2019 Volkswagen Beetle Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

Incident: June 1, 2026 · Filed: June 3, 2026

The 2019 Volkswagen Final Edition SE Beetle’s rear trunk latch/lock will fail and not open from the outside with the car unlocked and using the key fob due to it being jammed closed. In an emergency situation, there’s no manual way to open the rear hatch, and there are no visible markings showing where the override is to be or what to do to open it up from the inside in an emergency. Further, after reading the owner’s manual, it shows several different ways it can be opened depending on the year the vehicle was built, and the 2019 says to stick the flat end of your key into a slot on the right and slide it to the left to which mine failed and did NOT work. Dealership Service Technician showed me the plastic part that failed within the latch; however when I asked him not to replace the latch at a total price of $1500.00, the part was damaged for some unknown reasons. This would be a tragic event waiting to happen in an emergency!!! It could be the same in several other 2019 VW models I took the vehicle to my local dealership, and costed me $200.00 for a diagnostic and to have them open it, to which they said took them 3-hours… FROM THE DEALERSHIP: COMMENTS, BODY ELECTRICAL C/S - REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE & OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FOUND THE REAR LATCH FAILED. FOUND WHOM EVER TRIED TO USE THE EMERGENCY RELEASE DAMAGED THE LATCH. REMOVED THE INTERIOR TRIM WITH THE HATCH CLOSED. WAS ABLE TO GAIN A SMALL AMOUNT OF ACCESS TO THE BACK OF THE LATCH. SEPARATED THE PLASTIC HOUSING FROM THE LATCH HOUSING IN ORDER TO USE A PICK TO RELEASE THE LATCH TO GET HATCH LID OPEN. CUSTOMER DECLINED LATCH REPLACEMENT. CUSTOMER REQUESTED TO NOT REINSTALL THE TRIM AND THE FAILED LATCH. PLACED THE TWO SCREWS FOR THE TRIM AND THE TWO BOLTS FOR THE LATCH IN THE CUP HOLDER. PLACED THE LATCH ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. PLACED THE TRIM IN THE TRUNK AREA. CUSTOMER TOOK THE VEHICLE WITH OUT REAR TRUNK LID LATCH INSTALLED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

Incident: April 9, 2026 · Filed: April 11, 2026

Hello, We have owned this vehicle since new. Today it has 28,945 miles. We started hearing a clunking sound from the front left side. We subsequently stopped and verified the suspension and discovered the broken front right suspension spring. Very disappointing to know that a suspension spring would brake at such low mileage. Our internet search found that we are not the only one with such a significant safety problem.

Incident: December 2, 2023 · Filed: December 2, 2023

A message is continually (every few seconds) displayed on the dashboard stating that the "coolant temperature is 195 degrees" as if it is a warning. It does not seem plausible that the coolant would have reached 195 degrees when the vehicle was just started.

Incident: September 21, 2023 · Filed: October 8, 2023

On Sept. 21, 2023, I was in my 2019 Beetle and pulled into a parking place at a store. When parked, I pressed the electric start button to shut off the vehicle. When the vehicle was shut off, I got out of the car to go into the store. Luckily, I turned my head in the direction of my vehicle and saw it rolling backwards out of the parking space. In a panic, I raced back to the vehicle and jumped into the car. At that point, I had realized that I had not placed the vehicle in Park when I parked the car and it was still in Drive. At that point, I reparked the car, this time placing it in Park before I shut off the vehicle. When I came home, I told my husband what happened. He said it should be impossible to shut off a vehicle when it is in Drive. We went outside and recreated the scenario. In summary, we were able to shut off the vehicle while it was in Drive - and - when the car was placed on a slight incline, it rolled backwards all by itself. There is no alarm warning the driver that the vehicle was left in Drive. The only warning is a small message that shows up on the dash that reads " Move selector lever to position p1". It is very easy not to notice this mesage. As I had an appointment scheduled at the dealer on Oct. 4, 2023 for my NYS inspection, I expressed my concern to Basil Volkswagen in Lockport, NY. They investigated my concern and concluded that the car can be shut off when in Drive and, if parked on an incline, it will roll backwards. They stated it was my fault as I left the car in Drive. On Oct. 5, 2023, I called Volkswagen Customer Care. Candace stated I would receive an email responding to my complaint in 24 hrs. No email was received. I think this is a serious safety issue as when the car was rolling backward, it could have hit someone or another vehicle. In my eyes, there should be a mechanism in place to prevent the driver from shutting off the vehicle if it is in Drive. At a minimum, there should be an audible alarm.

Incident: July 8, 2023 · Filed: July 10, 2023

The key in the key cylinder or tear lock would not remove. The automobile would not shut down. I looked in YouTube tube and found out that since 2010 this incident has been occurring in Volkswagen beetles I had to extract the fuel pump fuse to stop the engine. And then disconnect the battery. It appears that this problem is pandemic to this automobile if I had been in a remote area it would’ve been a serious problem. AutoNation Volkswagen in Columbus has estimated the cost to be $1500 to replace the tear lock the cylinder and the bolt.

Incident: July 26, 2022 · Filed: July 27, 2022

My VW Beetle has pushbutton start. The ignition can turn off when not in park. This was called a rollaway problem in keyed ignition models, but not pushbutton. I took it to dealer and they said not covered by warranty and no recall. This is as dangerous as in the keyed ignition model. I saw a report of a similar rollaway that VW refused to cover. Also, apparently pushed button while underway. Engine stopped while in traffic. Rolled to side of road and restarted without incident.

Incident: November 18, 2021 · Filed: November 18, 2021

2019 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE BRAKES. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, ON 3 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE BRAKES WENT OUT. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE VEHICLE BE BOUGHT BACK OR REPLACED. *JS

Incident: October 7, 2021 · Filed: October 8, 2021

Wheel Hubs and Wheel Bolts. All four wheels and almost all the bolts affected. Replaced rear Hubs & all Bolts, after a three bolts were unable to be removed without extra effort by a mechanic. I have one bolt that indicates the bolt threads were deformed. The issue could impact the ability of the bolts to hold the wheels on safely.

Incident: August 15, 2021 · Filed: September 3, 2021

My 2019 VW Beetle, AT, keyless entry was parked in a store parking lot. When I left the vehicle it wouldn't lock. I thought my fob battery died. I came out of the store about 30 minutes later and my car had rolled away. It came to rest about 50 feet away, up against a fixed object light pole. I was shocked! My rear bumper sustained damage. I got in my car and saw it was in D. I guess I left it in D, turned off the push button start/stop and it rolled away after I left it. I then did some checking and found that when push button start/stop tech is installed in many cars with the added safety features of audible sounds or transmissions ratcheting into park when stopped with transmission in Drive, which are standard safety features on most newer cars, but were not standard on my car. The car did not alert me to anything being wrong. This is a safety hazard. I noted that VW recalled their keyed entry Beetles for Rollaway Risks, but did not include key-less entry vehicles. A call to VW ensued and a case number was assigned, #04874410. Regional personnel Cathy was coordinating the case which she said caused an internal report to be filed. On Sept 3 at approximately noon, she called me to say that the accident was my fault, for parking incorrectly, VW would not pay to have my rear bumper fixed, nor would they take any responsibility. This Rollaway Risk could have been deadly, it could have been worse. I would hate to see someone killed for being in similar circumstances. VW is negligent in their response, these cars should be recalled for being a safety hazard to the general public. I am deeply concerned with the nonchalant attitude of VW. My husband's Lincoln ratchets into Park when he stops the car using the button if left in Drive. Ford does the same thing. Nissan makes an audible noise alerting the driver to something being amiss. VW is not even on the ballpark on this, what a shame!

Incident: February 17, 2021 · Filed: February 17, 2021

WITH THE DEFROSTER ON WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN, THE WINDSHIELD CRACKED FROM THE UPPER CORNER PASSENGER SIDE.