2012 Honda Accord vs 2012 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 | 2012 Honda Accord | 2012 Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 372 | 499 |
| Recall campaigns | 8 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 50 | 1,479 |
| Investigations | 1 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 46 | 24 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–27 | 25–32 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 36,000 mi | 58,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda Accord | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 31 | 138 |
| Engine | 43 | 84 |
| Steering | 51 | 41 |
| Air Bags | 56 | 34 |
| Power Train | 27 | 46 |
| Service Brakes | 36 | 34 |
| Seats | 64 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 12 | 47 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 30 | 9 |
| Stalling | 11 | 54 |
| Clunking / rattling | 11 | 7 |
| Hesitation / surging | 8 | 9 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 19 |
| Airbag warning light | 6 | 15 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 26 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 6 |
2012 Honda Accord
2012 Volkswagen Jetta
Compare all Honda Accord 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.