1998 Honda Accord 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 Honda Accord | 1998 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,200 | 331 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 255 | 116 |
| Investigations | 3 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 100 | 6 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–24 | 19–37 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 100,000 mi | 80,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda Accord | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 308 | 28 |
| Power Train | 276 | 16 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 134 | 39 |
| Suspension | 62 | 90 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 43 | 70 |
| Air Bags | 79 | 8 |
| Structure | 76 | 8 |
| Steering | 29 | 52 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 147 | 12 |
| Check engine light | 62 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 52 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 43 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 24 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 23 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 18 | 5 |
| Loss of power | 14 | 5 |
1998 Honda Accord
1998 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Honda Accord 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.