Table 1 shows three common exterior lighting related problems of the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle.
| Problem Category | Number of Problems |
|---|---|
| Hazard Flashing Warning Light Unit problems | |
| Fog Light Switch problems | |
| Tail Light Switch problems |
Car would stall and abruptly stop when operating and all engine and electrical functions and safety features would turn off and not work (e. G. , engine, assisted brakes, air bags, horn, running lights, brake lights, hazard lights, entire dashboard would not work). About 10 minutes later, the car would power up again and run. The problem was intermittent (it happened again) and neither the manufacturer nor dealer could find the cause. The owner refused to drive it anymore unless they found the cause because the abrupt stopping could be catastrophic on the highway. The current position of the manufacturer and dealer is that it never happened. Another case is reported here where the same car abruptly stopped three times and the manufacturer and dealer could not find the cause.
I have noticed my center driver-side headlight dim/turn off for some time thinking the headlight was bad. I had the headlight replaced in February but still had people tell me it was out and at times I could see this in the reflection of truck tailgates, etc. The surrounding daytime running light can make it hard to tell. However, in the last couple weeks, every two to three minutes, sometimes after noticing the initial dim of the driver-side head light, all light turn off leaving the car in motion in the dark. This has happened both on local roads and highway. Engaging the fog lights may extend the time between shut-offs by another minute or so. By turning the lights off and waiting a second, then turning them back on, all lights come back. Doing so too quickly does not always work. The dealership mechanic feels it is capacitor or similar electric issue in the j519 body control module that receives power for the lights and controls them from there. Being a safety issue, I have to wonder if creating such a weak-link to power all nighttime running lights is not recall worthy. He suggested full module replacement I do have video to share of this occurring.
The tail light connector rotted while l was driving on the street.