Short answer
Among Volkswagen Passat model years through 2024, 2022 has the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (0) and 2012 has the most (11). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Volkswagen Passat: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 22 (2000–2022)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 44
- Fewest recalls
- 2022 (0)
- Most recalls
- 2012 (11)
- Most recalled system
- Air bags (35)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2012, 2013, 2014 and 6 more years
Volkswagen Passat Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 0 | 4 stars | None on record |
| 2021 | 1 | 4–5 stars | Wheels |
| 2020 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Exterior lighting |
| 2019 | 1 | 5 stars | Exterior lighting |
| 2018 | 4 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic, Exterior lighting, Unknown or other |
| 2017 | 7 | 5 stars | Unknown or other, Service brakes, hydraulic, Air bags |
| 2016 | 5 | 5 stars | Unknown or other, Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting |
| 2015 | 7 | 5 stars | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting |
| 2014 | 10 | 5 stars | Air bags, Power train, Electrical system |
| 2013 | 9 | 5 stars | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Electrical system |
| 2012 | 11 | 5 stars | Air bags, Exterior lighting, Electrical system |
| 2010 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2009 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Steering |
| 2008 | 4 | Not rated | Air bags, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2007 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2006 | 7 | Not rated | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Service brakes, hydraulic |
| 2005 | 3 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Fuel system, diesel, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2004 | 3 | Not rated | Exterior lighting, Fuel system, diesel, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2003 | 6 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Air bags, Exterior lighting |
| 2002 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline, Tires |
| 2001 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2000 | 3 | Not rated | Fuel system, gasoline |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20220 recalls
- 20211 recall
- 20203 recalls
- 20191 recall
- 20184 recalls
- 20177 recalls
- 20165 recalls
- 20157 recalls
- 201410 recalls
- 20139 recalls
- 201211 recalls
- 20104 recalls
- 20094 recalls
- 20084 recalls
- 20077 recalls
- 20067 recalls
- 20053 recalls
- 20043 recalls
- 20036 recalls
- 20023 recalls
- 20013 recalls
- 20003 recalls
Volkswagen Passat: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Volkswagen Passat recalls are air bags (35), fuel system, gasoline (22), exterior lighting (14), service brakes, hydraulic (7) and unknown or other (7). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 11 of these 22 model years, and 2012, 2013, 2014 and 6 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Volkswagen Passat Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Volkswagen Passat?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2022 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 0 each.
Which Volkswagen Passat model years have the most recalls?
2012 has the most, with 11 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Passat", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy