1999 Buick Century vs 1999 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 | 1999 Buick Century | 1999 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 235 | 664 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 98 | 122 |
| Investigations | 0 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 18 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 13 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 19–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 57,808 mi | 75,089 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Buick Century | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 25 | 184 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 55 | 86 |
| Suspension | 10 | 118 |
| Steering | 13 | 76 |
| Electrical System | 15 | 58 |
| Visibility | 29 | 32 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 | 32 |
| Power Train | 11 | 29 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Overheating | 13 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 13 | 9 |
| Stalling | 6 | 40 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 6 | 13 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 17 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 17 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 10 |
1999 Buick Century
1999 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Buick Century 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.