2018 Volkswagen Beetle
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Volkswagen › Beetle › 2018
These records cover every 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
4 recalls name the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. Newest first.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high…
Risk and remedy
Risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.
Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder may be insufficient, causing brake fluid to leak or the cylinder to come apart.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Beck/Arnley will notify the distributors that sold the master cylinders and will work with the distributors to notify the end users. Affected master cylinders will be exchanged for a new master cylinder (part number 072-9990), free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2020. Owners may contact Tenneco customer service at 1-800-625-9319.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may…
Risk and remedy
Risk
Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
Risk and remedy
Risk
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.
Owner complaints
17 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system · Structure › Body
I am submitting a formal vehicle safety report regarding a hazardous mechanical reassembly failure involving my 2018 Volkswagen Beetle Coast. On August 14, 2026, the vehicle underwent service evaluation at Stohlman Volkswagen Tysons Corner. Immediately upon exiting the facility, a critical 'Brake…
I am submitting a formal vehicle safety report regarding a hazardous mechanical reassembly failure involving my 2018 Volkswagen Beetle Coast. On August 14, 2026, the vehicle underwent service evaluation at Stohlman Volkswagen Tysons Corner. Immediately upon exiting the facility, a critical 'Brake Fluid Low' safety alarm and a flashing Red BRAKE Warning Light triggered on my dashboard, creating an emergency safety hazard on the highway.Due to the severity of the braking system malfunction, I was forced to return the vehicle to the dealership on August 15, 2026. As documented by Repair Invoice #6137732, certified technicians took emergency custody of the vehicle, diagnosed stored sporadic low-voltage faults within the electronic system, and conducted a 7-mile diagnostic road test to safely recalibrate the components, releasing the car at a Total Balance of $0.00. I am respectfully requesting that federal safety investigators review the vehicle release protocols at this location to ensure consumer safety on public roads. Thank you very much for your time and oversight.
- Air bags
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of…
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact parked the vehicle, and the vehicle was no longer driven due to safety concerns. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
- Air bags
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated the front passenger's side air bag warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was…
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated the front passenger's side air bag warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
- Air bags
The contact's wife owns a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact’s wife received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available.…
The contact's wife owns a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact’s wife received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
- Unknown or other
The ignition failed to release the key and turn off the engine. According to the service writer at New Century Volkswagen in Glendale, CA, this is a known problem with older model Volkswagens. The part which will fix the ignition, is back-ordered for six months, leaving many vehicles in a dangerous state. I have written to.volkswagen of America customer service but no solution or resolution was provided.
- Air bags · Fuel system, gasoline
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated while driving 40-50 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and there was smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle before the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated, and an alarm…
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated while driving 40-50 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and there was smoke coming from underneath the hood of the vehicle before the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated, and an alarm sounded. The vehicle was pushed to the side of the road with assistance. The towing agent informed the contact that there was a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a major fuel leak. The mechanic replaced an unknown part with a part purchased from a Volkswagen dealer. The contact stated that the fuel leak was corrected; however, an unknown repair needed to be performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The Kia dealer the vehicle was purchased from, was notified of the failure, and informed the contact to tow the vehicle to their location for diagnostic testing and repair. The vehicle was not repaired. Additionally, the contact became aware that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.
- Air bags · Seats · Unknown or other
I've owned this car for nearly two years. On April 3, 2025, I took my car to Niello VW. A service person told me he'd just had a VW Beetle with the same problem, just the passenger's side. Since there was nothing jamming the glide rails, there was no reason for the seat to be stuck. I took the car…
I've owned this car for nearly two years. On April 3, 2025, I took my car to Niello VW. A service person told me he'd just had a VW Beetle with the same problem, just the passenger's side. Since there was nothing jamming the glide rails, there was no reason for the seat to be stuck. I took the car to a car upholstery shop because they specialize in removing car seats. The person had a hard time removing my seat, but he did. He said one of metal teeth like glides or steel buttons was broke. There are three on each side of the car seat. It was only on the right side of the driver's seat. The driver's seat is stuck and unable to be adjusted to the driver's leg length. There was nothing jammed in the lock that caused this to be stuck. I have owned 4 VW Beetles and I've never had a problem like this. It's very expensive about $1000 to repair. Mine is 2018 VW Beetle. I should not have a problem like this. I am reporting this because other VW Beetle owners have had to same problem. I did have the air bags repaired a recall.
- Air bags
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact received notification of…
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the air bag warning light illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 96,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Air bags
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of…
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
- Electrical system
Driver and passenger windows go down all by themselves without the key even being in the ignition. Yes it is available to be fixed. My safety could be at risk if the window goes down and i'm not at home and some stranger lets themselves in my car and waits for my return. I've gone to break and i go…
Driver and passenger windows go down all by themselves without the key even being in the ignition. Yes it is available to be fixed. My safety could be at risk if the window goes down and i'm not at home and some stranger lets themselves in my car and waits for my return. I've gone to break and i go out to my car and the window is half down. Dealership replaced something related to the windows unknown to exactly what. No bells or whistles its happened at least 6 times now once on the passenger side the rest on the drivers side. Started when it got really really cold out.
- Forward collision avoidance › Automatic emergency braking
At normal speeds driving down the road traction control will come on and break the vehicle and jerk the steering Will.
- Engine · Fuel/propulsion system
2018 Beetle with 2.0 TSI. Vehicle is extremely well maintained and all work has been done by VW dealers. This is not our primary vehicle and, as a result, it only has about 8600 miles. Stopped at a store for a few minutes. Vehicle would not restart. Many fault lights appeared on the dash (e.g.…
2018 Beetle with 2.0 TSI. Vehicle is extremely well maintained and all work has been done by VW dealers. This is not our primary vehicle and, as a result, it only has about 8600 miles. Stopped at a store for a few minutes. Vehicle would not restart. Many fault lights appeared on the dash (e.g., battery, check engine, EPC). Pushed vehicle into another area of the parking lot where there was more room in case it needed to be towed. Waited a few minutes and tried to restart. Vehicle sputtered and seemed to be running on only 1 or 2 cylinders for a few seconds. Gave it a little gas, all lights went off, full engine power resumed. Sat there a few minutes evaluating engine performance, everything seemed fine. Decided to head to the dealership instead of going home. After about 2 miles engine stopped running. Many fault lights appeared including battery, EPC, check engine, and so many others I can’t even recall. Had almost no steering. Struggled to coast vehicle to shoulder. Weather was very hot and traffic was heavy, not a pleasant situation or place to get stranded. Waited a minute or two. Tried to restart. Vehicle coughed, sputtered, and shook like it was only running on 1 cylinder. Shut vehicle off and sat. Tried to restart 2 or 3 more times without success. On next attempt vehicle sputtered to life, lights went off, and full power resumed. Tested engine performance and it seemed fine. EPC light came on. Still heading to the dealership. Got another 1.5 miles or so. EPC and check engine light came on. Another engine failure. Super heavy traffic on a 6-lane highway. Luckily I had enough speed to coast off the road and into a dirt parking lot. Many fault lights on the dash. Waited a few minutes. Tried to restart vehicle, no luck. Vehicle was towed to closest VW dealership. Absolutely terrifying and horrific 3 hours.
- Electrical system
Center dash screen goes black occasionally which prevents using the backup camera, radio, and phone. Sometimes it will reboot by itself after several minutes, other times I have to shut the car off, wait, and restart the car. It doesn’t always reboot the first time. This has happened at least 6 times.
- Electrical system
TL* the contact owns a 2018 volkswagen beetle. The contact stated that the driver's and passenger's side windows would lower and raise independently, and without warning. The contact stated that the epc warning light was illuminated and the vehicle loss power when light illuminated. The vehicle was…
TL* the contact owns a 2018 volkswagen beetle. The contact stated that the driver's and passenger's side windows would lower and raise independently, and without warning. The contact stated that the epc warning light was illuminated and the vehicle loss power when light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
- Electrical system
The driver side window IS defective. The window shutters up & down all by itself, both in park, and while driving. When it does this, I can't shut the window using the window up & down button. The window goes down 1/2 while driving and then locks. I had it to tynans dealership in aurora co 3 times…
The driver side window IS defective. The window shutters up & down all by itself, both in park, and while driving. When it does this, I can't shut the window using the window up & down button. The window goes down 1/2 while driving and then locks. I had it to tynans dealership in aurora co 3 times now. They replaced the locking mechanism back in oct. It helped for about a month. Now it IS doing it again. There are times I have gone into the store, came back out, and my window was down 1/2 way - and I never rolled it down! I never leave my windows down while away from the car. I wish I could attach video - here IS the youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_q6owmb_f5i
- Electrical system · Unknown or other
The window keeps shuttering up & down after getting in the car and shutting the door with ignition on.. The window doesn't close all the way, and the auto door lock doesn't work. The window shutters up & down all on its own. Brought car to dealership they replaced the door lock. This still did not fix the problem. I have a video showing the issue after the door lock was replaced.
- Unknown or other
Since purchasing more than 7 months ago, vehicle's blind spot monitoring system fails to recognize approaching vehicles and does not have an audible alert inside the vehicle making it nearly unusable and unsafe. Rear-cross traffic alert system goes crazy (incessant beeping) and unexpectedly when…
Since purchasing more than 7 months ago, vehicle's blind spot monitoring system fails to recognize approaching vehicles and does not have an audible alert inside the vehicle making it nearly unusable and unsafe. Rear-cross traffic alert system goes crazy (incessant beeping) and unexpectedly when vehicle IS shifted into reverse. Even if there are no vehicles around and there IS nothing surrounding the vehicle the system will go off and beep frantically. Rear-cross traffic alert frequently will not identify or warn of vehicles passing behind, such as when trying to back out of a parking space. Vehicle's in-dash display will periodically go black when vehicle IS started. Vehicle's radio system will display random characters for the song or artist, or display the same song and artist for 10 minutes or longer even though the song, artist, or stations have changed. Vehicle has been taken to the dealer multiple times without success. VW corporate was contacted and responded quickly and with concern, but dealer was still unable to resolve the issues.
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 11011374HVAC duct cleaning and deodorizing
- 11010024Lack of paint under roof
- 11010022Engine Oil Standards
- 11010021Additional reporting
- 11010011Vehicle Concerns Before Recall Repair Available
- 11008866Inspecting sensors for damage
- 11008861Fluid requirements
- 11008860Manual transmission noise diagnosing
- 11008858A list of engine oil that meet Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards
- 11008857How to perform the engine oil consumption measurement
- 11008856Checking Engine Oil and correctly reading dip stick
- 11008853How to manage software versions using VW diagnostic Tool
- 11008852Recommended Gasoline Quality
- 11008851Engine Misfire Diagnostic Aid
- 11008850Fuel additive to help with misfire faults
- 11008846Wind & Water Leak Checking
- 11007398Battery testing
- 11007393Engine Oil Standards
- 11005825Engine oil quality standards
- 11005820Engine Assembly Tip
- 11005819Engine Replacement Tip
- 11002875Engine oil quality standards
- 11002874Remnants of the valve stem seal on the valve guide can interfere with the installation of new valve stem seals
- 11001508Engine oil quality standards
- 11001503Forigen objects inside seat belt buckle
- 10253481Carefree Maintenance and VW Care Maintenance Plans Interim AdBlue Refills -? Diesel Engines Model Year 2015 and Newer
- 10253477Volkswagen Carefree Maintenance Program ? Diesel Engines Model Year 2015 and Newer
- 10253474This communication contains important information and SAGA claim entry requirements for the Volkswagen Carefree Maintenance Program for all Model Year 2015 and newer VW models with Gasoline Engines.
- 10253262VW Engine oil quality standards
- 10253192Infotainment Worksheet (U.S. Only)
- 10251674Air Conditioning, Cleaning of the R1234yf Refrigerant Circuit (U.S. Only) updated to adjust Flush machine filter pricing.
- 10250798VW Engine oil quality standards
- 10250766Engine Crank, No Start or No -J623- ECM Communication with DTC U0100 Stored in ECM Fault Memory
- 10249418VW Engine oil quality standards
- 10249414A/C Compressor leak diagnosis
- 10249138Airbag / Pyrotechnic Safety Belt Deployment Inquiries, update to contact information due to retirement.
- 10249136Addressing Cybersecurity or Vehicle Hack concerns
- 10245617Reporting procedure for A/C compressor replacement regardless of the reason for failure. Update to model year applicability and new warranty GFF labor operation number
- 10245607VW Engine oil quality standards
- 102445913G Sunset Update
Every Volkswagen Beetle model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.