Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2019 Volkswagen Beetle. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Driver's Side Front Air Bag Inflator May Explode
- Summary
- Volkswagen 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.
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- Dealers 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.
Key May Be Removed When Not In Park
- Summary
- Volkswagen 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."
- Consequence
- Removing 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.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen 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.
No Visual Warning of Brake Failure/FMVSS 135;101
- Summary
- Volkswagen 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."
- Consequence
- If 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.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen 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.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (15)
15 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The electrical system is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 15 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 4 | 26.7% |
| Engine | 2 | 13.3% |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 13.3% |
| Power train | 2 | 13.3% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 13.3% |
| Unknown or other | 2 | 13.3% |
| Suspension | 1 | 6.7% |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 6.7% |
| Wheels | 1 | 6.7% |
How 2019 compares with other Beetle years
Best and worst Beetle years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 33 | 2 |
| 2010 | 30 | 3 |
| 2012 | 65 | 6 |
| 2013 | 101 | 6 |
| 2014 | 54 | 5 |
| 2015 | 99 | 5 |
| 2016 | 59 | 3 |
| 2017 | 17 | 3 |
| 2018 | 17 | 3 |
| 2019 | 15 | 3 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 29 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,300
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 308 g/mi
- EPA class
- Subcompact Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 29 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 33 / 29 | $2,300 | 308 |
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 26 / 33 / 29 | $2,300 | 308 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2019 Beetle for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2019 Volkswagen Beetle FAQ
How many recalls does the 2019 Volkswagen Beetle have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 24V834000 (air bag), 19V615000 (steering), 19V094000 (brake). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2019 Volkswagen Beetle problems?
Owners filed 15 complaints with NHTSA. Electrical system (4), Engine (2), Exterior lighting (2) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2019 Volkswagen Beetle get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 26 city, 33 highway and 29 combined mpg. Other configurations are listed in the fuel economy section.
How does the 2019 Beetle compare with other years?
Among the 2009–2019 Volkswagen Beetle model years at least five years old, the 2019 drew the fewest complaints (15) and the 2013 the most (101). The 2019 drew 15. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.