10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
30,467 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #3

Jul 012005

Beetle 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 32,400 miles
I own a 1999 new Beetle with the 2.0 engine with 37,000 original miles. The car quit running approx. 2 1/2 yrs ago, approximately two months after I purchased it from a certified Volkswagen dealer, used. A few days after delivery there was a rotten egg smell, check engine light on, engine sluggish. After one month the battery went dead completely. Replaced the battery, car would not run. Battery dead again after four days. I found info on the internet that security system must be set or the battery will last only four days. Inspected plugs, found heavy carbon buildup. Inspected pre O2 sensor, found same. Decided to overhaul eng. Found heavy carbon on tops of pistons and valves. Machine shop had to replace pistons, rings, all bearings, oil pump, plane the cylinder head, plane the head mating surface, replace seals, turn the flywheel. I had to also replace the water pump, timing belt, clutch, throwout bearing, O2 sensor, plug wires, and the dipstick holder. After considerable money spent, engine would start but not run. I found out from the dealer that if electrical power is lost, vehicle must be towed to a Volkswagen dealer and be reprogrammed. It will not run until that is done. The reason given was that Volkswagen did not want any owners to fix their own car. This could be a signifigant safety issue in a life threatening situation! there are reports on several internet forums of the original batteries blowing up and even after replacement of the battery the vehicle would not run until it was reprogrammed. Volkswagen should be required to fix this problem. I would like to see a full investigation on this model to see if it should be sold in the us. There are too many reported defects on this model to list here, some that apply to this car, that are much more dangerous than I described here. I hope that our government will straighten this company out and that owners will somehow be compensated.

- Oklahoma City, OK, USA

problem #2

Oct 172004

Beetle

  • Manual transmission
  • 59,000 miles
While driving clutch went out, and the consumer could not shift the gears. After getting out of the vehicle there was a fire under the hood. The fire department responded and put the fire out. Vehiicle was later towed. The air pump was defective. Vehicle was totaled.

- Troutdale, OR, USA

problem #1

Sep 082000

Beetle

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
While driving about 55 mph applied clutch and it will not engage, causing engine to stall. Then, vehicle was towed.

- Worcester, MA, USA