Friday, August 7, 2026
RecallGazette

Vehicle problems, recalls & safety intelligence

2002 Volkswagen Jetta vs 2002 Volvo S40

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.

Metric2002 Volkswagen Jetta2002 Volvo S40
NHTSA complaints70227
Recall campaigns51
Service bulletins (TSBs)242157
Investigations70
Crash reports314
Fire reports710
NCAP overall rating
EPA MPG (combined)19–3922
Median reported mileage54,000 mi

Reported problems side by side

ComponentVolkswagen JettaVolvo S40
Electrical System1485
Air Bags1082
Engine and Engine Cooling1043
Power Train1032
Seats1010
Exterior Lighting503
Service Brakes, Hydraulic466
Visibility452

Symptoms owners describe

Stalling500
Loss of power260
Check engine light260
Vibration / shaking220
Shifting problems150
Overheating130
Hesitation / surging80
Electrical failures80

Compare all Volkswagen Jetta vs Volvo S40 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.