2002 Honda Accord 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 Honda Accord | 2002 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,050 | 636 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 197 | 220 |
| Investigations | 7 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 129 | 10 |
| Fire reports | 10 | 46 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–25 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 89,660 mi | 50,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda Accord | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 478 | 25 |
| Electrical System | 69 | 220 |
| Air Bags | 273 | 11 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 33 | 135 |
| Structure | 75 | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 25 | 47 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 46 | 16 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 55 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Shifting problems | 89 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 73 | 9 |
| Check engine light | 64 | 37 |
| Rust / corrosion | 54 | 0 |
| Stalling | 50 | 57 |
| Airbag warning light | 33 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 16 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 9 | 29 |
2002 Honda Accord
2002 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Honda Accord 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.