2016 Ford Fusion 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 Ford Fusion | 2016 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,621 | 106 |
| Recall campaigns | 13 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 153 | 832 |
| Investigations | 4 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 59 | 4 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–41 | 23–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 78,348 mi | 37,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Fusion | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 441 | 17 |
| Power Train | 310 | 5 |
| Steering | 176 | 19 |
| Electrical System | 147 | 22 |
| Back Over Prevention | 116 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 108 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 84 | 15 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 83 | 15 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 227 | 0 |
| Overheating | 180 | 0 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 121 | 0 |
| Stalling | 108 | 7 |
| Vibration / shaking | 63 | 5 |
| Loss of power | 60 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 30 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 24 | 0 |
2016 Ford Fusion
2016 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.