2015 Volkswagen PASSAT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2015 Volkswagen PASSAT has 388 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 4.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (23% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2015 volkswagen passat. while driving at a low speed, the driver side air bag deployed inadvertently. as a result, the vehicle spun and the contact crashed into a tree. the contact was unconscious at the scene and was unable to identify the injuries sustained. the contact requ. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 14 crash reports 15 injuries

388

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

4.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

89 complaints

23%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SPUN AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCONSCIOUS AT THE SCENE AND WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE CONTACT REQU
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE IN PARK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS
• AS REPORTED BY TAKATA: IN THE EVENT OF AN INFLATOR RUPTURE, METAL FRAGMENTS COULD PASS THROUGH THE AIRBAG CUSHION MATERIAL, WHICH MAY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 8 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SPUN AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCONSCIOUS AT THE SCENE AND WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE CONTACT REQU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

55 complaints

14%

• WHEN YOU ACCELERATE THE AUTOMOBILE THE CAR HESITATES UP TO 10 SECONDS AND LOOSES POWER, POWER RETURNS AFTER THE 1 THROUGH 10 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS AT VARIOUS POINTS; ON ROLLING HIGHWAY WHILE MAKING A PASS OF ANOTHER CAR; CHANGING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATING, AT DEAD STOP FROM EITHER A STO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES AND ENGINE FAILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V705000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THA
• IN DECEMBER OF 2015,2 MONTHS AFTER BUYING CAR,WHILE DRIVING MY EPC LIGHT CAME ON MY CAR HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER,SHUDDERED,AND STALLED. I ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN I PULLED OUT ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND COULD NOT INCREASE SPEED.FAST ENOUGH. I CALLED THE VW DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“WHEN YOU ACCELERATE THE AUTOMOBILE THE CAR HESITATES UP TO 10 SECONDS AND LOOSES POWER, POWER RETURNS AFTER THE 1 THROUGH 10 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS AT VARIOUS POINTS; ON ROLLING HIGHWAY WHILE MAKING A PASS OF ANOTHER CAR; CHANGING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATING, AT DEAD STOP FROM EITHER A STO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

48 complaints

12%

• I HAVE PERSONALLY INSPECTED MANY 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT'S AND FOUND AN ISSUE PERTAINING TO THE ALARM SYSTEM. WHEN THE VEHICLES ALARM IS SET OFF, THERE IS A SPLIT SECOND WAY TO BYPASS THIS AND AID MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT AS WELL AS THEFT OF PERSONAL ITEMS IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE ALARM HAS BEEN SOUNDED,
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WHILE THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE F
• VEHICLE CLUSTER ILLUMINATION LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, NOT FUSE OR RELAY RELATED. MAIN ELECTRICAL HARNESS MALFUNCTION. MAJOR ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSIS.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“I HAVE PERSONALLY INSPECTED MANY 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT'S AND FOUND AN ISSUE PERTAINING TO THE ALARM SYSTEM. WHEN THE VEHICLES ALARM IS SET OFF, THERE IS A SPLIT SECOND WAY TO BYPASS THIS AND AID MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT AS WELL AS THEFT OF PERSONAL ITEMS IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE ALARM HAS BEEN SOUNDED, ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

40 complaints

10%

• ON THE 2015 VW PASSAT TDI THE HORN WILL NOT FUNCTION IF THE KEY ISN'T IN THE IGNITION. THEREFORE, IF A WOMAN OR CHILD IS IN DISTRESS AND NEED TO ALERT SOMEONE FOR HELP THAT PERSON CAN NOT DO SO IN THE MOST EFFICIENT MANNER WHICH WOULD BE TO BLOW THE HORN TO ALERT THE PUBLIC OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OF AN
• ON 10-23-2015, VW ANNOUNCED A RECALL ON A SERIES OF CARS, WHICH INCLUDED ONE ON THEIR SALES LOT. ON 10-31-2015, PERRY VW, SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA SOLD ME THE VEHICLE THAT HAD THE RECALL, WITHOUT FIXING THE RECALL PART. I WANT TO FILE AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT ON THE DECEPTIVE PRACTICES OF PERRY VW. I HAVE M
• TAKATA RECALL THE RECALL I HAVE ON MY CAR IS THE EMISSION RECALL FROM A SOFTWARE THAT WAS INSTALLED FROM THE FACTORY, I AM UNABLE TO GET WHAT I WANT BECAUSE ALMOST NOBODY WILL TAKE IT, I BOUGHT IT IN AUGUST OR SO AND THE CAR WAS ADVERTISED AS CLEAN DIESEL IT ISN'T THE CAR I BOUGHT AND I WANT NOTHIN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“ON THE 2015 VW PASSAT TDI THE HORN WILL NOT FUNCTION IF THE KEY ISN'T IN THE IGNITION. THEREFORE, IF A WOMAN OR CHILD IS IN DISTRESS AND NEED TO ALERT SOMEONE FOR HELP THAT PERSON CAN NOT DO SO IN THE MOST EFFICIENT MANNER WHICH WOULD BE TO BLOW THE HORN TO ALERT THE PUBLIC OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OF AN ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

29 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON AND 5 MINUTES LATER WHILE USING THE BRAKES THEY BECAME STIFFER AND THEN WITHIN 30 SECONDS LOCKED UP COMPLETELY SO THAT YOU COULD NOT PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKES AT ALL AND THEY WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. I HAD TO RUN THE STOP SIGN AND VEER OFF INTO THE GRASS TO SLOW CAR D
• WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY AND TRAVELING AT NEAR HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. SECONDS LATER THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED. I WAS FORCED TO VEER FROM CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PULL ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE UNTIL I BROUGHT TH
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND AFTER THE ECP AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTART

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON AND 5 MINUTES LATER WHILE USING THE BRAKES THEY BECAME STIFFER AND THEN WITHIN 30 SECONDS LOCKED UP COMPLETELY SO THAT YOU COULD NOT PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKES AT ALL AND THEY WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. I HAD TO RUN THE STOP SIGN AND VEER OFF INTO THE GRASS TO SLOW CAR D”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 388 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SPUN AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCONSCIOUS AT THE SCENE AND WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE CONTACT REQU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHEN YOU ACCELERATE THE AUTOMOBILE THE CAR HESITATES UP TO 10 SECONDS AND LOOSES POWER, POWER RETURNS AFTER THE 1 THROUGH 10 SECONDS. THIS HAPPENS AT VARIOUS POINTS; ON ROLLING HIGHWAY WHILE MAKING A PASS OF ANOTHER CAR; CHANGING LANES ON THE HIGHWAY AND ACCELERATING, AT DEAD STOP FROM EITHER A STO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I HAVE PERSONALLY INSPECTED MANY 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT'S AND FOUND AN ISSUE PERTAINING TO THE ALARM SYSTEM. WHEN THE VEHICLES ALARM IS SET OFF, THERE IS A SPLIT SECOND WAY TO BYPASS THIS AND AID MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT AS WELL AS THEFT OF PERSONAL ITEMS IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE ALARM HAS BEEN SOUNDED,
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: ON THE 2015 VW PASSAT TDI THE HORN WILL NOT FUNCTION IF THE KEY ISN'T IN THE IGNITION. THEREFORE, IF A WOMAN OR CHILD IS IN DISTRESS AND NEED TO ALERT SOMEONE FOR HELP THAT PERSON CAN NOT DO SO IN THE MOST EFFICIENT MANNER WHICH WOULD BE TO BLOW THE HORN TO ALERT THE PUBLIC OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OF AN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)