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U.S. public vehicle records

2009 Volkswagen BEETLE: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

33 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

61,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 33 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues39.1%
Steering behavior39.1%
Braking behavior26.1%
Engine operation13.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Exterior Lighting
6
Air Bags
5
Unknown Or Other
4
Electrical System
3
Fuel/Propulsion System
3
Engine
2
Seat Belts
2
Steering
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Exterior Lighting6
Air Bags5
Unknown Or Other4
Electrical System3
Fuel/Propulsion System3
Engine2
Seat Belts2
Steering2

Exterior Lighting: 6; Air Bags: 5; Unknown Or Other: 4; Electrical System: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Engine: 2; Seat Belts: 2; Steering: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
5
50,000 to 74,999
9
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9995
50,000 to 74,9999
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 0

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 8 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2010
1
2012
3
2013
3
2014
5
2015
1
2016
4
2017
4
2018
2
2019
3
2020
3
2021
2
2023
1
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20101
20123
20133
20145
20151
20164
20174
20182
20193
20203
20212
20231
20241

2010: 1; 2012: 3; 2013: 3; 2014: 5; 2015: 1; 2016: 4; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2019: 3; 2020: 3; 2021: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10357939 · 2010-09-27 (September 27, 2010)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. THE WAS DRIVING 50 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER WHEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED. THE CONTACT STOPPED DRIVING TO WAIT FOR THE RAIN TO STOP BEFORE PROCEEDING. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE WIPERS BEGAN OPERATING AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAULTY WIPERS COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.

Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10357939 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10452960 · 2012-03-26 (March 26, 2012)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY WHILE STOPPED OR WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. UPDATED 05/08/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO MOVE AT IDLE SPE…

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10452960 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10474119 · 2012-09-06 (September 6, 2012)

WHILE IN PARK AND SEATED IN DRIVER SEAT PULLED SEAT BELT TO LOCK, SEAT BELT UNRAVELED AND WON'T RETRACT AT ALL. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 127,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474119 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10474120 · 2012-09-06 (September 6, 2012)

REAR WINDOW DOWN AFTER I DROVE WITH TOP DOWN. RETURNED CONVERTIBLE TOP UP AND REAR WINDOW WON'T GO BACK UP. REPLACEMENT/ REPAIR IS OVER 600.00 PLUS LABOR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474120 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10519692 · 2013-06-13 (June 13, 2013)

VW 2009 VOLKSWAGEN CONVT. BEETLE- WINDOWS-I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE 3 OUT OF 4 WINDOWS. I ONLY HAVE 49007 MILES AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE AT LEAST $1400.00 DOLLARS IN WINDOW REPAIRS ALONE. I HAVE HAD THE WINDOW REGULATOR GO OUT SEVERAL TIME. WHEN PURCHASING A CAR YOU NEVER THINK THAT BEFORE YOU ARE THROUGH PAYING IT OFF YOU WILL BE OUT OF TONS OF MONEY JUST TO KEEP IN RUNNING PROPERLY. WHAT HAPPENED TO WHEN YOU BROUGHT THE CAR YOU WERE PROBLEM FREE AT LEAST UNTIL YOU PAID IT OFF. NOW IT SEEMS AS THOUGH NO ONE PUTS EFFORTS IN SATISFYING THE CONS…

Owner-reported narrative. 49,007 miles reported. Look up ODI 10519692 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10532248 · 2013-07-28 (July 28, 2013)

THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO BACK UP WENT TO DEALER AND WAS CHARGED $700, FOUR MONTHS LATER THE DRIVERS SIDE PASSENGER WINDOW IS DOING THE SAME THING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 38,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532248 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10542130 · 2013-09-05 (September 5, 2013)

SUBJECT: SAFETY ISSUE I OWN A 2009 VW BEETLE/2 DOOR COUPE. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE LOWER SHIELDS TWICE. THESE SHIELDS, BAFFLES AND COVER PLATES ARE QUITE EXPENSIVE AND ADD UP TO MY GREATEST REPAIR COST FOR THIS VEHICLE. AS YOU KNOW, THEY ARE NOT REPAIRABLE. MY MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE IS WHAT HAS PROMPTED ME TO WRITE YOU. I DROVE MY CAR FROM MY HOME IN OZARK, MO TO DUBUQUE, IA THIS PAST JUNE THE ENTIRE TRIP IS ON GOOD TWO LANE OR FOUR LANE HIGHWAY. DURING THE TRIP, AFTER CROSSING A BRIDGE, I NOTICED A TERRIBLE SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542130 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10561504 · 2014-01-26 (January 26, 2014)

PURCHASED CAR ON THIS DATE. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF RECALLS ON THIS MODEL WILL AFFECT MY OWNERSHIP, AND WHAT I CAN DO TO CORRECT PROBLEM. THIS VEHICLE IS NEW TO ME ,AND WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE I MADE A GOOD CHOICE. I WELCOME YOUR RESPONSE. THANK YOU. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 31,515 miles reported. Look up ODI 10561504 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

10V621000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Reported: 2010-12-10 (December 10, 2010)

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 JETTA, NEW BEETLE, NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE, MODEL YEAR 2009 JETTA SPORTWAGEN AND MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 RABBIT VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L ENGINES. THE JETTA, JETTA SPORTWAGEN, AND RABBIT VEHICLES MAY HAVE A SMALL PLASTIC TAB LOCATED ON THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR THAT MAY CHAFE AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE. THE NEW BEETLE AND THE NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A FASTENING CLAMP ON A HYDRAULIC HOSE OF THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM THAT MAY BE LOCATED IN AN IMPROPER POSITION WHICH COULD CAUSE CHAFING AGAINST AN UNDERHOOD FUEL SUPPLY LINE.

Consequence: IF CHAFING OCCURS, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR A FUEL LEAK TO DEVELOP. FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE UNDERHOOD FUEL LINE. ADDITIONALLY, DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE MODEL, DEALERS WILL EITHER REMOVE THE PLASTIC TAB FROM THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR, OR INSPECT THE POSITION OF THE FASTENING CLAMP AND ADJUST THE RELATED FASTENING CLAMP INTO THE CORRECT POSITION. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
19V679000 · Unknown Or Other

Reported: 2019-09-25 (September 25, 2019)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.

Consequence: If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.

NHTSA campaign record ↗