2013 Volkswagen Passat
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Airbags & Restraints
Airbags & Restraints leads by volume: 384 of 748 complaints (51%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Engine include more fire reports (4) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed rose from 483 in 2012 to 748 in 2013.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | vs. 2013 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,400–3,350 | 2,400–3,350 | 2,250–3,350 | 2,250–3,350 | |
| Combined MPG | 23–34 | 23–34 | 23–34 | 23–34 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 20–30 / 28–40 | 20–30 / 28–40 | 20–30 / 28–40 | 20–30 / 28–42 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 299–386 | 290–390 | 290–390 | 299–390 | |
| Complaints filed | 483 | 748 | 594 | 243 | |
| Recalls issued | 11 | 9 | 10 | 7 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 14 | 29 | 19 | 11 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 3 | 4 | 3 | 2 | |
| Injuries reported | 10 | 24 | 15 | 14 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 |
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 2013 Volkswagen Passat have?
9 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 2013 Volkswagen Passat?
Airbags & Restraints: 384 of 748 NHTSA complaints (51%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2013 Volkswagen Passat get?
EPA rates it 23–34 MPG combined across 4 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2013 Volkswagen Passat?
EPA estimates $2,400–$3,350 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (4)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Diesel | Midsize Cars | 30 mpg (high) | 40 mpg (high) | 34 mpg (high) | $2,650 | 290 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (AM-S6) | 6 | 3.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Premium | Midsize Cars | 20 mpg (low) | 28 mpg (low) | 23 mpg (low) | $3,350 (high) | 390 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 3 | Manual 5-spd | 5 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 22 mpg | 32 mpg | 26 mpg | $2,400 (low) | 339 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 5 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 22 mpg | 31 mpg | 25 mpg | $2,500 | 351 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 109 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 33 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 87 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| Electrical | 93 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Brakes | 18 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 51 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 384 | 21 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 20 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 35 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 81 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 82 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 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 (9)
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 24V834000 · Nov 6, 2024
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Campaign 19V862000 · Dec 5, 2019
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS · Campaign 19V389000 · May 24, 2019
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Consequence: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL; POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT · Campaign 17V309000 · May 12, 2017
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Passat vehicles, equipped with diesel engines and Direct-Shift Transmissions (DSG). The vehicle's underbody heat shield may not be long enough to protect the right half-shaft grease boot from heat, potentially resulting in a grease leak.
Consequence: If the leaking grease contacts a heated surface, such as the exhaust system and/or the diesel particulate filter (DPF), it could increase the risk of fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft heat shield, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23W5.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · Campaign 16V171000 · Mar 24, 2016
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Passat vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Due to improperly assembled wire seals in a connector for an underbody sensor, water may enter and corrode the electrical connectors of the sensor, causing an electrical short.
Consequence: An electrical short can cause the electrical connectors of the sensor to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in September. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23T3.
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.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS · Campaign 14V125000 · Mar 19, 2014
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Passat vehicles manufactured January 2011 through November 2012. In the affected vehicles, the low beam headlight bulb may become loose and lose electrical contact.
Consequence: A loss of low beam headlights may reduce the driver's visibility and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen notified owners, and dealers will replace the bulb holder, free of charge. The recall began in May 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagens recall number associated with this campaign is 94G8/7V.