2016 VOLKSWAGEN Beetle Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

AIR BAGS

41 complaints

I purchased a 2016 VW Beetle, used, in March of 2025. Over the past few weeks, I have received multiple urgent messages from Volkswagon that I need to have the airbag fixed. The communications say there is a high risk of death or serious injury and urge me to my have the repair done ASAP. They have sent multiple mailings to me and made several phone calls to my home. I am doing everything in my power to get this fixed. I have called all the local dealerships within a 50 mile radius, but they do not have the appropriate parts in stock, and have no idea when parts will be available. I am told that the car is safe to drive (which is the exact opposite of what the mailings say) and they tell me to simply "call back in a month". I have also tried calling customer service at Volkswagon HQ, as well as the 800 numbers on my mailings. No luck. This is not acceptable. With such a dangerous issue, how can this be allowed? These cars need to be fixed.....many Volkswagon owners are TRYING to get them fixed....but Volkswagon is just shrugging their shoulders and saying there is nothing they can do. I'm attaching a copy of the message I received in the mail just this week. You can see how urgent they have indicated this is. They mailed it out KNOWING they do not have the parts available to do my repairs. They scare us that we'll be killed if we don't get the repair done immediately, yet when I call to schedule my repair, all I get is "sorry, we can't help you."

Sep 04, 2025

See attached document for complaint

Feb 29, 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Oct 23, 2023

We have been attempting to have the car in for this recall - however both the dealership and regional office have said the 'repair is not available' How long does a mfg have to start making repairs under a recall (69EM) We have been patiently waiting over a year. Please advise.

Oct 19, 2023

Have not heard anything since February 2023 regarding repair of driver's side air bag inflator. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling resulting in serious injury or death.

Oct 09, 2023

+ 36 more complaints for this component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 complaints

I am having issues turning the key in the ignition and was informed, by Mattie Imports, that this is very common with the Beetles and it really should be a recall item, however, it's not (as of yet anyway). This could be a definite safety concern in that it could leave me stranded if not repaired. It is a malfunctioning part and should be covered under the recall provision. Thank you for your consideration.

Jun 14, 2021

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN NOVEMBER OF 2019 ON MY 2016 VW BEETLE INVOLVING A BUILD UP OF SILICATE ON THE SHIFT LEVER MICRO SWITCH. I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM TONY VOLKSWAGEN ON OAHU ISLAND IN HAWAII. I LIVE ON THE ISLAND OF KAUAI IN HAWAII, WHERE THERE IS NO VOLKSWAGEN DEALER AND NO CERTIFIED VOLKSWAGEN REPAIR TECHNICIAN. FOR A PREVIOUS RECALL, THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE CAR SHIPPED BACK TO OAHU TO TAKE CARE OF THE RECALL ISSUE. I CONTACTEDTONY VOLKSWAGEN SERVICE MANAGER DAMEN DUPREE IN NOVEMBER 2019 REGARDING THIS CURRENT RECALL AND AT THE TIME HE SAID THAT BECAUSE THIS RECALL INVOLVED SUCH A SMALL REPLACEMENT PART, IT WOULD BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE FOR THEM TO SEND A TECHNICIAN OVER TO KAUAI INSTEAD OF PAYING TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SHIPPED TO OAHU. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE PANDEMIC HAS TURNED THE WORLD UPSIDE DOWN SINCE MARCH, BUT I BEGAN THIS PROCESS WAY BEFORE THAT WAS AN ISSUE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A 14 DAY QUARANTINE FRO TRAVELERS FROM OAHU TO THE OTHER HAWAIIAN ISLANDS, SO I UNDERSTAND THAT IT NO LONGER MAKES SENSE TO SEND SOMEONE OVER FROM OAHU TO TAKE CARE OF THIS RECALL ISSUE. IT SEEMS AS IF THEY SIMPLY ARE TRYING TO AVOID THE COST OF SHIPPING MY VEHICLE OVER TO OAHU TO CHECK OUT THE RECALL ISSUE. I HAVE CALLED MR. DUPREE AT LEAST 10 TIMES TRYING TO GET THIS ISSUE RESOLVED, AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RETURN CALL FROM HIM SINCE OUR FIRST CONVERSATION BACK IN NOVEMBER, 10 MONTHS AGO. SO FAR, I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED THE POSSIBLE PROBLEMS THAT THE RECALL IS CONCERNED ABOUT, BUT I WANT TO KNOW MY CAR IS SAFE AND COULD NOT RESULT IN A CRASH THAT COULD INJURE PEOPLE AND DAMAGE PROPERTY, AS STATED IN THE LETTER I RECEIVED. I NEED TO KNOW MY CAR IS COMPLIANT WITH REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS AND APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE YOU CAN GIVE ME REGARDING GETTING THIS RECALL ISSUE RESOLVED.

Sep 24, 2020

STEERING

2 complaints

IGINTION KEY STUCK IN ON POSITION AND COULD NOT TURN OFF VEHICLE. WAS PARKED AT SHOPPING CENTER.

Aug 28, 2019

KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND I CANNOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE.

Aug 06, 2018

POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

1 complaint

On October 21st I had a recall performed at Evansville D- Patrick for a 37M2 shift lever micro switch. Today Nov 5th I was leaving work, pulling out of the drive onto highway and once I got on the road the car lost motion and just rolled. Barely made it across the highway. I got across the street into another lot. Turned car off and back on. You can hear the throttle but tires would not move. It would not go into any gear. It wouldn’t even go into park. It would roll no matter what the gear shifter was in. The work they did was in the gear shifter. So whatever work they performed was not done right. The sensor was bad they installed possibly or they didn’t connect the linkage or cables of some sort back I’m thinking. To have that recall done then have an issue with it that has to do with going into park is very odd. Especially to have an issue like that after having the appointment so close. I plan to have it towed to dealership but they are already trying to say it’s not something they did. Everything I’ve looked at with the recall correlates with the gear shifter which is what I had issues with today. The car can not move and I barely made it across the road before a semi came. They should definitely be held accountable for covering the cost of repairs or fixing the recall correctly.

Nov 05, 2025

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE THAT HAS YET TO BE FIXED DUE TO LACK OF PARTS SENT TO DEALERS. Manufacturer Recall Number69EM NHTSA Recall Number22V945 Recall StatusRecall Incomplete, remedy not yet available Summary The driver's side airbag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Safety Risk An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Oct 02, 2023

SUSPENSION,AIR BAGS,TIRES

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of the NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags) however, parts to do the recall repair were not yet available. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Additionally, the contact stated that the TPMS warning light and the air bag warning light were intermittently illuminated. The contact then stated that on two separate occasions while driving at approximately 35-40 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently jerked and veered to the left or right side of the road. The contact also stated that on multiple occasions while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle drove over a bump in the roadway and started shuddering. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger’s side lower ball joint failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Jul 27, 2023

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND KEPT RUNNING WITH KEY TURNED OFF, AND THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED EITHER. WE HAD TO PAY VW TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND WE FOUND OUT THAT IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM.

Dec 25, 2021

WHEELS

1 complaint

TIRES ARE CRACKING ON THE SIDEWALLS AS WELL AS ON THE TREAD AREA. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE BEEN REPLACED PREVIOUSLY AND THE SAME PROBLEM IS OCCURRING AGAIN. IT APPEARS THE RUBBER IS DRYING OUT, HARDENING, AND SPLITTING.*DT THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS. *TR

Nov 12, 2020

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE

1 complaint

GAS FILL DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. GAS FILL DOOR SHOULD OPEN WHEN CAR IS UNLOCKED, BUT DOESN'T. *TR

May 19, 2020

SUSPENSION

1 complaint

I HEARD A LOUD METAL CLANG IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR WHEN I WAS BACKING UP IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THE TECH PERFORMED INSPECTION AND FOUND DRIVER FRONT SPRING BROKEN AND BEARING DROPPED TO MIDDLE OF STRUT. FRONT SPRINGS, UPPER MOUNTS, AND BEARINGS REPLACED.

Nov 11, 2019

AIR BAGS,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

STARTED THE CAR AND HAD WORMING LIGHTS ON. IT DID IT BEFORE A COUPLE DAYS AGO BUT WENT OUT. THIS TIME THE LIGHTS WON'T GO OFF AND WON'T GO OVER 20 MPH. THE ABS LIGHT,STABILITY LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHTS AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ARE ON. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS JUST READING OF SOMEONE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT NO RECALL

Oct 05, 2019

SUSPENSION,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD AT 40 MPH. HANKOOK TIRES. NOTHING WAS STRUCK AND THE TIRES HAD NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE. SMOOTH CITY STREET.

Jul 12, 2019

Crash: 1

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

VEHICLE HORN DOES NOT WORK. INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. WHEN HORN DOES NOT WORK YOU CAN HERE THE RELAY CLICKING WHEN HORN IS PRESSED BUT NO SOUND. SEND THAT HORN IS NOT RECEIVING CURRENT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, FOR EXAMPLE I WAS UNABLE TO ALERT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT WAS REVERSING THAT WAS UNABLE TO SEE ME. WE WERE IN A PARKING STRUCTURE WAITING FOR A PARKING SPOT. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME FOUND A PARKING BUT REQUIRED TO REVERSE TO PULL IN TO DESIGNATED STALL. THE LARGE VEHICLE COULD NOT SEE MY SMALL BEETLE AND REVERSED INTO ME. I HONKED THE GOTTEN BUT HORN WOULD NOT HONK. I WAS QUICK ENOUGH TO SET MY VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND AVOID ANY DAMAGE. AFTER REVIEWING SIMILAR ISSUES WITH OTHER 2016 VW BEETLES, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE.

Feb 17, 2019

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,TIRES,ENGINE

1 complaint

2016 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ECM SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE MOVING FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED.*JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE LATEST DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM DIDN'T NOTIFY HER THAT THE AIR IN THE TIRE WAS LOW. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE. *JS *JS THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER STRIKING AN ANIMAL IN THE ROAD THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED SOMEONE SEEMED TO HAVE TAMPERED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED IT APPEARED THE RADIO WAS HACKED. THE MUSIC VOLUME WOULD OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE WAS INOPERABLE. *JS

Dec 04, 2018

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,WHEELS

1 complaint

THE DEALERSHIP STATES THE RIGHT FRONT ABS HARNESS CAME OFF FIRST AND RUBBED THROUGH CAUSING A BUNCH OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THEY STATES THE ABS HARNESS CAME OFF BECAUSE THE HARNESS BRACKET WAS BENT. THIS IS A 12 AND A HALF MONTH OLD VEHICLE WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE IS NO HISTORY OF HITTING ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED OUT IN FAILURE MODE AND WAS NOT LIKE THIS THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THIS CREATED UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE PCM PUT THE VEHICLE IN LIMP MODE. WE DRIVE THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM. *TR

Jan 17, 2017

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4.4/5.0

23 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2016 VOLKSWAGEN Beetle have?

The 2016 VOLKSWAGEN Beetle currently has 57 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2016 VOLKSWAGEN Beetle?

The most common problems reported for the 2016 VOLKSWAGEN Beetle are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2016 VOLKSWAGEN Beetle problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2016 VOLKSWAGEN Beetle comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.