2013 Volkswagen Passat: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 747 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 9 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
747
Complaints
9
Recalls
29
Crash reports
4
Fire reports
24
Injuries
55.2
Severity index
Severity index 55.2 - Medium. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 145 2013 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2013 Volkswagen Passat ranks 87 of 145 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 40% of its model-year peers. See the full 2013 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 381 | 51.0% |
| ENGINE | 104 | 13.9% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 93 | 12.4% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 77 | 10.3% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 65 | 8.7% |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 60 | 8.0% |
| STEERING | 51 | 6.8% |
| POWER TRAIN | 33 | 4.4% |
The single most-reported system is AIR BAGS, cited in 381 of 747 complaints (51.0%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 21 |
| 2014 | 58 |
| 2015 | 45 |
| 2016 | 188 |
| 2017 | 123 |
| 2018 | 65 |
| 2019 | 45 |
| 2020 | 42 |
| 2021 | 21 |
| 2022 | 31 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2024 | 28 |
| 2025 | 59 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 1 |
Complaint volume is broadly steady year over year.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19V389000 | 22/05/2019 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 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 Fede |
| 18V148000 | 06/03/2018 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the |
| 17V309000 | 11/05/2017 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Passat vehicles, equipped with diesel engines and Direct-Shift Transmissions (DSG). The vehicle's underbody heat shield may not be long enough to protect the right half-shaft grease boot from heat, pot |
| 16V078000 | 10/02/2016 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of |
| 15V483000 | 04/08/2015 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock |
| 16V171000 | 24/03/2016 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Passat vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Due to improperly assembled wire seals in a connector for an underbody sensor, water may enter and corrode the electrical connectors of the sensor, |
| 14V125000 | 17/03/2014 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Passat vehicles manufactured January 2011 through November 2012. In the affected vehicles, the low beam headlight bulb may become loose and lose electrical contact. |
| 19V862000 | 04/12/2019 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | 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 |
| 24V834000 | 30/10/2024 | AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | 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 afte |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.