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2017 Volkswagen Beetle

Gas

Compact Cars
5 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11

Safety Signal

81 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns3

Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA17

Crash ratingNHTSA overall5★

Fuel economybest combined, EPA28 mpg

2019 2018 2017 2016

The 2017 Volkswagen Beetle is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact car with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Beetle, is EPA-rated at 28 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 17 complaints, most often about the air bags. NHTSA crash-tested it at 5 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Annual fuel*
Beetle	Gas	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl turbo	24	33	28	$2,250
Beetle Convertible	Gas	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl turbo	24	33	28	$2,250
Beetle Dune	Gas	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl turbo	24	31	27	$2,300
Beetle Dune Convertible	Gas	FWD	1.8L 4-cyl turbo	24	31	27	$2,300
Beetle	Gas	FWD	2.0L 4-cyl turbo	23	29	26	$2,400

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 38242, 38234, 38243, 38235, 38241.

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Recalls (3)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Air Bags

69EG,69GQ,69E6

248,330 vehicles

ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.RiskAn inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.FixDealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.

NHTSA campaign 24V834000reported Oct 30, 2024Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

▲high

Steering

37M2

679,027 vehicles

ProblemVolkswagen 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."RiskRemoving 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.FixVolkswagen 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.

NHTSA campaign 19V615000reported Aug 22, 2019Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

○minor

Equipment

01B9

797 vehicles

ProblemVolkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Beetle and Jetta GLI vehicles. The affected vehicles have incorrect information on the tire information label, possibly causing the operator to overload the vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."RiskOverloading the vehicle may affect vehicle handling or result in tire damage, increasing the risk of a crash.FixVolkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a corrected tire information label, free of charge. The recall began March 30, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for the recall is 01B9.

NHTSA campaign 17V136000reported Mar 2, 2017Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

17complaints filed

0 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2018: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2024: 2 · 2025: 8 · 2026: 1

Most-cited components

Air Bags8

Unspecified5

Electrical System3

Suspension1

Steering1

Vehicle Speed Control1

What owners describe

“My local dealers still do not have the parts for the recall 24V834. It has been a year since the recall. What am I supposed to do?”Nov 4, 2025 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

“The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Beetle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall r…”Sep 18, 2025 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

“The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (AIR BAGS); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for …”Jul 24, 2025 · Air Bags · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

Configuration	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
2 DR FWD	★★★★★	★★★★☆	★★★★★	★★★★☆	10%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Beetle model years

2019 Volkswagen Beetle

3 recalls · 15 complaints

2018 Volkswagen Beetle

3 recalls · 17 complaints

2016 Volkswagen Beetle

3 recalls · 59 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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