FaultScore

Volkswagen Passat Wagon vs Pontiac Lemans

Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.

Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.

Measure Volkswagen Passat Wagon Pontiac Lemans
Complaints on file 69 172
Model years covered 2001–2010 1977–1993
Worst model year
Best model year
Crashes reported 6 16
Fires reported 7 6
Injuries reported 5 12
Deaths reported 0 0
Most complained-about part Fuel & Propulsion Seat Belts
Share of complaints involving harm 26.1% 19.8%

Volkswagen Passat Wagon by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Fuel & Propulsion 22 31.9%
Airbags 10 14.5%
Engine & Cooling 9 13.0%
Electrical System 9 13.0%
Brakes 4 5.8%
Body & Structure 3 4.3%
Steering 2 2.9%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 2.9%

Pontiac Lemans by year

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks

Seat Belts 56 32.6%
Brakes 32 18.6%
Transmission & Drivetrain 15 8.7%
Electrical System 13 7.6%
Engine & Cooling 11 6.4%
Suspension 6 3.5%
Lights 6 3.5%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 5 2.9%