Volkswagen Beetle 1998 reliability and quality

Production year from 1998 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 13.8 percents of Volkswagen Beetle.
The most recent data available is for 2017, when the average defect rate for a 17-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.

The quality comes at a price - used Volkswagen Beetle is around 55 percent more expensive than the average hatchbacks of its age.

Volkswagen Beetle price and technical data
Volkswagen Beetle 1998 owner reviews
Hatchbacks 1998 - 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
Volkswagen Beetle 2002
2014 12 years 28.2% / 33.30% 14. from 78
2013 11 years 22.6% / 27.60% 11. from 69
2012 10 years 15.9% / 22.20% 11. from 88
2011 9 years 18.0% / 21.40% 19. from 79
2010 8 years 9.8% / 14.70% 63. from 123
2009 7 years 13.0% / 14.00% 38. from 94
2008 6 years 7.3% / 8.90% 35. from 111
2007 5 years 8.5% / 10.70% 33. from 107
2006 4 years 5.0% / 6.60% 23. from 107
2005 3 years 6.1% / 6.50% 45. from 110
2004 2 years 5.1% / 5.60% 52. from 113
Volkswagen Beetle 2001
2013 12 years 22.6% / 27.60% 11. from 69
2012 11 years 26.3% / 26.80% 39. from 77
2011 10 years 18.0% / 21.40% 19. from 79
2010 9 years 18.0% / 19.20% 19. from 79
2009 8 years 13.0% / 14.00% 38. from 94
2008 7 years 12.1% / 13.30% 40. from 99
2007 6 years 8.5% / 10.70% 33. from 107
2006 5 years 9.7% / 11.20% 35. from 106
2005 4 years 6.1% / 6.50% 45. from 110
2004 3 years 5.1% / 5.60% 52. from 113
Volkswagen Beetle 2000
2012 12 years 26.3% / 26.80% 39. from 77
2011 11 years 25.3% / 26.00% 33. from 72
2010 10 years 18.0% / 19.20% 19. from 79
2009 9 years 16.8% / 18.30% 32. from 87
2008 8 years 12.1% / 13.30% 40. from 99
2007 7 years 12.1% / 15.80% 25. from 96
2006 6 years 9.7% / 11.20% 35. from 106
2005 5 years 7.8% / 11.30% 19. from 105
2004 4 years 5.1% / 5.60% 52. from 113
Volkswagen Beetle 1999
2011 12 years 25.3% / 26.00% 33. from 72
2010 11 years 23.3% / 24.10% 34. from 75
2009 10 years 16.8% / 18.30% 32. from 87
2007 8 years 12.1% / 15.80% 25. from 96
2005 6 years 7.8% / 11.30% 19. from 105
Volkswagen Beetle 1998
2010 12 years 23.3% / 24.10% 34. from 75