The manufacturer filed it. Here it is, by model.
Volkswagen Beetle: deaths and injuries the manufacturer reported to NHTSA
Volkswagen reported 52 incidents alleging a death or injury in a Volkswagen Beetle, model years 2003–2018, in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21), through 2026 Q1. Each is a claim the manufacturer received, not a finding; NHTSA does not verify them.
By model year
Source: manufacturer EWR death and injury reports and production reports| Model year | Incidents | Killed | Injured | Built | Per 100,000 built |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 | 0 | 3 | — | — |
| 2004 | 2 | 0 | 2 | — | — |
| 2005 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | — |
| 2006 | 3 | 1 | 3 | — | — |
| 2007 | 1 | 0 | 2 | — | — |
| 2008 | 1 | 0 | 1 | — | — |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | 2 | — | — |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 | 4 | — | — |
| 2013 | 12 | 0 | 13 | — | — |
| 2014 | 10 | 0 | 10 | — | — |
| 2015 | 5 | 0 | 5 | — | — |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 | 6 | — | — |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 13,922 | 7.2 |
The model year is the one the manufacturer named in the report. A model year with its own page links to it. “Built” is the manufacturer’s cumulative production for the model year from its latest Early Warning production report; the rate is incidents per 100,000 of them.
By the system the claimant named
Source: as the manufacturer reported it| System named | Incidents | Killed |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 12 | 0 |
| Structure | 8 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 7 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 6 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 1 |
| Latch | 4 | 0 |
| Engine and Cooling System | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 0 |
| Power Train | 3 | 0 |
| Fire | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brake System | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 |
An incident naming several systems is counted under each. “Fire” and “Other” are categories in the rule, not systems.
Every one of these, dated and numbered
The defect dossier for the Volkswagen Beetle puts each report beside the recalls, investigations, bulletins and owner complaints on the same system, as a PDF and two CSVs: the Volkswagen Beetle, one system, every model year, numbered as exhibits.
The incidents
Source: VIN shown as NHTSA publishes it: the first eleven characters| Incident | Model year | State | Killed | Injured | Systems named | Reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-08-26 | 2015 | NE | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2023 Q4 |
| 2023-06-12 | 2014 | TE | 0 | 1 | Air Bags · Seat Belts | 2023 Q2 |
| 2021-05-01 | 2014 | MI | 0 | 1 | Vehicle Speed Control | 2021 Q3 |
| 2021-03-03 | 2013 | MI | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 2021 Q2 |
| 2021-02-19 | 2016 | MI | 0 | 1 | Power Train · Electrical System | 2021 Q1 |
| 2020-11-24 | 2018 | FL | 0 | 1 | Service Brake System | 2021 Q1 |
| 2020-10-13 | 2013 | TE | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 2020 Q4 |
| 2020-10-13 | 2013 | MA | 0 | 1 | Structure | 2020 Q4 |
| 2020-09-19 | 2016 | GE | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2020 Q4 |
| 2020-08-25 | 2016 | NE | 0 | 1 | Latch | 2020 Q3 |
| 2019-12-18 | 2015 | FL | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2020 Q1 |
| 2019-11-01 | 2015 | PR | 0 | 1 | Power Train | 2019 Q4 |
| 2019-09-28 | 2013 | FL | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 2019 Q4 |
| 2019-03-20 | 2013 | MD | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 2019 Q1 |
| 2019-01-06 | 2016 | CA | 0 | 1 | Seats · Fire | 2019 Q1 |
| 2018-09-05 | 2013 | TX | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 2018 Q3 |
| 2018-07-08 | 2012 | ID | 0 | 1 | Latch | 2018 Q3 |
| 2018-06-16 | 2013 | PA | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2018 Q3 |
| 2018-05-01 | 2015 | LA | 0 | 1 | Structure | 2019 Q2 |
| 2017-11-15 | 2014 | OH | 0 | 1 | Structure | 2017 Q4 |
| 2017-07-12 | 2009 | NY | 0 | 1 | Latch | 2017 Q3 |
| 2017-02-14 | 2013 | NY | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2017 Q2 |
| 2017-02-08 | 2016 | TX | 0 | 1 | Electrical System | 2017 Q1 |
| 2017-01-15 | 2013 | FL | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2017 Q2 |
| 2016-07-26 | 2015 | NC | 0 | 1 | Vehicle Speed Control | 2016 Q3 |
| 2016-07-15 | 2016 | NY | 0 | 1 | Fire · Engine and Cooling System | 2016 Q3 |
| 2016-04-27 | 2012 | IA | 0 | 1 | Vehicle Speed Control | 2016 Q2 |
| 2016-04-13 | 2014 | MA | 0 | 1 | Fuel System | 2016 Q2 |
| 2016-01-21 | 2013 | AZ | 0 | 1 | Engine and Cooling System | 2016 Q1 |
| 2015-12-15 | 2013 | FL | 0 | 1 | Structure | 2016 Q1 |
| 2015-09-25 | 2013 | SC | 0 | 2 | Engine and Cooling System | 2016 Q1 |
| 2015-09-13 | 2008 | CA | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2015 Q4 |
| 2015-08-12 | 2014 | CA | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2017 Q3 |
| 2015-01-22 | 2014 | FL | 0 | 1 | Visibility | 2015 Q1 |
| 2015-01-20 | 2014 | VA | 0 | 1 | Latch | 2015 Q1 |
| 2014-12-04 | 2014 | CA | 0 | 1 | Structure | 2015 Q3 |
| 2014-07-17 | 2007 | MS | 0 | 2 | Air Bags | 2014 Q3 |
| 2014-06-25 | 2014 | NC | 0 | 1 | Air Bags | 2014 Q3 |
| 2014-03-14 | 2014 | PA | 0 | 1 | Seat Belts | 2014 Q2 |
| 2013-10-29 | 2009 | FL | 0 | 1 | Structure | 2013 Q4 |
| 2013-04-17 | 2005 | LA | 0 | 1 | Power Train | 2013 Q2 |
| 2013-01-13 | 2012 | AL | 0 | 1 | Structure | 2013 Q1 |
| 2012-07-16 | 2012 | AZ | 0 | 1 | Seats | 2012 Q3 |
| 2012-02-15 | 2006 | NJ | 0 | 1 | Engine and Cooling System | 2012 Q1 |
| 2011-11-16 | 2003 | FL | 0 | 1 | Visibility | 2011 Q4 |
| 2011-08-01 | 2003 | VA | 0 | 1 | Structure | 2011 Q3 |
| 2011-05-18 | 2004 | FL | 0 | 1 | Air Bags · Seat Belts | 2011 Q2 |
| 2011-03-07 | 2006 | NY | 0 | 1 | Seat Belts | 2011 Q1 |
| 2010-12-07 | 2004 | CA | 0 | 1 | Seats · Fire | 2010 Q4 |
| 2010-11-23 | 2003 | AZ | 0 | 1 | Seats | 2011 Q1 |
| 2009-04-12 | 2006 | GA | 1 | 1 | Seat Belts | 2011 Q2 |
| 2008-04-05 | 2005 | GA | 1 | 0 | Seat Belts · Seats | 2010 Q2 |
Each row above is a claim or notice Volkswagen received alleging a death or injury in a Volkswagen Beetle and reported to NHTSA as 49 CFR 579.21 requires; NHTSA does not verify it, and a Beetle that sold more will have more rows. All Volkswagen models · What these reports are, and are not.