1,199 of the 10,345 complaints filed about the Volkswagen Passat are about the electrical system — 100% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.
1,199
Complaints
100%
Share of all complaints
16
Crashes
94
Fires
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
my 2020 vw passat has less than 60k mikes and i am replacing my 3rd wheel sensor. they fail without warning disabling my antilock brakes. And other safety features
NHTSA complaint #11763407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A prior recall that was supposedly fixed, broke again. Submitted several complaints with Nhtsa and Volkswagen. Volkswagen said i had to pay a fee to verify what was wrong with my vehicle because the recall had already been fixed before. Months of waiting and waiting for an appointment and then vw would still not refix the recall. So years and years went by before the recall was recalled and vw sent out notice. Only to schedule you vehicle for service months out and then call and cancel because there is a shortage of parts and no known time in getting them. Anyways the recalled recall is an air bag spring that caused all of my vehicles "functions" to stop working. No horn, no steering wheel button functions, no computer functions. And during this time of not having my vehicles safety features... I was involved in a collision where my horn would have probably been a lifesaver and a vehicle saver had I had it
NHTSA complaint #11760194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The front information center which is responsible for the rear camera system is shutdown due to the radio / entire screen being dead without reason
NHTSA complaint #11760236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am reporting a recurring safety-related defect involving the factory-installed infotainment touchscreen in my 2017 Volkswagen Passat SE Technology. The touchscreen intermittently malfunctions in several ways. At times, the entire infotainment system freezes and becomes completely unresponsive, preventing access to any controls. The screen also has developed "dead spots" where touch inputs do not register. Additionally, it sometimes registers "phantom touches," responding to inputs when the screen is not being touched. I believe this presents a safety concern because the infotainment system is an integrated component of the vehicle and is intended to be operated by the driver. When the system freezes, fails to respond, or registers unintended inputs, the driver may have to divert their attention from the roadway to determine what is happening, attempt to operate the system, or restart it. Dead spots can also prevent the driver from accessing desired functions. Pennsylvania recognizes the safety risks associated with distracted driving, including activities that take a driver's eyes off the roadway or hands off the wheel. A malfunctioning factory-installed touchscreen can create this type of distraction even when the driver is attempting to use the vehicle's integrated system. I have found multiple reports from other 2017 Volkswagen Passat owners describing similar infotainment problems, including frozen screens and touchscreen areas that become unresponsive. This suggests that the issue may be a recurring defect rather than an isolated failure. I believe NHTSA should investigate this issue to determine whether there is a common defect affecting 2017 Volkswagen Passat infotainment systems and whether Volkswagen should provide a remedy. A factory-installed vehicle control system should respond consistently and predictably. A touchscreen that freezes, fails to register inputs, or generates unintended inputs can require additional driver attention and interaction.
NHTSA complaint #11759962 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Clockspring Recall. Horn not working, buttons on steering column not working, when turning steering wheel it makes a clicking noise, sounds like spring being pulled, driver side air bag light is illuminated on dash.
NHTSA complaint #11753037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I am requesting that Volkswagen open a formal case regarding a fire involving my 2021 Volkswagen Passat. On May 6, 2026, at approximately 9:30 PM, after driving about seven miles, I came to a complete stop and the vehicle began smoking before catching fire. The vehicle has been declared a total loss and is currently being stored at a salvage yard pending investigation. I am requesting that Volkswagen investigate the cause of the fire and advise whether an inspection of the vehicle will be conducted.
NHTSA complaint #11742775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
A major engineering and material design failure occurred involving internal fluid containment seals, resulting in a severe electrical safety hazard. Pressurized engine coolant breached an internal component seal and began migrating internally directly through the vehicle's engine wiring harness via capillary/siphoning action. The fluid used the sealed wiring loom as a literal pipeline, traveling inside the wire insulation to bypass all outer weather seals and completely flood the Engine Control Module (ECM) pin connectors. The vehicle's dealership service department documented extensive galvanic corrosion and shorting inside the primary vehicle computer pins due to this blue-green fluid pooling. Because the dealership has not yet completed the full repair, the exact originating component source of the leak (e.g., the engine coolant temperature sensor or the coolant expansion tank housing barrier) remains unconfirmed. However, the physical mechanism of the coolant migration through the sealed harness into the primary electrical architecture is fully verified. This defect presents a critical safety risk. The sudden flooding and short-circuiting of the Engine Control Module can cause an immediate and unexpected loss of engine propulsion, power steering assist, and electrical control while driving at highway speeds, creating an imminent risk of a high-speed collision.
NHTSA complaint #11741923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I own a 2012 Volkswagen Passat [VIN [XXX] ] with approximately 1315xx miles. On December 17, 2025, I took the car to Rockwall County Volkswagen for three recalls. The car was running and was driven 9.5 miles to the dealership under its own power. I left the engine running when I left the it with the service advisor. When I returned to retrieve the car the following day, the service advisor informed me the car would not start. Their explanation shifted within the same conversation — first that someone had shut it off and it would not crank, then that it would crank but would not start. They claimed they had to pushed it into the service bay, replaced the airbag, and "code the computer for the clock-spring." The dealer refused to repair the no-start condition that occurred in their custody. I towed the car home at my own expense - $161. I performed my own diagnostic work using VW scan tools. The vehicle exhibited a textbook immobilizer or component protection rejection pattern: it would crank, start briefly for 1–2 seconds, then shut off, with three instrument cluster chimes and the coolant fan activating. The scan tool could not communicate with all vehicle modules, consistent with a failed module programming. After contacting the dealer's service manager, I towed the car back to the dealership [$64]. The dealer kept it from December 2025 through April 7, 2026 — approximately four months. During this time, they replaced the battery (charging me) and replaced the engine control module with a used unit they sourced and reprogrammed (charging me a total of $804.38). On April 7, 2026, I drove the car home. The vehicle was driven less than 35 miles after pickup before failing again. On April 27, 2026, my daughter — who had just undergone a serious medical procedure — was driving the car home and was stranded on the side of the road in 90+ degree Texas heat when the car suddenly stopped running with no warning or indication of impending failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)
NHTSA complaint #11738147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The clock spring system failed, rendering all of the cars' steering wheel functions non-functional. The airbag light is on and the steering wheels airbag does not operate as well as the cars horn and auto cruise controls. The instrument cluster is malfunctioning as well. The safety risks associated with the malfunctions could result in great harm to the driver and passengers in the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11735422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the infotainment screen failed to respond to touch commands, preventing the contact from viewing the GPS feature. The contact performed a hard reset on the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
NHTSA complaint #11731417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My 2010 Volkswagen CC became completely inoperable because of the active fuel pump control module recall (NHTSA 17V509). The vehicle stalled and nearly caused an accident. The check engine light came on just before I noticed a burning smell coming from the backseat of my car immediately after smelling that the car suddenly stalled out in the middle of a busy intersection and the engine would not start back up. I had to push it to a gas station parking lot across 3 lanes of traffic. I lifted up the backseat and found that the fuel control module was overheated and melting on top of the fuel pump so I carefully and properly disconnected it from the vehicle. The next day I had the vehicle towed to Lokey Volkswagen in Clearwater, FL. Today 3/14/2026 They did the recall repair and told me my vehicle is safe to drive. Today 3/14/2026 I drove the car 1 mile from the dealership when the exact same thing happened again the car stalled out, and I had to carefully maneuver to the shoulder of hwy us 19 s narrowly missing vehicles in the other lanes. The vehicle was then towed back to lokey Volkswagen. It is pretty clear that the issue was not resolved, and that this fuel control module failing may have affected other parts of the fuel system/wiring and or the fuel control module failed again. I have pictures of the fuel control module, and I gave the initial melted/failed fuel control module to the service department and they took it. The dealership service department is stating that this may be to do something other than the recall repair and that I may be liable for the diagnostic and towing charges. This is a very serious safety issue that almost cost me to get in accidents on the highway twice. I feel that they (Volkswagen) needs to be held responsible for rectification and to find out if there is a connection between this recall and the continuing failure of the vehicle to operate safely.
NHTSA complaint #11724256 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was unable to restart and was towed to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with battery failure. The contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was then towed to a different dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 136,000.
NHTSA complaint #11715843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2018 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal sound and failed to accelerate as intended. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed with a wiring harness failure. The vehicle was repaired. The contact had received an unknown notice, which was related to the failure. The manufacturer was contacted for reimbursement, and a case was filed. The contact sent the requested documents to the manufacturer; however, the manufacturer failed to call back as the manufacturer had stated. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.
NHTSA complaint #11714408 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABS sensor has failed. Air bag sensor is faulty due to abs
NHTSA complaint #11711118 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
We would have been in a life threating situation (very cold) if we would have not walked down highway to get internet service to look up the issue. What happened. We drove up from Phoenix to the mountains in Arizona. When starting the car after a stop (to look at a heard of Elk in a pasture) the car would not start. It would briefly start for a second then die. The dash lit up with many errors. We were stranded with no cell phone service with night approaching. We walked down the road and got cell service again and called family. Found out from online video while waiting for family to arrive you could disconnect the battery and reconnect to get the car started. We did this and it worked but engine light still was on. Car would not start again next morning and dash lit up. We would have been in a really bad situation (very cold) if we would have not walked down highway to get internet service to look up the issue. More internet research shows thousands of people have this problem.
NHTSA complaint #11703929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that cool air was being blown inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the heater failed to heat the passenger’s side of the vehicle. Additionally, the defroster failed to properly defrost the windshield while activated. The contact linked the failure to VWP:16‑05; (Heater Core Limited Warranty Extension). The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that there was no warranty coverage on the vehicle for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000.
NHTSA complaint #11702531 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The airbag system/clockspring assembly in the steering column appears to have failed. The airbag warning light turned on and all steering-wheel controls stopped working at the same time, which indicates that the driver airbag may not function in a crash. The vehicle can be inspected upon request. This is a major safety risk because the primary airbag might not deploy during a collision, putting the driver at high risk of injury. The issue has remained constant since it first appeared. I had the vehicle inspected by a highly reputable independent repair shop, and their assessment was that the clockspring/airbag component has failed. They advised that the necessary replacement part is unavailable to order, leaving the vehicle without a functional airbag system. I have also seen many other owners of similar 2015 Passat models reporting the same failure online, which suggests this may be a widespread defect. The airbag light is the only warning I received. It turned on a few months ago and has stayed on continuously since. UNKNOWN if there are other related electrical faults.
NHTSA complaint #11699627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power, with the check engine warning light and an unknown warning light illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle; however, the failure recurred, causing the vehicle to intermittently start and stop. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed. The mechanic informed the contact that the failure could be related to an electrical malfunction. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 355,000.
NHTSA complaint #11698579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The vehicle has been alerting error codes 16352 for failing to communicate with ABS module causing warning lights for ABS, brake and the ESC systems to illuminate. The brake system related vehicle stabilizing functions (ABS/ESC) is not be available, increasing the risk of a loss of vehicle control and could lead to a crash causing injury and/or property damage. Please reference Safety Recall Code: 45F2
NHTSA complaint #11691060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Fuel pump control module over heated and burned
NHTSA complaint #11682870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.