Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
The most-reported problem — Power Train:automatic Transmission (28.9% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Power Train:automatic Transmission complaints here are 5.2× the median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
1 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 5 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:automatic Transmission | 101 · 28.9% | No official action | — |
| Power Train | 52 · 14.9% | No official action | — |
| Air Bags | 49 · 14% | Recalled | Recall 08V178000 |
| Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls | 43 · 12.3% | No official action | — |
| Electrical System | 40 · 11.5% | No official action | — |
| Visibility | 18 · 5.2% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Percentages are the share of the 349 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
NHTSA campaign 14E007000 · 2014 · reported 03/07/2014
A failure of the timing belt may cause the engine to shut down, potentially increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 08V178000 · 2008 · reported 04/17/2008
IN LOW-SEVERITY FRONTAL IMPACTS, THE FRONT AIR BAGS MAY DEPLOY MORE FORCEFULLY THAN DESIGNED, INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF INJURY TO OUT-OF-POSITION FRONT SEAT OCCUPANTS. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 07V063000 · 2007 · reported 02/20/2007
THE BRAKE LIGHTS COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE, OR REMAIN ON. FAILURE TO PROVIDE THE PROPER SIGNAL WHEN BRAKING COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 04V586000 · 2004 · reported 12/15/2004
FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE MAY LEAD TO A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
NHTSA campaign 07E023000 · 2007 · reported 03/29/2007
LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
“2004 VW BEETLE DOWNSHIFTS FROM HIGHER GEAR DOWN TO 2ND GEAR WITHOUT REASON OR WARNING. TWICE I WAS TRAVELING AT 40 MPH AND THE 3RD…”NHTSA complaint 10322284 — filed 03/26/2010 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“HAVE A 2004 VW BEETLE WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. WHEN THE CAR WARMS UP THE TRANSMISSION STICKS FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN JERKS INTO GEAR…”NHTSA complaint 10310763 — filed 02/16/2010 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“THERE SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 VW BEETLE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY AT AROUND 60,000 MILES. WE HAVE OUR 04 VW AT A…”NHTSA complaint 10306739 — filed 02/05/2010 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Power train:automatic transmission issues are the most-reported category, cited in 101 of 349 NHTSA complaints (28.9%), followed by power train (52), air bags (49), visibility:power window devices and controls (43). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
349 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 7 involved a crash, 13 involved a fire, and 2 reported injuries. No deaths were reported.
Yes — 6 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 14E007000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
1 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page is backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
