Head-to-head reliability

Honda Civic vs Volkswagen Jetta

How the Honda Civic and Volkswagen Jetta compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.

Honda Civic3,714 complaints · 38 recalls
Volkswagen Jetta1,006 complaints · 35 recalls Fewer issues per year

Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records

Which should you buy?

Volkswagen Jetta averages fewer NHTSA complaints per year. Honda Civic has 3,714 complaints and 38 recalls on record; Volkswagen Jetta has 1,006 complaints and 35 recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.

The numbers

Side-by-side NHTSA record

Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.

CategoryHonda CivicVolkswagen Jetta
Total complaintsAll model years combined3,7141,006 Better
Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns3835 Better
Crash reportsCrash-related complaints20450 Better
Complaints per yearAveraged across model years371.4100.6 Better
Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints14249 Better
Reported deathsTied to owner complaints1 Better3

Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.

What actually goes wrong

The problems owners report

The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.

Honda Civic

  1. 01STEERING1,912
  2. 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER496
  3. 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM326
  4. 04FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE255
  5. 05FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM215
In owners' words — STEERING

The component that has failed is my electric power steering motor. Yes, it is available for inspection upon request. While driving, the steering wheel should turn in a fluid motion, without requiring much force to turn the wheel. When i turn my wheel, it some…

Vehicle: 2021 Honda Civic Mileage: Approximately 58,000 miles Over the past couple of months, I have experienced a steering issue that appears to be worsening. While driving at highway speeds, the steering wheel intermittently feels as though it “sticks” or c…

Volkswagen Jetta

  1. 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM247
  2. 02ENGINE235
  3. 03POWER TRAIN204
  4. 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER174
  5. 05SERVICE BRAKES112
In owners' words — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I own a Silver 2024 Volkswagen Jetta. My car stopped accelerating while I was driving on the freeway on 7/18/2026 which was a huge safety issue resulting in my car needing to be towed to the dealership because it was not drivable. The warning lights came on a…

I purchased a brand-new 2025 Volkswagen Jetta from LaFontaine Volkswagen of Dearborn, MI on October 2, 2025. Within 24 hours, the check-engine light illuminated, and the fuel gauge cluster froze, showing an incorrect fuel level. On October 3, 2025, I contacte…

Official recalls

Safety recalls on record

Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.

Honda Civic — 38 recalls

Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Master Cylinder
#23V458000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Civic, 2020-2023 Ridgeline, 2021-2023 Passport, 2021-2022 Pilot, and 2020 Acura MDX vehicles. The tie rod fastener that connects the brake booster and the brake master cylinder may have been improperly assembled during manufacturing, w…

The risk: Brake master cylinder separation can cause a loss of brake function and increase the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the brake booster assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall ar…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#24V064000Jan 2024

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…

The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…

Fuel System, Gasoline — Delivery — Fuel Pump
#23V858000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…

The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…

Air Bags — Sensor — Occupant Classification — Front Passenger
#26V332000

The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…

The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.

The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…

Volkswagen Jetta — 35 recalls

Electrical System — Wiring
#26V138000Nov 2026

The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Jetta vehicles. The transmission ground wire may not have been properly connected during assembly, causing an open electrical circuit.

The risk: An open circuit may draw a higher current and increase the risk of a fire.

The fix: Dealers will inspect and repair transmission ground wire as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this re…

Electrical System — Instrument Cluster/Panel
#26V185000

The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2025 Jetta and Taos vehicles. The instrument panel may fail to display warning lights or gauges. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101, "Control and Display…

The risk: An instrument panel that does not display critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, can increase the risk of a crash.

The fix: Dealers will update the instrument panel software and replace the instrument panel as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2026. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswa…

Fuel System, Gasoline — Fuel Injection System — Fuel Rail
#20V648000

The defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Jetta vehicles. The fuel rail bolts may become loose over time, allowing fuel to leak.

The risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

The fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rail bolts and, as necessary, the fuel rail. The recall began March 31, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this r…

Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Master Cylinder
#20E064000

The defect: Tenneco Automotive (Tenneco) is recalling certain Beck/Arnley Master Cylinders, part number 072-9831, sold as aftermarket or replacement parts for 2004-2018 Volkswagen Jetta, and 2012-2019 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles. The fluid seal crimp on the master cylinder may be insufficient, causing brake flu…

The risk: If there is a brake fluid leak, it can reduce braking ability, increasing the risk of a crash.

The fix: Beck/Arnley will notify the distributors that sold the master cylinders and will work with the distributors to notify the end users. Affected master cylinders will be exchanged for a new master cylinder (part number 072-9990), free of char…

Year by year

Which model years to avoid

Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.

YearHonda CivicVolkswagen Jetta
2026257
20258723
202425840
202357842
202288142
202113966
202022051
2019348545
201859831
2017580159
Years to scrutinize: the 2022 Honda Civic drew the most complaints (881); the 2019 Volkswagen Jetta drew the most (545). Inspect these model years especially closely.

Check the actual car

Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.

Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Honda Civic or Volkswagen Jetta in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.

Go deeper

Full reliability reports

Honda Civic vs Volkswagen Jetta — comparison facts
Comparison
Honda Civic vs Volkswagen Jetta
Honda Civic total complaints
3,714
Volkswagen Jetta total complaints
1,006
Honda Civic total recalls
38
Volkswagen Jetta total recalls
35
Honda Civic avg complaints/year
371.4
Volkswagen Jetta avg complaints/year
100.6
More reliable overall
Volkswagen Jetta
Honda Civic top complaint area
STEERING
Volkswagen Jetta top complaint area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM