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT tl* the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen beetle. the contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed the air...	2 ~ 17874 miles
WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen beetle. the contact stated that the check oil warning indicator illuminated. the contact...	1 ~ 65000 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen beetle. the contact stated that the driver's side door did not close tightly....	1 ~ 35000 miles
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2014 volkswagen beetle. the contact stated that the key was difficult to remove from the...	1 ~ 36000 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS tl* the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen beetle. while operating the vehicle the air bag indicator remained illuminated which was...	1 ~ 46000 miles
SEAT BELTS i purchased 2013 vw beetle as certified pre owned in 2016 at 30 000 mile approximately steering gears had to...	1 ~ 48209 miles
SEATS i purchased 2013 vw beetle as certified pre owned in 2016 at 30 000 mile approximately steering gears had to...	1 ~ 48209 miles
RACK > RACK AND PINION > STEERING tl* the contact owns a 2012 volkswagen beetle. while driving approximately 15 mph the steering wheel made an abnormal noise...	1 ~ 26399 miles
RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT tl* the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen beetle. the contact stated that the radio was not working properly. when activated...	1 ~ 56000 miles
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY the car was purchased new. the backup camera on the vehicle is very dark and not safely usable. even on...	1
STRUCTURE adult male had hand under the trunk lid getting ready to lift it open when the passenger door was closed...	1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC clockspring broke for the second time causing failure of abs airbag esc and tire pressure monitoring system. second failure of	1 ~ 1569 miles
PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS > TIRES clockspring broke for the second time causing failure of abs airbag esc and tire pressure monitoring system. second failure of	1 ~ 1569 miles
TRUNK LID > BODY > STRUCTURE my daughter's 2013 vw beetle does not have an emergency trunk release. the only way to release it is to...	1 ~ 3000 miles
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN problem with clutch release. pulling away from a stop the clutch sometimes disengages without any sign of shutter. all of...	1 ~ 60 miles
DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY i have three concerns about my new car. first and foremost is the window issue. i had the vx beetle...	1
MOTOR > REAR WINDOW WIPER/WASHER > VISIBILITY i purchased my car from ourisman volkswagen of laurel 3371 fort meade road laurel on may 27 2012 i began...	1
VISIBILITY i noticed a set of cracks near the top of my windshield approximately at the point where the rear view...	1 ~ 13695 miles
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM cpsc#i1220269a. 2012 volkswagen beetle. consumer stated that when the driver can not read the speed or fuel gauges that it...	1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl* the contact owns a 2012 volkswagen beetle. the contact was driving approximately 40 mph and noticed the catalytic converter...	1 ~ 1166 miles
HEAD RESTRAINT > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS tl* the contact owns a 2012 volkswagen beetle. the contact stated that the electronic windows failed and would open and...	1 ~ 3748 miles
FLOOR SHIFT > LEVER AND LINKAGE > AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION tl* the contact owns a 2012 volkswagen beetle. the contact stated that the electronic windows failed and would open and...	1 ~ 3748 miles

FAQ

What year Volkswagen Beetle is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 8 years, Volkswagen Beetle models of 2019, 2018, 2017 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Volkswagen Beetle?

Volkswagen Beetle models of 2012 and 2013 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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