2018 Ford Fusion vs 2018 Volkswagen Passat
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Ford Fusion | 2018 Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 432 | 45 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 160 | 601 |
| Investigations | 1 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 8 | 5 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–42 | 22–29 |
| Median reported mileage | 91,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Fusion | Volkswagen Passat |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 198 | 11 |
| Power Train | 105 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 87 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 26 | 10 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 22 | 6 |
| Steering | 19 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 12 |
| Wheels | 11 | 2 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 128 | 0 |
| Overheating | 103 | 0 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 68 | 0 |
| Stalling | 34 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 32 | 0 |
| Hesitation / surging | 23 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 14 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 10 | 0 |
2018 Ford Fusion
2018 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.