How do I know if my Volkswagen Beetle has a recall?

To know if your Volkswagen Beetle has an open recall, start by entering your vehicle's VIN or license plate in our Safety Recall Checker. We will find recalls that affect your vehicle and need to be repaired.

How do I check my VIN for recalls for free?

Check your Volkswagen Beetle VIN for free by entering it into our Safety Recall Checker.

What happens if my Volkswagen Beetle has an open recall?

If your Volkswagen Beetle is affected by a recall, it means that NHTSA and the manufacturer have identified an issue with your vehicle. After you check your vehicle, you can contact a dealership to schedule a repair.

How long does a recall take to fix?

How long it takes to fix a recall depends on the exact repairs needed. Something simple like a software update can be done in minutes, but complex mechanical repairs may take days or weeks. Ask the dealership when you schedule your appointment.

Do you need a warranty for a recall?

Your Volkswagen Beetle does not need to be under warranty to get recalls fixed. Recalls for safety-related items on your Volkswagen Beetle are taken care of by Volkswagen at no cost to you even if your vehicle warranty has expired or if you are not the original owner of the vehicle.

How long does a recall last on a car?

A recall does not expire as long as the vehicle manufacturer remains in business or continues to make the replacement parts. Generally, recalls can be fixed for free up to 15 years after your car's date of manufacture.

Why should you check for safety recalls?

Road Safety Risks

Open recalls can be dangerous for you and your family.

Mail Delays

Older or used cars can be more difficult for manufacturers to locate.

Risk of Costly Damage

We'll connect you with a dealership near you to fix the recall at no cost.

Volkswagen Beetle

24 Recalls

NHTSA 24V-834 · OEM 69EG,69GQ,69E6

Driver's Air Bag Inflator Explodes Spraying Metal

248,330 Potential Units Affected

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Vehicles Affected: 2006 Volkswagen Passat, 2017 Volkswagen Beetle and 7 others

NHTSA 22V-945 · OEM 69EM

Driver's Air Bag Inflator Explodes Spraying Metal Fragments

37,558 Potential Units Affected

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Vehicles Affected: 2015 Volkswagen Beetle, 2016 Volkswagen Beetle

NHTSA 20V-785 · OEM 69BC

Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator Ruptures During Deployment Spraying Metal Fragments

105,652 Potential Units Affected

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Vehicles Affected: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, 2014 Volkswagen Beetle and 1 other

NHTSA 19V-679 · OEM 01D7

Vehicles Do Not Meet All Applicable Regulatory Requirements

113 Potential Units Affected

If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Vehicles Affected: 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2012 Volkswagen Beetle and 15 others

NHTSA 19V-615 · OEM 37M2

Key May Be Removed When Shift Lever Is Not In The Park Position

679,027 Potential Units Affected

Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

Vehicles Affected: 2017 Volkswagen Beetle, 2018 Volkswagen Beetle and 27 others

NHTSA 19V-094 · OEM 90L8

Instrument Panel Does Not Indicate Brake Failure Warning

4,064 Potential Units Affected

If the driver is not alerted when there is a problem with brakes, the driver may lose control of the vehicle while attempting to brake, increasing the risk of crash.

Vehicles Affected: 2019 Volkswagen Beetle

NHTSA 18V-369 · OEM 47N8, 47N9, 47N6

Brake Caliper Pistons Reduce Braking Performance

10,225 Potential Units Affected

A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Vehicles Affected: 2018 Volkswagen Beetle, 2018 Volkswagen Golf and 6 others

Recalls

Volkswagen Beetle Recalls by Year

2019 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

2018 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

2017 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

2016 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

2015 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

2014 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

2013 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

2012 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

2010 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

2009 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

2008 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

2007 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

2006 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

2005 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

2004 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

Model Recalls By Year

Recall FAQs

If your Volkswagen Beetle is affected by a new safety recall, Volkswagen will attempt to contact you by sending you a notice in the mail. This notice will detail the defect, when parts for repair will be ready, how to get your car fixed, and whether your unrepaired car is currently safe to drive or not.

If you aren't the original owner, have changed addresses, or have never visited your local dealership for service or maintenance, then you most likely will not receive a recall notice in the mail.

Another way to know whether your Volkswagen Beetle has an open recall is to enter your VIN or license plate into the RepairPal Safety Recall Checker above. The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a 17-digit alphanumeric code that can be found on the bottom edge of your car's windshield, on the driver's side. It can also be found on your vehicle's registration card.

You can check your Volkswagen Beetle for recalls by entering your VIN or license plate into the RepairPal Safety Recall Checker found above. The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-digit alphanumeric identification code on the bottom edge of your car’s windshield, on the driver’s side. It can also be found on your vehicle’s registration card.

Checking your VIN is the best way to find out if your car is affected by any recalls. Identical vehicles of the same make, model, year, and trim may not be affected by the same recall. A VIN is unique to a specific vehicle.

Your Volkswagen Beetle is affected by a recall if the manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has decided that a problem with your car makes it a safety risk or fails to meet safety standards. When this happens, the vehicle manufacturer is obligated to fix your vehicle.

Normally, you will receive a letter in the mail that explains the recall and how to get the defect fixed promptly and at no charge to you. The letter will explain what the exact defect is, when the parts will be ready, how to get your car fixed, and whether your car is safe to drive or not.

But in many cases, the manufacturer won't know you own an affected vehicle, which is why you should check your Volkswagen Beetle for safety recalls frequently.

Use our Safety Recall Checker to check your Volkswagen Beetle for open recalls.

How long it takes to fix a recall depends on many different factors:

How many vehicles are affected by the recall? How complex is the problem to fix? How many different parts are involved in the repair? Are the repair parts available? Has the dealership received the parts for the repair yet? Do dealership technicians have training to conduct the specific repair? How many recalled cars can the dealer repair each day (while also doing their daily service business)?

Recalls are unrelated to your warranty coverage. Any recalls that are issued for safety-related items on your Volkswagen Beetle will be repaired by the vehicle manufacturer at no cost to you. Even if your vehicle's warranty has expired and you are not the original owner of the vehicle, you are still eligible to have any open safety recalls on your vehicle repaired.

You can check for any open recalls on your Volkswagen Beetle by entering its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) or license plate number into the RepairPal Safety Recall Checker above. If there are any open recalls on your vehicle, contact a dealer as soon as possible to have repairs done.

Safety recalls that address a defective part or system on your Volkswagen Beetle that came from the factory do not expire and can generally be fixed up to 15 years after the date of manufacture. Even if you are not the original owner, you can have repairs done to resolve any open recalls. This is important, especially if the recalls are safety-related. The only exceptions are if the carmaker is no longer in business or if the dealership can no longer get the needed parts. Recall repairs are generally free up to 15 years after the date of manufacture.

To check whether there are any open recalls on your Volkswagen Beetle, enter its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) or license plate number into the RepairPal Safety Recall Checker here. Your Volkswagen Beetle VIN can be found at the base of the windshield or on your registration card. If there are any open recalls on your vehicle, contact a dealer as soon as possible to have repairs done.

Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

Check your specific VIN or plate below.

There are 24 recalls that may affect your Volkswagen Beetle.

Check your Volkswagen Beetle for safety recalls and get them fixed for free at a Volkswagen dealership near you.

Volkswagen Beetle

24 Recalls

NHTSA 24V-834 · OEM 69EG,69GQ,69E6

Driver's Air Bag Inflator Explodes Spraying Metal

248,330 Potential Units Affected

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Vehicles Affected: 2006 Volkswagen Passat, 2017 Volkswagen Beetle and 7 others

NHTSA 22V-945 · OEM 69EM

Driver's Air Bag Inflator Explodes Spraying Metal Fragments

37,558 Potential Units Affected

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Vehicles Affected: 2015 Volkswagen Beetle, 2016 Volkswagen Beetle

NHTSA 20V-785 · OEM 69BC

Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator Ruptures During Deployment Spraying Metal Fragments

105,652 Potential Units Affected

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Vehicles Affected: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, 2014 Volkswagen Beetle and 1 other

NHTSA 19V-679 · OEM 01D7

Vehicles Do Not Meet All Applicable Regulatory Requirements

113 Potential Units Affected

If the vehicles do not meet all regulatory requirements, there could be an increased risk of a crash, fire, or injury.

Vehicles Affected: 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2012 Volkswagen Beetle and 15 others

NHTSA 19V-615 · OEM 37M2

Key May Be Removed When Shift Lever Is Not In The Park Position

679,027 Potential Units Affected

Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.

Vehicles Affected: 2017 Volkswagen Beetle, 2018 Volkswagen Beetle and 27 others

NHTSA 19V-094 · OEM 90L8

Instrument Panel Does Not Indicate Brake Failure Warning

4,064 Potential Units Affected

If the driver is not alerted when there is a problem with brakes, the driver may lose control of the vehicle while attempting to brake, increasing the risk of crash.

Vehicles Affected: 2019 Volkswagen Beetle

NHTSA 18V-369 · OEM 47N8, 47N9, 47N6

Brake Caliper Pistons Reduce Braking Performance

10,225 Potential Units Affected

A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Vehicles Affected: 2018 Volkswagen Beetle, 2018 Volkswagen Golf and 6 others