IllustrationFUSE THAT CONTROLS READING OR MAP LIGHT IN CABIN AND EXTERNAL LIGHTING OUTSIDE FOR NIGHT DRIVING CONTINUALLY FAILS (3). SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE REAR LIGHTS AT NIGHT ONLY COME ON WHEN BRAKES APPLIED.
2019 Volkswagen Beetle
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
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
Limited mileage data: 4 of 14 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Electrical System. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
2 reportsTHE FRONT HEADLIGHT BEAM HAS A DISTINCTIVE BLIND SPOT ON THE LEFT SIDE AND A DOUBLE NOTCH ON THE RIGHT SIDE. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS AS THEY SAY IT'S BY DESIGN THOUGH I HAVE SEEN ANOTHER BEETLE, SAME MODEL YEAR WITH THE SAME HIDS, HAVE A COMPLETELY NORMAL HEADLIGHT BEAM. WITH THE BEAM LIKE IT IS, IT MAKES DRIVING T…
Read full complaint
THE FRONT HEADLIGHT BEAM HAS A DISTINCTIVE BLIND SPOT ON THE LEFT SIDE AND A DOUBLE NOTCH ON THE RIGHT SIDE. VOLKSWAGEN REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS AS THEY SAY IT'S BY DESIGN THOUGH I HAVE SEEN ANOTHER BEETLE, SAME MODEL YEAR WITH THE SAME HIDS, HAVE A COMPLETELY NORMAL HEADLIGHT BEAM. WITH THE BEAM LIKE IT IS, IT MAKES DRIVING THE CAR AT NIGHT UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY ON BLACK ASPHALT ROADS. I'VE ESCALATED THIS TO VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND THEY INSIST THIS IS BY DESIGN AND IS DUE TO THE SHUTTER THAT COMES DOWN WHEN USING THE NORMAL HEADLIGHT BEAM. OUR OTHER VEHICLE IS A GMC ACADIA WITH THE SAME SYSTEM AND IT DOES NOT DO THIS. ON THE BEETLE THE IF I SWITCH IT TO HIGH BEAMS THE BLIND SPOT AND NOTCH GO AWAY. ALSO VOLKSWAGEN CLAIMS THAT THE LEFT HEADLIGHT IS AIMED LOWER ON PURPOSE AS TO NOT BLIND ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR SITS SO LOW I DON'T SEE HOW THAT'S NEEDED, ESPECIALLY WHEN OUR ACADIA WHICH SITS UP HIGHER DOESN'T DO THIS. I DID TAKE A LOOK AT A COUPLE OF OTHER 2019 BEETLES AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND THE HEADLIGHT BEAMS WERE ALL DIFFERENT; STILL A BLIND SPOT AND NOTCHES BUT IN DIFFERENT SPOTS. THE BLIND SPOT AND NOTCHES ARE SEEN BOTH STATIONARY AND IN MOTION. I HAVE PICTURES AND VIDEO OF BOTH. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT THAT WILL LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT AT NIGHT AS IT HINDERS THE DRIVERS VIEW ON THE LEFT SIDE. VOLKSWAGEN HAS IGNORED MY CONCERNS AND REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS. I'M VERY CONCERNED FOR OUR SAFETY AND MY WIFE AND I REFUSE TO DRIVE THE CAR AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF THIS. VOLKSWAGEN'S 'REMEDY' IS TO TRADE IT IN. WE LOVE THE CAR, JUST NOT THE HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. I HAVE ATTACHED TWO PHOTOS; ONE LOW BEAM AND ONE HIGH BEAM SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCE.
Official recalls
324V834000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Oct 30, 2024
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal 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: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.
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.
19V094000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel; Service Brakes
Feb 13, 2019
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when a brake system failure is detected. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 101, "Controls and displays."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the driver is not alerted when there is a problem with brakes, the driver may lose control of the vehicle while attempting to brake, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90L8.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when a brake system failure is detected. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 101, "Controls and displays."
Consequence: If the driver is not alerted when there is a problem with brakes, the driver may lose control of the vehicle while attempting to brake, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90L8.
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when a brake system failure is detected. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 101, "Controls and displays."
Consequence: If the driver is not alerted when there is a problem with brakes, the driver may lose control of the vehicle while attempting to brake, increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90L8.
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.