2015 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2015 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags1275.0%
- Electrical212.5%
- Engine16.3%
- Steering16.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags) and was repaired; however, approximately 2 years later the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the passenger seat air bag sensor failed to recognize when an occupant was seated in the seat. The dealer stated that the seat needed to be replaced because the air bag sensor was integrated into the seat cushion. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 130,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V945000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
BLUETOOTH SPEAKERPHONE DOES NOT WORK. IN OUR STATE HANDSFREE CALLING IS REQUIRED. AT THIS POINT IT IS A SAFETY RISK. WE HAVE HAD IT IN THE DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 30 DAYS OVER DIFFERENT TIMES. IT WAS ESCALATED TO VW, BUT ALL THEY COULD DO WAS SAY IT IS A KNOWN DEFECT, AND OFFER 14% TO BUY ANOTHER VW. SEEMS STRANGE THEY WOULD NOT DO MORE WHILE UNDER MFG WARRANTY.
RANDOMLY YOU CANNOT TURN OFF THE CAR. YOU TRY AND TURN THE KEY AND IT IS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. YOU CAN TURN TOWARD START, BUT NOT OFF. YOU MAY HAVE TO PUT IT IN GEAR AND DRIVE AROUND FOR A FEW MINUTES FOR IT TO TURN OFF. HAVE TRIED TO PUT IN GEAR, AND BACK OUT WITHOUT ANY LUCK, HAVE ALSO TRIED TO FORCE, BUT DO NOT WANT TO BREAK THE KEY. I GUESS IT IS THE SAME AS THE JETTA ISSUE, WHICH THEY HAVE CONFIRMED, AND ARE RESOLVING. IF YOU HAD TO SHUT OFF IN EMERGENCY YOU WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO THIS. NOW HAPPENING A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE CONVERTIBLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE SENSOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANCIRA VOLKSWAGEN (6125 BANDERA RD, SAN ANTONIO, TX) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CAMSHAFT WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.*BF *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CAR HAS ABOUT 33000 MILES. THE BUSHINGS ON THE LINKAGE ARE WORN OUT ALREADY. WE HAVE CLANKING SOUNDS WHEN PULLING INTO DRIVEWAY, OR TURNING. TOLD BY DEALERSHIP THIS IS TOO SOON. SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN PARTS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .