There are 7 owner-reported steering complaints for the 2012 Volkswagen Beetlein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION THE STEERING LOCKED UP, PREVENTING ANY KIND OF TURNING OF THE STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING A CATOSROPHIC CRASH INJURING THE DRIVER ON A CITY STREET.
WHILE TURNING OUT OF A DRIVEWAY I HEARD A BANG NOISE. IT WAS NIGHT AND AT THE TIME I DID NOT SEE WHAT WENT WRONG UNTIL AN INSPECTION LATER REMOVING THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. THE TOP OF THE STRUT SPRING BROKE. THE TOP OF A MCPHERSON STRUT IS A PIVOT FOR THE STEERING. THE CAR IS A 2012 WITH 86,000 MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,399. UPDATED 04/29/16*LJ *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AND PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK, THE IGNITION AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO START THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION AND STEERING TUMBLER LOCK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
UNDER CERTAIN DAYTIME LIGHTING CONDITIONS SEVERAL OF THE DASH PANEL INSTRUMENTS (SPEEDOMETER, AND TACHOMETER) CAN NOT BE READ, SINCE THESE ARE NOT ILLUMINATED UNLESS THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. THERE ARE NO OPTIONS IN THE SUPPLIED CONTROLS TO TURN THESE DASH LIGHTS ON WITHOUT TURNING ON THE HEADLIGHTS. VW OF AMERICA HAS BEEN CONTACTED WITH REGARD TO THIS CONCERN AND HAS INDICATED THERE IS NOT 'FIX' FOR THIS CONDITION. MY WIFE AND I ARE VERY CONCERNED WITH THIS CONDITION. WE ARE PURSUING AN ALTERNATIVE LIGHTING ARRANGEMENT TO SOLVE THIS CONDITION. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD VEER TO THE RIGHT ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ALIGNMENT MACHINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ALIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE WHO ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD RESEARCH THE FAILURE AT A LATER DATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. ## VIN PASSED ## 2013 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE ##
THERE IS A HIGH PITCH WHISTLING NOISE IN THE STEERING SYSTEM. IT IS PRESENT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SITTING STILL AND WHILE THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING. THE NOISE ONLY INCREASES WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS MOVED BACK AND FORTH. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT SOUND. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP TWICE AND THE SOUND DID NOT GO AWAY. THEY DROVE A BRAND NEW BUG AND TOLD US THAT ALL THE BUGS HAVE THE SAME NOISE. THE SOUND IS LIKE WHEN A WINDOW IS SLIGHTLY OPEN WHILE TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026