10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
36,223 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 2013 Volkswagen Beetle:

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

problem #11

May 032022

Beetle

  • miles
Had the Takata Air Bag Recall completed at VW dealership in CC, Tx. Shortly after the Air Bag kept giving Errors and then it would include Low Air Pressure, ABS and Anti Skid Warnings.. Contacted the dealership, had the system check with no issues.. Had the system checked locally at repair shop with no issues.. went to leave and Air Bag Warning stated Error, , they rechecked and found no Issues.. Computer showed no Errors.. I was informed that apparently the only issue is "Possibly" the Air Bag needs to be replaced again but the dealership refuses to without a Recall Requests.

- Victoria, TX, USA

problem #10

Aug 212019

Beetle

  • miles
I got a bunch of calls and many notices regarding an airbag recall, but I was never made aware of the shift lever recall. I parked my vehicle on my street and it rolled away from me and crashed into my neighbors car. It was not until after I paid out of my own pocket to have it repaired that I was told it was a recall. VW has failed in notifying me of this and someone could have been seriously injured or even killed.

- Ottumwa, IA, USA

problem #9

Jan 152022

Beetle

  • miles
While driving on the interstate my 2013 VW Beetle showed a stability malfunction warning then lost power and would not accelerate. I coasted to the shoulder and shut the vehicle off. It crank back up and I drove it home. Two months ago, I had the same issue with the vehicle losing power after the engine light illuminated several times before I could get the car into the VW dealership for repair. After a costly emmission valve and hose replacement the engine light didn-??t come back on and the care hasn-??t lost power until yesterday. My safety was at risk due to a lack of power and had not been able to coast to the shoulder safely, I could have been plowed into the rear of my car by a semi that was fast approaching. This is a vehicle that I purchased for my teenaged daughter and I shudder to think of an inexperienced driver in this situation. I have read lots of post from others who have had this problem with VW. Taking the car back to the dealership tomorrow and praying that I won-??t be told that the lose of power is a safety feature that VW has like I was told previously. Safety feature is suppose to prevent an accident not put drivers in a sitution that is potentially fatal.

- Macon, GA, USA

problem #8

Feb 172021

Beetle

  • miles
2 recalls are on my bug first one says the air bag inflator may explode.causing injury or death. I called VW they said it is safe to drive. And that there is no fix for it. I called them and I told them I can't sell my car like that, and they won't buy it back, or provide a rental until they come up with a fix. Is this car safe to drive with my grand kids or not and what do I do..I have let the car sit until I here from someone

- Riverside, CA, USA

problem #7

Jan 252019

Beetle

  • 150,000 miles
Diesel particulate filter failure after VW diesel fix

- Wassaic, NY, USA

problem #6

Jul 222020

Beetle

  • 65,000 miles
Trying to turn off the motor but key will not turn, it will move forward as if you are starting it but not to remove the key.the car was in park and I jiggles the steering column and gear lever and even the key switch but nothing would release the key and turn the motor off.

- Jackson, OH, USA

problem #5

Dec 012018

Beetle

  • 45,000 miles
Door lock have quit working properly, what make me think this might be a bigger problem than the 600$ I have had to pay separately for each door is an experience I had last week...upon entering the vehicle and closing the door, my battery died, and I was unable to exit the vehicle, as the Beetle requires the window to lower approx. 1 inch for the door to open. I do not know if these 2 problems are connected, but having anything wrong with door locks should be a safety hazard that is fixed by the company. The doors are supposed to lock upon acceleration, with the double clicking I have experienced, I'm actually not sure if they are. I have a video that I could send, but it is not attachable to this form (.mov)I have attached the customer (don't) care messages from VW. I have decided to fie this complaint because the passenger door first went out a year or so ago and I paid for that one and now the drivers door has failed.

- Palm Harbor, FL, USA

problem #4

Sep 242014

Beetle

  • 22,433 miles
Mid 2014, we purchased our 2013 VW bug from a private party. By fall of the same year, the bug was brought to the dealer for ignition key switch exhibiting difficulty not only engaging to the "on" position, but also removing the key from the housing switch. The dealer suggesting that the keys may be defective, as the vehicle was purchased from a private sale (as if that made a difference). They suggested purchasing a new set of keys. Cost: Close to $400. Not sure if they did anything else with the car while they had it, but the "problem" abated for a while, returning with a vengeance about a year later- we literally could not remove the key from the ignition switch. The bug was returned to the dealer- this time for a new key switch cylinder, steering lock and bolt. Cost approx. $625. If your keeping score, that's approx. $1000. Spent. Fast forward to current day, end of Aug. 2018. Same ignition issues. Two weeks ago, we received a letter from VW of America acknowledging the "problem", with a specific warrantee extension offered. So, back to the dealer it goes. Thanks to this NHTSA website, I see that we are not alone.

- Queen Creek, AZ, USA

problem #3

Jul 062018

Beetle

  • 51,000 miles
VW Beetle (2013) would not turn off as the key was stuck in ignition while the car was running! stopped at gas station to fill up and when I tried to remove key, would not come out. Had experience problem the day before but thought using a different key would help but it didn't--same problem. Have experienced frequent problems with key in ignition since purchasing Beetle. Drove car to two mechanics and they could not get car out of ignition so drove home to be in familiar environment and called roadside assistance and they were unable to get key out of ignition and could not get car engine to turn off. Received help from multiple people but still couldn't get key out of ignition and car to turn off--4 hours later, finally mechanic provided instruction to disconnect battery, fuse pump, and fuse box while car was running--which helped to turn the car off; however, it also leaves car susceptible to other issues. I also had to leave my car in open parking spot--with the key in it--leaving it at risk of being stolen!

- Yonkers, NY, USA

problem #2

Apr 082016

Beetle

  • 65,000 miles
Vehicle lost power while driving on highway. I pulled over and tried to restart it. After a minute it restarted. The VW dealer ran diagnostics and found no problems. Had I not been able to pull over on this busy highway, it might have caused a serious accident.

- Sioux City, IA, USA

problem #1

Mar 012013

Beetle

  • 20 miles
Trunk lo0ck intemittantly will not unlock. Taken to the dealer many times. They replaced the lock. The last time they replaced some module.I hope it is fixed. I dont want to have to remove things from the trunk by having to fold down the back seat again!!!

- Saucier, MS, USA