2008 Ford Fusion vs 2008 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 | 2008 Ford Fusion | 2008 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,353 | 168 |
| Recall campaigns | 5 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 21 | 621 |
| Investigations | 5 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 53 | 3 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 6 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–23 | 20–24 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 98,000 mi | 90,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Fusion | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 638 | 32 |
| Service Brakes | 479 | 4 |
| Structure | 82 | 2 |
| Engine | 39 | 43 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 74 | 1 |
| Power Train | 47 | 12 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 44 |
| Electrical System | 28 | 21 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Brake problems | 55 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 29 | 0 |
| Stalling | 20 | 21 |
| Check engine light | 18 | 16 |
| Hesitation / surging | 17 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 12 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 5 | 0 |
2008 Ford Fusion
2008 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Ford Fusion 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.