Volkswagen Beetle 2003 reliability and quality

Production year from 2003 to 2005

According to yearly reports of vehicle inspection service Volkswagen Beetle reliability is above average.

During regular inspections from 2004 to 2017 in average failures were found for approximately 12.4 percents of Volkswagen Beetle.
The most recent data available is for 2017, when the average defect rate for a 14-year-old Volkswagen Beetle was 23.2 percent, the average for a car that age was 27.1 percent. Thus, in terms of reliability, Volkswagen Beetle proved to be more reliable than 75% of the other cars tested.

A good used Volkswagen Beetle could be a bargain - despite its relatively high reliability, it is around 25% cheaper than the average cabrios of a similar age.

Volkswagen Beetle price and technical data
Cabrios 2003 - 2005 prices

Year of inspection Age of car Failures found %
/ average for same age cars
Place in rating
Volkswagen Beetle 2005
2017 12 years 23.2% / 27.10% 20. from 86
2016 11 years 23.8% / 31.40% 13. from 89
2015 10 years 23.1% / 26.80% 25. from 95
2014 9 years 25.2% / 28.80% 31. from 95
2013 8 years 15.0% / 17.20% 42. from 107
2012 7 years 15.3% / 17.50% 39. from 107
2011 6 years 9.8% / 10.40% 57. from 120
2010 5 years 9.8% / 9.90% 63. from 123
2009 4 years 4.4% / 5.00% 48. from 117
2008 3 years 4.9% / 4.80% 64. from 116
2007 2 years 4.1% / 5.90% 20. from 113
Volkswagen Beetle 2004
2016 12 years 23.8% / 31.40% 13. from 89
2015 11 years 24.6% / 32.10% 10. from 78
2014 10 years 25.2% / 28.80% 31. from 95
2013 9 years 17.0% / 23.00% 15. from 87
2012 8 years 15.3% / 17.50% 39. from 107
2011 7 years 14.0% / 16.70% 32. from 98
2010 6 years 9.8% / 9.90% 63. from 123
2009 5 years 8.0% / 9.30% 41. from 109
2008 4 years 4.9% / 4.80% 64. from 116
2007 3 years 4.1% / 5.90% 20. from 113
2006 2 years 5.0% / 6.60% 23. from 107
Volkswagen Beetle 2003
2015 12 years 24.6% / 32.10% 10. from 78
2014 11 years 28.2% / 33.30% 14. from 78
2013 10 years 17.0% / 23.00% 15. from 87
2012 9 years 15.9% / 22.20% 11. from 88
2011 8 years 14.0% / 16.70% 32. from 98
2010 7 years 9.8% / 14.70% 63. from 123
2009 6 years 8.0% / 9.30% 41. from 109
2008 5 years 7.3% / 8.90% 35. from 111
2007 4 years 4.1% / 5.90% 20. from 113
2006 3 years 5.0% / 6.60% 23. from 107
2005 2 years 6.1% / 6.50% 45. from 110
2004 1 years 5.1% / 5.60% 52. from 113