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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.

About this comparison →

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

Seats complaints

11 reports
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50,000 miles · Sep 19, 2007
Seats

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BY ITSELF AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM REACHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DRIVER OBSERVED THAT THE SEAT HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. AAA STATED THAT THE PLASTIC FAILED IN THE SEAT AND THAT THE SCREWS WERE DETACHED. AAA REPLACE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BY ITSELF AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM REACHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DRIVER OBSERVED THAT THE SEAT HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. AAA STATED THAT THE PLASTIC FAILED IN THE SEAT AND THAT THE SCREWS WERE DETACHED. AAA REPLACED THE SCREWS IN THE SEAT SO THAT THE CONTACT COULD DRIVE HOME. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SEAT AND CONFIRMED THAT THE SCREWS AND THE PLASTIC FAILED. THE SECOND TIME THE SEAT FAILED, THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR OR INSPECT IT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE SPEED AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER CALLED AND INFORMED HER THE COST OF THE REPAIR WOULD $178.00, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER IS ON A FIX INCOME AND CAN NOT AFFORD THE COST OF THE REPAIR. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10203463

45,000 miles · Apr 22, 2005
SeatsCrashInjury

AFTER BEING REAR ENDED, THE DRIVERS SEAT RECLINED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN WHIP LASH. AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, THEY STATED THE SEAT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10119066

Mileage unknown · Jan 10, 2002
Seats

DRIVER'S SEAT IS POORLY DESIGNED WHICH CAUSES DRIVER'S DISCOMFORT WHILE DRIVING. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #8001920

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 2001
Seats

FRONT SEAT ON DRIVER SIDE WOULD GO FORWARD WHEN PUT ON BRAKES. ALSO, WHILE PUTTING IN BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE,HEARD A NOISE AND SEAT BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE VIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #891584

Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2001
Seats

WAS STARTING TO APPLY BRAKES WHEN SEAT WENT BACKWARDS, AND DRIVER LOST VISIBILE CONTACT WITH ROAD. LATER, HAD SEAT CHECKED OUT, AND NOTICED SCREWS ON TRACK OF SEAT HAD BECOME STRIPPED. THIS WHAT CAUSED SEAT PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #882422

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
Seats

SHE WAS STATIONARY INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND HEARD SWEAKING NOISE LAST WEEK. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT CAME OFF TRACK, AND FELL OVER INTO BACK SEAT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WERE AWARE OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867872

Mileage unknown · Jun 9, 2000
SeatsCrashInjury

UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES TO DRIVER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT STILL REMAINS DAMAGED. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #863331

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…

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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 · Nov 9, 1999
Seats

HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF HEAD RESTRAINTS ON FRONT SEAT CANNOT LOWER TO PROPER HEAD HEIGHT

NHTSA ODI #714514

Mileage unknown · Apr 6, 1999
Seats

CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DESIGN OF THE DRIVERS HEADREST, SITS TOO HIGH AND CAN'T BE ADJUSTED TO ACCOMODATE SHORT DRIVERS, CREATES DISCOMFORT. HEADREST WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED.

NHTSA ODI #544819

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.