Model year record

2001 Volkswagen New Beetle recalls & problems

The 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle has 3 safety recalls and 39 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (14 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints39filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

2001 Volkswagen New Beetle in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingJul 25, 2003

Brake lights › Switch

Recall 03V265000295,136 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION.
Risk: IF THIS HAPPENS, THE BRAKE LAMPS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE; OR THE LAMPS COULD COME ON AND STAY ON, EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS PARKED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCHES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 26, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.

EquipmentSep 12, 2002

Other › Owners/service/other manual

Recall 02V244000332,950 vehicles

Problem: CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEMS." CHILD SEAT ANCHORAGES INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE'S REAR SEATS MUST BE IDENTIFIED BY MARKINGS, AND THEIR LOCATION AND USE BE DESCRIBED IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL.
Risk: THESE VEHICLES WERE NOT MARKED OR DESCRIBED AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE OWNER'S MANUAL AND ALSO ONE SET OF FOUR GUIDANCE FIXTURES INTENDED TO USE IN CONJUNCTION WITH CHILD SEATS EQUIPPED WITH RIGID OR SEMI-RIGID LOWER ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. ALSO ENCLOSED WILL BE FOUR DECALS TOGETHER WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS AND A TEMPLATE FOR ATTACHING THE DECALS TO THE LOWER SEAT BACKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 15, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.

Service brakes, hydraulicJan 31, 2002

Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip

Recall 02V03100055,000 vehicles

Problem: ON SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES, SHORT CIRCUITS CAN OCCUR WITHIN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS).
Risk: THIS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS CONTROL UNIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

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.

Crash test ratings

2001 Volkswagen Beetle 2-DR. w/SAB

OverallNot Rated

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.

Fuel economy

New Beetle Diesel

38mpg combined

City / highway	35 / 44 mpg
Fuel	Diesel

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel

New Beetle Diesel

33mpg combined

City / highway	29 / 40 mpg
Fuel	Diesel

1.9 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,900/year to fuel

New Beetle

24mpg combined

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

New Beetle

24mpg combined

City / highway	21 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/year to fuel

New Beetle

22mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Premium Gasoline

1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,750/year to fuel

New Beetle

22mpg combined

City / highway	20 / 26 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/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.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemWiring › Front underhood; Ignition › Module	14	0	0	18,500 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor; Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip	11	1	1	18,028 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Engine › Diesel	6	0	0	7,860 mi
Vehicle speed controlLinkages; Accelerator pedal	5	0	0	—
Air bagsSide/window; Frontal	5	5	5	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights; Brake lights › Switch	4	0	0	31,000 mi
VisibilityRearview mirrors/devices › Exterior; Windshield wiper/washer › Motor	3	0	0	—
Unknown or other	2	0	0	—
Tires	2	1	0	—
Wheels	1	0	0	—
StructureFrame and members › Underbody shields	1	0	0	—
Equipment	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper
BOTH REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP, NEEDED TO REPLACE CALIPERS, ROTORS, DRUMS, PADS AT 16,455MILES.*AK
Oct 15, 2004 · 16,455 miles
Electrical system › Ignition › Module
I HAVE A 2001 VOLKSWAGON BEETLE AND WAS VERY FRUSTRATED WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR STARTED SHAKING. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER WHERE I WAS CHARGED $100!!!! AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS! I WAS SO UPSET! THE NEXT DAY THE LIGHT CAME ON AGIAN AND I WAS FURIOUS! I TOOK THE CAR IN AGAIN AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE IGNITION COIL AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME $100 AGIAN. I COPMPLAINED AND GOT THE 2ND FEE WAVED. I'M NOT AN EXPERT BUT IT IS VERY RARE FOR AN IGNITION COIL TO FAIL???*AK
Sep 1, 2004 · 3,405 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Gas recirculation valve (egr valve)
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, NO DRIVABILITY PROBLEMS THOUGH. DEALER SAID NOT UNDER WARRANTY; 2001 VW BEETLE WITH 7,600 MILES. CHECKED AND CHARGED $142.00 TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM, REPLACED CTS, COOLANT TEMPERATURE SENSOR. IT APPEARS THAT IT IS HARD TO FIND ANY SHOPS WITH EQUIPMENT TO ACCESS VW'S ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM; ONLY WAY IS AT VW OR IF A SHOP HAS A PC BASED SYSTEM CALLED MORPHUS? WAS THIS DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY SINCE IT IS PART OF THE OVERALL ENGINE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, CONTROLLING EMISSIONS? THANK YOU, [XXX].*AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Aug 30, 2004 · 7,860 miles
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Pads
THE REAR DISC BRAKE PADS (BOTH SIDES) COMPLETELY WORN OFF/OUT AT 25,000 MILES ON 2001 VW NEW BEETLE. THE WORN OUT PADS ALSO DAMAGED BOTH REAR HUB/ROTOR ASSEMBLIES, WHICH ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED BY THE CONSUMER, AT THE CONSUMERS COST. THIS CAR HAD BEEN IN FOR ITS 20,000 MILE CHECK UP TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE FEMALE OWNER HAD ASKED ABOUT REAR BRAKE NOISES THAT CONCERNED HER. THE DEALERSHIP ASSURED HER THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK, BUT SOMETIMES IT WOULD JUST NORMALLY MAKE SOME NOISES. A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER THE PADS AND ROTORS ARE COMPLETELY SHOT AND WE HAVE TO PICK UP THE TAB AS THE CAR IS NOW NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. VW HAS HAD A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN(TSB#4602-01 DATED 04-02), I…
Jun 29, 2004 · 25,127 miles
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages
WINDSHIELD WIPER LINKAGE ARM NUT SECURING THE BRACKET TO THE WIPER MOTOR NUT HAS NO LOCKING MECHANISM TO PREVENT THE NUT FROM LOOSENING DURING WIPER OPERATION. THIS RESULTS IN THE NUT WORKING ITS WAY OFF THE WIPER MOTOR AND THE WIPERS CEASING OPERATION. REATTACHING THE NUT ONLY WORKS BRIEFLY UNTIL THE NUT WORKS LOOSE AGAIN. IN ADDITION, I RECEIVE NO RECALL NOTIFICATIONS FOR THIS VEHICLE IN THE ENTIRE TIME I HAVE OWNED IT AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER.*AK
Jun 3, 2004 · 25,465 miles
Unknown or other
A FAMILY MEMBER OF MINE RECENTLY BOUGHT, I BELIEVE, A 2001 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. AFTER WAITING A WHILE FOR HER TAGS SHE AND HER FATHER LOOKED INTO THE DOCUMENTS GIVEN TO HER BY THE DEALERSHIP AND NOTICED A DISCREPANCY IN MILEAGE AFTER THEY DID A FULL CARFAX REPORT ON THE CAR. THE CARFAX REPORTED THAT THE CAR HAD 76000 MILES ON IT IN NOVEMBER OF 2003 BUT THE DOCUMENT ATESTING TO MILEAGE FROM THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT HAD ONLY 66K WHEN BOUGHT IN MARCH ON IT AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SOLD TO THE DEALERSHIP UNTIL FEBRUARY WITH WHO KNOWS HOW MANY MILES. I BELIEVE THAT THE DEALERSHIP OR THE PREVIOUS OWNER ROLLED BACK THE MILEAGE. IN MY MIND IT IS MORE LIKELY THAT IT IS THE DEALER. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW…
May 24, 2004
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILS TO OPERATE OR OPERATES RANDOMLY. THE BLADE WILL STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDOW AND GO NO FURTHER UNLESS I PHYSICALLY PUSH IT DOWN OR TURN THE SWITCH ON THE HIGHEST SPEED AND THEN IT MAY WORK SO I CAN PUT IT IN THE DOWN POSITION SO IT DOESN'T OBSTRUCT MY VIEW. *LA
Apr 2, 2004
Exterior lighting › Brake lights
BRAKE LAMPS ON 2001 NEW BEETLE COME ON AND STAY ON EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS SHUT OFF AND PARKED. THIS IS SIMILAR TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 03V265000 (7-25-03). I CHECKED VW AND THEY TOLD ME THE RECALL WAS VIN SPECIFIC AND MY 2001 NEW BEETLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. IT SEEMS THERE MAY BE MORE UNITS AFFECTED THAN ORIGINALLY THOUGHT.*AK
Mar 22, 2004 · 14,527 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.