2013 Volkswagen Beetle
The Verdict
The 2013 Volkswagen Beetle has 98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (52 complaints) and body (21 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 74/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Volkswagen Beetle, consider the 2019 model year which has 85% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2019 has 85% fewer complaints
View the 2019 Volkswagen Beetle dashboard →
Klunk Score: Solid Pick
Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 1
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Beetle vehicles manufactured June 13, 2013, to July 3, 2014. The glass sunroofs in the affected vehicles ma...
Risk
Vehicle occupants could be injured by falling glass. A sunroof break during vehicle operation also increases the risk of driver distraction and a resulting vehicle crash.
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volksw...
Reported Apr 11, 2026
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
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Worst Problems
Complaints
There was a Recall on my Airbag that was replaced by the VW dealership in Corpus Christi but afterwards I keep getting an error and indicator for the Airbag. I've contacted the dealership multiple times and all they say is it's not covered even if the airbag they replaced is defective.. I originally submitted an issue concerning this on 11-14-2023 and this is the claim number of XXX... INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I live on Hawaiʻi Island and my 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible (VIN [XXX] ) has an open federal airbag safety recall. Volkswagen informed me there is no authorized VW dealer or recall facility on Hawaiʻi Island, and that I must ship my vehicle to Oʻahu at my own expense to complete this federally required safety repair. VW has only offered to reimburse 25% of the inter-island shipping cost, leaving me responsible for the majority of the expense. Because VW does not maintain an authorized recall facility within reasonable driving access, this places an unreasonable burden on me as the owner and effectively restricts my ability to obtain the free remedy required under federal law. I am requesting NHTSA’s assistance to verify whether Volkswagen is meeting its obligation under 49 U.S.C. §30120 to provide reasonable access to a free safety recall remedy for owners who do not have a local authorized facility. I am willing to provide documentation of VW’s response and the shipping quotes required to complete the recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V785000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part had been on back order for 3 months. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V785000 (Air Bags). The contact called the local dealer, who confirmed that the air bag needed for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact called two other dealers, Volkswagen Jackson Service (5320 Interstate 55 North Frontage Rd), and Harper Volkswagen Parts & Service (9901 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922), who confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not contacted. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V785000(Air Bags). The contact stated that the dealer was contacted and advised the contact that the parts were unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Key is getting stuck in the vechile. Wont let me shut the vechile off and took it to the vechile and the said it was the steering lock mechanism
My car will randomly die after sitting at a light or pulling onto the highway or just pulling out of my garage. The car starts up and sounds fine, when I put it in reverse to pull out of the garage, it will die while moving backwards. Sitting at a red light, the car if running fine. When I accelerate after turning green, it dies. After driving for 12 minutes or so I stop at McDonald and go through the drive thru. After getting my food, I pull onto the highway and the car dies. There was a gas station right next to the McDonalds, so I was able to coast into the gas station. When the car dies, it immediately starts up again and will drive fine after that. I've also been having issues with it jerking. I've taken it to the VW dealership numerous times. They hook it up to see if there are any error codes and there are none. They try to find something to fix, but each time the car might work for a couple of weeks, but the jerking and dying continues. With the randomness of this, the car just doesn't feel safe to drive. I have to be very cautious not to pull out in front of any vehicle that is close for the potential of it dying. I'm calling again today to see if I can get them to fix the crank sensor as I have found others to have the same issue and that seems to fix it. I've spent several thousand dollars to try to get it fixed, but since it doesn't throw any error codes and the randomness of this issue, it's hard to replicate.
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V785000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The airbags deployed on their own on 7-4-2023 in my daughter’s 2013 VW Beetle. My daughter and her friend were both injured (physically/mentally) as a result of both front airbags (steering wheel and dashboard airbags) deploying on their own causing over $10,000 USD damage to the beetle and injury to my daughter and her friend who was a passenger in the front seat. Volkswagen never sent out a recall notice to us even though we have owned the car since 9-13-2019 and the airbag recall notice was determined on 12-16-2020 by NHTSA and announced on that date. I only became aware of this recall through investigation, after the accident happened and during repairing of the car. The vehicle was not inspected by the manufacturer, or police, or insurance even though Progressive Insurance paid out over $20,000 in damages to the parked cars that were struck after the airbags deployed causing the vw beetle to crash into two parked cars in a residential neighborhood. There was a sparse accident report that was filed by Colorado State police. There were not any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the Tatanka airbag failure and recall.
I’m filing this complaint regarding the Takata airbag recall on my 2013 Volkswagen Beetle. I took my vehicle to the dealership, but they informed me that the replacement part is on national backorder with no clear timeframe for availability. I called Volkswagen Customer CARE on April 3, 2025 and spoke with a representative named Dawn (Case #[XXX]). I was told that no loaner vehicles or rental assistance are being provided to customers, and that I should continue driving my vehicle despite the recall. While the representative did not explicitly say the car is unsafe to drive, I expressed concern about the risk, and was told the recommendation is to drive it anyway. I feel this response is inadequate and potentially dangerous, especially considering the known severity of Takata airbag failures. I am unable to afford a rental on my own, and I believe Volkswagen should offer temporary transportation or accommodations to affected owners until parts are available. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at a stop sign and removing the foot from the brake pedal, the contact became aware that the hill holder hill assist feature, designed to make hill starts easier by preventing the vehicle from rolling backward was taking longer to release the brakes. The contact stated that the time to release the brakes had gradually increased to 10 seconds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the brakes were inspected and no failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. The VIN was not available.
Driving 60miles an hour the entire car shot down. No lights, no control, the car was completely off it was a very scary situation The car still not turning on
After parking vehicle in a parking lot, manipulated gear shift from drive to park. Left vehicle and continued business. When returning to parking lot, vehicle was no longer in the parking spot but had rolled backwards into the travel lane of the lot. Started vehicle and attempted to move but could not move gear shift lever to drive or reverse. Was then I noticed that while the gear shift lever was in the park position, the instrument cluster display indicated it was in neutral. Could not adjust gear shift at all. Had vehicle towed to shop and was informed the gear shift cable had broken. Vehicle was repaired however cable alone could not be replaced. Had to purchase complete gear shift lever assembly due to VW replacement parts policy.
Had the Takata Air Bag Recall completed at VW dealership in CC, Tx. Shortly after the Air Bag kept giving Errors and then it would include Low Air Pressure, ABS and Anti Skid Warnings.. Contacted the dealership, had the system check with no issues.. Had the system checked locally at repair shop with no issues.. went to leave and Air Bag Warning stated Error,, they rechecked and found no Issues.. Computer showed no Errors.. I was informed that apparently the only issue is "Possibly" the Air Bag needs to be replaced again but the dealership refuses to without a Recall Requests.
Noticed an fuel smell coming from the engine bay. After a few times of looking for the source I came across the fuel rail covered in gunk. Wiped off rail and cycled the engine. Noticed the fuel rail is leaking from what looks like the fuel rail mounting bolt.
I have a diesel leak which Volkswagen did not repair (after I towed it there and told them about it in writing) and is not causing a light in the dash however, when plugging in an ODBEleven, several codes are generated and one is related to a low fuel pressure sensor. I also watched the fuel line dripping. VW claims that it is unreasonable to ask them to pay what I already paid to have the car fixed (diagnostics, rental, tow). It was reasonable for me to buy it and pay for all that though apparently. With a diesel leak, it's unsafe to drive so I currently have a piece of metal outside that I'm only halfway through paying on. This indeed is a TDI 2.0L they sold me 3 years ago.
I GOT A BUNCH OF CALLS AND MANY NOTICES REGARDING AN AIRBAG RECALL, BUT I WAS NEVER MADE AWARE OF THE SHIFT LEVER RECALL. I PARKED MY VEHICLE ON MY STREET AND IT ROLLED AWAY FROM ME AND CRASHED INTO MY NEIGHBORS CAR. IT WAS NOT UNTIL AFTER I PAID OUT OF MY OWN POCKET TO HAVE IT REPAIRED THAT I WAS TOLD IT WAS A RECALL. VW HAS FAILED IN NOTIFYING ME OF THIS AND SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED.
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V785000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and it was 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. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TAKATA AIRBAG SAFETY RECALL.
While driving on the interstate my 2013 VW Beetle showed a stability malfunction warning then lost power and would not accelerate. I coasted to the shoulder and shut the vehicle off. It crank back up and I drove it home. Two months ago, I had the same issue with the vehicle losing power after the engine light illuminated several times before I could get the car into the VW dealership for repair. After a costly emmission valve and hose replacement the engine light didn’t come back on and the care hasn’t lost power until yesterday. My safety was at risk due to a lack of power and had not been able to coast to the shoulder safely, I could have been plowed into the rear of my car by a semi that was fast approaching. This is a vehicle that I purchased for my teenaged daughter and I shudder to think of an inexperienced driver in this situation. I have read lots of post from others who have had this problem with VW. Taking the car back to the dealership tomorrow and praying that I won’t be told that the lose of power is a safety feature that VW has like I was told previously. Safety feature is suppose to prevent an accident not put drivers in a sitution that is potentially fatal.
98 total