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Kia Optima vs Volkswagen Passat: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2020, owners filed an average of 452 complaints per model year about the Kia Optima and 246 about the Volkswagen Passat.

Side by side

Kia OptimaVolkswagen Passat
Model years compared2006-20202006-2020
Owner complaints6,7843,693
Complaints per model year452246
Recalls1834
Years to avoid2011201220132014201520162006201220132014
Best years200820092010201620172018
Most common problemEngineAirbags
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy24-41 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 Kia Optima: 1552006 Volkswagen Passat: 57620062007 Kia Optima: 1672007 Volkswagen Passat: 2622008 Kia Optima: 1442008 Volkswagen Passat: 16820082009 Kia Optima: 1162009 Volkswagen Passat: 1462010 Kia Optima: 752010 Volkswagen Passat: 16320102011 Kia Optima: 5942011 Volkswagen Passat: 162012 Kia Optima: 9232012 Volkswagen Passat: 48420122013 Kia Optima: 1,3882013 Volkswagen Passat: 7492014 Kia Optima: 5912014 Volkswagen Passat: 59420142015 Kia Optima: 1,0112015 Volkswagen Passat: 2432016 Kia Optima: 7622016 Volkswagen Passat: 10620162017 Kia Optima: 2582017 Volkswagen Passat: 1102018 Kia Optima: 2332018 Volkswagen Passat: 4620182019 Kia Optima: 2142019 Volkswagen Passat: 122020 Kia Optima: 1532020 Volkswagen Passat: 182020
Kia OptimaVolkswagen Passat

Problems compared

OptimaPassat
Engine3,331684
Electrical809544
Steering739381
Brakes495188
Transmission473229
Fuel system459500
Airbags4531,530

Questions about the Kia Optima vs Volkswagen Passat

Which is more reliable, the Kia Optima or the Volkswagen Passat?

Between 2006 and 2020, the Kia Optima has 6 years to avoid and the Volkswagen Passat 4. The Volkswagen Passat has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Volkswagen Passat drew fewer complaints per model year (246 vs 452), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Kia Optima or the Volkswagen Passat?

From 2006 to 2020, the Kia Optima was covered by 18 recalls and the Volkswagen Passat by 34.

What years of the Kia Optima and Volkswagen Passat should you avoid?

Kia Optima: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Volkswagen Passat: 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

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