Volkswagen Beetle Bonnet Strut Replacement Parts

No — the New Beetle (1998–2010) and the Beetle A5 (2011–2019) both use a bonnet that is supported by a fixed prop rod rather than a gas strut. There is no bonnet strut on any variant of the Volkswagen Beetle, regardless of engine, trim or model year. If your bonnet is not staying up, you are most likely looking for the prop rod, its retaining clip, or the bracket that holds it in place.

Both generations of the modern Beetle use a simple metal prop rod that slots into a hole in the bonnet to hold it open — the same basic system found on many older vehicles. If yours is missing, bent or the retaining clip has broken, those are the parts to search for on Findapart. Ask a breaker for the bonnet prop rod or bonnet stay rod for your specific generation.

It is possible some sellers mislabel the bonnet prop rod assembly as a strut, or are listing parts from a different vehicle entirely. Neither the New Beetle (1998–2010) nor the A5 Beetle (2011–2019) left the factory with a gas bonnet strut, so any listing specifically claiming to be a bonnet strut for a Beetle should be treated with caution. Contact the breaker directly and confirm exactly what the part is before purchasing.

The two generations are completely different vehicles on different platforms, so the prop rod and its associated bracket are unlikely to interchange between them. Always tell a breaker your exact registration or model year so they can pull the rod from the correct generation. Confirm with the breaker against your registration before ordering.

No — trim level does not affect the bonnet prop rod on either generation of Beetle. Whether your car is a standard, Sport, Design, Exclusive or any other trim, the prop rod and bracket are the same within that generation. The only meaningful distinction is which generation your car belongs to, so confirm that with your registration when contacting a breaker.