Volkswagen Passat recalls & problems by year
134 recalls and 7,707 owner complaints across 33 model years (1990–2022).
Most complaints2013749 complaints
Most recalls201211 recalls
Crashes reported227in owner complaints
Injuries reported2449 deaths
| Year | NHTSA stars | EPA mpg | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4★ | 28 mpg | 0 | 13 |
| 2021 | 5★ | 28 mpg | 1 | 18 |
| 2020 | 5★ | 27 mpg | 3 | 18 |
| 2019 | 5★ | 29 mpg | 1 | 12 |
| 2018 | 5★ | 22–29 mpg | 4 | 46 |
| 2017 | 5★ | 23–27 mpg | 7 | 110 |
| 2016 | 5★ | 23–29 mpg | 5 | 106 |
| 2015 | 5★ | 23–34 mpg | 7 | 243 |
| 2014 | 5★ | 23–34 mpg | 10 | 594 |
| 2013 | 5★ | 23–34 mpg | 9 | 749 |
| 2012 | 5★ | 23–34 mpg | 11 | 484 |
| 2011 | — | — | 0 | 16 |
| 2010 | — | 25 mpg | 4 | 163 |
| 2009 | — | 23 mpg | 4 | 146 |
| 2008 | — | 19–24 mpg | 4 | 168 |
| 2007 | — | 19–24 mpg | 7 | 262 |
| 2006 | — | 19–24 mpg | 7 | 576 |
| 2005 | — | 19–27 mpg | 4 | 148 |
| 2004 | — | 18–27 mpg | 4 | 279 |
| 2003 | — | 18–23 mpg | 7 | 628 |
| 2002 | — | 18–23 mpg | 4 | 636 |
| 2001 | — | 18–23 mpg | 4 | 430 |
| 2000 | — | 18–24 mpg | 5 | 507 |
| 1999 | — | 18–24 mpg | 6 | 664 |
| 1998 | — | 18–37 mpg | 5 | 331 |
| 1997 | — | 18–36 mpg | 1 | 37 |
| 1996 | — | 18–35 mpg | 1 | 40 |
| 1995 | — | 18–21 mpg | 1 | 93 |
| 1994 | — | 18 mpg | 1 | 25 |
| 1993 | — | 18–22 mpg | 3 | 68 |
| 1992 | — | 21–22 mpg | 1 | 39 |
| 1991 | — | 21 mpg | 1 | 24 |
| 1990 | — | 21 mpg | 2 | 34 |
Crash, fire, injury and death figures are what owners reported in their complaints; NHTSA does not verify them. A year with more complaints is not necessarily worse: newer and best-selling years collect more reports.
Most-reported problem areas, all years
- Air bags — 1,662 complaints
- Electrical system — 1,200 complaints
- Engine and engine cooling — 947 complaints
- Service brakes, hydraulic — 664 complaints
- Engine — 644 complaints
- Steering — 584 complaints
- Power train — 487 complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system — 472 complaints