FaultScore

Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid vs BMW 540I

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 Jetta Hybrid BMW 540I
Complaints on file 138 340
Model years covered 2013–2016 1994–2025
Worst model year 2018
Best model year 1994
Crashes reported 7 26
Fires reported 0 7
Injuries reported 3 14
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Transmission & Drivetrain Engine & Cooling
Share of complaints involving harm 7.2% 13.8%

Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid by year

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

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 18 13.0%
Electrical System 13 9.4%
Brakes 11 8.0%
Fuel & Propulsion 7 5.1%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 5 3.6%
Airbags 4 2.9%
Steering 2 1.4%

BMW 540I by year

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

What breaks

Engine & Cooling 70 20.6%
Airbags 49 14.4%
Transmission & Drivetrain 23 6.8%
Brakes 21 6.2%
Steering 17 5.0%
Seats 17 5.0%
Seat Belts 16 4.7%