Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
180–25K
2525–50K
3850–75K
1875–100K
19100–150K
9150K+
127 reports with mileage · 76 unknown
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.
Electrical System. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Air Bags. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
11 crash reports9 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
203 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO STOP CAR SAFELY. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. DEALER REPORTS THAT ECM IS BEING REPLACED, BUT BLAMES PROBLEM ON AN AFTERMARKET K&N AIR FILTER THAT WAS INSTALLED 11 MONTHS AGO. INFORMED DEALER AND VW CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THE …
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ENGINE QUIT RUNNING WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH. LOST ALL POWER INCLUDING POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. WAS ABLE TO STOP CAR SAFELY. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. DEALER REPORTS THAT ECM IS BEING REPLACED, BUT BLAMES PROBLEM ON AN AFTERMARKET K&N AIR FILTER THAT WAS INSTALLED 11 MONTHS AGO. INFORMED DEALER AND VW CUSTOMER SERVICE OF THE MAGNUSSEN-MOSS WARRANTY ACT OF 1982 WHICH MAKES IT A FEDERAL OFFENCE TO NOT HONOR A WARRANTY UNLESS THE MANUFACTURER OFFERS FREE FILTERS. VW IS COVERING ECM UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IS INSISTING ON USE OF A VW FILTER AT MY EXPENSE. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT AND A VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW. THE VW REFERENCE NUMBER FOR THIS COMPLAINT IS #20268678.
NHTSA ODI #766125
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2002
Air BagsTires
WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOWOUT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG THEN DEPLOYED, THERE WAS A SCRATCH ON THE WHEEL, NO SPECIFIC TIRE INFORMATION GIVEN, CLAIM 53-C850-661. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #6901312
Mileage unknown · Aug 12, 2002
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING, ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN CONSUMER OFF THE ROAD, CAUSING CONSUMER TO RUN OVER A CURB, THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CLAIM 43-R829-345. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #6901311
Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 2002
Air BagsEngine And Engine Cooling
THE CONSUMER HAD A SIDE IMPACT ACCIDENT, BUT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY RESULTING IN A SERIOUS INJURY TO THE PASSENGER. *YH THE CONSUMER STATED THE BELT TENSIONER DEPLOYED WHICH CAUSED HIS INCREASED ACCELERATION OVER THE NORMAL FORCES .
NHTSA ODI #566140
Mileage unknown · Jun 5, 2002
Air Bags
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH AND ROLLING OVER SOME PIECES OF TIRE TREAD ON ROAD DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG UNEXPECTEDLY DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #8011083
Mileage unknown · May 29, 2002
Air Bags
DEALER SAYS AIR BAG MUST BE REPLACED. NEVER DEPLOYED. SHOULD IT NOT LAST LONGER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #762397
Mileage unknown · May 8, 2002
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING ON A BRIDGE AT 50 MPH WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FUTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8009441
Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2002
Air BagsCrash
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, AND REQUESTED CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER TO RECEIVE A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK.*AKL
NHTSA ODI #8005901
Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2002
Air BagsCrash
WHILE DRIVING 40MPH THE CAR HIT GRAVEL/ SPET OFF THE SIDE OF ROAD, AND CAUSED PASSENGER'S SIDE TO HIT A TREE. NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. VEHICLE HAS BEEN DECLARED TOTALED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8003845
Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
MOST OF THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED DURING THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY. ON JAN 22ND, TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, ENGINE LOST POWER AND WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND THE POWER CUT FROM 55 TO ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR IN THE MATTER OF SECONDS. OTHER CARS WERE SWERVING AROUND ME AND I WAS FINALLY AB…
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MOST OF THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED DURING THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY. ON JAN 22ND, TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY, ENGINE LOST POWER AND WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN A MULTI-CAR ACCIDENT. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE AND THE POWER CUT FROM 55 TO ABOUT 10 MILES AN HOUR IN THE MATTER OF SECONDS. OTHER CARS WERE SWERVING AROUND ME AND I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CAR WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALERSHIP AND THE THROTTLE BODY WAS CLEANED OUT. ON JAN 30TH THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN, ONLY THIS TIME I WAS NOT ON A HIGHWAY BUT A SIDE STREET. CAR WAS TOWED AWAY AGAIN ANDIS IN THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR REPAIRS. DURING THIS MONTH NOT ONLY WAS AN ENGINE REPLACED BUT IT MALFUNCTIONED TWICE. IT IS DANGEROUS TO TRAVEL ON ANY HIGHWAY WITH THIS CAR. THE ENGINE MALFUNCTIONED TWICE IN ONE WEEK. I CAN NOT SAFELY RETURN TO DRIVING THIS CAR. I WAS ALMOST KILLED ONCE AND WAS VERY LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SERIUOS ACCIDENT. THE BEETLE HAS ENGINE PROBLEMS AND VERY MAJOR ONES. FOR A CAR THAT IS 8 MONTHS OLD, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
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 INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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.
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.
2001 Volkswagen Beetle Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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