Vehicle report

1998 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

Reported problems

171 complaints · median 60000 miles
ComponentReports
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS24
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM13
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD11
SEATS11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING9
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING8
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH6
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH6
AIR BAGS5
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER5
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL5
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW4
EQUIPMENT4
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR4
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH3
EXTERIOR LIGHTING3
STRUCTURE3
STRUCTURE:BODY3
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID3
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR2
ENGINE2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:LOCK2
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH2
POWER TRAIN2
SERVICE BRAKES2
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR2
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS2
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS2
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TAIL LIGHTS1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:FLASHER UNIT1
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY1
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1
STEERING1
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR1
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE1
STEERING:RACK AND PINION1
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS1
TIRES:TREAD/BELT1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL1
VISIBILITY1
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM1
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR1
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES1

Reading this report

Complaint counts are reports filed with NHTSA, not failure rates. A common model collects more of them than a rare one that breaks more often.

1998 Volkswagen Beetle Reported Problems: 171 complaints | CarFathom