1998 Chevrolet Malibu vs 1998 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 | 1998 Chevrolet Malibu | 1998 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 976 | 331 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 115 | 116 |
| Investigations | 6 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 34 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 5 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–24 | 19–37 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,731 mi | 80,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 347 | 70 |
| Suspension | 108 | 90 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 144 | 39 |
| Electrical System | 130 | 28 |
| Steering | 74 | 52 |
| Visibility | 63 | 27 |
| Exterior Lighting | 79 | 4 |
| Power Train | 50 | 16 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 87 | 0 |
| Stalling | 37 | 12 |
| Clunking / rattling | 22 | 5 |
| Overheating | 21 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 15 | 6 |
| Rust / corrosion | 15 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 14 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 8 | 0 |
1998 Chevrolet Malibu
1998 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu 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.