2016 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2016 Volkswagen Passat
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 23, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2016 Chevrolet Malibu | 2016 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 837 | 106 |
| Recall campaigns | 9 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,548 | 832 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 23 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–46 | 23–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 51,000 mi | 37,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 302 | 17 |
| Electrical System | 222 | 22 |
| Power Train | 166 | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 152 | 11 |
| Service Brakes | 94 | 15 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 76 | 5 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 50 | 15 |
| Steering | 42 | 19 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 119 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 58 | 0 |
| Stalling | 40 | 7 |
| Vibration / shaking | 23 | 5 |
| Hesitation / surging | 14 | 0 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 12 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 9 | 0 |
| Water leaks | 9 | 0 |
2016 Chevrolet Malibu
2016 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu 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.