IllustrationUNKNOWN - Looked into recall information regarding this vehicle. KBB.COM specified a headlight issue that has not been repaired on my vehicle.
2016 Volkswagen Passat
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat do not stand out strongly from 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
230–25K
1325–50K
750–75K
775–100K
4100–150K
0150K+
54 reports with mileage · 52 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 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
4 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
5 reportsTHE ELECTRICAL HOUSING FOR HEADLIGHT MELTDOWN CREATING POSSIBLY RISK OF FIRES. WAS DRIVING WHEN FEEL SOME BURNING SMELLING INSIDE THE CAR , NOTHING EL HAPPENED UNTIL STOP THE CAR , WHILE STOP THE CAR AND COMPLETED THE PURCHASES OF SOME GROSERAS WHEN RE START THE VEHICLE THE DASH BOARD LIGHT INDICATING LIGHT BULBS NEED TO BE HECK…
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THE ELECTRICAL HOUSING FOR HEADLIGHT MELTDOWN CREATING POSSIBLY RISK OF FIRES. WAS DRIVING WHEN FEEL SOME BURNING SMELLING INSIDE THE CAR , NOTHING EL HAPPENED UNTIL STOP THE CAR , WHILE STOP THE CAR AND COMPLETED THE PURCHASES OF SOME GROSERAS WHEN RE START THE VEHICLE THE DASH BOARD LIGHT INDICATING LIGHT BULBS NEED TO BE HECK IS ON AFTER INSPECTION ALL LIGHT SEEMS LIKE IS WORKING OK BUT THE WARNING LIGHT STILL ON . AFTER MORE CLOSE INSPECTION AND GUIDE BY THE SMOKING/ BURNING SMELL DISCOVER SOME OF THE LECTRICAL CONNECTOR MELTED WITH THE ORIGINAL FACTORY LIGHT BULBS . MY CONCERN IS THE VEHICLE FACTOR SETUP CAN PRODUCE COMBUSTION AND MAKE THE VEHICLE CATCH FIRE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BY OTHER DRIVERS THAT THE REAR BRAKE TAIL LIGHTS WERE DIM AND NOT SUFFICIENT FOR VEHICLES TO FOLLOW BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BERGSTROM VOLKSWAGEN OF APPLETON (3019 N VICTORY LN #102, APPLETON, WI 54913 (800) 398-6846)…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS BY OTHER DRIVERS THAT THE REAR BRAKE TAIL LIGHTS WERE DIM AND NOT SUFFICIENT FOR VEHICLES TO FOLLOW BEHIND THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BERGSTROM VOLKSWAGEN OF APPLETON (3019 N VICTORY LN #102, APPLETON, WI 54913 (800) 398-6846) TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS INTENDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA BY THE MANUFACTURER TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.
THE HEADLIGHTS GO VERY DIM 2 SECONDS AFTER THEY ARE TURNED ON. IT'S VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU CANT SEE ANYTHING MORE THAN 3 INCHES IN FRONT OF YOU.
WHEN THEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON THE LEFT FRONT FOG LIGHT TURNS ON , WHEN THE CAR TURNS LEFT, WHEN IT IS RETURNED TO THE MIDDLE THE FOG LIGHT TURNS OFF. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON, IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN IT IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT.
Official recalls
521V321000 · Unknown Or Other
May 5, 2021
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
20V561000 · Unknown Or Other
Sep 16, 2020
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.
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.
16V403000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail
Jun 6, 2016
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Jetta vehicles manufactured October 31, 2015, to January 21, 2016, 2016 Passat vehicles, equipped with 1.8T engines manufactured November 13, 2015, to December 9, 2015, and 2016 Golf vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to November 11, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the fuel rail may detach from the cylinder head and result in a fuel leak.
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 cylinder heads, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 15F7.
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.
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.