2016 Volkswagen PASSAT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Volkswagen PASSAT has 179 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (14% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2016 volkswagen passat. while driving approximately 20 mph and attempting to make a left turn, another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the contact's vehicle. the air bags failed to deploy. the passenger in the rear passenger seat sustained whiplash and injurie.

7 crash reports 4 injuries

179

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

2.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

25 complaints

14%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND INJURIE
• THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CLOCK SPRING. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE AND IT GOT REPLACED 10/7/15. IT SNAPPED AGAIN 5 MONTHS LATER WAS REPLACED 3/8/16. IT SNAPPED AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER. NOW VOLKWAGON OFFERS A 12,000 MILE 12 YEAR WARRANTY ON PARTS. I BRIGHT THE VEHICLE IN 10/18/16 AND THEY TOLD ME IT WA
• MY CLOCK SPRING AND SWITCH BROKE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I WAS IN MOTION MAKING A TURN WHEN A CRUNCHING NOISE WAS MADE. MY WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF CLAIMING AIR BAG ERROR, ACC ERROR. I COULD NOT USE MY TURN SIGNAL OR HORN. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND CALL THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER SPEA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND INJURIE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

22 complaints

12%

• TODAY, I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH MY PASSAT, I ARRIVED TO MY OFFICE THIS MORNING , AND I WAS CALLING BY PHONE WITH OTHER, BEFORE CLOSE THE DOOR OF MY CAR, AND I FORGOT TO PUSH THE BOTTOM TO SWITCH OFF THE ENGINE, ALL DAY I WAS WORKING IN MY OFFICE, AND AFTER I LEFT FROM MY COMPANY, AND BACK AT HOME
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND INJURIE
• THERE IS ISSUE WITH HMI (RADIO) AND INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. THE SCREEN GOES FREEZE. THIS ISSUE IS SPORADIC, AND I AM CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF MYSELF AND FAMILY. I AM AFRAID WHILE DRIVING SUDDENLY INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER IPC SCREEN GOES FREEZE NOT ABLE TO SEE WHAT MY VEHICLE SPEED IS CURRENTLY. S

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

“TODAY, I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH MY PASSAT, I ARRIVED TO MY OFFICE THIS MORNING , AND I WAS CALLING BY PHONE WITH OTHER, BEFORE CLOSE THE DOOR OF MY CAR, AND I FORGOT TO PUSH THE BOTTOM TO SWITCH OFF THE ENGINE, ALL DAY I WAS WORKING IN MY OFFICE, AND AFTER I LEFT FROM MY COMPANY, AND BACK AT HOME”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

19 complaints

11%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND THE POWER BRAKES SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY STEER OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT. THE VEHICL
• THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE CLOCK SPRING. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE AND IT GOT REPLACED 10/7/15. IT SNAPPED AGAIN 5 MONTHS LATER WAS REPLACED 3/8/16. IT SNAPPED AGAIN 6 MONTHS LATER. NOW VOLKWAGON OFFERS A 12,000 MILE 12 YEAR WARRANTY ON PARTS. I BRIGHT THE VEHICLE IN 10/18/16 AND THEY TOLD ME IT WA
• MY CLOCK SPRING AND SWITCH BROKE AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I WAS IN MOTION MAKING A TURN WHEN A CRUNCHING NOISE WAS MADE. MY WARNING LIGHTS WENT OFF CLAIMING AIR BAG ERROR, ACC ERROR. I COULD NOT USE MY TURN SIGNAL OR HORN. I WAS ABLE TO PULL INTO A PARKING LOT AND CALL THE DEALERSHIP. AFTER SPEA

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

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND THE POWER BRAKES SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY STEER OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT. THE VEHICL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

19 complaints

11%

• 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC CAUSES VEHICLE TO PAUSE, FOLLOWED BY EXTREME SURGE OF POWER (THE TURBO PAUSE). *SMD
• ON MAY 21, 2018, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION, AND WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE MY CAR DIED. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO QUIRK VW IN MANCHESTER, NH AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN. THEY TOLD ME THAT IT HAD JUMPED TIME AND VALVES OF ENGINE MOST LIKELY HAVE CONTACTED PISTONS, ETC. N
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (AUDI BUFFALO, 5255 GENESEE ST, BOWMANSVILLE, NY 14026, (716) 683-3343), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC CAUSES VEHICLE TO PAUSE, FOLLOWED BY EXTREME SURGE OF POWER (THE TURBO PAUSE). *SMD”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

18 complaints

10%

• LIKE OTHER VOLKSWAGEN GROUP MODELS MY CAR HAS EXHIBITED A GASOLINE SMELL IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THE GASOLINE SMELL OCCURS BOTH WHEN THE CAR IS AT REST AND IN MOTION AND AT ALL TEMPERATURES. THE GASOLINE LEVEL DOES NOT SEEM TO EFFECT THE OCCURRENCE OF THE SMELL. THE LOCAL DEALER HAS BEEN UNAB
• I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM VW IN OCTOBER 2017 ABOUT SAFETY RECALL 20AE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. THE NOTICE SAID IT WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. UNTIL TODAY, APRIL 10, 2018 PER ONLINE CHECK, OVER 6 MONTHS OF WAITING, THE RECALL REPAIR IS NOT YET AVAILABLE FOR MY VEHICLE. THIS IS LIFE THREATENING. NHTSA # 17
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“LIKE OTHER VOLKSWAGEN GROUP MODELS MY CAR HAS EXHIBITED A GASOLINE SMELL IN THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR. THE GASOLINE SMELL OCCURS BOTH WHEN THE CAR IS AT REST AND IN MOTION AND AT ALL TEMPERATURES. THE GASOLINE LEVEL DOES NOT SEEM TO EFFECT THE OCCURRENCE OF THE SMELL. THE LOCAL DEALER HAS BEEN UNAB”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 179 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT SUSTAINED WHIPLASH AND INJURIE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TODAY, I HAVE A BIG PROBLEM WITH MY PASSAT, I ARRIVED TO MY OFFICE THIS MORNING , AND I WAS CALLING BY PHONE WITH OTHER, BEFORE CLOSE THE DOOR OF MY CAR, AND I FORGOT TO PUSH THE BOTTOM TO SWITCH OFF THE ENGINE, ALL DAY I WAS WORKING IN MY OFFICE, AND AFTER I LEFT FROM MY COMPANY, AND BACK AT HOME
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE POWER STEERING AND THE POWER BRAKES SUDDENLY MALFUNCTIONED AND THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY STEER OR STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE CAMSHAFT. THE VEHICL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ATTEMPTS TO ACCELERATE IN TRAFFIC CAUSES VEHICLE TO PAUSE, FOLLOWED BY EXTREME SURGE OF POWER (THE TURBO PAUSE). *SMD
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)