2001 Mazda 626 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 Mazda 626 | 2001 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 188 | 430 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 97 | 207 |
| Investigations | 0 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 14 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–25 | 19–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 78,726 mi | 60,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mazda 626 | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 139 | 34 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 20 | 92 |
| Electrical System | 6 | 73 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 5 | 48 |
| Air Bags | 11 | 26 |
| Visibility | 4 | 31 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | 30 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 0 | 28 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 19 | 28 |
| Overheating | 8 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 6 | 11 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 14 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 12 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 9 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 9 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 7 |
2001 Mazda 626
2001 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Mazda 626 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.