Most common 2010 Volkswagen Passat problems
Share of the 172 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Volkswagen Passat complaints by model year
Best Passat years: 2011, 2019, 2020. Years to avoid: 2013, 2014, 2012, 1999, 2002. Compare all years →
2010 Volkswagen Passat recalls (4)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Fuel pump
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification…
Air bags › Frontal
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 3 possible defects involving the 2010 Volkswagen Passat:
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta…
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of steering wheel clock spring/steering column control module (SCCM) failures in model year (MY) 2012 Volkswagen Passat and CC models.The SCCM is a module within the steering column that incorporates a spiral conductor (a ribbon cable) to electrically connect the steering wheel to the vehicle's electrical system while…
Air Bag Clockspring Failure
In August 2015, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) launched Safety Recall 15V-483 to address the loss of the protection provided by the front driver air bag in several models due to the failure of the clockspring.Debris entry into the steering wheel hub can result in contamination and ultimately failure of the clockspring in 2010-2014 Model Year (MY) CC, Passat, Eos, Golf, GTI, Tiguan, Jetta and Jetta…
What 2010 Volkswagen Passat owners say
Air bags all 48 →
In 2018, my VW clockspring/airbag was replaced under the VW recall. Last week the airbag clockspring failed, causing my air bag pop out. Luckily I was not driving. There is no current recall on the recalled replacement and this is unacceptable. I took my VW back to the dealer that did the work and they stated that there was no recall and they would not replace. It is incredibly dangerous that this has happened. I am very angry that VW's replacement would not hold up for the lifetime of the car nor will they honor their parts.
I had a wreck on oct. 28 2013 on 1-26 in USA south carolina. A deer ran into my car(2010 Passat) passenger side and right front of car. No airbags came out. My insurance coming fixed car at vw garage. They told me at that time my airbag part was not on hand they had to order it and they would call me when it came in. Never heard from vw again. I got a recall notice after that,stateing that my car needed to be brought to the dealership it was not safe and then did not have a part to fix it yet. My car had 53,000 miles on it . I had retired from working did not want another car at that time. Car was paid for. I lost all my money paid for car $29,214.00, est taxes in sc 1750.00, plus ins. Fees of 19299.00. Over the 7 yrs I own the car. They gave me a lease car to drive 426.00 a month. I have all recall sheets I took it in everytime I got one. …
Engine & cooling all 44 →
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was a strong fuel odor inside and outside the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure persisted while the vehicle was parked and turned off. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the strong fuel odor had caused her to have headaches while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump module had failed, causing the fuel pump to leak. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle had failed to start and was undrivable. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to bring the vehicle to their location for the repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. …
I purchased a used vehicle but have found out the oxygen sensor is feeding false error codes to the main OBC causing leaks into driver compartment causing engine to stall while auto in motion and most importantly causing steering wheel to lock, have spoken with VWoA but they have no direct influence with VW or dealerships even if a warranty issue because all parties are independent contractors and all they are able to do is try and help. My name has not been transferred to registration because of smog requirements so you may call me [redacted] my telephone number is [redacted] my case# with VWoA is [redacted], I myself have learned to deal with defects but should this matter be more widespread which I cannot find out because the last case regarding the sensors was sealed in an agreement made by the California ARB, EPA and VW and Audi through a settlement signed in December 2021. …
Fuel & propulsion system all 36 →
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was a strong fuel odor inside and outside the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure persisted while the vehicle was parked and turned off. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the strong fuel odor had caused her to have headaches while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the fuel pump module had failed, causing the fuel pump to leak. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle had failed to start and was undrivable. The dealer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to bring the vehicle to their location for the repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2010 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The driver was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the thermostat. The vehicle was repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V509000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 61,000.
2010 Volkswagen Passat engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 6-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 31 / 25 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2010 Volkswagen Passat a good car?
Based on 172 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2010 Passat rates average: 39% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Passat at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Volkswagen Passat?
The air bags — 48 complaints, 28% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the engine & cooling (44) and fuel & propulsion system (36).
How many recalls does the 2010 Volkswagen Passat have?
There are 4 recalls for the 2010 Volkswagen Passat, the most recent from March 6, 2018 (inflator module). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Volkswagen Passat?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2011, 2019 and 2020. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2013, 2014, 2012, 1999 and 2002. See the full Volkswagen Passat years comparison.
At what mileage do 2010 Volkswagen Passat problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 72,000 miles; 27% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.