Volkswagen Type Iii — Years to Avoid
Reliability breakdown of every Volkswagen Type Iii model year. Based on NHTSA owner complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.
How we calculate this
Each year receives a composite risk score based on NHTSA owner complaints, federal recalls, safety investigations, and technical service bulletins. Years scoring more than 2x the model's average are flagged as “years to avoid.” Years in the lowest risk bracket are marked as “best years.” All data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Which Volkswagen Type Iii Years Should You Avoid?
The Volkswagen Type Iii shows relatively consistent reliability across model years, with no single year standing out as significantly worse than others.
If you're shopping for a used Volkswagen Type Iii, consider the 1971, 1969 model years — these have the fewest reported issues relative to other years.