How many open recalls are there on the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle?

There are 1 active NHTSA recall campaign on file for the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle.

Are recall repairs free?

Yes. Federal law requires manufacturers to remedy any safety recall at no cost to the owner, regardless of warranty status, mileage, or whether you are the original owner. The dealership performs the work and bills the manufacturer. You should never pay out of pocket for a recall repair.

How do I check if a specific recall has been performed on my Volkswagen?

Run your VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls or use the VIN decoder at the top of this page. The federal system shows the completion status of every safety recall on your specific vehicle, including campaigns the original owner may have addressed before you bought it.

How long do I have to claim a recall repair?

Most safety recalls have no expiration date — manufacturers must honor them indefinitely. A small subset of voluntary service campaigns and "customer satisfaction programs" do expire, typically 7-10 years from issue date. The campaigns listed on this page are full safety recalls; if your vehicle is covered, you can claim the repair at any time.

What if my dealer says they can't fix the recall?

Two situations: (1) parts shortage — manufacturers sometimes issue recalls before remedy parts are available; you may have to wait, but the dealer should give you a written acknowledgment that your vehicle is on the list. (2) Dealer error — if the dealer claims your VIN doesn't qualify when NHTSA's system says it does, escalate to NHTSA's Vehicle Safety Hotline (1-888-327-4236). NHTSA can compel the manufacturer to honor the campaign.

When was the most recent recall on this vehicle issued?

The most recent recall in our records was campaign 12V540000, dated 2012-11-15.

ProblemsByVin Recalls / 2013-VOLKSWAGEN-BEETLE

1 active campaign

2013 Volkswagen Beetle recalls

Every active NHTSA recall campaign for this vehicle, ranked by severity. Each entry shows the consequence if left unfixed and the manufacturer's prescribed remedy.

Critical

Severe

Moderate

Recall timeline

When were recalls issued for the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle? Single recall on file from 2012.

Critical Severe Moderate

severe NHTSA 12V540000 November 15, 2012

Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles, manufactured from February 2012, through August 2012, and equipped with leather sport seats

If the control module does not detect a child seat installed, the airbag will not turn off. If the airbag does not turn off, in the event of a crash necessitating front airbag deployment, a child secured in the child seat may be at an increased risk for serious injury.

Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and replace the control modules, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during January 2013. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.

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Recall data sourced from the NHTSA recallsByVehicle public API. Each campaign number above links to the official federal record; you can also verify the full recall history at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Volkswagen/Beetle. Campaign numbers, consequences, and remedies are reproduced from the official record. Manufacturers are required to provide the remedy free of charge for safety recalls — contact your nearest dealer with the campaign number to schedule the repair.