2012 Kia Soul vs 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen
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 | 2012 Kia Soul | 2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 514 | 27 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 132 | 1,080 |
| Investigations | 5 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 25 | 0 |
| Fire reports | 23 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–27 | 26–32 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 88,850 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Kia Soul | Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 209 | 4 |
| Steering | 166 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 38 | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 34 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 32 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 21 | 5 |
| Power Train | 21 | 4 |
| Structure | 18 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Clunking / rattling | 79 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 71 | 0 |
| Stalling | 63 | 5 |
| Vibration / shaking | 26 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 13 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 12 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 10 | 0 |
| Overheating | 10 | 0 |
2012 Kia Soul
2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen
Compare all Kia Soul vs Volkswagen Jetta Sportwagen 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.