Volkswagen BEETLE engine problems
129 complaint narratives mention engine terms.
Key facts
2,529 owner complaints analyzed
32 distinct recall campaigns
60,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1965 to 2019 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,730 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Engine operation evidence
129 of 2,529 complaints match this topic (5.1%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 10051949 · 2003-12-23 (December 23, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. PLEASE ADD ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10051949 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075729 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. THEN, VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE, AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075729 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104847 · 2004-12-31 (December 31, 2004)
I WAS DRIVING MY 98 BUG WHEN THE ENTIRE SEAT FELL OFF THE TRACK, AND I FELL IN THE BACKSEAT, THE CAR STALLED WHILE ON A 45 MPH ROAD I WAS NOT INJURED.KEFFER VOLK RECURED THE SEAT BUT SAY I WILL COST $1000 FOR A NEW FLOOR TRACK. VOLKS SAYS THIS ISN'T A WARRANTY ISSUE. IT WOULD BE NICE TO HAVE A SEAT TO DRIVE THE CAR. MY CONCERN IS HOW MANY OTHER CARS/VOLKS HAVE DONE THIS AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THEIR LACK OF CONCERN. HAD I BEEN INJURED OR WORSE KILLED THERE WOULD BE A HUGE LAWSUIT AT THIS TIME. I DO NOT WEIGH 300 POUNDS NOR AM I ABUSING TO MY …
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118500 · 2005-04-26 (April 26, 2005)
THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD A SERIES OF PROBLEMS SINCE I HAVE OWNED IT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A VOLKSWAGEN ENTHUSIAST. SO WHEN I SAW THE NEW BEETLES I WAS NATURALLY EXCITED AND COULDN'T WAIT TO OWN ONE. WHAT I EXPECTED WAS VOLKSWAGENS USUAL EXCELLENT QUALITY AND VALUE FOR MONEY. WHAT I GOT WAS A VEHICLE THAT NOT ONLY IS AN INCONVENIENCE TO DRIVE, BUT IS ALSO A SAFETY CONCERN. THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD AT LEAST 8 MAJOR DEFECTS. I CALL THEM DEFECTS BECAUSE SO MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THEIR NEW BEETLES. KEEP IN MIND THE VEHICLE IS REGULAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 97,785 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118500 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10133196 · 2005-10-26 (October 26, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THE SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE WHOLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WHEN THE CAR STALLED. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN JANUARY OF 2005. THE CONSUMER TO THE CAR TOOK THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER DID NOT CALL THE MANUFACTURER. DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS DONE WITH NO RESULTS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN RECTIFIED. THE WINDOW SWITCH WAS REPLACED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 31,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133196 at NHTSA ↗