Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 |
| 2007 New Beetle | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 New Beetle | 12 | 2 |
| 2003 New Beetle | 20 | 0 |
| 2002 New Beetle | 15 | 1 |
| 2001 New Beetle | 39 | 3 |
| 2000 New Beetle | 40 | 2 |
| 1999 New Beetle | 34 | 1 |
| 1998 New Beetle | 30 | 1 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Electrical system40
- Engine and engine cooling29
- Visibility27
- Power train23
- Exterior lighting22
- Air bags16
- Vehicle speed control12
- Service brakes, hydraulic11
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 12 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 6.1–10.1 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | New Beetle · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.1 | 10.1 |
| 2009 | New Beetle · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.1 | 10.1 |
| 2008 | New Beetle · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.1 | 10.1 |
| 2007 | New Beetle · Subcompact · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.1 | 10.1 |
| 2006 | New Beetle TDI Diesel · Subcompact · Diesel | 7.4 | 5.6 | 6.6 |
| 2005 | New Beetle TDI Diesel · Subcompact · Diesel | 7.4 | 5.6 | 6.6 |
| 2004 | New Beetle TDI Diesel · Subcompact · Diesel | 7.4 | 5.6 | 6.6 |
| 2003 | New Beetle TDI Diesel · Subcompact · Diesel | 6.7 | 5.4 | 6.1 |
| 2002 | New Beetle TDI Diesel · Subcompact · Diesel | 6.7 | 5.4 | 6.1 |
| 2001 | New Beetle TDI Diesel · Subcompact · Diesel | 6.8 | 5.4 | 6.2 |
| 2000 | New Beetle TDI Diesel · Subcompact · Diesel | 6.7 | 5.4 | 6.1 |
| 1999 | New Beetle TDI Diesel · Subcompact · Diesel | 6.7 | 5.4 | 6.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In the Netherlands
5,012 New Beetle cars are on Dutch roads; 50% arrived later as imports. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 20 | €27,052 |
| 2010 | 80 | €34,135 |
| 2009 | 131 | €32,646 |
| 2008 | 185 | €30,223 |
| 2007 | 296 | €37,608 |
| 2006 | 470 | €33,540 |
| 2005 | 600 | €33,965 |
| 2004 | 755 | €36,870 |
| 2003 | 1,082 | €33,923 |
| 2002 | 155 | — |
| 2001 | 254 | — |
| 2000 | 450 | — |
| 1999 | 504 | — |
| 1998 | 30 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
1,096 New Beetle cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 90% petrol, 10% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 68 | 113,000 km |
| 2009 | 53 | 182,000 km |
| 2008 | 39 | 178,000 km |
| 2007 | 200 | 185,000 km |
| 2006 | 29 | 185,000 km |
| 2005 | 42 | 178,000 km |
| 2004 | 83 | 182,000 km |
| 2003 | 68 | 205,000 km |
| 2002 | 31 | 233,000 km |
| 2001 | 34 | 245,000 km |
| 2000 | 86 | 234,000 km |
| 1999 | 345 | 244,000 km |
| 1998 | 18 | 256,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
New registrations in Europe
4,549 new Volkswagen New Beetle cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2017, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2017 the largest markets were Italy (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 185 (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 1 | — |
| 2015 | 1 | — |
| 2013 | 2 | — |
| 2012 | 3 | — |
| 2011 | 328 | — |
| 2010 | 4,213 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
EU safety alerts
Safety Gate, the European Union's rapid alert system, names the New Beetle in 2 alerts. European versions can differ from the North American car.
The propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it can result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of moto…
Cars initially used for internal purposes of Volkswagen AG might not have been correctly modified before they were sold to the general public. There is a possibility that certain safety systems of these cars are not correctly modified for street use.
Safety Gate (European Commission) · CC0
Recalls
5 campaigns cover the New Beetle.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE TIRE INFORMATION LABEL IS INCORRECT IDENTIFYING THE VEHICLE AS A FIVE-PASSENGER VEHICLE, INSTEAD OF A FOUR-PASSENGER VEHICLE.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE PASSENGER DETECTION FUNCTION OF THE PASSIVE OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (PODS) MAY BECOME DISABLED.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR SEATS MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY MARKINGS, AND THEIR LOCATION AND USE BE DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.
ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).
NHTSA recalls