1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

289 complaints filed with NHTSA.

289
Complaints
25
Crashes
27
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS24
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE14
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
SEATS11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY9
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.5

Recent Complaints

20211026CrashAIR BAGS

The driver was driving the speed limit (55 mph) and tried to slow down as they approached a red light. The brakes failed to work, and the driver rear-ended the vehicle waiting at the stoplight. The airbags did not deploy.

20211026CrashSERVICE BRAKES

The driver was driving the speed limit (55 mph) and tried to slow down as they approached a red light. The brakes failed to work, and the driver rear-ended the vehicle waiting at the stoplight. The airbags did not deploy.

20141031FireENGINE

DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL, CAR STALLED, RESTARTED CAR THEN SAW SMOKE AND FIRE UNDER PASSENGER SIDE DASH. CAR BURNT COMPLETELY, TOTALED. HAVE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES. ..UPDATED 11/12/14 *BF

Mileage: 130,000

20141031FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL, CAR STALLED, RESTARTED CAR THEN SAW SMOKE AND FIRE UNDER PASSENGER SIDE DASH. CAR BURNT COMPLETELY, TOTALED. HAVE BEFORE AND AFTER PICTURES. ..UPDATED 11/12/14 *BF

Mileage: 130,000

20130805FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON A/C. WHEN A/C WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY, SHE PULLED OFF ROADWAY AND STOPPED. SMOKE AND BURNING ODOR CAME OUT OF VENTS, WITH FIRE EVENTUALLY SHOWING FROM CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL. INTERIOR OF VEHICLE WAS FULLY INVOLVED IN FIRE WHEN FD ARRIVED. ENGINE COMPARTMENT NOT INVOLVED. RADIO OPERATING PROPERLY PRIOR TO INCIDENT. NO PRIOR ISSUES WITH VEHICLE. *TR

20130805FireVISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

OWNER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN ON A/C. WHEN A/C WOULD NOT WORK PROPERLY, SHE PULLED OFF ROADWAY AND STOPPED. SMOKE AND BURNING ODOR CAME OUT OF VENTS, WITH FIRE EVENTUALLY SHOWING FROM CLIMATE CONTROL PANEL. INTERIOR OF VEHICLE WAS FULLY INVOLVED IN FIRE WHEN FD ARRIVED. ENGINE COMPARTMENT NOT INVOLVED. RADIO OPERATING PROPERLY PRIOR TO INCIDENT. NO PRIOR ISSUES WITH VEHICLE. *TR

20120828ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WINDOWS STARTED GOING UP AND DOWN RANDOMLY AND DOORS LOCKING/UNLOCKING RANDOMLY. AS I WAS REACHING THROUGH MY WINDOW TO GRAM MY KEYS FROM THE IGNITION MY ARM GOT PINCHED, AND LODGED IN THE WINDOW THAT WAS GOING UP, (I WAS TRYING TO GET MY KEYS BEFORE GETTING LOCKED OUT OF THE CAR (AGAIN) DUE TO THE RANDOM LOCKING AND UNLOCKING). AUTO REVERSAL OF THE WINDOWS WHEN AN APPENDAGE GETS LODGED IN THE WINDOW DID NOT OCCUR. THIS PINCHED AND LODGED MY LEFT ARM IN THE WINDOW TO A POINT OF BRUISING AN A

Mileage: 76,000

20100930FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE LIGHT BEGAN BEEPING, THEN SUDDENLY STOPPED BEEPING AND A RED LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING. THE CONTACT NOTICED A THUMP UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SO SHE STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. SHE ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT SIDE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, SO SHE COASTED OVER TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. WHEN THE HOOD WAS OPENED, THERE WERE FLAMES ERUPTI

Mileage: 136,000

20100324FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VW BEETLE DIESEL. DRIVER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 5MPH ON A CLEAR DAY WHEN SHE NOTICED A SQUEAK IN THE ENGINE. TOOK TO DEALER FOR A NEW BATTERY AND TO CHECK SQUEAK IN FRONT END AND CHECK AIR CONDITIONER. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED FUSES WERE BURNT AND THAT BOTH FANS WERE MELTED. AFTER REPAIRS MADE CONTACT STATES THAT SQUEAK STILL PRESENT AND FANS STILL NOT WORKING. TECHNICIAN INFORMED CONTACT THAT REPAIRS MADE CORRECTLY. CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER AND IT IS STIL

Mileage: 106,000

20100324FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VW BEETLE DIESEL. DRIVER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 5MPH ON A CLEAR DAY WHEN SHE NOTICED A SQUEAK IN THE ENGINE. TOOK TO DEALER FOR A NEW BATTERY AND TO CHECK SQUEAK IN FRONT END AND CHECK AIR CONDITIONER. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED FUSES WERE BURNT AND THAT BOTH FANS WERE MELTED. AFTER REPAIRS MADE CONTACT STATES THAT SQUEAK STILL PRESENT AND FANS STILL NOT WORKING. TECHNICIAN INFORMED CONTACT THAT REPAIRS MADE CORRECTLY. CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER AND IT IS STIL

Mileage: 106,000

20091013FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VOLKSWAGEN OVERHEAT WITH FUSE BLOCK ELECTRICAL FIRE. FIRE WAS CONTAINED TO THE FUSE BLOCK OF 1998 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE. THE FUSE BLOCK ON TOP OF THE BATTERY CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

Mileage: 98,220

20081231CrashAIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE DRIVER AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD, THE DRIVER NOTICED AN 18-WHEELER HEADING TOWARDS THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO AVOID A CRASH. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE DRIVER REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND AN INS

Mileage: 100,000

20081231CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE DRIVER AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH ON A SNOW COVERED ROAD, THE DRIVER NOTICED AN 18-WHEELER HEADING TOWARDS THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO AVOID A CRASH. THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE DRIVER REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP AND AN INS

Mileage: 100,000

20070709FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I OWN A VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE, 98. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO WORK AROUND 9:00 AM. THE AIR CONDITIONER WOULD NOT TURN PAST 2. I COULD NOT GET IT TO TURN OFF EITHER. SMOKE THEN BEGAN TO COME OUT FROM AROUND THE VENTS OF THE AC. I PULLED OFF OF THE ROAD, CALLED MY WORK, AND MY FIANCE. THE SMOKE THEN GOT WORSE, THEN WERE FLAMES. I THEN CALLED 911. POLICE AND FIRE TRUCKS ARRIVED. MY CAR WAS TOTALED. THE INSIDE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED, AND MOST OF THE OUTSIDE. *AK

20070102FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON 12-28-06 VEHICLE WHICH WAS PARKED CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE AND MADE A REPORT. THE FIREMAN SAID THAT THE BATTERY WAS COMPLETELY MELTED, AND COULD HAVE BEEN THE POSSIBLE REASON FOR THE FIRE. THAT 15 MINUTES BEFORE THE FIRE SHE HEARD WHISTLING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND SAW DARK GRAY SMOKE COMING OUT. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE CAR WAS IN IDLE AT THE TIME SHE HEARD THE NOISE AND SAW THE SMOKE. T

Mileage: 140,000

20060630CrashEXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

IN EARLY MAY I HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH OUR 1998 VW BEETLE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PART. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE, AND I PUSHED DOWN THE BRAKE PETAL. THEN I CHANGED GEARS TO REVERSE AND GENTLY STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY AT AN ACCELERATED SPEED AND HIT A TRAILER AT MY PLACE OF WORK CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH THE BEETLE AND TRAILER. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICING AT VALLEJO VOLKSWAGEN (1401 SONOMA BLVD, VALLEJO CA) THE PREVIOUS FRIDAY, SO IT WAS SURPRISING T

20060630CrashEQUIPMENT

IN EARLY MAY I HAD AN ACCIDENT WITH OUR 1998 VW BEETLE WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PART. THE CAR WAS IN DRIVE, AND I PUSHED DOWN THE BRAKE PETAL. THEN I CHANGED GEARS TO REVERSE AND GENTLY STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD UNCONTROLLABLY AT AN ACCELERATED SPEED AND HIT A TRAILER AT MY PLACE OF WORK CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH THE BEETLE AND TRAILER. THE CAR WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICING AT VALLEJO VOLKSWAGEN (1401 SONOMA BLVD, VALLEJO CA) THE PREVIOUS FRIDAY, SO IT WAS SURPRISING T

20051203CrashEXTERIOR LIGHTING

I"VE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH MY 1998 BEETLE. THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING--FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE FUSES WERE MELTED OVER THE BATTERY TERMINAL. MY REVERSE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING--NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THAT YET, MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DON'T USUALLY WORK, BUT SOMETIMES WILL COME ON ALL BY THEMSELVES. GOT LOCKED IN MY CAR TWICE. THE ALARM SOMETIMES GOES OFF FOR NO REASON. THE CAR PERIODICALLY DOESN'T START. HAD IT TOWED TO VW TWICE FOR THIS. THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS. ALSO, SOMETHIN

Mileage: 60,000

20051203CrashEXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS

I"VE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH MY 1998 BEETLE. THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING--FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE FUSES WERE MELTED OVER THE BATTERY TERMINAL. MY REVERSE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING--NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THAT YET, MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DON'T USUALLY WORK, BUT SOMETIMES WILL COME ON ALL BY THEMSELVES. GOT LOCKED IN MY CAR TWICE. THE ALARM SOMETIMES GOES OFF FOR NO REASON. THE CAR PERIODICALLY DOESN'T START. HAD IT TOWED TO VW TWICE FOR THIS. THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS. ALSO, SOMETHIN

Mileage: 60,000

20051203CrashEXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

I"VE HAD MULTIPLE FAILURES WITH MY 1998 BEETLE. THE CAR WAS OVERHEATING--FOUND OUT THAT THE ENGINE FUSES WERE MELTED OVER THE BATTERY TERMINAL. MY REVERSE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING--NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THAT YET, MY DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS DON'T USUALLY WORK, BUT SOMETIMES WILL COME ON ALL BY THEMSELVES. GOT LOCKED IN MY CAR TWICE. THE ALARM SOMETIMES GOES OFF FOR NO REASON. THE CAR PERIODICALLY DOESN'T START. HAD IT TOWED TO VW TWICE FOR THIS. THEY COULD FIND NO PROBLEMS. ALSO, SOMETHIN

Mileage: 60,000