FaultScore report
Owners have filed 37 complaints about the 1998 Volkswagen NEW Beetle with NHTSA between 2001 and 2004. The largest single group is the lights. Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 7 worst.
FaultScore 57/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Volkswagen NEW Beetle.
How this is worked out37
Complaints
2
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
1 complaint reports a death.
53,500 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
20%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 53,000 miles
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 95,000 mi
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 35,000 mi
Median failure at 82,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 71,966 mi
Median failure at 54,000 miles
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION.
Risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE; OR THE LAMPS COULD COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1998 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE SEVERELY OVERHEATED, CHECKING OUT CAUSE FOUND THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF THE BATTERY HOUSING HAD MELTED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT! VWOA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM ALTHOUGHT INTERNET SURVEYS SHOW 26% FAILURE IN NEW BEETLES. PLACEMENT OF THE FUSE BOX ON THE BATTERY HOUSING DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A VERY SAFE IDEA!
NHTSA complaint #10098549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DRIVER-SIDE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON MY 1998 VW BEETLE FOR NO APPARENT REASON CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10045508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SERIOUS MALFUNCTIONS, WHICH MADE IT TOTALLY UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE. AK *SCC *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*739197
NHTSA complaint #10006355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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?
NHTSA complaint #744896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
1998 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE SEVERELY OVERHEATED, CHECKING OUT CAUSE FOUND THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF THE BATTERY HOUSING HAD MELTED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT! VWOA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM ALTHOUGHT INTERNET SURVEYS SHOW 26% FAILURE IN NEW BEETLES. PLACEMENT OF THE FUSE BOX ON THE BATTERY HOUSING DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A VERY SAFE IDEA!
NHTSA complaint #10098549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
SOME TYPE OF 'CONTROL MODULE' NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WITHOUT IT THE AIR-BAG SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH HELPED IN THE DECISION TO BUY THE CAR, AND AFTER 5 YEARS IT FAILS RENDERING THE SYSTEM USELESS AND REQUIRING OVER $700 TO REPLACE. THIS IS WRONG!
NHTSA complaint #10097977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
TODAY, JULY 27,2004, THE OUTPUT CONNECTION ON MY FUEL PUMP CAME APART (DISCONNECTED) AND WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR DUMPED ABOUT A QUART OF GASOLINE ON THE GROUND UNDER THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. I WAS IN A CROWDED POST OFFICE PARKING LOT AND IT WAS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE FIRE DEPT CAME AND RECONNECTED THE LINE AND I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED TO THE VW DEALORSHIP AND HAVE IT CHECKED AND CERTIFIED SAFE TO CONTINUE OPERATING. THE CAR IS VW NEW BEETLE, 1998 YEAR OF MANUFACTURING. THE DEALORSHIP VW MECHANIC SAID HE HAD HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING SPONTANEOUSLY ON ONE OTHER OCASSION.
NHTSA complaint #10082798 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW AND DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED AND DRIVER SIDE PLASTIC SWITCH BROKE OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10078305 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHTS CONSTANTLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE MANY TIMES DUE TO NO LIGHTS OR HAVING TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON. THIS PAST TIME HAD TO PARK THE CAR AND HAVE SOMEONE TAKE US HOME, COULD NOT DRIVE CAR UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING. REPAIR BILLS ARE BECOMING REDICULOUS.
NHTSA complaint #10068206 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
BOTH PASSANGER AND DRIVE WINDOW MECHINISMS HAD TO BE REPLACED. WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO UP.
NHTSA complaint #10047728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TRUNK LATCH DOES NOT CLOSE PROPERLY WHEN TEMPERATURE GOES BELOW 31 DEGREES.
NHTSA complaint #10047726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
DRIVER-SIDE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON MY 1998 VW BEETLE FOR NO APPARENT REASON CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10045508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT MALFUNCTIONS, BURNS OUT. UPON REPLACEMENT, WIRING HARNESS MELTED. CAR NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10039328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVER SIDE WINDOW "FELL OUT". I WAS DRIVING THE CAR, TRYING TO PUT THE WINDOW UP WHEN IT BECAME STUCK. ONCE STOPPED, I AGAIN TRIED TO PUT THE WINDOW UP WHEN THERE WAS A CRACKING SOUND AND THE WHOLE WINDOW JUST FELL INTO THE DOOR. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER THE SECRETARY WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM AND WAS EVEN ABLE TO TELL ME THAT THE ORIGINAL CLIPS TO HOLD THE WINDOW WERE PLASTIC AND THEY REPLACE THEM WITH METAL ONES. IF THIS PROBLEM IS THAT COMMON THAT THE SECRETARY KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND WHAT THE REMEDY IS, VOLKSWAGEN NEEDS TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10021308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SERIOUS MALFUNCTIONS, WHICH MADE IT TOTALLY UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE. AK *SCC *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*739197
NHTSA complaint #10006355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
I HAVE A 1998 VW BEETLE. I BOUGHT THE BEETLE NEW. THE HEADLIGHTS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR HAD 15,000 MILES. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT GET THE LIGHT TO REMAIN OUT, HOWEVER SINCE I HAD REPORTED IT THEY WOULD HONOR THE WARRANTY ON IT IF IT WENT OUT AGAIN. IT DID THE MONTH THE WARRANTY RAN OUT. THEY REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH VW AND THEY SAID SETTLED IT WITH THE DEALER. AFTER GOING BACK AND FORTH I FINALLY PAID 80.00 TO GET IT REPAIRED. TWO MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST HEADLIGHT WENT OUT THE OTHER HEADLIGHT QUIT COMPLETELY. I TOOK IT BACK WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. THEY TOLD ME THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE HEADLIGHTS AND VW WOULD ADDRESS THE PROBLEM LATER. BEING STUBBORN, I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE HEADLIGHT. THE CAR NOW HAS 52000 MILES ON IT. I THINK THEY SHOULD PAY ME FOR THE FIRST REPAIR AND ALSO REPAIR THE SECOND HEADLIGHT. VW IS VERY AWARE OF THE ISSUE AS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH NUMEROUS OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHO OWN 98'S AND 99'S.
NHTSA complaint #10014503 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
LEFT HEADLAMP BULB BURNED-OUT. I HAD TO REPLACE THE DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP AT LEAST 5 TIMES OVER THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP BULB HAS ONLY NEEDED REPLACEMENT ONCE OVER THE SAME TIME PERIOD.
NHTSA complaint #10010457 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONSUMER DISCOVERED THAT THE PASSENSER SIDE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE LATCH COULD BE PULLED BUT THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN.
NHTSA complaint #567489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
WHILE IN MOTION, THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED. THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED WHEN CONSUMER WAS OPERATING IT AND IT JUST STOPPED MOVING AND THEN FELL DOWN INTO THE CAR DOOR. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW FAILED IN AUGUST 2002. CONSUMER POWERED THE WINDOW DOWN AND THEN IT WOULD NOT GO BACK UP, LEAVING IT OPEN. THE DRIVER WINDOW WAS FIXED AT THE DEALERSHIP IN VERMONT AND THE PASSENGER WINDOW WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALERSHIP IN WASHINGTON, DC. A VOLKSWAGEN REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE POWER WINDOWS WERE A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES, BUT THAT NO RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR MONIES PAID FOR REPAIRS. *JG *SCC
NHTSA complaint #567489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
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 HAVE NEVER ATTEMPTED TO PERFORM ANY WORK ON THIS SEAT. REGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF MILES DRIVEN, AND REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY STATUS, THE DRIVER'S SEAT SHOULD NEVER BREAK LOOSE LIKE THAT. THIS IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #764841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
THE VEHICLE HAD INADEQUATE GROUND CLEARANCE. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT PORTION OF THE ENGINE SPLASH SHIELD SCRAPES ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE CONCRETE STOP.
NHTSA complaint #566175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER STATES UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ALWAYS TURN ON, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE BULBS ABOUT 5 TIMES EACH, CONSUMER CAN LIGHTLY TAP THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE LIGHTS WILL TURN ON UNTIL THE NEXT START UP, CONSUMER HAS CHECKED THE CONNECTION AND CLEANED THEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, HE THINKS IT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH THE CURRENT FLOW TO THE BULBS OR BE A GROUNDING PROBLEM, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE LIGHTS HAVE NEVER GONE OUT OR FLICKERED WHILE DRIVING. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #785845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER STATES UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, ONE OR BOTH HEADLIGHTS DO NOT ALWAYS TURN ON, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE BULBS ABOUT 5 TIMES EACH, CONSUMER CAN LIGHTLY TAP THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND THE LIGHTS WILL TURN ON UNTIL THE NEXT START UP, CONSUMER HAS CHECKED THE CONNECTION AND CLEANED THEM, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, HE THINKS IT MAY HAVE TO DO WITH THE CURRENT FLOW TO THE BULBS OR BE A GROUNDING PROBLEM, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THE LIGHTS HAVE NEVER GONE OUT OR FLICKERED WHILE DRIVING. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #785845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WE NOTICED THE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT. THE RIGHT SIDE HAD ALREADY GONE OUT AND WE WERE ABLE TO REPLACE THE BULB WITH NO PROBLEMS. WHEN WE TRIED TO REPLACE THE DRIVERS SIDE BULB, THE BULB HAD EXPLODED INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AND WE NOTICED THAT THE METAL END OF THE HALOGEN BULB WAS MELTED TO THE CONNECTOR. WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER SHOWED US THE WIRING HARNESS WHICH WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. ADDITIONALLY THEY SAID THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY CONNECTION WAS ALSO MELTED. THE DEALER COMMENTED THAT THEY WERE SURPRISED THERE WAS NOT A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #754733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
LOW BEAMS FAIL MUST TAKE APART AND RESET BULB TO CORRECT 3 TIMES IN ONE YEAR OWNING IT.
NHTSA complaint #754597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS
THE BOLTS AT THE BOTTOM FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAME LOOSE, ALLOWING THE SEAT TO "WIGGLE" IN ITS TRACKS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE BOLTS WORKED THEMSELVES FREE AND ALLOWED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO MOVE BACK AND FORTH IN ITS TRACKS, THUS PREVENTING THE SETTING OF A SAFE, STATIONARY POSITION. ALSO, BECAUSE THE FRONT BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SEAT TO THE VEHICLE CHASSIS HAVE FAILED, VEHICLE MOVEMENTS ALLOW THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO TIP UP AND DOWN IN AN ARCHING DIRECTION. THIS MEANS THAT UNLESS THE DRIVER IS HOLDING ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL FIRMLY, THE SEAT TENDS TO TIP BACK WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATES FROM A STOP OR A STEADY SPEED. THE SEAT ALSO TENDS TO TIP UP AND DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE REBOUNDS AS IT COMPLETES A STOP. ON THE FIRST OCCASION THAT THE SEAT ANCHORING SYSTEM FAILED (JANUARY 2000), THE SEAT MOVED ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK OF ITS TRACK, BREAKING THROUGH THE BACK END OF THE LEFT PLASTIC RAIL COVER AND ALLOWING THE THE LEFT SIDE SEAT ROLLER TO JUT OUT IN THE OPEN. THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM WAS ALSO REPORTED TWICE TO NHTSA IN 1999 ACCORDING TO PHIL EDMONSTON AUTHOR OF LEMON-AID CAR GUIDE 2001. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTUER DEFECT, AS IT OCCURS UNDER NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS.
NHTSA complaint #750971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
FIRST BULB OUT ON 10/2000 ON DRIVER'S SIDE, ON 1/17/01 REPLACED WIRE HARNESSES AS RECOMMENDED BY VOLKSWAGON DEALER ON BOTH HEAD LIGHTS. ALSO REPLACED BOTH BULBS AT THIS TIME. ON 6/29/01 BOTH BULBS BURNT OUT AGAIN AND BOTH REPLACED. VOLKSWAGON REFUSES TO REFUND, BECAUSE WORK NOT DONE AT CERTIFIED VW DEALER. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM... ONE WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING IN FOG AND VISIBILITY WAS BAD. I WANTED TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM, TO INFORM OTHERS THAT THIS PART SHOULD BE RECALLED AND MAY NOT BE DESIGNED PROPERLY. I FEEL I SHOULD ALSO BE REFUNDED THE MONEY SPENT ON REPLACING THESE DEFECTIVE PARTS. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE! SINCERELY, [XXX] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #748998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #748666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
THE LEFT SIDE, OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IN COMBINATION WITH THE LEFT, LOWER A PILLAR CREATE A SEVERE BLIND SPOT. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN WITH A VEHICLE IN FRONT OF YOU, THE VIEW OF THAT VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY BLOCKED BY THE MIRRO/PILLAR. IF THE VEHICLE IN.
NHTSA complaint #748596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.