1999 Mercury Sable 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 Mercury Sable | 1999 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 258 | 664 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 171 | 122 |
| Investigations | 2 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 22 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 13 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–20 | 19–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 67,850 mi | 75,089 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercury Sable | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 26 | 184 |
| Suspension | 48 | 118 |
| Steering | 33 | 76 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 22 | 86 |
| Electrical System | 7 | 58 |
| Power Train | 28 | 29 |
| Visibility | 21 | 32 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 | 32 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 11 | 40 |
| Rust / corrosion | 10 | 9 |
| Hesitation / surging | 8 | 9 |
| Steering problems | 7 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 17 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 17 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 13 |
1999 Mercury Sable
1999 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Mercury Sable 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.