2004 Volkswagen New Beetle recalls and problems

The 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle has 2 recalls and 12 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is visibility.

How the 2004 compares

Low

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Low complaint count among 6 New Beetle model years — 5th most.

2recalls

12complaints

0crashes

0fires

0injuries

1,250median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

2 recalls

Equipment

Dec 4, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V508000 · 15,115 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the tire information label is incorrect identifying the vehicle as a five-passenger vehicle, instead of a four-passenger vehicle.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE TIRE INFORMATION LABEL IS INCORRECT IDENTIFYING THE VEHICLE AS A FIVE-PASSENGER VEHICLE, INSTEAD OF A FOUR-PASSENGER VEHICLE.

Risk: Exceeding the correct seating capacity in a vehicle puts occupants at risk for injury in a crash, and can result in vehicle overloading, which can affect vehicle handling and put you at risk for a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

EXCEEDING THE CORRECT SEATING CAPACITY IN A VEHICLE PUTS OCCUPANTS AT RISK FOR INJURY IN A CRASH, AND CAN RESULT IN VEHICLE OVERLOADING, WHICH CAN AFFECT VEHICLE HANDLING AND PUT YOU AT RISK FOR A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Owners will be sent a new label and installation instructions. Owner notification began on February 9, 2004. Owners should contact vwoa at 1-800-822-8987.

Vwoa recall no. Vb/zh.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Air Bags

Sep 29, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V356000 · 333 vehicles

Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the passenger detection function of the passive occupant detection system (pods) May become disabled.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE PASSENGER DETECTION FUNCTION OF THE PASSIVE OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM (PODS) MAY BECOME DISABLED.

Risk: Should the pods control unit malfunction, the air bag system in the vehicle will not work as designed and May not be able to properly protect occupants in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

SHOULD THE PODS CONTROL UNIT MALFUNCTION, THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE WILL NOT WORK AS DESIGNED AND MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY PROTECT OCCUPANTS IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will reprogram the pods. Owner notification originally began October 3, 2003. Vw has determined that additional vehicles need to be repaired. The recall for the additional vehicles is expected to begin on December 17, 2004. Owners should contact vwoa at 1-800-822-8987.

Vw recall no. Wu.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Latches/locks/linkages1

Power Train1

Seat Belts1

Seats1

Vehicle Speed Control1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

2004 vs. other Volkswagen New Beetle years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2004. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns covering the 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle, the latest from Dec 4, 2003 (equipment). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Volkswagen New Beetle?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention visibility (6), air bags (2), structure (2). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.