Is This A Lemon?

Year · Make · Model

1998 Volkswagen Beetle

What the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knows about this vehicle: every recall, every consumer complaint, every defect investigation, every NCAP crash test. Sourced directly from NHTSA data feeds.

8
Open recalls
171
NHTSA complaints
3
Defect investigations
82
Service bulletins

Consumer complaints

171 filed
14
Crashes
16
Fires
9
Injuries reported
0
Fatalities reported

What people complain about

  • VISIBILITY:POWER Window Devices AND Controls
    24
  • Engine AND Engine COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
    14
  • Electrical System
    13
  • Exterior LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
    12
  • Seats
    11
  • Electrical SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT Underhood
    11
  • Electrical SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND Circuit Breakers
    10
  • Electrical SYSTEM:WIRING
    9

Recalls

8 campaigns
14E007000·ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2014-03-07

The Gates Corporation (Gates) is recalling certain aftermarket Tru-Flow Water Pumps, part number TFW 41127, sold at certain NAPA Auto Parts and/or installed by automotive service technicians after November 1, 2013 (and manufactured August 2013 through October 2013) that have a black-colored pulley/sprocket or do not have 'US9377' stamped on the water pump housing. These service replacement parts were sold for use in model year 1999-2005 Audi A4, 2000-2006 Audi TT, 1998-2005 Volkswagen Beetle, 1999-2006 Golf, 1999-2008 and 2011-2013 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2000-2005 Volkswagen Passat. In the affected water pumps, the pulley or sprocket that turns the timing belt may develop microfractures causing the timing belt to fail.

RiskA failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

FixGates will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began during May 2014. Owners may contact The Gates Corporation at 1-303-744-1911.

09E012000·EXTERIOR LIGHTING2009-04-07

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

RiskDECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

FixSABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

08E050000·EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS2008-08-11

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

RiskWITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

FixK2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

06E060000·EXTERIOR LIGHTING2006-06-29

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

RiskLACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

FixAAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.

06V183000·EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH2006-05-24

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND CRUISE CONTROLS, A BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH ON THESE VEHICLES MAY MALFUNCTION IF IT WAS INSTALLED INCORRECTLY DURING SAFETY RECALLS 03V-265 OR 04V-096.

RiskTHE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

FixDEALERS WILL INSTALL THE NEWLY DESIGNED BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 27, 2006. VEHICLES WITHIN THE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR OF THIS POPULATION MAY BE INVOLVED IN EITHER THIS RECALL OR 06V-183, BUT NOT BOTH. THE REMEDY IS THE SAME FOR EACH RECALL. VOLKSWAGEN DEALERS WILL APPLY THE REMEDY BASED ON THE VIN NUMBER OF THE VEHICLE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VW AT 1-800-822-8987.

06E049000·EXTERIOR LIGHTING2006-05-24

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

RiskWITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

FixCK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.

06E026000·EXTERIOR LIGHTING2006-03-23

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

RiskWITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

FixPRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

98V100000·ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD1998-05-13

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ELECTRICAL WIRING LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE ENDGE OF THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY TRAY. THE WIRING CAN BECOME DAMAGED OVER TIME BY CHAFING AND THE AIR-CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR AND/OR THE FUEL PUMP CAN MALFUNCTION.

RiskA MALFUNCTION OF THE FUEL PUMP CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STALL, AND IN SOME INSTANCES, COULD ALSO RESULT IN A WIRING FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

FixDEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED BATTERY TRAY AND INSPECT, PROPERLY ROUTE, AND SECURING THE WIRING IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECALL REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS.

NHTSA investigations

6 actions
RQ06004·EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH2006-02-28 → 2006-08-07

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE

Led to recall06V183000

RQ06004·EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS2006-02-28 → 2006-08-07

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH FAILURE

Led to recall06V183000

EA03002·EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH2003-04-08 → 2003-08-20

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH

Led to recall03V265000

EA03002·EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS2003-04-08 → 2003-08-20

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH

Led to recall03V265000

PE02084·EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH2002-11-18 → 2003-04-08

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH OPERATION

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