IllustrationTHE ROOF COVER IS FALLING DOWN. THE GLUE THAT IS USE TO KEEP THE CLOTH ATTACHED TO THE ROOF IS VERY POOR AND AFTER 3 YEARS IT WILL START TO FALL DOWN. I HAVE 2 IDENTICAL VW BEETLE'S AND THEY BOTH SUFFER FROM THIS PROBLEM. *JB
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
Visibility complaints
3 reportsTHIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THE WINDOW REGULATOR SYSTEM IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX. TIME-CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE EVEN FOR A DO-IT-YOURSELFER.*AK
POWER WINDOW SWITCH BREAKS AND MUST BE REPLACED OFTEN. WE KNOW MANY NEW BEETLE OWNWERS - NEARLY ALL HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM. WINDOW CAN STICK DOWN AND NOT BE CLOSEABLE, IN ANY WEATHER, IN ANY AREA - DEFINITE SECURITY PROBLEM IN THE WRONG NEIGHBORHOOD. OURS WAS FIXED ON WARRANTY LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AGO - PROBLEM IS SO COMMON T…
Read full complaint
POWER WINDOW SWITCH BREAKS AND MUST BE REPLACED OFTEN. WE KNOW MANY NEW BEETLE OWNWERS - NEARLY ALL HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM. WINDOW CAN STICK DOWN AND NOT BE CLOSEABLE, IN ANY WEATHER, IN ANY AREA - DEFINITE SECURITY PROBLEM IN THE WRONG NEIGHBORHOOD. OURS WAS FIXED ON WARRANTY LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AGO - PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT WE ARE BUYING EXTRAS TO CARRY WITH US. VW IS DEFINITELY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS SILENT. FOUR YEARS WORTH OF CARS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE SWITCH, AND CURRENT PRODUCTION IS UNCHANGED, TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *AK NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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.