2001 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2001 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 | 2001 Chevrolet Malibu | 2001 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 721 | 430 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 377 | 207 |
| Investigations | 4 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 36 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 14 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 19–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 73,308 mi | 60,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 285 | 73 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 149 | 92 |
| Exterior Lighting | 108 | 30 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 78 | 48 |
| Steering | 41 | 13 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 24 | 28 |
| Power Train | 18 | 34 |
| Air Bags | 21 | 26 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 66 | 28 |
| Won’t start | 63 | 0 |
| Overheating | 22 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 21 | 12 |
| Clunking / rattling | 13 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 12 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 11 | 11 |
| Hesitation / surging | 9 | 7 |
2001 Chevrolet Malibu
2001 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.