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2019 Volkswagen Beetle

Gas
Compact Cars
2 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
C
Safety Signal
76 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
RecallsNHTSA campaigns3
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA15
Crash ratingNHTSA overall—
Fuel economybest combined, EPA29 mpg
2019201820172016

The 2019 Volkswagen Beetle is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Beetle, is EPA-rated at 29 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 15 complaints, most often about the electrical system.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
BeetleGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo263329$2,150
Beetle ConvertibleGasFWD2.0L 4-cyl turbo263329$2,150

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 40475, 40464.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2019 Volkswagen Beetle is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Air Bags

69EG,69GQ,69E6
248,330 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.RiskAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.FixDealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.
NHTSA campaign 24V834000reported Oct 30, 2024Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲high

Steering

37M2
679,027 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen 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."RiskRemoving 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.FixVolkswagen 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.
NHTSA campaign 19V615000reported Aug 22, 2019Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
▲high

Electrical System

90L8
4,064 vehicles
ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when a brake system failure is detected. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 101, "Controls and displays."RiskIf the driver is not alerted when there is a problem with brakes, the driver may lose control of the vehicle while attempting to brake, increasing the risk of crash.FixVolkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90L8.
NHTSA campaign 19V094000reported Feb 13, 2019Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
15complaints filed

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

Filed per year: 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 1 · 2026: 2

Most-cited components

Electrical System4
Exterior Lighting2
Engine2
Service Brakes2
Unspecified2
Visibility/Wiper1

What owners describe

“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 m…”Apr 11, 2026 · Suspension · NHTSA owner report
“The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact also stated that the vehicle was jerking while driving up an incline, with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact also sta…”Nov 22, 2024 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report
“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…”Oct 8, 2023 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report

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

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
2 DR FWDnot rated★★★★☆not rated★★★★☆10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Beetle model years

D

2018 Volkswagen Beetle

3 recalls · 17 complaints

B

2017 Volkswagen Beetle

3 recalls · 17 complaints

C

2016 Volkswagen Beetle

3 recalls · 59 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. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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