NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 9 recalls, 747 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Volkswagen Passat.
23–34 mpg combined
6.9–10.2 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2013 Volkswagen Passat, airbag-related complaints dominate the picture by a wide margin, accounting for the largest share of the 747 total reports. Owners frequently describe the airbag warning light illuminating and staying on, often accompanied by the horn and steering wheel controls becoming unresponsive, a cluster of symptoms that points to a problem in the clock spring or steering column area. Exterior lighting is the second most-reported system, with many owners describing headlights failing for reasons beyond a burned-out bulb or blown fuse. Fuel and propulsion complaints round out the top three, where owners describe intermittent stalling at low speeds or idle, sometimes without any warning light, and with no confirmed cause found even after dealer diagnosis.
747
Total Complaints
29
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
19
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Volkswagen Passat has 9 recalls, the most serious being multiple driver's airbag inflator defects where the inflator can rupture or explode in a crash, sending metal fragments into the cabin and potentially causing serious injury or death.
Several of these airbag recalls are related: some vehicles thought to have been repaired under earlier Takata airbag campaigns may not have received an adequate fix, so prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue. A separate airbag concern involves the clock spring, a coiled cable in the steering column that keeps the airbag powered while the wheel turns. Debris can contaminate this part and cut the electrical connection, preventing the driver's airbag from deploying in a crash at all.
Two recalls involve fire risk. On TDI-equipped models, water can enter and corrode an underbody sensor connector, causing an electrical short that overheats the wiring. Also on diesel DSG-equipped vehicles, an undersized heat shield can allow driveshaft grease to leak onto hot exhaust components.
On the visibility side, low beam headlight bulbs on certain vehicles can work loose and lose contact, killing the headlights entirely. A separate recall covers missing headlight aim-adjustment blocking caps, which can allow the beams to be aimed out of specification and reduce road illumination.
At a glance
What can fail
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Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
The driver's side front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown caused by long-term exposure to high humidity, high heat, and repeated temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's side air bag inflator may explode. The propellant inside degrades over time when exposed to high humidity, high heat, and repeated temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The blocking cap that prevents headlight horizontal aim adjustment may be missing, allowing unintended headlight aiming changes that don't meet federal lamp standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect headlights and install the blocking cap if needed to prevent horizontal adjustment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's front air bag inflator can build up excessive pressure during deployment and rupture, potentially causing injury.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's front air bag inflator with a safer alternative at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The underbody heat shield may be too short to protect the right half-shaft grease boot from heat, potentially causing grease to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driveshaft heat shield at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Wire seals in an underbody sensor connector may be improperly assembled, allowing water to enter and corrode electrical connectors, which can cause an electrical short.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the connector and replace it if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver's front air bag inflator may build up too much internal pressure and rupture when the air bag deploys.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver's front air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Debris may contaminate and tear the air bag clock spring—a spiral cable that powers the driver's front air bag during steering wheel turns—causing the air bag to lose electrical connection.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a protective cover over the clock spring if the air bag light is off, or replace the clock spring if the light is on. Repairs are free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The low beam headlight bulb can become loose and lose electrical contact, causing the headlight to stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the bulb holder at no cost to restore proper headlight function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.