2013 Nissan Altima vs 2013 Volkswagen Passat
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2013 Nissan Altima | 2013 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 2,310 | 748 |
| Recall campaigns | 12 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 370 | 1,593 |
| Investigations | 5 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 63 | 29 |
| Fire reports | 9 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–31 | 23–34 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 69,000 mi | 53,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Nissan Altima | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 514 | 382 |
| Power Train | 505 | 33 |
| Exterior Lighting | 441 | 60 |
| Suspension | 289 | 13 |
| Engine | 158 | 104 |
| Electrical System | 159 | 93 |
| Structure | 133 | 31 |
| Steering | 94 | 51 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Airbag warning light | 219 | 61 |
| Stalling | 182 | 47 |
| Vibration / shaking | 144 | 9 |
| Rust / corrosion | 132 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 57 | 6 |
| Check engine light | 54 | 31 |
| Loss of power | 32 | 30 |
| Clunking / rattling | 29 | 13 |
2013 Nissan Altima
2013 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.