244 of the
10,333 complaints filed about the Volkswagen Passat
are about the body and structure —
2% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
There is a headlight chrome accent piece right above the left headlight that one day just blew off the vehicle when driving down the highway. Oddly enough, I live in a small town of Mason City, IA and I saw another VW Passat (same year) missing the same exact piece so I know this is a vehicle defect. You also can not just replace this one part, it costs over $1,000 to replace the full headlight assemble. I hope others report this defect as this is very dangerous when you have chrome pieces flying off your vehicle when it is not even windy and the vehicle has never had any other damage.
NHTSA complaint #11627446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In 2022 I was in an accident on the highway; a dear hit my car while I was traveling at 70 MPH. My airbags did not deploy and I ended up hitting my head on the driver side window really hard and it gave me a concussion and I injured one of the disks in my back. I almost got hit by semi trucks traveling behind me as well. Again, my airbags didn’t deploy after this and I’ve seen many recalls on the 2014 VW Passat specifically about the vehicles airbag deployment being that they’re also Takata airbags that had major recalls too. They should’ve deployed on a head on collision. My insurance didn’t total my car but I have proof that the entire frame was bent from the accident and my entire front headlight, fender and bumper are smashed in and wires for my transmission were severed. I still haven't settled this claim yet. I’m considering getting a lawyer about it.
NHTSA complaint #11526897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The drivers door lock will stop working, in freezing temperatures and keep the interior door handle from unlocking the door. This morning I had to get out my passenger door, and that could be a problem in an emergency situation. The car/latch assembly is available for inspection. The problem has been reproduced and TSB# 57-14-01 documents it. No warning lamps, indicators, noises, etc that the latch will not happen. You pull the handle, and the door does not open.
NHTSA complaint #11497976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Door latch failed to lock driver door. Door can't lock and will fly open when your operating. Acted up on a cold day where it wouldn't open then got stuck in the open position and wouldn't lock afterwards.
NHTSA complaint #11497971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
GAS LEAKING INTO BACKSEAT SOAKING CUSHIONS, Passenger door body door whole stripped and door bolt loosen which could fall off if not tightened every 3 days
NHTSA complaint #11485010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Electronic control module, electronic body module starts going out, it will not let you open the doors from the outside without rolling the windows down and sometimes won't even let you open them with the inside door handles. This is a major safety issue in a wreck or fire especially if you cannot get out of the car. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. For a vehicle that everyone complains about with this, and as expensive as it is to fix, are you going to wait until someone dies to make them fix it? When people complain if someone would just Google these issues you would find out just because not everyone knows about NHTSA, that these are extremely common issues that need to be fixed by Volkswagon!
NHTSA complaint #11479970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS PAST SUNDAY, MY SON WAS DRIVING ON 95 AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT WHEEL EXPLODED OFF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING. HE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, NOR DID HE GET A FLAT TIRE. THE METAL HOLDING THE TIRE LITERALLY BROKE, THE WHEEL CAME OFF THE CAR CAUSING THE CAR TO DROP ON THE FRONT AXLE WHILE HE WAS DOING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY.
NHTSA complaint #11385567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVER'S SIDE MIRROR BECOMES LOOSE AND A LOUD WHISTLING SOUND IS MADE WHEN DRIVING OVER 30 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AS IT JUST STARTED HAPPENING A COUPLE OF WEEKS AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE WARRANTY WOULD NOT COVER IT. THE DOOR PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND A NEW MIRROR INSTALLED WITH NO GUARANTEE THAT IT WOULD NOT DO IT AFTER REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #11366562 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEALERSHIP FRAUD. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED HE REQUESTED FOR REAR BUMPER SPOILER TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED A DIAGNOSTIC FEE BUT, DID NOT COMPLETE THE REQUESTED WORK.
NHTSA complaint #11349453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I I WAS IN A CAR WRECK IN MY 2015 WOLF BURG EDITION PASSAT ON JULY 16, 2020 AND MY VEHICLE RECEIVED MAJOR DAMAGES WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON WEST THOMAS STREET IN HAMMOND LOUISIANA, BUT THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AT ANY TIME! MY CAR WAS TOTALED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. MY AIR BAGS DIDN'T PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE RELATED TO MY SAFETY! I WANT TO KNOW IF THEIR ARE ANY RECALLS ON THE AIR BAGS FOR THIS VEHICLE.MODEL.
NHTSA complaint #11342744 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY FIANCE WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN CROSSING A BUSY ROAD DURING HOURS OF DUSK. HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE OPENING OF THE ROAD WHEN TURNING AND DROVE OVER THE SIDE WALK AND CRASHED. FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND WINDSHIELD CRACKED. 3 TIRED POPPED ALONG WITH OTHER FONT END BODY DAMAGE. I HAD JUST PURCHASED CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP A FEW MONTHS EARLIER. LATER I RESEARCHED ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AND A RECALL DEALING WITH HEADLIGHT ISSUES AND THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE NOT BEING ABLE TO BE ADJUSTED PROPERLY, CAME UP. IF THIS ISSUE WAS FIXED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR, MY FIANCE WOULD HAVE NOT CRASHED.
NHTSA complaint #11321587 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS THAT HIS OCCURS IN COLD CLIMATES DUE TO WATER GETTING INTO THE LOCK ACTUATOR MECHANISM. IF YOU CANNOT OPEN A DOOR TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN.
NHTSA complaint #11299481 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE AND VW WANTS A TON TO REPAIR IT. ON THE FORUMS & INTERNET THEY STATED WE SHOULD BE OPENING A CASE HERE AS ITS A KNOWN ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED.
NHTSA complaint #11291102 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I KEEP HAVING A PROBLEM IN FREEZING WEATHER WITH MY VEHICLE DOOR MECHANISM FREEZING LOCKED. I CAN NOT GET INTO OF OUT OF THE CAR ONCE FROZEN. THIS IS SPECIFICALLY THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I HAVE LOOKED UP THE ISSUE AND PEOPLE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE DOOR ACTUATOR. VW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN TO THE DEALERS BUT NO RECALL. THERE IS OVER ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND VIEWS ON YOUTUBE RELATED TO THIS ISSUE AND I DOUBT PEOPLE ARE JUST WATCHING THIS BECAUSE THEY ARE BORED. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE AS I CAN NOT GET INTO MY VEHICLE WHEN BELOW FREEZING AND IF IT IS REALLY COLD I CAN NOT GET OUT UNTIL THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE RAISES ENOUGH. I HAVE BEEN HAVING TO CRAWL THROUGH THE PASSENGER SIDE ON COLD DAYS. THIS HAS CAME UP QUITE A BIT WHEN THE CAR IS PARKED OUTSIDE ON REALLY COLD DAYS. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ IT SEEMS WATER CAN GET INTO THE ACTUATOR AND THEN THE PROBLEM HAPPENS. USUALLY THE HEATER IN THE CAR WILL THAW THE DOOR BY THE TIME I GET TO WHERE I AM GOING BUT IF THE TEMP IS REALLY COLD I WILL STILL BE LOCKED IN THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS STARTED LAST YEAR BUT I TRIED GREASE AND OIL HOPING IT WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THIS IS ON GOING.
NHTSA complaint #11290596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2016 VW PASSAT. DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH FREEZES SHUT IN TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING. THE KEY-LESS ENTRY FOB UNLOCKS THE DOOR BUT THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED WHEN PULLING THE HANDLE. ALSO, THE INSIDE HANDLE WILL NOT OPEN THE DOOR. ALL OF THE OTHER DOOR LATCHES WORK NORMALLY. WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE GOOD... NO ICE, SNOW OR FREEZING RAIN. JUST THE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW FREEZING. THIS IS A POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING SAFETY ISSUE IF SOMEONE WERE TO DRIVE THE CAR AND NOT BE ABLE TO EXIT IN AN EMERGENCY. IT IS POSSIBLE TO ENTER THE CAR FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE, SLIDE OVER TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND DRIVE THE CAR. WHEN THE TEMPERATURE RISES ABOVE FREEZING, THE LATCH WORKS.
NHTSA complaint #11290576 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I ATTEMPTED TO ENTER MY VEHICLE, BUT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 30F. AFTER FINALLY GETTING IN THE CAR, I WAS NOT ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BECAUSE IT WAS STILL STUCK. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN AROUND 40 MILES BEFORE GETTING TO MY DESTINATION. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND NOT RUNNING WHILE TRYING TO GET OUT. I COULD HAVE BECOME TRAPPED IN THIS VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. I AM NOT EXTREMELY MOBILE AND HAD A LOT OF ISSUES EXITING THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11290017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.