Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1972 Beetle.
As the core vehicle, platform, and engine configuration covered in this reference, the 1972 Volkswagen Beetle anchors an era well before the model's formally tracked complaint window of 1998 to 2019. Within that later reliability scope, the nameplate experienced its highest volume of issues at 195 complaints in 1998, before ultimately dropping to a record low of just 14 complaints by 2019. Consequently, the 1972 model year sits at the earliest edge of this long-term reliability arc, meaning it predates the model's documented peak in issues and serves as a historical baseline long before the nameplate achieved its lowest complaint figures.
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.