10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
49,691 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2008 Volkswagen Beetle lights problems

lights problem

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2008 Volkswagen Beetle Owner Comments

problem #14

Sep 012020

Beetle

  • 30,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The passenger side headlight very frequently isn't working due to the connection between the headlight assembly and the car's wiring. We've tried many different times to improve this connection without much success. Anecdotally I had another Beetle with this issue, and see others on the road with it. I think it is a safety issue as visibility is affected as well as my ability to see at night.

- Normal, IL, USA

problem #13

Oct 072019

Beetle

  • 90,000 miles
When driving her 2008 VW Beetle at approximately 15 mph during a light rainfall, my daughter hit a bump in the road (not a huge significant bump, just a bump) the entire driver's side headlight assembly headlamp/bucket and all came detached from the vehicle completely. They electrical assembly became unplugged and the entire unit came out of the cylindrical compartment that houses the headlight. The entire housing unit, including the bulb and all related parts came out and went crashing onto the pavement where it was struck by a car behind me and smashed into pieces all down the road. This is a major safety issue. It was a danger to both my child and the vehicle behind her and any pedestrians nearby. In fl the law requires you drive with headlights on in the rain, so although it was daytime, she was forced to drive illegally without her headlight causing her to be less visible to other drivers. The car is unusable in the evening or early morning now until we get it fixed. Clearly, after reading the many complaints, you tube videos on how to "fix" the loose electrical problem, and many VW bug drivers' horror stories of losing sometimes just the electrical connection (bad enough on its own), but also in some cases, like my daughter's, the entire headlight and it's housing unit came broke away from the vehicle just from hitting a bump in the road. Unacceptable.

- St. Augustine, FL, USA

problem #12

Aug 012018

Beetle

  • 90,000 miles
Headlight assembly electrical connection has a design flaw that allows the rear pin connector to slightly pull-away and loosen from the headlamp bucket resulting in intermittant headlight failure, especially in colder weather or going over a bump in the road. This has happened to my vehicle numerous times during the past several years, each time thinking the bulbs burned-out but in actuality, it is the wiring harness. The VW dealer says the entire assembly must be replaced, but it the too-short chassis wiring harness that is the issue. This sudden loss of headlight illumination presents a clear & present danger when traveling at night and reasonably must be addresses as soon as possible.

- Colquitt, GA, USA

problem #11

Sep 172018

Beetle

  • 153,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This car has had many electrical issues. The first time it was in the dealership due to lights, turning signals not working. The second time about 2 years later I lost all electrical controls. No lights, wipers, ac fan, ac adapter, radio, turn signals. Now just 5 months later I am noticing headlight issues. I have taken it back to the VW of ocala, they claim there is no electrical issue that I just need bulb replacement. After driving over an hour to get my car, I get in to find my windows are no longer working now.

- Brooksville, FL, USA

problem #10

Jun 012014

Beetle

  • 49,600 miles
The contact owns a 2008 Volkswagen Beetle. While driving at unknown speeds, the driver's side headlight failed to illuminate. The vehicle was taken to gerald jones Volkswagen (4022 Washington rd, martinez, ga 30907, (706) 228-6900) where it was diagnosed that the bulb needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified via email and failed to respond. The failure mileage was 49,600. The VIN was not available.

- Thomson, GA, USA

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problem #9

Nov 222017

Beetle

  • 80,716 miles
Headlight assembly electrical connection has a design flaw that allows the rear pin connector to slightly pull-away and loosen from the headlamp bucket resulting in intermittant headlight failure, especially in colder weather or going over a bump in the road. This has happened to my vehicle numerous times during the past several years, each time thinking the bulbs burned-out but in actuality, it is the wiring harness. The VW dealer says the entire assembly must be replaced, but it the too-short chassis wiring harness that is the issue. This sudden loss of headlight illumination presents a clear & present danger when traveling at night and reasonably must be addresses as soon as possible. According to the VW online forums, this is a known issue that VW has ignored for years.

- Tequesta, FL, USA

problem #8

Jun 012016

Beetle

  • 40,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The passenger-side headlight has repeatedly failed over the 3 years I've owned this convertible. I have spend almost a $1000 to have various related parts replaced and the light fails to work (I.e. it is never just a blown bulb) within a few months. Most recently June 2016.

- Ooltewah, TN, USA

problem #7

Jul 082009

Beetle

  • 20,000 miles
Both headlights either burnout or lose connection. It happened 4 times during warranty and an additional 8 times after warranty period. Numerous contacts at the dealer resulted in conversation that VW would not recognize this problem. It is clearly evident to me as an automotive engineer and a registered professional engineer that the locking assembly is not adequate to lock the assembly into the required position.

- Detroit, MI, USA

problem #6

Jun 022014

Beetle

  • 60,000 miles
The 2008 model for the VW Beetle appears to have a design flaw regarding the headlight assemblies. We have had to replace both assemblies because the "headlight buckets" come loose from the power supply inside the fender where the housing units are connected. This issue means that when you hit a bump, the lighting assembly comes loose and headlights fail to operate. At night, this is extremely dangerous! I have contacted VW about the issue and I am supposed to hear back from them. I have had both assemblies replaced with brand new units and the same issue occurs. Most people probably believe their headlight burned out and have it replaced. When the headlight is replaced, the unit is removed and plugged back in and can easily mask the real issue. There is a flaw in the design and a continuous connectivity issue with these parts! VW needs to issue a safely recall and fix this so our headlight assemblies remain plugged into the power source!

- Wyomissing, PA, USA

problem #5

Jan 222010

Beetle 5-cyl

  • miles
My VW Beetle is a 2008. I just had the 6th light replaced on 03/23/12. Took the car to be inspected and replaced the 7th light on 03/26/12!! I am not sure of the actual date of the first blown light. However, I do know that 7 running/headlights in less than 4 years is not normal!

- Rochester, NY, USA

problem #4

Oct 012009

Beetle 5-cyl

  • 15,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This vehicle has been taken into a dealer's service department for six headlamp repair/replacements in 2 years (Oct 2009, Nov 2009, Apr 2012, Feb 2011, and Dec 2011). The last time, both headlamps went out almost at once, creating a real driving hazard since it was at night. This headlamp is not easy to repair - evidence the damage done in replacement of the right headlamp by one dealership and subsequently repaired by another dealer's service department. VW of America has offered a one-time payment that should cover up to four additional headlamp repairs. To me, this represents an acknowledgement of a fundamental design flaw, but without formal recognition or publication of the problem. Several public blogs exist that highlight this condition. I purchased another, non-VW new vehicle on the same week, and it has never had a headlamp outage.

- Renton, WA, USA

problem #3

Jan 032011

Beetle

  • 15,000 miles
Rear suspension makes squeaking noise. Tire pressure indicator on after 2 hours of driving. Head lights too weak bulb for front or rear or reverse always needs replacement inside hand rest too weak design always break. VW service station too expensive and wants money only. 2)fix it yourself. Keep doing it till I cannot sell it. 3) fix it your self. Yes would like to have the manual so I can do it professional myself. 4)in little rock the North point service station is the worst VW station.they only want money even to fix or in inspect or find out what is at fault. Buying VW means do the repairing yourself. Parts too expensive.

- Carlisle, AR, USA

problem #2

Nov 152010

Beetle

  • 47,364 miles
Sensor lights come on intermittently. Not consistent and go days between repeat issue. ABS/brake/esp: Comes on and when car is restart will not duplicate. Dealer replaced module and it came on again. Seat belt alarm: Will alarm even when seat belt is fastened. Airbag sensor: Came on then, when car was restart it would not duplicate. Happened 3 time in a week. Headlights replaced: Both replaced twice in one year. Locks: Will lock/unlock while driving when they already had been locked.

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #1

May 312009

Beetle

  • 5,000 miles
I currently own a 2008 VW Beetle and it's an automatic. When first getting the car I could tell the transmission seemed not smooth at all. When driving through an intersection from a red light my car had trouble when pressing the gas. It had a pause. Then when going down the high way when I was changing lanes to go infront of someone I pressed the gas and my car jumps. This happens all the time. Not something that happens once and a while. It happens every time I drive my car. The dealership replaced the transmission at on 5,000 but the problem still happens! then going down the road in the pouring rain my windshield wipers stopped working. They had to replace the motor. When I went through a drive through I rolled down my window and it made a horrible grinding noise that I thought the window was going to shatter. They had to replace the window motor. Then the same exact thing happened to the passenger side front and back window. Both my head lights keep going through $20 bulbs. They had to replace the fuses. On my convertible top the side covers stopped going in and out. They had to replace those. Then on my way to work all the lights for the what gear you were in blinking. Which caused me to have the car towed because it was running in emergency transmission mode. They had to replace something with that. Right after that was replaced going down the road my car made a grinding noise so I turned around to take it back and it was something with the fuel intake that they had to replace. The dash board lights go on and off. The dealership said they could not find anything wrong with that.

- Hiram, GA, USA

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