1999 Nissan Maxima vs 1999 Volkswagen Passat
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1999 Nissan Maxima | 1999 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 165 | 664 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 64 | 122 |
| Investigations | 0 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 7 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 13 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 19–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 79,000 mi | 75,089 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Maxima | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 184 |
| Electrical System | 83 | 58 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 38 | 86 |
| Suspension | 6 | 118 |
| Steering | 2 | 76 |
| Air Bags | 18 | 21 |
| Power Train | 8 | 29 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 32 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 22 | 17 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 20 | 0 |
| Stalling | 13 | 40 |
| Hesitation / surging | 8 | 9 |
| Airbag warning light | 8 | 8 |
| Won’t start | 6 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 5 | 13 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 17 |
1999 Nissan Maxima
1999 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Nissan Maxima 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.