NHTSA lists 48 complaints for the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle, 2 of them mention a crash and 0 mention a fire. 0 complaints mention an injury, with 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-08.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE.
At a glance
Complaints
48
With crash
2
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
3
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
679,027
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
693
Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.
Where the complaints are
Top systems
System
Complaints
Share of this vehicle's complaints
AIR BAGS
35
72.9%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
6
12.5%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
5
10.4%
SUSPENSION
3
6.3%
WHEELS
3
6.3%
SERVICE BRAKES
2
4.2%
STEERING
2
4.2%
TIRES
2
4.2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2
4.2%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
1
2.1%
Top subsystems
System
Subsystem
Complaints
STRUCTURE
BODY
1
TIRES
PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
1
One complaint can name several systems, so shares can add to more than 100 percent.
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.
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Beetle and Beetle Convertibles 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: Dealers will replace the driver's side air bag, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed October 26, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69EM.
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)
Date: 2015-10-26. Systems: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
0 investigations; 0 open.
Manufacturer communications
693 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system
System
Count
EQUIPMENT
322
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
150
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
106
ENGINE
79
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
38
POWER TRAIN
35
STRUCTURE
29
VISIBILITY
29
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
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.