2002 Honda Civic vs 2002 Volkswagen Golf
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 | 2002 Honda Civic | 2002 Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 702 | 73 |
| Recall campaigns | 11 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 316 | 222 |
| Investigations | 4 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 112 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 14 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–31 | 23–38 |
| Median reported mileage | 91,452 mi | 59,940 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda Civic | Volkswagen Golf |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 241 | 22 |
| Power Train | 185 | 4 |
| Exterior Lighting | 53 | 11 |
| Electrical System | 49 | 11 |
| Seat Belts | 51 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 31 | 13 |
| Suspension | 35 | 1 |
| Steering | 23 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 36 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 20 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 15 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 12 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 11 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 10 | 0 |
| Overheating | 10 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 0 |
2002 Honda Civic
2002 Volkswagen Golf
Compare all Honda Civic vs Volkswagen Golf 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.