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Chevrolet Malibu vs Volkswagen Passat: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2022, owners filed an average of 714 complaints per model year about the Chevrolet Malibu and 219 about the Volkswagen Passat.

Side by side

Chevrolet MalibuVolkswagen Passat
Model years compared2006-20222006-2022
Owner complaints12,1353,726
Complaints per model year714219
Recalls4035
Years to avoid20092006201220132014
Best years201920212022201620172018
Most common problemSteeringAirbags
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy26-32 mpg combined (2022)28 mpg combined (2022)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,1192006 Volkswagen Passat: 57620062007 Chevrolet Malibu: 9772007 Volkswagen Passat: 2622008 Chevrolet Malibu: 9892008 Volkswagen Passat: 16820082009 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,5112009 Volkswagen Passat: 1462010 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,3632010 Volkswagen Passat: 16320102011 Chevrolet Malibu: 9782011 Volkswagen Passat: 162012 Chevrolet Malibu: 9072012 Volkswagen Passat: 48420122013 Chevrolet Malibu: 8372013 Volkswagen Passat: 7492014 Chevrolet Malibu: 3512014 Volkswagen Passat: 59420142015 Chevrolet Malibu: 2702015 Volkswagen Passat: 2432016 Chevrolet Malibu: 8412016 Volkswagen Passat: 10620162017 Chevrolet Malibu: 7052017 Volkswagen Passat: 1102018 Chevrolet Malibu: 7012018 Volkswagen Passat: 4620182019 Chevrolet Malibu: 1932019 Volkswagen Passat: 122020 Chevrolet Malibu: 2032020 Volkswagen Passat: 1820202021 Chevrolet Malibu: 902021 Volkswagen Passat: 202022 Chevrolet Malibu: 1002022 Volkswagen Passat: 132022
Chevrolet MalibuVolkswagen Passat

Problems compared

MalibuPassat
Steering3,937385
Electrical2,967551
Engine2,078691
Transmission1,385231
Driver assistance1,281107
Brakes1,120196
Airbags7641,533
Fuel system754501

Questions about the Chevrolet Malibu vs Volkswagen Passat

Which is more reliable, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Volkswagen Passat?

Between 2006 and 2022, the Chevrolet Malibu has 1 year to avoid and the Volkswagen Passat 4. The Chevrolet Malibu has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Volkswagen Passat drew fewer complaints per model year (219 vs 714), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Volkswagen Passat?

From 2006 to 2022, the Chevrolet Malibu was covered by 40 recalls and the Volkswagen Passat by 35.

What years of the Chevrolet Malibu and Volkswagen Passat should you avoid?

Chevrolet Malibu: 2009. Volkswagen Passat: 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

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