2014 Volkswagen BEETLE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2014 Volkswagen BEETLE has 71 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: clockspring in steering broke causing failure of abs, airbag, esc and tire pressure monitoring system.car was brand new with 259 miles. *tr. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.

2 fire reports 3 crash reports 4 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

15 complaints

21%

• CLOCKSPRING IN STEERING BROKE CAUSING FAILURE OF ABS, AIRBAG, ESC AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM.CAR WAS BRAND NEW WITH 259 MILES. *TR
• CLOCKSPRING BROKE FOR THE SECOND TIME CAUSING FAILURE OF ABS, AIRBAG, ESC AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM. SECOND FAILURE OF THE SAME PART IN 3 WEEKS. VOLKSWAGEN IS UNRESPONSIVE. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LACERATIONS TO THE FOREHEAD AND A FRACTURED STERNUM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE

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

“CLOCKSPRING IN STEERING BROKE CAUSING FAILURE OF ABS, AIRBAG, ESC AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM.CAR WAS BRAND NEW WITH 259 MILES. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

13 complaints

18%

• THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND KEYLESS IGNITION. THIS IS AN UNSAFE COMBINATION SHOULD THE CAR BE STALLED. WHEN THE START BUTTON IS PUSHED AND I HAVE FAILED TO GET THE CLUTCH PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM THE CAR WON'T START. NOW THE BUTTON MUST BE PUSHED ONCE TO TURN THE IGNI
• THE NEW 2014 BEETLE I PURCHASED AT HERITAGE VOLKSWAGEN OF REISTERSTOWN, MARYLAND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 3 TIMES SINCE I BROUGHT IT HOME. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WITH THE BRAKE PRESSED, SEATBELT BUCKLED, AND ALL DOORS CLOSED. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN
• EXTERIOR DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO OPEN WHEN PULLING ON THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. USING JUST THE PROXIMITY RF KEYFOB, PASSENGER DOORS, TRUNK, AND GAS FILLER DOOR WERE DISABLED. THEN PRESSED THE BUTTONS ON THE KEYFOB, NOTHING. AFTER 5 MINUTES OF PULLING, PRESSING, PANIC BUTTON, FINALLY THE TRUNK RELEA

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

“THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND KEYLESS IGNITION. THIS IS AN UNSAFE COMBINATION SHOULD THE CAR BE STALLED. WHEN THE START BUTTON IS PUSHED AND I HAVE FAILED TO GET THE CLUTCH PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM THE CAR WON'T START. NOW THE BUTTON MUST BE PUSHED ONCE TO TURN THE IGNI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

6 complaints

• THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND KEYLESS IGNITION. THIS IS AN UNSAFE COMBINATION SHOULD THE CAR BE STALLED. WHEN THE START BUTTON IS PUSHED AND I HAVE FAILED TO GET THE CLUTCH PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM THE CAR WON'T START. NOW THE BUTTON MUST BE PUSHED ONCE TO TURN THE IGNI
• ADULT MALE HAD HAND UNDER THE TRUNK LID GETTING READY TO LIFT IT OPEN WHEN THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS CLOSED (DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS ALREADY CLOSED). THERE WAS A VACUUM EFFECT AND THE TRUNK LID SLAMMED DOWN ON THE HAND. THE HAND WAS SEVERELY CRUSHED BUT THE SKIN WASN'T BROKEN AND NO BONES WERE BROKEN.
• EXTERIOR DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO OPEN WHEN PULLING ON THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. USING JUST THE PROXIMITY RF KEYFOB, PASSENGER DOORS, TRUNK, AND GAS FILLER DOOR WERE DISABLED. THEN PRESSED THE BUTTONS ON THE KEYFOB, NOTHING. AFTER 5 MINUTES OF PULLING, PRESSING, PANIC BUTTON, FINALLY THE TRUNK RELEA

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

6 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED.
• I BOUGHT A VW DIESEL DUE TO THE PERFORMANCE AND LACK OF IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT I WAS SOLD A VEHICLE THAT HARMS THE AIR. I'M A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER WITH 31 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH THE CITY OF STOCKTON AND I'LL BE TURNING 65 THIS YEAR BUT NOW I FIND OUT THAT MY " LAST " CAR ISN'
• TSI SHOOTING OIL THROUGH MUFFLER. ONLY 93,000 MILES ON THE CAR. HARD SHIFTING, LOSS OF POWER. VEHICLE IN MOTION.

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

VISIBILITY

5 complaints

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLIDE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE WINDSH
• WINDSHIELD CRACKED SPONTANEOUSLY OVERNIGHT. WAS FINE THE NIGHT BEFORE, NOTICED A LONG CRACK THAT STARTED HORIZONTALLY ON THE EDGE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD AND THEN CURVED UP VERTICALLY THE NEXT MORNING WHEN I PULLED THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE. I DRIVE THIS CAR A COUPLE OF TIMES A WEEK
• I WAS DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF VERY HEAVY RAIN AND MY WIPERS SUDDENLY STOPPED. I MANAGED TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO VW. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 50,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE OWNED 4 VW AND HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED THIS ISSUE.

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLIDE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. ALSO, THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE WINDSH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

VISIBILITY(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 71 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: CLOCKSPRING IN STEERING BROKE CAUSING FAILURE OF ABS, AIRBAG, ESC AND TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM.CAR WAS BRAND NEW WITH 259 MILES. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND KEYLESS IGNITION. THIS IS AN UNSAFE COMBINATION SHOULD THE CAR BE STALLED. WHEN THE START BUTTON IS PUSHED AND I HAVE FAILED TO GET THE CLUTCH PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM THE CAR WON'T START. NOW THE BUTTON MUST BE PUSHED ONCE TO TURN THE IGNI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: THE VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND KEYLESS IGNITION. THIS IS AN UNSAFE COMBINATION SHOULD THE CAR BE STALLED. WHEN THE START BUTTON IS PUSHED AND I HAVE FAILED TO GET THE CLUTCH PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM THE CAR WON'T START. NOW THE BUTTON MUST BE PUSHED ONCE TO TURN THE IGNI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)