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Chevrolet Cruze vs Volkswagen Jetta: reliability compared

From 2010 to 2019, owners filed an average of 373 complaints per model year about the Chevrolet Cruze and 397 about the Volkswagen Jetta.

Side by side

Chevrolet CruzeVolkswagen Jetta
Model years compared2010-20192010-2019
Owner complaints3,7313,966
Complaints per model year373397
Recalls2632
Years to avoid201120122013201420102011
Best yearsNone stand out2017
Most common problemEngineElectrical
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy31-37 mpg combined (2019)28-34 mpg combined (2019)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2010 Chevrolet Cruze: 22010 Volkswagen Jetta: 85220102011 Chevrolet Cruze: 7332011 Volkswagen Jetta: 60720112012 Chevrolet Cruze: 8652012 Volkswagen Jetta: 50020122013 Chevrolet Cruze: 5872013 Volkswagen Jetta: 51820132014 Chevrolet Cruze: 7052014 Volkswagen Jetta: 38820142015 Chevrolet Cruze: 2542015 Volkswagen Jetta: 19420152016 Chevrolet Cruze: 2502016 Volkswagen Jetta: 16220162017 Chevrolet Cruze: 2032017 Volkswagen Jetta: 16020172018 Chevrolet Cruze: 1092018 Volkswagen Jetta: 3220182019 Chevrolet Cruze: 232019 Volkswagen Jetta: 5532019
Chevrolet CruzeVolkswagen Jetta

Problems compared

CruzeJetta
Engine1,393900
Electrical7621,074
Transmission683654
Driver assistance393117
Brakes378248
Steering375185
Fuel system272769
Airbags261237

Questions about the Chevrolet Cruze vs Volkswagen Jetta

Which is more reliable, the Chevrolet Cruze or the Volkswagen Jetta?

Between 2010 and 2019, the Chevrolet Cruze has 4 years to avoid and the Volkswagen Jetta 2. The Volkswagen Jetta has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Chevrolet Cruze drew fewer complaints per model year (373 vs 397), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Cruze or the Volkswagen Jetta?

From 2010 to 2019, the Chevrolet Cruze was covered by 26 recalls and the Volkswagen Jetta by 32.

What years of the Chevrolet Cruze and Volkswagen Jetta should you avoid?

Chevrolet Cruze: 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014. Volkswagen Jetta: 2010 and 2011.

More compact cars comparisons

Honda Civic vs Toyota CorollaHonda Civic vs Hyundai ElantraHonda Civic vs Nissan SentraHonda Civic vs Mazda MAZDA3Honda Civic vs Kia ForteHonda Civic vs Volkswagen JettaHonda Civic vs Subaru ImprezaChevrolet Cruze vs Honda CivicFord Focus vs Honda CivicHyundai Elantra vs Toyota CorollaNissan Sentra vs Toyota CorollaMazda MAZDA3 vs Toyota CorollaKia Forte vs Toyota CorollaToyota Corolla vs Volkswagen JettaSubaru Impreza vs Toyota CorollaChevrolet Cruze vs Toyota CorollaFord Focus vs Toyota CorollaHyundai Elantra vs Nissan SentraHyundai Elantra vs Mazda MAZDA3Hyundai Elantra vs Kia ForteHyundai Elantra vs Volkswagen JettaHyundai Elantra vs Subaru ImprezaChevrolet Cruze vs Hyundai ElantraFord Focus vs Hyundai Elantra

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