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Volkswagen Passat 2012-2022 (NMS)

Volkswagen Passat
Photo: Alexander Migl · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Price
$21,340–$30,295
MPG
34
  • Strength: Strong cargo & utility
  • Strength: Strong passenger space
  • Watch-out: Below-average reliability
  • Watch-out: Below-average driving fun
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How it scores for you10 scores
Limo-grade rear legroom and easy highway manners for midsize money; the trade-offs are dated tech and a resolutely bland drive.
Reliability34

Recalled somewhat less often than cars of the same model years; 7 of its 18 recalls were serious. About 5% of its owner complaints describe a crash, fire or injury. Based on recalls and serious defect reports — it doesn't capture everyday repairs or problems fixed by warranty extensions. Adjusted -1 point for its wider reputation.

Safety50

Not yet crash-tested by NHTSA, so this is scored as middle-of-the-road.

Running costs65

About $2,250 a year in fuel (EPA estimate) — cheaper to run than about 65% of cars we track.

Cargo & utility73

15.9 cu ft of cargo space — more than about 73% of other sedans we track.

Passenger space72

Limo-like rear legroom and a wide bench; among the roomiest midsize sedans ever sold.

Driving fun44

Soft, steady and uninvolving; the VR6 adds pace, not personality.

Tech46

Functional MIB touchscreen; driver aids arrived late and screens stayed small through 2022.

Comfort64

Big, quiet and absorbent - built for American highways with wide, supportive seats.

Value retention55

Typical resale value for a sedan.

Capability0

No published tow rating; front- or rear-wheel drive only.

Safety & recalls28 recalls

Not yet rated by NHTSA.

28 recalls · 7 common complaint areas across 2015–2021

  • Airbags — 53 complaints (2015)
  • Recall — Suspension: front: wheel bearing; wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (2021)
  • Electrical — 38 complaints (2015)

2022

No recorded issues.

2021

  • RecallSuspension: front: wheel bearing; wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs21V812000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and Passat vehicles. The front wheel bearing bolts may have been incorrectly tightened.

2020

  • RecallAirbags: side/window19V218000

    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.

  • RecallExterior lighting: headlights19V389000

    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 Sa

  • RecallAirbags: passenger side frontal: cushion20V533000

    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,

2019

  • RecallExterior lighting: headlights19V389000

    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 Sa

2018

  • RecallService brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper18V369000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake perfor

  • RecallService brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper18V536000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2017-2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles. The brake caliper bracket mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been tightened sufficiently.

  • RecallExterior lighting: headlights19V389000

    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 Sa

  • RecallUnknown or other20V561000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have b

  • Complaint clusterElectrical10 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    A major engineering and material design failure occurred involving internal fluid containment seals, resulting in a severe electrical safety hazard. Pressurized engine coolant breached an internal component seal and began migrating internally directly through the vehicle's engine wiring harness via

  • Complaint clusterBrakes8 complaintscomplaints:SERVICE BRAKES

    ABS sensor warning lights are coming on showing there is an issue.

  • Complaint clusterEngine6 complaintscomplaints:ENGINE

    EPC light came on & check engine light Car shakes

2017

  • RecallService brakes, hydraulic: fluid; service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings17V075000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Passat vehicles. Brake fluid may leak slowly from the some of the brake line connections, resulting in a low brake fluid level.

  • RecallService brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper18V536000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2017-2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles. The brake caliper bracket mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been tightened sufficiently.

  • RecallExterior lighting: headlights19V389000

    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 Sa

  • RecallUnknown or other19V679000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Volkswagen Passat, 2018 Tiguan LWB, 2007-2009 Jetta Sedan, 2011-2013, 2015 and 2019 Jetta, 2013 Jetta Hybrid, 2008-2009 Jetta Sportwagen, 2015 Golf Sportwagen, 2013 Golf, 2008-2010 and 2012-2013 Beetle and Beetle Convertible, 2

  • RecallUnknown or other20V561000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have b

  • RecallUnknown or other21V321000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requi

  • RecallAirbags: frontal: driver side: inflator module24V834000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure

  • Complaint clusterSteering16 complaintscomplaints:STEERING

    Today, as my wife was driving home, she heard a "crunch" noise while making a turn. Afterwards, the Airbag light came on, and her steering wheel botton functions are not working, including her car horn. This all relates to the clockspring. This will be the third time we have had the clockspring repl

  • Complaint clusterAirbags14 complaintscomplaints:AIR BAGS

    While backing into a parking spot there was a crunching sound in the steering column. Following this noise the air bag light came on and all steering wheel control buttons nonfunctional including the horn. I reached out to a Volkswagen dealer as I had seen recalls for the clockspring, I was told my

  • Complaint clusterUnknown or other12 complaintscomplaints:UNKNOWN OR OTHER

    while in cruise control and going up a incline or a hill The EPC light will come on and the car will start lugging down very badly and have no power, they've said vehicle has done this for a year now and we have not been able to get any kind of acknowledgment of it from another dealership or the act

  • Complaint clusterBrakes12 complaintscomplaints:SERVICE BRAKES

    said vehicle started making a grinding sound and all of a sudden the brake pad or shoe they'll completely off of the vehicle and the caliper for disc brake was the wrong calipers on my front end of my vehicle and now it's upside down and backwards and it's not the right calipers for my vehicle

  • Complaint clusterElectrical11 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    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, pr

2016

  • RecallEngine and engine cooling: engine; service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum15V705000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.

  • RecallFuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail16V403000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Jetta vehicles manufactured October 31, 2015, to January 21, 2016, 2016 Passat vehicles, equipped with 1.8T engines manufactured November 13, 2015, to December 9, 2015, and 2016 Golf vehicles manufactured November 5,

  • RecallExterior lighting: headlights19V389000

    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 Sa

  • RecallUnknown or other20V561000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have b

  • RecallUnknown or other21V321000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requi

  • Complaint clusterSteering19 complaintscomplaints:STEERING

    The clock spring system failed, rendering all of the cars' steering wheel functions non-functional. The airbag light is on and the steering wheels airbag does not operate as well as the cars horn and auto cruise controls. The instrument cluster is malfunctioning as well. The safety risks associated

  • Complaint clusterElectrical17 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    The vehicle has been alerting error codes 16352 for failing to communicate with ABS module causing warning lights for ABS, brake and the ESC systems to illuminate. The brake system related vehicle stabilizing functions (ABS/ESC) is not be available, increasing the risk of a loss of vehicle control a

  • Complaint clusterFuel and propulsion10 complaintscomplaints:FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

    currently leaking raw fuel under the hood (matching Recall 15F7) and stalling after fill-ups (matching Recall 24V110000). I am requesting a Specialized Safety Review and Goodwill Assistance to cover the repair because this is a documented manufacturing defect, not wear-and-tear." 2. Leverage the "Su

  • Complaint clusterEngine9 complaintscomplaints:ENGINE

    The fuel delivery system appears to have failed. Specifically, there is an active gasoline leak from a fuel line inside the cabin, near or under the rear seat. The source may be related to an unresolved recall involving the fuel rail detaching from the engine, which causes pressurized fuel leakage.

  • Complaint clusterAirbags8 complaintscomplaints:AIR BAGS

    The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that on seven occasions, the clock spring failed while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the vehicle with the air bag warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. The

2015

  • RecallSeats14V670000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Jetta and Passat vehicles manufactured September 23, 2014, to October 9, 2014, and equipped with manual front seatback recliners. In the affected vehicles, the seatback recliner retaining bracket may not

  • RecallFuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: fuel rail15V028000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20,

  • RecallService brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings15V373000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Passat vehicles manufactured May 18, 2015, to May 21, 2015. The affected vehicles have a brake line at the left rear wheel area that may not have been properly tightened.

  • RecallEngine and engine cooling: engine; service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum15V705000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.

  • RecallAirbags: frontal: driver side: inflator module19V014000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

  • RecallExterior lighting: headlights19V389000

    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 Sa

  • RecallAirbags: frontal: driver side: inflator module19V862000

    Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradat

  • Complaint clusterAirbags53 complaintscomplaints:AIR BAGS

    The vehicle was rear-ended, lost control, traveled approximately 500 feet, and rolled multiple times. Side and curtain airbags deployed; however, the front airbags did not deploy. The vehicle was declared a total loss. The driver exited the vehicle without assistance. The vehicle is currently preser

  • Complaint clusterElectrical38 complaintscomplaints:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

    The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that cool air was being blown inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the heater failed to heat the passenger’s side of the vehicle. Additionally, the defroster failed to properly defrost the windshield while activated. The contact li

  • Complaint clusterSteering26 complaintscomplaints:STEERING

    2015 Passat TDI sudden complete power loss while driving, including highway incidents. Vehicle stalls with no warning, creating immediate safety hazard. Symptoms match documented crankshaft position sensor failures in identical vehicles that VW has repaired under warranty for other owners. VW Custom

  • Complaint clusterEngine22 complaintscomplaints:ENGINE

    My vehicle is a MY2015 Passat TDI SEL with the EA288 (CVCA) diesel engine. Water Pump Failure Occurred at 99488 miles. Leaking coolant from underneath the engine and the expansion tank bottle became empty. Vehicle was parked after a quick 8 min drive to work from home in the morning (~8:45AM) and w

  • Complaint clusterBrakes22 complaintscomplaints:SERVICE BRAKES

    Power brakes are not functional on startup when cold -- brake pedal is very stiff and takes a lot of pedal pressure to stop the car from moving while exiting driveway. Generally, braking improves within a minute or two of driving, but sudden stops in this condition are difficult and unsafe. The

Cost to own$18,700 / 5 yr

MSRP, new

$21,340–$30,295

Estimated used price, by model year

2022$16,800–$19,800
2021$14,700–$17,200
2020$13,100–$15,300
2019$11,600–$13,600
2018$10,200–$12,000
2017$9,000–$10,600
2016$8,000–$9,300
2015$7,000–$8,200

$2,250/yr

EPA estimate, combined fuel cost per year.

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Specs
MSRPNew $21,340–$30,295
Efficiency34 MPG
Seats5
DrivetrainFWD
PowertrainGas

City MPG

30

Highway MPG

42

Combined MPG

34

Horsepower

280 hp

Doors

4

Cargo volume

15.9 cu ft

Limited data — dimensions unavailable.

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