2012 Volkswagen BEETLE: complaints, problems and recalls

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND NOTICED THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN DETECTED A FUEL VAPOR LEAK IN THE EVAP CONTROL SYSTEM AND AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE SIMILAR FAILURE RECURRED TWO TIMES AFTER THE REPAIR. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED FOR THE THIRD OCCURRENCE. THE MANU…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,166 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446878 at NHTSA ↗

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 STATED THEY WOULD NOT COME ON UNLESS HE TURNED THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH ON OR, IF HE WERE DRIVING DIRECTLY INTO THE SUN. THE CONSUMER STATED 90% OF THE TIME, HE WAS UNABLE TO READ THE GAUGES. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10449872 at NHTSA ↗

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 HITTING THE WINDSHIELD, THERE WAS NO SOUND OF ANYTHING HITTING THE WINDSHIELD OR SMALL CHIP IN THE GLASS WHERE THE IMPACT WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. I DID NOT PARK IT UNDER A TREE AND NOTHING FELL ON OR HIT THE GLASS TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I HAVE HEARD SIMILAR REP…

Owner-reported narrative. 13,695 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458213 at NHTSA ↗

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 NOTICED WHAT SEEMED TO BE A SEMI-CIRCLE HAIRLINE FRACTURE ON MY FRONT WINDSHIELD, THAT HADN'T BEEN THERE BEFORE; STARTING AT THE UPPER ROOFLINE APPROXIMATELY 10 INCHES TO THE LEFT OF THE REARVIEW MIRROR, ARCHING DOWNWARD THROUGH THE CENTER LOCATION OF TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 4,903 miles reported. Look up ODI 10458748 at NHTSA ↗

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 FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE WAS NO CURRENT REMEDY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10463382 at NHTSA ↗

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 MY FIRST PAYMENT ON THIS VEHICLE AND ITS BEEN IN THE SHOW OFF AND ON FOR A MONTH. I'VE BARELY GOTTEN TO DRIVE THE CAR. I CALLED TO PICK UP THE CAR TODAY TO FIND OUT THAT THE CAR STILL ISN'T FIXED AND THEY HAD SOMEONE FROM CORPORATE COME DOWN TO TRY T…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10463929 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465316 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WAS ABLE TO BE OPENED BUT COULD NOT BE CLOSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE POWER SWITCH FOR THE WINDOW SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE WINDOW WOULD RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXPERIENCED FAILURES WITH THE PART BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 8,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300.

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466986 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2012-07-16 (July 16, 2012)

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 BEETLE VEHICLES. SOME VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH SUMMER TIRES THAT FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS 110 "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS" AND 139 "NEW PNEUMATIC TIRES FOR LIGHT VEHICLES."

Consequence: DUE TO AN ERROR AT THE FACTORY, THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH SUMMER TIRES THAT ARE POSSIBLY NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS 110 "TIRE SELECTION & RIMS" AND 139 "NEW PNEUMATIC TIRES FOR LIGHT VEHICLES." IN ADDITION, CUSTOMERS MAY BE UNAWARE THAT THEIR VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SUMMER PERFORMANCE TIRES. SUMMER TIRES HAVE DIFFERENT GRIP AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS. THESE ISSUES MAY LEAD TO AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT TIRES, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Reported: 2012-11-15 (November 15, 2012)

Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles, manufactured from February 2012, through August 2012, and equipped with leather sport seats. If the right front passenger seat gets wet, the occupant control module may not properly detect the presence of a child restraint installed in the seat.

Consequence: If the control module does not detect a child seat installed, the airbag will not turn off. If the airbag does not turn off, in the event of a crash necessitating front airbag deployment, a child secured in the child seat may be at an increased risk for serious injury.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and replace the control modules, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during January 2013. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.

Reported: 2014-10-20 (October 20, 2014)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, to November 30, 2012, and 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles manufactured March 1, 2011, to July 31, 2013. The durability of the rear trailing arms may be reduced in vehicles whose rear trailing arms have been previously deformed, such as a result of a rear or side-rear impact crash.

Consequence: The reduced durability of the trailing arm may result in its sudden fracture, possibly causing loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a sheet metal inlay on the rear axle trailing arms designed to prevent a sudden loss of control in the event of trailing arm sudden fracture, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Reported: 2019-08-22 (August 22, 2019)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."

Consequence: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.

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.

Reported: 2020-12-16 (December 16, 2020)

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BC.