Volkswagen Passat problems, recalls & best years
The deets on every Passat from 1990 to 2022: 7,847 owner complaints and 124 recalls across 33 model years.
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2013 (748), 1999 (664), 2002 (636). Best fuel economy: 37 mpg combined (1998).
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Problem areas across all years
Year by year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Best mpg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 2 | 34 | 21 | |
| 1991 | 1 | 24 | 21 | |
| 1992 | 1 | 39 | 22 | |
| 1993 | 3 | 68 | 22 | |
| 1994 | 1 | 25 | 18 | |
| 1995 | 1 | 93 | 21 | |
| 1996 | 1 | 142 | 35 | |
| 1997 | 0 | 70 | 36 | |
| 1998 | 4 | 331 | 37 | |
| 1999 | 5 | 664 | 24 | |
| 2000 | 3 | 507 | 24 | |
| 2001 | 3 | 430 | 23 | |
| 2002 | 3 | 636 | 23 | |
| 2003 | 6 | 634 | 23 | |
| 2004 | 3 | 279 | 27 | |
| 2005 | 3 | 148 | 27 | |
| 2006 | 7 | 576 | 24 | |
| 2007 | 7 | 262 | 24 | |
| 2008 | 4 | 168 | 24 | |
| 2009 | 4 | 146 | 23 | |
| 2010 | 4 | 163 | 25 | |
| 2011 | 0 | 16 | – | |
| 2012 | 11 | 484 | 34 | |
| 2013 | 9 | 748 | 34 | |
| 2014 | 10 | 594 | 34 | |
| 2015 | 7 | 243 | 34 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 106 | 29 | |
| 2017 | 7 | 110 | 27 | |
| 2018 | 4 | 46 | 29 | |
| 2019 | 1 | 12 | 29 | |
| 2020 | 3 | 18 | 27 | |
| 2021 | 1 | 18 | 28 | |
| 2022 | 0 | 13 | 28 |
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FAQ
What is the worst year for the Volkswagen Passat?
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2013 (748), 1999 (664), 2002 (636).
How many recalls has the Volkswagen Passat had?
Across 1990–2022, NHTSA lists 124 vehicle recall campaigns by model year (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year).