Airbag replacement not available through Volkswagen after several months.
2012 Volkswagen Beetle airbags problems
12 complaints (18% of all complaints for this car). 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 12
- of this car's complaints
- 18%
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Volkswagen Beetle airbags problems in other years
Related recalls
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 20V785000 · Recall details
Air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive
- What is wrong
- Volkswagen is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles, manufactured from February 2012, through August 2012, and equipped with leather sport seats. If the right front passenger seat gets wet, the occupant control module may not properly detect the presence of a child restraint installed in the seat.
- Risk
- If the control module does not detect a child seat installed, the airbag will not turn off. If the airbag does not turn off, in the event of a crash necessitating front airbag deployment, a child secured in the child seat may be at an increased risk for serious injury.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and replace the control modules, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during January 2013. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1‑800‑822‑8987.
Recall number 12V540000 · Recall details
What 2012 Volkswagen Beetle owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I received a recall notification dated Dec. 16, 2020 for my 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. The notification was for a replacement of the driver's side airbag which could explode due to high temperature or humidity. These condition exist on the Big Island of Hawaii where the car is located, but there are no VW dealerships on the Island of Hawaii. There are VW agencies on the islands of Oahu and Maui. I have been in contact with VW Customer Service. I receive regular call backs from a representative named Patrick. He has informed me that VW is still working to solve the problem. He once mentioned that perhaps the parts could be shipped to a another make of car dealership, but no action has been taken. I believe that my wait for a resolution to this recall has exceeded a reasonable amount of time. I am in fear of injury while driving my car.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20V785000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer and the manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received a notification for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 20V785000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer had been notified about the recall however, the contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact's daughter owns a 2012 volkswagen beetle. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v785000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 volkswagen beetle. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v785000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* takata recall. The contact's daughter owns a 2012 volkswagen beetle. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v785000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 volkswagen beetle. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v785000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Low country volkswagen (1001 johnnie dodds blvd, mt pleasant, sc 29464) and the manufacturer were made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 volkswagen beetle. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency campaign number: 20v785000 (airbags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 volkswagen beetle. The contact stated that the independent dealer who sold her the vehicle was unable to verify if the vehicle was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v540000 (air bags). The dealer did not provide the recall history and the contact had not called a volkswagen dealer. The contact was concerned about the air bags working properly. On november 2, 2018, while the contact was driving 20 MPH, another vehicle cut in front of the contact's vehicle. The contact applied the brake pedal, but rear ended the other vehicle. None of the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The contact sustained head and back pain and was transported by ambulance for medical treatment. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not diagnosed by a dealer. The manufacturer was notified of the crash. The cause of the failure was not determined. The failure mileage was not available.
Questions about the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle airbags
Does the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the airbags of the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle, 18% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2012 Volkswagen Beetle airbags problems start?
Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.
Was there a recall on the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle airbags?
Yes, 2 recalls: 20V785000, 12V540000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Volkswagen Beetle have bad airbags?
The Volkswagen Beetle model years with the most airbags complaints are 2004 (73 complaints), 2000 (64 complaints) and 2003 (60 complaints).
Other 2012 Volkswagen Beetle problems
Visibility 21Electrical 12Steering 7Engine 6Body 5Fuel system 4Suspension 3Acceleration 2Transmission 2Driver assistance 1Lights 1Seats 1
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2012 Volkswagen Beetle?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history