NHTSA Data Explorer

Volkswagen Passat

Data refreshed October 26, 2026

Select a model year to filter results to that year of the Volkswagen Passat.

Complaints

7,943

Active records

Recalls

56

Active records

TSBs

3,256

Active records

Filing history

Monthly totals over the last 20 years. Click a legend item to show or hide that series.

Reported severity

Based on consumer complaints filed since 2000. Recalls and TSBs do not include severity data.

Deaths

8

Injuries

252

Crashes

233

Fires

302

Top reported issues — Volkswagen Passat

Click a category to expand its values.

Condition issue

2,049

Reporting mechanism

1,788

Operating state

1,654

Safety restraint issue

1,092

Engine behavior

918

Driver assistance issue

799

Fluid issue

784

Thermal issue

675

Noise

661

Performance issue

593

Braking behavior

383

Access/entry issue

348

Lighting behavior

338

Starting behavior

300

Vibration/harshness

285

Transmission/drivetrain behavior

265

Electrical issue

220

Safety restraint behavior

186

Smell

182

Steering behavior

173

HVAC behavior

169

Recent change

120

Infotainment behavior

91

Powering on/off behavior

89

Wiper/washer behavior

67

Ride/handling behavior

57

Communication/network issue

23

Electrified system issue

1

Recent filings

The 10 most recent filings for each type.

2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Filed Oct 19, 2026


The vehicle was brought to Bill Jacobs Volkswagen in Naperville, IL to have three open, mandatory federal campaigns and emissions modifications completed. The dealership is actively practicing illegal 'recall steering' by holding the vehicle hostage. The service department refuses to perform the free federal campaigns unless the owner first authorizes between $2,500 and $3,000 in unrelated diagnostic and repair fees out of pocket. The dealership falsely claims that the vehicle must be 'brough…

2018 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Filed Oct 7, 2026


Fire

I was driving my 2018 Volkswagen Passat when suddenly I felt the car started to lose acceleration even though my foot was still on the acceleration paddle. The car started to slow down, not knowing what was going on, I started to pull to the shoulder. I came to a complete halt and was trying to figure out what might have happened. In few seconds I saw black smoke and a lady from the other side of the road was shouting run run. I immediately ran out of the car and noted fire under the front of…

2012 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Filed Sep 30, 2026


I received a recall for the airbag. No lights were on in my car, so I brought in in for the service. I picked up my car, it seemed ok. I went to the gym. When I restarted my car every single light was on on the dashboard. When I brought it back to the dealer they said oh its the ABS module they just go and they are expensive to replace. I think they broke the module when they did the airbag. They offered to get me a rebuilt one, so I had it put in. Now when it rains my tires are spinning…

2022 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Filed Sep 16, 2026


Door sensor is faulty, and is repeatedly giving notifications while driving that the door is open, causing the cabin lights to come on, which causes safety issues when driving at night. Car is only four years old, and a similar issue was reported for the VW ID.4 vehicles, which have a similar wiring harness and circuit board to the VW 2022 Passat

2020 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Filed Sep 10, 2026


my 2020 vw passat has less than 60k mikes and i am replacing my 3rd wheel sensor. they fail without warning disabling my antilock brakes. And other safety features

2020 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Filed Aug 28, 2026


The front information center which is responsible for the rear camera system is shutdown due to the radio / entire screen being dead without reason

2014 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Filed Aug 28, 2026


1 injured
Crash

A prior recall that was supposedly fixed, broke again. Submitted several complaints with Nhtsa and Volkswagen. Volkswagen said i had to pay a fee to verify what was wrong with my vehicle because the recall had already been fixed before. Months of waiting and waiting for an appointment and then vw would still not refix the recall. So years and years went by before the recall was recalled and vw sent out notice. Only to schedule you vehicle for service months out and then call and cancel because…

2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Filed Aug 27, 2026


I am reporting a recurring safety-related defect involving the factory-installed infotainment touchscreen in my 2017 Volkswagen Passat SE Technology. The touchscreen intermittently malfunctions in several ways. At times, the entire infotainment system freezes and becomes completely unresponsive, preventing access to any controls. The screen also has developed dead spots where touch inputs do not register. Additionally, it sometimes registers phantom touches, responding to inputs when the…

2020 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Filed Aug 24, 2026


While driving and after, we noticed gas fumes both inside and outside of vehicle. The gas tank was approximately half full. Became very concerned over the the possibility of a fire. Did research online and realized that this was and is a common problem with older models of the Passad (ours is a 2020 model that we bought new and had zero accidents) plus Jetta and Golf models. We took it to a VW Dealer (Ken Graff VW Gilbert, AZ ) nearest our home for fear of a fire hazard and safety. They…

2022 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

Filed Aug 18, 2026


Fuel smell in cabin lingering, strong fuel odor around passenger rear side, fuel cap area as well

Data sourced from NHTSA's public datasets. Issue classifications are generated by Repair Surge. About this data.

Updated October 26, 2026. Refreshed nightly.