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Ford Fusion vs Volkswagen Passat: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2020, owners filed an average of 1,498 complaints per model year about the Ford Fusion and 246 about the Volkswagen Passat.

Side by side

Ford FusionVolkswagen Passat
Model years compared2006-20202006-2020
Owner complaints22,4683,693
Complaints per model year1,498246
Recalls4634
Years to avoid2010201120122006201220132014
Best years200620182019201620172018
Most common problemSteeringAirbags
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy23-42 mpg combined (2020)27 mpg combined (2020)

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 Ford Fusion: 7302006 Volkswagen Passat: 57620062007 Ford Fusion: 1,0642007 Volkswagen Passat: 2622008 Ford Fusion: 1,3532008 Volkswagen Passat: 16820082009 Ford Fusion: 1,0232009 Volkswagen Passat: 1462010 Ford Fusion: 5,1312010 Volkswagen Passat: 16320102011 Ford Fusion: 2,7962011 Volkswagen Passat: 162012 Ford Fusion: 2,5192012 Volkswagen Passat: 48420122013 Ford Fusion: 1,7932013 Volkswagen Passat: 7492014 Ford Fusion: 1,3372014 Volkswagen Passat: 59420142015 Ford Fusion: 9972015 Volkswagen Passat: 2432016 Ford Fusion: 1,6622016 Volkswagen Passat: 10620162017 Ford Fusion: 1,1162017 Volkswagen Passat: 1102018 Ford Fusion: 4452018 Volkswagen Passat: 4620182019 Ford Fusion: 3162019 Volkswagen Passat: 122020 Ford Fusion: 1862020 Volkswagen Passat: 182020
Ford FusionVolkswagen Passat

Problems compared

FusionPassat
Steering5,781381
Engine3,962684
Airbags3,5311,530
Transmission3,144229
Brakes2,690188
Electrical1,669544
Fuel system1,543500

Questions about the Ford Fusion vs Volkswagen Passat

Which is more reliable, the Ford Fusion or the Volkswagen Passat?

Between 2006 and 2020, the Ford Fusion has 3 years to avoid and the Volkswagen Passat 4. The Ford Fusion has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Volkswagen Passat drew fewer complaints per model year (246 vs 1,498), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Ford Fusion or the Volkswagen Passat?

From 2006 to 2020, the Ford Fusion was covered by 46 recalls and the Volkswagen Passat by 34.

What years of the Ford Fusion and Volkswagen Passat should you avoid?

Ford Fusion: 2010, 2011 and 2012. Volkswagen Passat: 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

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