FaultScore

2013 Volkswagen Passat suspension problems

13 of the 1,027 complaints about the 2013 Volkswagen Passat are about the suspension — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 21,000 miles.

A

13

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Suspension 12 92.3%
Coil Springs 1 7.7%

Suspension across every Volkswagen Passat year

1998 99 26.8%
1999 140 37.9%
2000 42 11.4%
2001 32 8.7%
2002 16 4.3%
2003 10 2.7%
2013 13 3.5%
2015 17 4.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 177,000 miles Grafton, OH

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-60 MPH and driving over the roadway, the rear coil spring fractured. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The approximate failure mileage was 177,000.

NHTSA complaint #11649537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Indio, CA

SUSPENSION

Stalling? Have to put in DRIVE in order to forward in order to get car to back up? Air bags Clock wheel has more connection to what wrong/Air bags connections is Connected to HORN (which stopped working) DRIVE? all the refuses are working fine. horn not work; Dangerous driving in CALIIFORNIA without a HORN** I just want ALL is for them to REPLACE the PARTS OF MY VW 2013 PASSAT WITHOUT ANY CHARGE Whatsoever; even an UNNECESSARY FEE** I am driving a car with DEFECTIVE AIR BAGS, TIRES HEADLIGHTS, Suspension, SEATBELTS PROBLEMS, TRANSMISSIONS PRBLEMS, steering, electrical, system THAT CAN EXPLODE LEADING TO A LETHAL SITUATION FOR MYSELF And/or my DISABLED SON NOT TO SAY SOMETIMES I HAVE MY GRANDKIDS here have been a lot of complaints other than for what these recalled products are allowed on this vehicle. I am not the only one dealing with this stalling issue/go forward. DANGEROUS what does SOMEONE have do suddenly put it in reverse to get out of another vehicle or another harmful?? Because these issues are really serious!! Especially when dealership like AUTO PLUS IN INDIO. CA. use car DEALERSHIP in vehicles like this and promising. people things about the vehicle and not true!!

NHTSA complaint #11572469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mansfield, MA

SUSPENSION

I noticed my car was sitting lower than normal all the way around. While driving, I heard some unusual noises coming from the rear. I took the car to a mechanic for evaluation. The mechanic said three of the four coil springs had broken (both rear and drivers side on the front. I did some research and found there is an existing recall for broken springs in Volkswagen automobiles. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 42J5. NHTSA’s campaign number: 19V188000.

NHTSA complaint #11492028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Albany, IN

SUSPENSION

SQUEAKING IF SUSPENSION WHEN I GO OVER BUMPS

NHTSA complaint #11316739 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 79,379 miles Brownington, VT

SUSPENSION

BROKE REAR SPRING LAST AUGUST AND THE OTHER REAR SPRING LAST WEEK. NEVER BROKE A SPRING ON ANY CAR I OWNED UNTIL THIS PASSAT. LOVE THE PASSAT, BY THE WAY, JUST THINK THERE IS SOMETHING NOT MADE CORRECTLY WITH THESE SPRINGS.

NHTSA complaint #11209236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Aliquippa, PA

SUSPENSION

WINTER OF 2019, MY REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF. I WAS LOADING MY BACKSEAT WITH MY WORK SUPPLIES WHEN THE BREAK OCCURRED.

NHTSA complaint #11192599 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Battleboro, NC

SUSPENSION

MY 2013 VW PASSAT 3.6 SEL MAJOR ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION, BURNING EXCESSIVE ENGINE OIL, AND SUBSTANDARD SUSPENSION. THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS IN 3RD GEAR, AND STRUGGLES TO SEARCH FOR A GEAR. VW ENGINEERED MY PASSAT FOR CASTROL OIL 5W40 SYNTHETIC OIL, 6-7 QUARTS EVERY OIL CHANGE (EVERY 10,000 MILES). I HAVE TO ADD 3 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 4,000 MILES. THIS IS A CLEAR INDICATION THE OIL WEIGHT IS INSUFFICIENT FOR THIS VEHICLE, ENGINEERING ISSUES WITH THE OIL PUMP, AND/OR VALVE SEALS. THE PASSAT DOES NOT HANDLE WELL, AND FEELS UNSAFE IN RAIN, SNOW, AND SLEET, BECAUSE THERE IS NO TRACTION CONTROL BUTTON ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS THAT THE EXECUTIVES AT VOLKSWAGEN AG ARE NOT INTERESTED IN SAFETY AND QUALITY. THEY ARE ONLY INTERESTED IN SACRIFICING A DOLLAR FOR SAFETY AND QUALITY.

NHTSA complaint #11162806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200 miles Stockton, CA

SUSPENSION

I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE FOR CONCERNS WITH THE SUSPENSION. AT NORMAL OPERATING SPEEDS, THE CAR WILL PULL TO THE RIGHT VERY QUICKLY ON A STRAIGHT ROAD. AT 65+ MPH, ANY ROAD CHANGES FORCE THE CAR TO JUMP LANES. IT FEELS LIKE DRIVING A BOAT IN ROUGH WATER. I WAS TOLD EACH TIME THAT EVERYTHING IS IN SPEC. THE CAR WILL LURCH OFF THE SHOULDER DURING TURNS THAT HAVE ANY MINOR ROUGH PATCHES AT ALL. THIS HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT NOW WHERE WE CANNOT OPERATE THE CAR SAFELY.

NHTSA complaint #10785271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Houghton Lake, MI

SUSPENSION

THE BOLTS WHICH ATTACHED THE FRONT SUSPENSION STRUTS TO THE VEHICLE RATTLE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE BOLT. THIS FAILURE EFFECTS THE HANDELING OF THE VEHICLE AT HIGH SPEEDS AND DURING CORNERING.

NHTSA complaint #10762815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,000 miles Wautoma, WI

SUSPENSION

AT ABOUT 12000 MILES ON MY VW PASSAT CLUNKS BEGAN TO DEVELOP IN FRONT END OF CAR. IT KEPT GETTING WORSE. I TOOK IT INTO VW GARAGE FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS AT 15000 MILES. THE TOLD ME THE SWAY BARS FAILED AND WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THEM. AFTER REPAIR THE SWAY BAR LINKS WERE REPLACED AND CAR IS WITHOUT NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #10659390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,414 miles SAN Jose, CA

SUSPENSION

CAR PULLS SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. VOLKSWAGEN STATES THAT EVERYTHING IS IN SPEC. NOTHING IS BENT OR BROKEN. WE HAVE A SECOND 2013 PASSAT THAT DOES THE SAME THING. THE CASTER IS OUT OF SPEC IN A INDEPENDENT ALIGNMENT, BUT WAS TOLD IT IS NON ADJUSTABLE.( CAME FROM THE FACTORY THIS WAY) MANY PASSATS FROM 2012- 2014 HAVE THIS ISSUE. AT 65 MPH OUR TWO PASSATS WILL COMPLETELY CHANGE LANES IN 6 SECONDS.

NHTSA complaint #10608364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 21,000 miles SAN Jose, CA

SUSPENSION

CAR PULLS SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. VOLKSWAGEN SAYS EVERYTHING IS IN SPEC. NOTHING IS BENT OR BROKEN. THEY ALSO SAID " IT'S JUST THE WAY THE CAR HANDLES" I AM NOT STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR, JUST COASTING ON ANY ROAD AND WITHIN 5 TO 6 SECONDS I AM HALFWAY IN THE OTHER LANE.

NHTSA complaint #10608370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,000 miles Gonzales, LA

SUSPENSION

1. THERE IS A NOTICEABLE HESITATION AFTER A COLD START (TDI, DIESEL ENGINE) GOING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. THIS HAS OCCURRED EVERYDAY SINCE PURCHASED. 2. THIS CAR HAS ALWAYS AND STILL HAS A HARD RIGHT PULL SINCE PURCHASE (CAR WILL PULL INTO ADJACENT LANE WITHIN 200-250 FEET). MY PREVIOUS 2012 PASSAT TDI SEL STEERED STAIGHT. MY CAR HAS BEEN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TO FIX THIS ISSUE ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS, TO NO AVAIL.

NHTSA complaint #10584390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2013 Volkswagen Passat problems

← Full 2013 Volkswagen Passat report