2000 Nissan Maxima vs 2000 Volkswagen Passat
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2000 Nissan Maxima | 2000 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 360 | 507 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 116 | 196 |
| Investigations | 0 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 25 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 25 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–21 | 19–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 60,000 mi | 69,600 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Maxima | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 171 | 43 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 26 | 160 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 72 | 94 |
| Suspension | 17 | 36 |
| Power Train | 22 | 19 |
| Air Bags | 23 | 17 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 30 |
| Steering | 8 | 25 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 48 | 20 |
| Stalling | 42 | 25 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 27 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 24 | 11 |
| Rust / corrosion | 22 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 11 | 5 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 11 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 13 |
2000 Nissan Maxima
2000 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Nissan Maxima 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.