Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2015 vs 2016 VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 131 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 43.4% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table

Component	2015 share	2016 share	Share change
AIR BAGS	48.2%	63.8%	▲ 15.6 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	16.9%	4.3%	▼ 12.6 pts smaller share
ENGINE	7.2%	2.1%	▼ 5.1 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY	4.8%	not reported	▼ 4.8 pts smaller share
WHEELS	not reported	4.3%	▲ 4.3 pts larger share
POWER TRAIN	4.8%	2.1%	▼ 2.7 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION	not reported	2.1%	▲ 2.1 pts larger share
TIRES	not reported	2.1%	▲ 2.1 pts larger share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	not reported	2.1%	▲ 2.1 pts larger share
STEERING	2.4%	4.3%	▲ 1.9 pts larger share
STRUCTURE	1.2%	not reported	▼ 1.2 pts smaller share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	16.9%	14.9%	▼ 2.0 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

2015 6

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, and VISIBILITY

2016 4

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21