397 of the
10,333 complaints filed about the Volkswagen Passat
are about the glass, mirrors and wipers —
4% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1999.
397
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
5
Crashes
0
Fires
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers complaints by model year
The heater core becomes clogged and limits heat available for defrosting the windshield. The heat available is insufficient to defrost and maintain visibility while driving under adverse conditions. The cabin also becomes uncomfortable because of limited heat during cold weather operation. Volkwagen issued TSB VWP-16-05 for this issue for this model for the model year prior to my car. I had this issue repaired in December 2024. The same problem and symptoms have returned in December 2025.
NHTSA complaint #11703917 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The heater core becomes clogged and limits heat available for windshield defogging and defrosting. This creates a visibility hazard during inclement weather and makes the cabin uncomfortable during cold weather. The heater core was diagnosed and replaced on this vehicle in December 2024. The same symptoms have returned in December 2025. Volkwagen issued TSB VWP-16-05 to remedy this same issue in 2013-2014 Passats. I own a 2015 Passat. 2015 Passats have the same symptoms and problems.
NHTSA complaint #11703926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I have a 2015 Volkswagen Passat TDI that I purchased in 2018. The car has no heat and needs a second heater core replacement, currently with 85,565. In researching the issue, i found the Warranty extension on the NTSB website Number: VWP-16-05 that covers model years 2013 and 2014 prior to my model. As winter approaches, lack of heat for the windshield creates visibility issues in cold, wet, and snowy weather. I am limiting the use of the vehicle until i can get a repair. In February of 2022, a dealership replaced the heater core in my vehicle at 48,471 miles, and I paid $633.07 for that portion of the service. The car started to display the issue again in February of 2024, I returned to the same dealership, and was quoted $1977 to repair the issue, which I declined at that time. I ask that the case be reviewed and 2015 model year be added to the extended warranty.
NHTSA complaint #11626997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while attempting to activate the defroster, the defroster failed to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the tubing of the heater core needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred approximately 100 miles later. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.
NHTSA complaint #11614388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that heat and defroster and defogger blower motor was inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but a diagnostic test was not performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
NHTSA complaint #11568623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VW has replaced the heater core twice on this car. Yet less than 1 year later the heat will not work on just the passenger side which then foggs the windows and eliminates visablility rendering the car useless.
NHTSA complaint #11565636 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I'm having issues with the heat in my vehicle. There is no heat on the passenger side which also affects the visibility of seeing out the windshield because the defroster does not function properly. The original owner replaced the heater core somewhere around 40-45000 miles. I have owned 2 other vehicles of this model and had the same issue on everyone of them where the heater core was replaced.. This is more than a inconvenience it is a potential hazard not being able to see when the windshield is frosted or fogged up. It is a poor design and this needs to be addressed and investigated further. It's a bad time of year to have an equipment failure like this. There was no accident or incident but there is a potential hazard waiting to happen.
NHTSA complaint #11563624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
As the trunk hatch opens and closes, the wiring to the hatch wears down, frays, and then shorts or breaks. This killed our rear view camera, which is a safety issue. This also can cut off light to the license plate. The rear hatch also cannot then be opened from the rear of the car, as the handle is electrical and gets disconnected, possible causing another safety issue.
NHTSA complaint #11535909 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am the original owner of a 2016 Volkswagen Passat. My front windshield has been delaminating around the edges. It began as only a small pop, but nothing loud to investigate. But today the separation of the epoxy from the windshield is visually evident. The popping sound happens daily. I have taken good care of my Volkswagen Passat with only a little over 39000 miles. My concern is will my window fly off its base one day while I am driving? Obviously this was not a concern while my vehicle was under warranty. But today I am concerned. I recently took my car to Rudolph Volkswagen for service. They recommended brakes and plugs replacement but did not look into the windshield issue.
NHTSA complaint #11522677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The defroster failed to keep the windshield fog free. The dealer said the heater core was plugged up and we replaced it now a year and a half later we have the same thing the heater core plugged up. We have not had an accident yet but have come close.
NHTSA complaint #11483849 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, there was an abnormally loud popping sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and discovered that the sunroof had shattered; however, the sunroof glass remained intact. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The contact found a replacement sunroof at a junkyard and had the sunroof replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The vehicle had been repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.
NHTSA complaint #11470630 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have a 2017 Passat When it's raining hard on the road and my speed is greater than 55 mph the passenger side windshield stops right in front of my vision vision (right in the middle of the driver's side) creates a white blocking effect so I don't have a clear road visibility. In a service I discussed this detail with the service advisor at the VW agency and he did not want to understand or was misunderstood, I told him that the design of these windshields had this defect. On another occasion when I was driving in an area where there was snow the front collision alarm started to alarm for no reason, there was no obstruction, apparently one of the front sensors fails when it gets wet, I took the car to the dealer and reported this to the service advisor, they did a review of the car they said that it had nothing damaged that everything is fine. But when it rains really hard, it does this.
NHTSA complaint #11446404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
heater core getting clogged again, after multiple replacements, vwgoa will not perform recall because of other not related recall not performed. when heater core gets clogged three things happen, passenger side stops producing heat, windshield defrost does not operate correctly, and coolant lost due to evaporating and or leak into intercooler that can lead to engine damage
NHTSA complaint #11444365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Plugged heater core. OBD code present P2457. Defroster was compromised. Confirmed by VW dealer. Advised by manufacturer to replace heater core and flush system per technical test and repair procedure.
NHTSA complaint #11441771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A coolant issue related with an TDi engine clogged my heater and the car is frosting from inside. There are many Passat owners that have or has the same issue and VW even made an extended warranty buletin for the 2012-2014 Passats, Now, the 2015 suffers from the same issue and they want to charge us for flushing the coolant 3 times and change the heater! The car still have the power train warranty and extended warranty for the TDI engines. Just a simple google search Passat heater core will show how many they are and dealers are making easy money cause they done so many times. As is now my wife drives the car during freezing mornings with two toddlers and condensation and frozen windows affects the visibility! Unacceptable for a car with 51.000 miles when is no require in the service book to change coolant to prevent this and what causes that, cause is not something that I could do to prevent it, it’s just the nature of their poor design of their coolant system. And changing the heater core without looking what caused that and only to rip money from their customers. I’m requesting your assistance to get my car fixed and have my family safe and have VW to investigate the cause and come with a solution to prevent this!
NHTSA complaint #11441649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NO HEAT COMING FROM BLOCKED HEATER CORE SO DEFROST SYSTEM INEFFECTIVE. RESULT IS OBSTRUCTED VISION BECAUSE THE DEFROST SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING EFFICIENTLY. KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART ON THIS MODEL CAR (INTERNET RESEARCH) BUT VW REFUSES TO RECALL. HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES, STATIONARY AND MOVING. NO HEAT IN PASSENGER CABIN AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #11397799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2014 CAR. DEC 2017 HEAT HAS FAILED BECAUSE OF PROBLEM WITH HEATER CORE WHICH FOLLOWED FAILURE OF RADIATOR IN 2/2017. REPLACED RADIATOR IN 2/2017 AND HEATER CORE IN 12/2017. 10/2019 HEAT FAILED AGAIN. HEAT IS INSUFFICIENT TO KEEP WINDSHIELD CLEAR IN COLD ICY WEATHER IN NORTHEAST. WINTER IS HEAR AGAIN AND HEAT IS INADEQUATE TO KEEP WINDSHIELD CLEAR.
NHTSA complaint #11375653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD RECENTLY SCANNED MY VEHICLE WITH A DIAGNOSTIC SCANNER BECAUSE MY WINDOW WASHERS WERE NOT SPRAYING TO CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD WHEN MANUALLY ACTIVATED BY THE STALK. THE CODE SHOWS A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE STALK AND THE WASHER PUMP. I TRIED REPLACING THE PUMP BUT SAME OUTCOME NO WASHER FLUID WOULD DISPENSE THIS IS A VERY BIG INCONVENIENCE MOSTLY BECAUSE WHERE I LIVE MOST COMMUTES ARE PART HIGHWAY AND PART SIDEROADS/ DIRT ROADS, SO THINGS START TO GET DIRTY AND VISIBILITY IS DRAMATICALLY REDUCED. IM REALLY NOT TRYING TO PAY FOR A HARNESS OR TO GET THE LOOM PULLED APART TO FIND THE BUG. TO KEEP EVERYTHING LOOKING STOCK
NHTSA complaint #11343758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.