1998 Ford Mustang vs 1998 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 | 1998 Ford Mustang | 1998 Volkswagen New Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 236 | 30 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 173 | 63 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 44 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 12 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–21 | 21–38 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 88,900 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Mustang | Volkswagen New Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 40 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 29 | 2 |
| Steering | 22 | 0 |
| Power Train | 21 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 18 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 17 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 15 | 2 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 13 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 5 | 0 |
1998 Ford Mustang
1998 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.