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2014 Volkswagen Beetle

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 49.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

31 reports with mileage · 19 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 15 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. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports

Visibility/wiper complaints

4 reports
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59,000 miles · Jan 8, 2020
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE BEING OPERATED, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID SMEARED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PAUL MILLER VOLKSWAGEN 118 MORRISTOWN ROAD, BERNARDSVILLE, NJ 07924, 855-896-3830 , DOUGLAS VOLKSWAGEN 491 MORRIS AVENUE, SUMMIT, N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE BEING OPERATED, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID SMEARED THE WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PAUL MILLER VOLKSWAGEN 118 MORRISTOWN ROAD, BERNARDSVILLE, NJ 07924, 855-896-3830 , DOUGLAS VOLKSWAGEN 491 MORRIS AVENUE, SUMMIT, NJ 07901, (908)341-1254, AND TREND MOTORS VOLKSWAGEN 221 US-46, ROCKAWAY, NJ 07866, (973)625-0100 BUT, WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA AND ALSO REFERRED TO CONTACT THE LOCAL DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA ODI #11297978

50,000 miles · Apr 14, 2017
Visibility/wiper

I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF VERY HEAVY RAIN AND MY WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VW. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE OWNED 4 VW AND HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS ISSUE. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THEY …

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I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF VERY HEAVY RAIN AND MY WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VW. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE OWNED 4 VW AND HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS ISSUE. THERE WAS NO WARNING - THEY JUST STOPPED WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI #10978571

4,777 miles · Jul 17, 2016
Visibility/wiper

WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY OVERNIGHT. WAS FINE THE NIGHT BEFORE, NOTICED A LONG CRACK THAT STARTED HORIZONTALLY ON THE EDGE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THEN CURVED UP VERTICALLY THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE. I DRIVE THIS CAR A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK, GENTLY, AND ALTHOUGH IT IS A…

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WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY OVERNIGHT. WAS FINE THE NIGHT BEFORE, NOTICED A LONG CRACK THAT STARTED HORIZONTALLY ON THE EDGE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THEN CURVED UP VERTICALLY THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE. I DRIVE THIS CAR A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK, GENTLY, AND ALTHOUGH IT IS A 2014, IT HAD ONLY 4777 MILES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN HIT BY ANY STONES, HAVE NOT DRIVEN ANY BUMPY ROADS OR HIT ANY POTHOLES, AND I HAVE NOT HAD ANY ACCIDENTS WITH THE CAR. BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF MY DEALER AND VW CUSTOMER CARE, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN SLOW TO MAKE A DETERMINATION.

NHTSA ODI #10885395

100 miles · Aug 14, 2014
Service BrakesVisibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLIDE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THE WIPER BLADES W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLIDE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS THE WIPER BLADES WOULD NOT CLEAR RAIN FROM THE WINDSHIELD. IN ADDITION A CHEMICAL TYPE ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.

NHTSA ODI #10622360

Official recalls

5

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.

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.

15V028000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail

Jan 23, 2015

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall 14V-809 (Volkswagen recall number 24Bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that campaign.

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.

14V182000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines

Apr 15, 2014

Volkswagen of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, and Passat vehicles equipped with a 1.8T engine and torque converter automatic transmission. In the affected vehicles, the O-ring seals between the oil cooler and the transmission may leak fluid.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The leaking transmission fluid could contact a hot surface and result in a vehicle fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the O-ring seals in the transmission oil cooler, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on April 16, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 38B9/9V.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.