2012 Nissan Altima vs 2012 Volkswagen 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 | 2012 Nissan Altima | 2012 Volkswagen Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 424 | 65 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 121 | 1,074 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 24 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–26 | 24–25 |
| Median reported mileage | 76,490 mi | 26,399 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Altima | Volkswagen Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 149 | 2 |
| Engine | 68 | 6 |
| Air Bags | 57 | 12 |
| Electrical System | 44 | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 49 | 2 |
| Structure | 32 | 5 |
| Visibility/wiper | 16 | 10 |
| Steering | 16 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Loss of power | 30 | 0 |
| Stalling | 22 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 20 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 16 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 13 | 0 |
| Overheating | 13 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 0 |
2012 Nissan Altima
2012 Volkswagen Beetle
Compare all Nissan Altima vs Volkswagen 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.