SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1974 Volkswagen Beetle

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
4Owner complaints

Model-year median: 49

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
0
19710
19721
19734
19740
1977
Compare all Beetle years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seat Belts
1Steering
1Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seat Belts. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

4 reports
3,000 miles · May 5, 2014
Steering

IN A SWEEPING LEFT TURN ON HWY 58, THE STEERING LOCK. I WENT ACROSS THE ON COMING LANE, INTO A BIG PULLOUT AND STOPPED ABOUT 3 FEET FROM A LARGE TREE. I CHECK WITH THE DEALER ABOUT GETTING A NEW SHAFT WITH NEW U JOINTS. HE SAID THAT THEY HAD A SUPER BUG THAT WAS IN A COLLISION THAT NEEDED THE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED, (BAD U …

Read full complaint

IN A SWEEPING LEFT TURN ON HWY 58, THE STEERING LOCK. I WENT ACROSS THE ON COMING LANE, INTO A BIG PULLOUT AND STOPPED ABOUT 3 FEET FROM A LARGE TREE. I CHECK WITH THE DEALER ABOUT GETTING A NEW SHAFT WITH NEW U JOINTS. HE SAID THAT THEY HAD A SUPER BUG THAT WAS IN A COLLISION THAT NEEDED THE STEERING SHAFT REPLACED, (BAD U JOINT). I WENT AND GOT ANOTHER ONE, IT TOO HAD A BINDING U JOINT. ONE BEARING IN THE ALL SHAFTS, (U JOINT) DID NOT HAVE GREASE IN THEM THEY HAD RUST AND WERE BINDING OR BOUND! I MADE UP 2 OUT OF THE PARTS OF 3 WITH GREASE IN THEM. STILL HAVE THE CAR TODAY. ALSO THE HEAD LIGHTS AN BACK UP LIGHTS DID NOT WORK WHEN I FIRST GOT IT, (NEW), AND THE WIRING WAS NOT THE PROPER COLOR CODE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10586714

Mileage unknown · May 21, 2004
Seat BeltsCrashInjury

FATALITY DUE TO HEAD ON COLLISION. *MR THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH A 1997 FORD F150. THE BELT APPEARED TO BE OPERATIONAL PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE WEBBING WAS FRAYED AND SEPARATED 82 INCHES FROM THE ANCHOR END. *SC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10074040

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2001
Suspension

HE WAS SITTING AT A STOP SIGN AND THE VEHICLE WAS HITTED AND THE BRAKES DIDN'T HOLD

NHTSA ODI #878398

Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 1998
Unknown Or Other

REQUESTING INFORMATION IN REGARDS TO OBTAINING LETTER OF CONFORMITY TO BRING 1974 VW BEETLE INTO US FROM GERMANY.

NHTSA ODI #530746

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.