At a glance

Reported mileage62,169 mi

LocationCa, USA

ColorBlack

Last listed price$2,800

Open recalls1

Vehicle identity & specifications

Make

Volkswagen

Model

New Beetle

Year

1998

Trim

Base

Body style

Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback

Vehicle type

PASSENGER CAR

Engine

2.0L 4-cyl 115 hp

Cylinders

4

Fuel type

Gasoline

Doors

2

Assembly plant

PUEBLA, MEXICO

Manufacturer

VOLKSWAGEN DE MEXICO SA DE CV

What's a 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle worth?

What comparable 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle vehicles are listed for — a quick gut-check before you negotiate.

Low

$650

Typical price

$1,312

High

$2,800

Most 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle listings fall between $650 and $2,800, from 13 comparable cars.

Is the seller's price fair? Get this exact VIN's current market value — retail, trade-in & loan value — in the full report.

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Full vehicle history report

$14.99 USD · one-time

What a full report checks for VIN 3VWBB61C9WM049425

⚠️ 1 open safety recall — shown above, free 🔒 Title & brand records 🔒 Accident & damage history 🔒 Salvage, total-loss & theft 🔒 Odometer & owner count 🔒 Liens & market valuation

A full report searches national title databases (NMVTIS) and licensed history providers for this VIN and shows whatever records are on file — not every vehicle has every record type. The decode, safety recalls and owner complaints above are always free.

📜 Title status Clean, salvage, rebuilt, junk, flood or lemon

🏷️ Title brand history Every brand ever applied, by state

🧾 Number of owners How many registrations on record

🛞 Odometer readings Reported mileage over time

🔎 Rollback check Mileage inconsistency / tamper flags

💥 Accident & damage Reported collisions and damage events

🚧 Total-loss records Insurance total-loss declarations

♻️ Salvage & auction Salvage-yard and auction history

🚓 Theft records Reported / recovered theft events

🏦 Liens & impounds Outstanding liens or impound records

🏷️ Sale & listing history Past marketplace and dealer listings

💰 Market valuation Estimated value for this exact spec

Unlock full report — $14.99 → or get up to 20 reports a month for $19.99/mo → One-time purchase · permanent access · VIN 3VWBB61C9WM049425

Safety recalls 1

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCH MAY MALFUNCTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE LAMP SWITCHES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 26, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT VWOA AT 1-800-822-8987.

NHTSA Campaign #03V265000 · 25/07/2003

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Common problems & what to inspect

Based on 32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle, here are the most-reported problem areas — and exactly what to check before you buy.

💥 1 involved a crash 🔥 1 involved a fire 🚑 1 reported injury

Visibility 4 reports

🔍 Test wipers, washers, defrosters and all mirrors. Check the windshield for cracks and any camera/sensor for fogging or faults.

Exterior Lighting 4 reports

🔍 Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.

Air Bags 2 reports

🔍 Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Electrical System 1 report

🔍 Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

Fuel System 1 report

🔍 Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.

Gasoline 1 report

🔍 Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Pre-purchase checklist

Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.

Owner complaints 32

Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1998 VOLKSWAGEN NEW BEETLE SEVERELY OVERHEATED, CHECKING OUT CAUSE FOUND THE FUSE BOX ON TOP OF THE BATTERY HOUSING HAD MELTED. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT! VWOA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THERE IS A PROBLEM ALTHOUGHT INTERNET SURVEYS SHOW 26% FAILURE IN NEW BEETLES. PLACEMENT OF THE FUSE BOX ON THE BATTERY HOUSING DOES NOT …

Fire · NHTSA ODI #10098549

AIR BAGS

SOME TYPE OF 'CONTROL MODULE' NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, WITHOUT IT THE AIR-BAG SYSTEM DOESN'T WORK. THIS IS A SAFETY FEATURE WHICH HELPED IN THE DECISION TO BUY THE CAR, AND AFTER 5 YEARS IT FAILS RENDERING THE SYSTEM USELESS AND REQUIRING OVER $700 TO REPLACE. THIS IS WRONG!

NHTSA ODI #10097977

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TODAY, JULY 27,2004, THE OUTPUT CONNECTION ON MY FUEL PUMP CAME APART (DISCONNECTED) AND WHEN I TRIED TO START MY CAR DUMPED ABOUT A QUART OF GASOLINE ON THE GROUND UNDER THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE CAR. I WAS IN A CROWDED POST OFFICE PARKING LOT AND IT WAS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE FIRE DEPT CAME AND RECONNECTED THE LINE AND I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED TO …

NHTSA ODI #10082798

VISIBILITY

PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW AND DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW MALFUNCTIONED AND DRIVER SIDE PLASTIC SWITCH BROKE OFF.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10078305

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HEADLIGHTS CONSTANTLY GO OUT WHILE DRIVING, HAVE BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE MANY TIMES DUE TO NO LIGHTS OR HAVING TO DRIVE WITH HIGH BEAMS ON. THIS PAST TIME HAD TO PARK THE CAR AND HAVE SOMEONE TAKE US HOME, COULD NOT DRIVE CAR UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING. REPAIR BILLS ARE BECOMING REDICULOUS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10068206