Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
410–25K
2925–50K
3850–75K
1275–100K
10100–150K
2150K+
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
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2016
Engine
THERE IS A FAINT BUT UNMISTAKABLE SMELL OF ENGINE COOLANT COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR NEAR THE RADIATOR AFTER THE CAR GETS TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE. COOLANT LEVEL IS DECREASING VERY SLIGHTLY OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF COOLANT ANYWHERE IN THE ENGINE OR ON THE GROUND. CAR OPERATES NORMALL…
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THERE IS A FAINT BUT UNMISTAKABLE SMELL OF ENGINE COOLANT COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR NEAR THE RADIATOR AFTER THE CAR GETS TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE. COOLANT LEVEL IS DECREASING VERY SLIGHTLY OVER THE COURSE OF SEVERAL MONTHS. THERE ARE NO VISIBLE SIGNS OF COOLANT ANYWHERE IN THE ENGINE OR ON THE GROUND. CAR OPERATES NORMALLY, DOES NOT OVERHEAT.
NHTSA ODI #10918690
10,000 miles · Oct 17, 2016
TiresWheels
CONTINENTAL TIRES MODEL PROCONTACT TX , 235/45 R18 TIRES PEELING ON THE SIDE WALLS AND CRACK DEVELOPING ON SIDEWALLS AT 10,000 MILES. ALL 4 TIRES UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10916579
36,146 miles · Sep 7, 2016
Power Train
THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS OF TIMES WHERE MY CAR HAS LOST POWER DURING ACCELERATION.
NHTSA ODI #10904541
6,500 miles · Sep 7, 2016
Electrical System
CAR START BUTTON WILL NOT START CAR. CAR IN PARK POSITION, BRAKES ARE PRESS AND CAR START PRESS BUT CAR DOES NOT START. THERE WAS NO SOUND OF THE MOTOR TURNING. TRIES IT TWO MORE TIMES AND ON THE THIRD TIME IT STARTED.
NHTSA ODI #10904375
Mileage unknown · Aug 29, 2016
Air Bags
AS REPORTED BY TAKATA: IN THE EVENT OF AN INFLATOR RUPTURE, METAL FRAGMENTS COULD PASS THROUGH THE AIRBAG CUSHION MATERIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS
NHTSA ODI #10899109
8,932 miles · Aug 6, 2016
EngineService Brakes
PREVIOUSLY CAR WAS RECALLED IN MARCH DUE TO CAMSHAFT & WAS TOLD IT WAS GOOD; HENCE THE FOLLOWING: I WAS TRAVELING ON LOOP 303 AT 65 MPH, THEN ON BELL ROAD AT 45 MPH, THEN TURNED INTO MY COMMUNITY OF SUN CITY GRAND AT 25 MPH WHEN BRAKES FAILED APPROX 3 STREETS FROM MY HOME
NHTSA ODI #10893708
7,260 miles · Aug 4, 2016
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine
RECENTLY MY 2015 VW PASSAT STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. DEALER ADVISED THAT IT WAS GIVING CODES FOR A MALFUNCTIONING AIR INTAKE ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR. AFTER IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN VERY ROUGH AND SEEMED TO BE SLUGGISH. ON TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE CO…
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RECENTLY MY 2015 VW PASSAT STALLED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. DEALER ADVISED THAT IT WAS GIVING CODES FOR A MALFUNCTIONING AIR INTAKE ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR. AFTER IT WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN VERY ROUGH AND SEEMED TO BE SLUGGISH. ON TAKING IT BACK TO THE DEALER I HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE CODE FOR THE ABSOLUTE PRESSURE SENSOR HAS REAPPEARED AND VW SUSPECTS THAT IT IS AN ENGINE ELECTRICAL HARNESS PROBLEM WHICH IS DUE FOR REPLACEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE ESC LIGHT LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD ONE EVENING AND STAYED ON FOR ABOUT AN HOUR AND WENT AWAY AFTER THE ENGINE HAD BEEN TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT AN HOUR. BASED ON OTHER COMPLAINTS I READ, THERE APPEARS TO BE A PATTERN IN SUCH MALFUNCTIONS - EITHER ELECTRICAL OR COMPUTER-RELATED. IF THE CAR WERE TO STALL OR GO OUT OF CONTROL IN FULL TRAFFIC, IT COULD LEAD TO A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION.
NHTSA ODI #10893166
43,000 miles · Jul 27, 2016
Service Brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKES TO WORK EFFECTIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MAN…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER FOR THE BRAKES TO WORK EFFECTIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,000.
NHTSA ODI #10889002
13,000 miles · Jul 14, 2016
Air BagsPower TrainCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE IN PARK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE IN PARK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
NHTSA ODI #10884735
15,000 miles · Jul 5, 2016
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train
I GOT A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE CAM ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THEY ARE TELL ME THE FIX IS TO CHANGE THE SOFTWARE IN THE ECM. HOWEVER DOING SO WILL CHANGE THE TIMING ON MY CAR WHICH WILL AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE, GAS MILEAGE AND EMISSION THAT MY PZEV CAR PUTS OUT. VW REFUSES TO GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER ON WHAT THEY ARE CHANGING…
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I GOT A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE CAM ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE. THEY ARE TELL ME THE FIX IS TO CHANGE THE SOFTWARE IN THE ECM. HOWEVER DOING SO WILL CHANGE THE TIMING ON MY CAR WHICH WILL AFFECT THE PERFORMANCE, GAS MILEAGE AND EMISSION THAT MY PZEV CAR PUTS OUT. VW REFUSES TO GIVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER ON WHAT THEY ARE CHANGING. I BELIEVE THAT SAID CHANGES WILL CAUSE MY VECHILE TO POLLUTE MORE AND GET WORSE MILEAGE AS THEY MUST BE ADJUSTING THE TIMING TO CHANGE THE AMOUNT OF VACUUM THE CAM SHAFT MAKES.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
2015 Volkswagen Passat Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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