2012–2014 Volkswagen Beetle, 2012–2014 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible Recall: Driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation…
NHTSA campaign 20V785000 · Air Bags · filed Dec 16, 2020 · verified Jul 30, 2026
The defect
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Volkswagen Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
The risk
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →The fix — what to do
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69BC.
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.
Affected vehicles
| Make | Model | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen | Beetle | 2012, 2013, 2014 |
| Volkswagen | Beetle Convertible | 2012, 2013, 2014 |
Related recalls
More Volkswagen Beetle recalls
- 2017–2019 Volkswagen Beetle and 2 other models — Driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to…
- 2015–2016 Volkswagen Beetle and 1 other model — Driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to…
- 2008–2013 Volkswagen Beetle and 6 other models — Modifications made while the vehicles were in an internal…
- 2012–2019 Volkswagen Beetle and 5 other models — A build-up of silicate on the shift lever micro switch…
- 2019 Volkswagen Beetle — Instrument cluster may not provide a visual warning when a…
Other campaigns involving Volkswagen vehicles
Source: NHTSA recall database, campaign 20V785000 (manufacturer number 69BC). Data last verified Jul 30, 2026.