Recalls by ModelNissan Altima vs Volkswagen Passat: recalls and problems
Since 2000 the Nissan Altima has 49 recalls and 14,681 owner complaints; the Volkswagen Passat has 44 recalls and 6,354 complaints. Counts are not adjusted for how many of each were sold.
At a glance
| Nissan Altima | Volkswagen Passat | |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 49 | 44 |
| Do-not-drive / park-outside recalls | 0 | 1 |
| Owner complaints | 14,681 | 6,354 |
| Crashes reported | 687 | 200 |
| Fires reported | 189 | 262 |
| Injuries reported | 606 | 205 |
| Most reported problem | Engine | Air Bags |
NHTSA data, model years 2000 onward.
Complaints by model year
Nissan AltimaVolkswagen Passat
Every model year
| Year | Altima recalls | Altima complaints | Passat recalls | Passat complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 1 | — | — |
| 2025 | 2 | 7 | — | — |
| 2024 | 1 | 44 | — | — |
| 2023 | 0 | 30 | — | — |
| 2022 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 13 |
| 2021 | 2 | 71 | 1 | 20 |
| 2020 | 6 | 162 | 3 | 18 |
| 2019 | 7 | 235 | 1 | 12 |
| 2018 | 2 | 226 | 4 | 46 |
| 2017 | 3 | 395 | 7 | 110 |
| 2016 | 4 | 555 | 5 | 106 |
| 2015 | 10 | 956 | 7 | 243 |
| 2014 | 8 | 1,114 | 10 | 594 |
| 2013 | 12 | 2,315 | 9 | 749 |
| 2012 | 4 | 426 | 11 | 484 |
| 2011 | 1 | 242 | 0 | 16 |
| 2010 | 3 | 381 | 4 | 163 |
| 2009 | 4 | 1,547 | 4 | 146 |
| 2008 | 4 | 1,031 | 4 | 168 |
| 2007 | 3 | 471 | 7 | 262 |
| 2006 | 3 | 824 | 7 | 576 |
| 2005 | 1 | 1,091 | 3 | 148 |
Nissan Altima: top problems
Engine3,256
Power Train2,134
Air Bags1,736
Structure1,717
Electrical System1,694
Unknown or other1,476
Volkswagen Passat: top problems
Air Bags1,622
Engine1,328
Electrical System1,009
Fuel System913
Service Brakes588
Steering438
Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
Check your VIN →Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
Questions
Which has more problems, the Nissan Altima or the Volkswagen Passat?
Since model year 2000 owners have filed 14,681 complaints about the Nissan Altima and 6,354 about the Volkswagen Passat with NHTSA, so the Volkswagen Passat has fewer. These are raw counts: the model that sold more will usually have more complaints, so compare individual model years too.
Which has more recalls, the Nissan Altima or the Volkswagen Passat?
NHTSA lists 49 recall campaigns for the Nissan Altima and 44 for the Volkswagen Passat since model year 2000.