Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the electrical, transmission, and brakes. The 8 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2019Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/8 checked
2019 Volkswagen Beetle: inspection sheet
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Engine off, key in hand0/1
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
These years share the 2019's design and most of its parts, so their problems are the ones to look for on this car too.
Worth adding to your 2019 checks
EPA figures for each version of the 2019 Volkswagen Beetle. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl | FWD | 29 mpg |
NHTSA complaints for the 2019 Volkswagen Beetle, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Cars roll away after the push-button start shuts the engine off while the shifter is still in Drive. One of these reports ends in a crash, with the car rolling into a light pole and damaging the rear bumper. On keyed cars, the key gets stuck in the ignition cylinder and the engine will not shut off, so the owner has to pull a fuse and disconnect the battery. A dealer quoted $1500 for the cylinder repair. Another report describes a fuse that keeps failing, leaving the rear lights dark at night unless the brakes are pressed.
The push-button ignition can shut the car off when it is not in Park, which leaves it free to roll away. Pressing the button while moving also stops the engine in traffic. Other reports describe hesitation when pressing the accelerator, jerking on hills, and several warning lights coming on. In the most serious case, the car shuts off at 63 mph, the steering wheel will not turn, and the driver coasts to a stop in a highway lane and is nearly hit by a tractor trailer.
The brakes reportedly fail while driving, and one owner describes it happening on 3 separate occasions and asks for a buyback or replacement car. The other complaint filed here is not really about the brakes. It describes the car rolling backward out of a parking space after the engine is shut off with the shifter still in Drive. That matches the rollaway reports filed under the electrical and power train categories. With only 2 complaints, no wider brake pattern shows up.
Stalling while driving is the main complaint, with one report counting 4 stalls in 10 days. Another describes heavy turbo lag when pulling away from a stop. The car seems to lose all power, then surges forward fast, which makes it hard to control when turning at an intersection or closing on the car ahead. The problem keeps coming back, and the owner no longer feels safe driving. No mileage pattern appears in these reports.
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2019 has the most owner complaints of the 2 Beetle years we cover, about 1.6 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2019 is the ninth model year of the Beetle's third generation (2011–2019).
It includes the 2016 update.
What changed for 2016
Recall repairs are free at any Volkswagen dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
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 temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 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: If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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 enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park.".
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.
Fix: 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 2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when a brake system failure is detected. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 101, "Controls and displays.".
Risk: If the driver is not alerted when there is a problem with brakes, the driver may lose control of the vehicle while attempting to brake, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90L8.
Cars shoppers compare with the Volkswagen Beetle, with their own 2019 checklists.
2019 owner complaints, side by side
