Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible

Feb 13, 2019 — Recall Campaign #19V094000

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when a brake system failure is detected. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 101, "Controls and displays."

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 4,064 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

19V094000

Manufacturer:	Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
Recall date:	February 13, 2019
NHTSA Campaign #:	19V094000
Units affected:	4,064

Description:: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when a brake system failure is detected. As a result, the vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light vehicle brake systems" and number 101, "Controls and displays."
Consequeces:: If the driver is not alerted when there is a problem with brakes, the driver may lose control of the vehicle while attempting to brake, increasing the risk of crash.
Corrective action:: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. The recall began March 7, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 90L8.
Notes:: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Affects the following:

2019 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

2019 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE Complaints
The 2019 Volkswagen Final Edition SE Beetle’s rear trunk latch/lock will fail and not open from the outside with the car unlocked and using the key fob due to it being jammed closed. In an emergency situation, there’s no manual way to open the rear hatch, and there are no visible markings showing where the override is to be or what to do to open it up from the inside in an emergency. Further, after reading the owner’s manual, it shows several different ways it can be opened depending on the year the vehicle was built, and the 2019 says to stick the flat end of your key into a slot on the right and slide it to the left to which mine failed and did NOT work. Dealership Service Technician showed me the plastic part that failed within the latch; however when I asked him not to replace the latch at a total price of $1500.00, the part was damaged for some unknown reasons. This would be a tragic event waiting to happen in an emergency!!! It could be the same in several other 2019 VW models I took the vehicle to my local dealership, and costed me $200.00 for a diagnostic and to have them open it, to which they said took them 3-hours… FROM THE DEALERSHIP: COMMENTS, BODY ELECTRICAL C/S - REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE & OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE FOUND THE REAR LATCH FAILED. FOUND WHOM EVER TRIED TO USE THE EMERGENCY RELEASE DAMAGED THE LATCH. REMOVED THE INTERIOR TRIM WITH THE HATCH CLOSED. WAS ABLE TO GAIN A SMALL AMOUNT OF ACCESS TO THE BACK OF THE LATCH. SEPARATED THE PLASTIC HOUSING FROM THE LATCH HOUSING IN ORDER TO USE A PICK TO RELEASE THE LATCH TO GET HATCH LID OPEN. CUSTOMER DECLINED LATCH REPLACEMENT. CUSTOMER REQUESTED TO NOT REINSTALL THE TRIM AND THE FAILED LATCH. PLACED THE TWO SCREWS FOR THE TRIM AND THE TWO BOLTS FOR THE LATCH IN THE CUP HOLDER. PLACED THE LATCH ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. PLACED THE TRIM IN THE TRUNK AREA. CUSTOMER TOOK THE VEHICLE WITH OUT REAR TRUNK LID LATCH INSTALLED. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED AT THIS POINT IN TIME.;