2010 Volkswagen Passat
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 45 of 163 complaints (28%) mention it.
Complaints filed rose from 146 in 2009 to 163 in 2010.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2012 | vs. 2010 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 3,250–4,100 | 3,350–3,500 | 3,100 | 2,400–3,350 | |
| Combined MPG | 19–24 | 22–23 | 25 | 23–34 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–20 / 24–29 | 19 / 28–29 | 22 / 31 | 20–30 / 28–40 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 370–468 | 386–404 | 355 | 299–386 | |
| Complaints filed | 168 | 146 | 163 | 483 | |
| Recalls issued | 4 | 4 | 4 | 11 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 3 | 5 | 5 | 14 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 6 | 12 | 1 | 3 | |
| Injuries reported | 2 | 2 | 2 | 10 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2010 Volkswagen Passat have?
4 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2010 Volkswagen Passat?
Airbags & Restraints: 45 of 163 NHTSA complaints (28%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2010 Volkswagen Passat get?
EPA rates it 25 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2010 Volkswagen Passat?
EPA estimates $3,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 22 mpg | 31 mpg | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 355 g/mi |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Station Wagons | 22 mpg | 31 mpg | 25 mpg | $3,100 | 355 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 41 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 34 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 45 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (4)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 18V148000 · Mar 8, 2018
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · Campaign 17V509000 · Aug 17, 2017
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AE.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 16V078000 · Feb 10, 2016
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL · Campaign 15V483000 · Aug 4, 2015
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.
Consequence: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.