2002 Subaru Legacy vs 2002 Volkswagen Jetta
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 Subaru Legacy | 2002 Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 54 | 702 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 150 | 242 |
| Investigations | 0 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 5 | 31 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 71 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 19–39 |
| Median reported mileage | 66,751 mi | 54,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Subaru Legacy | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 | 148 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 104 |
| Power Train | 7 | 103 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 108 |
| Seats | 1 | 101 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 6 | 46 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | 50 |
| Visibility | 1 | 45 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 6 | 0 |
| Stalling | 5 | 50 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 8 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 26 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 26 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 22 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 15 |
| Overheating | 0 | 13 |
2002 Subaru Legacy
2002 Volkswagen Jetta
Compare all Subaru Legacy vs Volkswagen Jetta 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.