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2015 Volkswagen Passat

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Passat years

Owner complaints for the 2015 Volkswagen Passat are substantially higher than the model-year median of 110.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

132 reports with mileage · 111 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 88 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 48 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

Power Train complaints

12 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2026
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower TrainVehicle Speed Control

While driving on the highway my car suddenly began to stall. It lost power later after that & when I got an oil change then tried to drive it later I was stopped by another driver told something is leaking. While driving to a Autozone I noticed the gears jump while shifting from 1 to 2 and I now can’t past 20 mph. I’ve already g…

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While driving on the highway my car suddenly began to stall. It lost power later after that & when I got an oil change then tried to drive it later I was stopped by another driver told something is leaking. While driving to a Autozone I noticed the gears jump while shifting from 1 to 2 and I now can’t past 20 mph. I’ve already gotten the camshaft replaced and while researching I learned my cars make and model is being recalled for everything my car is going through. The vin says it’s not eligible for any recalls. Its maintenance is unkept.

NHTSA ODI #11716751

Mileage unknown · Jul 7, 2025
Power Train

Vehicle in question has a dual-clutch automatic transmission with 103,000 miles on the odometer. Transmission failed without warning while turning left onto a major highway from a standing stop -- stuck in 1st gear, it was dangerously slow to get out of other drivers' way, creating a serious road hazard concern. Vehicle had be…

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Vehicle in question has a dual-clutch automatic transmission with 103,000 miles on the odometer. Transmission failed without warning while turning left onto a major highway from a standing stop -- stuck in 1st gear, it was dangerously slow to get out of other drivers' way, creating a serious road hazard concern. Vehicle had been maintained since new with fluid changes as required but still failed prematurely and without warning of any sort. Dealer inspected the car and stated the transmission needs to be replaced.

NHTSA ODI #11671602

Mileage unknown · Sep 17, 2023
Power Train

Upon further inspection a bushing was needed to be replaced. The bushing that holds the shift connection component together disconnected and popped off the shifting mechanism. The problem was reproduced several times. My safety was at risk, I was pulling into a parking space, put my vehicle in park, my car did not display a 'P' …

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Upon further inspection a bushing was needed to be replaced. The bushing that holds the shift connection component together disconnected and popped off the shifting mechanism. The problem was reproduced several times. My safety was at risk, I was pulling into a parking space, put my vehicle in park, my car did not display a 'P' the option was empty (no R or D either was displayed). My car jumped forward and started to go and I was able to hold the brake and pull the emergency brake. I shut the car off after the shifter was stuck into the 'Drive' position. Manually putting the vehicle in park was able to fix the issue. No warning lights or issues prior occurred, the vehicle stuck in drive and it would have caused a crash if I were reversing or elsewhere. The issue happened again after the replacement part, the bushing popped off and the same behavior happened.

NHTSA ODI #11545037

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

SLUGGISH, HESITATES, WILL NOT ACCELERATE UPHILL. CODES: P039B, P93AF, P03B9

NHTSA ODI #11342999

120,000 miles · Jan 5, 2020
Power Train

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 2015 VW PASSAT AND CAR WAS OPERATING FINE UNTIL TURNING LEFT ONTO COUNTY HIGHWAY OFF OF STATE HIGHWAY. AFTER TURNING, CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF GEAR IT WAS IN; THE ENGINE JUST REVVED HIGHER RPMS. TOP SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE INTERSECTION SHE WAS TURNING AT IS A VERY BUSY ONE.

NHTSA ODI #11297182

82,000 miles · Nov 24, 2019
EnginePower Train

TRANSMISSION LEAKING MAJOR CAR RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHILE IN DRIVE WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC ROUGH IDLING. CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF THERE'S BUSY TRAFFIC ON MAJOR SIDE STREET AND YOU NOT PAYING ATTENTION

NHTSA ODI #11282008

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2018
Power TrainUnknown Or Other

TIMING CHAIN ELONGATED HEARD LIGHT NOISE AND AROUND 60000 MILES I HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO DEALER I EVEN ASKED THEM TO LET ME KNOW WHAT ALL IS WRONG WITH CAR AT 90000 MILES NEVER SAID ANYTHING UNTIL SWITCH DEALER AT 110000 MILES TELLS ME THAT IT MAY FAIL AT ANYTIME AND WILL CAUSE ENGINE TO LOOSE POWER

NHTSA ODI #11097693

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2017
EnginePower Train

MY VEHICLE HAD VW CAM SHAFT SAFETY RECALL 23R1 DONE AND I STARTED HAVE DRIVING ISSUES ERRATIC ACCELERATION, CLUCKING OF TRANSMISSION. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS A 3+ SECOND DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN ON A SLIGHT OR MORE OF AN INCLINE. IF YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR STARTS WITH A JERK, IF YOU ADD MAKING A TURN IT SOMETIMES T…

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MY VEHICLE HAD VW CAM SHAFT SAFETY RECALL 23R1 DONE AND I STARTED HAVE DRIVING ISSUES ERRATIC ACCELERATION, CLUCKING OF TRANSMISSION. THE MAIN PROBLEM IS A 3+ SECOND DELAY IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN ON A SLIGHT OR MORE OF AN INCLINE. IF YOU DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR STARTS WITH A JERK, IF YOU ADD MAKING A TURN IT SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE SPINS THE WHEELS AND TAKES OFF. I HAVE BEEN TO THE BBB AND THE ARBITRATOR FELT UNSAFE RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. TO REPLACE MY VEHICLE VW WANTS A $5000 OUT LAY OF CASH FOR A PROBLEM THEY KNOW EXISTED (I HAVE THE BBB HEARING RECORDING WHERE THE REP STATES THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT DRIVE THE SAME AS IT DID BEFORE THE UPDATE). I HAD NO ISSUES BEFORE THE UPDATE AND NOW I HAVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. THE CORRECT REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN A NEW CAM SHAFT NOT REDUCING THE TORQUE OF THE MOTOR AND CAUSING PROBLEMS IN SOME VEHICLES. I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER RETURNED VEHICLES BACK TO CUSTOMERS KNOWING THEY CHANGED THE WAY THE VEHICLE RUNS. WHEN MY VEHICLE WAS IN FOR REPAIRS AND I DROVE A 2016 PASSAT AND A 2016 JETTA THEY HAD NO ISSUES. WHEN THEY ASKED ME TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THE SAME AS MINE 2015 PASSAT LIMITED IT DROVE THE SAME WAY. AGAIN I DON'T FELL SAFE IN THE VEHICLE AND HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE TO DRIVE UP TO NEW YORK TO ATTEND MY FATHERS FUNERAL. THANK YOU [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10971656

36,146 miles · Sep 7, 2016
Power Train

THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS OF TIMES WHERE MY CAR HAS LOST POWER DURING ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ODI #10904541

13,000 miles · Jul 14, 2016
Air BagsPower TrainCrash

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 DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDE…

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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 DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

NHTSA ODI #10884735

Official recalls

7

19V862000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Dec 4, 2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.

19V389000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

May 22, 2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.

19V014000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 11, 2019

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298; Audi owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69S8 (Audi) and 69Y5 (Volkswagen).

15V705000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Oct 26, 2015

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.

Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.

Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.

15V373000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Jun 15, 2015

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Passat vehicles manufactured May 18, 2015, to May 21, 2015. The affected vehicles have a brake line at the left rear wheel area that may not have been properly tightened.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the brake line was not properly tightened, it may leak brake fluid, causing a reduction in braking performance, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will tighten the brake line fitting, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47M3.

15V028000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail

Jan 23, 2015

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall 14V-809 (Volkswagen recall number 24Bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that campaign.

14V670000 · Seats

Oct 24, 2014

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Jetta and Passat vehicles manufactured September 23, 2014, to October 9, 2014, and equipped with manual front seatback recliners. In the affected vehicles, the seatback recliner retaining bracket may not engage correctly, resulting in unexpected movement of the seatback.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Unexpected movement of the driver's seatback may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the assembly of the seatback recliner retaining bracket, correcting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72F1.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.