NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
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.
This page covers 6 recalls, 106 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat.
23–29 mpg combined
8.1–10.2 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 2 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The dominant complaint theme for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat centers on the steering and fuel systems, each drawing equal complaint volume. On the steering side, owners frequently report clock spring failures that knock out multiple steering wheel functions at once, the horn, cruise control, and the steering wheel airbag all go offline together, often accompanied by warning lights on the instrument cluster. On the fuel system side, owners describe a noticeable gasoline odor inside the cabin while driving, sometimes strong enough to prompt them to pull over; in some cases the vehicle then fails to restart. Engine complaints round out the top three, with owners reporting warning lights and communication faults involving the ABS module, which can also disable electronic stability control and leave those systems unavailable while driving.
106
Total Complaints
4
Crash-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Volkswagen Passat has 6 recalls, the most serious being a fuel leak on 1.8T-equipped models that can result in a fire, and a separate airbag inflator that can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin.
On the engine side, a camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump can shear off, stripping away the power assist that makes the brake pedal easy to press. Without that assist, stopping distances grow significantly, leaving the driver pressing harder for less braking force than expected. Two recalls cover vehicles that were originally used internally by Volkswagen and later sold to consumers without verification that they met all regulatory requirements and without confirmation of what modifications, if any, were made before sale. These vehicles may not comply with applicable safety standards, which can raise the risk of a crash, fire, or injury. Finally, some Passats are missing a small blocking cap on the headlight assembly that prevents the horizontal aim of the headlights from being adjusted out of specification. Without it, someone could inadvertently shift the beam angle so that it no longer illuminates the road correctly ahead, cutting down on visibility at night.
At a glance
What can fail
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.
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Driver Assistance
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 →
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
These vehicles were sold without verification that they met all federal safety standards and may have been altered before sale, potentially failing to comply with required safety standards.
What the fix does
Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 for details.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
These vehicles were sold without verification they met all federal safety standards and may have been modified before sale, potentially causing non-compliance with various safety requirements.
What the fix does
Volkswagen will contact owners and repurchase the vehicles.
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 fuel rail may separate from the cylinder head, causing fuel to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the cylinder heads at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump can shear off, causing loss of brake assist.
What the fix does
Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module software to address the issue.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.