2002 Honda Civic vs 2002 Volkswagen GTI
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 GTI |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 702 | 124 |
| Recall campaigns | 11 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 316 | 113 |
| Investigations | 4 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 112 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 14 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–31 | 21–24 |
| Median reported mileage | 91,452 mi | 18,366 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda Civic | Volkswagen GTI |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 241 | 23 |
| Power Train | 185 | 10 |
| Electrical System | 49 | 42 |
| Exterior Lighting | 53 | 4 |
| Seat Belts | 51 | 1 |
| Suspension | 35 | 4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 31 | 7 |
| Wheels | 5 | 22 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 36 | 8 |
| 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 GTI
Compare all Honda Civic vs Volkswagen GTI 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.