1999 Oldsmobile Alero vs 1999 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 | 1999 Oldsmobile Alero | 1999 Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 462 | 349 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 150 | 159 |
| Investigations | 1 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 14 | 33 |
| Fire reports | 11 | 9 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–23 | 19–37 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 64,480 mi | 73,137 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Oldsmobile Alero | Volkswagen Jetta |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 85 | 78 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 111 | 29 |
| Visibility | 56 | 81 |
| Electrical System | 89 | 44 |
| Power Train | 34 | 30 |
| Exterior Lighting | 43 | 17 |
| Suspension | 46 | 12 |
| Structure | 29 | 25 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 38 | 6 |
| Overheating | 14 | 0 |
| Stalling | 12 | 24 |
| Won’t start | 9 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 8 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 9 |
| Rust / corrosion | 6 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 10 |
1999 Oldsmobile Alero
1999 Volkswagen Jetta
Compare all Oldsmobile Alero 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.