1999 Ford Taurus vs 1999 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 | 1999 Ford Taurus | 1999 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 874 | 664 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 178 | 122 |
| Investigations | 2 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 61 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 16 | 13 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–20 | 19–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,000 mi | 75,089 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Taurus | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 180 | 118 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 99 | 184 |
| Steering | 106 | 76 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 81 | 86 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 109 | 32 |
| Power Train | 91 | 29 |
| Electrical System | 51 | 58 |
| Visibility | 58 | 32 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 44 | 13 |
| Rust / corrosion | 37 | 9 |
| Stalling | 36 | 40 |
| Hesitation / surging | 29 | 9 |
| Steering problems | 14 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 13 | 10 |
| Brake problems | 12 | 0 |
| Overheating | 9 | 0 |
1999 Ford Taurus
1999 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Ford Taurus 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.