The defect
VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 BEETLE VEHICLES. SOME VEHICLES MAY BE EQUIPPED WITH SUMMER TIRES THAT FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS 110 "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS" AND 139 "NEW PNEUMATIC TIRES FOR LIGHT VEHICLES."
The risk
DUE TO AN ERROR AT THE FACTORY, THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH SUMMER TIRES THAT ARE POSSIBLY NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS 110 "TIRE SELECTION & RIMS" AND 139 "NEW PNEUMATIC TIRES FOR LIGHT VEHICLES." IN ADDITION, CUSTOMERS MAY BE UNAWARE THAT THEIR VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SUMMER PERFORMANCE TIRES. SUMMER TIRES HAVE DIFFERENT GRIP AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS. THESE ISSUES MAY LEAD TO AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT TIRES, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Beetle | 2012 |
Components: TIRES
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Beetle | 2012 | 65 | 6 |
Other tires recalls in 2012
8 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the tires; VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC filed 63 campaigns in all.
| 12V542000 23 Nov 2012 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 12V489000 9 Oct 2012 | MASERATI NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 12V480000 2 Oct 2012 | ASTON MARTIN |
| 12V415000 28 Aug 2012 | Volvo Cars of N.A., LLC |
| 12V072000 24 Feb 2012 | ENTEGRA COACH |
| 12V068000 22 Feb 2012 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 12V004000 6 Jan 2012 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012