2017 Hyundai Elantra vs 2017 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 | 2017 Hyundai Elantra | 2017 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 761 | 108 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 7 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 156 | 674 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 37 | 8 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 4/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 25–35 | 23–27 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 46,000 mi | 35,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Hyundai Elantra | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 286 | 7 |
| Structure | 132 | 3 |
| Electrical System | 111 | 17 |
| Steering | 71 | 16 |
| Power Train | 62 | 5 |
| Air Bags | 32 | 28 |
| Service Brakes | 44 | 15 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 53 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 121 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 96 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 49 | 0 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 38 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 33 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 30 | 0 |
| Oil consumption | 26 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 23 | 0 |
2017 Hyundai Elantra
2017 Volkswagen Passat
Compare all Hyundai Elantra 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.