NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
31 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Apr 23, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER STATES BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS HAVE FAILED, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE BAD OXYGEN SENSOR HAS DAMAGED THE MASS AIR FLOW DEVICE, CONSUMER STATES HE HAS RECEIVED DIFFERENT INFORMATION FROM DEALER DEPARTMENTS, SOME SAY IT IS BECUASE THE GAS IN THE STATE HE LIVES IN IS NOT REGULATED AS TO QUALITY AND IF PREMIUM QUA…
Read full complaint
CONSUMER STATES BOTH OXYGEN SENSORS HAVE FAILED, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THAT THE BAD OXYGEN SENSOR HAS DAMAGED THE MASS AIR FLOW DEVICE, CONSUMER STATES HE HAS RECEIVED DIFFERENT INFORMATION FROM DEALER DEPARTMENTS, SOME SAY IT IS BECUASE THE GAS IN THE STATE HE LIVES IN IS NOT REGULATED AS TO QUALITY AND IF PREMIUM QUALITY GAS IS NOT USED THE PARTS WILL NOT BE WARRANTED. *JB
NHTSA ODI #785413
Mileage unknown · Jan 24, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineSteering
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL, AND SHAKE, SHOWED A SIGN OF VEHICLE LOSING POWER.ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL, AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK ENGINE ALSO HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM THE START. VEHICLE HAS HAD COMPLAINTS REGARDING TRUNK AND FUEL RELEASE ACTUATOR…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL, AND SHAKE, SHOWED A SIGN OF VEHICLE LOSING POWER.ENGINE CHECK LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PANEL, AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK ENGINE ALSO HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING FROM THE START. VEHICLE HAS HAD COMPLAINTS REGARDING TRUNK AND FUEL RELEASE ACTUATOR CABLE. STEERING RODS CAME LOOSE AND HAD TO BE RESECURED AND MOUNTING BOLT.. WINDOW MOTOR FAILED. *YH
NHTSA ODI #878900
Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE CAR STOPS DEAD - I KNOW OF A MAN WHO WAS KILLED IN ANOTHER VW BEETLE BECAUSE OF THIS....I HEARD ON TV THAT FORD MIGHT BE RECALLED FOR A FAULTY RELAY PART. WHY NOT VW? THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR DIES. MY DEALER HAD MY CAR FOR ONE MONTH AND I DIDN'T GET ANY SATISFACTION UNTIL I CALLED THE MAIN PLANT AND UNTI…
Read full complaint
THE CAR STOPS DEAD - I KNOW OF A MAN WHO WAS KILLED IN ANOTHER VW BEETLE BECAUSE OF THIS....I HEARD ON TV THAT FORD MIGHT BE RECALLED FOR A FAULTY RELAY PART. WHY NOT VW? THE MALFUNCTION LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR DIES. MY DEALER HAD MY CAR FOR ONE MONTH AND I DIDN'T GET ANY SATISFACTION UNTIL I CALLED THE MAIN PLANT AND UNTIL I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE DEPT OF MOTOR VEHICLES. I BELIEVE THIS IS A LARGE VW PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #729902
Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment
BATTERY WAS CRACKED CAUSING ACID TO LEAK ONTO POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #553633
Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2000
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT A WARNING, AND WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO START THE ENGINE AGAIN, IT WON'T START. FAILURE DUE TO RELAY PART WHICH WAS REPLACED BY DEALER. *AK *ML
NHTSA ODI #855637
Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingSeatsVisibility
ON 2 OCCASIONS WHEN MY CAR HAS BEEN FACING DOWN ON A SLOPE IT WILL NOT START AND I HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND ROLL TO LEVEL GROUND TO GET IT TO START. ON ONE OTHER OCCATION MY CAR DID HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN I PULLED INTO MY PARENTS DRIVEWAY AND I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE , IT DID NOT GO INTO GEAR AND I ROLLED OVER MY MOM'S FLOWERS…
Read full complaint
ON 2 OCCASIONS WHEN MY CAR HAS BEEN FACING DOWN ON A SLOPE IT WILL NOT START AND I HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND ROLL TO LEVEL GROUND TO GET IT TO START. ON ONE OTHER OCCATION MY CAR DID HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN I PULLED INTO MY PARENTS DRIVEWAY AND I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE , IT DID NOT GO INTO GEAR AND I ROLLED OVER MY MOM'S FLOWERS. THE DEAL HAS CHECKED IN THEIR DATABASE AND WITH VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND NOONE HAS REPORTED A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO MINE. THEY TRIED TO RECREATE WHAT I DESCRIBED, BUT TO NO AVAIL. TO DATE I HAVE NOT HAD ANY INCIDENT REPEAT AND I HAVE GONE TO MY PARENTS HOUSE TO TRY TO RECREATE IT MYSELF, BUT AGAIN TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH ANY PROBLEM I HAVE ENCOUNTED WITH MY NEW CAR. *AK
NHTSA ODI #716185
Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
AFTER ONLY 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, THE MALFUCTION ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. TOOK THE CAR TO THE SERVICE CENTER, I GUESS THEY RESET THE SENSOR ON IT. THE END OF SEPTEMBER THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. CONTACTED DEALER AND HE SET UP APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THEY WOUL…
Read full complaint
AFTER ONLY 3 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP, THE MALFUCTION ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. TOOK THE CAR TO THE SERVICE CENTER, I GUESS THEY RESET THE SENSOR ON IT. THE END OF SEPTEMBER THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. CONTACTED DEALER AND HE SET UP APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEY LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE PART TO FIX IT. I WAITED ABOUT 1 1/2 WEEKS BEFORE I CALLED THE DEALER TO SEE WHAT THE HOLDUP WAS. THEY PICKED UP MY CAR FROM WORK AND TOOK IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER ON OCTOBER 6TH. MY RECEIPT THAT WAS PRINTED, STATES THAT THE AIR BAG TEST FAILED AND THEY REPLACED IT AND ALSO SOME RING. TODAY, TWO DAYS LATER THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AGAIN!!!! I AM WONDERING HOW SAFE IT IS TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR IS GOING BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER ON MONDAY, OCT. 11TH.
NHTSA ODI #713031
Mileage unknown · Sep 14, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingCrashInjury
I WAS DRIVING ALONG A STRAIGHT, DRY STRETCH OF ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED (REGULAR SERVICING) AT THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING ALONG A STRAIGHT, DRY STRETCH OF ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES PER HOUR, WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL MY VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED (REGULAR SERVICING) AT THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP JUST 3 DAYS BEFORE. IN ADDITION, VOLKSWAGEN HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM ON ITS CABRIOLET ABOUT 8 YEARS AGO. THIS PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE WATER SEPARATOR PANEL BEING BENT DURING SERVICING. THE OUTCOME OF THIS ACCIDENT WAS $6000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND MINOR INJURIES SUSTAINED BY ME.
NHTSA ODI #711327
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibility
WHILE DRIVING WITH SUN ROOF FULLY OPEN VEHICLE SHAKES AND SHUTTERS. ALSO THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #846161
Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE COVER IS POORLY DESIGNED, AND THE CAR IS TOO LOW. ENGINE COVER GETS PULLED AND SCRAPES ON THE GROUND AND RIPPES APART WHICH GOES BACK INTO THE ENGINE. THIS OCCURS WHEN GOING OVER A LARGE SPEED BUMP ALSO PULLING UP TO A CYLINDER BLOCK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #846058
NHTSA investigations
3RQ06004 · Brake Light Switch Failure
Opened Feb 28, 2006 · Closed Aug 7, 2006
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
BY LETTERS DATED MAY 24, 2006 AND AUGUST 4, 2006, VOLKSWAGEN (VW) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO 06V-183) INVOLVING MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND 1999-2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN?S RECALL COVERS 646,246 VEHICLES.PREVIOUSLY, VW RECALLED THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096) THAT WAS UNIQUE TO VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096.VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.BASED ON VOLKSWAGEN'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
BY LETTERS DATED MAY 24, 2006 AND AUGUST 4, 2006, VOLKSWAGEN (VW) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO 06V-183) INVOLVING MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND 1999-2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN?S RECALL COVERS 646,246 VEHICLES.PREVIOUSLY, VW RECALLED THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096) THAT WAS UNIQUE TO VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096.VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.BASED ON VOLKSWAGEN'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
BY LETTERS DATED MAY 24, 2006 AND AUGUST 4, 2006, VOLKSWAGEN (VW) NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NO 06V-183) INVOLVING MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998-2002 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE AND 1999-2002 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN?S RECALL COVERS 646,246 VEHICLES.PREVIOUSLY, VW RECALLED THESE VEHICLES TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH (RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096) THAT WAS UNIQUE TO VEHICLES WITH CRUISE CONTROL.VOLKSWAGEN REPORTS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING RECALLS 03V-265 AND 04V-096.VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSTALL A NEW DESIGN BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH.BASED ON VOLKSWAGEN'S SAFETY RECALL ACTION, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.
EA03002 · Brake Light Switch
Opened Apr 8, 2003 · Closed Aug 20, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH USED IN CRUISE CONTROL EQUIPPED MY 1998-1999 AND ALL MY 2000 AND LATER MODELS HAS UNDERGONE MULTIPLE REVISIONS.ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA INDICATES HIGH REPLACEMENT RATES OCCURRED IN VEHICLES BUILT WITH BRAKE SWITCH PART NUMBERS 1J0 945 511A AND 1J0 945 511B, THE ORIGINAL AND FIRST REVISION LEVELS, RESPECTIVELY.THE FAILURE OF THE SWITCH COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, OR COULD CAUSE THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATED.EITHER CONDITION RESULTS IN THE INABILITY OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOTIFY OTHER MOTORISTS OF VEHICLE BRAKING.UNDER SAFETY RECALL 03V-265, VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON ALL VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH NOVEMBER 2001.ANY AFFECTED SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE WITH THE MOST CURRENT VERSION, PART NUMBER 1J0 945 511D.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH USED IN CRUISE CONTROL EQUIPPED MY 1998-1999 AND ALL MY 2000 AND LATER MODELS HAS UNDERGONE MULTIPLE REVISIONS.ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA INDICATES HIGH REPLACEMENT RATES OCCURRED IN VEHICLES BUILT WITH BRAKE SWITCH PART NUMBERS 1J0 945 511A AND 1J0 945 511B, THE ORIGINAL AND FIRST REVISION LEVELS, RESPECTIVELY.THE FAILURE OF THE SWITCH COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, OR COULD CAUSE THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATED.EITHER CONDITION RESULTS IN THE INABILITY OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOTIFY OTHER MOTORISTS OF VEHICLE BRAKING.UNDER SAFETY RECALL 03V-265, VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON ALL VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH NOVEMBER 2001.ANY AFFECTED SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE WITH THE MOST CURRENT VERSION, PART NUMBER 1J0 945 511D.
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH USED IN CRUISE CONTROL EQUIPPED MY 1998-1999 AND ALL MY 2000 AND LATER MODELS HAS UNDERGONE MULTIPLE REVISIONS.ANALYSIS OF WARRANTY AND COMPLAINT DATA INDICATES HIGH REPLACEMENT RATES OCCURRED IN VEHICLES BUILT WITH BRAKE SWITCH PART NUMBERS 1J0 945 511A AND 1J0 945 511B, THE ORIGINAL AND FIRST REVISION LEVELS, RESPECTIVELY.THE FAILURE OF THE SWITCH COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, OR COULD CAUSE THE BRAKE LAMPS TO STAY CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATED.EITHER CONDITION RESULTS IN THE INABILITY OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOTIFY OTHER MOTORISTS OF VEHICLE BRAKING.UNDER SAFETY RECALL 03V-265, VOLKSWAGEN WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON ALL VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH NOVEMBER 2001.ANY AFFECTED SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE WITH THE MOST CURRENT VERSION, PART NUMBER 1J0 945 511D.
PE02084 · Brake Light Switch Operation
Opened Nov 18, 2002 · Closed Apr 8, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting; Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH USED IN NEW BEETLE IS ALSO SPECIFIED IN GOLF AND JETTA MODELS.ONE TYPE OF SWITCH IS USED ON CRUISE EQUIPPED MODELS, A SECOND TYPE IS USED ON NON-CRUISE MODELS.VW REPORTS 86 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 2575 WARRANTY CLAIMS OF INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE RELATED TO THE BRAKE SWITCH.TWO OF THE VW COMPLAINTS INVOLVE FAILURES THAT WERE ALSO REPORTED TO ODI.ADDITIONALLY, OVER 100,000 BRAKE SWITCH SERVICE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN SOLD UNDER 4 DIFFERENT PART NUMBERS.THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH USED IN NEW BEETLE IS ALSO SPECIFIED IN GOLF AND JETTA MODELS.ONE TYPE OF SWITCH IS USED ON CRUISE EQUIPPED MODELS, A SECOND TYPE IS USED ON NON-CRUISE MODELS.VW REPORTS 86 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 2575 WARRANTY CLAIMS OF INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE RELATED TO THE BRAKE SWITCH.TWO OF THE VW COMPLAINTS INVOLVE FAILURES THAT WERE ALSO REPORTED TO ODI.ADDITIONALLY, OVER 100,000 BRAKE SWITCH SERVICE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN SOLD UNDER 4 DIFFERENT PART NUMBERS.THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.
Exterior Lighting
THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH USED IN NEW BEETLE IS ALSO SPECIFIED IN GOLF AND JETTA MODELS.ONE TYPE OF SWITCH IS USED ON CRUISE EQUIPPED MODELS, A SECOND TYPE IS USED ON NON-CRUISE MODELS.VW REPORTS 86 CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND 2575 WARRANTY CLAIMS OF INOPERATIVE BRAKE LIGHTS, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE RELATED TO THE BRAKE SWITCH.TWO OF THE VW COMPLAINTS INVOLVE FAILURES THAT WERE ALSO REPORTED TO ODI.ADDITIONALLY, OVER 100,000 BRAKE SWITCH SERVICE COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN SOLD UNDER 4 DIFFERENT PART NUMBERS.THE INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.
Illustration