BMW 3 Series vs Volkswagen Passat
Figures per shared age band: numerator, denominator and country index for both models, from the same source.
| Age | BMW 3 Series | Volkswagen Passat | Difference (percentage points) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inspections with a defect | Country index | Inspections with a defect | Country index | ||
| 3-5 years | 410 of 3160 (13%) | 102 | 561 of 4464 (12.6%) | 99 | +0.4 |
| 6-8 years | 3331 of 23543 (14.1%) | 74 | 5242 of 30836 (17%) | 89 | -2.85 |
| 9-11 years | 17368 of 83646 (20.8%) | 74 | 11032 of 44634 (24.7%) | 88 | -3.96 |
| 12-14 years | 25879 of 86730 (29.8%) | 82 | 13813 of 39808 (34.7%) | 96 | -4.86 |
| 15-19 years | 32046 of 98846 (32.4%) | 77 | 14261 of 36681 (38.9%) | 93 | -6.46 |
100 = country average for that age band in this country.
Recalls and complaints
BMW 3 Series
Official item from NHTSA: power train / automatic transmission / control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Campaign number: 23V821000.
Official item from EU Safety Gate
Official item from EU Safety Gate
Official item from NHTSA: electrical system
20 of the 53 of all NHTSA complaints for this model year.
Official item from NHTSA: engine
19 of the 53 of all NHTSA complaints for this model year.
Volkswagen Passat
No recalls or complaints reported for this model.
What this does not show
- The country index is the average of all cars of this model in this country. It is not a chance of defects for one car.
- A complaint share is a share of the reported complaints. It is not a chance of defects for this model.
- Each band already takes age into account. Differences between generations or trims are not included.
- These figures apply to United Kingdom. You cannot simply compare them with figures from another country.
Frequently asked questions
What are the inspection figures for BMW 3 Series and Volkswagen Passat, per age band?
BMW 3 Series vs Volkswagen Passat: 3-5 years: 102 versus 99. 6-8 years: 74 versus 89. 9-11 years: 74 versus 88. 12-14 years: 82 versus 96. 15-19 years: 77 versus 93. 100 = country average for that age band in this country.
Are any recalls known for BMW 3 Series or Volkswagen Passat?
BMW 3 Series: 3. Volkswagen Passat: 0.
Where do these figures come from?
DVSA MOT statistics (data through 08/09/2026) Both models use the same source and the same reference date.
Methodology
Each row compares inspections from the same age band, in the same country.
The country index puts the model's defect rate on a scale. On that scale, 100 is the country average for that band.
We only compare two models if they share at least two age bands.
What counts as a failed inspection differs per country. So never compare these figures with figures from another country.