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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
59,000 miles · Apr 17, 2018
Steering

AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WHILE TURNING; VW DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED AS FAILED CLOCKSPRING

NHTSA ODI #11088752

800 miles · Feb 24, 2018
Unknown Or Other

BACKUP CAMERA SCREEN GOES ALMOST BLACK AFTER 3TO5SECONDS.

NHTSA ODI #11074626

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2018
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

CPSC:PURCHASED KYB 344459 AND KYB 335808 (SHOCKS AND STRUTS) FROM AUTOZONE AND INSTALLED ON 01/06/2018. PRODUCT WAS PURCHASED ACCORDING TO MY VIN FOR FITMENT. AFTER INSTALLATION MY CAR HAS BEEN OPERATING VERY UNSAFE, SUSPENSION IS EXTREMELY HARD, BOUNCY, WAVY, ECT. *DT *JS

NHTSA ODI #11074803

77,000 miles · Feb 19, 2018
Service Brakes

THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS LOCKED ON (IN PLACE) WHILE THE HANDLE IS DOWN IN THE CAR CAUSING THE CAR TO DRIVE UNBEKNOWN TO THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKE IS STILL ON THUS CAUSING EXCESS DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE, CALIPER AND ROTOR. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH VW PASSATTS AND JETTAS AND THAT THE PARTS ARE SCARCE BE…

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THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS LOCKED ON (IN PLACE) WHILE THE HANDLE IS DOWN IN THE CAR CAUSING THE CAR TO DRIVE UNBEKNOWN TO THE DRIVER THAT THE BRAKE IS STILL ON THUS CAUSING EXCESS DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE, CALIPER AND ROTOR. I WAS TOLD BY MY MECHANIC THAT IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM WITH VW PASSATTS AND JETTAS AND THAT THE PARTS ARE SCARCE BECAUSE OF THAT. THE AMOUNT TO REPAIR WAS GREATER THAN $600. IF I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE VW DEALERSHIP THEY WERE GOING TO CHARGE ME DOUBLE THAT.

NHTSA ODI #11073564

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2018
Air BagsExterior Lighting

AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY. TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT THE SENSOR WAS BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. 52K MILES. DEALER WANTED ME TO PAY FOR ISSUE BUT AT THE END VW WILL BE COVERING THE EXPENSE. HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT HAD NO COVERAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11065798

62,000 miles · Dec 11, 2017
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS N…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,000.

NHTSA ODI #11054009

51,000 miles · Dec 4, 2017
Air BagsElectrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE HORN, BUT IT FAILED TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COMMONWEALTH VOLKSWAGEN (1 COMMONWEALTH DR, LAWRENCE, MA 01841). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE HORN, BUT IT FAILED TO SOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COMMONWEALTH VOLKSWAGEN (1 COMMONWEALTH DR, LAWRENCE, MA 01841). THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CLOCK SPRING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.

NHTSA ODI #11052223

36,600 miles · Dec 2, 2017
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT RECALL MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IN JANUARY OF 2016. IT WAS THE NEWEST CAR WE HAVE EVER PURCHASED AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL COUPLE WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN. WELL AT 36,750 MILES IN MARCH OF 2017, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO CLICK AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS NO LONGER A…

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VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT RECALL MY HUSBAND AND I BOUGHT A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT IN JANUARY OF 2016. IT WAS THE NEWEST CAR WE HAVE EVER PURCHASED AS A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL COUPLE WITH TWO SMALL CHILDREN. WELL AT 36,750 MILES IN MARCH OF 2017, THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO CLICK AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO USE THE HORN, THE RADIO OR THE PHONE FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. I CALLED THE DEALER WHERE WE PURCHASED THE CAR AND HE SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A CLOCKSPRING AND THAT WE DID HAVE A WARRANTY FOR 3 YEARS OR UP TO 36,000 MILES AND SINCE WE WERE SO CLOSE, WE NEEDED TO CALL THE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER. I CALLED NEW MOTORS IN ERIE, PA. I TALKED TO A VERY NICE MECHANIC THAT AGREED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE THAT WAS INDEED THE ISSUE. HE INFORMED ME THAT VOLKSWAGEN HAD RECALLED THAT PARTICULAR PART ON THE 2012-14 MODELS BUT HAD YET TO RECALL IT ON OUR 2015 MODEL THAT WE HAD. HE ALSO SAID THAT ALTHOUGH WE WERE VERY CLOSE TO THE 36,000-MILE WARRANTY, IT WAS OUT OF HIS HANDS TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY AND TO CALL CORPORATE TO GIVE HIM THE GO AHEAD TO DO SO SINCE IT DID SEEM LIKE THIS IS THE RIGHT CALL SINCE WE WERE SO CLOSE TO THE WARRANTY AND IT IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM IN THESE MODELS. MY HUSBAND AND I BOTH TALKED TO VOLKSWAGEN CORPORATE SEVERAL TIMES SINCE MARCH OF 2017 TO ONLY HAVE THEM TREAT US POORLY AND TELL US THAT IT ISN'T THEIR CONCERN. MY AIRBAGS AND HORN CURRENTLY AREN'T WORKING BECAUSE OF IT. I HAD THE ERIE VOLKSWAGEN DEALER OFFICIALLY DIAGNOSE THE CAR ISSUES IN JUNE OF 2017 AND IT WAS IN FACT A FAULTY CLOCKSPRING. AGAIN VOLKSWAGEN REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIR COST OF OVER $1000.00. THIS PART HAS BEEN RECALLED ON NUMEROUS VOLKSWAGEN MODELS. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT HAPPENED. I TURNED IT ON ONE MORNING TO FIND THE HORN NOT WORKING, CONTROLLERS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND AIRBAG LIGHT ON.

NHTSA ODI #11052020

47,000 miles · Oct 1, 2017
Air BagsElectrical SystemSteering

AIR BAG ERROR MESSAGE AND LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CRACKING SOUND WHILE TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION. ALSO THE BUTTONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL DO NOT WORK TO INCLUDE THE HORN.

NHTSA ODI #11030696

43,900 miles · Sep 25, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineVisibility

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE FOLLOWING CODES APPEARED: (U1123-0017178 DATA BUS ERROR, P0441-0021406 EVAP IGNITION CONTROL SYSTEM INCORRECT PURGE, …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND THE FOLLOWING CODES APPEARED: (U1123-0017178 DATA BUS ERROR, P0441-0021406 EVAP IGNITION CONTROL SYSTEM INCORRECT PURGE, P0456 EVAP SYSTEM SMALL LEAK, AND P0303 CYLINDER #3 MISFIRE). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE WINDOW FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEMER VOLKSWAGEN (550 TROY SCHENECTADY RD, LATHAM, NY 12110, PHONE NUMBER: (518) 512-0024) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WINDOW MOTOR FAILED DUE TO OVERHEATING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE AMONG ALL VOLKSWAGENS AND NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE BECAUSE THE WARRANTY ENDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,900.

NHTSA ODI #11025361

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.