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Volkswagen Beetle Problems by Year
Owners have filed 2,243 complaints with NHTSA about the Volkswagen Beetle since the 2000 model year. The years with the most are 2004, 2003, 2000. The most common problem overall: transmission.
Counts are not adjusted for sales: popular years collect more complaints, and recent years have had less time to.
Volkswagen Beetle problems by model year
| Year | Complaints | Top problem | Recalls | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Beetle | 48 | Air bags | 3 | 2 |
| 2015 Beetle | 83 | Air bags | 5 | 2 |
| 2014 Beetle | 50 | Air bags | 5 | 3 |
| 2013 Beetle | 93 | Air bags | 6 | 4 |
| 2012 Beetle | 65 | Visibility and wipers | 6 | 4 |
| 2010 Beetle | 30 | Other or unspecified | 3 | 0 |
| 2009 Beetle | 33 | Lights | 2 | 1 |
| 2008 Beetle | 60 | Electrical | 3 | 3 |
| 2007 Beetle | 56 | Air bags | 2 | 2 |
| 2006 Beetle | 124 | Transmission | 3 | 7 |
| 2005 Beetle | 261 | Transmission | 3 | 11 |
| 2004 Beetle | 349 | Transmission | 3 | 7 |
| 2003 Beetle | 314 | Transmission | 2 | 7 |
| 2002 Beetle | 165 | Air bags | 2 | 13 |
| 2001 Beetle | 203 | Engine | 2 | 12 |
| 2000 Beetle | 263 | Air bags | 1 | 8 |
51 recalls in total across these years. Years with fewer than 25 complaints have no separate page.
Questions about the Volkswagen Beetle
- What years of the Volkswagen Beetle have the most problems?
- By owner complaints to NHTSA: 2004 (349), 2003 (314), 2000 (263).
- What is the most common problem with the Volkswagen Beetle?
- Across all model years, owners complain most about the transmission (560), air bags (486), electrical (368).
- Which Volkswagen Beetle years have the fewest complaints?
- Among model years at least four years old: 2019 (14), 2017 (15), 2018 (17). Fewer complaints can also mean fewer cars sold, so compare with sales before you decide.