2001 Volkswagen Passat vs 2003 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 | 2001 Volkswagen Passat | 2003 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 430 | 628 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 207 | 213 |
| Investigations | 7 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 14 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 14 | 94 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–23 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 60,000 mi | 59,200 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Volkswagen Passat | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 92 | 131 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 28 | 137 |
| Electrical System | 73 | 90 |
| Seats | 7 | 97 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 48 | 28 |
| Power Train | 34 | 35 |
| Exterior Lighting | 30 | 39 |
| Visibility | 31 | 22 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 28 | 75 |
| Loss of power | 14 | 24 |
| Vibration / shaking | 12 | 18 |
| Check engine light | 11 | 29 |
| Electrical failures | 9 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 9 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 7 | 13 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 6 | 10 |
2001 Volkswagen Passat
2003 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.