1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

280 complaints filed with NHTSA.

280
Complaints
19
Crashes
28
Fires
19
Injuries
0
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS16
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION15
AIR BAGS14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM14
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY8
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH8
SEATS7
STRUCTURE6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING5
POWER TRAIN5

Recent Complaints

20170719FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE CENTER CONSOLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE CONSOLE WAS MELTING. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,500.

Mileage: 73,500

20160727FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED NEAR THE LEFT PART OF THE DASHBOARD CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE NATURE OF THE SMOKE, THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WHILE IN THE LANE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE OFFICER WAS PRESENT TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AND A REPORT WAS F

Mileage: 125,000

20160727FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED NEAR THE LEFT PART OF THE DASHBOARD CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE NATURE OF THE SMOKE, THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WHILE IN THE LANE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE OFFICER WAS PRESENT TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AND A REPORT WAS F

Mileage: 125,000

20160727FireEXTERIOR LIGHTING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED NEAR THE LEFT PART OF THE DASHBOARD CLOSE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE NATURE OF THE SMOKE, THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE HAZARD LIGHTS AND EXITED THE VEHICLE WHILE IN THE LANE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. A POLICE OFFICER WAS PRESENT TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AND A REPORT WAS F

Mileage: 125,000

20150526CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WHEN THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE BARS ON THE FREEWAY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED NOSE AND A CUT TO THE FACE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,000.

Mileage: 123,000

20150526CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND SWITCHING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE RETENTION WALL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE AND A LARGE CUT FROM THE LOWER LIP ALL THE WAY DOWN TO HER CHIN. THE CONTACT WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE FOR MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DOCTOR STATED THAT A PIECE OF METAL FROM THE AIR BAG CRACKED SOME OF HER FRONTAL TEETH. THE VEHICLE WAS DEST

Mileage: 123,000

20121003FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT SHE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING THEN NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT HOME WHERE THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY ENGOLF INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 166,500.

Mileage: 166,500

20120719CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MY GRANDMOTHER HAD PURCHASED A EDDIE BAUER BROOKE STROLLER AND CAR SEAT SET ONLINE FOR MY BABY SHOWER END OF SEPTEMBER THROUGH BEGINNING OF AUGUST 2011. PURCHASE WAS AROUND $300+ WHICH I DON'T FIND CHEAP BY ANY MEANS. LONG STORY SHORT- MY 5 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER AND I WERE IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHERE I'VE LEARNED HER CAR SEAT BASE WAS DEFECTED DURING THE CRASH AND HAD ACTUALLY LIFTED OUT OF THE BASE AND BACK DOWN. COULD HAVE EASILY WENT THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. SHE SUFFERED A BROKEN RIGHT FEMUR AND

20120515FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, HE TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK AND EXIT THE VEHICLE, WHEN THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS ABLE TO BE EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

Mileage: 107,000

20100621FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT MOVED THE VEHICLE OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE TO ASSIST. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT LOT AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

20090129FireTIRES

DAUGHTER WAS TRAVELING DOWN ROAD AT 45 MPH (SPEED LIMIT) AND THE RIGHT FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. SHE SAW SMOKE AND IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE CAR. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO CAR DEALERSHIP. THE RESULT WAS THE TREAD SEPARATED, DAMAGED OIL PAN, WRAPPED AROUND CV AXLE, MELTED THE TRANSMISSION MOUNT. THE CAR IS BEYOND REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 108,000

20081212FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 30 MPH, THE DRIVER COULD SMELL A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS. SHE THEN NOTICED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND, WITHIN MINUTES, FLAMES ENGULFED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD; HOWEVER, THIS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED DEFINITIVELY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILUR

Mileage: 136,000

20071005FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

FAILURE OF DASHBOARD (AIRCONDITIONING) CONTROLS CAUSED CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE. CAR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. FAILURE TO ADDRESS THIS DEFECT COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

Mileage: 115,000

20061128FireVISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, SMOKE WAS NOTICED COMING FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THEN, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND WAS EVACUATED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE PRESENT, AND A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE FROM THE HEATER FAN WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY DECLARED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUF

Mileage: 98,000

20060724VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

THE FIRST OCCURRENCE (DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW) OCCURRED WITHIN 6,000 MILES OF DRIVING OFF THE DEALER'S LOT -- THE SECOND OCCURRENCE (PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW) OCCURRED TODAY, 7/24/2006. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO TODAY'S INCIDENT, ALBEIT IDENTICAL TO THE FIRST OCCURRENCE 3 YEARS AGO, GOES SOMETHING LIKE THIS: I HIT THE 'DOWN' BUTTON TO LOWER THE WINDOW; THE WINDOW LOWERS ITSELF AND STAYS IN THE DOWN POSITION -- THEREBY SUBJECTING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGERS TO THE POSSIBILITY OF: A: EXPOSURE TO

Mileage: 35,000

20050815FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

FUSE PANEL LOCATED ON TOP OF THE BATTERY MELTED IN THE AREA OF THE FUSE FOR THE RADIATOR COOLING FANS. THIS FURTHER DAMAGED THE FUSES FOR THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE ABS SYSTEM. THIS CAUSED POWER TO THE ABS SYSTEM TO BE LOST. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THIS PROBLEM AS SHORTED COOLING FANS. HOWEVER, THE WIRING TO THE MOTORS AND THE FAN CONTROL UNIT WERE NOT AFFECTED. THERE WAS ALSO THE DISTINCT SMELL OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND MELTED PLASTIC UNDER THE HOOD. THE FUSE PANEL HAS WHITE DEPOSITS UNDER ITS COVER

Mileage: 74,105

20050612FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

COOLING PROBLEMS LED TO OVERALL DIAGNOSIS OF COOLING SYSTEM. 30 AMP FUSE LOCATED IN FUSE PANEL ON TOP OF BATTERY WAS FOUND TO BE BURNED AND MELTED. THE PLASTIC FUSE PANEL WAS DESTROYED AND THE FUSE ITSELF MELTED INTO THE FUSE HOLDER. THE CONTACTS IN THE PANEL FOR THE REMAINING FUSES APPEAR TO BE VERY SMALL (APPROX 18-GAUGE WIRE SIZE) AND POSSIBLY THIS EXTREMELY SMALL CONTACT AREA CONTRIBUTED TO THE OVERHEATING, MELTING AND BURNING OBSERVED. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS DETAILED IN THI

Mileage: 89,000

20050603CrashVISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

DT: VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 1999. THE CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH MIRRORS ON THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE. THEY HAVE TOO MUCH OF A BLIND SPOT FOR ONCOMING VEHICLES. ALSO, THE POST BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES, BEFORE GETTING TO THE DOORS, ARE ALSO GIVING THE CONSUMER TROUBLE, AS BEING A BLIND SPOT. THE CONSUMER PULLED OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND DIDN'T SEE ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE BLIND SPOTS FROM THE CAR. *AK *SC *JB

Mileage: 30

20050603CrashSTRUCTURE

DT: VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE 1999. THE CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH MIRRORS ON THE LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE. THEY HAVE TOO MUCH OF A BLIND SPOT FOR ONCOMING VEHICLES. ALSO, THE POST BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES, BEFORE GETTING TO THE DOORS, ARE ALSO GIVING THE CONSUMER TROUBLE, AS BEING A BLIND SPOT. THE CONSUMER PULLED OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC, AND DIDN'T SEE ANOTHER VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE BLIND SPOTS FROM THE CAR. *AK *SC *JB

Mileage: 30

20050422CrashSEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

AFTER BEING REAR ENDED, THE DRIVERS SEAT RECLINED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO SUSTAIN WHIP LASH. AFTER MAKING CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURER, THEY STATED THE SEAT WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB

Mileage: 45,000