Model year record
The 1999 Volkswagen New Beetle has 1 safety recall and 34 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (7 complaints).
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
| City / highway | 35 / 44 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Diesel |
1.9 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel
| City / highway | 29 / 40 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Diesel |
1.9 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel
| City / highway | 21 / 28 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel
| City / highway | 22 / 28 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,400/year to fuel
| City / highway | 20 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
| City / highway | 20 / 25 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Premium Gasoline |
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,750/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Exhaust system | 7 | 55,287 mi |
| Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash; Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers | 7 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system; Delivery › Fuel pump | 5 | — |
| SeatsFront assembly › Head restraint; Front assembly › Recliner | 3 | — |
| VisibilityPower window devices and controls; Sun/moon roof assembly | 3 | — |
| EquipmentMechanical › Accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift | 2 | — |
| Air bagsFrontal › Sensor/control module | 2 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | — |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission | 2 | — |
| StructureBody › Hood | 2 | — |
| Latches/locks/linkagesHatchback/liftgate › Lock | 2 | — |
| SuspensionFront | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
DEFECTIVE OR INCORRECT DASHBOARD INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND REPEATED FAILURES OF SENSORS AND OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICAL SWITCHES.*AK
DRIVERS SEAT ADJUSTER BOLTS FELL OUT, RESULTING IN DRIVERS SEAT SILDING FULLY TO REAR AND SEAT COMING OFF TRACKS. THE DRIVERS SEAT SLID ALL THE WAY TO THE BACK SEAT AND I WAS LOOKING AT THE ROOF WITH NO ABILITY TO REACH THE BRAKE, CLUTCH, OR ACCELERATOR PEDALS. MY ABILITY TO STEER THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERLY IMPAIRED. *AK
THE ROOF COVER IS FALLING DOWN. THE GLUE THAT IS USE TO KEEP THE CLOTH ATTACHED TO THE ROOF IS VERY POOR AND AFTER 3 YEARS IT WILL START TO FALL DOWN. I HAVE 2 IDENTICAL VW BEETLE'S AND THEY BOTH SUFFER FROM THIS PROBLEM. *JB
REMOTE HATCHBATCH LOCK RELEASE FAILURE.
AT LESS THAN 27K MILES, I HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE DEALER SAID THE ROTORS FOR THE NEW BEETLE ARE NOTORIOUSLY THIN, AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED ALMOST AS OFTEN AS THE BRAKE PADS. THIS REPAIR COST ME $950. MY ROOMMATE, ANOTHER VW NEW BEETLE OWNER HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AT 31K, MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS WERE REGISTERED ON BEETLEBUZZ.COM, WHEN IT WAS IN OPERATION. *AK
LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT ON DRIVERS SIDE NO LONGER FUNCTIONS. DEALER STATES CRACKED HOUSING ALLOWED WATER IN WHICH IN TURN BURNED OUT BULB. JUDGING BY THE NUMBER OF NEW BEETLES I SEE WITH ONE HEAD LIGHT OUT THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. *JB
MY 1999 VOLKWAGEN BEETLE HAS A MELTED FUSE BLOCK ON TOP OF THE BATTERY. I BELIEVE THIS WAS CAUSED BY THE FUSES BEING FAULTY AS ONE LEG OF THE FUSE WAS COMPLETELY BURNED OFF AND THE FUSE WAS STILL NOT BLOWN. I BELIEVE THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO. ON THE WEBSITE NEWBEETLE.ORG, THERE ARE SEVERAL MORE INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRING INCLUDING PHOTOS. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. IT DOES NOT REGISTER READINGS FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED OR RPMS.*AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.