2016 Nissan Altima vs 2016 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 | 2016 Nissan Altima | 2016 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 550 | 106 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 323 | 828 |
| Investigations | 3 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 28 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–31 | 23–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 60,000 mi | 37,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Altima | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 234 | 5 |
| Engine | 86 | 17 |
| Air Bags | 70 | 25 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 65 | 11 |
| Electrical System | 42 | 22 |
| Exterior Lighting | 41 | 5 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 27 | 15 |
| Steering | 16 | 19 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 64 | 0 |
| Stalling | 54 | 7 |
| Hesitation / surging | 38 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 26 | 5 |
| Airbag warning light | 25 | 16 |
| Loss of power | 17 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 5 | 0 |
2016 Nissan Altima
2016 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Nissan Altima 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.