Known Recalls

Model year record

2004 Volkswagen Beetle

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 469 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 08V178000

Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive

Component
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected
76,900
Reported to NHTSA
2008-04-17
Owners notified
2008-07-31

Defect description

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING 76,900 MY 2004-2005 NEW BEETLE AND MY 2003-2005 NEW BEETLE CONVERTIBLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ADVANCED (DUAL-STAGE) AIR BAG SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM MAY HAVE AIR BAG FRONTAL CRASH SENSORS THAT CONTAIN A SOLDER JOINT ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD THAT MAY CRACK UNDER CERTAIN HIGH TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. IF THIS OCCURS, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE FALLBACK ALGORITHM WILL ENSURE THAT THE FRONT AIR BAGS ALWAYS DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL CRASH IN WHICH THE VEHICLE'S DECELERATION IS HIGH ENOUGH TO ACTIVATE THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS.

Safety risk

IN LOW-SEVERITY FRONTAL IMPACTS, THE FRONT AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY MORE FORCEFULLY THAN DESIGNED, INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO OUT-OF-POSITION FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT EACH VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE SPECIFIC DEFECT CRASH SENSOR IS PRESENT ON ONE OR BOTH SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THE DEFECT CRASH SENSORS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE JULY 31, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

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 04V586000

Fuel system, diesel

Component
Fuel system, diesel
Manufacturer
VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC
Vehicles affected
19,284
Reported to NHTSA
2004-12-15
Owners notified
2005-02-08

Defect description

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL PUMPS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPER FASTENER, WHICH COULD ALLOW DIESEL FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE PUMP.

Safety risk

FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL PUMP. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN 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
Power train: automatic transmission10170,000 mi
Power train5269,160 mi
Air bags4944,959 mi
Visibility: power window devices and controls4355,600 mi
Electrical system4073,000 mi
Visibility1845,000 mi
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module1641,000 mi
Engine1373,000 mi
Seat belts1245,000 mi
Air bags: frontal1136,000 mi
Unknown or other1190,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling869,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine752,197 mi
Exterior lighting770,000 mi
Structure: body734,000 mi
Equipment653,166 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights552,000 mi
Seats470,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system370,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline358,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission337,221 mi
Structure363,782 mi
Structure: frame and members339,000 mi
Visibility/wiper3105,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash25,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)275,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.28,322 mi
Fuel/propulsion system279,000 mi
Steering2105,000 mi
Vehicle speed control240,000 mi
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel120,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator1—
Electrical system: wiring168,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood1—
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers183,300 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel164,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor159,100 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility176,000 mi
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner173,247 mi
Exterior lighting: brake lights132,785 mi
Exterior lighting: tail lights111,000 mi
Exterior lighting: turn signal1105,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages148,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)190,000 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly133,000 mi
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices135,851 mi
Seats: front assembly: power adjust132,785 mi
Service brakes, air148,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic1115,730 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum159,100 mi
Structure: body: hatchback/liftgate151,000 mi
Structure: body: hood: hinge and attachments138,600 mi
Structure: body: roof and pillars1500 mi
Tires175,000 mi
Traction control system196,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear1100,000 mi
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer127,000 mi
Visibility: rear window wiper/washer: motor127,000 mi

The 2003 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. The 2005 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.