NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
I HEARD A LOUD METAL CLANG IN THE FRONT OF MY CAR WHEN I WAS BACKING UP IN MY DRIVEWAY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER AND THE TECH PERFORMED INSPECTION AND FOUND DRIVER FRONT SPRING BROKEN AND BEARING DROPPED TO MIDDLE OF STRUT. FRONT SPRINGS, UPPER MOUNTS, AND BEARINGS REPLACED.
IGINTION KEY STUCK IN ON POSITION AND COULD NOT TURN OFF VEHICLE. WAS PARKED AT SHOPPING CENTER.
THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AHEAD AT 40 MPH. HANKOOK TIRES. NOTHING WAS STRUCK AND THE TIRES HAD NO PREVIOUS DAMAGE. SMOOTH CITY STREET.
VEHICLE HORN DOES NOT WORK. INTERMITTENTLY WORKS. WHEN HORN DOES NOT WORK YOU CAN HERE THE RELAY CLICKING WHEN HORN IS PRESSED BUT NO SOUND. SEND THAT HORN IS NOT RECEIVING CURRENT. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN, FOR EXAMPLE I WAS UNABLE TO ALERT VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME THAT WAS REVERSING THAT WAS UNABLE TO SEE ME. WE WERE IN A PARKING STRUCTURE WAITING FOR A PARKING SPOT. THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME FOUND A PARKING BUT REQUIRED TO REVERSE TO PULL IN TO DESIGNATED STALL. THE LARGE VEHICLE COULD NOT SEE MY SMALL BEETLE AND REVERSED INTO ME. I HONKED THE GOTTEN BUT HORN WOULD NOT HONK. I WAS QUICK ENOUGH TO SET MY VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND AVOID ANY DAMAGE. AFTER REVIEWING SIMILAR ISSUES WITH OTHER 2016 VW BEETLES, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED CASE.
2016 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ECM SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE MOVING FROM A STOP THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED.*JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE LATEST DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE WOULD BE THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM DIDN'T NOTIFY HER THAT THE AIR IN THE TIRE WAS LOW. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THE FRONT WHEEL BEARING WAS DEFECTIVE. *JS *JS THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER STRIKING AN ANIMAL IN THE ROAD THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED SOMEONE SEEMED TO HAVE TAMPERED WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED IT APPEARED THE RADIO WAS HACKED. THE MUSIC VOLUME WOULD OPERATE INDEPENDENTLY. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE ANTI-THEFT DEVICE WAS INOPERABLE. *JS
KEY GETS STUCK IN IGNITION AND I CANNOT TURN OFF THE ENGINE.
THE DEALERSHIP STATES THE RIGHT FRONT ABS HARNESS CAME OFF FIRST AND RUBBED THROUGH CAUSING A BUNCH OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. THEY STATES THE ABS HARNESS CAME OFF BECAUSE THE HARNESS BRACKET WAS BENT. THIS IS A 12 AND A HALF MONTH OLD VEHICLE WHICH HAS ONLY BEEN SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THERE IS NO HISTORY OF HITTING ANYTHING. THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED OUT IN FAILURE MODE AND WAS NOT LIKE THIS THE LAST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THIS CREATED UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS BECAUSE THE PCM PUT THE VEHICLE IN LIMP MODE. WE DRIVE THE VEHICLE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM. *TR