Model year record

2001 Volkswagen Beetle

2 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 292 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V063000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected
1,002,000
Reported to NHTSA
2007-02-20
Owners notified
2007-04-27

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER, WAGON, AND CONVERTIBLE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH OR WITHOUT CRUISE CONTROL, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY.

Safety risk

THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2007, AND WILL BE CONDUCTED IN SEVERAL STAGGERED MAILINGS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2007. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Recall campaignNHTSA 06V183000

Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch

Component
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected
646,246
Reported to NHTSA
2006-05-24
Owners notified
2006-11-27

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.

Safety risk

THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system2978,000 mi
Air bags2546,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling1569,890 mi
Power train: automatic transmission1575,000 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch1246,909 mi
Engine10145,000 mi
Power train859,000 mi
Air bags: frontal760,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine732,000 mi
Exterior lighting769,890 mi
Seat belts786,000 mi
Air bags: side/window650,150 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline653,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system675,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control667,860 mi
Fuel/propulsion system6130,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip691,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic540,000 mi
Unknown or other564,000 mi
Vehicle speed control543,675 mi
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: switch455,000 mi
Tires450,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel310,500 mi
Electrical system: wiring362,738 mi
Equipment316,929 mi
Latches/locks/linkages370,000 mi
Seats325,000 mi
Service brakes3130,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components330,000 mi
Structure343,675 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module216,929 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator210,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition215,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument panel: speedometer/odometer274,036 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash271,300 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system270,706 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel283,500 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights265,000 mi
Exterior lighting: hazard flashing warning lights: unit251,810 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights262,738 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal: flasher unit264,500 mi
Fuel system, gasoline267,860 mi
Fuel system, other: storage: fuel gauge system243,675 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock: control unit/module243,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear2
Visibility: power window devices and controls286,920 mi
Wheels250,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch169,500 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood183,500 mi
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers1
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger122,770 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor1
Equipment: electrical1
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch1
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly1
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch140,990 mi
Parking brake: indicator light164,000 mi
Power train: driveline: constant velocity joint169,890 mi
Seat belts: front: anchorage1
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly121,000 mi
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices116,929 mi
Seat belts: front: webbing138,000 mi
Seats: front assembly: head restraint1
Service brakes, air: antilock143,000 mi
Service brakes, air: antilock: ABS warning light164,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper126,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor162,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum162,000 mi
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar1
Structure: body: bumpers1
Suspension1
Suspension: front198,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint1
Suspension: rear: shock absorber1
Vehicle speed control: cruise control125,000 mi
Visibility1
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system1
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices1
Wheels: rim17,850 mi

The 2000 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2002 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.