NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
171 reportsMileage unknown · Sep 5, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline
ON 9/1/99, I DROVE THE CAR ALL DAY (BOUT 200 MILES) AND DID NOT KNOW THAT THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING GAS. (I HAVE NO SENSE OF SMELL!!) UNTIL I GOT HOME AND TOOK A FRIEND TO DINNER AND HE SAID "THIS CAR STINKS LIKE GASOLINE"! WE LOOKED UNDER THE BACK SEAT AND REMOVED THE COVER PLATE AND THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE GAS TANK IN …
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ON 9/1/99, I DROVE THE CAR ALL DAY (BOUT 200 MILES) AND DID NOT KNOW THAT THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK WAS LEAKING GAS. (I HAVE NO SENSE OF SMELL!!) UNTIL I GOT HOME AND TOOK A FRIEND TO DINNER AND HE SAID "THIS CAR STINKS LIKE GASOLINE"! WE LOOKED UNDER THE BACK SEAT AND REMOVED THE COVER PLATE AND THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE GAS TANK IN THE AREA OF THE SENDING UNIT RETAINING RING WAS FILLED WITH GAS (ABOUT 1/2 INCH DEEP) . TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE SEAL ON THE TOP OF THE TANK. TWO DAYS LATER 9/4/99, GAS SMELL RETURNED AND UPON INSPECTION THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN! GAS POURING OUT OF THE CLOSED RETAINING RING!! DUE TO THE HOLIDAY, I HAVE TO WAIT TIL TUES. TO HAVE CAR LOOKED AT. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED JOE BERTRAN AT VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA RE THIS SERIOUS DEFECT.
NHTSA ODI #710951
Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 1999
Electrical System
PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW DOESN'T WORK. ALSO, REMOTE CONTRO IS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHEN THE RADIO IS ON THE TAPE DECK WILL PLAY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #842593
Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
PLASTIC CLIP IN COOLING SYSTEM BROKE, CAUSING ALL COOLANT TO BE DISCHARGED ALL OVER THE ENGINE AND ENGINE TO OVERHEAT. DEALER REPLACED PLASTIC CLIP WITH METAL CLIP. VW SENT DEALER 8 METAL CLIPS THE WEEK PREVIOUS. THEY SAID OTHER BEETLES PROBABLY HAD THIS PROBLEM, THAT'S WHY VW SENT THEM 8 METAL CLIPS AHEAD OF TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #707290
Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
OIL CONSUMED AT RATE OF 1QT/1500 MILES. NO LEAK OR SMOKING EXHAUST. VW RECOMMENDS OIL CHANGE EVERY 10,000 MILES. ENGINE WOULD HAVE NO OIL BY 6,000 MILES. COULD CAUSE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. OTHER NEW BEETLE OWNERS I KNOW HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR GAS 2.0L ENGINE, 5SPD NEW BEETLE. THIS S…
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OIL CONSUMED AT RATE OF 1QT/1500 MILES. NO LEAK OR SMOKING EXHAUST. VW RECOMMENDS OIL CHANGE EVERY 10,000 MILES. ENGINE WOULD HAVE NO OIL BY 6,000 MILES. COULD CAUSE ENGINE TO SEIZE AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. OTHER NEW BEETLE OWNERS I KNOW HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR GAS 2.0L ENGINE, 5SPD NEW BEETLE. THIS SITUATION IS VERY UNSAFE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #707289
Mileage unknown · May 18, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, ENGINE TURBO WENT OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO 120 MPH. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES/EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND DOWNSHIFTED VEHICLE, IT DIDN'T WORK. CONSUMER KEPT PUSHING ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN, AND THEN IT ACCELERATED BACK TO HIGH SPEED. FINALLY, SLOWED BACK DOWN AND CA…
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WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, ENGINE TURBO WENT OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO 120 MPH. CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES/EMERGENCY BRAKE, AND DOWNSHIFTED VEHICLE, IT DIDN'T WORK. CONSUMER KEPT PUSHING ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, VEHICLE STARTED SLOWING DOWN, AND THEN IT ACCELERATED BACK TO HIGH SPEED. FINALLY, SLOWED BACK DOWN AND CAME TO A STOP. *AK
NHTSA ODI #838109
Mileage unknown · May 17, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentFire
VEHICLE HAS HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION, RADIO/CASSETTE FAILURE WHICH RESULTED IN FIRE, PREVIOUS INCIDENT RADIATOR FAILURE, COMPUTER FAILURE, DEFECTIVE CONTROL SWITCHES AND DEFECTICE ENGINE.
NHTSA ODI #706559
Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
LOSING OIL AT RATE OF 1QT EVERY 1,500 MILES. VW ORDERED NEW ENGINE FOR ME. SERVICE SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT, AND IT IS NORMAL. I DON'T THINK SO. OWNER'S MANUAL RECOMMENDS OIL CHANGES AT 10,000 MILE INTERVALS. THE ENGINE WOULD BE BONE DRY AT 6,000 MILES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705807
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 1999
SteeringCrash
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON COUNTY NARROW ROAD AND A DOG WAS ON THE ROAD. SHE SWERVED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WENT AIRBORNE ONTO A HILL. HIT A TREE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. CAR WAS AIRBORNE AND CAUGHT BY A TREE AND ROOF WAS TORN OFF. AFTER THAT, VEHICLE WENT INTO ANOTHER TREE ON THE REAR CORNER, AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CR…
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CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON COUNTY NARROW ROAD AND A DOG WAS ON THE ROAD. SHE SWERVED ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WENT AIRBORNE ONTO A HILL. HIT A TREE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. CAR WAS AIRBORNE AND CAUGHT BY A TREE AND ROOF WAS TORN OFF. AFTER THAT, VEHICLE WENT INTO ANOTHER TREE ON THE REAR CORNER, AND DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR CRUSHED IN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #836513
Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 1999
Visibility
CONSUMER ROLLED DOWN THE PASSENGER'S POWER WINDOW FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THE INSIDE MECHANISM FOR THE WINDOW BROKE, CAUSING THE WINDOW TO BE INOPERATIVE.THE CABLE AND REGULATOR FOR THE POWER WINDOW IS ON BACKORDER. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE WHEN PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #835378
Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 1999
Air BagsCrashInjury
CONSUMER HIT AN OTHER VEHICLE ON THE FRONT OR THE SIDE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #835187
NHTSA investigations
3RQ06004 · Brake Light Switch Failure
Opened Feb 28, 2006 · Closed Aug 7, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
BY LETTERS DATED MAY 24, 2006 AND AUGUST 4, 2006, VOLKSWAGEN (VW) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO 06V-183) INVOLVING MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND 1999-2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN?S RECALL COVERS 646,246 VEHICLES.PREVIOUSLY, VW RECALLED THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096) THAT WAS UNIQUE TO VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096.VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.BASED ON VOLKSWAGEN'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
BY LETTERS DATED MAY 24, 2006 AND AUGUST 4, 2006, VOLKSWAGEN (VW) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO 06V-183) INVOLVING MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND 1999-2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN?S RECALL COVERS 646,246 VEHICLES.PREVIOUSLY, VW RECALLED THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096) THAT WAS UNIQUE TO VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096.VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.BASED ON VOLKSWAGEN'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
BY LETTERS DATED MAY 24, 2006 AND AUGUST 4, 2006, VOLKSWAGEN (VW) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO 06V-183) INVOLVING MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND 1999-2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN?S RECALL COVERS 646,246 VEHICLES.PREVIOUSLY, VW RECALLED THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096) THAT WAS UNIQUE TO VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096.VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.BASED ON VOLKSWAGEN'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
EA03002 · Brake Light Switch
Opened Apr 8, 2003 · Closed Aug 20, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH USED IN CRUISE CONTROL EQUIPPED MY 1998-1999 AND ALL MY 2000 AND LATER MODELS HAS UNDERGONE MULTIPLE REVISIONS.ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA INDICATES HIGH REPLACEMENT RATES OCCURRED IN VEHICLES BUILT WITH BRAKE SWITCH PART NUMBERS 1J0 945 511A AND 1J0 945 511B, THE ORIGINAL AND FIRST REVISION LEVELS, RESPECTIVELY.THE FAILURE OF THE SWITCH COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, OR COULD CAUSE THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATED.EITHER CONDITION RESULTS IN THE INABILITY OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOTIFY OTHER MOTORISTS OF VEHICLE BRAKING.UNDER SAFETY RECALL 03V-265, VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON ALL VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH NOVEMBER 2001.ANY AFFECTED SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE WITH THE MOST CURRENT VERSION, PART NUMBER 1J0 945 511D.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH USED IN CRUISE CONTROL EQUIPPED MY 1998-1999 AND ALL MY 2000 AND LATER MODELS HAS UNDERGONE MULTIPLE REVISIONS.ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA INDICATES HIGH REPLACEMENT RATES OCCURRED IN VEHICLES BUILT WITH BRAKE SWITCH PART NUMBERS 1J0 945 511A AND 1J0 945 511B, THE ORIGINAL AND FIRST REVISION LEVELS, RESPECTIVELY.THE FAILURE OF THE SWITCH COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, OR COULD CAUSE THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATED.EITHER CONDITION RESULTS IN THE INABILITY OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOTIFY OTHER MOTORISTS OF VEHICLE BRAKING.UNDER SAFETY RECALL 03V-265, VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON ALL VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH NOVEMBER 2001.ANY AFFECTED SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE WITH THE MOST CURRENT VERSION, PART NUMBER 1J0 945 511D.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH USED IN CRUISE CONTROL EQUIPPED MY 1998-1999 AND ALL MY 2000 AND LATER MODELS HAS UNDERGONE MULTIPLE REVISIONS.ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA INDICATES HIGH REPLACEMENT RATES OCCURRED IN VEHICLES BUILT WITH BRAKE SWITCH PART NUMBERS 1J0 945 511A AND 1J0 945 511B, THE ORIGINAL AND FIRST REVISION LEVELS, RESPECTIVELY.THE FAILURE OF THE SWITCH COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, OR COULD CAUSE THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATED.EITHER CONDITION RESULTS IN THE INABILITY OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOTIFY OTHER MOTORISTS OF VEHICLE BRAKING.UNDER SAFETY RECALL 03V-265, VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON ALL VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH NOVEMBER 2001.ANY AFFECTED SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE WITH THE MOST CURRENT VERSION, PART NUMBER 1J0 945 511D.
PE02084 · Brake Light Switch Operation
Opened Nov 18, 2002 · Closed Apr 8, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH USED IN NEW BEETLE IS ALSO SPECIFIED IN GOLF AND JETTA MODELS.ONE TYPE OF SWITCH IS USED ON CRUISE EQUIPPED MODELS, A SECOND TYPE IS USED ON NON-CRUISE MODELS.VW REPORTS 86 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 2575 WARRANTY CLAIMS OF INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE RELATED TO THE BRAKE SWITCH.TWO OF THE VW COMPLAINTS INVOLVE FAILURES THAT WERE ALSO REPORTED TO ODI.ADDITIONALLY, OVER 100,000 BRAKE SWITCH SERVICE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN SOLD UNDER 4 DIFFERENT PART NUMBERS.THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH USED IN NEW BEETLE IS ALSO SPECIFIED IN GOLF AND JETTA MODELS.ONE TYPE OF SWITCH IS USED ON CRUISE EQUIPPED MODELS, A SECOND TYPE IS USED ON NON-CRUISE MODELS.VW REPORTS 86 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 2575 WARRANTY CLAIMS OF INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE RELATED TO THE BRAKE SWITCH.TWO OF THE VW COMPLAINTS INVOLVE FAILURES THAT WERE ALSO REPORTED TO ODI.ADDITIONALLY, OVER 100,000 BRAKE SWITCH SERVICE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN SOLD UNDER 4 DIFFERENT PART NUMBERS.THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.
Exterior Lighting
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH USED IN NEW BEETLE IS ALSO SPECIFIED IN GOLF AND JETTA MODELS.ONE TYPE OF SWITCH IS USED ON CRUISE EQUIPPED MODELS, A SECOND TYPE IS USED ON NON-CRUISE MODELS.VW REPORTS 86 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 2575 WARRANTY CLAIMS OF INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE RELATED TO THE BRAKE SWITCH.TWO OF THE VW COMPLAINTS INVOLVE FAILURES THAT WERE ALSO REPORTED TO ODI.ADDITIONALLY, OVER 100,000 BRAKE SWITCH SERVICE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN SOLD UNDER 4 DIFFERENT PART NUMBERS.THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.
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