Volkswagen Beetle by model year

3,615 owner complaints are on file with NHTSA for the Volkswagen Beetle across 21 model years. Choose a year for problems, recalls, fuel economy and crash ratings in one place.

See the best and worst years for the Volkswagen Beetle

Complaints by model year

Older model years have had longer to collect complaints, so a taller bar on an older year is not necessarily a worse year. The best and worst years page corrects for this.

View the numbers

Model year	Complaints
1998	289
1999	280
2000	373
2001	291
2002	231
2003	405
2004	469
2005	330
2006	161
2007	79
2008	109
2009	39
2010	42
2012	88
2013	128
2014	71
2015	108
2016	64
2017	19
2018	23
2019	16

All model years

Model year	Complaints	Most reported	Recalls	MPG	Safety
2019	16		3	29
2018	23		3	29
2017	19		3	26 to 28
2016	64	Air bags (55%)	3	26 to 28	5 stars
2015	108	Air bags (39%)	5	26 to 34	5 stars
2014	71	Air bags (21%)	5	25 to 32	5 stars
2013	128	Air bags (27%)	6	24 to 32	5 stars
2012	88	Wipers, windshield & visibility (28%)	6	24 to 25	4 stars
2010	42	Electrical system (14%)	3
2009	39	Lighting (15%)	2
2008	109	Electrical system (18%)	3
2007	79	Air bags (19%)	2
2006	161	Drivetrain & axles (20%)	3
2005	330	Transmission (22%)	3
2004	469	Transmission (22%)	3
2003	405	Transmission (20%)	2
2002	231	Air bags (19%)	2
2001	291	Engine (19%)	2
2000	373	Air bags (19%)	1
1999	280	Electrical system (18%)	1
1998	289	Electrical system (22%)	2