2011 Kia Soul vs 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2011 Kia Soul | 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 194 | 33 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 66 | 1,008 |
| Investigations | 3 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 27 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–28 | 26–32 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 55,000 mi | 80,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Soul | Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 30 | 15 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 32 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 26 | 2 |
| Engine | 24 | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 13 | 5 |
| Power Train | 13 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 13 | 1 |
| Suspension | 9 | 4 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 8 | 7 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 7 | 0 |
2011 Kia Soul
2011 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen
Compare all Kia Soul vs Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen 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.