2003 Nissan Altima 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 Nissan Altima | 2003 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 883 | 628 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 101 | 213 |
| Investigations | 1 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 41 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 13 | 94 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–23 | 20–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 85,000 mi | 59,200 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Altima | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 450 | 131 |
| Electrical System | 89 | 90 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 28 | 137 |
| Structure | 126 | 29 |
| Engine | 117 | 23 |
| Seats | 6 | 97 |
| Power Train | 34 | 35 |
| Exterior Lighting | 17 | 39 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 235 | 75 |
| Check engine light | 129 | 29 |
| Rust / corrosion | 107 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 40 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 36 | 13 |
| Loss of power | 28 | 24 |
| Won’t start | 21 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 14 | 18 |
2003 Nissan Altima
2003 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Nissan Altima 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.