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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 →

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.

11 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

243 reports
53,200 miles · Jun 18, 2019
Air BagsElectrical SystemSteering

UPDATE JUNE 2019 - NOW MY CAR HAS 53,000 MILES. MY REPLACED CLOCK SPRING HAS FAILED AGAIN. NO HORN, OR STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS 8 MONTHS/10 MILES AFTER I HAD IT REPLACED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM REQUESTING THAT DOT NHTSA INVESTIGATE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH CLOCK SPRING PART ON MY 2015 VW PASSA…

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UPDATE JUNE 2019 - NOW MY CAR HAS 53,000 MILES. MY REPLACED CLOCK SPRING HAS FAILED AGAIN. NO HORN, OR STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. THIS IS 8 MONTHS/10 MILES AFTER I HAD IT REPLACED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM REQUESTING THAT DOT NHTSA INVESTIGATE A SAFETY ISSUE WITH CLOCK SPRING PART ON MY 2015 VW PASSAT, WHICH CONTROLS BOTH THE AIR BAGS AND THE HORN. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN SEPT 2015. I STARTED MY CAR WITH 42,500 MILES AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND STAYED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A FLAT PARKING LOT THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE AIR BAG LIGHT. WHEN I DROVE THE VEHICLE AND TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL THERE WERE CLICKING NOISES COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AREA. WHEN I GOT HOME, I GOOGLED A COUPLE POSSIBLE CAUSES AND SCHEDULED THE VEHICLE IN TO A MECHANIC. BEFORE I COULD GET VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, THE HORN AND OTHER STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS WENT OUT. I WAS LEFT WITHOUT AIRBAGS AND A HORN ON A VEHICLE THAT I DRIVE DAILY. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI #11220986

59,000 miles · May 28, 2019
Suspension

ON THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFICS. I HEARD A POUND NOICE AND MY WHOLE CAR VIBRATED. IT WAS LIKE A STING LOUD AND TENSION FILLED. WHEN WE CAME BACK TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND MY DEALERSHIP THEY SAY IT'S A COIL SPRING. IVE FOUND RECALLS ON THE VW 2015-2019 BUT NOT THE PASSAT. WELL. THE PASSAT HAS THE PROBLEM …

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ON THE WAY TO THE AIRPORT PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFICS. I HEARD A POUND NOICE AND MY WHOLE CAR VIBRATED. IT WAS LIKE A STING LOUD AND TENSION FILLED. WHEN WE CAME BACK TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND MY DEALERSHIP THEY SAY IT'S A COIL SPRING. IVE FOUND RECALLS ON THE VW 2015-2019 BUT NOT THE PASSAT. WELL. THE PASSAT HAS THE PROBLEM TOO PLEASE LOOK INTO TO THIS. VERY DISCONCERTING. I FEEL IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM

NHTSA ODI #11210306

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2019
Air Bags

I AM NEEDING ASSISTANCE WITH MY VEHICLE, I AM CURRENTLY STATION IN GERMANY AND THERE IS NOT A DEALERSHIP THAT CAN REPLACE THE AIRBAG. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS WHILE MY WIFE AND FAMILY IS IN THE CAR AND THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRBAG, IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY, IS THERE A SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE FOR PE…

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I AM NEEDING ASSISTANCE WITH MY VEHICLE, I AM CURRENTLY STATION IN GERMANY AND THERE IS NOT A DEALERSHIP THAT CAN REPLACE THE AIRBAG. MY CONCERN IS THAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENS WHILE MY WIFE AND FAMILY IS IN THE CAR AND THERE IS A MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRBAG, IT COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY, IS THERE A SOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE FOR PERSONNEL STATIONED OVERSEAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE?

NHTSA ODI #11209412

68,000 miles · May 2, 2019
Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAGUIRE VOLKSWAGEN OF ITHICA (LOCATED AT 370 ELMIRA RD, ITHACA, NY 14850, (607) 257-1515) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MAGUIRE VOLKSWAGEN OF ITHICA (LOCATED AT 370 ELMIRA RD, ITHACA, NY 14850, (607) 257-1515) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE WERE NOT MADE TO SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11205244

19,000 miles · Apr 22, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

I EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE THAT THE 2012-2013 MODEL PASSATS EXPERIENCED IN THAT THE LOW BEAM DIED MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING ON THE PASSENGER THREE TIMES AFTER THE ORIGINAL OWNER REPLACED IT ONCE. I TOOK IT TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND THEY FINALLY FIGURED OUT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPLIED …

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I EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE THAT THE 2012-2013 MODEL PASSATS EXPERIENCED IN THAT THE LOW BEAM DIED MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAD TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING ON THE PASSENGER THREE TIMES AFTER THE ORIGINAL OWNER REPLACED IT ONCE. I TOOK IT TO A VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP AND THEY FINALLY FIGURED OUT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPLIED THE SAME FIX THAT WAS PART OF A 2012-2013 MODEL RECALL AND GOT THE HEADLIGHT WORKING PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #11203019

50,000 miles · Apr 15, 2019
Fuel/propulsion SystemStructure

FUEL FILLER DOOR OPENS INTERMITTENTLY. NOT GOOD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO FILL CAR WITH GAS, AND THE DOOR WON'T OPEN. THERE IS NO MANUAL RELEASE FOR THIS, AND YOU WOULD HAVE TO BREAK PARTS TO GET TO THE FUEL FILLER CAP.

NHTSA ODI #11196210

48,000 miles · Apr 15, 2019
Unknown Or Other

PUSH TO START ENGINE FAILING TO START CAR

NHTSA ODI #11196191

82,000 miles · Apr 9, 2019
Engine

TIMING CHAIN SKIPPED. 82,000 MILES ON THE CAR. WHEN IT WAS STATIONARY IT WOULD NOT START.

NHTSA ODI #11195264

60,000 miles · Mar 30, 2019
Air BagsFuel/propulsion System

TOOK CAR IN FOR RECALL ON AIR BAGS DROVE HOME 3 MINUTES FROM DEALER.NEXT MORNING CAR DIES OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTION AND WILL NOT RESTART NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT 3 BLOCKS FROM HOME. DEALER SAYS THEY DID NOTHING TO ENGINE. AND WOULD CHARGE ME 175.00 TO DIAGNOSE . VW HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH EARLIER YEAR PASSAT VEHICLE…

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TOOK CAR IN FOR RECALL ON AIR BAGS DROVE HOME 3 MINUTES FROM DEALER.NEXT MORNING CAR DIES OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTION AND WILL NOT RESTART NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT 3 BLOCKS FROM HOME. DEALER SAYS THEY DID NOTHING TO ENGINE. AND WOULD CHARGE ME 175.00 TO DIAGNOSE . VW HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH EARLIER YEAR PASSAT VEHICLES WHEN POWER WAS INTERRUPTED AND WOULD CAUSE FUEL PUMP FAILURE.

NHTSA ODI #11192664

Mileage unknown · Mar 30, 2019
Air Bags

I SAW THE RECALL ON THIS WEBSITE EARLIER THIS YEAR SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. WHEN I ARRIVED, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A LOANER VEHICLE BECAUSE I DRIVE 100 MILES PER DAY TO WORK AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE. THEY JUST LOOKED AT ME AND SAID , 'UH...…

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I SAW THE RECALL ON THIS WEBSITE EARLIER THIS YEAR SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY LOCAL VOLKSWAGEN DEALERSHIP. WHEN I ARRIVED, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS. I ASKED IF THERE WAS A LOANER VEHICLE BECAUSE I DRIVE 100 MILES PER DAY TO WORK AND I DO NOT FEEL SAFE. THEY JUST LOOKED AT ME AND SAID , 'UH...NO'.

NHTSA ODI #11192548

Official recalls

7

19V862000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.