VehicleVerdict

2001 Volkswagen Beetle airbags problems

The 2001 Volkswagen Beetle has 40 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 14% of the year's total, and down from the prior model year.

40

Airbags complaints

14%

Share of year

10

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Airbags complaints by year

Beetle airbags complaints by model year76 complaints1998: 15 complaints1999: 22 complaints2000: 70 complaints2001: 40 complaints2002: 43 complaints2003: 62 complaints2004: 76 complaints2005: 33 complaints2006: 10 complaints2007: 15 complaints2008: 7 complaints2009: 5 complaints2012: 12 complaints2013: 32 complaints2014: 15 complaints2015: 42 complaints2016: 34 complaints2017: 6 complaints2018: 7 complaints
Beetle airbags complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5O MPH THE FRONT PART OF THE VEHICLE HIT AGAINST A TREE. THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED HOWEVER ONLY THE DRIVER WAS IN THE VEHICLE. THE END OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE PASSENGER AIR BAG HIT THE DRIVER'S FACE CAUSING PERMANENT FACIAL DAMAGE (ACUTE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · October 14, 2005 · crash

Common questions

How many airbags complaints does the 2001 Volkswagen Beetle have?

NHTSA has 40 complaints about the 2001 Volkswagen Beetle airbags — 14% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.