Recalls (3)
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2020 Volkswagen Passat. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗Passenger Frontal Air Bag Folded Wrong/FMVSS 208
- Summary
- 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."
- Consequence
- An incorrectly folded air bag can deploy with too much force, increasing the risk of injury.
- 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. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69AY.
Headlights can be Adjusted/FMVSS 108
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Consequence
- Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.
Incorrect Side Impact Air Bag Installed
- Summary
- Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Atlas and 2020 Passat vehicles. An incorrect driver and/or front passenger side impact air bag may have been installed.
- Consequence
- In an event of a side impact crash, an incorrect side airbag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Volkswagen has inspected and replaced the side air bags, free of charge. The recall was completed in April 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y8.
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (18)
18 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The air bags is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 18 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 4 | 22.2% |
| Engine | 4 | 22.2% |
| Unknown or other | 4 | 22.2% |
| Electrical system | 3 | 16.7% |
| Forward collision avoidance | 3 | 16.7% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 11.1% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 11.1% |
| Steering | 2 | 11.1% |
| Wheels | 2 | 11.1% |
| Back over prevention | 1 | 5.6% |
How 2020 compares with other Passat years
Best and worst Passat years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 748 | 9 |
| 2014 | 594 | 10 |
| 2015 | 243 | 7 |
| 2016 | 106 | 5 |
| 2017 | 110 | 7 |
| 2018 | 45 | 4 |
| 2019 | 12 | 1 |
| 2020 | 18 | 3 |
| 2021 | 18 | 1 |
| 2022 | 13 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Crash tests: 5 stars overall
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), 2020 Volkswagen Passat 4 dr fwd, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy: up to 27 mpg combined
- EPA annual fuel cost
- $2,500
- CO₂ tailpipe
- 330 g/mi
- EPA class
- Midsize Cars
What it costs you to run
Miles ÷ 27 mpg × $4.354 (EIA US average regular, week of Oct 5, 2026, all taxes included). Source: EPA · EIA.
EPA label estimates from lab tests; your mileage will vary.
Specs by configuration
| Engine · transmission | Drive | City / Hwy / Comb | EPA $/yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic | Front-Wheel Drive | 23 / 34 / 27 | $2,500 | 330 |
Source: EPA fuel economy data, retrieved Oct 6, 2026. Configurations are listed when EPA and NHTSA records match.
Looking at a 2020 Passat for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
2020 Volkswagen Passat FAQ
How many recalls does the 2020 Volkswagen Passat have?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns: 20V533000 (air bag), 19V389000 (lighting), 19V218000 (air bag). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 2020 Volkswagen Passat problems?
Owners filed 18 complaints with NHTSA. Air bags (4), Engine (4), Unknown or other (4) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
What mpg does the 2020 Volkswagen Passat get?
EPA rates the 2 L 4-cyl · 6-speed automatic version at 23 city, 34 highway and 27 combined mpg.
What safety rating did the 2020 Volkswagen Passat get?
NHTSA rated the 2020 Volkswagen Passat 4 dr fwd 5 stars overall, with 4 stars frontal, 5 stars side and 4 stars rollover (10.7% rollover risk).
How does the 2020 Passat compare with other years?
Among the 2013–2021 Volkswagen Passat model years at least five years old, the 2019 drew the fewest complaints (12) and the 2013 the most (748). The 2020 drew 18. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
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.