IllustrationContinental passenger rear tire (215/60 R 16) blew out while I was driving on the freeway. There was a swerve then a pound rumbling noise. It was very dangerous. I was put at severe risk because it blew out on the freeway. There were no warning lamp last prior to this incident.
2013 Volkswagen Beetle
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle do not stand out strongly from 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
190–25K
1125–50K
1350–75K
475–100K
2100–150K
1150K+
50 reports with mileage · 41 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.
- 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
Tires complaints
4 reportsHANKOOK FRONT TIRES WORE OUT AT 10,000 MILES. *TR
I HAD TWO BLOWOUTS IN BACK TO BACK WEEKS IN APRIL 2014 AND THOUGHT IT WAS BAD LUCK. THE TIRES WERE CONTINENTAL CONTIPRO AND HAD LESS THAN 20K MILES. I REPLACED 2 EACH TIME SINCE THE CAR IS FWD. THEY CAME ON MY 2013 BEETLE TDI. AT THE END OF AUGUST IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE TIRE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WITHIN MINUTES THE TIR…
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I HAD TWO BLOWOUTS IN BACK TO BACK WEEKS IN APRIL 2014 AND THOUGHT IT WAS BAD LUCK. THE TIRES WERE CONTINENTAL CONTIPRO AND HAD LESS THAN 20K MILES. I REPLACED 2 EACH TIME SINCE THE CAR IS FWD. THEY CAME ON MY 2013 BEETLE TDI. AT THE END OF AUGUST IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC THE TIRE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND WITHIN MINUTES THE TIRE BLEW AT 65MPH. I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE BLEW COMPLETELY OFF FUSSING ABOUT A 2" SECTION TO THE RIM. THE INSIDE HAD 2 MAJOR SIDEWALL FAILURES. I GOT HOME AND GOOGLED CONTINENTAL CONTIPRO COMPLAINTS AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF THE SAME ISSUES. I REPLACED THE BLOWN TIRE AND PARKED THE CAR. I ORDERED A SET OF MICHELINS AND HAD THEM INSTALLED THIS WEEKEND. THE CONTINENTALS ARE IN MY BASEMENT UNTIL THERE IS AN ADMISSION OR RESOLUTION THAT THERE IS INDEED A PROBLEM. I DRIVE AROUND 35K MILES PER YEAR FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE TIRE FAILURES UNTIL THESE. CONTINENTAL'S RESPONSE SO FAR IS THEY WERE MADE TO SPECIFICATIONS. AND VW'S RESPONSE WAS WE DIDN'T MAKE THE TIRE. *TR
CONTIPROCONTACT TIRE 23540R19 BLOW OUT DEC 2012. SAME TIRE REPLACED IN 2014. NOW FOR THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS (MAY 11,2014) LOSING AIR PRESSURE IN ORIGINAL TIRES. FILL THE TIRES WITH CORRECT AMOUNT OF AIR AND A FEW DAYS LATER DASHBOARD LIKE COME ON SAYING AIR PRESSURE PROBLEM IN TIRES. KEEPS DOING THE SAME THING. ONLY HAVE 1…
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CONTIPROCONTACT TIRE 23540R19 BLOW OUT DEC 2012. SAME TIRE REPLACED IN 2014. NOW FOR THE LAST COUPLE WEEKS (MAY 11,2014) LOSING AIR PRESSURE IN ORIGINAL TIRES. FILL THE TIRES WITH CORRECT AMOUNT OF AIR AND A FEW DAYS LATER DASHBOARD LIKE COME ON SAYING AIR PRESSURE PROBLEM IN TIRES. KEEPS DOING THE SAME THING. ONLY HAVE 10,000 MILES ON THE TIRES. *TR
Official recalls
620V785000 · 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
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: 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
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: 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.