IllustrationREMOTE FUEL DOOR RELEASE FAILURE- 2ND OCCURRENCE. FIRST OCCURRENCE ABOUT A YEAR PREVIOUS AND WAS DEALER REPAIRED. UNABLE TO FUEL VEHICLE.
1999 Volkswagen New Beetle
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 25.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all New 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
Limited mileage data: 9 of 34 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
5 reportsIAM REPORTING THIS BEACUSE THE ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING AT 55 MPH WHILE PASSING ON AN EXPRESS WAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR RESTSRTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. THIS HAS OCCURRED AGAIN BUT AT LOWER SPEEDS. I HAVE NOT BEEN TO A DEALER WITH THE PROBLEM AS YET. FOR MY OEN CONVIENCE THE CAR WILL BE TAKEN TO NEWTON MOROTSPR…
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IAM REPORTING THIS BEACUSE THE ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING AT 55 MPH WHILE PASSING ON AN EXPRESS WAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR RESTSRTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. THIS HAS OCCURRED AGAIN BUT AT LOWER SPEEDS. I HAVE NOT BEEN TO A DEALER WITH THE PROBLEM AS YET. FOR MY OEN CONVIENCE THE CAR WILL BE TAKEN TO NEWTON MOROTSPROTS ROUTE 206 NEWTON, NJ TEL 973-383-2626 THIS AM. *AK
AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND FUEL TANK. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES OIL LEAKS. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, DEALER SECURED LOOSE CONNECTOR CLEAR CODES. PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. TRUNK VERY HARD TO CLOSE, DEALER A…
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AT VARIOUS SPEEDS VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REPAIRED ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AND FUEL TANK. BUT, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS VEHICLE EXPERIENCES OIL LEAKS. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, DEALER SECURED LOOSE CONNECTOR CLEAR CODES. PASSENGER SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE UP OR DOWN. TRUNK VERY HARD TO CLOSE, DEALER ADJUSTED UPPER AND LOWER TRUNK LOCK ASSEMBLY. *SLC
THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING AT ABOUT 50 MPH. THE CAR RESTARTED AFTER SITTING MOMENTARILY. THIS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS RANGING FROM 0-50 MPH. THERE IS A WEBSITE CALLED TDICLUB.COM WITH ENTRIES IN ITS FORUM ABOUT EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING. THE ENTRY…
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THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN SUDDENLY WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING AT ABOUT 50 MPH. THE CAR RESTARTED AFTER SITTING MOMENTARILY. THIS HAPPENED THREE MORE TIMES OVER THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AT VARIOUS SPEEDS RANGING FROM 0-50 MPH. THERE IS A WEBSITE CALLED TDICLUB.COM WITH ENTRIES IN ITS FORUM ABOUT EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING. THE ENTRY I FOUND WAS FROM JULY 1999. IT WAS EXACTLY AS IF I WAS THE RESPONDENT. SO, THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED BEFORE. I SUSPECT THERE ARE A BATCH OF BAD RELAYS AND/OR SOLENOIDS OUT THERE. THIS IS SAFETY RELATED SINCE IN A HIGHWAY SITUATION THE SUDDEN STOPPAGE OF A VEHICLE HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION.
THIS VEHICLE USES AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF FUEL. WHEN REFULING THE GAS PUMP CONTINUALLY CUTS OFF EVEN AFTER LESS THAN 1 GALLON. THE DRIVERS' SEAT HAS COME UNBOLTED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. *AK
Official recalls
103V265000 · Exterior Lighting:brake Lights:switch
Jul 25, 2003
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE; OR THE LAMPS COULD COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCHES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 26, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.