1997 Toyota Camry vs 1997 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 | 1997 Toyota Camry | 1997 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 555 | 37 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 129 | 52 |
| Investigations | 3 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 79 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 27 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–23 | 18–36 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 88,000 mi | 100,300 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Toyota Camry | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 96 | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 100 | 0 |
| Suspension | 70 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 55 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 40 | 13 |
| Power Train | 35 | 0 |
| Seats | 30 | 0 |
| Steering | 30 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 23 | 0 |
| Stalling | 20 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 12 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 11 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 10 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 9 | 0 |
1997 Toyota Camry
1997 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.