Your vehicleHome›Volkswagen›Beetle› 2016

Volkswagen · Convertible

2016 Volkswagen Beetle

Gas

Compact Cars
9 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

72 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

Recalls1 critical 3

Complaints2 crash reported 59

Crash ratingNHTSA overall 5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 28 mpg

2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2016 Volkswagen Beetle is sold in the U.S. as a gas convertible with 9 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Beetle, is EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 59 complaints, most often about the air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

2016 Volkswagen Beetle

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Beetle	Gas	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl turbo	24	33	28	$2,400
Beetle	Gas	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl turbo	25	33	28	$2,400
Beetle Convertible	Gas	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl turbo	24	33	28	$2,400
Beetle Dune	Gas	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl turbo	24	31	27	$2,500
Beetle Dune Convertible	Gas	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl turbo	24	31	27	$2,500
Beetle	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	23	31	26	$2,600
Beetle	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	24	31	26	$2,600
Beetle Convertible	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	23	31	26	$2,600
Beetle Convertible	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	23	30	26	$2,600

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36675, 36676, 36646, 37467, 38492, 36679, 36897, 36647, 36722.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Beetle, Beetle Convertible	5–9 / 10	Bin 5 / Bin 3 / PZEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay
Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Beetle Dune, Beetle Dune Convertible	5–9 / 10	Bin 5 / Bin 3 / PZEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	—

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Convertible/Cabriolet
Doors	2
GVWR class	Class 1: 6,000 lb or less (2,722 kg or less)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	1.8 L

Engine Output

Horsepower

170 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Gasoline

Transmission

Transmission	Automatic
Transmission speeds	6

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: 1.8T S, SE, SEL, Denim TDI SE, SEL, 1.8T S, Wolfsburg Edition, Fleet Edition,Classic, 1.8T SE, SEL/TDI SE, SEL, Dune). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	168.5 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	71.3 in
Height	57.9–58.7 in
Wheelbase	100.0 in
Track, front	62.2 in
Track, rear	61.0 in
Curb weight	2,948–3,225 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	63/37

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here 3 configurations: 2-door Convertible, 2-door Coupe 1.8 Tsi, 2-door Coupe Tdi. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

!critical

Air Bags

69EM

37,558 vehicles 80% reported repaired

Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Beetle and Beetle Convertibles vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling. Risk An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. Fix Dealers will replace the driver's side air bag, free of charge. Owners notification letters were mailed October 26, 2023. Owners may contact Volkswagen's customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69EM.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 22V945000 reported Dec 21, 2022 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Steering

37M2

679,027 vehicles 49% reported repaired built Jun 10, 2011 – Jul 29, 2016

Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park." Risk Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash. Fix Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 19V615000 reported Aug 22, 2019 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Engine And Engine Cooling

23R1

91,867 vehicles 93% reported repaired built Nov 14, 2014 – Aug 18, 2015

Problem Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist. Risk If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 15V705000 reported Oct 26, 2015 Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

Whether any of this applies to one specific Beetle

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2016 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Volkswagen publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Volkswagen’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

59complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 40 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Air Bags 46

Electrical System 6

Unspecified 5

Wheels 3

Suspension 3

Steering 2

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that parts were not yet available.

Air Bags Sep 15, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11544690

The engine was running and kept running with key turned off, and the key could not be removed either. We had to pay VW to repair the problem and we found out that is not an isolated problem

Electrical System Dec 25, 2021 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11444938

Tires are cracking on the sidewalls as well as on the tread area. This seems to be an ongoing problem as they have been replaced previously and the same problem is occurring again. It appears the rubber is drying out, hardening, and splitting. The consumer provided photos

Wheels Nov 12, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11374263

Gas fill door will not open. Gas fill door should open when car is unlocked, but doesn't

Structure May 19, 2020 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11325130

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

Suspension at 20,620 miles Nov 11, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11279374

Igintion key stuck in on position and could not turn off vehicle. Was parked at shopping center

Steering at 51,811 miles Aug 28, 2019 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11251906

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Volkswagen itself: 6 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 6 injured, as claimed, not verified. Every Beetle model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
2 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 1,273

Most recentmanufacturer date 2026-09-17

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 1254 service bulletins, 19 others

Most often about: Equipment, Engine, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Power Train.

V0116152014815_20 Service bulletin
2026-09-17 · Engine
Suggested fuel additive
SM 39-2026 Other
2026-09-09 · Unknown Or Other
This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
TT 00-13-04_7 Other
2026-08-06 · Unknown Or Other
Permission to change Daily Order upgraded to RED Order
V0026012081638_2 Service bulletin
2026-08-04 · Unknown Or Other
Differences between a leak and seepage
VOS-26-42 Service bulletin
2026-07-15 · Electrical System
This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: DA 0019 - Hotfix 12-V battery test(s) – No battery diagnosis - Inconclusive test result.
V1718062017813_24 Service bulletin
2026-07-09 · Engine
Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement
TT 13-20-01_3 Service bulletin
2026-06-18 · Engine
Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start.
TT 10-18-02_2 Service bulletin
2026-06-18 · Engine
Lubricating engine components before reassembly.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P2407 P2407 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	14 bulletins
P0420 P0420 on Volkswagen →	The catalytic converter on bank 1 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.	Equipment · Catalytic converter →	13 bulletins
P0430 P0430 on Volkswagen →	The catalytic converter on bank 2 is not cleaning up the exhaust as well as it should.	Equipment · Catalytic converter →	13 bulletins
P013E P013E on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	9 bulletins
P0011 P0011 on Volkswagen →	Camshaft timing on bank 1 is more advanced than commanded.	Equipment	6 bulletins
P0016 P0016 on Volkswagen →	The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser.	Equipment	6 bulletins
P164B P164B on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	6 bulletins
P2181 P2181 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	6 bulletins
P309D P309D on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	6 bulletins
P309F P309F on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Equipment	6 bulletins
P0196 P0196 on Volkswagen →	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Visibility/Wiper · Wiper blades →	5 bulletins
P0456 P0456 on Volkswagen →	A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.	Steering · Gas cap →	4 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

At the New York inspection station

Source: New York State DMV

New York inspections 1.4%

failed emissions

495 initial inspections of 483 vehicles.

Measure	The 2016 Beetle	Every 2016 vehicle	Behind it
Failed the emissions check	1.4%	4.2%	492
Failed the safety inspection	1.0%	2.2%	495
Air-bag warning lamp stayed lit	0.20%	0.27%	495
Miles driven a year	6,824	10,028	odometer at inspection
Average odometer	70,401	103,109	odometer at inspection

New York’s emissions test on these model years is an on-board diagnostics check: it fails a car whose check-engine light is on or whose self-tests have not finished. First inspections only, so a car that failed and came back is counted once; private and special plates, not taxis, livery or commercial plates. A rate appears only where at least 200 inspections stand behind it. “Every 2016 vehicle” is every 2016 model-year car, SUV and pickup inspected in the same window, all makes. This is the state’s record of test results, not a reliability score by itself. Source: New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Vehicle Inspections (data.ny.gov, Open NY terms).

Beetle by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2019 C 3 15 29 mpg 2018 D 3 17 Do not drive 2017 C 3 17 28 mpg 2016 this page C 3 59 28 mpg

Common questions about the 2016 Beetle

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 3 recall campaigns for the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle, 1 of them rated critical. The most serious on file is 22V945000, covering Air Bags. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?

NHTSA gave the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle 5 stars overall in its New Car Assessment Program tests — 4-star frontal crash, 5-star side crash, 4-star rollover. WhichTrim also grades it C (72/100) on its recall record, which is a different question from crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?

Across the 9 EPA-rated configurations of the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle, the best EPA combined figure is 28 mpg. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?

Transport Canada measured it at 168.5 in long, 71.3 in wide (body, without mirrors), 57.9–58.7 in tall, on a 100.0 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 2,948–3,225 lb depending on configuration. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?

Owners have filed 59 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle, most often about air bags, electrical system, unspecified. Of those, 2 involved a crash. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?

The EPA smog rating for the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle runs 5 to 9 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — Bin 3, Bin 5, PZEV — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?

The manufacturer has filed 1273 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle, most often covering equipment, engine, electrical system. The most recent is dated 2026-09-17. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

How does the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle do at state inspection?

In New York’s inspection lanes over the 12 months to Oct 10, 2026, the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle failed the emissions check on 1.4% of first inspections — lower than the 4.2% for every 2016 model-year vehicle inspected; and the safety inspection on 1.0% (every 2016 vehicle: 2.2%). The figures are New York State DMV’s own inspection records, first inspections only, and the table above sets each one against every vehicle of the same model year.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	9 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	9 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	3	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	59	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	1 tested	NHTSA NCAP	Only the configurations NHTSA chose to crash-test, which is never all of them.
Service bulletins	1273	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	none	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	No defect investigation has been opened.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	9 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API

2016 Volkswagen Beetle

Specs & fuel economy

Emissions & certification

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Dimensions Exterior

Engine Basics

Engine Output

Fuel Economy

Transmission

Dimensions & weight

Factory warranty running out?

Recalls (3)

Air Bags

Steering

Engine And Engine Cooling

Whether any of this applies to one specific Beetle

Hear about a recall before the letter does

Parts & accessories for the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle

Owner complaints

Most-cited components

In owners' own words

Crash ratings

Service bulletins & campaigns

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

At the New York inspection station

failed emissions

Beetle by model year

Common questions about the 2016 Beetle

Does the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle have any recalls?

How safe is the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?

What is the fuel economy of the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?

What are the dimensions of the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?

What do owners complain about on the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?

How clean is the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?

Are there service bulletins for the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle?

How does the 2016 Volkswagen Beetle do at state inspection?

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Where to go next

Sources & method