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NHTSA Safety Recalls

Volkswagen Passat Recalls by Year

NHTSA's files hold 46 recall campaigns for the Volkswagen Passat, across 21 model years from 2000 to 2021. The 2012 has the most (11); the fewest among years with a recall is 2021 (1).

Volkswagen Passat years to avoid by our method: 2001 (2.1× the median year), 2002 (3.8× the median year), 2003 (3.6× the median year), 2006 (2.6× the median year), 2013 (4.0× the median year) and 2014 (4.2× the median year).

Model years
21

2000–2021, with a recall

Recall campaigns
46
Most recalls
2012

11 recalls

Owner complaints
6,352

all model years, NHTSA

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Owners have filed 6,352 complaints with NHTSA about the Volkswagen Passat across 23 model years; the most, 749, concern the 2013.

Owners marked a crash on 200 of the Volkswagen Passat complaints (3%) and a fire on 262.

Across all Volkswagen Passat model years, owners name the air bags most often (at least 1,533 complaints), then the electrical system (1,008).

NHTSA received the most complaints about the Volkswagen Passat in 2016: 710, across all model years.

The component recalled most often on the Volkswagen Passat is air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module, in 29 model-year listings.

The newest Volkswagen Passat recall, 24V834000, was reported on October 30, 2024 and concerns the air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module.

NHTSA's recall file lists no recall for the 2011 Volkswagen Passat, model year owners have filed complaints about.

Volkswagen Passat years to avoid

The 2014 Volkswagen Passat stands out most: 327 complaints between 2013 and 2017, 60% of them naming the air bags.

The 2014 also carries 10 recalls, against a median of 4.5 for the ranked Volkswagen Passat years.

The best-measured Volkswagen Passat years are 2019 (0.1×), 2021 (0.2×) and 2018 (0.3×).

The ranking uses owner complaints in each model year's first years on the road, adjusted for NHTSA's complaint volume for that model year. It is not adjusted for sales and is not a reliability rating. Method

Recalls and complaints by model year

NHTSA recalls and owner complaints for the Volkswagen Passat, by model year
YearRecallsComplaintsFirst yearsvs median year
20220138not ranked
202111812
0.2×
20203187not ranked
201911211
0.1×
201844624
0.3×
2017711043
0.6×
2016510642
0.5×
2015724391
1.2×
2014avoid10594327
4.2×
2013avoid9749312
4.0×
201211484126
1.9×
20110161not ranked
2010416325
0.4×
2009414617
0.4×
2008416825
0.4×
2007726259
0.8×
2006avoid7576160
2.6×
2005414837
0.6×
20044279101
1.4×
2003avoid7628267
3.6×
2002avoid4636340
3.8×
2001avoid4430189
2.1×
20005507137
1.4×

First years: complaints received from the year before the model year to three years after it.Volkswagen Passat years without a link have no recall page on this site.

What gets recalled most on the Volkswagen Passat

  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE29
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS12
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE8
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER7
  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP7
  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY6
  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL4
  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP4
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING3
  • EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH3

Volkswagen Passat model-year listings per recall component; one campaign can cover several years.

Every Volkswagen Passat recall campaign (46)

NHTSA recall campaigns covering the Volkswagen Passat, newest first
CampaignComponentYearsRisk namedVehicles
24V834000October 30, 2024air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2006–2007, 2012–2014, 2017injury and death248,330
21V812000October 15, 2021wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs2021crash30
21V321000May 5, 2021unknown or other2016–2017crash, fire and injury46
20V561000September 16, 2020unknown or other2016–2018crash and injury23
20V533000September 2, 2020air bags: passenger side frontal: cushion2020injury1,829
19V862000December 4, 2019air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2012–2015injury and death226
19V679000September 25, 2019unknown or other2017crash, fire and injury113
19V389000May 22, 2019exterior lighting: headlights2012–2020crash662,185
19V218000March 20, 2019air bags: side/window2020crash and injury3
19V014000January 11, 2019air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2015crash, injury and death119,394
18V536000August 15, 2018service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper2017–2018crash8,416
18V406000June 13, 2018air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2003crash, injury and death2,564
18V369000June 1, 2018service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper2018crashdo not drive10,225
18V329000May 16, 2018unknown or other2012crash, fire and injury252
18V247000April 18, 2018air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2006–2007crash, injury and death71,335
18V148000March 6, 2018air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2007–2010, 2012–2014crash, injury and death363,713
17V509000August 16, 2017fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump2006–2010crash280,915
17V309000May 11, 2017engine and engine cooling: engine: diesel2012–2014fire84,262
17V075000February 8, 2017service brakes, hydraulic: fluid2017crash1,007
16V403000June 6, 2016fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail2016fire55
16V171000March 24, 2016electrical system: wiring2012–2014fire91,442
16V078000February 10, 2016air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2007–2010, 2012–2014crash, injury and death659,493
16V079000February 10, 2016air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module2006crash, injury and death151,767
15V705000October 26, 2015engine and engine cooling: engine2015–2016crash91,867
15V483000August 4, 2015air bags: frontal2010, 2012–2014crash and injury415,825
15V373000June 15, 2015service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings2015crash62
15V028000January 23, 2015fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail2014–2015fire44,658
14V670000October 24, 2014seats2015crash393
14V182000April 15, 2014power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines2014fire26,452
14V125000March 17, 2014exterior lighting: headlights2012–2013crash150,201
12V146000April 5, 2012fuel system, diesel2012fire153
08V577000November 3, 2008steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)2009crash130
08V235000May 28, 2008engine and engine cooling2008crash6,579
08V156000April 7, 2008fuel system, gasoline: delivery2000–2005fire412,000
07V375000August 28, 2007fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump2003crash34,358
07V063000February 20, 2007exterior lighting: brake lights: switch2003–2005crash1,002,000
06V470000December 12, 2006visibility: windshield wiper/washer: motor2006–2007crash57,291
06V472000December 12, 2006service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum2006–2007crash58,800
06V017000January 23, 2006fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump2003crash74,000
05V540000November 30, 2005steering: linkages: tie rod assembly2006crash15
04V586000December 15, 2004fuel system, diesel2004–2005fire19,284
03V154000April 22, 2003tires2002—11
02V026000January 25, 2002fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap2000–2003fire487,284
01V157000May 3, 2001fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly2000–2001—70,000
09E025000exterior lighting: headlights2000crash—
14E007000engine and engine cooling: engine2000–2005crash—

Vehicles: NHTSA's count of potentially affected vehicles in the whole campaign, not only the Volkswagen Passat. Each campaign page has the defect, risk and fix in NHTSA's words.

Check your VIN on NHTSACall NHTSA 1-888-327-4236

Newest record on this page: October 19, 2026. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted

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