Reliable Auto DB

2013 Volkswagen Beetle reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2013 Volkswagen Beetle has 101 complaints with NHTSA after 14 years, or 6 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Beetle years here — over the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 7 recalls on file, including Frontal, Brake master cylinder, and Unknown or other.

2012 Volkswagen Beetle
Photo by Palauenc05, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

101

Per year

6

Recalls

7

Years on the road

14

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (39 of 101), then Electrical system (20) and Engine (10). Those filings include 4 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 Beetle has 65 complaints, 9 per year, and the 2014 has 54 complaints, 5 per year. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 Volkswagen Beetle. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (7)

Recall air bags, frontal 2020-12-16 · NHTSA campaign 20V785000
Summary 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.
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 Brake master cylinder 2020-09-23 · NHTSA campaign 20E064000
Summary Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder may be insufficient, causing brake fluid to leak or the cylinder to come apart.
Remedy 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. Owners may contact Tenneco customer service at 1-800-625-9319.
Recall Unknown or other 2019-09-25 · NHTSA campaign 19V679000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2008-2010 Beetle, and Beetle Convertible vehicles. Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal evaluation period may cause the affected vehicles to not comply with all of the applicable regulatory requirements.
Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners and repurchase the affected vehicles. The recall began November 6, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01D7. Note: This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 18V-329.
Recall electrical system, ignition, anti-theft, control module 2019-08-22 · NHTSA campaign 19V615000
Summary 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."
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.
Recall visibility, sunroof 2014-10-20 · NHTSA campaign 14V658000
Summary 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.
Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the sunroof, free of charge. The recall began on December 15, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 60B9.
Recall suspension, rear 2014-10-20 · NHTSA campaign 14V656000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 1, 2010, to November 30, 2012, and 2012-2013 Beetle vehicles manufactured March 1, 2011, to July 31, 2013. The durability of the rear trailing arms may be reduced in vehicles whose rear trailing arms have been previously deformed, such as a result of a rear or side-rear impact crash.
Remedy Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a sheet metal inlay on the rear axle trailing arms designed to prevent a sudden loss of control in the event of trailing arm sudden fracture, free of charge. The recall began April 7, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Recall air bags, frontal, inactive sensor control module 2012-11-15 · NHTSA campaign 12V540000
Summary 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.
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.

Complaints by component (101 total)

Air bags
39
Electrical system
20
Engine
10
Fuel and propulsion system
8
Steering
6
Powertrain
5
Structure
5
Service brakes
4
Suspension
4
Tires
4
Exterior lighting
3
Visibility and wipers
3
Electronic stability control (ESC)
2
Equipment
2
Seat belts
2
Speed control
2
Visibility
2
Diesel fuel system
1
Seats
1
Wheels
1
Show 12 more Show less
Crash-flagged

4

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

1

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

420137201462015112016120178201882019720202320218202222023320249202542026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Component Affected: AIRBAGS: FORE AND AFT INTERIOR OVERHEAD/OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM Description of Safety Defect: I own a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle 2.5L (Build Date: April 2013). The vehicle is experiencing a…"
    Air bags · filed 2026-09-24
  • "Upon pulling into my driveway, the vehicle would not shift into Park. It got stuck in neutral and allows me to turn the vehicle on and off, but will not shift from neutral into park or drive or anything. The shifter is…"
    Powertrain · filed 2026-09-24
  • "I was rear ended at a stop light. My car ended up rear ending the car in front of me from the accident, but my airbags did not go off. My car's warning light says my airbag has been deployed even though it did not."
    Air bags · filed 2026-09-08
  • "There was a Recall on my Airbag that was replaced by the VW dealership in Corpus Christi but afterwards I keep getting an error and indicator for the Airbag. I've contacted the dealership multiple times and all they say…"
    Air bags · filed 2026-02-14
  • "I live on Hawaiʻi Island and my 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible (VIN [XXX] ) has an open federal airbag safety recall. Volkswagen informed me there is no authorized VW dealer or recall facility on Hawaiʻi Island, and…"
    Air bags · filed 2025-11-05

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Beetle 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 27 39 30 MPG $3150
Beetle 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S6) Front-wheel drive 28 40 32 MPG $2950
Beetle 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 21 30 24 MPG $3300
Beetle 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S6) Front-wheel drive 22 30 25 MPG $3200
Beetle 2.5L, 5-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 22 29 25 MPG $2600
Beetle 2.5L, 5-cyl Manual 5-speed Front-wheel drive 22 31 25 MPG $2600
Beetle convertible 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 21 30 24 MPG $3300
Beetle convertible 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S6) Front-wheel drive 27 37 31 MPG $3050
Beetle convertible 2L, 4-cyl Manual 6-speed Front-wheel drive 27 39 30 MPG $3150
Beetle convertible 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (AM-S6) Front-wheel drive 21 28 24 MPG $3300
Beetle convertible 2.5L, 5-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 21 27 23 MPG $2800

Specs and fitment

A5 generation (New Beetle successor), 2012–2019
Body styles Coupe, Convertible
Oil 0W-20 , 4.5 qt capacity
Tire size 215/55R17, 235/45R18 (trim dependent)

Known issues for this generation

Recall 24V-834 covers certain 2017-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles among other VW models: the driver frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity and high temperatures. Dealers replace the driver front air bag module. Recall 19V-094 covers certain 2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles: the instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when a brake system failure is detected; dealers update instrument cluster software.

Compare

Previous year 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Next year 2014 Volkswagen Beetle See every Volkswagen Beetle model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle reliable?

The 2013 Volkswagen Beetle has 101 complaints with NHTSA after 14 years, or 6 per year. That is more complaints per year than most Beetle years here — over the median of the other years, which is 3. NHTSA has 7 recalls on file, including Frontal, Brake master cylinder, and Unknown or other.

What are common problems with a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle?

The complaints owners file most often name Air bags (39 of 101), then Electrical system (20) and Engine (10). Those filings include 4 that report a crash and 1 that reports an injury.

Is the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2012 Beetle has 65 complaints, 9 per year, and the 2014 has 54 complaints, 5 per year. The 2013 has fewer complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has about the same number of complaints per year as the 2014.

Has the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle been recalled?

The 2013 Volkswagen Beetle has 7 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle?

Owners have filed 101 complaints about the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle is 26.6 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What oil does a Volkswagen Beetle take?

US A5 Beetles in this generation commonly use 0W-20 (about 4.5 qt with filter).

Does recall 24V-834 cover the Volkswagen Beetle?

It covers certain 2017-2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles (among other VW models): the driver frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation.

What generation is the 2015 Volkswagen Beetle?

A5 generation for the US years this site tracks (2012-2019).