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Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

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Recall Date Problem Area Recall Text
03/09/16 Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 jetta, beetle, beetle convertible, passat, golf and golf sportwagen vehicles. in the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.

If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ecm) software. the recall began march 2016. owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. volkswagen's number for this recall is 23r1.

Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
02/09/15 Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 jetta vehicles manufactured march 28, 2014, to november 24, 2014, 2014-2015 passat vehicles manufactured april 7, 2014, to november 18, 2014, 2015 golf and gti vehicles manufactured july 1, 2014, to november 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 beetle and beetle convertible vehicles manufactured march 31, 2014, to november 27, 2014. a sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.

A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. the recall began february 6, 2015. owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. volkswagen's number for this recall is 24bl. note: this recall expands and supersedes recall 14v-809 (volkswagen recall number 24bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that campaign.

Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
04/16/14 Volkswagen of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014 jetta, beetle, beetle convertible, and passat vehicles equipped with a 1.8t engine and torque converter automatic transmission. in the affected vehicles, the o-ring seals between the oil cooler and the transmission may leak fluid.

The leaking transmission fluid could contact a hot surface and result in a vehicle fire.

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the o-ring seals in the transmission oil cooler, free of charge. the recall is expected to begin on april 16, 2014. owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. volkswagen's number for this recall is 38b9/9v.

Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
01/31/11 Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2006-2010 jetta, new beetle, new beetle convertible, model year 2009 jetta sportwagen and model year 2007-2009 rabbit vehicles equipped with 2.5l engines. the jetta, jetta sportwagen, and rabbit vehicles may have a small plastic tab located on the windshield washer fluid reservoir that may chafe against an underhood fuel supply line. the new beetle and the new beetle convertible vehicles may have a fastening clamp on a hydraulic hose of the power steering system that may be located in an improper position which could cause chafing against an underhood fuel supply line.

If chafing occurs, there is the potential for a fuel leak to develop. fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

Dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the underhood fuel line. additionally, depending on the vehicle model, dealers will either remove the plastic tab from the windshield washer fluid reservoir, or inspect the position of the fastening clamp and adjust the related fastening clamp into the correct position. this service will be performed free of charge. the safety recall is expected to begin on or before january 31, 2011. owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.

Volkswagen safety recall no. 20i4/u1.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov .
03/09/16 Engine Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 jetta, beetle, beetle convertible, passat, golf and golf sportwagen vehicles. in the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.

If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ecm) software. the recall began march 2016. owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. volkswagen's number for this recall is 23r1.

Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
02/08/05 Engine 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.

Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source may lead to a fire.

Dealers will replace the diesel pump. the recall began on february 8, 2005. owners should contact volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.

Vw recall no. vy.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
03/08/02 Brakes and Traction Control On some passenger vehicles, short circuits can occur within the electronic control unit of the anti-lock braking system (abs).

This can result in a fire.

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.

Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
04/07/15 Suspension and Steering Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 jetta vehicles manufactured march 1, 2010, to november 30, 2012, and 2012-2013 beetle vehicles manufactured march 1, 2011, to july 31, 2013. the durability of the rear trailing arms may be reduced in vehicles whose rear trailing arms have been previously deformed, such as a result of a rear or side-rear impact crash.

The reduced durability of the trailing arm may result in its sudden fracture, possibly causing loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a sheet metal inlay on the rear axle trailing arms designed to prevent a sudden loss of control in the event of trailing arm sudden fracture, free of charge. the recall began april 7, 2015. owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
12/16/14 Electrical and Air Conditioning Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 beetle vehicles manufactured june 13, 2013, to july 3, 2014. the glass sunroofs in the affected vehicles may break when the vehicles are operated over a hard road surface or strike a pothole.

Vehicle occupants could be injured by falling glass. a sunroof break during vehicle operation also increases the risk of driver distraction and a resulting vehicle crash.

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof, free of charge. the recall began on december 15, 2015. owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. volkswagen's number for this recall is 60b9.

Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
07/31/08 Electrical and Air Conditioning 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.

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.

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.

Volkswagen recall no. r6.customers may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
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04/27/07 Electrical and Air Conditioning On certain passenger, wagon, and convertible vehicles equipped with or without cruise control, a brake light switch may malfunction if it was installed incorrectly.

The brake lights could become inoperative, or remain on. failure to provide the proper signal when braking could lead to a crash without warning.

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.

Volkswagen recall no. n4.customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
10/03/03 Electrical and Air Conditioning On certain passenger vehicles, the passenger detection function of the passive occupant detection system (pods) may become disabled.

Should the pods control unit malfunction, the air bag system in the vehicle will not work as designed and may not be able to properly protect occupants in a crash.

Dealers will reprogram the pods. owner notification originally began october 3, 2003. vw has determined that additional vehicles need to be repaired. the recall for the additional vehicles is expected to begin on december 17, 2004. owners should contact vwoa at 1-800-822-8987.

Vw recall no. wu.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
03/30/17 Other Volkswagen group of america, inc. (volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 beetle and jetta gli vehicles. the affected vehicles have incorrect information on the tire information label, possibly causing the operator to overload the vehicle. as such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) number 110, "tire selection and rims."

Overloading the vehicle may affect vehicle handling or result in tire damage, increasing the risk of a crash.

Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected tire information label, free of charge. the recall began march 30, 2017. owners may contact volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. volkswagen's number for the recall is 01b9.

Owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
02/29/08 Other On certain special edition triple white sedan vehicles, an incorrect adhesive may have been used to attach the roof spoiler to the rear glass of the vehicle. if the incorrect adhesive was used, the spoiler could become loose or fall from the vehicle without warning, even though initially the spoiler may feel secure.

If this happens, the spoiler could cause injury by striking persons outside the vehicle or could become an obstacle to other drivers, possibly resulting in a crash.

Dealers will replace the roof spoiler on these vehicles. the recall began on february 29, 2008. owners may contact vwoa at 1-800-822-8987.

Vwoa recall no. 66d1 (q9).customers may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
02/27/06 Other Certain passenger vehicles equipped with 17-inch wheels and a 2.5l engine fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were produced with a tire information label that lists an incorrect front tire size. the correct front tire size should be listed as 225/45 r17. the inflation pressure is correct.

A misprinted label could lead to fitment of improperly sized replacement tires.

Owners will be provided with a new tire information label and installation instructions. at the customer's option, a dealer can perform the installation for them free of charge. the recall began on february 27, 2006. owners may contact volkswagen at 1-800-893-5298.

Volkswagen recall no. m8.customers may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
02/09/04 Other On certain passenger vehicles, the tire information label is incorrect identifying the vehicle as a five-passenger vehicle, instead of a four-passenger vehicle.

Exceeding the correct seating capacity in a vehicle puts occupants at risk for injury in a crash, and can result in vehicle overloading, which can affect vehicle handling and put you at risk for a crash.

Owners will be sent a new label and installation instructions. owner notification began on february 9, 2004. owners should contact vwoa at 1-800-822-8987.

Vwoa recall no. vb/zh.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

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Volkswagen Beetle Recalls

Some things are often misunderstood about recalls and technical service bulletins (TSBs). Plus a disclaimer.

  1. Recalls do not have to be issued only because something is prone to failure. NHTSA (a government agency) can only require a recall if a failure will affect safety, emissions, fuel economy, or compliance with some other regulation or law. Manufacturers can voluntarily recall cars for problems that do not affect these, though.
  2. Recalls often apply to only some cars of a specific model year, rather than all of them. You should receive a letter from the manufacturer if your car has been recalled. You can also check with the dealer, which will know which (if any) recalls pertain to your car.
  3. The primary purpose of TSBs is to inform dealers about known problems with a car and how to fix them. They are not the same as recalls. As with recalls, TSBs often only apply to some cars, not the entire model year.
  4. Dealers often will not provide a preventive repair just because a problem described in a TSB might happen to your car. They'll usually want to observe symptoms that the problem is already affecting your car.
  5. Even if there are symptoms, a manufacturer doesn't have to pick up the cost of a TSB repair if the car is out of warranty, though sometimes they do.

We provide the text of recalls and TSBs as provided by NHTSA. There can be errors in the text. If you sign up for notifications in My Garage, we will try to get these to do, but for various reasons (some beyond our control) cannot guarantee you will receive them. When in doubt about a recall or TSB, contact the dealer.