THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAS GONE BAD IN A VEHICLE THAT IS UNDER 55,000 MILES AND BARELY OVER THE 8 YEAR WARRANTY TIME FRAME. I WANTED TO REPORT THIS ISSUE FOR A POSSIBLE EXTENSION TO THE YEAR TIME FRAME FOR VW. *TR
2006 Volkswagen Beetle
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Beetle years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Volkswagen Beetle are substantially higher than the model-year median of 49.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Beetle years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
108 reports with mileage · 16 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.
- Power Train. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
13 reportsMY BEETLE SMELLS LIKE MELTED CRAYONS SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. IT GIVES ME A MAJOR HEADACHE ON LONG TRIPS AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO THE CAR FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR GETS CONTAMINATED WITH THE CRAYON SMELL, HOPE ITS NOT TOXIC. GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM IN MOST 2006 BEETLES MADE IN MEXICO. I'M NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE…
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MY BEETLE SMELLS LIKE MELTED CRAYONS SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. IT GIVES ME A MAJOR HEADACHE ON LONG TRIPS AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES INTO THE CAR FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR GETS CONTAMINATED WITH THE CRAYON SMELL, HOPE ITS NOT TOXIC. GOOGLE SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM IN MOST 2006 BEETLES MADE IN MEXICO. I'M NOT SURE WHAT CAN BE DONE, BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR IF I HAD KNOWN. ITS THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WHEN I TEST DROVE THE CAR BUT THOUGHT MAYBE A CRAYON WAS STUCK IN THE DEFROSTER - NOT THE CASE. LET ONE OF THE VW EXECUTIVES TAKE A LONG ROAD TRIP AND SEE FOR THEMSELVES. ALSO THE HEADLIGHTS ARE EXTREMELY POORLY DESIGNED. BULBS BLOW REGULARLY AND ARE HARD TO CHANGE AND I EVEN HAD THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY POP OUT OF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT COULD HAVE KILLED THE PEOPLE BEHIND ME, EASILY. APPARENTLY THE WIND/AIR RUSHING THRU THE GRILL FORCED THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY TO POP OUT AND GO BOUNCING DOWN THE HIGHWAY LIKE A BOWLING BALL. IM SURE IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE DIFFICULTY OF INSTALLING THE ASSEMBLY AND IT NOT BEING SECURED CORRECTLY BY THE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES. YOU SHOULDN'T NEED A PHD TO CHANGE A BULB. CUTE WILL ONLY GET YOU SO FAR VW! *TR
WHEN DRIVING AT 65 M/H THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THANKFULLY NO ONE HIT THE BACK. IT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AT 20-30 M/H. TWO WEEKS PRIOR A WARNING SIGNAL WENT OFF FOR THE AIR COMPRESSOR. WHEN TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS OUT AND IT WOULD COST $5,000. *TR
CPSC:I1380279A. 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER STATED THE CAR IS EMITTING STRONG FUMES THAT SMELLS LIKE BURNING WAX OR CRAYONS. ALSO STATED IT IS MAKING HER SICK. *LN UPDATED 09/25/13*LJ
2006 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION, PURCHASED NEW BY MYSELF AS SOLE OWNER. DRIVING DOWN ROAD ON 12/4/11 LATE AT NIGHT SUDDENLY COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS; CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO COAST IN NEUTRAL THROUGH DANGEROUS INTERSECTION IN A MAJOR URBAN CITY. CAR WAS DISABLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO …
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2006 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION, PURCHASED NEW BY MYSELF AS SOLE OWNER. DRIVING DOWN ROAD ON 12/4/11 LATE AT NIGHT SUDDENLY COULD NOT SHIFT GEARS; CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR, CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO COAST IN NEUTRAL THROUGH DANGEROUS INTERSECTION IN A MAJOR URBAN CITY. CAR WAS DISABLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO SHOP. "TRANSMISSION FAILURE" DIAGNOSED AT ONLY 31,800 MILES? (DAMAGED TRANSMISSION PARTS DISCOVERED - BUT VW DENIES ANY RESPONSIBILITY). THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD IN BEETLES, HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY OWNERS ON PUBLIC INTERNET MESSAGE BOARDS, AND SOONER OR LATER SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT. PERSONALLY I WAS LUCKY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME OR APPROACHING AT A NORMAL SPEED HEAD ON; HAD THAT BEEN THE CASE I WOULD CLEARLY HAVE BEEN IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
2006 VW BEETLE LOSES POWER WHEN DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST FIFTEEN TO TWENTY TIMES. CAR TAKEN TO VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE SIX TIMES FOR REPAIR. TWICE WHILE UNDER THE NEW CAR MANUFACTURES WARRANTY. THEY HAVE TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NOT AS IT STILL HAPPENS. WE NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR. VW OF AMERICA HAS BEEN NOTIFI…
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2006 VW BEETLE LOSES POWER WHEN DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST FIFTEEN TO TWENTY TIMES. CAR TAKEN TO VW DEALERSHIP SERVICE SIX TIMES FOR REPAIR. TWICE WHILE UNDER THE NEW CAR MANUFACTURES WARRANTY. THEY HAVE TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT HAVE NOT AS IT STILL HAPPENS. WE NO LONGER DRIVE THE CAR. VW OF AMERICA HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. FORTUNATELY NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED AS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL OFF ON TO THE SHOULDER. JUST HIRED A LAWYER AS VW'S POSITION IS IT'S MY PROBLEM. *TR
FAILING DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL. SYMPTOMS ARE VIBRATION, RATTLING. SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING SINCE VEHICLE WAS DETECTED WITH UNKNOWN VIBRATION AT 17K. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AFTER REPLACING EGR, MAF, FUEL PUMP AND CHECKING FLYWHEEL FOR GREASE DEPOSITS. RESULTS OF FAILURE ARE IMMEDIATE LOCKUP OF TRANSMISSION…
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FAILING DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL. SYMPTOMS ARE VIBRATION, RATTLING. SYMPTOMS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPING SINCE VEHICLE WAS DETECTED WITH UNKNOWN VIBRATION AT 17K. DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM AFTER REPLACING EGR, MAF, FUEL PUMP AND CHECKING FLYWHEEL FOR GREASE DEPOSITS. RESULTS OF FAILURE ARE IMMEDIATE LOCKUP OF TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE IF OPERATING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DAMAGE TO TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE ARE PROBABLE. WELL KNOWN DOCUMENTED FAILURES HAVE BEEN RECORDED AND FIXED BY VW, BUT MOST FAILURES ON MANUAL CARS HAVE BEEN BLAMED ON DRIVER AGRESSIVENESS EVEN THOUGH DMF MAKERS HAVE RELEASED DOCUMENTATION THAT SHOW THAT FAILING DMF WILL SHOW THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS A FAILURE DUE TO AGRESSIVE DRIVING. VW HAS ACTIVE RECALL CAMPAINS IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES FOR THE SAME DMF FAILURES.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE FAILURE BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2008 AND OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ONLY ONCE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY CLEANED THE CARBURETO…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE FAILURE BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2008 AND OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. THE ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ONLY ONCE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES AND THEY CLEANED THE CARBURETOR, CHECKED THE FUEL LINE, AND POWER FLUSHED THE COOLANT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE DIAGNOSTIC COULD NOT PRODUCE A FAILURE CODE. A REPORT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 54,500. UPDATED 01/08/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED VOLVO FIXED THE PROBLEM AND NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE IS NEEDED. UPDATED 01/12/09. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN DRY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE ON ITS OWN AND THEN ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHILE WAITING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY W…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH IN DRY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE ON ITS OWN AND THEN ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAITED FOR A TOW TRUCK. WHILE WAITING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WOULD NOT DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER SENT AN INVESTIGATOR, BUT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE HIM WITH ANY INFORMATION. THE CONTACT HAS CALLED THE MANUFACTURER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED ANY CALLS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000. UPDATED 4/23/08 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK IN FOR SERVICE. MUST BE AN OXYGEN SENSOR THEY SAY. THEY ORDER ONE AND I GO BACK. NOT THE SENSOR. ENGINE COOLANT LEAKED ON WIRING HARNESS CAUSING WIRING DAMAGE. THEY REPLACE HARNESS HOWEVER DO NOT KNOW WHERE COOLANT IS COMING FROM. *NM
Official recalls
310V621000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Dec 10, 2010
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 JETTA, NEW BEETLE, NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, MODEL YEAR 2009 JETTA SPORTWAGEN AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 RABBIT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES. THE JETTA, JETTA SPORTWAGEN, AND RABBIT VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SMALL PLASTIC TAB LOCATED ON THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR THAT MAY CHAFE AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE. THE NEW BEETLE AND THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A FASTENING CLAMP ON A HYDRAULIC HOSE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM THAT MAY BE LOCATED IN AN IMPROPER POSITION WHICH COULD CAUSE CHAFING AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF CHAFING OCCURS, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A FUEL LEAK TO DEVELOP. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD FUEL LINE. ADDITIONALLY, DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE MODEL, DEALERS WILL EITHER REMOVE THE PLASTIC TAB FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR, OR INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE FASTENING CLAMP AND ADJUST THE RELATED FASTENING CLAMP INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
07V063000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Feb 20, 2007
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.
06V043000 · Equipment:other:labels
Feb 9, 2006
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 17-INCH WHEELS AND A 2.5L ENGINE FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH A TIRE INFORMATION LABEL THAT LISTS AN INCORRECT FRONT TIRE SIZE. THE CORRECT FRONT TIRE SIZE SHOULD BE LISTED AS 225/45 R17. THE INFLATION PRESSURE IS CORRECT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A MISPRINTED LABEL COULD LEAD TO FITMENT OF IMPROPERLY SIZED REPLACEMENT TIRES.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A NEW TIRE INFORMATION LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. AT THE CUSTOMER'S OPTION, A DEALER CAN PERFORM THE INSTALLATION FOR THEM FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 27, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-893-5298.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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