What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

1998 Volkswagen Beetle

Typical pattern

14.1% of complaints about the 1998 Volkswagen Beetle came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 1998 vehicle — around the middle of the 180 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.3 yr in service. The most-reported system is electrical system (50 complaints), typically at 3.7 yr or about 60,000 miles.

Complaints
248
Median age at failure
3.3 yr
Median mileage
56,331 n=77
Crash / fire / tow
19.8% of reports
Safety recalls
8

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electrical system
50 reports · 60,000 mi
3.7 yr
26%
Visibility
33 reports · 60,000 mi
2.8 yr
6.1%
Engine cooling
29 reports · 55,000 mi
3.7 yr
27.6%
Exterior lighting
24 reports · 60,000 mi
3.3 yr
20.8%
Structure
15 reports · 50,000 mi
2.0 yr
6.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

14E007000 2014-03-07
Engine and engine cooling:engine

The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the af

A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

09E012000 2009-04-07
Exterior lighting

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

08E050000 2008-08-11
Exterior lighting:headlights

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

06E060000 2006-06-29
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

06E049000 2006-05-24
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

06V183000 2006-05-24
Exterior lighting:brake lights:switch

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.

THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

06E026000 2006-03-23
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

98V100000 1998-05-13
Electrical system:wiring:front underhood

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE ENDGE OF THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY TRAY. THE WIRING CAN BECOME DAMAGED OVER TIME BY CHAFING AND THE AIR-CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND/OR THE FUEL PUMP CAN MALFUNCTION.

A MALFUNCTION OF THE FUEL PUMP CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL, AND IN SOME INSTANCES, COULD ALSO RESULT IN A WIRING FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

In owners’ own words

Electrical system mileage not reported 8 mo in service
RECALL # 98V100000 VW/ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING. OWNER UNABLE TO SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALERSHIP BECAUSE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. DEALER NOT SURE WHEN PARTS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE. *AK
Electrical system mileage not reported 1.2 yr in service crash / fire / tow
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. DEALER CLAIMED THE CAUSE TO BE A FAULTY WIRING IN THE MOTOR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
Electrical system mileage not reported 1.6 yr in service
PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW DOESN'T WORK. ALSO, REMOTE CONTRO IS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, AND WHEN THE RADIO IS ON THE TAPE DECK WILL PLAY. *AK
Visibility mileage not reported 7 mo in service
THE REAR WINDOW OR REAR HATCH GLASS IS SEVERLYDEFECTED SUCH THAT VIEWING THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR OR DIRECTLY THROUGH THE GLASS IS SUBSTANTIALLY IMPAIRED. THE DEFECT CREATES A TERRIBLE DANGER ON RAINY NIGHTS WHEN IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO VIEW THROUGH THE WINDOW TRAFIC AS IT APPROACHES BECAUSE THE GLASS IS DEFORMED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT BLURRS THE HEADLIGHTS AND OR ENVIRONMENT LIGHTS SUCH AS; STREET LIGHTS. YOU ARE UNABLE TO JUDGE WHETHER THE OTHER CAR IS GOING TO PASS OR WILL BE ABLE TO STOP IN TIME TO PREVENT A COLLISION.

Other Beetle model years

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