2011 Volkswagen Golf vs 2011 Volkswagen Jetta
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2011 Volkswagen Golf | 2011 Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 110 | 606 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 7 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,210 | 1,329 |
| Investigations | 5 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 27 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 9 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–32 | 25–32 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 28,000 mi | 51,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Volkswagen Golf | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 18 | 185 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 30 | 77 |
| Engine | 15 | 90 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 19 | 82 |
| Power Train | 21 | 54 |
| Air Bags | 12 | 36 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 41 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 25 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 28 | 111 |
| Loss of power | 13 | 42 |
| Check engine light | 8 | 38 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 20 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 15 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 13 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 8 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 5 |
2011 Volkswagen Golf
2011 Volkswagen Jetta
Compare all Volkswagen Golf 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.