MYRModel Year Report

Volkswagen Beetle — YEARS TO AVOID

Data updated 2026-08-02. Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

Avoid: 2004, 2003, 2000, 2005, 2001 · Best bets: 2010, 2009, 2016, 2014, 2007, 2008

COMPLAINT HISTORY

Complaints per year, Volkswagen Beetle Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2019 highlighted. 1998: 171 complaints 1998 1999: 174 complaints 2000: 263 complaints 2001: 203 complaints 2001 2002: 165 complaints 2003: 314 complaints 2004: 349 complaints 2004 2005: 261 complaints 2006: 124 complaints 2007: 56 complaints 2007 2008: 60 complaints 2009: 33 complaints 2010: 30 complaints 2010 2012: 65 complaints 2013: 90 complaints 2014: 50 complaints 2014 2015: 83 complaints 2016: 47 complaints 2017: 15 complaints 2017 2018: 16 complaints 2019: 14 complaints 2019
2019: 14 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
1998171
1999174
2000263
2001203
2002165
2003314
2004349
2005261
2006124
200756
200860
200933
201030
201265
201390
201450
201583
201647
201715
201816
201914

EVERY YEAR, RANKED

YearRankingComplaintsWhy
2019 Not enough data 14 Only 14 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2018 Not enough data 16 Only 16 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2017 Not enough data 15 Only 15 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2016 Recommended 47 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2015 Recommended 83 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2014 Recommended 50 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2013 Recommended 90 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2012 Recommended 65 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2010 Recommended 30 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2009 Recommended 33 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2008 Recommended 60 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2007 Recommended 56 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2006 Caution 124 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2005 Avoid 261 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2004 Avoid 349 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2003 Avoid 314 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2002 Caution 165 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2001 Avoid 203 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2000 Avoid 263 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1999 Caution 174 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1998 Caution 171 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.