2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

1025 complaints filed with NHTSA.

1025
Complaints
43
Crashes
9
Fires
34
Injuries
5
Deaths

NHTSA Safety Rating

5/5
Overall
5/5
Front Crash
5/5
Side Crash
4/5
Rollover

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS371
ENGINE104
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM92
UNKNOWN OR OTHER77
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM65
EXTERIOR LIGHTING57
STEERING50
POWER TRAIN32
STRUCTURE:BODY27
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL21
VISIBILITY/WIPER19
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL15
SUSPENSION12
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)10
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE10

Recalls (9)

24V83400030/10/2024

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure

16V17100024/03/2016

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Passat vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Due to improperly assembled wire seals in a connector for an underbody sensor, water may enter and corrode the electrical connectors of the sensor, causing an electric

19V38900022/05/2019

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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 Sa

14V12500017/03/2014

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Passat vehicles manufactured January 2011 through November 2012. In the affected vehicles, the low beam headlight bulb may become loose and lose electrical contact.

17V30900011/05/2017

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Passat vehicles, equipped with diesel engines and Direct-Shift Transmissions (DSG). The vehicle's underbody heat shield may not be long enough to protect the right half-shaft grease boot from heat, potentially resulting i

16V07800010/02/2016

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal

18V14800006/03/2018

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode

19V86200004/12/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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 degradat

15V48300004/08/2015

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wou

Recent Complaints

20230415CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

On 4/12/2023 - I was traveling on highway 4 in the afternoon headed back home from work. While driving around 70mph all in sudden without any warning front driver side wheel locked up and causing the car to pull hard on driver side. I hit the retaining divider while trying my best to not to hit any other cars. This should be a recall a major one as no car should lock up like this

20220919CrashAIR BAGS

My vehicle was involved in a crash where Vehicle 1 (V1) ran a red light and my vehicle struck V1 along the rear passenger side door, causing my vehicle to spin 180 degrees. The front end of my vehicle was torn off and no airbags deployed, causing injury to the driver of my vehicle. The driver sustained a concussion and whip lash. My vehicle was traveling under 10mph and V1 was approximately 40-50mph. There were no recall repairs listed for my vehicle, but there was a recall in the past for t

20220801CrashAIR BAGS

i hit a dog in the middle of the road and had my insurance from Geico repair the item through our insurance with them. I had the repairs done but the air bag never went off but the light came on. The repair shop did everything they could to try and fix the problem when the replaced my bumper and front panel but could not get the airbag light to turn off the dash. They called the dealer and no code came up. they never found a way to fix it and the light still remains on to this day.

20200922CrashAIR BAGS

MY DAUGHTER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT ON AUG 26 OF 2020. SHE WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN ONCOMING TRAFFIC STRUCK HER IN PASSENGER FRONT BUMPER AND FENDER. HER CAR WAS TOTALED BECUASE OF FRAME DAMAGE. SHE ESTIMATES THE OTHER CAR WAS TRAVELING 25-30 MPH AT TIME OF IMPACT. SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BRAKING AT IMPACT. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THE VW AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PICTURES. ALL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON OTHER CAR (2013 HONDA CRV). MY CONCERN IS THE AIRBAG RECALL WAS PERFORMED PRIOR TO PURCHASING

Mileage: 109,000

20200821FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2013 PASSAT TDI. 136000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH, NO OTHER INDICATOR LIGHTS OR CAR PERFORMANCE ISSUES WERE NOTED AT THIS TIME. CAR WAS PULLED OVER SAFETY TO A TOWN WITHIN 5 MILES, THE CAR WAS SHUT DOWN. JUST TO SEE IF IT WAS A GLITCH CAR WAS RESTARTED BRIEFLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. WHILE ON THE PHONE RELAYING MY INFORMATION TO FAMILY, BYSTANDERS ADVISED ME THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE

Mileage: 136,005

20200821FireENGINE

2013 PASSAT TDI. 136000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH, NO OTHER INDICATOR LIGHTS OR CAR PERFORMANCE ISSUES WERE NOTED AT THIS TIME. CAR WAS PULLED OVER SAFETY TO A TOWN WITHIN 5 MILES, THE CAR WAS SHUT DOWN. JUST TO SEE IF IT WAS A GLITCH CAR WAS RESTARTED BRIEFLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. WHILE ON THE PHONE RELAYING MY INFORMATION TO FAMILY, BYSTANDERS ADVISED ME THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE

Mileage: 136,005

20200821FireFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2013 PASSAT TDI. 136000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE GLOW PLUG LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH, NO OTHER INDICATOR LIGHTS OR CAR PERFORMANCE ISSUES WERE NOTED AT THIS TIME. CAR WAS PULLED OVER SAFETY TO A TOWN WITHIN 5 MILES, THE CAR WAS SHUT DOWN. JUST TO SEE IF IT WAS A GLITCH CAR WAS RESTARTED BRIEFLY AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON. CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF. WHILE ON THE PHONE RELAYING MY INFORMATION TO FAMILY, BYSTANDERS ADVISED ME THAT THE CAR WAS ON FIRE

Mileage: 136,005

20200420CrashAIR BAGS

MY FIANCE WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN CROSSING A BUSY ROAD DURING HOURS OF DUSK. HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE OPENING OF THE ROAD WHEN TURNING AND DROVE OVER THE SIDE WALK AND CRASHED. FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND WINDSHIELD CRACKED. 3 TIRED POPPED ALONG WITH OTHER FONT END BODY DAMAGE. I HAD JUST PURCHASED CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP A FEW MONTHS EARLIER. LATER I RESEARCHED ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AND A RECALL DEALING WITH HEADLIGHT ISSUES AND THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE NOT BEING ABLE

Mileage: 70,000

20200420CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

MY FIANCE WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN CROSSING A BUSY ROAD DURING HOURS OF DUSK. HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE OPENING OF THE ROAD WHEN TURNING AND DROVE OVER THE SIDE WALK AND CRASHED. FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND WINDSHIELD CRACKED. 3 TIRED POPPED ALONG WITH OTHER FONT END BODY DAMAGE. I HAD JUST PURCHASED CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP A FEW MONTHS EARLIER. LATER I RESEARCHED ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AND A RECALL DEALING WITH HEADLIGHT ISSUES AND THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE NOT BEING ABLE

Mileage: 70,000

20200420CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY FIANCE WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN CROSSING A BUSY ROAD DURING HOURS OF DUSK. HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE OPENING OF THE ROAD WHEN TURNING AND DROVE OVER THE SIDE WALK AND CRASHED. FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND WINDSHIELD CRACKED. 3 TIRED POPPED ALONG WITH OTHER FONT END BODY DAMAGE. I HAD JUST PURCHASED CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP A FEW MONTHS EARLIER. LATER I RESEARCHED ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AND A RECALL DEALING WITH HEADLIGHT ISSUES AND THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE NOT BEING ABLE

Mileage: 70,000

20200331CrashFireFatalELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MINOR FRONT END COLLISION CAUSING EXPLOSION OF CAR CAUSING MY SON TO BURN TO DEATH

Mileage: 700,000

20200331CrashFireFatalENGINE

MINOR FRONT END COLLISION CAUSING EXPLOSION OF CAR CAUSING MY SON TO BURN TO DEATH

Mileage: 700,000

20200331CrashFireFatalFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MINOR FRONT END COLLISION CAUSING EXPLOSION OF CAR CAUSING MY SON TO BURN TO DEATH

Mileage: 700,000

20200319CrashFireFatalENGINE

VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY BROTHER IN LAW WAS KILLED.

20200319CrashFireFatalFUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

VEHICLE STRUCK A TREE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. MY BROTHER IN LAW WAS KILLED.

20200309CrashAIR BAGS

PASSAT WAS TRAVELING SOUTH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN, TURNED NORTH INTO THE SOUTHBOUND LANE, AND HIT PASSAT ON PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT CAUSING CAR TO SPIN AND COME TO A STOP WHEN IT HIT FRONT CENTER INTO A LIGHT POLE. SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, EVEN THOUGH ALL RECALLS HAD BEEN DONE IN SEPTEMBER. PASSAT WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND MECHANICS ADVISED US THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. DRIVER OF PASSAT WAS INJURED DUE TO FAILURE OF SAFETY FEATURES.

Mileage: 77,665

20200309CrashSEAT BELTS

PASSAT WAS TRAVELING SOUTH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN, TURNED NORTH INTO THE SOUTHBOUND LANE, AND HIT PASSAT ON PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT CAUSING CAR TO SPIN AND COME TO A STOP WHEN IT HIT FRONT CENTER INTO A LIGHT POLE. SEATBELTS DID NOT LOCK, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, EVEN THOUGH ALL RECALLS HAD BEEN DONE IN SEPTEMBER. PASSAT WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND MECHANICS ADVISED US THAT AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. DRIVER OF PASSAT WAS INJURED DUE TO FAILURE OF SAFETY FEATURES.

Mileage: 77,665

20190817CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

TAKATA INFLATORS I GOT INTO A VEHICLE COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SUFFERED A CONCUSSION DUE TO MY AIRBAGS FAILING TO DEPLOY IN MY VEHICLE.

Mileage: 84

20190817CrashENGINE

TAKATA INFLATORS I GOT INTO A VEHICLE COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SUFFERED A CONCUSSION DUE TO MY AIRBAGS FAILING TO DEPLOY IN MY VEHICLE.

Mileage: 84

20170619CrashAIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND THEN CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE A TOTAL OF FOUR VEHICLES IN THE CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY RETRIEVED THE VEHICLE FOR EVALUATION AND THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V078000 (AIR BAGS). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,

Mileage: 96,500