2006 Nissan Maxima vs 2006 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 | 2006 Nissan Maxima | 2006 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 576 | 576 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 7 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 81 | 521 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 21 | 21 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 20–24 |
| Median reported mileage | 84,250 mi | 65,831 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Maxima | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 393 | 47 |
| Air Bags | 13 | 148 |
| Steering | 17 | 112 |
| Engine | 47 | 64 |
| Electrical System | 26 | 79 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 24 | 66 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 35 | 32 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 40 | 26 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Shifting problems | 78 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 50 | 25 |
| Stalling | 43 | 64 |
| Rust / corrosion | 21 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 14 | 13 |
| Check engine light | 13 | 37 |
| Clunking / rattling | 13 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 5 | 24 |
2006 Nissan Maxima
2006 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.