TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING 15 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE NECK AND BACK THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED.…

12/15/2017 · NHTSA ODI #11054966.0

2012 Beetle · airbags Crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INDEPENDENT DEALER WHO SOLD HER THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO VERIFY IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V540000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER DID NOT PROVIDE THE RECALL HISTORY AND THE CONTACT…

12/04/2018 · NHTSA ODI #11155981.0

2012 Beetle · other

PURCHASED 2012 VW BEETLE IN 2014 USED AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON 6SHORTLY AFTER. DEALER REPLACED SECONDARY AIR INJECTOR SENSOR UNDER WARRANTY. LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A SECONDARY AIR INJECTOR VALVE THAT WAS BAD BUT WOULD NOT COVER DUE TO BEING OUT OF…

11/14/2018 · NHTSA ODI #11151473.0

2012 Beetle · engine

ENGINE LIGHT FOR EVAP PURGE FLOW INCORRECT. I'VE SPENT OVER $700.00 AT THE DEALERSHIP AND MY ENGINE LIGHT STILL COMES ON WITH THE SAME ERROR CODE.P0441. THANKFULLY I HAVE FIXED PLUGGED IN AND I CAN TURN OFF THE ENGINE LIGHT ONLY TO HAVE IT COME ON AGAIN EVERY 25 TO 50 MILES OF…

11/11/2020 · NHTSA ODI #11374188.0

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Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 12V331000 16/07/2012

VOLKSWAGEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 BEETLE VEHICLES

DUE TO AN ERROR AT THE FACTORY, THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH SUMMER TIRES THAT ARE POSSIBLY NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS 110 "TIRE SELECTION & RIMS" AND 139 "NEW PNEUMATIC TIRES FOR LIGHT VEHICLES." IN ADDITION, CUSTOMERS MAY BE UNAWARE THAT THEIR VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH SUMMER PERFORMANCE TIRES. SUMMER TIRES HAVE DIFFERENT GRIP AND PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS. THESE ISSUES MAY LEAD TO AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH.

Fix: VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT TIRES, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

Common questions

Is the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 65 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

What's the most common problem on the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is visibility, with 13 complaints filed. Average repair cost runs about $350 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The visibility is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $350 at an independent shop. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Volkswagen Beetle has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2012 Volkswagen Beetle?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 65 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $350, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 10 hours ago. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with volkswagen. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.