FaultScore

Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen vs Dodge Spirit

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 Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen Dodge Spirit
Complaints on file 246 603
Model years covered 2013–2019 1989–2002
Worst model year 2015 1994
Best model year 2019 1995
Crashes reported 18 44
Fires reported 2 38
Injuries reported 16 38
Deaths reported 0 3
Most complained-about part Electrical System Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 14.6% 20.4%

Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen by year

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

What breaks

Airbags 37 15.0%
Engine & Cooling 27 11.0%
Suspension 27 11.0%
Fuel & Propulsion 23 9.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain 14 5.7%
Body & Structure 14 5.7%

Dodge Spirit by year

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

What breaks