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2016 Volkswagen Passat

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 110.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

54 reports with mileage · 52 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 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

4 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

106 reports
46,000 miles · Sep 20, 2018
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND THE CAR SLOWED TO A NEAR STOP AND COULD NOT ASCEND A SMALL INCLINE ON INTERSTATE 95 SOUTHBOUND AT OR ABOUT STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP IN STRATFORD CT. WHEN PUT INTO GEAR THE ENGINE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THERE WAS NO POWER. WHEN IN PARK AND NEUT…

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2016 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, DRIVING IN THE RAIN AND THE CAR SLOWED TO A NEAR STOP AND COULD NOT ASCEND A SMALL INCLINE ON INTERSTATE 95 SOUTHBOUND AT OR ABOUT STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL VW DEALERSHIP IN STRATFORD CT. WHEN PUT INTO GEAR THE ENGINE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THERE WAS NO POWER. WHEN IN PARK AND NEUTRAL THE ENGINE WAS FINE AND COULD BE "REVVED" WITHOUT ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE WIRE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE "TCM AND ICM' HAS "WATER DAMAGE" AND THAT WHEN THEY DISCONNECTED THOSE WIRES THERE "IS SIGNS OF CORROSION ON THE SEAL" ?

NHTSA ODI #11130453

50 miles · Sep 4, 2018
Electrical SystemVisibility/wiper

AS I HAVE SEEN IN YOUR DATABASE MY PASSAT HAS MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY SIDE MIRRORS SOMETIMES DO NOT UNFOLD OR FUNCTION AS EXPECTED. ( VW SAYS THERE IS NO FIX ) MY BACKUP CAMERA SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK ( VW SAYS THERE IS NO FIX ) MY CAR STOPS FOR NO REASON THINKING THERE IS AN OBJECT IN FRONT OF IT. NOT ONLY ARE THESE …

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AS I HAVE SEEN IN YOUR DATABASE MY PASSAT HAS MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY SIDE MIRRORS SOMETIMES DO NOT UNFOLD OR FUNCTION AS EXPECTED. ( VW SAYS THERE IS NO FIX ) MY BACKUP CAMERA SOMETIMES DOESN'T WORK ( VW SAYS THERE IS NO FIX ) MY CAR STOPS FOR NO REASON THINKING THERE IS AN OBJECT IN FRONT OF IT. NOT ONLY ARE THESE PROBLEMS REAL THE CAR DID NOT REGISTER ANY FAULTS. THESE PROBLEMS HAPPENED ALL THE TIME YET INTERMITTENTLY. PLEASE NOTE THAT MY CAR WAS MADE IN THE USA. AND EXPORTED TO CANADA. I AM IN CANADA. DUE TO MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS I HAVE BEEN CONTACTED BY SEVERAL VW OWNERS MANY IN THE USA THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AND VW IS NOT DOING ANYTHING FOR US. I KNOW OF SOME THAT HAVE HAD THEIR CARS RETURNED VIA THE LEMON LAW. THESE PROBLEMS SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED ANY LONGER. HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=PGMJC2QPNOO HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=X5TLKDNA0XS HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=MOMG3DENETG HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=Z90TVWWSP9Y HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=9YLKAM6GOZU HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=R9J7H5AORJY HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=I27A1WCGXNG HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=BUHHB0G11_U ***THIS IS NOT A VIDEO I MADE BUT IT SHOWS A VW STOPPING FOR NO REASON WHICH IS HOW IT HAPPENED TO ME: VOLKSWAGEN FRONT ASSIST STOPS FOR NO REASON HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=UK8GVO0LNMS

NHTSA ODI #11124212

60,000 miles · Aug 8, 2018
Air Bags

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON - NEVER BEEN IN ACCIDENT HAS 61,000 MILES

NHTSA ODI #11118608

6,000 miles · Aug 2, 2018
Exterior Lighting

WHEN THEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON THE LEFT FRONT FOG LIGHT TURNS ON , WHEN THE CAR TURNS LEFT, WHEN IT IS RETURNED TO THE MIDDLE THE FOG LIGHT TURNS OFF. THIS ONLY OCCURS WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON, IT DOES NOT HAPPEN WHEN IT IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT.

NHTSA ODI #11115467

129,763 miles · Jul 6, 2018
Engine

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 REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIF…

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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 REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED AT A LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 129,763.

NHTSA ODI #11109848

25 miles · Jul 4, 2018
Air BagsService BrakesSteeringCrash

TAKATA RECALL- NOT SURE IF IT IS BUT MY CAR HAS ISSUE ON THE STEERING. ALSO MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON AND ALONG WITH THAT MY HORN IS DISABLED. NOT SURE IF ITS UNDER RECALL BUT HOW DO I GET THOSE REPAIR

NHTSA ODI #11109539

86,334 miles · Jun 12, 2018
EnginePower Train

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. NEEDS ENGINE AND TURBO ASSEMBLY…

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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. NEEDS ENGINE AND TURBO ASSEMBLY. THERE IS A KNOWN TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER LAWSUIT OUT ON THESE CARS. LUCKILY THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND THERE WAS NOT A DEADLY ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11101452

36,000 miles · Jun 5, 2018
Air BagsSteeringUnknown Or Other

I OFTEN WILL BE DRIVING AND CAR SLAMS ON BRAKES BY ITSELF CAUSING ME TO NEARLY WRECK AND ALSO TWICE I'VE HAD AIR BAG LIGHTS APPEAR AND CLICKING STEERING WHEEL

NHTSA ODI #11099984

46,000 miles · May 17, 2018
Air BagsSteeringUnknown Or Other

WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STATED "ERROR". ALL THE FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT WORK, THIS INCLUDED THE HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, RADIO SYSTEM AND AIR BAG. I WAS AFRAID THAT EITHER THE AIR BAG COULD JUST GO OFF OR WOULD NOT GO OFF IF I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I ALSO COULD NOT USE M…

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WHEN I WENT TO START THE CAR THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND STATED "ERROR". ALL THE FUNCTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT WORK, THIS INCLUDED THE HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, RADIO SYSTEM AND AIR BAG. I WAS AFRAID THAT EITHER THE AIR BAG COULD JUST GO OFF OR WOULD NOT GO OFF IF I GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. I ALSO COULD NOT USE MY HORN IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPAIRED. SUNRISE VOLKSWAGEN IN LYNBROOK,NY REPLACED THE CLOCK SPRING.

NHTSA ODI #11096639

13,363 miles · May 4, 2018
Unknown Or Other

WHEN I PARK THE CAR AND THINK I HAVE PUT IT IN PARK AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF, I GET OUT ( IF ON A VERY SLIGHT SLOPE) IT IS STATIONARY FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE IT STARTS TO ROLL, I JUMP BACK IN AND SEE, IT IS NOT ALL THE WAY IN TO PARK. IN MY PREVIOUS CARS THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF, IF NOT IN PARK. YES I KNOW ONE SHOULD …

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WHEN I PARK THE CAR AND THINK I HAVE PUT IT IN PARK AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF, I GET OUT ( IF ON A VERY SLIGHT SLOPE) IT IS STATIONARY FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE IT STARTS TO ROLL, I JUMP BACK IN AND SEE, IT IS NOT ALL THE WAY IN TO PARK. IN MY PREVIOUS CARS THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF, IF NOT IN PARK. YES I KNOW ONE SHOULD ALWAYS CHECK AND I DO; HOWEVER. WE WE ALL MAKE MISTAKES; IF THE CAR ONLY TURNED OFF WHEN IN PARK SOME ONE MAY NOT BE RUN OVER. (IN THE FUTURE WILL WILL ALWAYS APPY MY HAND BRAKE.)

NHTSA ODI #11091917

Official recalls

5

21V321000 · Unknown Or Other

May 5, 2021

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.

20V561000 · Unknown Or Other

Sep 16, 2020

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.

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.

16V403000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail

Jun 6, 2016

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Jetta vehicles manufactured October 31, 2015, to January 21, 2016, 2016 Passat vehicles, equipped with 1.8T engines manufactured November 13, 2015, to December 9, 2015, and 2016 Golf vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to November 11, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the fuel rail may detach from the cylinder head and result in a fuel leak.

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 cylinder heads, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 15F7.

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.

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.