What Volkswagen Beetle owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Volkswagen Beetle safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 421 |
| 2018 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 517 |
| 2017 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 551 |
| 2016 | 59 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 690 |
| 2015 | 99 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 963 |
| 2014 | 54 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1,324 |
| 2013 | 101 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1,336 |
| 2012 | 65 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1,076 |
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 639 |
| 2010 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 632 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Volkswagen Beetle complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
Component Affected: AIRBAGS: FORE AND AFT INTERIOR OVERHEAD/OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM Description of Safety Defect: I own a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle 2.5L (Build Date: April 2013). The vehicle is experiencing a permanent Passenger Occupant Detection System (PODS) failure, indicated by a persistent airbag warning light on the dashboard and an active passenger seatbelt warning chime. A diagnostic scan reveals active fault code B12251B (Passenger Seat Occupant Recognition Sensor Mat - Resistance Too High), pointing directly to a failure of the digital 3-pin LIN-Bus occupancy sensor module (OEM Part Number: 5C6959339B). This system failure suppresses the passenger-side airbag deployment mecha…
Upon pulling into my driveway, the vehicle would not shift into Park. It got stuck in neutral and allows me to turn the vehicle on and off, but will not shift from neutral into park or drive or anything. The shifter is completely stuck, and the manual override button does nothing.
I was rear ended at a stop light. My car ended up rear ending the car in front of me from the accident, but my airbags did not go off. My car's warning light says my airbag has been deployed even though it did not.
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 evaluation at Stohlman Volkswagen Tysons Corner. Immediately upon exiting the facility, a critical 'Brake Fluid Low' safety alarm and a flashing Red BRAKE Warning Light triggered on my dashboard, creating an emergency safety hazard on the highway.Due to the severity of the braking system malfunction, I was forced to return the vehicle to the dealership on August 15, 2026. As documented by Repair Invoice #6137732, certified technicians took emergency custody of the vehicle, diagnosed stored sporadic low-…
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags); however, the repair failed to prevent a failure. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced an air bag failure shortly after the recall repair. The vehicle was taken back to the same local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a driverâs side air bag failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.
ABS module is defective. This results in numerous warning lights, including abs, traction control, airbags, tire pressure warning, check engine light, epc light, and speed control usability. I have no working abs, seat belt, or traction control, which is a safety issue. There was a previous safety recall for VW with defective abs control modules, 45F2. The problem has been confirmed through an authorized VW repair shop. The part will be made available.
The 2019 Volkswagen Final Edition SE Beetleâs rear trunk latch/lock will fail and not open from the outside with the car unlocked and using the key fob due to it being jammed closed. In an emergency situation, thereâs no manual way to open the rear hatch, and there are no visible markings showing where the override is to be or what to do to open it up from the inside in an emergency. Further, after reading the ownerâs manual, it shows several different ways it can be opened depending on the year the vehicle was built, and the 2019 says to stick the flat end of your key into a slot on the right and slide it to the left to which mine failed and did NOT work. Dealership Service Technic…
The rear view camera stopped working (black screen.) I have tried to soft reset the infotainment display unit as well as a hard reset by disconnecting car battery to no avail. The trunk lock mechanism is operational (the rear view camera unit is located in the same unit.)
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
Repair or Replace Information
Replacement instruction
Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order
Differences between a leak and seepage
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: DA 0019 - Hotfix 12-V battery test(s) â No battery diagnosis - Inconclusive test result.
Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
Lubricating engine components before reassembly.
Inquiries
Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards
Difference between Component fluid leakage and seepage
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the error message ERP0204E could occur during perform initial operation, software configuration, SVM updates for any control module(s) etc.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2010–2019, owners most often name: air bags, electrical system, unknown or other. 457 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
