2001 BMW 325CI vs 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2001 BMW 325CI | 2001 Volkswagen New Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 49 | 39 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 16 | 19 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 1 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–21 | 22–38 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 105,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW 325CI | Volkswagen New Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 13 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 10 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting | 4 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 7 |
| Structure | 5 | 1 |
| Power Train | 5 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 0 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 0 | 7 |
2001 BMW 325CI
2001 Volkswagen New Beetle
Compare all BMW 325CI 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.