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exact model and see every recall for it.
Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (3)
Air bags: frontal, sensor/control module-inactive
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 76,900 MY 2004-2005 NEW BEETLE AND MY 2003-2005 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED (DUAL-STAGE) AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM MAY HAVE AIR BAG FRONTAL CRASH SENSORS THAT CONTAIN A SOLDER JOINT ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. IF THIS OCCURS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE FALLBACK ALGORITHM WILL ENSURE THAT THE FRONT AIR BAGS ALWAYS DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH IN WHICH THE VEHICLE'S DECELERATION IS HIGH ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS.
Risk and remedy
Risk: IN LOW-SEVERITY FRONTAL IMPACTS, THE FRONT AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY MORE FORCEFULLY THAN DESIGNED, INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO OUT-OF-POSITION FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT EACH VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE SPECIFIC DEFECT CRASH SENSOR IS PRESENT ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THE DEFECT CRASH SENSORS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 31, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Exterior lighting: brake lights, switch
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.
Risk and remedy
Risk: THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.
Fuel system, diesel
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.
Risk and remedy
Risk: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
Canadian recalls (4)
Show 4 Canadian recalls
Airbag
2008-04-16 · campaign 2008-127
On certain New Beetle convertible, a frontal crash sensor for the advanced (dual-stage) airbag system may fail. If this occurs, the airbag indicator light will illuminate, and the fallback algorithm will ensure the frontal airbags deploy if needed. However, in low-severity frontal impacts, the front airbags may deploy more forcefully than designed, increasing the risk of injury to out-of-position front seat occupants. Correction: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the airbag frontal crash sensors.
Lights and instruments
2006-05-24 · campaign 2006-122
On certain Golf, GTI, Jetta, Jetta wagon, New Beetle, New Beetle convertible, Passat and Passat wagon, the brake lamp switch may malfunction. If this happens, the brake lamps could become inoperative; or could come on and stay on, even though the vehicle is parked. Correction: Dealers will replace the brake lamp switch with a newly revised version. This action includes vehicles previously affected by Transport Canada recall 03-184 and 04-075. The switch installed during this prior repair may not function properly. Note: parts available December 2006.
Fuel system
2004-12-13 · campaign 2004-435
On certain vehicle equipped with TDI-PD (Pumpe-Düse) engines, the high-pressure diesel pumps were produced with improper fasteners. In rare cases, one of these improper fasteners may yield due to repeated cyclic loading and allow diesel fuel to escape from the high-pressure pump. Diesel fuel in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a fire. Additionally, due to the quantity of fuel that may be released, there is a crash risk posed to vehicles traveling behind the subject vehicle. Correction: Dealers will install a replacement diesel pump kit.
Label
2003-12-05 · campaign 2003-313 · 375 vehicles
On certain vehicles, the tire information label incorrectly identifies the vehicle as a five-passenger instead of a four-passenger vehicle. Correction: Volkswagen will send a new label to owners of affected vehicles.
Owner complaints (349)
Owners filed 349 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle (7 crashes, 13 fires, 2 injuries reported). Among 26 model years of this model, it ranks #1 for the most complaints (median 60).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Power train | 157 | |
| Air bags | 73 | |
| Visibility | 62 | |
| Electrical system | 47 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 20 | |
| Structure | 16 | |
| Exterior lighting | 15 | |
| Seat belts | 14 | |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2004 Volkswagen Beetle version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| New Beetle 1.8 L Automatic 4-spd | 20 | 27 | 23 | $3,550 |
| New Beetle 1.8 L Manual 5-spd | 21 | 28 | 24 | $3,400 |
| New Beetle 1.8 L Manual 6-spd | 20 | 28 | 23 | $3,550 |
| New Beetle 1.9 L Manual 5-spd | 32 | 42 | 36 | $2,650 |
| New Beetle 1.9 L Automatic (S6) | 30 | 38 | 33 | $2,900 |
| New Beetle 2.0 L Automatic 4-spd | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,800 |
| New Beetle 2.0 L Manual 5-spd | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,800 |
| New Beetle Convertible 1.8 L Manual 5-spd | 21 | 28 | 24 | $3,400 |
| New Beetle Convertible 1.8 L Automatic (S6) | 19 | 26 | 22 | $3,750 |
| New Beetle Convertible 2.0 L Manual 5-spd | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,800 |
| New Beetle Convertible 2.0 L Automatic (S6) | 19 | 28 | 22 | $3,050 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.