2001 Mercedes-Benz E320 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 Mercedes-Benz E320 | 2001 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 38 | 430 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 34 | 207 |
| Investigations | 0 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 6 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 14 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–21 | 19–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 93,000 mi | 60,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercedes-Benz E320 | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 92 |
| Electrical System | 13 | 73 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 48 |
| Power Train | 6 | 34 |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 30 |
| Air Bags | 7 | 26 |
| Visibility | 2 | 31 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 28 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 0 | 28 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 14 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 12 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 11 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 9 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 9 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 7 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 0 | 6 |
2001 Mercedes-Benz E320
2001 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Mercedes-Benz E320 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.