Airbag error notice and cracking sound when turning steering wheel. Error light for cruise control, front end assistance. This is the second time this has occured. It was previously fixed in 2018.
2018 Volkswagen Passat
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2018 Volkswagen Passat do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 110.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Passat years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 17 of 45 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Service Brakes. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
45 reportsI was driving down the road and the wheel locked up and I lost control of the car. I thought it was just a flat tire. I noticed the tire was flat and brake caliber was lying on the inside of the rim. There was extensive damage to the vehicle, tire, rim, suspension components and brake components. There was no warning and it just…
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I was driving down the road and the wheel locked up and I lost control of the car. I thought it was just a flat tire. I noticed the tire was flat and brake caliber was lying on the inside of the rim. There was extensive damage to the vehicle, tire, rim, suspension components and brake components. There was no warning and it just happened suddenly. My family and other drivers safety were at risk. The dealership said it was due to impact but their estimate didn't mention or included any of the brake components. The brake caliber bracket is broken and the holes were the caliber bolts attached are elongated. The brake caliber and bracket are protected inside the rim and brakes just don't fall off. It is a VW certified car. I put 4,000 miles since I purchased and the accident happened on November 17, 2021. I have all the components and pictures.
Purchased on 08/05/2021. The suspension in the rear right passenger side. Went on a 5 minute test drive with Yancey Cobb who stated there was nothing wrong with the car and that I needed to call the Finance company and finalize the deal or I wouldn't have a car. Meaning I couldn't get my traded car back either. They shut the dea…
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Purchased on 08/05/2021. The suspension in the rear right passenger side. Went on a 5 minute test drive with Yancey Cobb who stated there was nothing wrong with the car and that I needed to call the Finance company and finalize the deal or I wouldn't have a car. Meaning I couldn't get my traded car back either. They shut the dealership down on me and left me on the lot to retrieve my articles from one car to the next and there was no gas in the car because the gas light was on. They gave no paperwork. I had no idea there was no warranty until I took it to Heritage Harford Rd who gave the car back broken. 3 times. They keep saying they can't duplicate the problem. I contacted the BBB and they Mike Molnar lied and said he contacted me. Never responded to the rebuttal. I contacted Volkswagen customer care via Twitter with Stephani S. Nothing. I went to Country Dubbs, nothings wrong, Brooks Huff, Nothing wrong. T&S Auto, nothing. This vehicles stops traffic everyday on York Rd. I've contacted the FairTrade Commission. Nobody will help with this issue. It sways, it wiggles, the wheel rides like it's bent, it feels like it sticks at times and looks like crap on the road, but nody knows what's wrong. I've called Antwerpen Corporate. Spoke to Aileen Sanders who won't return my calls after telling me there was no paperwork in the jacket for the deal. Who sells a car at 19k miles on it with no warranty, they don't give you a bill of sale, and they treat women like dirt. They have so many negative and sheisty reviews on their website. Why are car dealers such liars and cheats. I don't want this car for all the hassle and deception and a note on a car that's been broke since the turn of the key for me.
The vehicle can be turned off while in drive, and gives no extra signals (beeps, flashing lights, etc.) with the exception of a brief message on the dash and single ding (same ding for door open, and other low importance messages). The vehicle will then roll until the brake is applied or it comes to a rest on a flat surface or a…
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The vehicle can be turned off while in drive, and gives no extra signals (beeps, flashing lights, etc.) with the exception of a brief message on the dash and single ding (same ding for door open, and other low importance messages). The vehicle will then roll until the brake is applied or it comes to a rest on a flat surface or against a pole or hard object. This is a significant safety hazard that has occurred to me 3-4 times, the most recent was today when the vehicle rolled backwards down my mothers driveway. Crossed the street, entered the neighbors driveway/yard, contacted the mail box and came to rest in the front yard. The vehicle rolled approx. 200ft. The vehicle is equipped with auto braking and parking collision warning, that are capable of sensing a collision while driving and notifying the driver of objects while parking. The same system should be able to prevent a car turned off while in drive from rolling uncontrolled and striking a person or object. In addition the car should have generate a significant audio and visual warnings to the driver, furthermore the car should not be able to be turned off while in drive. It’s a fundamental flaw that it can be turned off, drivers door opened, driver and keys step out of the vehicle with no response from the vehicle.
The 2018 vw Passat se is only 3 years old and the transmission went out. The mileage was just a little over 98,000. The car has been kept up with as far as oil change, routine maintenance, and extras, such as tires and brakes. We have been given no reason to why the transmission would have went out like it did. But we are stuck …
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The 2018 vw Passat se is only 3 years old and the transmission went out. The mileage was just a little over 98,000. The car has been kept up with as far as oil change, routine maintenance, and extras, such as tires and brakes. We have been given no reason to why the transmission would have went out like it did. But we are stuck making payments on it and the cost of repair from the dealership itself is $4,500
Intermittent stalling. Typically at stop, when vehicle has been running a short time. Vehicle restarts. Occurs frequently, every week, but not every trip. Started in spring 2021, recurring issue. Mechanic unable to replicate.
I PURCHASED MY CAR AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED VEHICLE. WITHIN FOUR DAYS, I NOTICED THAT THE FRONT BRAKES GET EXCESSIVELY HOT DURING NORMAL STOPPING. I HAVE REPLACED THE BRAKE PADS & ROTORS, AND THE CONDITION STILL EXISTS.
I AM AT THE BURGER KING DRIVE THRU JAN 23, 2021, THERE ARE A FEW CARS AHEAD OF ME. I SIT AT DRIVER THRU WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE ABOUT 3 TO 5 MINUTES, WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME MOVES CLOSER TO PICK UP HIS FOOD, I LET OFF OF THE BRAKE AND DRIFT FORWARD AS I GET CLOSER TO CAR IN FRONT OF ME , I PRESS THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL GOES A…
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I AM AT THE BURGER KING DRIVE THRU JAN 23, 2021, THERE ARE A FEW CARS AHEAD OF ME. I SIT AT DRIVER THRU WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE ABOUT 3 TO 5 MINUTES, WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME MOVES CLOSER TO PICK UP HIS FOOD, I LET OFF OF THE BRAKE AND DRIFT FORWARD AS I GET CLOSER TO CAR IN FRONT OF ME , I PRESS THE BRAKE AND THE PEDAL GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I PRESS HARDER AND MY CAR BANGS DIRECTLY INTO THE BACK OF A 2015 CAMARA THAT HAS BEEN GARAGED KEPT AND HAS ONLY 3,000 MILES ON IT. I GIVE THE DRIVER MY PHONE NUMBER. VERY MINOR DAMAGE TO HIS CAR AND ONLY DAMAGE MY LICENSE PLATE AREA. I PULLED MY CAR INTO THE PARKING LOT , TURNED OFF IGNITION, I THEN STARTED PUMPING MY BRAKES AND EVENTUALLY THE BRAKES FELT MUCH STIFFER AFTER ABOUT 15 PUMPS OF THE BRAKE PEDAL . ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THIS , I TOOK MY CAR TO THE VW DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE AND SPECIFICALLY ASKED FOR THEM TO CHECK MY BRAKES AND TIRES. I WAS TOLD WHEN I PICKED UP MY CAR THAT TIRES SHOULD BE REPLACE IN ABOUT 5,000 MORE MILES,BUT MY BRAKES WERE FINE. MY CAR JUST PASSED 40,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER 2 DAYS AFTER THE OIL CHANGE. YESTERDAY JAN 25 ,2021 , I TOOK THE CAR TO VW DEALERSHIP EXPLAINING WHAT HAD HAPPENED, TODAY IS JAN 26 THEY KEPT THE CAR OVER NIGHT WAITING TO HEAR BACK FROM SPECIALIST FROM VW. MEANWHILE I SEARCHED INTERNET FOR INFO. THAT IS WHEN I REACHED THIS SITE. ALSO MY FORWARD COLLISION SHOULD HAVE COME BEFORE I MADE CONTACT WITH THE CAR I HIT AT BURGER KING. I SERIOUSLY DON'T WANT ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS VEHICLE ANYMORE. I DON'T TRUST IT. I ALSO INJURED MY LEG PRESSING SO HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL.
WHILE REVERSING IN MY DRIVEWAY, MY DASH LIGHTS UP WITH WARNING: ACC ERROR AND WARNING : AIRBAG ERROR AND STAYED WHILE I WAS PARKED AND KEPT MY CAR STATIONARY. THE NEXT DAY IT SHOWED UP AGAIN AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT MY AIRBAG DEPLOYING ON ME WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I AM WORRIED ALSO THAT MY AIRBAG MIGHT NEVER GO OFF…
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WHILE REVERSING IN MY DRIVEWAY, MY DASH LIGHTS UP WITH WARNING: ACC ERROR AND WARNING : AIRBAG ERROR AND STAYED WHILE I WAS PARKED AND KEPT MY CAR STATIONARY. THE NEXT DAY IT SHOWED UP AGAIN AND I AM WORRIED ABOUT MY AIRBAG DEPLOYING ON ME WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. I AM WORRIED ALSO THAT MY AIRBAG MIGHT NEVER GO OFF AND THESE CODES DAMAGE SOMETHING ELSE INTERNALLY IN THE CAR.
WHILE GOING THROUGH A CURVE, IF ATTEMPT TO SLOW DOWN, MY BRAKES SEEM TO MAKE SOME TYPE OF SCRAPING SOUND AND I CAN FEEL THE SCRAPE OR VIBRATION OF THE PROBLEM THROUGH THE PEDAL.
Official recalls
420V561000 · 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.
18V536000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper
Aug 15, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2017-2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles. The brake caliper bracket mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been tightened sufficiently.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The loose brake bracket bolts can allow the caliper to move, reducing braking ability or causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper bracket bolt tightness, replacing and re-torque the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Additionally brake caliper fasteners, bleeder valve, and brake hose bolts will be checked and torqued to the correct specification, if necessary, free of charge. For Passat vehicles, dealers will also inspect the parking brake cable for proper connection, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46H6.
18V369000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper
Jun 1, 2018
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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