Volkswagen Beetle vs Nissan Sentra
Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.
Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.
| Measure | Volkswagen Beetle | Nissan Sentra |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 3,625 | 8,318 |
| Model years covered | 1965–2019 | 1982–2026 |
| Worst model year | 2000 | 2015 |
| Best model year | 2018 | 2023 |
| Crashes reported | 174 | 867 |
| Fires reported | 160 | 170 |
| Injuries reported | 101 | 550 |
| Deaths reported | 4 | 16 |
| Most complained-about part | Transmission & Drivetrain | Engine & Cooling |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 12.1% | 19.3% |
Volkswagen Beetle by year
What breaks
Transmission & Drivetrain
616
17.0%
Airbags
548
15.1%
Electrical System
509
14.0%
Engine & Cooling
372
10.3%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
370
10.2%
Lights
205
5.7%
Body & Structure
167
4.6%
Brakes
134
3.7%
Nissan Sentra by year
What breaks
Engine & Cooling
1,362
16.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain
1,296
15.6%
Electrical System
850
10.2%
Airbags
796
9.6%
Brakes
622
7.5%
Other & Unspecified
598
7.2%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
426
5.1%
Steering
343
4.1%