2003 Toyota Camry vs 2003 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 | 2003 Toyota Camry | 2003 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 780 | 628 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 157 | 213 |
| Investigations | 3 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 228 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 10 | 94 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–24 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 51,545 mi | 59,200 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Toyota Camry | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 259 | 14 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 112 | 131 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 11 | 137 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 91 | 28 |
| Electrical System | 20 | 90 |
| Seats | 7 | 97 |
| Air Bags | 72 | 23 |
| Engine | 52 | 23 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Hesitation / surging | 72 | 13 |
| Stalling | 29 | 75 |
| Vibration / shaking | 26 | 18 |
| Overheating | 25 | 18 |
| Brake problems | 18 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 18 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 17 | 29 |
| Rust / corrosion | 6 | 0 |
2003 Toyota Camry
2003 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Toyota Camry 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.