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5 recalls covering model years 2018, 2019. To check whether your vehicle is affected, look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls — a recall may apply only to some vehicles of a given year.
The driver's airbag in these cars has a part inside that inflates it in a crash. Over many years of heat and humidity, the chemical inside can break down. If that happens, the airbag can burst too hard and throw sharp pieces of metal at the driver and other people in the car. This can cause serious injury or death. A dealer will replace the whole driver's airbag unit in the steering wheel.
This recall covers Beck/Arnley replacement brake master cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle. The master cylinder is the part that pushes brake fluid to the brakes when you press the pedal. On these units the fluid seal may not be crimped tightly enough, so brake fluid can leak out or the cylinder can come apart. Leaking fluid means weaker brakes and a longer stopping distance.
On these cars a small switch by the gear lever can get a mineral build-up on its contacts. When that happens, you can pull the key out of the ignition even though the lever is not in "Park." If the handbrake is not set, the car can roll away on its own after you get out, and someone could be hurt or the car could crash. Dealers will add an extra switch and circuit board free of charge.
On certain 2019 Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertible models, the display behind the steering wheel may fail to light up a warning when the car detects a problem with the brake system. The brakes themselves are not the defect — the problem is that you would not be told something is wrong. Without that alert, you could keep driving with a brake fault and only find out when you try to stop and the car does not respond as expected.
The brake calipers — the parts that squeeze the brake pads against the wheels — were built with pistons that did not get enough protective coating. Over time that can make the brakes work less well than they should, so the car may not slow down or stop the way you expect. Volkswagen and Audi say owners should not drive these vehicles until the brake system has been checked. Dealers bleed the brake lines to fix it.
⚠ NHTSA advises: do not drive this vehicle until repaired.
Complaints owners have filed with NHTSA about the Volkswagen Beetle. These are unverified reports; better-selling years collect more.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Recalls and complaint record for one model year at a time: