IllustrationTHE IGNITION LOCKS AND PRESENTS A MAJOR PROBLEM. IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. ALSO THE LOCKS RANDOMLY GO ON AND OFF AS I AM DRIVING.
2014 Volkswagen Beetle
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 49.
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
150–25K
525–50K
550–75K
475–100K
2100–150K
0150K+
31 reports with mileage · 19 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports2 fire reports3 injury reports
Unknown Or Other complaints
4 reports2014 VW 'CLOCK SPRING' FAILURE AFFECTING THE DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG, HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION OF THE VOLKSWAGON OF AMERICA (VWA) RECALL OF THE 2014 VW BEETLE CONCERNING THE FAI…
Read full complaint
2014 VW 'CLOCK SPRING' FAILURE AFFECTING THE DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG, HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL. I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OF THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (NHTSA) TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION OF THE VOLKSWAGON OF AMERICA (VWA) RECALL OF THE 2014 VW BEETLE CONCERNING THE FAILURE OF THE DRIVER AIR BAG, HORN, AND CRUISE CONTROL. THE CURRENT RECALL INVOLVES THE 'CLOCK SPRING' WHICH HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN VW MODELS INCLUDING: 2010-14 CC; 2010-13 EOS; 2011-2014 GOLF; 2011-14 GTI; 2012-14 JETTA SPORTWAGEN; 2011-14 JETTA SEDAN; 2010 PASSAT AND PASSAT WAGON; 2012-14 PASSAT SEDAN, AND 2011-14 TIGUAN. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE 2014 VW BEETLE, THE ONLY MODEL NOT INCLUDED IN THE VW MODELS RECALL. MY 2014 BETTLE TURBO EXPERIENCE FAILURE OF THE CLOCK SPRING AROUND 80,000 MILES. THERE WAS NO LIGHT ON THE DASH INDICATING A FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG, HORN, OR CRUISE CONTROL. AN ATTEMPT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE HORN WERE BOTH FOUND INOPERATIVE CAUSED IMMEDIATE CONCERN. A CHECK OF THE FUSES INDICATED AN ACCESSORY (12V ACCESSORY CHARGING/CIGARETTE LIGHTER) NEEDED REPLACED. THE REPLACED FUSE DID NOT REMEDY THE OTHER SAFETY ISSUES. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A VW DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND FOUND TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE CLOCK SPRING AND ADVISED THAT REPLACEMENT FOR THE PART WOULD BE $450+. DUE TO THE AGE/MILEAGE THE PART WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. I WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THIS ITEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE AIR BAG IS INOPERATIVE AND CONSTITUTES A NHTSA SAFETY RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN CLOCK SPRING RECALL INVESTIGATED BY FEDS HTTPS://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/NEWS/2017/VOLKSWAGEN-CLOCK-SPRING-RECALL-INVESTIGATED.SHTML I WOULD APPRECIATE ADVICE FROM NHTSA IF THIS MODEL WILL BE COVERED, OR NOT, AND HOW TO PROCEED.
THE HORN DOES NOT WORK, I HAVE HAD THE FUSES CHECKED AND ALL THE FUSES ARE GOOD. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS YOU NEED YOUR HORN TO ALERT OTHER BAD DRIVERS ON THE ROAD. I KNOW OTHERS THAT HAVE THE SAME CAR HAVE THE SAME ISSUE,
REAR-ENDED A CAR IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY - FENDER BENDER-NO AIR BAGS WENT OFF. BOTH CARS DROVE OFF THE FREEWAY TO THE SIDE STREETS TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION. ABOUT 10 TO 15 MINS LATER WHILST THE CAR WAS PARKED AND ENGINE TURNED OFF - THERE WERE TWO POP POP NOISES AND THEN CAR BURST INTO FLAMES.
Official recalls
520V785000 · Air Bags:frontal
Dec 16, 2020
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The driver's side 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: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BC.
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.
15V028000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail
Jan 23, 2015
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall 14V-809 (Volkswagen recall number 24Bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that campaign.
14V658000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly
Oct 20, 2014
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Beetle vehicles manufactured June 13, 2013, to July 3, 2014. The glass sunroofs in the affected vehicles may break when the vehicles are operated over a hard road surface or strike a pothole.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Vehicle occupants could be injured by falling glass. A sunroof break during vehicle operation also increases the risk of driver distraction and a resulting vehicle crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 60B9.
14V182000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:cooling Unit And Lines
Apr 15, 2014
Volkswagen of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, and Passat vehicles equipped with a 1.8T engine and torque converter automatic transmission. In the affected vehicles, the O-ring seals between the oil cooler and the transmission may leak fluid.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The leaking transmission fluid could contact a hot surface and result in a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the O-ring seals in the transmission oil cooler, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on April 16, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 38B9/9V.
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.