FaultScore report
Owners have filed 40 complaints about the 1999 Volkswagen NEW Beetle with NHTSA between 1998 and 2004. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 7 worst.
FaultScore 56/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Volkswagen NEW Beetle.
How this is worked out40
Complaints
2
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
2
Injuries reported
46,710 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
40%
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 46,710 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 55,287 mi
Median failure at 34,000 miles
Median failure at 30,000 miles
Median failure at 30,000 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires
Median failure at 80,000 miles
Median failure at 26,950 miles
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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 PASSENGER SIDE. IF THE TIMING WAS DIFFERENT BY A SPLIT-SECOND, I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY HIT THE TREE WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE, OR SLAMMED HEAD-ON INTO A LIGHT POLE. MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND I SPLIT MY HEAD OPEN AND HAD TO GET STITCHES. I AM VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, AND ANOTHER ONE OF IT'S STUPID FAILURES ALMOST KILLED ME.
NHTSA complaint #10021316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING ON AN ICY ROAD AT 20 MPH MY CAR SKIDDED OF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE CAR WILL BE MOST LIKELY TOTALED, AND I RECEIVED INJURIES TO MY LEG, BACK, SHOULDER AND NECK. ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH BOTH FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS, NOT ONE OF THEM DEPLOYED. I MENTIONED THE CAR RECEIVED MASSIVE DAMAGE, YET THE AIR BAG SYSTEM DID NOTHING TO LESSEN MY INJURIES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WORK AS I HOPED. I PURCHASED MY VW BEETLE WITH THE SAFETY FEATURES IN MIND, BUT I NOW HAVE LEARNED THAT NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE NON DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS IS COMMON. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT MY INJURIES WERE NOT LIFE THREATENING, YET FEEL CHEATED THAT MY VEHILCLE'S SAFETY FEATURES DID NOT WORK WHEN I NEEDED THEM MOST. DT
NHTSA complaint #770095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
DEFECTIVE OR INCORRECT DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND REPEATED FAILURES OF SENSORS AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICAL SWITCHES.
NHTSA complaint #10100651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
NAR 02/28/2003 MR THE CONSUMER HAS HAD ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AND THE EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #10014749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
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.
NHTSA complaint #10080515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
THE ROOF COVER IS FALLING DOWN. THE GLUE THAT IS USE TO KEEP THE CLOTH ATTACHED TO THE ROOF IS VERY POOR AND AFTER 3 YEARS IT WILL START TO FALL DOWN. I HAVE 2 IDENTICAL VW BEETLE'S AND THEY BOTH SUFFER FROM THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10058348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
THE ROOF COVER IS FALLING DOWN. THE GLUE THAT IS USE TO KEEP THE CLOTH ATTACHED TO THE ROOF IS VERY POOR AND AFTER 3 YEARS IT WILL START TO FALL DOWN. I HAVE 2 IDENTICAL VW BEETLE'S AND THEY BOTH SUFFER FROM THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10058348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
REMOTE HATCHBATCH LOCK RELEASE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10054680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
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.
NHTSA complaint #10052746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ON DRIVERS SIDE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. DEALER STATES CRACKED HOUSING ALLOWED WATER IN WHICH IN TURN BURNED OUT BULB. JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF NEW BEETLES I SEE WITH ONE HEAD LIGHT OUT THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10039145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
MY 1999 VOLKWAGEN BEETLE HAS A MELTED FUSE BLOCK ON TOP OF THE BATTERY. I BELIEVE THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE FUSES BEING FAULTY AS ONE LEG OF THE FUSE WAS COMPLETELY BURNED OFF AND THE FUSE WAS STILL NOT BLOWN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. ON THE WEBSITE NEWBEETLE.ORG, THERE ARE SEVERAL MORE INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRING INCLUDING PHOTOS.
NHTSA complaint #10036698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
CONSUMER STATES THAT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. IT DOES NOT REGISTER READINGS FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED OR RPMS.
NHTSA complaint #10026210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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 PASSENGER SIDE. IF THE TIMING WAS DIFFERENT BY A SPLIT-SECOND, I WOULD HAVE PROBABLY HIT THE TREE WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE, OR SLAMMED HEAD-ON INTO A LIGHT POLE. MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND I SPLIT MY HEAD OPEN AND HAD TO GET STITCHES. I AM VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR, AND ANOTHER ONE OF IT'S STUPID FAILURES ALMOST KILLED ME.
NHTSA complaint #10021316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR FAILED. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10010761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK
REMOTE HATCHBATCH LOCK RELEASE FAILURE- 2ND OCCURRENCE. FIRST OCCURRENCE ABOUT A YEAR AGO AND WAS DEALER REPAIRED.
NHTSA complaint #10005338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
REMOTE FUEL DOOR RELEASE FAILURE- 2ND OCCURRENCE. FIRST OCCURRENCE ABOUT A YEAR PREVIOUS AND WAS DEALER REPAIRED. UNABLE TO FUEL VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10005339 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS
WHILE DRIVING ON AN ICY ROAD AT 20 MPH MY CAR SKIDDED OF THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE HEAD ON. THE CAR WILL BE MOST LIKELY TOTALED, AND I RECEIVED INJURIES TO MY LEG, BACK, SHOULDER AND NECK. ALTHOUGH MY CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH BOTH FRONT AND SIDE AIR BAGS, NOT ONE OF THEM DEPLOYED. I MENTIONED THE CAR RECEIVED MASSIVE DAMAGE, YET THE AIR BAG SYSTEM DID NOTHING TO LESSEN MY INJURIES BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WORK AS I HOPED. I PURCHASED MY VW BEETLE WITH THE SAFETY FEATURES IN MIND, BUT I NOW HAVE LEARNED THAT NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE NON DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS IS COMMON. I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT MY INJURIES WERE NOT LIFE THREATENING, YET FEEL CHEATED THAT MY VEHILCLE'S SAFETY FEATURES DID NOT WORK WHEN I NEEDED THEM MOST. DT
NHTSA complaint #770095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
CONSUMER STATEDTHE DESIGN OF THE BATTERY CABLE ASSEMBLY COULD POSSIBLY START A FIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE'S HOOD. THE BATTERY CABLE WAS SITUATED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY ALONG WITH THE FUSE BOX. THIS RESULTED IN THE CABLE BEING "EATEN" THROUGH AND DRAINED THE BATTERY. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY, CABLE TWICE AND FUSE BOX ONCE. TS
NHTSA complaint #8023221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD
THE HOOD LATCH HAS FAILED TWICE, INCLUDING THE ORIGINAL AND A REPLACEMENT. THE HOOD POPS OPEN WHILE DRIVING, ONCE AT 55 MPH AND ANOTHER TIME AT 65 MPH. AFTER THIS OCCURS, THE LATCH WILL NO LONGER WORK, AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE HOOD FULLY. THE SAFETY HOOK ON THE LATCH IS THE ONLY THING THAT WILL ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE IS SCHEDULED TO BE TAKEN IN FOR A THIRD LATCH REPLACEMENT ON OCT. 30, 2002, WHICH IS THE EARLIEST DATE THAT THE DEALER CAN SCHEDULE THE REPAIR. MR
NHTSA complaint #768460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
THE 1999 NEW BEETLE HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE (LEMON). ITS RELIABILITY / SAFETY / ENVIROMENTAL IMPACT IS POOR. PLEASE ASSIST NEW BETTLE OWNERS. VW ASSISTANCE / KNOWLEDGEMENT HAS BEEN NON EXISTENT.
NHTSA complaint #765686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON THE EXPRESSWAY WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON, THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DISENGAGE. DRIVER TURNED CRUISE CONTROL OFF MANUALLY TO AVOID ACCIDENT. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A FAULTY BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AND THAT THE VEHICLE ALSO HAD NO BRAKE LIGHT ACTIVATION. THERE IS NO WARNING LIGHT TO ADVISE OF PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM. DEALER EMPLOYEE ADVISED THERE ARE NUMEROUS INCIDENTS AND SWITCH HAS BEEN REDESIGNED AT LEAST ONCE. NO RECALL OR NOTICE OF THIS SAFETY PROBLEM HAS BEEN SENT. THIS PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO A SERIOUS HIGH SPEED ACCIDENT, AS CRUISE DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED TO STOP OR SLOW VEHICLE. UPON RELEASE OF BRAKE VEHICLE SURGED AND ACCELERATED FORWARD TO REGAIN SPEED. VW IS AWARE OF THIS AND IS CONCEALING THIS PROBLEM TO AVOID NOTIFICATION/RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #765117 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
IAM REPORTING THIS BEACUSE THE ENGINE STOPPED WITHOUT WARNING AT 55 MPH WHILE PASSING ON AN EXPRESS WAY. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CAR RESTSRTED AFTER TEN MINUTES. THIS HAS OCCURRED AGAIN BUT AT LOWER SPEEDS. I HAVE NOT BEEN TO A DEALER WITH THE PROBLEM AS YET. FOR MY OEN CONVIENCE THE CAR WILL BE TAKEN TO NEWTON MOROTSPROTS ROUTE 206 NEWTON, NJ TEL 973-383-2626 THIS AM.
NHTSA complaint #756495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THE WINDOW REGULATOR SYSTEM IS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE AND IS EXPENSIVE TO FIX. TIME-CONSUMING AND EXPENSIVE EVEN FOR A DO-IT-YOURSELFER.
NHTSA complaint #756090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
POWER WINDOW SWITCH BREAKS AND MUST BE REPLACED OFTEN. WE KNOW MANY NEW BEETLE OWNWERS - NEARLY ALL HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM. WINDOW CAN STICK DOWN AND NOT BE CLOSEABLE, IN ANY WEATHER, IN ANY AREA - DEFINITE SECURITY PROBLEM IN THE WRONG NEIGHBORHOOD. OURS WAS FIXED ON WARRANTY LESS THAN 10,000 MILES AGO - PROBLEM IS SO COMMON THAT WE ARE BUYING EXTRAS TO CARRY WITH US. VW IS DEFINITELY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND IS SILENT. FOUR YEARS WORTH OF CARS HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE SWITCH, AND CURRENT PRODUCTION IS UNCHANGED, TO MY KNOWLEDGE. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME. *AK NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #749207 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
COOLING FAN FUSE HOLDER ASSEMBLY SIT ON TOP OF THE BATTERY IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THIS HOLDER HAS A HISTORY OF FAILURE (ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP). IN MANY CASES THE FUSE DOES NOT MAKE ADEQUATE CONTACT AND MAY SPARK OVER TIME. IN MY CASE THE FUSE ARCHED AND MELTED THE ASSEMBLY. THIS IS TROUBLESOME GIVEN THE CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE EXPLOSIVE GASES WHICH ARE GENERATED BY THE BATTERY.
NHTSA complaint #745454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SINCE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SLOW TO SHIFT INTO GEAR FROM PARK OR NEUTRAL, THE CONSUMER HAS HAD NEAR ACCIDENTS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
RUNAWAY ENGINE - ENGINE SPEEDED, TACHOMETER TO RED LINE.
NHTSA complaint #739275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.