2013 Volkswagen Beetle Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 6%of 93 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 26,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the steering of the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle, 6% of the 93 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 26,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“After exiting the freeway and completing a curve to the right I was on a straight section of the off ramp going approx. 35 MPH. I applied the brakes and a moderate vibration was felt in the front end/brakes. The car spun out and hit a sign then a wall with the rear of the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #10502138, filed 2013-03, 97,000 miles“Transmission control module communication errors (p0864) caused vehicle to shut down at high speed (55mph) killing power steering and ABS system on a curvy country road.”
NHTSA complaint #11402949, filed 2021-03, 90,000 miles“Steering column lock housing in 2014 & 2016, we bought 2013 Volkswagen beetles for our college-bound kids. Since those purchases we've experienced multiple instances of each vehicle's ignition keys being stuck in its ignition switch. These occurrences happened both when the vehicles were running (inability to turn the vehicles off) and when the vehicles were not running. When the vehicles were running, the inability to extract the keys from the ignition made it impossible to turn the vehicles engines off. This presented safety hazards. …”
NHTSA complaint #11093955, filed 2018-05“The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Beetle. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the steering wheel seized and the vehicle jerked and stalled without warning. The failure recurred three times. The vehicle was taken to a dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 26,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10705479, filed 2015-04, 26,000 milesSteering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 7% |
| 2016 | 2 | 4% |
| 2015 | 3 | 4% |
| 2014 | 3 | 6% |
| 2013 | 6 | 6% |
| 2012 | 7 | 11% |
| 2010 | 3 | 10% |
| 2009 | 2 | 6% |
| 2007 | 1 | 2% |
| 2006 | 1 | 1% |
| 2004 | 2 | 1% |
| 2001 | 1 | 0% |
| 2000 | 4 | 2% |
| 1999 | 5 | 3% |
| 1998 | 6 | 4% |
Other parts of the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle
34 complaintsElectrical system
19 complaintsOther or unknown
12 complaintsEngine
10 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsBody and structure
5 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsSuspension
4 complaintsTires
4 complaintsExterior lighting
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology