2014 Volkswagen Beetle: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle: 5 recalls, 50 owner complaints and up to 32 mpg combined.
Recalls
5 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #14V182000 · 2014 · 26,452 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014 jetta, beetle, beetle convertible, and passat vehicles equipped with a 1.8t engine and torque converter automatic transmission. In the affected vehicles, the o-ring seals between the oil cooler and the transmission May leak fluid.
Why it matters: The leaking transmission fluid could contact a hot surface and result in a vehicle fire.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the o-ring seals in the transmission oil cooler, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on April 16, 2014.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #14V658000 · 2014 · 7,062 vehicles
What's wrong: Volkswagen group of america, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 beetle vehicles manufactured June 13, 2013, to July 3, 2014. The glass sunroofs in the affected vehicles May break when the vehicles are operated over a hard road surface or strike a pothole.
Why it matters: Vehicle occupants could be injured by falling glass. A sunroof break during vehicle operation also increases the risk of driver distraction and a resulting vehicle crash.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2015.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #15V028000 · 2015 · 44,658 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015.
Electrical, Steering Vehicle recall #19V615000 · 2019 · 679,027 vehicles
What's wrong: 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…
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional switch and circuit board, free of charge. The recall began November 19, 2019.
Airbags Vehicle recall #20V785000 · 2020 · 105,652 vehicles
What's 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.
Why it matters: An inflator explosion May result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2021.
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Brakes (hydraulic) Equipment recall #20E064000 · 2020 · 38 vehicles
What's wrong: The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder May be insufficient, causing brake fluid to leak or the cylinder to come apart.
Why it matters: If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Beck/arnley will notify the distributors that sold the master cylinders and will work with the distributors to notify the end users. Affected master cylinders will be exchanged for a new master cylinder (part number 072-9990), free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2020.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 4 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Airbags (15): no single recurring theme in the descriptions.
- Electrical (13): the most common themes are door / lock issues (4), stalls / loses power (2).
- Body & structure (6): the most common themes are door / lock issues (3).
- Engine (6): the most common themes are noise or vibration (2).
The 2014 Volkswagen Beetle has 50 owner complaints, ranking #15 of 21 Beetle model years for complaints (well below the 123 average). Complaints peaked in 2021 (9 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 31,254 miles. Neighboring years: 2013 (93 complaints, 6 recalls), 2015 (83 complaints, 5 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 28 | 40 | 32 | Diesel |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 39 | 30 | Diesel |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 25 | 32 | 27 | Regular |
| 1.8 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 32 | 27 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (AM-S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 24 | 30 | 26 | Premium |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Manual 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 | 31 | 26 | Premium |
| 2.5 L 5-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 29 | 25 | Regular |
| 2.5 L 5-cyl | Manual 5-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 31 | 25 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle.
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FAQ
Does the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 5 vehicle recalls for the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2014 Volkswagen Beetle problems?
Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are airbags (15), electrical (13), body & structure (6).
What gas mileage does the 2014 Volkswagen Beetle get?
EPA ratings run up to 32 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic (AM-S6)), across 8 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2014 Volkswagen Beetle repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.