1996 Mazda 626 vs 1996 Volkswagen Passat
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Mazda 626 | 1996 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 359 | 40 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 44 | 38 |
| Investigations | 4 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 35 | 0 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–26 | 18–35 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 95,500 mi | 84,200 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mazda 626 | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 239 | 2 |
| Air Bags | 49 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 33 | 5 |
| Electrical System | 12 | 14 |
| Visibility | 2 | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 11 | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 | 2 |
| Seat Belts | 8 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 15 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 15 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 12 | 0 |
| Overheating | 9 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 8 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 0 |
1996 Mazda 626
1996 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Mazda 626 vs Volkswagen Passat 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.