Volkswagen Passat Problems by Year

We compared every Volkswagen Passat model year from 1995–2022 using 7,567 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 50 recalls and federal defect investigations. The years to avoid are 2013, 2014, 2012, 1999 and 2002, which drew far more complaints than other Passat years at the same age. The best years are 2011, 2019 and 2020.

28model years
7,567complaints
50recalls
2013, 2014worst years
2011, 2019best years

Complaints by model year

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22934037331664507432643631285148576273174152172164847495942431061104612181813
Owner complaints per model year, Volkswagen Passat. Colour = our verdict for that year (red: avoid, orange: caution, green: better than average, blue: too new).
YearComplaintsvs. typical*RecallsTop problemVerdict
202213−79%—ElectricalGood
202118−75%1Collision AvoidanceGood
202018−83%3EngineGood
201912−91%1ElectricalGood
201846−78%4BrakeGood
2017110−51%7AirbagGood
2016106−55%5AirbagGood
20152431.2×7AirbagAverage
20145942.9×10AirbagAvoid
20137493.5×9AirbagAvoid
20124842.4×11AirbagAvoid
201116−94%—EngineGood
2010172−39%4AirbagAverage
2009152−48%4EngineGood
2008174−59%4Fuel SystemGood
2007273−40%7AirbagGood
20065762.0×7AirbagCaution
2005148−42%3EngineGood
20042851.3×3EngineAverage
20036313.1×6Fuel SystemAvoid
20026433.2×3ElectricalAvoid
20014322.2×3EngineAvoid
20005072.6×3BrakeAvoid
19996643.3×5BrakeAvoid
19983311.8×4BrakeCaution
199737−86%—ElectricalGood
199640−88%1ElectricalGood
199593−63%1EngineGood

* Complaints compared with the median Passat year at the same age, so new and old years are judged fairly. How this works.

Most common Volkswagen Passat problems

Latest Volkswagen Passat recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 24V-834 · Oct 30, 2024 · 248,330 vehicles

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity,…

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.

Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

NHTSA recall 21V-812 · Oct 15, 2021 · 30 vehicles

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and Passat vehicles. The front wheel bearing bolts may have been incorrectly tightened.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the tightness of the wheel bearing bolts and replace the bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021.

Unknown or other

NHTSA recall 21V-321 · May 5, 2021 · 46 vehicles

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles.

Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.

Unknown or other

NHTSA recall 20V-561 · Sep 16, 2020 · 23 vehicles

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.

Air bags › Passenger side frontal › Cushion

NHTSA recall 20V-533 · Sep 2, 2020 · 1,829 vehicles

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Passat vehicles. The passenger frontal air bag may have been folded incorrectly affecting its deployment force. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-888-241-2289.

All 50 Volkswagen Passat recalls by year →

Frequently asked questions

What years of the Volkswagen Passat should you avoid?

2013, 2014, 2012, 1999, 2002 and 2003 — these years have the most complaints relative to other Passat years at the same age, led by air bags problems in the 2013.

What is the best year for the Volkswagen Passat?

2011 has the fewest complaints compared with other Passat years at the same age, followed by 2019 and 2020. Newer years can look better simply because fewer complaints have come in yet, so we compare like with like.

What are the most common Volkswagen Passat problems?

Across all years, owners report the most problems with the air bags (1,662), engine & cooling (1,493) and electrical system (1,145). Airbag complaints peak in the 2013 model year.

How many recalls has the Volkswagen Passat had?

50 recalls across 1995–2022. The model year with the most is 2012. See all Volkswagen Passat recalls by year.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.