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Volkswagen Passat

EPA MPG: 28 mpg
Average Retail Price
$8,000 - $13,425

RECALL ALERT:
There are 7 recalls on this vehicle. Learn More.

Reliability

Overall Reliability
/ 100

Reliability indicates how models have performed in the past, providing the basis for predicting how the vehicles will hold up in the year ahead. These charts provide the most comprehensive reliability information available to consumers. Based on information received from our latest subscriber survey, our reliability history charts give you a rundown on how used vehicles are holding up in 17 potential trouble spots, ranging from the engine, transmission, and brakes to power equipment and the electrical system.

The 2017 Volkswagen Passat has been recalled 7 times by NHTSA. View Recalls
Most Common Trouble Spots
Common Trouble Spot
/ 5
Common Trouble Spot
/ 5

Owner Reported Trouble Spots

The Reliability score is based on our latest subscriber survey of 2017 Volkswagen Passat owners. The owner comments describe problems respondents experienced with this vehicle.

In-car Electronics

Infotainment system (audio, GPS, phone), rear entertainment system, backup or other camera/sensors, head-up display.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Apple CarPlay

"Many times it says "unable to connect, unlock your screen." It usually is unlocked but that doesn't solve the problem. Unplugging my phone an reconnecting doesn't work have the time and I usually have to flip over to blue tooth to listen to music from Pandora"

Anonymous, MI (2017 Volkswagen Passat SE 1.8-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Display screen goes blank

"Intermittent screen kept going blank. This issue with the whole system happened a total of four times"

Anonymous, MN (2017 Volkswagen Passat SE Unsure)
In-dash navigation system (GPS)

"No update to the map is available, leaving the navigation system unreliable"

Anonymous, MA (2017 Volkswagen Passat SE 1.8-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Other in-car electronics problem

"1 inch wide area from top to bottom on the right Side of the touchscreen does not respond to touch"

Anonymous A., FL (2017 Volkswagen Passat R-Line 1.8-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Phone pairing (e.g., Bluetooth)

"Car does not always pair with my iPhone 12 running latest software. I need to stop the car, turn it off, remove the key. Then I need to restart the car and try again. Usually this resolves the problem. This problem has occurred since I first started using the car (2018), but it seems to be happening more often now."

Anonymous A., CA (2017 Volkswagen Passat S 1.8-L 4 Cyl turbo)
Radio

"I'm not sure exactly when the problem started. Sometimes everything works well, but occasionally I cannot change the radio station with the touchpad. To change stations I sometimes have to use the steering wheel controls."

Anonymous A., WI (2017 Volkswagen Passat SE 1.8-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Suspension/Steering

Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Bushings

"Both Front lower control arm bushings were replaced and were covered under the extended warranty previously purchased. Man of the house is a vehicle technician and knew there was an issue with the front end so had dealer check into it and found the problem. Both of these issues were repaired at the same time mid-December 2023."

Anonymous, FL (2017 Volkswagen Passat SE 1.8-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Engine Electrical

Alternator, starter, hybrid battery replacement, hybrid battery related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, spark plugs and wires failure, auto stop/start.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Heated or cooled seats

"Heating element in drivers seat was badly overheating in one spot. When repaired it was found to be broken and was burning the seat cushion."

Anonymous, RI (2017 Volkswagen Passat SEL 1.8-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Exhaust

Muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, heat shields, leaks.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Other/unsure

"Starter"

Anonymous, FL (2017 Volkswagen Passat SE 1.8-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Brakes

Premature pad/rotor wear, pulsation or vibration, antilock system, parking brake, master cylinder, calipers, squeaking, brake failure, regenerative braking.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Squeaking

"I have had consistent issues with brakes being squeaky. They will sometimes just "grind" the brake pads down but it's very embarrassing. We had a $4000 job on our car (which included brakes and fuel injectors and the brakes still squeak."

Anonymous, NB (2017 Volkswagen Passat)

Climate System

AC compressor, blower (fan) motor, condenser, evaporator, heater system, automatic climate system, electrical failure, refrigerant leakage.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Blower (fan) motor

"Front center vents dont blow air out"

Anonymous, TX (2017 Volkswagen Passat SE 1.8-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Fuel System/Emissions

Sensors (O₂, or oxygen, sensor), emission-control devices (includes EGR), fuel-injection system, fuel gauge/sender, fuel pump, problems filling up the tank.

/ 5

What Owners Say

Other emissions/fuel system problem

"water started leaking from the engine. It was diagnosed as a water pump issue."

Anonymous, FL (2017 Volkswagen Passat SE 1.8-L 4 Cyl turbo)

Electrical Accessories

Cruise control, clock, warning lights, body control module, keyless entry, wiper motor or washer, tire pressure monitor, interior or exterior lights, horn, gauges, 12V power plug, USB ports, alarm or security system, remote engine start, heated or cooled seats, heated steering wheel, headlights, automatic headlights, automatic wipers, wireless charging pad.

/ 5

Engine Major

Engine rebuild or replacement, cylinder head, head gasket, turbocharger or supercharger, timing chain or belt.

/ 5

Transmission Major

Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, premature clutch replacement.

/ 5

Body Hardware

Windows, locks and latches, doors or sliding doors, tailgate, trunk or hatch, mirrors, seat controls (power or manual), seat belts, sunroof, convertible top, glass defect.

/ 5

Noises/Leaks

Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, seals and/or weather stripping, air and water leaks.

/ 5

Engine Minor

Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, fuel leaks, oil leaks.

/ 5

Paint/Trim

Paint (fading, chalking, peeling, or cracking), loose interior or exterior trim or moldings, rust.

/ 5

Drive System

Driveshaft or axle, CV joint, differential, transfer case, four-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive components, driveline vibration, electrical failure, traction control, electronic stability control.

/ 5

Engine Cooling

Radiator, cooling fan, water pump, thermostat, antifreeze leaks, overheating.

/ 5

Transmission Minor

Gear selector and linkage, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission, leaks.

/ 5

2017 Sedans & Hatchbacks Reliability

This Car
vs. Similar Cars

Volkswagen vs. Other New Car Brands Reliability

Reliability History
* Redesign year
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20*
21
22
Overall Reliability Verdict

NA
NA
NA
NA
POTENTIAL TROUBLE SPOTS
Powertrain
NA
NA
NA
NA
Engine Major
NA
NA
NA
NA
Engine Minor
NA
NA
NA
NA
Engine Cooling
NA
NA
NA
NA
Engine Electrical
NA
NA
NA
NA
Transmission Major
NA
NA
NA
NA
Transmission Minor
NA
NA
NA
NA
Drive System
NA
NA
NA
NA
Fuel System/Emissions
NA
NA
NA
NA
Exhaust
NA
NA
NA
NA
Suspension/Steering
NA
NA
NA
NA
Brakes
NA
NA
NA
NA
Climate System
NA
NA
NA
NA
Build Quality
NA
NA
NA
NA
Electrical Accessories
NA
NA
NA
NA
Body Hardware
NA
NA
NA
NA
Paint/Trim
NA
NA
NA
NA
Noises/Leaks
NA
NA
NA
NA
In-car Electronics
NA
NA
NA
NA
Reliability indicates how models have performed in the past, providing the basis for predicting how the vehicles will hold up in the year ahead. These charts provide the most comprehensive reliability information available to consumers. Based on information received from our latest subscriber survey for over 300,000 vehicles, our reliability history charts give you a rundown on how 2000 through 2024 vehicles are holding up in 20 potential trouble spots, ranging from the engine, transmission, electric motor, EV charging, and brakes to power equipment and the electrical accessories. NA indicates that we did not receive a large enough sample size to provide data for a specific year. An X indicates that the vehicle was not manufactured for a specific year.
Recalls
PROVIDED BY
AIR BAGS
Oct 30, 2024
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Summary:
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.
What should you do:
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.
For more information:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 24V834000
Potential Number of Units Affected: 248330
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
May 05, 2021
Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
Summary:
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
What should you do:
Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
For more information:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 21V321000
Potential Number of Units Affected: 46
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Sep 16, 2020
Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.
Summary:
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
What should you do:
Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.
For more information:
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 20V561000
Potential Number of Units Affected: 23
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