2013 Volkswagen BEETLE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Volkswagen BEETLE has 125 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (26% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2013 volkswagen beetle. while operating the vehicle, the air bag indicator remained illuminated, which was a safety concern. the vehicle was taken to volkswagen of murrieta (41300 date st., murrieta, ca) where it was diagnosed that the driver's side air bag was faulty and need.

4 crash reports 4 injuries

125

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

32 complaints

26%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGEN OF MURRIETA (41300 DATE ST., MURRIETA, CA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS FAULTY AND NEED
• THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON, AND THE DEALERSHIP WANTS $120 TO JUST DIAGNOSIS THE ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE FREE AS ITS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.
• BOUGHT CAR ONE YEAR AND A HALF AGO. BUY CAR USED WITH 40,000 MILES ON IT. STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING AND LEANING AT IDLE. CAR SKIDS VERY EASILY AND RAIN, CAN EASILY CAUSE CRASHES. CAR AIRBAGS WERE RECALLED.

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGEN OF MURRIETA (41300 DATE ST., MURRIETA, CA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS FAULTY AND NEED”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

19 complaints

15%

• THERE IS A DELAY BETWEEN WHEN THE HORN BUTTON IS PRESSED AND WHEN IT SOUNDS. THAT'S A HAZARD AND MAKES NO SENSE.
• CAR STALLS AND LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING. 3RD INCIDENT ON CAR. DEALER AND MANUFACTURE CAN'T FIND ANY ISSUE TO REPAIR. *TR
• CAR WOULD STALL AND ABRUPTLY STOP WHEN OPERATING AND ALL ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS AND SAFETY FEATURES WOULD TURN OFF AND NOT WORK (E.G., ENGINE, ASSISTED BRAKES, AIR BAGS, HORN, RUNNING LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, ENTIRE DASHBOARD WOULD NOT WORK). ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WOUL

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

“THERE IS A DELAY BETWEEN WHEN THE HORN BUTTON IS PRESSED AND WHEN IT SOUNDS. THAT'S A HAZARD AND MAKES NO SENSE.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

14 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR CONDITIONER BLEW HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RADIO WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. WHEN ACTIVATED, THE RADIO PROMPTED THE CONTACT FOR A CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
• 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!!!

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR CONDITIONER BLEW HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

10 complaints

• CAR WOULD STALL AND ABRUPTLY STOP WHEN OPERATING AND ALL ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS AND SAFETY FEATURES WOULD TURN OFF AND NOT WORK (E.G., ENGINE, ASSISTED BRAKES, AIR BAGS, HORN, RUNNING LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, ENTIRE DASHBOARD WOULD NOT WORK). ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WOUL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE JERKED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF T
• WE WERE DRIVING HOME IN OUR 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE WHEN THE ENGINE DIED CAUSING A LACK OF STEERING CONTROL. THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE. MY WIFE IS PREGNANT AND I HAVE LOST CONFIDENCE IN THIS CAR BEING ABLE TO MOVE MY FAMILY AROUND SAFELY. I HAVE

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

“CAR WOULD STALL AND ABRUPTLY STOP WHEN OPERATING AND ALL ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS AND SAFETY FEATURES WOULD TURN OFF AND NOT WORK (E.G., ENGINE, ASSISTED BRAKES, AIR BAGS, HORN, RUNNING LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, ENTIRE DASHBOARD WOULD NOT WORK). ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WOUL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

7 complaints

• LOW PRESSURE DIESEL FUEL TANK FUEL PUMP FAILURE. NO VISIBLE SIGN OF CONTAMINATED FUEL SUCH AS WATER OR DEBRIS. THIS IS SECOND INCIDENT. VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SLOW TO LESS THAN 2000 RPM AND WILL NOT EXCEED 45 MPH. DEALER REPLACED PUMP UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST FAILURE AND NOW IS BLAMING FAILURE ON
• PREPARING TO ENTER FREEWAY WHEN ENGINE SPUTTERED, "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. STUCK IN TRAFFIC UNTIL FIRE DEPT. CAME BY AND HELPED PUSH TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 101F WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HAD TOWED TO LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP, WHO INFORMED ME THE HIGH PR
• DRIVING 60 MPH IN RUSH HOUR 6/19/15 & SUDDENLY ENG LIGHTS GO ON & CAR STALLED IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC! I WAS SCARED I WAS GOING TO BE REAR ENDED & KILLED. PUT FLASHERS ON CALLED 911. POLICE PARKED BEHIND ME WHILE I WAITED FOR TOW TRUCK. OFFICER ASKED TO TRY & START TO SEE IF I COULD GET TO SIDE OF ROAD

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

“LOW PRESSURE DIESEL FUEL TANK FUEL PUMP FAILURE. NO VISIBLE SIGN OF CONTAMINATED FUEL SUCH AS WATER OR DEBRIS. THIS IS SECOND INCIDENT. VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SLOW TO LESS THAN 2000 RPM AND WILL NOT EXCEED 45 MPH. DEALER REPLACED PUMP UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST FAILURE AND NOW IS BLAMING FAILURE ON ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 125 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED, WHICH WAS A SAFETY CONCERN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VOLKSWAGEN OF MURRIETA (41300 DATE ST., MURRIETA, CA) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG WAS FAULTY AND NEED
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THERE IS A DELAY BETWEEN WHEN THE HORN BUTTON IS PRESSED AND WHEN IT SOUNDS. THAT'S A HAZARD AND MAKES NO SENSE.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE AIR CONDITIONER BLEW HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: CAR WOULD STALL AND ABRUPTLY STOP WHEN OPERATING AND ALL ENGINE AND ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS AND SAFETY FEATURES WOULD TURN OFF AND NOT WORK (E.G., ENGINE, ASSISTED BRAKES, AIR BAGS, HORN, RUNNING LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, ENTIRE DASHBOARD WOULD NOT WORK). ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER, THE CAR WOUL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)