Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Volkswagen Beetle owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at a stop sign and removing the foot from the brake pedal, the contact became aware that the hill holder hill assist feature, designed to make hill starts easier by preventing the vehicle from rolling backward was taking longer to release the brakes. The contact stated that the time to release the brakes had gradually increased to 10 seconds. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the brakes were inspected and no failure was found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. The VIN was not available.
My car will randomly die after sitting at a light or pulling onto the highway or just pulling out of my garage. The car starts up and sounds fine, when I put it in reverse to pull out of the garage, it will die while moving backwards. Sitting at a red light, the car if running fine. When I accelerate after turning green, it dies. After driving for 12 minutes or so I stop at McDonald and go through the drive thru. After getting my food, I pull onto the highway and the car dies. There was a gas station right next to the McDonalds, so I was able to coast into the gas station. When the car dies, it immediately starts up again and will drive fine after that. I've also been having issues with it jerking. I've taken it to the VW dealership numerous times. They hook it up to see if there are any error codes and there are none. …
Takata recall on 8/13/16 while driving this vehicle without warning, the engine shuts off. I was traveling about 45 MPH on a city street and as I attempt to move over the engine shut off and I could not steer the vehicle. After coming to a complete stop I was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle did this several more times before I was to send it back to the car lot. I was told that the crank shaft was repaired on the vehicle. On 9/13/2016 (1month later) while traveling south on a busy city street at approximately 45 MPH, in front of an 18 wheeler this car shut of and immediately restarted on its very own. I moved over to a slower lane to prevent any accidents. I proceeded to my destination and without any warning the vehicle engine shut off again, only this time I had to manually restart the vehicle. I parked the car at an area restaurant for at least 2 hours. …
I have noticed my center driver-side headlight dim/turn off for some time thinking the headlight was bad. I had the headlight replaced in February but still had people tell me it was out and at times I could see this in the reflection of truck tailgates, etc. The surrounding daytime running light can make it hard to tell. However, in the last couple weeks, every two to three minutes, sometimes after noticing the initial dim of the driver-side head light, all light turn off leaving the car in motion in the dark. This has happened both on local roads and highway. Engaging the fog lights May extend the time between shut-offs by another minute or so. By turning the lights off and waiting a second, then turning them back on, all lights come back. Doing so too quickly does not always work. …
1. Vehicle was stationary in my drive way (and on several occasions, parked in a lot), convertible roof stalls upon opening. You have to stop pressing button and try again. Eventually it starts again and opens. Vw service unable to replicate. They grease the equipment involved hoping it corrects the problem. 2. When car was new, not windshield wiper problems were noted. After a year the drivers side squirts out in such a way that the wiper doesn't get wet enough to clean window, thus leaving blurry streaks that impedes driver's side vision. Passenger side OK. Took car in 2 times, they say they adjust spray. Problem still there even after replacing wipers with brand new (volkswagon brand) wipers. Just had the spray fixed again last week. Afraid to see if it is any better. Will write another report if problem persists. Had convertible top gears greased again last week. …
Car would stall and abruptly stop when operating and all engine and electrical functions and safety features would turn off and not work (e.g., engine, assisted brakes, air bags, horn, running lights, brake lights, hazard lights, entire dashboard would not work). About 10 minutes later, the car would power up again and run. The problem was intermittent (it happened again) and neither the manufacturer nor dealer could find the cause. The owner refused to drive it anymore unless they found the cause because the abrupt stopping could be catastrophic on the highway. The current position of the manufacturer and dealer is that it never happened. Another case is reported here where the same car abruptly stopped three times and the manufacturer and dealer could not find the cause.
Around 7/8/19 my key started getting stuck in the on position car running. I to be after reading complaints and seen there was an extended warranty on the steering lock so they fixed that no problem. When I got the car back the key was already in ignition. I went to gas station took key out and opened door and it was chiming like the keys were still on the ignition I couldn't even use the key fob to lock doors. I took back to be on 8/2/19 told them I had no problems til they worked on it so they didn't charge me a diagnostic fee when they called to say that the tumbler was bad and that wasn't covered by the extended warranty. I said it didn't do it before you messed with it but they refuse to fix what they broke and said they have to order the part from Mexico.
We were driving home in our 2013 Volkswagen Beetle convertible when the engine died causing a lack of steering control. This is actually the second time this has happened with this vehicle. My wife is pregnant and I have lost confidence in this car being able to move my family around safely. I have searched online and others have had similar issues. The dealers are not able to "duplicate" the issue so they send you away with an unsafe vehicle. Hopefully this does not wind up being a situation similar to GM where people have to lose their lives before the issues are corrected.
Over time, the ignition will not turn whenever the key is inserted. This occurs especially often in warmer weather, which can become a danger as the driver sits and wrestles with the key trying to get it to turn in the ignition in an incredibly hot car. It most often happens when the car is stationary and already turned off, though it has happened a few times after parking, and being unable to turn the key back and turn the car off.
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact stated that the check oil warning indicator illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to napleton's Volkswagen of urbana (1025 napleton way, urbana, il 61802, [phone]) where it was diagnosed that the soy-based wiring was faulty. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 65,000. The VIN was not available.
Related recalls
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.
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.
Electrical complaints in other Beetle years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the electrical system of the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle, 20% of the model year's 101 complaints. The component named most often is wiring (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2013 Volkswagen Beetle electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-615 (control module, Aug 22, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Volkswagen Beetle electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 56,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.