2002 Nissan Maxima vs 2002 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 | 2002 Nissan Maxima | 2002 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 205 | 636 |
| Recall campaigns | 6 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 82 | 220 |
| Investigations | 1 | 8 |
| Crash reports | 27 | 10 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 46 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–21 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 64,400 mi | 50,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Maxima | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 22 | 220 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 30 | 135 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17 | 47 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 55 |
| Exterior Lighting | 22 | 32 |
| Structure | 11 | 30 |
| Air Bags | 29 | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 23 | 16 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 21 | 57 |
| Check engine light | 11 | 37 |
| Loss of power | 8 | 29 |
| Rust / corrosion | 8 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 6 | 9 |
| Clunking / rattling | 6 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 5 | 14 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 29 |
2002 Nissan Maxima
2002 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.