CHILD LOCK NOT SAFE EASY OPEN CHILD
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
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.
What owners actually said
106 reportsTHE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON MY CAR SHAKES PUT WHEN DROVE THREE DIFFERENT SHOPS SAID THE ENGINE WENT BAD ONLY AFTER 2 1/2 YEARS OF HAVING THIS VEHICLE WHICH BY THE WAY IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION IM NOT RICH TRYING GO STAY A FLOAT AND HAVE BEEN QUOTED $6,000-7,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE WHICH BY THE WAY I DON'T HAVE ON TOP OF P…
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THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON MY CAR SHAKES PUT WHEN DROVE THREE DIFFERENT SHOPS SAID THE ENGINE WENT BAD ONLY AFTER 2 1/2 YEARS OF HAVING THIS VEHICLE WHICH BY THE WAY IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION IM NOT RICH TRYING GO STAY A FLOAT AND HAVE BEEN QUOTED $6,000-7,000 FOR A NEW ENGINE WHICH BY THE WAY I DON'T HAVE ON TOP OF PAY A CAR NOTE ON A VEHICLE I CANNOT DRIVE. ALL THE SHOP HAS SAID IT'S NOT WORTH GETTING THE ENGINE REPLACED THE VEHICLE GARBAGE
I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY PASSAT HAS BRAKE ISSUES THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT MY CAR IS AFFECTED BY THE NATIONAL RECALL ON VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS. I HAVE TRIED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO SET APPOINTMENTS A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MY CAR EVALUATED BUT TO NO AVAIL. SO AS IN A FURTHER ATTEMPT TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY I AM FIL…
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I HAVE NOTICED THAT MY PASSAT HAS BRAKE ISSUES THAT LEADS ME TO BELIEVE THAT MY CAR IS AFFECTED BY THE NATIONAL RECALL ON VOLKSWAGEN PASSATS. I HAVE TRIED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS TO SET APPOINTMENTS A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE MY CAR EVALUATED BUT TO NO AVAIL. SO AS IN A FURTHER ATTEMPT TO PROTECT THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY FAMILY I AM FILING THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT TO GET SOME HELP BEFORE THERE ARE ANY ISSUES WITH MY CAR. THIS MY EVERYDAY CAR MY WIFE AND CHILDREN OCCUPY THIS VEHICLE REGULARLY, PLEASE IF THEIR ANY WAY FOR ANYONE WHO CAN LOOK INTO MY SITUATION IT WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU
PASSAT BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING AT AROUND 9000 MILES. WHEN SERVICED AT DEALER THEY STATED BRAKES WERE FINE. SQUEALING CONTINUED TO 20K MILES. AGAIN SERVICED AT DEALER AND SAID BRAKES WERE FINE. SQUEELING EVENTUALLY STOPED BUT AFTER NOTICING SEVERE VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL DURING FREEWAY DRIVING AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, I…
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PASSAT BRAKES STARTED SQUEALING AT AROUND 9000 MILES. WHEN SERVICED AT DEALER THEY STATED BRAKES WERE FINE. SQUEALING CONTINUED TO 20K MILES. AGAIN SERVICED AT DEALER AND SAID BRAKES WERE FINE. SQUEELING EVENTUALLY STOPED BUT AFTER NOTICING SEVERE VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL DURING FREEWAY DRIVING AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, I STOPPED AND TOOK TO NEARBY MECHANIC TO INSPECT. HE REPORTED ROTORS ARE WARPED AT 26K MILES. THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN WITH A NEW CAR WITH LIGHT USE. SINCE 3 YEARS JUST PASSED CAR JUST EXITED WARRANTY STATUS. THIS PROBLEM MIGHT BE DUE TO THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE AS IT TENDS TO APPLY THE BRAKES HARD DURING NORMAL DRIVING IF SET TO SETTING NUMBER 1. TO AVOID HARD BRAKING, I HAVE TO KEEP THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE AT SETTING 3 WHICH IS WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING WHEN I DO USE IT. STILL, THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING ISSUE IN PASSATS AS APPARENT ON SEARCH BOARDS ONLINE. VW SHOULD UPGRADE THEIR ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL FIRMWARE AND REPLACE IMPACTED OWNERS BRAKES, ROTORS AND CALIPERS. BRAKES SHOULD NOT START GOING OUT A 9K MILES AND HAVE WARPED ROTORS AT 26K MILES. THE DEALER SHOULD HAVE CAUGHT THIS PROBLEM WHILE I WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY INSTEAD OF REPORTING NO ISSUES AND PASSING INSPECTION REPORTS FALSELY. MAKE PEOPLE SAFE, RECALL THIS SAFETY ISSUE IMMEDIATELY.
UPON ENTERING THE FREEWAY MY CAR STALLED OUT AND LOSS POWER. TOOK TO THE NEARBY DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ECM CONTROL MODULE WHICH WILL COST ME $1697.00 TO FIX . IT'S A FIVE DAY FIX AND MY CAR WONT RETURN UNTIL WEDNESDAY. 2016 VW PASSAT ELECTRICAL ENGINE MISFIRE. DEALERSHIP IS VW OF ONTARIO THE CAR IS THERE NOW. SINCE T…
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UPON ENTERING THE FREEWAY MY CAR STALLED OUT AND LOSS POWER. TOOK TO THE NEARBY DEALERSHIP. WAS TOLD IT WAS THE ECM CONTROL MODULE WHICH WILL COST ME $1697.00 TO FIX . IT'S A FIVE DAY FIX AND MY CAR WONT RETURN UNTIL WEDNESDAY. 2016 VW PASSAT ELECTRICAL ENGINE MISFIRE. DEALERSHIP IS VW OF ONTARIO THE CAR IS THERE NOW. SINCE THERE IS A RECALL I'M WONDERING ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT. THE COMPUTER MODULE OF A CAR DOWN NOT USUALLY GO OUT AT 100K MILES. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. CONTACT ME AT [XXX]. MY NAME IS [XXX]. THANKS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
ISSUE WITH THE LANE ASSIST FEATURE. SEEMS LIKE IT IS TO SENSITIVE. ON 3/3/19 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MPH ON A SLIGHT CURVED ROAD AND THE WITH CLEAR MARKINGS. THE SYSTEM SEEMS TO HAVE PICKED UP ON SOME TIRE MARKS AND SWERVED TOWARDS THE CENTER MEDIUM WHICH EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I MANAGED TO REG…
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ISSUE WITH THE LANE ASSIST FEATURE. SEEMS LIKE IT IS TO SENSITIVE. ON 3/3/19 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING ABOUT 65 MPH ON A SLIGHT CURVED ROAD AND THE WITH CLEAR MARKINGS. THE SYSTEM SEEMS TO HAVE PICKED UP ON SOME TIRE MARKS AND SWERVED TOWARDS THE CENTER MEDIUM WHICH EASILY COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. I MANAGED TO REGAIN CONTROL AND TURNED THE LANE ASSIST OFF.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BRAKE INDEPENDENTLY AND A WAVY LINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO BRAKE INDEPENDENTLY AND A WAVY LINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO VIBRATE VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH BAY VOLKSWAGEN (LOCATED AT 3131 NATIONAL CITY BLVD, NATIONAL CITY, CA 91950, (619) 336- 4020) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 171672068. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
AT SPEED OF 40-60 MPH, WITH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE CAR WILL BRING THE CAR TO 5-10 MPH RAPIDLY, BY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES WITH NO OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES, AND HAS BEEN REPORTED, BUT NOT DUPLICATED AT THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS ALSO SLOWED ITSELF, UNDER THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONT…
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AT SPEED OF 40-60 MPH, WITH THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE CAR WILL BRING THE CAR TO 5-10 MPH RAPIDLY, BY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES WITH NO OTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES, AND HAS BEEN REPORTED, BUT NOT DUPLICATED AT THE DEALER. THE CAR HAS ALSO SLOWED ITSELF, UNDER THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, IN OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE THERE WAS NO VEHICLE IN FRONT OF IT.
I WAS BRAKING MY CAR AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHICH WAS PERPENDICULAR TO A DIVIDER STRIP (AN APPROXIMATELY 5-6 FOOT WIDE STRIP OF GRASS WITH 9-10 INCH CURBS ON EACH SIDE). SUDDENLY THE CAR SELF-ACCELERATED TO A FAST SPEED. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO GO UP AND OVER THE DIVIDER STRIP, CROSS A TWO LANE ROAD AND HIT THE CU…
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I WAS BRAKING MY CAR AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT WHICH WAS PERPENDICULAR TO A DIVIDER STRIP (AN APPROXIMATELY 5-6 FOOT WIDE STRIP OF GRASS WITH 9-10 INCH CURBS ON EACH SIDE). SUDDENLY THE CAR SELF-ACCELERATED TO A FAST SPEED. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO GO UP AND OVER THE DIVIDER STRIP, CROSS A TWO LANE ROAD AND HIT THE CURB ON THE FAR SIDE OF THIS ROAD. THIS WAS QUITE FRIGHTENING! FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AT THIS TIME ON THE ROAD ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DIVIDER STRIP BUT A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DAMAGE WAS DONE TO THE FRONT BUMPER AND UNDERSIDE OF THE CAR. WHILE THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP FOR REPAIRS A BROKEN GAS PEDAL WAS DISCOVERED. THIS WAS THE CAUSE OF THE SELF-ACCELERATION.
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.
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