2003 Mercury Sable 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 Mercury Sable | 2003 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 201 | 628 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 66 | 213 |
| Investigations | 4 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 13 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 94 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–21 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,000 mi | 59,200 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Mercury Sable | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 19 | 131 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 137 |
| Electrical System | 10 | 90 |
| Seats | 0 | 97 |
| Power Train | 30 | 35 |
| Suspension | 47 | 10 |
| Exterior Lighting | 12 | 39 |
| Structure | 20 | 29 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 13 | 0 |
| Water leaks | 12 | 11 |
| Stalling | 7 | 75 |
| Hesitation / surging | 5 | 13 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 29 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 24 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 18 |
| Overheating | 0 | 18 |
2003 Mercury Sable
2003 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Mercury Sable 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.