2000 Volkswagen Passat vs 2002 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 | 2000 Volkswagen Passat | 2002 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 507 | 636 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 196 | 220 |
| Investigations | 7 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 11 | 10 |
| Fire reports | 25 | 46 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–24 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 69,600 mi | 50,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Volkswagen Passat | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 43 | 220 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 94 | 135 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 160 | 47 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 30 | 55 |
| Visibility | 26 | 27 |
| Suspension | 36 | 16 |
| Power Train | 19 | 25 |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 | 32 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 25 | 57 |
| Check engine light | 20 | 37 |
| Brake problems | 13 | 14 |
| Hesitation / surging | 11 | 9 |
| Vibration / shaking | 11 | 29 |
| Airbag warning light | 6 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 29 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 0 | 15 |
2000 Volkswagen Passat
2002 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Volkswagen Passat 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.