2012 Volkswagen BEETLE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Volkswagen BEETLE has 88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.1x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is visibility problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: i noticed a set of cracks near the top of my windshield, approximately at the point where the rear view mirror attaches and extending up to the roof line edge. the cracks were approximately 6" - 8" in length. i have no idea when or how it occurred as i do not recall any stone or other road debris hi.

4 crash reports 4 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

VISIBILITY

25 complaints

28%

• I NOTICED A SET OF CRACKS NEAR THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD, APPROXIMATELY AT THE POINT WHERE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR ATTACHES AND EXTENDING UP TO THE ROOF LINE EDGE. THE CRACKS WERE APPROXIMATELY 6" - 8" IN LENGTH. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN OR HOW IT OCCURRED AS I DO NOT RECALL ANY STONE OR OTHER ROAD DEBRIS HI
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY. AS A RESULT, WATER WAS ENTERING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT RAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO SOLUTION TO THE
• I PURCHASED MY CAR FROM OURISMAN VOLKSWAGEN OF LAUREL 3371 FORT MEADE ROAD, LAUREL ON MAY 27, 2012 I BEGAN HAVING TROUBLE WITH DRIVER'S SIDE THE AUTOMATIC WINDOW OPENING MECHANISM TOOK MY CAR BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS ON SEVERAL TIMES. THE WINDOW HAS ISSUES GOING UP AND STAYING UP. I JUST MADE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I NOTICED A SET OF CRACKS NEAR THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD, APPROXIMATELY AT THE POINT WHERE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR ATTACHES AND EXTENDING UP TO THE ROOF LINE EDGE. THE CRACKS WERE APPROXIMATELY 6" - 8" IN LENGTH. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN OR HOW IT OCCURRED AS I DO NOT RECALL ANY STONE OR OTHER ROAD DEBRIS HI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

12 complaints

14%

• CPSC#I1220269A. 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVER CAN NOT READ THE SPEED OR FUEL GAUGES THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE BACK LIT MARKS AND NUMERALS ON THE DASH CLUSTER FOR THE GAS, TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER. THE CONSUMER STATE
• DRIVERS WINDOW DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. WILL AT TIMES NOT GO UP OR DOWN. DEALER STATES THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND THAT THERE IS CURRENTLY NO FIX FOR THE ISSUE. *TR
• DRIVER AND PASSENGER WINDOWS REQUIRE MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS TO CLOSE COMPLETELY. SEVERAL PROBLEMS EXIST---FIRST IS THAT AS THE WINDOWS ARE RAISED, THEY TRAVEL UPWARDS, STOP, THEN RETRACT SEVERAL INCHES. ON SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS TO RAISE THE WINDOW, THEY CONTINUE TO BIND WITHIN THE DOOR MECHANISM, REQUIRIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“CPSC#I1220269A. 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVER CAN NOT READ THE SPEED OR FUEL GAUGES THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE BACK LIT MARKS AND NUMERALS ON THE DASH CLUSTER FOR THE GAS, TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER. THE CONSUMER STATE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

12 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 15 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT DEALER WHO SOLD HER THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V540000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE THE RECALL HISTORY AND THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED A VOLKS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

7 complaints

• ON 5/15/12, I PARKED MY CAR AT 1:20 P.M. IN AN OFF ROAD SMALL PRIVATE PARKING LOT (A SMALL ASSISTED LIVING COMPLEX IN STOCKTON, CA), TEMPERATURE LESS THAN 80 DEGREES, NO TREES OVERHEAD, PERPENDICULAR, FACING THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. WHEN I CAME OUT 3 HOURS LATER, FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, I NOTI
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC WINDOWS FAILED AND WOULD OPEN AND CLOSE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY ADVISED THAT THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE REC
• VEHICLE DIES WHILE DRIVING. HAS HAPPENED ON COUNTLESS OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT, TURNING, STOPPED AT LIGHT, ETC. NO WARNING. ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF. MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD AS THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE TURNING LEFT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A ROAD AT 50 MPH WITH OTHER VEHI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“ON 5/15/12, I PARKED MY CAR AT 1:20 P.M. IN AN OFF ROAD SMALL PRIVATE PARKING LOT (A SMALL ASSISTED LIVING COMPLEX IN STOCKTON, CA), TEMPERATURE LESS THAN 80 DEGREES, NO TREES OVERHEAD, PERPENDICULAR, FACING THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. WHEN I CAME OUT 3 HOURS LATER, FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, I NOTI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

7 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TO THE RIGHT ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT MACHINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ALIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED
• UNDER CERTAIN DAYTIME LIGHTING CONDITIONS SEVERAL OF THE DASH PANEL INSTRUMENTS (SPEEDOMETER, AND TACHOMETER) CAN NOT BE READ, SINCE THESE ARE NOT ILLUMINATED UNLESS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. THERE ARE NO OPTIONS IN THE SUPPLIED CONTROLS TO TURN THESE DASH LIGHTS ON WITHOUT TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHTS. V
• THERE IS A HIGH PITCH WHISTLING NOISE IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. IT IS PRESENT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SITTING STILL AND WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING. THE NOISE ONLY INCREASES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND FORTH. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT SOUND. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE POWER STEERING

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TO THE RIGHT ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT MACHINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ALIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 88 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
VISIBILITY: I NOTICED A SET OF CRACKS NEAR THE TOP OF MY WINDSHIELD, APPROXIMATELY AT THE POINT WHERE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR ATTACHES AND EXTENDING UP TO THE ROOF LINE EDGE. THE CRACKS WERE APPROXIMATELY 6" - 8" IN LENGTH. I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN OR HOW IT OCCURRED AS I DO NOT RECALL ANY STONE OR OTHER ROAD DEBRIS HI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: CPSC#I1220269A. 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVER CAN NOT READ THE SPEED OR FUEL GAUGES THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE.. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE BACK LIT MARKS AND NUMERALS ON THE DASH CLUSTER FOR THE GAS, TACHOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER. THE CONSUMER STATE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WHERE THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, EVERY FEW THOUSAND MILES, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: ON 5/15/12, I PARKED MY CAR AT 1:20 P.M. IN AN OFF ROAD SMALL PRIVATE PARKING LOT (A SMALL ASSISTED LIVING COMPLEX IN STOCKTON, CA), TEMPERATURE LESS THAN 80 DEGREES, NO TREES OVERHEAD, PERPENDICULAR, FACING THE SIDE OF THE BUILDING. WHEN I CAME OUT 3 HOURS LATER, FROM THE INSIDE OF THE CAR, I NOTI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)