Volkswagen Beetle Volkswagen Beetle

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Volkswagen Beetle repairs by problem area

Engine (36%)

Transmission and Drivetrain (6%)

Brakes and Traction Control (6%)

Suspension and Steering (10%)

Electrical and Air Conditioning (28%)

Paint, Rust, Leaks, Rattles, and Trim (6%)

Other (9%)

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Chart based on 252 repairs.
See TSBs and recalls for the Volkswagen Beetle.

Volkswagen Beetle electrical repair cost distribution

$2500+ (3%)

$1000 - $2499 (2%)

$500 - $999 (14%)

$100 - $499 (30%)

< $100 (52%)

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Chart based on 66 repair trips. The repair cost chart excludes repairs made under warranty, do-it-yourself repairs, and repair trips that include maintenance.

2015 Volkswagen Beetle 2dr Convertible

turbocharged 170hp 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

37250 mi

US $59
Horn was extremely quiet during operation. Replaced part with equal OEM horn. 

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2014 Volkswagen Beetle 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 170hp 1.8L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

41000 mi

US $190
battery dead, car would not start, jumping did not work. called roadside assistance and they replaced battery. 
44336 mi

US $742
passenger side window making grinding noise. window regulator had to be replaced 

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2014 Volkswagen Beetle 2dr Convertible

turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD

13000 mi Push button start transponder/transmitter no longer recognizes key fob. As a result, car beeps horn/flashes lights in theft mode and will not start. 

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2013 Volkswagen Beetle 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD

34700 mi

US $100
The buttons of the steering wheel stopped working properly on the right side. 
51000 mi The passenger window got stuck down and would not go up completely. 

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2013 Volkswagen Beetle 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD

34000 mi AC on/off button would not engage on occasion. The whole panel was replaced under warranty. 

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2013 Volkswagen Beetle 2dr Hatch

170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

52000 mi

US $700
Starter failed. Vehicle turned on but wouldn’t turn over. Towed to dealer on Saturday wasn’t repaired until Monday. 
26000 mi

US $400
Door lock actuator quit working 

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2013 Volkswagen Beetle 2dr Convertible

turbocharged 210hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD

20257 mi a/c not cold , dealer said a/c system tested OK , nothing fixed 
26788 mi a/c not cold , 2nd visit to dealer , system checked out ok , nothing repaired 
47000 mi

US $30
car has had cool a/c since new , now a/c warm. pressure was ( 0) zero recharged with R134a , a/c is cold now 42 degrees , will assess later to verify how big the leak is.. 
59000 mi

US $5
Small a/c leak 

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2013 Volkswagen Beetle 2dr Convertible

turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed manual FWD

21000 mi the convert top and windows are not working right. Windows bounce up and down when closing windows. 

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2013 Volkswagen Beetle 2dr Convertible

turbocharged 140hp 2.0L I4 Diesel 6-speed automated manual FWD

15000 mi

US $120
battery died while wife was shopping. Towed to dealer on a Friday afternoon. Diagnosed and replaced battery on Tuesday of the next week. 

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2013 Volkswagen Beetle 2dr Convertible

170-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

14000 mi

US $50
Starter replace 

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2012 Volkswagen Beetle 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual FWD

41000 mi

US $65
The vehicle won't start at 7am after my night shift, had somebody jumped start it, started, went straight to Autozone and bought a new Battery, works fine now, 
58000 mi

US $90
Full beams not coming on 

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2012 Volkswagen Beetle 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 200hp 2.0L I4 6-speed automated manual FWD

39680 mi

$50
Passenger side door lock didn´t want to lock anymore. A new lockmotor solved the problem. 

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2010 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

150-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

29 mi Air bag light was on when purchased, service dept was closes and battery was dead when they tried to start in showroom. Told computer had to reset light but the diagnostics showed fault in system igniter, one of the connectors pins bad 

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2010 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Convertible

150-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

9200 mi replaced right rear backup light assembly due to water leak. 

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2008 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

150-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

19840 mi

C $300
Headlights replaced 

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2008 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Convertible

150-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

8000 mi Drivers power window was not dropping when door opened every time. Returned to dealer, who fixed it with a new switch. 

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2007 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Convertible

150-horsepower 2.5L I5 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

600 mi both rear window rattles/repaired driver window automatic window close intermittent/repaired heater smell/coolant leak fixed trunk lid replaced and adjusted to close right/third time to get paint color right sound system won't come on after car resta 
100000 mi

US $3000
Replace heater core, which requires taking apart the dash and replacing evaporator. 

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2005 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Convertible

turbocharged 150hp 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD

27000 mi Wire for passenger windshield wiper came loose, wiper was not operational. Warranty repair. 

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2005 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Convertible

115-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

46500 mi

US $250
Key fob remote stopped working, dealer said needed to be reprogrammed, bought additional valet key, 2 seperate trips to dealer/ 2 attempts at reprogramming, 3rd trip-finally determined faulty remote, was replaced with new fob remote.  

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2004 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Convertible

115-horsepower 2.0L I4 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD

128000 mi

US $1875
AC compressor trashed itself and filled system with metal fragments so most components had to be replaced, system flushed and refilled. Also driver's side fan was replaced because it had stopped working. 

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2003 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 150hp 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD

147000 mi

US $175
Replace battery 

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2003 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

115-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

36580 mi

$70
The LED/turning signal from the left rearview mirror was changed. 
180800 mi

US $700
Alternator replaced 

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2003 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

115-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

68110 mi

US $450
Fuse block and wire to the alternator. 

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2002 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 90hp 1.9L I4 Diesel 5-speed manual FWD

49600 mi

€50
headlight 
41187 mi Power window regulator clips - no charge, replaced under warranty. 
44602 mi Passenger-side mirror defroster - no charge, replaced under warranty. 
55675 mi

US $6
Passenger-side front headlamp 
73973 mi Driver's seatbelt sensor - replaced under warranty 
20000 mi replace window raising/lowering mechanism under warranty 
44955 mi

US $14
replace left front turn signal bulb and repair socket 
177000 mi

US $500
passenger seat airbag light on, fault found. I replaced all seats with used interior, solved problem.  

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2002 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

115-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

51000 mi

US $900
The car didn't start. The module that recognizes the electronic keys was replaced. 

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2002 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

115-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

68000 mi

US $800
Original mechanic covered the cost of replacement alternator - part under warranty, but battery was FRIED during repair. Replaced battery, wiring harness and alternator again. A day after coming home from shop, the fuse box started SMOKING. Car was parked at home. Research showed car was prev. WRECKED in left rear qtr. panel - brain stem for elec. system. DTPA suit filed against dealer of purchase. 
131000 mi

US $150
Sun roof hadn't worked since 2008, today it opened on its own! Take to dealership, couldn't find problem, they explained it away by the age of the car. 
133000 mi

US $150
The brake pad sensor light was beeping and flashing on the cluster. Took it to local shop and they checked pads and found a frayed wire for sensor.  
133000 mi

US $75
The doors would not shut at varying times, figuring it was door lock actuators I took it to a local shop. They informed me it was the BCM and that they could not fix it, but to take it to a VW dealer. 

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2001 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 90hp 1.9L I4 Diesel 5-speed manual FWD

149800 mi

US $844
AC Compressor is bad and needs to be replaced. 

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2001 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 150hp 1.8L I4 5-speed manual FWD

109800 mi Failed seat belt buckle switch which caused airbag warning light to stay lit. Replaced buckle assembly.  
122000 mi Air Conditioner suddenly stopped working. Main AC fuse under hood had corrosion on one contact blade. Cleaned and reused. 
167700 mi

US $200
Would not turn on. Control module and wiring problem. 
85560 mi

C $200
Replaced alternator and belt. 
68000 mi

US $65
The 3rd center stoplight needed to be replaced...I did it myself for the cost of the bulb ($65.00)...Yikes, what happened to BULB replacement rather than nearly costing a car payment??? 
79000 mi The mechanic that we use for the car replaced the left-front headlight. 
24000 mi

US $343
Battery was slowly losing charge. I replaced original alternator with new Bosch AL0189X Alternator. I think the Voltage Regulator died as it stopped charging the battery. Battery is charging now.  
143000 mi

US $60
Regulator for d/s power window failed. Known common problem for A4 platform Volkswagens. Replaced regulator. 

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2001 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

115-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

140740 mi

R 8000
Many problems with electrical and air conditionar compressor 
85000 mi

US $600
Door switch malfunction causing power drain and alarm system activation. 
58000 mi

US $100
Brake lights not working Brake lights not working again 

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2001 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

115-horsepower 2.0L I4 4-speed automatic FWD

96500 mi

US $200
Replacement of trunk latch motor 
89000 mi Window switch broke. Friendly shop who has worked for us before had a junk car of the same model on the property. They removed a switch, replace ours with it and charged us nothing. 
90000 mi Headlight 

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2000 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 90hp 1.9L I4 Diesel 5-speed manual FWD

110000 mi

US $16
107 relay 
319000 mi

US $180
replaced starter 
370214 mi

US $75
original regulator: replaced passenger window cables and connectors. 
176000 mi

US $700
Alternator bearing failed. replaced alternator (original). 
177000 mi

US $250
original starter motor failed completely in garage, replaced there. 

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2000 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

turbocharged 90hp 1.9L I4 Diesel 4-speed automatic FWD

190000 mi

US $80
Headlight switch and fuel hatch switch replaced. 

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2000 Volkswagen New Beetle 2dr Hatch

115-horsepower 2.0L I4 5-speed manual FWD

169000 mi

US $100
Replaced alternator & voltage regulator & 120 amp fuse 

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1999 Volkswagen Beetle 2-door

4-cylinder automatic 2WD

110000 mi

US $3500
The car has had various electrical/computer issues, but the A/C had not been working (or would trigger multiple alarms) for *several* years. ~4 repair shops could not fix or advise. Father suggested it might be the solenoid in the actual A/C unit, so I had that replaced and that seemed to fix ~75% of the issue. Still triggered alarms, but at least the A/C finally worked! I no longer own this car. 

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Volkswagen Beetle Electrical Problems

See our lemon odds and nada odds page to see vehicles with no repairs or vehicles with more than three repairs. To see how frequently Volkswagen Beetle problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.