Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1972 Beetle.
The 1972 Volkswagen Beetle appears in complaint histories that span the years 1998 through 2019. During that interval the model recorded a peak of 195 complaints in 1998 and a trough of 14 complaints in 2019. These figures illustrate a marked reduction in documented problems over the examined period. Accordingly, the 1972 Beetle occupies the high‑end of the reliability spectrum for the model year under review.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 159.1 in |
| Overall width | 61 in |
| Overall height | 59.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 94.5 in |
| Curb weight | 1850 lb |
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Beetle of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 1500 Coupe 1.5L F-4 | 17.40 sec | 20.40 sec | 53 hp | RWD |
| 1964 | 1200 Coupe 1.2L F-4 | 29.50 sec | 23.30 sec | 40 hp | RWD |
| 1962 | 1200 Coupe 1.2L F-4 | 27.50 sec | 22.90 sec | 40 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.