2002 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2002 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 | 2002 Chevrolet Malibu | 2002 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 567 | 636 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 391 | 220 |
| Investigations | 1 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 18 | 10 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 46 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,000 mi | 50,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 259 | 220 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 63 | 135 |
| Exterior Lighting | 143 | 32 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 41 | 47 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 22 | 55 |
| Structure | 12 | 30 |
| Visibility | 12 | 27 |
| Engine | 22 | 13 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Won’t start | 61 | 0 |
| Stalling | 46 | 57 |
| Overheating | 16 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 13 | 29 |
| Hesitation / surging | 10 | 9 |
| Rust / corrosion | 10 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 7 | 29 |
| Check engine light | 7 | 37 |
2002 Chevrolet Malibu
2002 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu 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.