Volkswagen Passat complaints by model year
7,755 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | 18 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2020 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 2019 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2018 | 45 | 5 | 0 | 4 |
| 2017 | 110 | 9 | 1 | 7 |
| 2016 | 106 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 2015 | 243 | 11 | 2 | 7 |
| 2014 | 594 | 19 | 3 | 10 |
| 2013 | 748 | 29 | 4 | 9 |
| 2012 | 484 | 14 | 3 | 11 |
| 2011 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 172 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| 2009 | 152 | 5 | 13 | 4 |
| 2008 | 174 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| 2007 | 273 | 4 | 6 | 7 |
| 2006 | 576 | 21 | 6 | 7 |
| 2005 | 148 | 7 | 11 | 3 |
| 2004 | 285 | 9 | 25 | 3 |
| 2003 | 631 | 14 | 95 | 6 |
| 2002 | 643 | 12 | 46 | 3 |
| 2001 | 432 | 15 | 15 | 3 |
| 2000 | 507 | 11 | 25 | 3 |
| 1999 | 664 | 11 | 13 | 5 |
| 1998 | 331 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| 1997 | 37 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1996 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 | 93 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1994 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1993 | 68 | 3 | 10 | 3 |
| 1992 | 39 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1991 | 24 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1990 | 34 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2013–2022. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 382 | 354 | 88 | 25 | 28 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine | 104 | 77 | 53 | 17 | 7 | 11 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
| Electrical system | 93 | 74 | 48 | 22 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Unknown or other | 77 | 59 | 40 | 13 | 21 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Steering | 51 | 44 | 26 | 19 | 16 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 65 | 47 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 8 | 8 | 28 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Power train | 33 | 37 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Volkswagen Passat recalls (54)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Passat model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24V834000 | Oct 30, 2024 | Driver's Side Front Air Bag Inflator May Explode | 2006–2017 | 28.7% |
| 21V812000 | Oct 15, 2021 | Improperly Tightened Front Wheel Bearing Bolts | 2021 | 100% |
| 21V321000 | May 5, 2021 | Modifications to Vehicles Made Them Noncompliant | 2016, 2017 | 37% |
| 20V561000 | Sep 16, 2020 | Modifications to Vehicles Made Them Noncompliant | 2016, 2017, 2018 | 73.9% |
| 20V533000 | Sep 2, 2020 | Passenger Frontal Air Bag Folded Wrong/FMVSS 208 | 2020 | 94.3% |
| 19V862000 | Dec 4, 2019 | Driver Side Air Bag Inflator May Explode | 2012–2015 | 65% |
| 19V679000 | Sep 25, 2019 | Modifications to Vehicles Made Them Noncompliant | 2017 | 17.7% |
| 19V389000 | May 22, 2019 | Headlights can be Adjusted/FMVSS 108 | 2012–2020 | 68.8% |
| 19V218000 | Mar 20, 2019 | Incorrect Side Impact Air Bag Installed | 2020 | 100% |
| 19V014000 | Jan 11, 2019 | Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture | 2015 | 81.9% |
| 18V536000 | Aug 15, 2018 | Brake Caliper Bracket Bolts may be Loose | 2017, 2018 | 96.4% |
| 18V406000 | Jun 13, 2018 | Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode | 2003 | 8.3% |
| 18V369000 | Jun 1, 2018 | Insufficient Coating on Brake Caliper Pistons | 2018 | 98.6% |
| 18V329000 | May 16, 2018 | Modifications to Vehicles Made them Noncompliant | 2012 | 78.1% |
| 18V247000 | Apr 18, 2018 | Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode | 2006, 2007 | 12.1% |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Crash-test stars by model year
| Model year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Tested as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | ★★★★☆ | 3★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2021 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2020 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2019 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2018 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2017 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2016 | ★★★★★ | 4★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2015 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2014 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2013 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
| 2012 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | 4 dr fwd |
Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Source: NHTSA NCAP, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Volkswagen Passat FAQ
How many recalls has the Volkswagen Passat had?
NHTSA lists 54 recall campaigns that cover at least one Volkswagen Passat model year from 1990 to 2022. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Volkswagen Passat year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 2013 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (748) and the 2019 the fewest (12). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Volkswagen Passat problems?
Across the 2013–2022 model years, owners most often name the air bags, engine, electrical system in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Volkswagen Passat get?
EPA rates the 2022 Volkswagen Passat at 28 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.