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Mazda MAZDA6 vs Volkswagen Passat: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2021, owners filed an average of 108 complaints per model year about the Mazda MAZDA6 and 232 about the Volkswagen Passat.

Side by side

Mazda MAZDA6Volkswagen Passat
Model years compared2006-20212006-2021
Owner complaints1,7313,713
Complaints per model year108232
Recalls2435
Years to avoid200920102006201220132014
Best years201320152017201620172018
Most common problemAirbagsAirbags
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economyNo data28 mpg combined (2021)

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 Mazda MAZDA6: 1732006 Volkswagen Passat: 57620062007 Mazda MAZDA6: 1562007 Volkswagen Passat: 2622008 Mazda MAZDA6: 1112008 Volkswagen Passat: 16820082009 Mazda MAZDA6: 3862009 Volkswagen Passat: 1462010 Mazda MAZDA6: 2252010 Volkswagen Passat: 16320102011 Mazda MAZDA6: 1362011 Volkswagen Passat: 162012 Mazda MAZDA6: 1002012 Volkswagen Passat: 48420122013 Mazda MAZDA6: 232013 Volkswagen Passat: 7492014 Mazda MAZDA6: 1372014 Volkswagen Passat: 59420142015 Mazda MAZDA6: 602015 Volkswagen Passat: 2432016 Mazda MAZDA6: 782016 Volkswagen Passat: 10620162017 Mazda MAZDA6: 602017 Volkswagen Passat: 1102018 Mazda MAZDA6: 602018 Volkswagen Passat: 4620182019 Mazda MAZDA6: 62019 Volkswagen Passat: 122020 Mazda MAZDA6: 22020 Volkswagen Passat: 1820202021 Mazda MAZDA6: 182021 Volkswagen Passat: 20
Mazda MAZDA6Volkswagen Passat

Problems compared

MAZDA6Passat
Airbags4731,533
Body26595
Suspension21159
Electrical183548
Engine147688
Steering127383
Fuel system59500
Transmission112229

Questions about the Mazda MAZDA6 vs Volkswagen Passat

Which is more reliable, the Mazda MAZDA6 or the Volkswagen Passat?

Between 2006 and 2021, the Mazda MAZDA6 has 2 years to avoid and the Volkswagen Passat 4. The Mazda MAZDA6 has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Mazda MAZDA6 drew fewer complaints per model year (108 vs 232), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Mazda MAZDA6 or the Volkswagen Passat?

From 2006 to 2021, the Mazda MAZDA6 was covered by 24 recalls and the Volkswagen Passat by 35.

What years of the Mazda MAZDA6 and Volkswagen Passat should you avoid?

Mazda MAZDA6: 2009 and 2010. Volkswagen Passat: 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

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