NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Exterior Lighting complaints
21 reportsClear category filter145,000 miles · Apr 7, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSeat Belts
I BOUGHT USED. ONE HEADLIGHT WAS WORKING. THE OTHER ONE WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER I GOT IT. WE REPLACED THE HID LIGHTS WITH BRAND NEW HALOGEN LIGHTS. WAS WORKING GREAT! THEN I WAS DRIVING TO TOWN LATE ONE NIGHT AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THE LOW BEAMS, I STILL HAD THE HIGH BEAMS. THEN I GOT PULLED OVER CAUSE MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE NO…
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I BOUGHT USED. ONE HEADLIGHT WAS WORKING. THE OTHER ONE WENT OUT SHORTLY AFTER I GOT IT. WE REPLACED THE HID LIGHTS WITH BRAND NEW HALOGEN LIGHTS. WAS WORKING GREAT! THEN I WAS DRIVING TO TOWN LATE ONE NIGHT AND MY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. THE LOW BEAMS, I STILL HAD THE HIGH BEAMS. THEN I GOT PULLED OVER CAUSE MY TAIL LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. SO I HAD TO DRIVE WITH MY FLASHERS ON. THEN THE CHECK AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I NEED A NEW SEAT BELT, CAUSE IT IS NOT WORKING RIGHT. THE DRIVERS DOOR WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN A LITTLE WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT LOCK. THE LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS ARE MAKING ME MAD CAUSE NO MATTER WHAT WE HAVE DONE THEY NEVER WORK. HELP!!! I WANT IT FIXED!! I LOVE MY LITTLE CONVERTIBLE. I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO GET RID OF IT.
NHTSA ODI #11194478
80,000 miles · Aug 16, 2018
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHTS DO NOT LIGHT PROPERLY WHEN TURNED ON TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. LIGHTS ONLY STAY IN DAYTIME MODE. TOO DARK TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSE TO SEE IT.
NHTSA ODI #11120493
33,000 miles · Apr 8, 2017
Exterior Lighting
DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP - WAS INSPECTED BY EK AUTOMOTIVE IN CHICAGO. HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY IS NOT CONNECTING TO POWER SUPPLY THEREFORE, THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN! . EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT GOES OUT !! VW NEEDS TO FIX THIS AT THEIR EXPENSE!! I'VE SEEN SO MANY NEW BEETLES WITH ONE HEADLIGHT OUT...MAKE IT RIG…
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DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP - WAS INSPECTED BY EK AUTOMOTIVE IN CHICAGO. HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY IS NOT CONNECTING TO POWER SUPPLY THEREFORE, THIS IS A BIG SAFETY CONCERN! . EVERY TIME I HIT A BUMP, THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT GOES OUT !! VW NEEDS TO FIX THIS AT THEIR EXPENSE!! I'VE SEEN SO MANY NEW BEETLES WITH ONE HEADLIGHT OUT...MAKE IT RIGHT!!!
NHTSA ODI #10971456
Mileage unknown · Jul 6, 2015
Air BagsExterior Lighting
I TOOK MY 2005 CONVERTIBLE BEETLE TO THE SERVICE PROVIDER BECAUSE MY R HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON IT BECAUSE IT WAS A FIRE HAZARD. ALL THE WIRES TO THE HEADLIGHT WERE EXPOSED. THE PROTECTIVE PART OVER THE WIRES WERE BRITTLE AND APPEARED TO HAVE JUST ROTTED OFF. EACH WIRE WILL NEED TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE ANY ON…
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I TOOK MY 2005 CONVERTIBLE BEETLE TO THE SERVICE PROVIDER BECAUSE MY R HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. THEY REFUSED TO WORK ON IT BECAUSE IT WAS A FIRE HAZARD. ALL THE WIRES TO THE HEADLIGHT WERE EXPOSED. THE PROTECTIVE PART OVER THE WIRES WERE BRITTLE AND APPEARED TO HAVE JUST ROTTED OFF. EACH WIRE WILL NEED TO BE REPAIRED BEFORE ANY ONE WILL WORK ON IT DUE TO THE HAZARD. I LOOKED AT THE LEFT HEADLIGHT AND SOMEONE HAD REPAIRED THE WIRES ALREADY ON THAT SIDE. LOTS OF ELECTRICAL TAPE AND WIRE NUTS. I STILL HAVE NO R HEADLIGHT. THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON AS WELL SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED LAST YEAR. I OWN ANOTHER BEETLE. IT IS A 2000 AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL YEARS AS WELL. I HAVE READ ABOUT WIRING PROBLEMS WITH THE AIRBAGS AND FEEL THAT IT IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE I FELT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPORTED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA ODI #10732131
130,000 miles · Nov 21, 2013
Exterior Lighting
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHT WIRING HARNESS WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
NHTSA ODI #10553168
62,000 miles · Mar 18, 2013
Exterior Lighting
I HAVE REPLACED THIS SAME BRAKE LIGHT OVER AND OVER. I JUST READ WHERE THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA AND THEY SAID MY VEHICLE HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED IN 2007 SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED, I DID NOT KNOW IF IT HAD THE RECALL REPLACEMENT. I ASKED VW OF AMERICA SINCE IT SEEM…
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I HAVE REPLACED THIS SAME BRAKE LIGHT OVER AND OVER. I JUST READ WHERE THIS VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. I CALLED VW OF AMERICA AND THEY SAID MY VEHICLE HAD THE SWITCH REPLACED IN 2007 SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED, I DID NOT KNOW IF IT HAD THE RECALL REPLACEMENT. I ASKED VW OF AMERICA SINCE IT SEEMS TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, WOULD THEY REPLACE IT AND THEY DENIED MY REQUEST. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH REPLACEMENT DOES NOT LAST. I HAVE LESS THAN 65K MILE ON THE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10503521
40,000 miles · Feb 19, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructure
THE LIGHT SOCKETS ON THE CAR ARE LOOSE AND WILL ALLOW THE BULB TO COME LOOSE AND NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CONNECTOR AND THE LIGHT HAS TO BE RE-INSERTED, THIS CONSTANT REMOVAL AND FIXING OF THE LIGHTS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL OF THE COMPONENTS TO BREAK AND NOW MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX. THE EFFECTED LIGHTS ARE: TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGH…
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THE LIGHT SOCKETS ON THE CAR ARE LOOSE AND WILL ALLOW THE BULB TO COME LOOSE AND NOT MAKE CONTACT WITH THE CONNECTOR AND THE LIGHT HAS TO BE RE-INSERTED, THIS CONSTANT REMOVAL AND FIXING OF THE LIGHTS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL OF THE COMPONENTS TO BREAK AND NOW MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO FIX. THE EFFECTED LIGHTS ARE: TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS, HEAD LIGHT, REVERSE LIGHTS... MAINLY THE REAR LIGHTS, BUT THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10448507
56,243 miles · Feb 14, 2012
Exterior LightingVisibility
REAR QUARTER WINDOWS ON NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE (NBC): FAILURE TO PROPERLY RAISE/LOWER, GRINDING NOISE FROM INSIDE PANEL BEHIND SPEAKERS, DISASSEMBLY FOUND BROKEN CABLE RETAINER COMPONENT, COMPONENT MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC, KNOWN PROBLEM AMONG NBC OWNERS, $600+ REPAIR FOR EACH SIDE, SIMPLE CORRECTION WOULD BE TO MAKE THIS COMPONENT…
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REAR QUARTER WINDOWS ON NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE (NBC): FAILURE TO PROPERLY RAISE/LOWER, GRINDING NOISE FROM INSIDE PANEL BEHIND SPEAKERS, DISASSEMBLY FOUND BROKEN CABLE RETAINER COMPONENT, COMPONENT MADE OF CHEAP PLASTIC, KNOWN PROBLEM AMONG NBC OWNERS, $600+ REPAIR FOR EACH SIDE, SIMPLE CORRECTION WOULD BE TO MAKE THIS COMPONENT OUT OF AIRCRAFT GRADE ALUMINUM, BOTH SIDES HAVE FAILED ON MY DAUGHTER'S CAR------------ LIGHTING: FREQUENT REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM BULBS (DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE), CONSISTENTLY FAILING, HAVE REPLACED FIVE BULBS IN LAST 1.5 YEARS, NO FAULT CODES THROWN, MECHANIC HYPOTHESIZED IT MAY BE DUE TO A VOLTAGE SURGE, PROBLEM NOT ASSOCIATED WITH TOUCHING THE BULB (CAUSING THEM TO FAIL DUE TO OILS ON FINGERS) AS I USE NITRILE GLOVES WHEN HANDLING AND INSTALLING THE BULBS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10447894
75,000 miles · Jan 31, 2012
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control
* HARD GEAR SHIFTING - LED TO A COMPLETE INABILITY TO SHIFT OR BREAK - LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO "ROLL" OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE BEING HIT. ADDITIONALLY I HAVE EXPERIENCE THE SUDDEN LURCHING ON ABOUT 5 OCCASIONS. * THE CAR ALSO LOVES TO ROLL EVEN ON FLAT GROUND. NEED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ALWAYS AND LEAVE IN GEAR. …
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* HARD GEAR SHIFTING - LED TO A COMPLETE INABILITY TO SHIFT OR BREAK - LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO "ROLL" OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE BEING HIT. ADDITIONALLY I HAVE EXPERIENCE THE SUDDEN LURCHING ON ABOUT 5 OCCASIONS. * THE CAR ALSO LOVES TO ROLL EVEN ON FLAT GROUND. NEED TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ALWAYS AND LEAVE IN GEAR. ROLLED ON 2 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS - ONCE WITH MAJOR DAMAGE. * REPAIRING THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 1 YEAR. IT JUST GETS STUCK - I HAVE READ IT IS A REGULATOR ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME THE WINDOW JUST WOULD NOT GO UP ALL THE WAY AND SHATTERED. THIS TIME IT IS STUCK DOWN. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS $642! * FRONT LIGHTS KEEP BURNING OUT AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I THINK IT HAS BEEN 5X NOW IN 7 YEARS. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10446076
Mileage unknown · Jul 18, 2011
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility
VW 2005 CONVERTIBLE BUG BOTH REAR WINDOW PROBLEMS, WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW IS MAKING A HORRIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE, SEEMS TO BE THE NEXT ONE TO GO. ALONG WITH HEAD LIGHT SHORTAGES. THE LAST 5 YEARS I HAVE AT LEAST REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST 8 TIMES. RECENTLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE TURNED THEMSELVES OFF/…
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VW 2005 CONVERTIBLE BUG BOTH REAR WINDOW PROBLEMS, WILL NOT ROLL UP OR DOWN. PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW IS MAKING A HORRIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE, SEEMS TO BE THE NEXT ONE TO GO. ALONG WITH HEAD LIGHT SHORTAGES. THE LAST 5 YEARS I HAVE AT LEAST REPLACED THE HEADLIGHTS AT LEAST 8 TIMES. RECENTLY BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE TURNED THEMSELVES OFF/OUT. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND VW SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES TO NOT FIX THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE OBVIOUSLY FLAWED! I UNDERSTAND PUTTING OUT A PRODUCT WILL HAVE SOME FLAWS, BUT NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR BRAND NAME AND NOT MAKING THINGS RIGHT IS A SLAP IN THE FACE. I WAS A PROUD OWNER OF MY FIRST CAR I BOUGHT MYSELF. AND ALL I HAVE TO SHOW AND GET OUT OF THE DEAL IS AN EMPTY WALLET AND EMBARRASSMENT WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD BECAUSE FEATURES DON'T WORK RIGHT. DO WHAT'S RIGHT VW AND MAN UP TO YOUR MISTAKE. I WOULD BUY 10 MORE CARS LIKE THE ONE I HAVE IF ONLY THEY TOOK PRIDE IN THEIR PRODUCT AND HONORED THE AVERAGE LOYAL CUSTOMER. I'M A 25 YEAR OLD GIRL WHO SUPPORTS MYSELF ON MY OWN DOLLAR. I WAS RAISED KNOWING YOU FIX WHAT PROBLEMS YOU CREATE. BE ACCOUNTABLE AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT! IT'S YOUR TURN VW PLEASE DO WHAT'S RIGHT. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10413480