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NHTSA Safety Recalls

Volkswagen Beetle Recalls by Year

NHTSA's files hold 18 recall campaigns for the Volkswagen Beetle, across 10 model years from 2009 to 2019. The 2013 has the most (7); the fewest among years with a recall is 2009 (2).

Volkswagen Beetle years to avoid by our method: 2000 (2.9× the median year) and 2001 (2.1× the median year).

Model years
10

2009–2019, with a recall

Recall campaigns
18
Most recalls
2013

7 recalls

Owner complaints
2,243

all model years, NHTSA

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Owners have filed 2,243 complaints with NHTSA about the Volkswagen Beetle across 19 model years; the most, 349, concern the 2004.

Owners marked a crash on 87 of the Volkswagen Beetle complaints (4%) and a fire on 71.

Across all Volkswagen Beetle model years, owners name the power train most often (at least 553 complaints), then the air bags (499).

NHTSA received the most complaints about the Volkswagen Beetle in 2010: 320, across all model years.

The component recalled most often on the Volkswagen Beetle is electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module, in 8 model-year listings.

The newest Volkswagen Beetle recall, 24V834000, was reported on October 30, 2024 and concerns the air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module.

Volkswagen Beetle years to avoid

The 2000 Volkswagen Beetle stands out most: 108 complaints between 1999 and 2003, 24% of them naming the air bags.

The best-measured Volkswagen Beetle years are 2003 (0.6×), 2014 (0.6×) and 2008 (0.6×).

The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method

Recalls and complaints by model year

NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the Volkswagen Beetle, by model year
YearRecallsComplaintsFirst yearsvs median year
20194149not ranked
20184177not ranked
20174156not ranked
20164488not ranked
201568326
1.0×
201465018
0.6×
201379328
1.0×
201276530
1.2×
20103306not ranked
20092334not ranked

First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.Volkswagen Beetle years without a link have no recall page on this site.

What gets recalled most on the Volkswagen Beetle

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE8
  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER8
  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE5
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER4
  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
  • VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY3
  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL2
  • SUSPENSION:REAR2
  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS2
  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE2

Volkswagen Beetle model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.

Every Volkswagen Beetle recall campaign (18)

NHTSA recall campaigns covering the Volkswagen Beetle, newest first
CampaignComponentYearsRisk namedVehicles
24V834000October 30, 2024air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2017–2019injury and death248,330
22V945000December 21, 2022air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2015–2016injury and death37,558
20V785000December 16, 2020air bags: frontal2012–2014injury and death105,652
19V679000September 25, 2019unknown or other2009–2010, 2012–2013crash, fire and injury113
19V615000August 22, 2019electrical system: ignition: anti-theft: control module2012–2019crash and injury679,027
19V094000February 13, 2019electrical system: instrument cluster/panel2019crash4,064
18V369000June 1, 2018service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper2018crashdo not drive10,225
17V136000March 2, 2017equipment: other: labels2017crash797
15V705000October 26, 2015engine and engine cooling: engine2015–2016crash91,867
15V028000January 23, 2015fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail2014–2015fire44,658
14V656000October 20, 2014suspension: rear2012–2013crash442,066
14V658000October 20, 2014visibility: sun/moon roof assembly2013–2015crash and injury7,062
14V182000April 15, 2014power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines2014fire26,452
12V540000November 15, 2012air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive2012–2013crash and injury2,471
12V331000July 16, 2012tires2012crash83
11V031000January 21, 2011seats2010—27
10V621000December 10, 2010fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2009–2010fire228,236
20E064000service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder2012–2019crash—

Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the Volkswagen Beetle. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.

Check your VIN on NHTSACall NHTSA 1-888-327-4236

Newest record on this page: September 24, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted

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