Compact cars · 5 model years, 2014 to 2019
Volkswagen Jetta vs Toyota Corolla: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Jetta and the Corolla split evenly (3 each, the rest too close to call).
Newest report Sep 16, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2014 to 2019 | Jetta | Corolla |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 5.7% | 24% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.0% | 0.6% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 4.5% | 15% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 40,000 | 35,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 5.2 | 1.4 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 1 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 5 | 2 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Jetta owners complain about most is engine; for the Corolla it is airbags. Complaints citing engine make up 26% of all Jetta complaints, against 9.0% on the Corolla. The Corolla leans the other way on airbags: 26% of its complaints, against 6.7% for the Jetta.
Volkswagen JettaToyota Corolla
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Jetta is stalling (17% of its complaints). On the Corolla it is airbag problems (26% of its complaints), against 6.7% on the Jetta.
| Problem | Jetta | Corolla |
|---|---|---|
| Airbag warning light or recall | 6.7% 95most in 2014 · 38k mi | 26% 273most in 2014 · 39k mi |
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 17% 234most in 2019 · 47k mi | 4.5% 47most in 2019 · 29k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 7.1% 100most in 2019 · 26k mi | 9.8% 102most in 2016 · 20k mi |
| Seat belt or seat problems | 2.3% 3243k mi | 7.7% 80most in 2016 · 36k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 5.5% 77most in 2019 · 44k mi | 4.4% 46most in 2014 · 60k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 6.2% 87most in 2014 · 71k mi | 2.5% 2659k mi |
| Wheel bearing, tires or wheels | 2.6% 3721k mi | 4.0% 4225k mi |
| Suspension noise, struts or alignment | 2.7% 3843k mi | 2.6% 2719k mi |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Corolla owners report problems earlier. Half the Corolla complaints that give a mileage come before 35,000 miles; for the Jetta the halfway point is 40,000. 56% of Jetta reports and 65% of Corolla reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Volkswagen JettaToyota Corolla
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 804 for the Jetta and 581 for the Corolla.
Worst and best years
The 2019 Jetta draws 4.8 times the complaints of a typical Jetta year for its age. The 2020 Corolla draws 2.2 times the complaints of a typical Corolla year for its age.
Volkswagen JettaToyota Corolla
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Jetta draws more recalls: 5.2 campaigns per model year against 1.4 for the Corolla. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Volkswagen Jetta
26 recall campaigns and 5 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (4), fuel system (4) and airbags (3).
- Do not drive 19V-879 (wheels), model years 2019
- 19V-615 (electrical) covers 4 model years
- 20E-064 (service brakes, hydraulic) covers 4 model years
Investigations
- RQ23007: Fuel leak due to suction jet pump failure within fuel tank (remedy effectiveness of recall 16v647) (closed, led to a recall)
- DP19003: Vehicle stalling - manual transmission (closed)
- EA18003: Air bag clockspring failure (open)
Toyota Corolla
7 recall campaigns and 2 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: equipment (2), visibility (1) and airbags (1).
- 20V-024 (airbags) covers 5 model years
- 19V-503 (equipment) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- EA21002: Desiccated air bag inflator rupture (open)
- EA19001: Electrical overstress (closed, led to a recall)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Corolla complaints report a crash: 24%, against 5.7% for the Jetta. Fire reports: 14 for the Jetta and 6 for the Corolla. Complaints on file report 1 death in the Jetta and 2 in the Corolla for these model years.
Volkswagen JettaToyota Corolla
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Volkswagen Jetta or the Toyota Corolla more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Jetta and the Corolla split evenly (3 each, the rest too close to call). NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Jetta has 1,410 complaints and the Corolla 1,040 for the 5 model years from 2014 to 2019 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Jetta or the Corolla?
The Jetta has 26 recall campaigns and the Corolla 7 across the 5 model years from 2014 to 2019 that both have on file. The Jetta draws more recalls: 5.2 campaigns per model year against 1.4 for the Corolla.
What are the most common problems on the Jetta and the Corolla?
The most reported problem on the Jetta is stalling (17% of its complaints). On the Corolla it is airbag problems (26% of its complaints), against 6.7% on the Jetta.
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