THE BACKUP CAMERA IS SO DIM IT IS USELESS. ALTHOUGH SOME VW CAMERAS HAVE ADJUSTABLE BRIGHTNESS, MY MODEL DOES NOT AND EVEN THE DEALER SAID IT WAS USELESS. WAS SHOWN OTHER MODELS WITH SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED DEALER AND VW OF AMER. AND WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE. NEEDS NEW SENSOR OR REPLACEMENT. A REAL SAFETY ISSUE…
Read full complaint
THE BACKUP CAMERA IS SO DIM IT IS USELESS. ALTHOUGH SOME VW CAMERAS HAVE ADJUSTABLE BRIGHTNESS, MY MODEL DOES NOT AND EVEN THE DEALER SAID IT WAS USELESS. WAS SHOWN OTHER MODELS WITH SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE CONTACTED DEALER AND VW OF AMER. AND WAS TOLD NOTHING COULD BE DONE. NEEDS NEW SENSOR OR REPLACEMENT. A REAL SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10778862
200 miles · Sep 28, 2015
Visibility/wiper
THE BACKUP CAMERA ON MY VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IS SO DARK THAT IS IS VIRTUALLY USELESS. WE HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE MANAGER AGREED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. HE REPLACED THE CAMERA AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THEN THE MANAGER LEFT AND ANOTHER ONE CAME ON BOARD WE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO VW AND THEY SP…
Read full complaint
THE BACKUP CAMERA ON MY VW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE IS SO DARK THAT IS IS VIRTUALLY USELESS. WE HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE MANAGER AGREED THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. HE REPLACED THE CAMERA AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THEN THE MANAGER LEFT AND ANOTHER ONE CAME ON BOARD WE REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO VW AND THEY SPOKE WITH THE MANAGER ONSITE. HE TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS OK BECAUSE ALL OF THE CAMERAS WERE LIKE THAT. WE HAVE OWNED CARS PREVIOUSLY WITH BACK UP CAMERAS AND NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. THE CAMERAS WITH GPS DO NOT HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THE DEALER TOLD ME I COULD PAY FOR A UNIT WITH GPS. I HAVE A HAND HELD GPS SO HAVE NO DESIRE TO PUT MORE MONEY INTO IT. I PAID EXTRA FOR THE BACKUP CAMERA AND DID NOT GET MY MONEY'S WORTH. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE BACK WINDOW IN THE CONVERTIBLE ALLOWS FOR ONLY LIMITED SIGHT.
NHTSA ODI #10778034
50 miles · Mar 24, 2015
Visibility/wiper
THE BACKUP CAMERA ON THE BEETLE DOES NOT WORK. THE IMAGE ON THE SCREEN IS TOO DARK TO SEE ANYTHING. THE ONLY TIME YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE BACKUP CAMERA IS IN FULL SUN, AND THEN IT IS STILL DISTORTED AND UNABLE TO USE. I KNOW THAT 2018 THAT ALL CARS ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE A BACK UP CAMERA, BUT IF A CAR ALREADY HAS THE SAFETY FEA…
Read full complaint
THE BACKUP CAMERA ON THE BEETLE DOES NOT WORK. THE IMAGE ON THE SCREEN IS TOO DARK TO SEE ANYTHING. THE ONLY TIME YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE THE BACKUP CAMERA IS IN FULL SUN, AND THEN IT IS STILL DISTORTED AND UNABLE TO USE. I KNOW THAT 2018 THAT ALL CARS ARE SUPPOSE TO HAVE A BACK UP CAMERA, BUT IF A CAR ALREADY HAS THE SAFETY FEATURE SHOULD IT NOT WORK PROPERLY? MY THEORY IS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO TEST THE SYSTEM TO SEE HOW MUCH THEY COULD GET AWAY WITH. TO HAVE THE CAMERA IN PLACE, BUT ONLY MEET THE MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS OF THE LAW. BUT THIS IS NOT USABLE. I HAVE TAKEN THE BEETLE INTO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, ALL THEY HAVE DONE IS VISIBLE COMPARISON WITH OTHER BEETLES. THEY SAY THAT IT MEETS ALL TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS, AND THERE IS NO FIX. *TR
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Beetle and Beetle Convertibles 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: Dealers will replace the driver's side air bag, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed October 26, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69EM.
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.
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.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
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.
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2015 Volkswagen Beetle Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration