2003 Volkswagen NEW BeetleProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 20 owner complaints about the 2003 Volkswagen NEW Beetle, most often about the power train. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 24, 2004. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where the 2003 Volkswagen NEW Beetle has problems
20 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 7 | 0 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 |
| Air bags | 2 | 1 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 |
| 4 other systems | 4 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2003 Volkswagen NEW Beetle recalls and how many were fixed
No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.
2003 vs. every other NEW Beetle year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the NEW Beetle median. How we score
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
2003 Volkswagen NEW Beetle safety ratings
2003 Volkswagen New Beetle 2-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: Optional
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
What NEW Beetle owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
THE CAR SLAMS INTO GEAR WHEN STARTING FROM A COLD START. IT WAS IN THE SHOP OVER A MONTH, AND IT WAS GIVEN BACK TO ME WITH "WE CAN FIND NOTHING MECHANICALLY WRONG WITH IT, IT MAY BUCK A BIT, BUT THERE ARE NO SAFETY HAZARDS." LIVE WITH IT BASICALLY. VW THEMSELVES HAVE BEEN OF NO HELP WHATSOEVER IN…
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON. I WANTED TO PULL OVER SINCE THE CAR IS FAIRLY NEW AND HAD NEVER SEEN THAT LIGHT ON WHILE DRIVING. I PULLED THE CAR OFF THE ROAD TO CHECK THE MANUAL AND SEE WHAT THE LIGHT MEANT. THE CAR WAS IN PARK. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK. AFTER…
POWERTRAIN PROBLEMS-- VEHICLE HAS TIPTRONIC. INTERMITTENT FAILURE SHIFTING FROM AUTOMATIC TO TIPTRONIC MANUAL FUNCTIONALITY. IN ADDITION, PASSENGER FRONTAL AIRBAG FAILED WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK OF PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. MULTIPLE SERVICE RELATED COMPLAINTS.*AK
Own a 2003 NEW Beetle?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.