Volkswagen Passat recalls and safety
54 recalls · crash ratings 2012-2022 · 7,709 owner complaints
54
recalls
54
recalls
The Volkswagen Passat has 54 recalls covering 6.38 million vehicles as reported; model year 2012 is covered by the most (14). The 2022 Volkswagen Passat earned 4 of 5 stars overall in crash tests. Owners filed 74 safety complaints in the 12 months to Sep 2026; air bags is named most over all years.
Updated Oct 11, 2026 · recalls to Oct 6, 2026
Recalls
54
Most for 2012: 14
Units affected
6.38M
As reported
Overall stars
4 of 5
Model year 2022
Complaints, 12 mo
74
-57.0% vs 12 months before
Do-not-drive
1
Recalls
By model year
Which model years are covered by the most recalls, and which get the most complaints
Recalls by model year
How many recalls cover each model year. Hover a year for the count.
Crash test star ratings
14 rated versions, model years 2008 to 2022
Overall stars by model year
The best and lowest overall rating of the versions tested each year (5 is best).
| Year | Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 4 DR · FWD | 10.7% risk | |||
| 2021 | 4 DR · FWD | 10.7% risk | |||
| 2021 | 4 DR · FWD | 10.7% risk | |||
| 2020 | 4 DR · FWD | 10.7% risk | |||
| 2019 | 4 DR · FWD | 10.7% risk | |||
| 2018 | 4 DR · FWD | 10.7% risk | |||
| 2017 | 4 DR · FWD | 10.7% risk | |||
| 2016 | 4 DR · FWD | 10.7% risk | |||
| 2015 | 4 DR · FWD | 10.7% risk | |||
| 2014 | 4 DR · FWD | 10.7% risk | |||
| 2013 | 4 DR · FWD | 10.7% risk | |||
| 2012 | 4 DR · FWD | 10.7% risk | |||
| 2008 | 4-DR W/SAB · FWD/AWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 11.8% risk |
| 2008 | WAGON W/SAB · FWD/AWD | Not rated | Not rated | Not rated | 11.8% risk |
5 stars is the best. Ratings before model year 2011 used older tests.
Owner complaints
Safety complaints about the Volkswagen Passat, by the month they were received
Complaints per month
74 in the 12 months to Sep 2026.
Components named most
- Air bags1,652
- Electrical system1,163
- Engine and engine cooling909
- Engine643
- Service brakes, hydraulic626
- Steering572
- Power train477
- Complaints
- 7,709
- Crashes reported
- 227
- Fires reported
- 298
- People injured
- 244
Counts only, as reported by owners and not verified.
Parts recalled
Recalls of the Volkswagen Passat by component
- Air bags11 · 2.03M units
- Fuel system, gasoline9 · 1.76M units
- Service brakes, hydraulic6 · 167K units
- Engine and engine cooling5 · 160K units
- Steering4 · 135K units
- Unknown or other4 · 434 units
- Exterior lighting3 · 1.81M units
- Electrical system2 · 102K units
Volkswagen Passat recalls
The 25 newest of 54
Related pages
Questions and answers
Is the 2021 Volkswagen Passat recalled?
Yes: 1 recall covers the 2021 Volkswagen Passat. Check the recall pages below for what is wrong and the free fix; a dealer can tell if a single vehicle still needs the repair.
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Passat have?
54 recalls cover the Volkswagen Passat, for 6.38 million vehicles as reported. The most common problem is air bags (11 recalls).
What is the safety rating of the 2022 Volkswagen Passat?
4 of 5 stars overall (4 DR): frontal crash 3, side crash 5 and rollover 4 stars, with a 10.7% chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
What do owners complain about most on the Volkswagen Passat?
Air bags: named in 1,652 of the 7,709 safety complaints about the Volkswagen Passat, then electrical system (1,163). One complaint can name several components.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data, updated daily. Models are written as published, so a few versions of one model can be listed under slightly different names.