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1999 Volkswagen Beetle

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Beetle years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle are substantially higher than the model-year median of 49.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

69 reports with mileage · 105 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 39 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 31 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

17 crash reports20 fire reports14 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

17 reports
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33,600 miles · Mar 6, 2006
Exterior Lighting

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. THE RECALLED PART FAILED TWICE SINCE THE ORIGINAL PART WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS BECOMING INOPERATIVE, THE TRANSMISSION ALSO LOCKS RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE BEING INOPERABLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, 03V265000 CONCERNING THE BRAKE LI…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. THE RECALLED PART FAILED TWICE SINCE THE ORIGINAL PART WAS REPLACED. IN ADDITION TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS BECOMING INOPERATIVE, THE TRANSMISSION ALSO LOCKS RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE BEING INOPERABLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, 03V265000 CONCERNING THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, HOWEVER THE RECALL DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED TO REIMBURSE THE CONTACT FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART THAT WAS PURCHASED.

NHTSA ODI #10151989

51,730 miles · Jun 14, 2005
Exterior Lighting

VEHICLE PURCHASED 03/1999. PROBLEM: BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER NON-FUNCTIONING OR STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY. REPAIRS: REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH VOLKSWAGEN PART#1J0945511A,B,& D. OCCURENCES: 05/12/1999, 09/24/1999 AND 04/23/2001 OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE. THREE OTHER OCCURENCES UNTIL 2003 REPLACED UNDER IN-HOUSE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION "W…

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VEHICLE PURCHASED 03/1999. PROBLEM: BRAKE LIGHTS EITHER NON-FUNCTIONING OR STAYED ON CONTINUOUSLY. REPAIRS: REPLACED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH VOLKSWAGEN PART#1J0945511A,B,& D. OCCURENCES: 05/12/1999, 09/24/1999 AND 04/23/2001 OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSE. THREE OTHER OCCURENCES UNTIL 2003 REPLACED UNDER IN-HOUSE CUSTOMER SATISFACTION "WARRANTY". SAFETY RECALL ISSUED 10/2003. RECALL REPAIRS COMPLETED 11/2003. OCCURENCE: 06/2005 RECALLED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILED AGAIN. VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. REPLACES BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH, BUT REFUSES TO HONOR ANY KIND OF WARRANTY OF THE PART THAT FULFILLED THE ORIGINAL RECALL. THIS NEGATES THE 10/2003 RECALL OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. IT LEAVES ME, THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, JEOPARDIZED WITH THE SAME REAR CRASH SAFETY SITUATION I WAS ENCOUNTERING BEFORE THE RECALL. I AM REPLACING THE PART, OF COURSE, BUT AT MY OWN EXPENSE AND WITHOUT ANY CONCERNS FROM VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC. QUESTION: HOW MANY MORE PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY THE MALFUNCTION OF THIS SAME RECALL MANDATED REPAIR? WILL THERE BE DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO THIS MALFUNCTION? I CAN ONLY PRAY THAT THERE ARE NONE.

NHTSA ODI #10125287

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2004
Air BagsExterior LightingVisibility

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND WITHOUT HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS BLINKED ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND DOWN, AND SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. BUT, MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPL…

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WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND WITHOUT HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS BLINKED ON AND OFF ON THEIR OWN. ALSO, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND DOWN, AND SRS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. BUT, MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10066769

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2003
Exterior Lighting

DEALER HAD TO REPLACE HEADLIGHTS 7 TIMES THIS YEAR. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE IS NOT LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO SHE HAD TO PAY $60.OO FOR EACH HEAD LAMP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10026676

Mileage unknown · Nov 4, 2002
Electrical SystemEquipmentExterior Lighting

EIGHTEEN MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO TURN IT ON. AFTER THE THIRD TIME, CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED IT WAS A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. *JG

NHTSA ODI #567115

Mileage unknown · Oct 5, 2001
Exterior Lighting

I COMMUTE ON A 2 LANE ROAD TO WORK AND THE DANGER OF DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS PUTS NOT ONLY MYSELF BUT ANYONE IN BACK OF ME IN EXTREME DANGER OF CAUSING A ACCIDENT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED FAILURE AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR MUCH LONGER THAN TWO YEARS. NOT HAVING FOLLOWED MYSELF I HAVE NO IDEA EXA…

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I COMMUTE ON A 2 LANE ROAD TO WORK AND THE DANGER OF DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS PUTS NOT ONLY MYSELF BUT ANYONE IN BACK OF ME IN EXTREME DANGER OF CAUSING A ACCIDENT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY RELATED FAILURE AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR MUCH LONGER THAN TWO YEARS. NOT HAVING FOLLOWED MYSELF I HAVE NO IDEA EXACTLY HOW LONG I HAD BEEN DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKE LIGHTS. ALSO WITH IT BEING SUMMER AND LIGHT IN THE MORNING WHEN I WOULD LEAVE I COULDN'T SEE THE GLARE IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #752951

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

Official recalls

1

06V183000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch

May 24, 2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW 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

3

RQ06004 · 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.