Suzuki Samurai vs Volkswagen Golf R

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Suzuki Samurai Volkswagen Golf R
Complaints on file 48 120
Model years covered 1986–1998 2012–2026
Worst model year — 2017
Best model year — 2024
Crashes reported 16 3
Fires reported 1 0
Injuries reported 14 4
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Seat Belts Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance
Share of complaints involving harm 64.6% 5.8%

Suzuki Samurai by year

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 94 98
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Seat Belts 15 31.3%
Suspension 6 12.5%
Body & Structure 5 10.4%
Tires 5 10.4%
Steering 4 8.3%
Engine & Cooling 3 6.3%
Seats 3 6.3%
Wheels 2 4.2%

Volkswagen Golf R by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance 22 18.3%
Electrical System 15 12.5%
Brakes 15 12.5%
Engine & Cooling 11 9.2%
Transmission & Drivetrain 11 9.2%
Other & Unspecified 11 9.2%
Fuel & Propulsion 8 6.7%
Steering 4 3.3%