There are 11 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 2014 Volkswagen Beetlein NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
The contact owns a 2014 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that the horn worked intermittently before receiving notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V785000 (Air Bags). The contact took the vehicle to local dealer and the recall repair completed. The contact stated that the horn was still functioning intermittently after the recall repair. The dealer stated that the recall did not cover diagnostic testing or repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
DRIVER SIDE TAKEDA AIR BAG REPLACED UNDER 20V785000 RECALL NOTICE BY CLASSIC VOLKSWAGEN, GASTONIA, NC. VEHICLE RETURNED FROM REPAIR WITH BROKEN STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING. HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, STEER WHEEL CONTROLS FOR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM ARE ALL INOPERATIVE REGARDLESS OF STEERING WHEEL POSITION OR IF VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION.
TSI SHOOTING OIL THROUGH MUFFLER. ONLY 93,000 MILES ON THE CAR. HARD SHIFTING, LOSS OF POWER. VEHICLE IN MOTION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
WHILE STATIONARY, IGNITION SWITCH SOMETIMES DOES NOT TURN ON OR OFF. MANY TIMES I SPEND 20 TO 30 MINUTES TRYING TO START MY CAR. ON OCCASION , I CANNOT TURN THE CAR OFF OR REMOVE THE KEY AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF.
THE IGNITION LOCKS AND PRESENTS A MAJOR PROBLEM. IT BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE KEY. ALSO THE LOCKS RANDOMLY GO ON AND OFF AS I AM DRIVING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO RELEASE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH AND REMAINED IN THE ON POSITION. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTHERN VOLKSWAGEN GREENBRIER (1248 S MILITARY HWY, CHESAPEAKE, VA 23320, (757) 424-4689) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER AND HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 181253450. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,288.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THERE WERE NO OPEN RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS OPEN FOR THE VIN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.
EXTERIOR DOOR LOCKS FAILED TO OPEN WHEN PULLING ON THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. USING JUST THE PROXIMITY RF KEYFOB, PASSENGER DOORS, TRUNK, AND GAS FILLER DOOR WERE DISABLED. THEN PRESSED THE BUTTONS ON THE KEYFOB, NOTHING. AFTER 5 MINUTES OF PULLING, PRESSING, PANIC BUTTON, FINALLY THE TRUNK RELEASED. AFTER THAT, EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. THIS OCCURS WEEKLY, BUT USUALLY DOESN'T LAST SO LONG.
THE NEW 2014 BEETLE I PURCHASED AT HERITAGE VOLKSWAGEN OF REISTERSTOWN, MARYLAND HAS LEFT ME STRANDED 3 TIMES SINCE I BROUGHT IT HOME. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE. I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION WITH THE BRAKE PRESSED, SEATBELT BUCKLED, AND ALL DOORS CLOSED. THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I WAS UNABLE TO GO ANYWHERE. I WAS GIVEN A KEY AND TOLD THAT THE SECOND KEY HAD BEEN MISPLACED AND AS SOON AS THEY FOUND IT THEY WOULD SEND IT TO ME. I JUST RECEIVED IT THIS WEEK. THE SECOND TIME I WAS STRANDED WAS AT THE COLUMBIA MALL. THE SAME THING HAPPENED AND AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES, IT STARTED. THE THIRD TIME WAS AT MY SCHOOL. IT WAS WEEK BEFORE LAST, ONE OF THE HOTTEST DAYS OF THE SUMMER. I HAD AN APPOINTMENT AFTER SCHOOL AND SO I GOT OUT A FEW MINUTES EARLY. I GOT INTO A 120 DEGREE CAR AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE WINDOWS WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN AND SHUTTING THE DOOR, BUCKLING UP, AND PRESSING THE BRAKE, THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. I WAS SWEATING THROUGH ALL MY CLOTHES AND FEELING PANICKED. I AM 63 AND HAVE OWNED A PT CRUISER FOR OVER 12 YEARS AND WANTED A NEW CAR FOR PEACE OF MIND THAT I WOULD NOT BE STRANDED ONE DAY IF MY PT DIDN'T START. NOW I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE BEETLE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL START OR NOT. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE 30 DAY CHECK TOMORROW, WHICH IS THE EARLIEST I COULD TAKE IT IN, BUT JUST GOT A BILL FOR 115.00 FOR DIAGNOSTICS. I WAS TOLD THAT THE FIRST MONTH CHECK WAS A COURTESY, TO SEE IF THERE ARE ANY CONCERNS. THE CAR IS BRAND NEW!! ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT SHOULD BE COVERED WITH NO CHARGE. I AM SO DISAPPOINTED AND FURIOUS AND FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN SOLD A LEMON. AFTER READING SEVERAL POSTS, BY OTHER OWNERS, THIS APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT MANY VW OWNERS ARE HAVING. I SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN I WAS LOOKING AT THE BEETLE ON THE LOT. *TR
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026