10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
81,248 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Volkswagen Beetle seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2008 Volkswagen Beetle Owner Comments

problem #7

Jan 152021

Beetle

  • 212,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I was driving along the highway to a client's house only different structure on the highway is a train track, drove to the client's house about 22 miles, on the way back home about 3-5 miles cross the same train track from home no light on at this time and about 3-5 miles driving to home the warning light came on for the first time, I'm afraid to drive the car... when I look up the symbol when I got home on the dash it said the airbag warning and a recall..

- Chocowinity, NC, USA

problem #6

Aug 112020

Beetle

  • 80,000 miles
Heard sound from the steering wheel airbag while driving normally at 10 mph and now the airbag warning sign is

- Saratoga, CA, USA

problem #5

Apr 222018

Beetle

  • 70,000 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Volkswagen Beetle. While the vehicle was idling at a stop sign, the driver's side air bag spontaneously deployed without warning or impact. The contact stated that smoke emerged from the center console and the vehicle caught fire. The details of how the fire was extinguished were not provided. There were no injuries and a police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified, opened case number: 180380670, and requested to inspect the vehicle. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

- Blacksburg, VA, USA

problem #4

Jul 102014

Beetle 5-cyl

  • 82,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Air bag warning light came on. We take it to a dealership who informs us that it will cost upwards $750 to fix. Evidently wires under the seat and seat belt buckle become worn from just moving the seat in a different position to satisfy the driver's size. How can a safety device of simple proportions be so costly"??" what can be wrong with VW if GMC is recalling items and Volkswagen sit back and collects money because they have the codes and parts that can fix this sensitive the item. A monopoly on a 5 year old car because we were foolish enough to buy their product. I understand the complication of the air bag system I don't understand why it is not a recall issue when it seems to be a manufacturers poor engineering problem. P.S. I'm retired and can't afford to have it fixed at this time and I'm now driving around without airbags.

- Green Cove Spg. , FL, USA

problem #3

Jun 242014

Beetle 5-cyl

  • 30,873 miles
The airbag sensor light came on while driving at 65mph. I took to the dealership where I purchased and they sent the car over to the VW dealership. VW dealership contacted me and said that the driver side seatbelt, airbag igniter was defective and needed a driver side airbag unit to the tune of $881.79. I have an extended warranty however nothing related to the airbag or safety is covered. Since this is a safety concern I wonder why VW doesn't stand by their products and warranty.

- Palm Bay, FL, USA

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problem #2

Jan 012014

Beetle 5-cyl

  • 46,500 miles
Air bag system dash warning light came on. Traced to an electrical connection in the driver side seat belt latch receiver mechanism (air bag fault code 0591) which had to be completely replaced in-order for the air bag system to resume function. This is a known VW issue yet the $490 dealer-exclusive repair is not covered under any extended warranty plan, dealer service bulletin, or manufacturer's goodwill plan.

- Tequesta, FL, USA

problem #1

Nov 152010

Beetle

  • 47,364 miles
Sensor lights come on intermittently. Not consistent and go days between repeat issue. ABS/brake/esp: Comes on and when car is restart will not duplicate. Dealer replaced module and it came on again. Seat belt alarm: Will alarm even when seat belt is fastened. Airbag sensor: Came on then, when car was restart it would not duplicate. Happened 3 time in a week. Headlights replaced: Both replaced twice in one year. Locks: Will lock/unlock while driving when they already had been locked.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

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