2011 Volkswagen PASSAT
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2011 Volkswagen PASSAT has 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: an email i sent to darcars/ silver spring: in june of 2016, i noticed my car "puttering" and almost stalling out. a few days later, my engine light comes on. i immediately check the oil level, which were good. i then believe there to be an issue with the muffler, or manifold. in june of 2016. ⚠️ 2 fire reports filed.
27
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
ENGINE
6 complaints- • AN EMAIL I SENT TO DARCARS/ SILVER SPRING: IN JUNE OF 2016, I NOTICED MY CAR "PUTTERING" AND ALMOST STALLING OUT. A FEW DAYS LATER, MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I IMMEDIATELY CHECK THE OIL LEVEL, WHICH WERE GOOD. I THEN BELIEVE THERE TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE MUFFLER, OR MANIFOLD. IN JUNE OF 2016
- • I WAS DRIVING MY VEHILCE IN MOTION AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT TURNED OFF. IT DIDNT WANT TO TURN BACK ON NO MORE.
- • VOLKSWAGEN TIMING CHAIN HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES BY VOLKSWAGEN EACH TIME THE CHAIN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, IT WAS JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY LEADING TO LAW SUIT. AND THIS TIME, JUST OUTSIDE MANUFACTURING WARRANTY BY 2 DAYS, THE ROCKER ARMS IN MY VW 2.0 ENGINE FAILED ALSO LOCKING THE MOTOR UP COMPLETEL
“AN EMAIL I SENT TO DARCARS/ SILVER SPRING: IN JUNE OF 2016, I NOTICED MY CAR "PUTTERING" AND ALMOST STALLING OUT. A FEW DAYS LATER, MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I IMMEDIATELY CHECK THE OIL LEVEL, WHICH WERE GOOD. I THEN BELIEVE THERE TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE MUFFLER, OR MANIFOLD. IN JUNE OF 2016”
— NHTSA complaint filing
AIR BAGS
5 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A
- • TAKATA RECALL. I WAS NOTIFIED IN APRIL, BUT IT IS NOW AUGUST AND THE PARTS ARE STILL NOT AVAILABLE. I DON'T THINK THIS IS ACCEPTABLE.
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE REVERSING IN A PARKING AREA, A CRACKING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING LOST POWER AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ISSUE WAS RELATED TO A CLOCK SPRING RECALL. TH
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
4 complaints- • THE RCD-510 PREMIUM 8 RADIO WITH BLUETOOTH CELL PHONE CONNECTIVITY COMPLETELY FAILED IN MY 2011 JETTA SPORTWAGON TDI MANUFACTURES IN 2010 AT ABOUT 3 1/2 YEARS AND 77K MILES. RADIO WAS FINE ONE DAY AND BLACK SCREEN WITH NO FUNCTION AT ALL THE NEXT INCLUDING THE BLUETOOTH AND HANDS FREE CALLING CAPABI
- • I AM NOT ABLE TO OPEN MY TRUNK VIA FOB, SWITCH ON THE DOOR NOR REMOTE. I HAVE READ THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON OCCURRENCE AFTER REAR LIGHT FAILURES. MY REAR LIGHTS, HEADLIGHTS, AND TURNING LIGHTS HAVE ALL BEEN REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST FEW YEARS. I WENT INTO THE GROCERY STORE AND WHEN I
- • VEHICLE MISSING ENGINE CRADLE AFTER BEING REPAIRED AT A CERTIFIED DEALER. VEHICLE MISSING SUBFRAME SCREW AFTER BEING REPAIRED AT CERTIFIED VOLKSWAGEN DESLERSHIP(STONE MOUNTAIN VW AND MARIETTA VW) BOTH LOCATIONS IN GEORGIA. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH DEFECT WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. VEHICLE HAS MULTIPLE
“THE RCD-510 PREMIUM 8 RADIO WITH BLUETOOTH CELL PHONE CONNECTIVITY COMPLETELY FAILED IN MY 2011 JETTA SPORTWAGON TDI MANUFACTURES IN 2010 AT ABOUT 3 1/2 YEARS AND 77K MILES. RADIO WAS FINE ONE DAY AND BLACK SCREEN WITH NO FUNCTION AT ALL THE NEXT INCLUDING THE BLUETOOTH AND HANDS FREE CALLING CAPABI”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
4 complaints- • AN EMAIL I SENT TO DARCARS/ SILVER SPRING: IN JUNE OF 2016, I NOTICED MY CAR "PUTTERING" AND ALMOST STALLING OUT. A FEW DAYS LATER, MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I IMMEDIATELY CHECK THE OIL LEVEL, WHICH WERE GOOD. I THEN BELIEVE THERE TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE MUFFLER, OR MANIFOLD. IN JUNE OF 2016
- • AN EMAIL I SENT TO DARCARS/ SILVER SPRING: IN JUNE OF 2016, I NOTICED MY CAR "PUTTERING" AND ALMOST STALLING OUT. A FEW DAYS LATER, MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I IMMEDIATELY CHECK THE OIL LEVEL, WHICH WERE GOOD. I THEN BELIEVE THERE TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE MUFFLER, OR MANIFOLD. IN JUNE OF 2016
- • WATER PUMP DEFECT CAUSES TIMING CHAIN MALFUNCTIONING AS VEHICLE MAY STALL WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE MAY OVERHEAT AS WATER FAILURE CAUSES ANTIFREEZE TO LEAK AND CAUSE OVERHEATING TO FIRE HAZARD.
“AN EMAIL I SENT TO DARCARS/ SILVER SPRING: IN JUNE OF 2016, I NOTICED MY CAR "PUTTERING" AND ALMOST STALLING OUT. A FEW DAYS LATER, MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I IMMEDIATELY CHECK THE OIL LEVEL, WHICH WERE GOOD. I THEN BELIEVE THERE TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE MUFFLER, OR MANIFOLD. IN JUNE OF 2016”
— NHTSA complaint filing
STEERING
2 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE REVERSING IN A PARKING AREA, A CRACKING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING LOST POWER AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ISSUE WAS RELATED TO A CLOCK SPRING RECALL. TH
- • WHILE PARKED, UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE, A MESSAGE ON THE CONSOLE SHOWS THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE: STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE!.
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE REVERSING IN A PARKING AREA, A CRACKING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. IN ADDITION, THE POWER STEERING LOST POWER AND THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE ISSUE WAS RELATED TO A CLOCK SPRING RECALL. TH”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 27 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐ENGINE: AN EMAIL I SENT TO DARCARS/ SILVER SPRING: IN JUNE OF 2016, I NOTICED MY CAR "PUTTERING" AND ALMOST STALLING OUT. A FEW DAYS LATER, MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I IMMEDIATELY CHECK THE OIL LEVEL, WHICH WERE GOOD. I THEN BELIEVE THERE TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE MUFFLER, OR MANIFOLD. IN JUNE OF 2016
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: THE RCD-510 PREMIUM 8 RADIO WITH BLUETOOTH CELL PHONE CONNECTIVITY COMPLETELY FAILED IN MY 2011 JETTA SPORTWAGON TDI MANUFACTURES IN 2010 AT ABOUT 3 1/2 YEARS AND 77K MILES. RADIO WAS FINE ONE DAY AND BLACK SCREEN WITH NO FUNCTION AT ALL THE NEXT INCLUDING THE BLUETOOTH AND HANDS FREE CALLING CAPABI
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: AN EMAIL I SENT TO DARCARS/ SILVER SPRING: IN JUNE OF 2016, I NOTICED MY CAR "PUTTERING" AND ALMOST STALLING OUT. A FEW DAYS LATER, MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I IMMEDIATELY CHECK THE OIL LEVEL, WHICH WERE GOOD. I THEN BELIEVE THERE TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THE MUFFLER, OR MANIFOLD. IN JUNE OF 2016
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Volkswagen PASSAT — Year Comparison
How does 2011 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 27
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 2
- Crash reports
- 4
- Injury reports
- 2
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2011 Volkswagen PASSAT