2001 Ford Mustang vs 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2001 Ford Mustang | 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 173 | 39 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 122 | 19 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 37 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–20 | 22–38 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 57,694 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Mustang | Volkswagen New Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 24 | 5 |
| Air Bags | 26 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 | 7 |
| Seat Belts | 22 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 10 | 10 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 13 | 5 |
| Power Train | 16 | 0 |
| Visibility | 11 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 17 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 9 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 7 |
2001 Ford Mustang
2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
Compare all Ford Mustang vs Volkswagen New Beetle years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.