Problems · NHTSA complaints

2006 Volkswagen Passat problems

Owners filed 576 complaints about the 2006 Volkswagen Passat with NHTSA between Oct 2005 and Oct 2025. The most-cited component is air bags (148).

Complaints
576
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
21
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags148
  2. Steering112
  3. Electrical system79
  4. Engine and engine cooling66
  5. Engine64
  6. Power train47
  7. Fuel/propulsion system41
  8. Vehicle speed control32
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic26
  10. Fuel system, gasoline21
  11. Visibility15
  12. Service brakes14
  13. Equipment14
  14. Exterior lighting12

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20053
200630
200733
200839
200955
201076
201136
201222
201317
201431
201518
201673
201774
201842
20199
20207
20211
20222
20233
20242
20253

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

148 reports6 crashes1 fire3 related recalls
“The contact owned a 2006 Volkswagen Passat . The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 9, 2025Air bagsODI 11692301

Steering

112 reports1 related recall
“TRYING TO START CAR AND WON'T TURN ON WITH KEY ALL MY KEYS DON'T WORK SAYS STEERING WHEEL LOCK DEFECTIVE CAN'T GET MY CAR TO TURN MY RADIO ON I AM PARKED IN MY DRIVE WAY AND CAN'T EVEN TOW IT TO DEALER NOW BECAUSE IT WON'T GO INTO NEUTRAL. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2020Steering, Electrical systemODI 11324052

Electrical system

79 reports1 crash2 fires
“My family and I have been VW owners for over 60 years. Unfortunately, the 2006 VW Passat has been layered with defects, negligent manufacturing issues, faulty wiring, electrical problems, computer glitches, to mention a few. There have been many recalls including an official recall by the NHTSA, for steering linkage problems and tie rod assembly which caused a loss of steering, crashes and deaths. Over 292 complaints are filed with Consumer Affairs, over 561 defects reported, and thousands of horror stories like mine about this car. It's considered a lemon by many car professionals. Many dealerships in the USA offered to inspect, and replace the electronic steering column lock free of charge and address any other concerns, which should be standard, reasonable behavior for all VW dealerships, mandated by this Federal agency. Shortly after this car almost killed me in 2013, VW put me through countless stressful hours of calls, emails and the like and still refused to be fully accountable. Shortly after my almost end of life, the notorious VW Emissions Scandal spoke volumes. VW was well aware of their defects including the electrical system in the steering…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2024Electrical system, Air bags, EngineODI 11577635

Engine and engine cooling

66 reports1 fire
“DRIVING 65 ON THE FREEWAY IN HEAVY RAIN, CAR MADE HORRIBLE SOUND AND LOST ACCELERATION POWER. ALMOST INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT , HOWEVER MANAGED TO PULL TO SHOULDER WHEN THE CAR THEN FILLED WITH A GAS SMELL. CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE AND WAS TOWED 100 MILES BACK TO MY MECHANIC. UPON INSPECTION, MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER DISCONNECTED AT THE TURBO FLANGE. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE HAD FIXED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM IN MY EXACT VEHICLE MAKE/MODEL THE WEEK PRIOR. CONTACTED VW TO SEE IF THIS WAS COVERED UNDER THE 80K MILES EMISSIONS WARRANTY, ONLY TO DISCOVER THAT IN CALIFORNIA THE WARRANTY ONLY GOES TO 70K MILES. THE ENTIRE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $1,150. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT CATALYTIC CONVERTER FROM VW WAS MUCH MORE STURDY THAN THE ORIGINAL INSTALLED , INDICATING THAT VW IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE. ADDITIONALLY, HE STATED IT WAS ODD THAT A CAR DEALERSHIP STOCKS THAT PART AS IT IS NOT TOO COMMON TO REPLACE THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER UNDER 100K MILES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 5, 2014Engine and engine cooling, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 10652612

Engine

64 reports4 crashes3 fires
“The contact owns a 2006 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to be restarted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact later received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V509000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure to obtain assistance with reimbursement. The failure mileage was not available. Parts distribution disconnect.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 12, 2025Fuel system, gasoline, EngineODI 11660470

Power train

47 reports
“We owned vehicle approx 8yrs and in late 2022 will driving/on highway 55mph or local roads like Broadway 15-20mph the vehicle goes into neutral. VErY dangerous it wil work as it should after a restart”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 4, 2023Power trainODI 11500131
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.