2009 Nissan Altima vs 2009 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 | 2009 Nissan Altima | 2009 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,547 | 146 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 117 | 749 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 36 | 5 |
| Fire reports | 8 | 12 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–34 | 22–23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,000 mi | 79,913 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Altima | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 859 | 20 |
| Electrical System | 466 | 18 |
| Engine | 107 | 60 |
| Power Train | 95 | 10 |
| Air Bags | 91 | 12 |
| Structure | 90 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 10 | 46 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 49 | 2 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Steering problems | 483 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 229 | 6 |
| Stalling | 58 | 27 |
| Airbag warning light | 34 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 16 | 5 |
| Check engine light | 13 | 12 |
| Hesitation / surging | 11 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 10 | 9 |
2009 Nissan Altima
2009 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.