2003 Infiniti I35 vs 2003 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 | 2003 Infiniti I35 | 2003 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 93 | 628 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 64 | 213 |
| Investigations | 3 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 2 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 94 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 101,000 mi | 59,200 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Infiniti I35 | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 27 | 131 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 137 |
| Electrical System | 13 | 90 |
| Seats | 1 | 97 |
| Engine | 44 | 23 |
| Power Train | 5 | 35 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | 39 |
| Air Bags | 8 | 23 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 42 | 75 |
| Check engine light | 24 | 29 |
| Loss of power | 8 | 24 |
| Won’t start | 5 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 18 |
| Overheating | 0 | 18 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 13 |
| Water leaks | 0 | 11 |
2003 Infiniti I35
2003 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Infiniti I35 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.