2002 Mazda 626 vs 2002 Volkswagen Passat
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2002 Mazda 626 | 2002 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 87 | 636 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 98 | 220 |
| Investigations | 0 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 6 | 10 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 46 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–25 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 73,000 mi | 50,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mazda 626 | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 | 220 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 135 |
| Power Train | 70 | 25 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 55 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 47 |
| Structure | 2 | 30 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | 32 |
| Visibility | 1 | 27 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Shifting problems | 8 | 0 |
| Stalling | 7 | 57 |
| Overheating | 6 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 37 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 29 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 29 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 0 | 15 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 14 |
2002 Mazda 626
2002 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.