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2018 Volkswagen Beetle

Verified July 23, 2026Sources: NHTSA · EPA · vPIC

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Safety
not rated
Recalls
4
on record
MPG
29
combined

Do not drive until repaired

1 active "park it" recall — NHTSA advises against driving this vehicle until the remedy is complete.

Vehicle Summary

2018 Volkswagen Beetle

4 recalls
16 complaints
29 MPG combined

Before You Buy

Check all recalls are completed
Review consumer complaints
Verify no crash-related complaints
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Verify title is clean

Safety record at a glance

Recall campaigns
4
Owner complaints
16
Complaints citing a crash
0

These are raw counts from NHTSA records. They are not normalised by how many of these vehicles are on the road, so a model that sold in large numbers will tend to show more of everything. We do not publish a composite safety or reliability score.

4 Recalls on Record

1 of these is high-severity. Some may require you to stop driving the vehicle until repaired.

Enter your VIN to check if specific recalls apply to your vehicle.

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns affecting this model year.

  • 18V369000critical Do not drive

    Brake system issue

    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.

  • 19V615000high

    Electrical issue

    ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:ANTI-THEFT:CONTROL MODULE

    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."

  • 20E064000high

    Brake system issue

    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

    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.

  • 24V834000high

    Airbag system issue

    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

    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.

Consumer complaints

16 owner reports filed with NHTSA.

16
Total
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries

Most reported components

  • AIR BAGS7
  • ELECTRICAL5
  • OTHER3
  • ENGINE1

Normal Range

16 consumer complaints filed with NHTSA.

Most reported problems

airbag concerns (warning light, deployment issues)7
electrical issues (battery, wiring, infotainment)5
miscellaneous issues3

Specifications & ratings

Specifications

Body class
Compact Cars
Drive type
Front-Wheel Drive
Engine
2L 4-cyl
Fuel type
Unknown
Transmission
Automatic (S6)
Seats
0

Fuel economy

26

City

33

Hwy

29

Comb

Annual cost
$2,050
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Explore related

Safety timeline

Full timeline
  1. Recall

    Recall 24V834000

    An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  2. Recall

    Recall 20E064000

    If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

  3. Recall

    Recall 19V615000

    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.

  4. Do not drive

    Do-not-drive recall 18V369000

    A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.