Volkswagen Beetle vs Subaru Forester
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 | Subaru Forester |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 3,621 | 8,703 |
| Model years covered | 1965–2019 | 1998–2026 |
| Worst model year | 2000 | 2016 |
| Best model year | 2018 | 2026 |
| Crashes reported | 173 | 891 |
| Fires reported | 160 | 157 |
| Injuries reported | 101 | 376 |
| Deaths reported | 4 | 9 |
| Most complained-about part | Transmission & Drivetrain | Windows, Mirrors & Wipers |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 12.1% | 16.5% |
Volkswagen Beetle by year
What breaks
Transmission & Drivetrain
616
17.0%
Airbags
546
15.1%
Electrical System
508
14.0%
Engine & Cooling
372
10.3%
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
370
10.2%
Lights
205
5.7%
Body & Structure
166
4.6%
Brakes
134
3.7%
Subaru Forester by year
What breaks
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers
1,265
14.5%
Engine & Cooling
1,014
11.7%
Airbags
908
10.4%
Other & Unspecified
814
9.4%
Electrical System
793
9.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain
564
6.5%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
531
6.1%
Fuel & Propulsion
511
5.9%