Complaints by model year
Federal complaints filed against each model year of the Volkswagen Beetle. Hover a bar for the count.
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
Three most-complained-about yearsAll other years
Which years to avoid
Ranked from the same federal record. Click any year for its full file.
Years to look at twice
- 2004 Volkswagen Beetle - 469 complaints
- 2003 Volkswagen Beetle - 405 complaints
- 2000 Volkswagen Beetle - 373 complaints
Highest raw complaint counts. Counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
Quieter years
- 2016 Volkswagen Beetle - 63 complaints
- 2014 Volkswagen Beetle - 71 complaints
- 2007 Volkswagen Beetle - 79 complaints
Fewest complaints among years with a meaningful record; the two newest model years are excluded because they have had little time to accumulate filings.
What fails, all years combined
Every model year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Volkswagen Beetle | 16 | 3 |
| 2018 Volkswagen Beetle | 21 | 3 |
| 2017 Volkswagen Beetle | 19 | 3 |
| 2016 Volkswagen Beetle | 63 | 3 |
| 2015 Volkswagen Beetle | 108 | 5 |
| 2014 Volkswagen Beetle | 71 | 5 |
| 2013 Volkswagen Beetle | 125 | 6 |
| 2012 Volkswagen Beetle | 88 | 6 |
| 2010 Volkswagen Beetle | 42 | 3 |
| 2009 Volkswagen Beetle | 39 | 2 |
| 2008 Volkswagen Beetle | 109 | 3 |
| 2007 Volkswagen Beetle | 79 | 2 |
| 2006 Volkswagen Beetle | 161 | 3 |
| 2005 Volkswagen Beetle | 330 | 3 |
| 2004 Volkswagen Beetle | 469 | 3 |
| 2003 Volkswagen Beetle | 405 | 2 |
| 2002 Volkswagen Beetle | 231 | 2 |
| 2001 Volkswagen Beetle | 291 | 2 |
| 2000 Volkswagen Beetle | 373 | 1 |
| 1999 Volkswagen Beetle | 280 | 1 |
| 1998 Volkswagen Beetle | 289 | 2 |
Recall campaigns, all years
Every campaign filed against this model, with the model years it covers. Recall repairs are free at the dealer.
| Campaign | Years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24V834000 | 2017-2019 | 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. |
| 22V945000 | 2015-2016 | 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 propell |
| 20V785000 | 2012-2014 | Air Bags | 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 |
| 19V679000 | 2008-2013 | 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 Hybri |
| 19V615000 | 2012-2019 | Steering | 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 |
| 19V094000 | 2019 | Service Brakes | 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 brak |
| 18V369000DO NOT DRIVE | 2018 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 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 veh |
| 17V136000 | 2017 | 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 lab |
| 15V705000 | 2015-2016 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 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 affect |
| 15V028000 | 2014-2015 | Fuel System, Gasoline | 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 |
| 14V658000 | 2013-2015 | 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 affe |
| 14V656000 | 2012-2013 | Suspension | 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 vehic |
| 14V182000 | 2014 | 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 converte |
| 12V540000 | 2012-2013 | Air Bags | 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 fron |
| 12V331000 | 2012 | 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 |
| 11V031000 | 2010 | 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 TH |
| 10V621000 | 2006-2010 | Fuel System, Gasoline | 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 W |
| 08V178000 | 2003-2005 | Air Bags | 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 |
| 08V036000 | 2008 | 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 ADHES |
| 07V063000 | 2001-2007 | 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. |
| 06V183000 | 1998-2002 | 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 INCORR |
| 06V043000 | 2006 | 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 |
| 04V586000 | 2004-2005 | 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. |
| 98V100000 | 1998 | Electrical System | 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 BEC |