1998 Toyota Camry vs 1998 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 | 1998 Toyota Camry | 1998 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 600 | 331 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 128 | 116 |
| Investigations | 2 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 64 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 31 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–24 | 19–37 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 87,844 mi | 80,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Toyota Camry | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 112 | 70 |
| Suspension | 70 | 90 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 92 | 39 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 83 | 3 |
| Steering | 33 | 52 |
| Electrical System | 33 | 28 |
| Air Bags | 50 | 8 |
| Tires | 41 | 4 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 27 | 12 |
| Vibration / shaking | 24 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 14 | 5 |
| Check engine light | 8 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 8 | 6 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 5 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 5 | 0 |
1998 Toyota Camry
1998 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Toyota Camry 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.