Volkswagen Beetle Complaints
2,629 consumer complaints on file.
- #11510395March 6, 2023AIR BAGS
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11510489March 6, 2023AIR BAGS
This recall has been here since January 03 2023. When I called VW they stated it was not dangerous and there was no fix. I’m concerned driving this vehicle as the recall states my airbag can deploy at anytime sending shards through my body. BW still has no remedy almost 2 months later
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11509706March 1, 2023AIR BAGS
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11509550February 28, 2023AIR BAGS
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11509299February 27, 2023AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags) however, parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11509386February 27, 2023AIR BAGS
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The manufacturer was contacted and was unable to confirm when parts would become available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11509395February 27, 2023AIR BAGS
This is a dangerous issue but VW is doing nothing but telling us, as required. So, what are we supposed to do? Drive an unsafe car or wait indefinitely for VW to get around to having a remedy? Neither seems reasonable nor acceptable. It's supposedly related to humidity and/or heat, and my car has lived most of its life in Hawaii and Arizona, so ... How can they just say, "Your car has a safety defect that may kill you, but we aren't prepared to do anything about it" and nothing else? Shouldn't they owe us all at least a rental until the car can be made safe? Furthermore, in the recall notice they sent today, dated February 2023, despite the recall actually being from 1/5/23, they say in the same paragraph, "Don't call the dealer, they can't help" and "As always, call the dealer for help." What? Insult to possibly severe injury or death, CARFAX notified us over a month ago, and LoJack did yesterday, and when I contacted the dealer over a month ago, they claimed there was NO RECALL, despite my giving them the recall info from your site (Manufacturer Recall Number 69EM / NHTSA Recall Number 22V945), and today they said there's only a PENDING recall. So, please, tell me what we are to do, let my son drive this car or just not have a car? Also, they say it can explode, sending metal fragments flying, but is this if and when it deploys (and fails) in an accident or just randomly, whenever, just driving along? Thank you for any information, guidance, and prodding of VW. This if not fixed very quickly will certainly end our long relationship with VW.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11507820February 17, 2023AIR BAGS
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11505202February 2, 2023VISIBILITY
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that while attempting to activate the high-beam headlights, the lever failed to operate as designed. The contact stated who is an independent mechanic, diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the multifunction lever switch failed to operate in the forward position as designed, and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11499979January 3, 2023ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Car caught on fire 2 times it was electrical and fuel problem the fire department was present. I reported this once already and the company acted like they didnt care
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11499731January 2, 2023EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Headlamps do not stay illuminated regardless of speed. This issue occurs each time the car is used. This is a hazard when driving in low light conditions as others cannot see the vehicle and lack of lighting impairs ones ability to see the road. This issue has not been investigated by a service center. There are no warning indicators that the lights are not functioning. The issue was present when the used vehicle was purchased in 2020.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11494070November 18, 2022AIR BAGS
Beginning in June 2021 and thereafter, my husband and I received notifications from Volkswagen of America of a life-threatening urgent airbag safety recall for our 2014 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible - our only vehicle. The recall is referenced on your websiteManufacturer Recall Number 69BC; NHTSA Recall Number 20V785. In response to the notifications, we have spent the past nearly 16 months seeking an appointment to have this airbag defect repaired. Initially, we were advised that a qualified technician from Honolulu would come to the Island of Hawaii (where we reside) to make the necessary repairs, as we were informed that there are no qualified dealers or technicians on our island, which has a population of more than 200,000 people, boasts many VW repair shops, and is home to a plethora of other VW drivers. Until last week, my husband’s numerous calls over the past 16 months seeking a repair appointment were met with repeated assurances that someone from VW would contact us for an appointment locally or return our call for scheduling. Having still not heard from WV about scheduling an appointment, we called yet again two weeks ago and they said they no longer send a technician from Honolulu to our island and that we would need to ship our car to Honolulu by boat at our expense to receive the necessary airbag replacement. Aside from being contrary to the numerous statements in the written notifications that the repair, the repair appointment, and alternative transportation would be “free” to us, it appears contrary to public safety protocol that we, the consumers/drivers, would need to come out of pocket an estimated $2,000 to ship and insure the car and obtain alternative transportation while our car is unavailable. While we are concerned about our own well-being as respects driving the car, we are also concerned that there may be many other VW drivers in Hawaii who are similarly situated. A detailed timeline documenting the above is attached.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11492768November 8, 2022ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I have a diesel leak which Volkswagen did not repair (after I towed it there and told them about it in writing) and is not causing a light in the dash however, when plugging in an ODBEleven, several codes are generated and one is related to a low fuel pressure sensor. I also watched the fuel line dripping. VW claims that it is unreasonable to ask them to pay what I already paid to have the car fixed (diagnostics, rental, tow). It was reasonable for me to buy it and pay for all that though apparently. With a diesel leak, it's unsafe to drive so I currently have a piece of metal outside that I'm only halfway through paying on. This indeed is a TDI 2.0L they sold me 3 years ago.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11490412October 22, 2022UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I GOT A BUNCH OF CALLS AND MANY NOTICES REGARDING AN AIRBAG RECALL, BUT I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF THE SHIFT LEVER RECALL. I PARKED MY VEHICLE ON MY STREET AND IT ROLLED AWAY FROM ME AND CRASHED INTO MY NEIGHBORS CAR. IT WAS NOT UNTIL AFTER I PAID OUT OF MY OWN POCKET TO HAVE IT REPAIRED THAT I WAS TOLD IT WAS A RECALL. VW HAS FAILED IN NOTIFYING ME OF THIS AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11489286October 14, 2022TIRES
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Beetle equipped with Barum Tires, Tire Line: Bravuris, Tire Size: 225/45/R17, DOT Number: (Not Provided). The contact stated that while his daughter was driving approximately 65 MPH, the front passenger’s side of the vehicle started to shake, vibrate, and wobble. After stopping to inspect the vehicle, it was discovered that the sidewall of the front passenger’s side tire had completely separated. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The tire manufacturer was not contacted. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 200.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11488404October 7, 2022AIR BAGS
1.Air bags did not deploy in a three vehicle collision. 2.Passenger and myself could have hit our head on the dashboard or steering wheel. 3. unknown 4.yes, its been inspected by insurance company (the driver at fault). 5. no, no lights have ever come on. Car was always in great condition.
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477954August 6, 2022ENGINE
This vehicle experiences faults with the camshaft advance system randomly. At 70,000 miles this seems to be abnormal. At times upon start up or slow speed operation the vehicle will stumble, misfire and the engine may stall if the rpms arent increased. Fault codes indicate a faulty camshaft sensor or solenoid valve. VW tells me this isn't covered by any emissions warranty and could be caused by dirty oil. My own searches on the internet have found multiple complaints about this issue with the 1.8 and 2.0 engine. Camshaft timing most certainly effects emissions and this part in my opinion would be able to function properly between oil changes. A slow speed engine stall could be dangerous due to the lack of power steering .
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11477281August 3, 2022UNKNOWN OR OTHER
After getting in my car and turning on the ignition, I put my foot on the brake. After pulling the gear shift out of park and as I am taking my foot off the brake pedal, sometimes the car would jump a little as if has a glitch in the shifting from park to the next gear.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11476778July 31, 2022ENGINE
Volkswagen water pumps keeps failing. I had the first water pump fail at 61902 miles replaced on 22 Mar 2017. I then had to have another Volkswagen water pump put in my car replaced by a Volkswagen dealership at 82,229 miles on 4 Jan 2019. I am now back at the Volkswagen dealer for yet another new water pump for my car at 108000. These Volkswagen water pumps should not be failing like they are and unfortunately I have found no 3rd party water pump to install in my make and model of car to try to avoid these numerous breakdowns. Not only are the numerous water pump failures expensive to replace, I am afraid the failure of these Volkswagen water pumps may lead to a catastrophic engine failure. Unfortunately, the failure of these Volkswagen water pumps are posted all over the internet.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #11476140July 27, 2022ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN
My VW Beetle has pushbutton start. The ignition can turn off when not in park. This was called a rollaway problem in keyed ignition models, but not pushbutton. I took it to dealer and they said not covered by warranty and no recall. This is as dangerous as in the keyed ignition model. I saw a report of a similar rollaway that VW refused to cover. Also, apparently pushed button while underway. Engine stopped while in traffic. Rolled to side of road and restarted without incident.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0