2012 Ford Fusion vs 2012 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 | 2012 Ford Fusion | 2012 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 2,510 | 483 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 11 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 51 | 1,568 |
| Investigations | 4 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 107 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 9 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–38 | 23–34 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 75,000 mi | 60,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Fusion | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 1,469 | 46 |
| Air Bags | 404 | 295 |
| Electrical System | 162 | 95 |
| Power Train | 158 | 15 |
| Engine | 111 | 40 |
| Structure | 99 | 17 |
| Service Brakes | 104 | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 86 | 14 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 296 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 200 | 15 |
| Stalling | 87 | 23 |
| Hesitation / surging | 40 | 9 |
| Check engine light | 34 | 16 |
| Vibration / shaking | 30 | 5 |
| Brake problems | 22 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 21 | 66 |
2012 Ford Fusion
2012 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Ford Fusion 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.