11 of the
280 complaints about the 1999 Volkswagen Beetle are about the
seats — 4% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
47,500 miles.
F
11
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Seats
763.6%
Head Restraint
327.3%
Recliner
19.1%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 50,000 milesHunington Beach, CA
SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVER'S SEAT MOVED BY ITSELF AND PREVENTED THE CONTACT FROM REACHING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DRIVER OBSERVED THAT THE SEAT HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. AAA STATED THAT THE PLASTIC FAILED IN THE SEAT AND THAT THE SCREWS WERE DETACHED. AAA REPLACED THE SCREWS IN THE SEAT SO THAT THE CONTACT COULD DRIVE HOME. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE SEAT AND CONFIRMED THAT THE SCREWS AND THE PLASTIC FAILED. THE SECOND TIME THE SEAT FAILED, THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR OR INSPECT IT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. THE SPEED AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER CALLED AND INFORMED HER THE COST OF THE REPAIR WOULD $178.00, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER IS ON A FIX INCOME AND CAN NOT AFFORD THE COST OF THE REPAIR. UPDATED 12/12/07
NHTSA complaint #10203463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 45,000 milesTrenton, NJCrash1 injured
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
AFTER BEING REAR ENDED, THE DRIVERS SEAT RECLINED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN WHIP LASH. AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, THEY STATED THE SEAT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #10119066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Loyalton, CA
SEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT IS POORLY DESIGNED WHICH CAUSES DRIVER'S DISCOMFORT WHILE DRIVING. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #8001920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Minneapolis, MN
SEATS
FRONT SEAT ON DRIVER SIDE WOULD GO FORWARD WHEN PUT ON BRAKES. ALSO, WHILE PUTTING IN BACK SEAT OF VEHICLE,HEARD A NOISE AND SEAT BROKE. PLEASE PROVIDE VIN.
NHTSA complaint #891584 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chino, CA
SEATS
WAS STARTING TO APPLY BRAKES WHEN SEAT WENT BACKWARDS, AND DRIVER LOST VISIBILE CONTACT WITH ROAD. LATER, HAD SEAT CHECKED OUT, AND NOTICED SCREWS ON TRACK OF SEAT HAD BECOME STRIPPED. THIS WHAT CAUSED SEAT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #882422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Margate, FL
SEATS
SHE WAS STATIONARY INSIDE OF VEHICLE AND HEARD SWEAKING NOISE LAST WEEK. DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT CAME OFF TRACK, AND FELL OVER INTO BACK SEAT. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY WERE AWARE OF PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP.
NHTSA complaint #867872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Treasure Island, FLCrash1 injured
SEATS
UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SEAT BROKE, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURIES TO DRIVER. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED, BUT STILL REMAINS DAMAGED. *AK
NHTSA complaint #863331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sacramento, CA
SEATS
ON 2 OCCASIONS WHEN MY CAR HAS BEEN FACING DOWN ON A SLOPE IT WILL NOT START AND I HAVE TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND ROLL TO LEVEL GROUND TO GET IT TO START. ON ONE OTHER OCCATION MY CAR DID HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN I PULLED INTO MY PARENTS DRIVEWAY AND I PUT MY CAR IN REVERSE , IT DID NOT GO INTO GEAR AND I ROLLED OVER MY MOM'S FLOWERS. THE DEAL HAS CHECKED IN THEIR DATABASE AND WITH VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA AND NOONE HAS REPORTED A PROBLEM SIMILAR TO MINE. THEY TRIED TO RECREATE WHAT I DESCRIBED, BUT TO NO AVAIL. TO DATE I HAVE NOT HAD ANY INCIDENT REPEAT AND I HAVE GONE TO MY PARENTS HOUSE TO TRY TO RECREATE IT MYSELF, BUT AGAIN TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL WITH ANY PROBLEM I HAVE ENCOUNTED WITH MY NEW CAR.
NHTSA complaint #716185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redding, CT
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT OF HEAD RESTRAINTS ON FRONT SEAT CANNOT LOWER TO PROPER HEAD HEIGHT
NHTSA complaint #714514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ormond BY, FL
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE DESIGN OF THE DRIVERS HEADREST, SITS TOO HIGH AND CAN'T BE ADJUSTED TO ACCOMODATE SHORT DRIVERS, CREATES DISCOMFORT. HEADREST WAS COMPLETELY REMOVED.
NHTSA complaint #544819 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Port Angeles, WA
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT
DRIVER CANNOT ADJUST THE HEADREST DOWN TO SEE OUT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE BACK AND REAR WINDOWS TO CHANGE LANES. DEALER CONTACTED AND GAVE REFERENCE SHEET OF 1-8-99, #99-001, STATED CHANGE IN DESIGN FOR 1999 MODEL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. WARRANTY EFFECTIVE AND DOES NOT COVER. *AK.ET.
NHTSA complaint #835024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.