1998 Ford Escort vs 1998 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 | 1998 Ford Escort | 1998 Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 375 | 192 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 2 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 125 | 74 |
| Investigations | 1 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 84 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 11 | 8 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–28 | 22–37 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 75,000 mi | 83,282 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escort | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 75 | 9 |
| Electrical System | 43 | 41 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 49 | 15 |
| Suspension | 50 | 9 |
| Visibility | 16 | 42 |
| Power Train | 43 | 14 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 32 | 11 |
| Steering | 17 | 12 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 25 | 13 |
| Vibration / shaking | 17 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 13 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 6 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 5 |
1998 Ford Escort
1998 Volkswagen Jetta
Compare all Ford Escort 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.