2016 Volkswagen BEETLE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Volkswagen BEETLE has 60 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (55% of all complaints), specifically: started the car and had worming lights on. it did it before a couple days ago but went out. this time the lights won't go off and won't go over 20 mph. the abs light,stability light and air bag lights and tire pressure light are on. i had it towed to the dealership. i was just reading of someone wit.

4 crash reports

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

33 complaints

55%

• STARTED THE CAR AND HAD WORMING LIGHTS ON. IT DID IT BEFORE A COUPLE DAYS AGO BUT WENT OUT. THIS TIME THE LIGHTS WON'T GO OFF AND WON'T GO OVER 20 MPH. THE ABS LIGHT,STABILITY LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHTS AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ARE ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS JUST READING OF SOMEONE WIT
• 1.Air bags did not deploy in a three vehicle collision. 2.Passenger and myself could have hit our head on the dashboard or steering wheel. 3. unknown 4.yes, its been inspected by insurance company (the driver at fault). 5. no, no lights have ever come on. Car was always in great condition.
• The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags) however, parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of

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

“STARTED THE CAR AND HAD WORMING LIGHTS ON. IT DID IT BEFORE A COUPLE DAYS AGO BUT WENT OUT. THIS TIME THE LIGHTS WON'T GO OFF AND WON'T GO OVER 20 MPH. THE ABS LIGHT,STABILITY LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHTS AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ARE ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS JUST READING OF SOMEONE WIT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

6 complaints

10%

• THE DEALERSHIP STATES THE RIGHT FRONT ABS HARNESS CAME OFF FIRST AND RUBBED THROUGH CAUSING A BUNCH OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THEY STATES THE ABS HARNESS CAME OFF BECAUSE THE HARNESS BRACKET WAS BENT. THIS IS A 12 AND A HALF MONTH OLD VEHICLE WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE IS N
• 2016 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ECM SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE MOVING FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED.*JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE LATEST DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE THE TIR
• VEHICLE HORN DOES NOT WORK. INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. WHEN HORN DOES NOT WORK YOU CAN HERE THE RELAY CLICKING WHEN HORN IS PRESSED BUT NO SOUND. SEND THAT HORN IS NOT RECEIVING CURRENT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, FOR EXAMPLE I WAS UNABLE TO ALERT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT WAS REVERSING THAT WAS UNABLE

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

“THE DEALERSHIP STATES THE RIGHT FRONT ABS HARNESS CAME OFF FIRST AND RUBBED THROUGH CAUSING A BUNCH OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THEY STATES THE ABS HARNESS CAME OFF BECAUSE THE HARNESS BRACKET WAS BENT. THIS IS A 12 AND A HALF MONTH OLD VEHICLE WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE IS N”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

5 complaints

• VEHICLE HORN DOES NOT WORK. INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. WHEN HORN DOES NOT WORK YOU CAN HERE THE RELAY CLICKING WHEN HORN IS PRESSED BUT NO SOUND. SEND THAT HORN IS NOT RECEIVING CURRENT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, FOR EXAMPLE I WAS UNABLE TO ALERT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT WAS REVERSING THAT WAS UNABLE
• THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD AT 40 MPH. HANKOOK TIRES. NOTHING WAS STRUCK AND THE TIRES HAD NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE. SMOOTH CITY STREET.
• I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN NOVEMBER OF 2019 ON MY 2016 VW BEETLE INVOLVING A BUILD UP OF SILICATE ON THE SHIFT LEVER MICRO SWITCH. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM TONY VOLKSWAGEN ON OAHU ISLAND IN HAWAII. I LIVE ON THE ISLAND OF KAUAI IN HAWAII, WHERE THERE IS NO VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND NO CERTIFIED VOLK

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

“VEHICLE HORN DOES NOT WORK. INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. WHEN HORN DOES NOT WORK YOU CAN HERE THE RELAY CLICKING WHEN HORN IS PRESSED BUT NO SOUND. SEND THAT HORN IS NOT RECEIVING CURRENT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, FOR EXAMPLE I WAS UNABLE TO ALERT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT WAS REVERSING THAT WAS UNABLE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

WHEELS

3 complaints

• THE DEALERSHIP STATES THE RIGHT FRONT ABS HARNESS CAME OFF FIRST AND RUBBED THROUGH CAUSING A BUNCH OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THEY STATES THE ABS HARNESS CAME OFF BECAUSE THE HARNESS BRACKET WAS BENT. THIS IS A 12 AND A HALF MONTH OLD VEHICLE WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE IS N
• THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD AT 40 MPH. HANKOOK TIRES. NOTHING WAS STRUCK AND THE TIRES HAD NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE. SMOOTH CITY STREET.
• TIRES ARE CRACKING ON THE SIDEWALLS AS WELL AS ON THE TREAD AREA. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED PREVIOUSLY AND THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN. IT APPEARS THE RUBBER IS DRYING OUT, HARDENING, AND SPLITTING.*DT THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS. *TR

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

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

3 complaints

• THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD AT 40 MPH. HANKOOK TIRES. NOTHING WAS STRUCK AND THE TIRES HAD NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE. SMOOTH CITY STREET.
• I HEARD A LOUD METAL CLANG IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR WHEN I WAS BACKING UP IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THE TECH PERFORMED INSPECTION AND FOUND DRIVER FRONT SPRING BROKEN AND BEARING DROPPED TO MIDDLE OF STRUT. FRONT SPRINGS, UPPER MOUNTS, AND BEARINGS REPLACED.
• The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags) however, parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufac

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

“THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD AT 40 MPH. HANKOOK TIRES. NOTHING WAS STRUCK AND THE TIRES HAD NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE. SMOOTH CITY STREET.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

WHEELS(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 60 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: STARTED THE CAR AND HAD WORMING LIGHTS ON. IT DID IT BEFORE A COUPLE DAYS AGO BUT WENT OUT. THIS TIME THE LIGHTS WON'T GO OFF AND WON'T GO OVER 20 MPH. THE ABS LIGHT,STABILITY LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHTS AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ARE ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS JUST READING OF SOMEONE WIT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: THE DEALERSHIP STATES THE RIGHT FRONT ABS HARNESS CAME OFF FIRST AND RUBBED THROUGH CAUSING A BUNCH OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THEY STATES THE ABS HARNESS CAME OFF BECAUSE THE HARNESS BRACKET WAS BENT. THIS IS A 12 AND A HALF MONTH OLD VEHICLE WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE IS N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: VEHICLE HORN DOES NOT WORK. INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. WHEN HORN DOES NOT WORK YOU CAN HERE THE RELAY CLICKING WHEN HORN IS PRESSED BUT NO SOUND. SEND THAT HORN IS NOT RECEIVING CURRENT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, FOR EXAMPLE I WAS UNABLE TO ALERT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT WAS REVERSING THAT WAS UNABLE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
WHEELS: THE DEALERSHIP STATES THE RIGHT FRONT ABS HARNESS CAME OFF FIRST AND RUBBED THROUGH CAUSING A BUNCH OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THEY STATES THE ABS HARNESS CAME OFF BECAUSE THE HARNESS BRACKET WAS BENT. THIS IS A 12 AND A HALF MONTH OLD VEHICLE WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE IS N
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)