Volkswagen Beetle Safety Ratings
NHTSA gives the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle an overall safety rating of — out of 5 stars, with 4 stars in the frontal crash test and 4 stars for rollover resistance.
Latest model year (2019):
NHTSA rates the Volkswagen Beetle at — overall, 4 ★ frontal crash and 4 ★ rollover.
Volkswagen Beetle Safety — All Years
| Year | Variant | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 2018 Volkswagen Beetle 2 DR FWD | — | 4 ★ | — | 4 ★ | 4 | 16 |
Crash-test star ratings sourced from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Ratings apply to the tested body style and can differ between trims and drivetrain layouts.
Volkswagen Beetle data analysis
How to read this Volkswagen Beetle data
This page lists every 2018 Volkswagen Beetle record we hold for this measurement — 1 row in total, one per configuration and model year rather than a single headline figure. Figures are published as the source agency records them: we do not round, average or interpolate missing years, and a year that is absent from the table is a year with no published measurement rather than a zero. Where a manufacturer offered several drivetrains or body styles in the same year, each appears on its own row, because those variants rarely share the same numbers.
Where these Volkswagen Beetle figures come from
Every value on this page is loaded from federal open data — EPA fuel economy submissions, NHTSA vehicle and crash-test records, and manufacturer specification filings — rather than dealer listings or copied editorial content. The Volkswagen Beetle record refreshes as the agencies publish, which typically means new model-year rows appear in the autumn and crash-test results follow through the model year as vehicles are tested. Because certification data is filed per configuration, treat any single headline number for this vehicle with caution: the figure that applies to a specific car depends on its engine, drivetrain, body style and model year, all of which are listed separately above. If a number here disagrees with a brochure, the brochure is usually quoting the best available configuration rather than the one being sold.
How the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle scored
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program rates the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle at 4 stars in the frontal barrier test, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Its calculated rollover risk is 0.1% — the probability the agency's model assigns to a rollover in a single-vehicle crash. Stars are awarded against the test protocol in force for that model year and are not comparable across a protocol change, so read a year's rating against other vehicles of the same year rather than against an older or newer version of the same car.
Recalls and owner complaints
The 2018 Volkswagen Beetle carries 4 open or completed safety recalls, 16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 0 agency investigations. Recall counts are not a quality score on their own — a manufacturer that reports and fixes a defect early generates a recall, while one that does not may simply accumulate complaints instead. Check any specific car's VIN against the recall database before purchase: recalls are repaired free of charge regardless of ownership history, but only if the work has actually been carried out.
Driver-assistance equipment and how to read this record
NHTSA records the 2018 Volkswagen Beetle as offering electronic stability control. Availability means the system was fitted or offered on the model year, not that every individual car has it — options and trim levels vary. This page covers 1 tested configuration across 2018, one row per body style and model year the agency has published. Where a field is blank the vehicle was not tested for that measure rather than scoring zero, and configurations are never merged, because a front-wheel-drive and an all-wheel-drive version of the same nameplate are separate tests.
Frequently Asked Questions About Beetle Safety
Is the Volkswagen Beetle a safe car?
NHTSA star ratings for the Volkswagen Beetle vary by model year and body style. See the table above.
What is the rollover rating of the Volkswagen Beetle?
The Volkswagen Beetle scores 4 out of 5 stars for rollover resistance, with a calculated rollover risk of about 10.5%. Taller vehicles typically score lower here than sedans.
Does the Volkswagen Beetle have driver assistance features?
NHTSA records the tested Volkswagen Beetle as having electronic stability control, without forward collision warning and without lane departure warning. Availability varies by trim and package.
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