Volkswagen Passat

Where it stands out against its peers

• Air bags: more complaints than 94% of 2013 cars — 51% of its 748 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 15%.
• Exterior lighting: more complaints than 90% of 2013 cars — 8% of its 748 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 4%.
• Diesel: more complaints than 95% of 2013 cars — 3% of its 748 complaints, where an ordinary 2013 car has 0%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• AIR BAGS — 290 owners reported this, 16 involving a crash
• EXTERIOR LIGHTING — 37 owners reported this
• ENGINE — 36 owners reported this, 1 involving a fire
• FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 30 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• STEERING,AIR BAGS — 19 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 18 owners reported this
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS — 17 owners reported this
• STRUCTURE — 17 owners reported this
• STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS — 16 owners reported this

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

84% of 2021 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 4. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• Do not drive

  18V369000

  A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

  Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.

• 12V146000

  OVER TIME, OR AFTER CERTAIN DRIVING DISTANCES, THESE VEHICLES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FUEL LEAKAGE. LEAKING FUEL, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, MAY LEAD TO A FIRE.

  VOLKSWAGEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIESEL FUEL FILTER ELEMENTS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VOLKSWAGEN AT 1-800-822-8987.

• 14V125000

  A loss of low beam headlights may reduce the driver's visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

  Volkswagen notified owners, and dealers will replace the bulb holder, free of charge. The recall began in May 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagens recall number associated with this campaign is 94G8/7V.

• 14V182000

  The leaking transmission fluid could contact a hot surface and result in a vehicle fire.

  Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the O-ring seals in the transmission oil cooler, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on April 16, 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 38B9/9V.

• 14V670000

  Unexpected movement of the driver's seatback may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the assembly of the seatback recliner retaining bracket, correcting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72F1.

• 15V028000

  A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.

  Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall 14V-809 (Volkswagen recall number 24Bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that campaign.

• 15V373000

  If the brake line was not properly tightened, it may leak brake fluid, causing a reduction in braking performance, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of crash.

  Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will tighten the brake line fitting, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47M3.

• 15V483000

  A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

  Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.

19 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Air Bag Clockspring Failure

  Engineering analysis, opened April 2018, still open.

• Air Bag Clockspring Failure

  Recall query, opened November 2017, closed May 2018.

• Air Bag Clockspring Failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened March 2015, closed September 2015.

  Became recall 15V483000.

• Engine Compartment Fire

  Engineering analysis, opened January 2011, closed February 2012.

• Engine Compartment Fire

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2010, closed February 2011.

• Transmission fluid hose chafe

  Preliminary evaluation, opened May 2009, closed July 2009.

• Fuel tank leak

  Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2008, closed May 2008.

• Passenger engine compartment fires

  Engineering analysis, opened September 2007, closed July 2008.

• Passenger/engine compartment fires

  Preliminary evaluation, opened May 2007, closed September 2007.

• Water/ice in brake booster

  Preliminary evaluation, opened April 2007, closed September 2007.

• Engine stalling

  Defect petition, opened August 2005, closed December 2005.

• Alleged premature tie rod failure

  Defect petition, opened August 2005, closed December 2005.

• Stuck-open throttle

  Engineering analysis, opened June 2004, closed February 2005.

• Passenger air bag lid failure

  Engineering analysis, opened October 2003, closed April 2004.

• Passenger sir door mounting stud failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened May 2003, closed October 2003.

• Fuel tank puncture

  Engineering analysis, opened December 2000, closed January 2002.

• Fuel tank puncture

  Preliminary evaluation, opened August 2000, closed December 2000.

• Light and /windshield wipers

  Engineering analysis, opened August 2000, closed October 2002.

• Lights and/or windshield wiper obscured

  Preliminary evaluation, opened February 2000, closed August 2000.

• Power brake booster vacuum by-pass

  Recall query, opened June 1999, closed November 2000.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Volkswagen filed 262 bulletins about the 2022 Passat.

• Equipment: 49
• Electrical system: 48
• Engine and engine cooling: 47
• Engine: 36
• Power train: 9
• Service brakes: 8
• Exterior lighting: 7
• Visibility: 7
• Structure: 6
• Air bags: 5
• Other: 40

• This is a notice for software changes with the ODIS diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: A software fix is needed to correct the issue: DA 0019 -… · August 2026
• Oil Consumption Measurement and Electronic Oil Consumption Measurement · August 2026
• Inquiries · July 2026
• Volkswagen Engine Oil Standards · July 2026
• Instruction, how to lubicate engine before initial start. · July 2026
• Lubricating engine components before reassembly. · July 2026
• Difference between Component fluid leakage and seepage · June 2026
• This special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided. · June 2026

254 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.