Volkswagen NEW BEETLE brakes problems
32 complaint narratives mention brakes terms.
Key facts
184 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
23,467 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 to 2006 model years. Data snapshot: . 83 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Braking behavior evidence
32 of 184 complaints match this topic (17.4%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
Owner report 744896 · 2001-05-03 (May 3, 2001)
DRIVER FRONT SEAT BRACKET BROKE AWAY DURING ACCELERATION FROM A STOP SIGN CAUSING ME TO BE FORCED INTO A LYING DOWN POSITION AGAINST THE BACK SEAT. MY HANDS WERE PULLED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL AS MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. I BROKE A CUP HOLDER ON THE CONSOLE IN ORDER TO RIGHT MYSELF AND JUST MISSED A TELEPHONE POLE. I HAVE DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE BRACKET AND SEAT AND WILL BE GLAD TO EMAIL THEM TO YOU. I AM IN A PISSING MATCH WITH THE DEALER AS TO WHO GETS TO KEEP THE DEFECTIVE BRACKET. I WONDER WHY THEY DO NOT WANT ME TO KEEP IT?*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 744896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 764841 · 2002-07-28 (July 28, 2002)
WHILE EXECUTING A RIGHT TURN AT LOW SPEED, THE DRIVERS'S SEAT BROKE LOOSE FROM THE TRACK AT THE FRONT OF THE SEAT. THE SEAT REMAINED ATTACHED TO THE TRACK AT THE REAR OF THE SEAT. THIS CAUSED THE SEAT AND ME (THE DRIVER) TO SUDDENLY ROLL TOWARD THE BACK OF THE CAR, ALMOST LOSING CONTACT WITH THE STEERING WHEEL. ONLY BY GRASPING THE STEERING WHEEL AND PULLING MYSELF FORWARD WAS I ABLE TO REACH THE CLUTCH AND BRAKE PEDALS. I THEN GUIDED THE CAR TO A SAFE STOP. THIS DEFECT COULD EASILY HAVE RESULTED IN MY DEATH AND THE DEATH OF OTHER DRIVERS. I HA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 764841 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021316 · 2003-06-09 (June 9, 2003)
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY AT ABOUT 55 MPH, WHEN MY STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND MY CAR WENT UP ON THE CENTER DIVIDER. I COULD NOT STEER MY CAR OFF THE DIVIDER, AND THE BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING AS WELL EITHER. I IMAGINE WHAT HAPPENED WAS THAT THE ENGINE STOPPED AND MY CAR POWERED OFF WITHOUT WARNING (THE CAR HAS A HISTORY OF FAILED WARNING LIGHTS OR WARNING LIGHTS GOING ON FOR NO REASON, HAVING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED ONCE, BUT NOT SOLVING THE PROBLEM). MY CAR ENDED UP SPINNING OUT ACROSS THE ROAD AND SLAMMING INTO A TREE ON THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021316 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052746 · 2004-01-09 (January 9, 2004)
AT LESS THAN 27K MILES, I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE DEALER SAID THE ROTORS FOR THE NEW BEETLE ARE NOTORIOUSLY THIN, AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALMOST AS OFTEN AS THE BRAKE PADS. THIS REPAIR COST ME $950. MY ROOMMATE, ANOTHER VW NEW BEETLE OWNER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT 31K, MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS WERE REGISTERED ON BEETLEBUZZ.COM, WHEN IT WAS IN OPERATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 26,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052746 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080515 · 2004-07-07 (July 7, 2004)
DRIVERS SEAT ADJUSTER BOLTS FELL OUT, RESULTING IN DRIVERS SEAT SILDING FULLY TO REAR AND SEAT COMING OFF TRACKS. THE DRIVERS SEAT SLID ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK SEAT AND I WAS LOOKING AT THE ROOF WITH NO ABILITY TO REACH THE BRAKE, CLUTCH, OR ACCELERATOR PEDALS. MY ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERLY IMPAIRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 34,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080515 at NHTSA ↗