2016 Volkswagen Beetle
Gas Compact car
The 2016 Volkswagen Beetle is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car 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, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 59 complaints, most often about air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beetle | Gas | FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 24 | 33 | 28 | $2,250 |
| Beetle | Gas | FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,250 |
| Beetle Convertible | Gas | FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 24 | 33 | 28 | $2,250 |
| Beetle Dune | Gas | FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 24 | 31 | 27 | $2,300 |
| Beetle Dune Convertible | Gas | FWD | 1.8L 4-cyl turbo | 24 | 31 | 27 | $2,300 |
| Beetle | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 23 | 31 | 26 | $2,400 |
| Beetle | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 24 | 31 | 26 | $2,400 |
| Beetle Convertible | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 23 | 31 | 26 | $2,400 |
| Beetle Convertible | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 23 | 30 | 26 | $2,400 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
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Recalls (3)
Air Bags
highProblem: 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.
Steering
highProblem: 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
highProblem: 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.
Owner complaints
59 complaints filed
2 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injuries, 0 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by 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
- Unknown Or Other — 5
- Wheels — 3
- Suspension — 3
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.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | 10% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Other Beetle model years
2019 Beetle
3 recalls · 15 complaints
D2018 Beetle
3 recalls · 17 complaints
B2017 Beetle
3 recalls · 17 complaints
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). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 36675, 36676, 36646, 37467, 38492, 36679, 36897, 36647, 36722). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.