1998 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE
37 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 10 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 6 |
| SEATS | 3 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR | 1 |
Recent Complaints
1998 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE SEVERELY OVERHEATED, CHECKING OUT CAUSE FOUND THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF THE BATTERY HOUSING HAD MELTED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT! VWOA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM ALTHOUGHT INTERNET SURVEYS SHOW 26% FAILURE IN NEW BEETLES. PLACEMENT OF THE FUSE BOX ON THE BATTERY HOUSING DOES NOT SOUND LIKE A VERY SAFE IDEA!*AK
Mileage: 95,000
DRIVER-SIDE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON MY 1998 VW BEETLE FOR NO APPARENT REASON CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND ACCIDENT. *LA
Mileage: 58,932
THE VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SERIOUS MALFUNCTIONS, WHICH MADE IT TOTALLY UNSAFE AND UNRELIABLE. AK *SCC *NLM **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS*739197
Mileage: 35,000
DRIVER FRONT SEAT BRACKET BROKE AWAY DURING ACCELERATION FROM A STOP SIGN CAUSING ME TO BE FORCED INTO A LYING DOWN POSITION AGAINST THE BACK SEAT. MY HANDS WERE PULLED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AS WELL AS MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE. I BROKE A CUP HOLDER ON THE CONSOLE IN ORDER TO RIGHT MYSELF AND JUST MISSED A TELEPHONE POLE. I HAVE DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE BRACKET AND SEAT AND WILL BE GLAD TO EMAIL THEM TO YOU. I AM IN A PISSING MATCH WITH THE DEALER AS TO WHO GETS TO KEEP THE DEFECTIVE BRACKET. I WO