Volkswagen Beetle
Registered from 1990 to 2018.
About this model
The Volkswagen Beetle, officially the Volkswagen Type 1, is a small family car produced by the German company Volkswagen from 1938 to 2003. A global cultural icon known for its bug-like design, the Beetle is widely regarded as one of the most influential cars of the 20th century. Its production period of 65 years is the longest for any single generation of automobile. With 21.5 million units produced over twenty locations worldwide, the Beetle is the best-selling car of a single platform in history and the second best-selling car nameplate of the 20th century.
From the Wikipedia article Volkswagen Beetle, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2006 1.6 petrol. 855 of 2,553 tests failed, 33%.
Better than 6% of 2006 cars. The typical one fails 27%, across 889 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Lights and electrics | 42% | 357 |
| Exhaust and emissions | 41% | 348 |
| Suspension | 38% | 326 |
| Brakes | 26% | 220 |
| Body and structure | 21% | 177 |
| Steering | 21% | 177 |
The defects inspectors cite
- Engine MIL illuminated indicating a malfunction
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
Where it stands out against its peers
- Exhaust and emissions: failed more often than 97% of 2006 cars — 41% of its 855 failed tests, where an ordinary 2006 car has 13%.
- Steering: failed more often than 91% of 2006 cars — 21% of its 855 failed tests, where an ordinary 2006 car has 5%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Exhaust and emissions — 41% of its failures
- Emissions levels exceed default limits
- Emissions levels exceed the manufacturer's specified limits
- Lambda coefficient outside the default limits or the range specified by the manufacturer
- Suspension — 38% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- Brakes — 26% of its failures
- Steering — 21% of its failures
- Steering rack gaiter or ball joint dust cover missing or no longer prevents the ingress of dirt etc
- Lights and electrics — 42% of its failures
- Body and structure — 21% of its failures
- The strength or continuity of the load bearing structure within 30cm of any sub-frame, spring or suspension component mounting (a 'prescribed area') is significantly reduced or inadequately repaired
When it starts failing
At 140–160k miles this one fails 32% of its inspections, against the 31% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20–40k miles | 20% | 17% | 59 | |
| 40–60k miles | 25% | 21% | 178 | |
| 60–80k miles | 29% | 25% | 452 | |
| 80–100k miles | 35% | 27% | 807 | |
| 100–120k miles | 36% | 29% | 617 | |
| 120–140k miles | 39% | 30% | 292 | |
| 140–160k miles | 32% | 31% | 99 |
2,504 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 80k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Specification
| Year | Measured |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1.2 petrol · 103 hp · 1396 kg · 2538 mm wheelbase · 5.3 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2017 | 1.2 petrol · 103 hp · 1370 kg · 2539 mm wheelbase · 5.2 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2016 | 2.0 diesel · 126 hp · 1468 kg · 2534 mm wheelbase · 4.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2015 | 2.0 diesel · 124 hp · 1448 kg · 2531 mm wheelbase · 4.5 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2014 | 1.2 petrol · 103 hp · 1342 kg · 2531 mm wheelbase · 5.7 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2013 | 2.0 diesel · 138 hp · 1428 kg · 2528 mm wheelbase · 5.1 L/100km (NEDC) |
| 2012 | 1.4 petrol · 158 hp · 1357 kg · 2526 mm wheelbase · 6.4 L/100km (NEDC) |
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
SR/00793/25
The propellant in the driver airbag may deteriorate over time. If the airbags deploy, it can result in fragments from the inflator injuring the vehicle's occupants. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users