SLUGGISH, HESITATES, WILL NOT ACCELERATE UPHILL. CODES: P039B, P93AF, P03B9
2015 Volkswagen Passat
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Passat years
Owner complaints for the 2015 Volkswagen Passat are substantially higher than the model-year median of 110.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Passat years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
132 reports with mileage · 111 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
243 reportsI I WAS IN A CAR WRECK IN MY 2015 WOLF BURG EDITION PASSAT ON JULY 16, 2020 AND MY VEHICLE RECEIVED MAJOR DAMAGES WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON WEST THOMAS STREET IN HAMMOND LOUISIANA, BUT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AT ANY TIME! MY CAR WAS TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE RELATED TO M…
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I I WAS IN A CAR WRECK IN MY 2015 WOLF BURG EDITION PASSAT ON JULY 16, 2020 AND MY VEHICLE RECEIVED MAJOR DAMAGES WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON WEST THOMAS STREET IN HAMMOND LOUISIANA, BUT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AT ANY TIME! MY CAR WAS TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE RELATED TO MY SAFETY! I WANT TO KNOW IF THEIR ARE ANY RECALLS ON THE AIR BAGS FOR THIS VEHICLE.MODEL.
THIS IS REGARDING THE AIR CONDITIONER (AC). I PURCHASED A USED 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FROM PEARSON CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE ON FEB.16, 2020; ODOMETER READING WAS 54454. I DID NOT TEST DRIVER THE CAR BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. THAT WAS A BIG MISTAKE. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP A FEW DAYS LATER, THE SALESPERSON TURNED THE AC ON HIGH SPEED. …
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THIS IS REGARDING THE AIR CONDITIONER (AC). I PURCHASED A USED 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT FROM PEARSON CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE ON FEB.16, 2020; ODOMETER READING WAS 54454. I DID NOT TEST DRIVER THE CAR BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. THAT WAS A BIG MISTAKE. WHEN I PICKED THE CAR UP A FEW DAYS LATER, THE SALESPERSON TURNED THE AC ON HIGH SPEED. I TURNED IT OFF AND HE TURNED IT BACK ON. I TURNED IT OFF AGAIN. IT APPEARED HE WAS HIDING SOMETHING. IT WAS FEBRUARY. I DID NOT NEED THE AC ON. MY SON AND I WAS QUICK TO NOTICE THIS NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A HOT WATER HEATER NOISE. DESCRIPTION: THE NOISE IS LIKE A SMALL HOT WATER HEATER MAKES WHEN THE WATER TEMPERATURE IS COOL AND THE HEATER COMES ON TO INCREASE THE TEMPERATURE SO THAT THE WATER IS HOT AGAIN. THE NOISE CONCERNING THE AC CONTINUED. IN MARCH, PEARSON HAD VOLKSWAGEN KIA SERVICE MY VEHICLE. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE FROM WB VOLKSWAGEN KIA, THEY INSTALLED A/C DYE. THE NOISE WAS VERY LOW. IN MAY I NOTICED THE AC WAS NOT COOLING MY CAR. I DROPPED MY CAROFF AT PEARSON SERVICE DEPT.ON JUNE 3 &JUNE 10. PEARSON INVOICE STATED, "SUBLET VEHICLE TO WB VOLKSWAGEN, VW. FOUND CONDENSER FAULTY, VOLKSWAGEN EVACUATED A/C SYSTEM, REMOVED AND REPLACED CONDENSER, RECHARGED A/C TO PROPER LEVEL. RECHECKED. OK" THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. I FIND THIS INTERESTING, THE INVOICE IN MARCH WAS DOCUMENTED FROM VOLKSWAGEN KIA AND THE SECOND INVOICE FROM PEARSON FOR THE RECORD, A SERVICE REP. IN THE SERVICE DEPT. AT PEARSON TOLD ME THAT THEY DO NOT WORK ON FOREIGN CAR. I WOULD LIKE THE NOISE TO CEASE PERTAINING TO THE AIR CONDITIONER. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS ISSUE WITH AIR CONDITIONER IN CARS THAT OWNED IN THE PAST.
TIRES: FRONT DRIVER-SIDE TIRE BLOWN, "DONUT" SPARE ON THE CAR CURRENTLY, WITH A 50 MPH SPEED LIMIT. FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE TIRE HAS A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL. THERE ARE 2 OPEN RECALLS - ONE FOR THE AIR BAG, AND ONE FOR THE HEADLIGHTS, THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE RECALLS ADDRESSED SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2019. E…
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TIRES: FRONT DRIVER-SIDE TIRE BLOWN, "DONUT" SPARE ON THE CAR CURRENTLY, WITH A 50 MPH SPEED LIMIT. FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE TIRE HAS A BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL. THERE ARE 2 OPEN RECALLS - ONE FOR THE AIR BAG, AND ONE FOR THE HEADLIGHTS, THAT NEED TO BE RESOLVED. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE RECALLS ADDRESSED SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2019. EVERY TIME I MAKE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE AT VOLKSWAGEN, I'M TOLD I WILL GET A CALL BACK BUT I NEVER DO. IN NOVEMBER OF 2019, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A BACKLOG OF RECALL WORK, AND WAS GIVEN NO TIME FRAME WITH REGARD TO WHEN I WOULD BE ABLE TO BRING MY CAR IN FOR SERVICE. FOR THE TIRES (FOR WHICH I HAVE A PAID PROTECTION PLAN), I WAS TOLD TODAY (6/2/20) THAT THE EARLIEST I CAN COME IN IS JUNE 16TH. I USE MY CAR REGULARLY, AND AM NOT COMFORTABLE DRIVING IT IN ITS CURRENT CONDITION UNTIL THEN. *TR
THE EPA & CARB REQUIRED MODIFICATIONS TO MY DIESEL VEHICLE THAT ON READING THE TECHNICAL DETAILS IN THE REQUIRED PAPERWORK, MY VEHICLE ACTUALLY POLLUTES SLIGHTLY MORE AFTER THE FIX! LESS MILEAGE, LESS POWER, POLLUTES SLIGHTLY MORE. CONTACTED EPA & CARB MANY TIMES TO ASK THEM TO EXPLAIN THE EMISSIONS AFTER THEIR 'FIX,' NEVER RE…
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THE EPA & CARB REQUIRED MODIFICATIONS TO MY DIESEL VEHICLE THAT ON READING THE TECHNICAL DETAILS IN THE REQUIRED PAPERWORK, MY VEHICLE ACTUALLY POLLUTES SLIGHTLY MORE AFTER THE FIX! LESS MILEAGE, LESS POWER, POLLUTES SLIGHTLY MORE. CONTACTED EPA & CARB MANY TIMES TO ASK THEM TO EXPLAIN THE EMISSIONS AFTER THEIR 'FIX,' NEVER RETURNED EMAIL OR CALL. NOTING OTHER CAR MAKERS USING THE SAME ENGINE CONTROL UNIT FROM BOSCHE, THOSE CARS WERE EITHER MADE EXEMPT OR GIVEN A SOFTWARE FIX (NO HARDWARE MODIFICATIONS LIKE VW). IT SEEMS LIKE VW DRIVERS ARE BEING PUNISHED BECAUSE VW LIED. OTHER CAR MAKERS WHO GOT CAUGHT (ALL BOSCHE EDC17 ENGINE COMPUTERS), ADMITTED TO EPA AND JUST PAID THE FINES IMMEDIATELY TO EPA, UNLIKE VW. REALLY, IT SEEMS LIKE EPA AND CARB ARE PUNISHING THE END CONSUMER BECAUSE VW LIED. I GET 300 TO 400 FEWER MILES A TANK, SLIGHTLY WORSE EMISSIONS... WHAT GIVES? GOOD FOR FUEL TAX THOUGH. WOULD LIKE AN INVESTIGATION INTO CORRUPTION OF CARB AND EPA AS IT SEEMS THE SECOND TDI FIX IS FOR GOVERNMENT / CALIFORNIA EGO. PLEASE REFERENCE PAGE 8 OF THE ATTACHED PDF AND LOOK AT ALL THE EMISSIONS, WHY DID CARB JOIN SOME OF THE MEASUREMENTS TOGETHER? WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO HIDE? SIMPLE MATH WILL SHOW YOU THAT THE NEW MEASUREMENTS EQUAL THE OLD FEDERAL NUMBERS ONCE YOU JOIN THE SAME MEASUREMENTS TOGETHER. WHAT WAS ACCOMPLISHED? MY CAR PERFORMS WORSE AT 300 LESS MILES A TANK. YEP, LOOKING WHOLISTICALLY, 300 MILES LESS PER TANK IS ACTUALLY WORSE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT YET GREAT FOR FUEL TAX! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY AUTO WORLD VOLKSWAGEN (3810 SYCAMORE DAIRY RD, FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28303) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ALONG WITH SEVERAL OTHER UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY AUTO WORLD VOLKSWAGEN (3810 SYCAMORE DAIRY RD, FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28303) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FUEL PUMP FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 91,344.
HAVE AN AIR BAG ERROR COMING UP ON DASH. AT THE SAME TIME THIS HAPPENED ALL OF THE CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAVE STOPPED WORKING. VEHICLES HORN DOES NOT WORK NOW AS WELL ON THE STEERING WHEEL.
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2015 VW PASSAT AND CAR WAS OPERATING FINE UNTIL TURNING LEFT ONTO COUNTY HIGHWAY OFF OF STATE HIGHWAY. AFTER TURNING, CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR IT WAS IN; THE ENGINE JUST REVVED HIGHER RPMS. TOP SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE INTERSECTION SHE WAS TURNING AT IS A VERY BUSY ONE.
I WAS DRIVING ON FLAT PAVED ROAD AT SPEED OF 25-30 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE RPM SURGED FROM 1 TO 4, ENGINE REVVED, MADE LOUD HIGH PITCH WHINE FOR SEVERAL MINS. I WAS NOT ACCELERATING, ONLY FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE AHEAD. I WAS GOING TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION, WHEN THIS STOPPED & CONTINUED DRIVING NORMALLY AND…
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I WAS DRIVING ON FLAT PAVED ROAD AT SPEED OF 25-30 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE RPM SURGED FROM 1 TO 4, ENGINE REVVED, MADE LOUD HIGH PITCH WHINE FOR SEVERAL MINS. I WAS NOT ACCELERATING, ONLY FOLLOWING ANOTHER VEHICLE AHEAD. I WAS GOING TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND TURN OFF THE IGNITION, WHEN THIS STOPPED & CONTINUED DRIVING NORMALLY AND NOTED THE RPM WAS BACK TO NEAR 1. NO PANEL OR ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON.
AT SPEED OF OVER 65MPH. STEERING WHEEL STARTS TO VIBRATE WITHIN 10MINUTES OF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. KEEP RETURNING TO THE DEALER WHICH SAYS THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY CAN THAT SHOULD HAVE CORRECT THE PROBLEM. BUT AFTER THEY HAVE TRIED FOR OVER 4 TIMES TO CORRECT IT. THE ISSUE STILL THERE.
Official recalls
719V862000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Dec 4, 2019
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 degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.
19V389000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
May 22, 2019
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 Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.
19V014000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jan 11, 2019
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298; Audi owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69S8 (Audi) and 69Y5 (Volkswagen).
15V705000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Oct 26, 2015
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine
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.
Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
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.
Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
15V373000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Jun 15, 2015
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the brake line was not properly tightened, it may leak brake fluid, causing a reduction in braking performance, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will tighten the brake line fitting, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47M3.
15V028000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail
Jan 23, 2015
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, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall 14V-809 (Volkswagen recall number 24Bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that campaign.
14V670000 · Seats
Oct 24, 2014
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 engage correctly, resulting in unexpected movement of the seatback.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Unexpected movement of the driver's seatback may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the assembly of the seatback recliner retaining bracket, correcting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72F1.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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