2014 Volkswagen Beetle Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
63/100
#4 most-complained of 9 Beetle years
The 2014 Volkswagen Beetle has a Complaint Index of 63, ranking 4th worst of 9 model years, with a Caution verdict. NHTSA logged 50 complaints and 5 recalls, led by Airbags and Electrical System issues at 30% each.
- Complaints
- 50
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes / fires
- 3 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 26.5
- 24 city / 31.5 hwy
Top 2014 Volkswagen Beetle problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags15 (30%)
- Electrical System15 (30%)
- Engine9 (18%)
- Structure & Body6 (12%)
- Brakes5 (10%)
- Visibility & Wipers5 (10%)
- Fuel System4 (8%)
- Other4 (8%)
- Steering3 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain3 (6%)
What owners report
- Driver-side airbags have deployed in low-speed crashes, in one case at a median mileage of 9,000 with injuries reported.
- Steering clockspring failures disabled ABS, airbag, ESC, and tire pressure monitoring, with one owner reporting the same part breaking a second time within three weeks at 1,569 miles.
- Some vehicles caught fire after a rear-end crash, with the fire fully engulfing and destroying the car.
- Clutch release on manual-transmission models has disengaged unexpectedly while pulling away from a stop, cutting the engine and locking the steering wheel.
- Windshield wipers failed to clear rain and brakes reportedly did not stop the vehicle at speed on at least one occasion.
- Brake pedal has lost pressure and dropped to the floor at a stop, causing the car to roll despite being stopped at a red light.
2014 Volkswagen Beetle recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V785000Dec 16, 2020Airbags105,652 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BC.
- NHTSA 19V615000Aug 22, 2019Electrical System679,027 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition:anti-theft:control module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015-2019 GTI, 2015-2016 and 2018-2019 Golf, 2012-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2017-2019 Golf SportWagen and 2011-2018 Jetta vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, manual handbrake and keyless entry. A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch contacts may enable the key to be removed from the ignition when the transmission shift lever is not in "Park."
Risk: Removing the key while the shift lever is in a position other than "Park" increases the risk of an unintended vehicle rollaway that may result in personal injury or a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 37M2.
- NHTSA 15V028000Jan 23, 2015Fuel System44,658 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel rail
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.
Risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall 14V-809 (Volkswagen recall number 24Bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that campaign.
2014 Volkswagen Beetle fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 24 MPG
- Highway
- 31.5 MPG
- Combined
- 26.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,000
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2014 compared with other Beetle years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2014 Beetle has a Complaint Index of 63 and ranks 4th worst out of 9 model years, earning a Caution verdict relative to other Beetle years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle?
- Airbags and Electrical System issues each account for 30% of the 50 complaints logged, followed by Engine problems at 18% and Structure & Body issues at 12%.
- Does the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2014 Beetle covering airbags, electrical system, fuel system, visibility/wipers (sunroof), and transmission/powertrain, none marked do-not-drive.
- How does the 2014 Beetle compare to other Beetle years?
- The 2014 Beetle's Complaint Index of 63 is worse than 2010 (25, Good), 2016 (50, Caution), 2017 (0, Best), 2018 (38, Good), and 2019 (13, Best), but better than 2012 (75), 2013 (100), and 2015 (88), all rated Avoid.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle?
- EPA rates the 2014 Beetle at 26.5 mpg combined (24 city / 31.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,000.