10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
23,221 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.

1998 Volkswagen Beetle accessories - interior problems

accessories - interior problem

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1998 Volkswagen Beetle Owner Comments

problem #14

Mar 182013

Beetle 4-cyl

  • 147,000 miles

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

Two small bolts that hold down the front of the drivers seat became loose and over time they eventually broke completely free allowing the seat to roll and tip backward and sideways. This was a complete shock when it occured, I had noticed the seat becoming loose but then to have it break free was a scare. Thankfully there was not a crash and injury as a result. It appears that I am not the only one this has happened to so it is surprising that that cars are not recalled to have thread locker or different bolts installed.

- Ohkay Owingeh, NM, USA

problem #13

Sep 202009

Beetle

  • 50,100 miles
My driver seat was dislocated N pushed to the back while the car was in motion. Luckily I was driving in the town N the speed was slow N I managed to park my car after much difficulty cos I could not reach the pedal of brake N had to pull myself forward to do it. God blessed me that nothing happened except rushing of adrenaline. Later I found out that the dislocation of seat was caused by the loosing screws which secured the seat. The screws are in perfect condition. They certainly cannot come loose cos there is not wear N tear. It much be manufactured defect. I report to VW dealer but they want diagnostic charge. What a joke. I do not send my car for repair cos I want the truth of the matter. I only taped my screws to fix them. Still they will come loose after a while.

- American Canyon, CA, USA

problem #12

Sep 202009

Beetle

  • 53,000 miles
My 1998 VW new Beetle driver seat dislodged cos screws underneath came out while driving on oakland highway. I was pushed to the back on the seat N I was not able to reach my accelerator N brake pedals. I would have been killed on freeway if it happened five minutes earlier. The screws came loose the second time. The third time I have to use the white tape on the screws to tighten them.

- American Canyon, , CA, USA

problem #11

Jan 152005

Beetle 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles

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

With normal use of the seats in the vehicle, the 2 bolts that hold the rail to the seat of the floor of the vehicle came loose and the seat slid around recklessly. It almost caused numerous accidents because it would come loose while driving the vehicle. We finally had to use lock tight on the bolts to hold them in place because even after tightening it back it place it would still come loose.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #10

Dec 082004

Beetle 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 75,000 miles
I was driving my 98 bug when the entire seat fell off the track, and I fell in the backseat, the car stalled while on a 45 mph road I was not injured.keffer volk recured the seat but say I will cost $1000 for a new floor track. Volks says this isn't a warranty issue. It would be nice to have a seat to drive the car. My concern is how many other cars/volks have done this and I cannot believe their lack of concern. Had I been injured or worse killed there would be a huge lawsuit at this time. I do not weigh 300 pounds nor am I abusing to my vehicles. I do believe a motor car industry should be able to build a car that keeps the seat in place. I rarely have even moved the seat back and forth on the track. I am the second owner and the car has never been involved in a wreck. We are getting rid of the car very soon. I have lost my confidence in volks. This was my second car with them. Thank you. Previous firefighter and er nurse and safety previontion officer with the fire depart.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #9

Sep 102004

Beetle 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
My driver side seat on my 98 Beetle has collapsed and needs a new seat frame. It is unsafe to drive.

- Tempe, AZ, USA

problem #8

Feb 032003

(reported on)

Beetle

  • miles

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

The drivers seat completely detached itself causing consumers daughter to fall backward. Consumer re-attached the bolts and the defect occured again. Consumer re-attached the bolts a second time this time adding a lock washer to the bolt and some locktite on the threads. Consumer would like this issue to be looked into.

- Putnam Valley, NY, USA

problem #7

Jul 272002

Beetle

  • miles
While executing a right turn at low speed, the drivers's seat broke loose from the track at the front of the seat. The seat remained attached to the track at the rear of the seat. This caused the seat and me (the driver) to suddenly roll toward the back of the car, almost losing contact with the steering wheel. Only by grasping the steering wheel and pulling myself forward was I able to reach the clutch and brake pedals. I then guided the car to a safe stop. This defect could easily have resulted in my death and the death of other drivers. I have never attempted to perform any work on this seat. Regardless of the number of miles driven, and regardless of warranty status, the driver's seat should never break loose like that. This is a potentially fatal defect.

- Bixby, OK, USA

problem #6

Apr 202001

Beetle

  • miles
Consumer states the drivers seat slides foward each time the vehicle stops, the dealer was notified and they still have not fixed the problem.

- Vacaville, CA, USA

problem #5

Aug 232001

(reported on)

Beetle

  • miles
The bolts at the bottom front of the driver's seat came loose, allowing the seat to "wiggle" in its tracks. Subsequently, the bolts worked themselves free and allowed the driver's seat to move back and forth in its tracks, thus preventing the setting of a safe, stationary position. Also, because the front bolts that hold the seat to the vehicle chassis have failed, vehicle movements allow the front edge of the driver's seat to tip up and down in an arching direction. This means that unless the driver is holding on to the steering wheel firmly, the seat tends to tip back when the vehicle accelerates from a stop or a steady speed. The seat also tends to tip up and down when the vehicle rebounds as it completes a stop. On the first occasion that the seat anchoring system failed (January 2000), the seat moved all the way to the back of its track, breaking through the back end of the left plastic rail cover and allowing the the left side seat roller to jut out in the open. This type of problem was also reported twice to NHTSA in 1999 according to phil edmonston author of lemon-aid car guide 2001. This appears to be a manufactuer defect, as it occurs under normal vehicle operating conditions.

- Rancho Cordova, CA, USA

problem #4

Apr 272001

Beetle

  • miles

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

Driver front seat bracket broke away during acceleration from a stop sign causing me to be forced into a lying down position against the back seat. My hands were pulled from the steering wheel as well as my foot from the brake. I broke a cup holder on the console in order to right myself and just missed a telephone pole. I have digital photos of the bracket and seat and will be glad to email them to you. I am in a pissing match with the dealer as to who gets to keep the defective bracket. I wonder why they do not want me to keep it?

- Nazareth, PA, USA

problem #3

Apr 242001

Beetle

  • miles
Consumer was driving, approaching a stop light, and applying brakes and seat came loose. Driver was forced into steering wheel, and then went all way back, not allowing driver to reach the pedals. Only component that held the seat to vehicle was a wheel mounted in a track. There were 2 screws (3/4") that had come loose which caused this defect. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

- Fredericksburg, VA, USA

problem #2

Oct 212000

Beetle

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Driver's seat is loose from floorboard. There's alot of movement when driving and braking. Seat was repaired by an independent repair shop. Consumer will attach additional information. Seat bolts failed.

- San Deigo, CA, USA

problem #1

Sep 181998

Beetle

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Passenger chair adjusting knob came off.

- Westlake V, CA, USA

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