NHTSA lists 50 complaints for the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle, 3 of them mention a crash and 2 mention a fire. 3 complaints mention an injury, with 4 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-09.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE.
Model-generated complaint tags
These labels are model-generated, not NHTSA data.
Failure modes| Label | Count | Share of tagged | Mean confidence |
|---|
| mechanical failure | 15 | 30.0% | 0.86 |
|---|
| restraint or airbag | 10 | 20.0% | 0.86 |
|---|
| electrical electronic | 8 | 16.0% | 0.86 |
|---|
| structural or corrosion | 4 | 8.0% | 0.58 |
|---|
| visibility or lighting | 4 | 8.0% | 0.82 |
|---|
| loss of control | 3 | 6.0% | 0.97 |
|---|
| fire or overheating | 2 | 4.0% | 0.96 |
|---|
| unclear | 2 | 4.0% | 0.93 |
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| fluid or fuel leak | 1 | 2.0% | 0.94 |
|---|
| noise or comfort | 1 | 2.0% | 0.98 |
|---|
Severities| Label | Count | Share of tagged | Mean confidence |
|---|
| moderate | 24 | 48.0% | 0.79 |
|---|
| low | 22 | 44.0% | 0.72 |
|---|
| high | 4 | 8.0% | 0.84 |
|---|
Model: typesafe/jev-1.13-20260917; schema version: tag-v1. 50 tagged complaints of 50 complaints (100.0%).
Confidence is the model's own probability for the label it chose (0 to 1), not accuracy.
Model-generated labels on tagged complaints only. Model years 2013 and newer are tagged in full; 2012 in part (see tagged_share); earlier model years have no tags. NHTSA's own flags remain separate in the complaints block.
Recalls
See new recalls and investigations this week.
5 recalls.
Date: 2020-12-16. Systems: AIR BAGS.
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BC.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2019-08-22. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STEERING.
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignitio (excerpt)
Consequence: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash. (excerpt)
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2. (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2015-01-23. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November (excerpt)
Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire. (excerpt)
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall 14V-809 (Volkswagen recall number 24Bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2014-10-20. Systems: VISIBILITY.
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Beetle vehicles manufactured June 13, 2013, to July 3, 2014. The glass sunroofs in the affected vehicles may break when the vehicles are operated over a hard road surface or strike a pothole.
Consequence: Vehicle occupants could be injured by falling glass. A sunroof break during vehicle operation also increases the risk of driver distraction and a resulting vehicle crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 60B9.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2014-04-15. Systems: POWER TRAIN.
Defect: Volkswagen of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, and Passat vehicles equipped with a 1.8T engine and torque converter automatic transmission. In the affected vehicles, the O-ring seals between the oil cooler and the transmission may leak fluid.
Consequence: The leaking transmission fluid could contact a hot surface and result in a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the O-ring seals in the transmission oil cooler, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on April 16, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 38B9/9V.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Manufacturer communications
1,327 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system| System | Count |
|---|
| EQUIPMENT | 531 |
|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 290 |
|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 268 |
|---|
| ENGINE | 126 |
|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 91 |
|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 62 |
|---|
| STRUCTURE | 52 |
|---|
| VISIBILITY | 51 |
|---|
11038146
Date: 2026-09-17. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.
Suggested fuel additive
11038143
Date: 2026-09-09. Type: Other. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
11036868
Date: 2026-08-06. Type: Other. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order
11036870
Date: 2026-08-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Differences between a leak and seepage
11035772
Date: 2026-07-15. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: DA 0019 - Hotfix 12-V battery test(s) a No battery diagnosis - Inconclusive test result.
11035762
Date: 2026-07-09. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.
Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
11034613
Date: 2026-06-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.
Lubricating engine components before reassembly.
11034614
Date: 2026-06-18. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.
Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
11034621
Date: 2026-06-11. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: AIR BAGS.
Inquiries
11034617
Date: 2026-06-04. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ENGINE.
Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards