Volkswagen Group of America says it will voluntarily replace 26 New Beetles and one New Beetle convertible that were manufactured September 1, 2010 or after because they were found to have not met new federal motor vehicle standards for occupant protection. No injuries or accidents have been reported.
The recalled vehicles were built at a Volkswagen factory in Mexico just after a new regulation went into effect. The regulation, a section of Federal Motor Vehicle Standard Number 208, involves a test dummy in the front seat passing certain injury criteria when the vehicle impacts a rigid barrier at a speed of 35 m.p.h.
A VW internal review this month determined that certain vehicles were not compliant with the standards. The company will notify owners through company records and offer them to exchange their vehicle with one that was made prior to September 1, 2010, and therefore compliant with previous standards.
Customers may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987.
Just last month, VW recalled certain 2006-2010 New Beetles and other models to replace faulty fuel lines.
