Air Bags. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

3 reports

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77,782 miles · Aug 5, 2020

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

THE TAIL LIGHT CONNECTOR ROTTED WHILE L WAS DRIVING ON THE STREET

NHTSA ODI #11343520

59,000 miles · Jul 3, 2018

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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I HAVE NOTICED MY CENTER DRIVER-SIDE HEADLIGHT DIM/TURN OFF FOR SOME TIME THINKING THE HEADLIGHT WAS BAD. I HAD THE HEADLIGHT REPLACED IN FEBRUARY BUT STILL HAD PEOPLE TELL ME IT WAS OUT AND AT TIMES I COULD SEE THIS IN THE REFLECTION OF TRUCK TAILGATES, ETC. THE SURROUNDING DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT CAN MAKE IT HARD TO TELL. HOWEVER, IN THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS, EVERY TWO TO THREE MINUTES, SOMETIMES AFTER NOTICING THE INITIAL DIM OF THE DRIVER-SIDE HEAD LIGHT, ALL LIGHT TURN OFF LEAVING THE CAR IN MOTION IN THE DARK. THIS HAS HAPPENED BOTH ON LOCAL ROADS AND HIGHWAY. ENGAGING THE FOG LIGHTS MAY EXTEND THE TIME BETWEEN SHUT-OFFS BY ANOTHER MINUTE OR SO. BY TURNING THE LIGHTS OFF AND WAITING A SECOND, THEN TURNING THEM BACK ON, ALL LIGHTS COME BACK. DOING SO TOO QUICKLY DOES NOT ALWAYS WORK. THE DEALERSHIP MECHANIC FEELS IT IS CAPACITOR OR SIMILAR ELECTRIC ISSUE IN THE J519 BODY CONTROL MODULE THAT RECEIVES POWER FOR THE LIGHTS AND CONTROLS THEM FROM THERE. BEING A SAFETY ISSUE, I HAVE TO WONDER IF CREATING SUCH A WEAK-LINK TO POWER ALL NIGHTTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS NOT RECALL WORTHY. HE SUGGESTED FULL MODULE REPLACEMENT I DO HAVE VIDEO TO SHARE OF THIS OCCURRING.

NHTSA ODI #11105288

4,113 miles · Jan 12, 2015

Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

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CAR WOULD STALL AND ABRUPTLY STOP WHEN OPERATING AND ALL ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS AND SAFETY FEATURES WOULD TURN OFF AND NOT WORK (E.G., ENGINE, ASSISTED BRAKES, AIR BAGS, HORN, RUNNING LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, ENTIRE DASHBOARD WOULD NOT WORK). ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WOULD POWER UP AGAIN AND RUN. THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT (IT HAPPENED AGAIN) AND NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR DEALER COULD FIND THE CAUSE. THE OWNER REFUSED TO DRIVE IT ANYMORE UNLESS THEY FOUND THE CAUSE BECAUSE THE ABRUPT STOPPING COULD BE CATASTROPHIC ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CURRENT POSITION OF THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER IS THAT IT NEVER HAPPENED. ANOTHER CASE IS REPORTED HERE WHERE THE SAME CAR ABRUPTLY STOPPED THREE TIMES AND THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10671852

Official recalls

20V785000 · Air Bags:frontal

Dec 16, 2020

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BC.

19V679000 · Unknown Or Other

Sep 25, 2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.

19V615000 · Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module; Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

Aug 22, 2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL Module

Consequence: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.

Steering:column LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT Device

Consequence: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

14V656000 · Suspension:rear

Oct 20, 2014

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, to November 30, 2012, and 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles manufactured March 1, 2011, to July 31, 2013. The durability of the rear trailing arms may be reduced in vehicles whose rear trailing arms have been previously deformed, such as a result of a rear or side-rear impact crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The reduced durability of the trailing arm may result in its sudden fracture, possibly causing loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a sheet metal inlay on the rear axle trailing arms designed to prevent a sudden loss of control in the event of trailing arm sudden fracture, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

14V658000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Oct 20, 2014

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Beetle vehicles manufactured June 13, 2013, to July 3, 2014. The glass sunroofs in the affected vehicles may break when the vehicles are operated over a hard road surface or strike a pothole.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Vehicle occupants could be injured by falling glass. A sunroof break during vehicle operation also increases the risk of driver distraction and a resulting vehicle crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 60B9.

12V540000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Nov 15, 2012

Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles, manufactured from February 2012, through August 2012, and equipped with leather sport seats. If the right front passenger seat gets wet, the occupant control module may not properly detect the presence of a child restraint installed in the seat.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the control module does not detect a child seat installed, the airbag will not turn off. If the airbag does not turn off, in the event of a crash necessitating front airbag deployment, a child secured in the child seat may be at an increased risk for serious injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and replace the control modules, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during January 2013. Owners may contact Volkswagen 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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.