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Honda Accord vs Volkswagen Passat: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2022, owners filed an average of 712 complaints per model year about the Honda Accord and 219 about the Volkswagen Passat.

Side by side

Honda AccordVolkswagen Passat
Model years compared2006-20222006-2022
Owner complaints12,1033,726
Complaints per model year712219
Recalls3935
Years to avoid2008201320182006201220132014
Best years201120212022201620172018
Most common problemElectricalAirbags
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy26-43 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 Honda Accord: 4332006 Volkswagen Passat: 57620062007 Honda Accord: 5242007 Volkswagen Passat: 2622008 Honda Accord: 1,5212008 Volkswagen Passat: 16820082009 Honda Accord: 7272009 Volkswagen Passat: 1462010 Honda Accord: 5812010 Volkswagen Passat: 16320102011 Honda Accord: 2962011 Volkswagen Passat: 162012 Honda Accord: 3742012 Volkswagen Passat: 48420122013 Honda Accord: 1,4272013 Volkswagen Passat: 7492014 Honda Accord: 9822014 Volkswagen Passat: 59420142015 Honda Accord: 6022015 Volkswagen Passat: 2432016 Honda Accord: 6132016 Volkswagen Passat: 10620162017 Honda Accord: 5402017 Volkswagen Passat: 1102018 Honda Accord: 1,9002018 Volkswagen Passat: 4620182019 Honda Accord: 7002019 Volkswagen Passat: 122020 Honda Accord: 3702020 Volkswagen Passat: 1820202021 Honda Accord: 2472021 Volkswagen Passat: 202022 Honda Accord: 2662022 Volkswagen Passat: 132022
Honda AccordVolkswagen Passat

Problems compared

AccordPassat
Electrical2,363551
Engine2,216691
Brakes1,919196
Airbags1,4141,533
Driver assistance1,207107
Steering1,152385
Fuel system1,081501
Transmission804231

Questions about the Honda Accord vs Volkswagen Passat

Which is more reliable, the Honda Accord or the Volkswagen Passat?

Between 2006 and 2022, the Honda Accord has 3 years to avoid and the Volkswagen Passat 4. The Honda Accord has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Volkswagen Passat drew fewer complaints per model year (219 vs 712), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Honda Accord or the Volkswagen Passat?

From 2006 to 2022, the Honda Accord was covered by 39 recalls and the Volkswagen Passat by 35.

What years of the Honda Accord and Volkswagen Passat should you avoid?

Honda Accord: 2008, 2013 and 2018. Volkswagen Passat: 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

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