Problems · by component
2013 Volkswagen Passat structure problems
31 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen Passat cite structure, 4% of all 749 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
31
4% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
What owners say about the structure
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The drivers door lock will stop working, in freezing temperatures and keep the interior door handle from unlocking the door. This morning I had to get out my passenger door, and that could be a problem in an emergency situation. The car/latch assembly is available for inspection. The problem has been reproduced and TSB# 57-14-01 documents it. No warning lamps, indicators, noises, etc that the latch will not happen. You pull the handle, and the door does not open.”
“2013 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEALERSHIP FRAUD. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED HE REQUESTED FOR REAR BUMPER SPOILER TO BE REPLACED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED A DIAGNOSTIC FEE BUT, DID NOT COMPLETE THE REQUESTED WORK. *JS”
“MY FIANCE WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN CROSSING A BUSY ROAD DURING HOURS OF DUSK. HEADLIGHTS WERE ON. HE WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE OPENING OF THE ROAD WHEN TURNING AND DROVE OVER THE SIDE WALK AND CRASHED. FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND WINDSHIELD CRACKED. 3 TIRED POPPED ALONG WITH OTHER FONT END BODY DAMAGE. I HAD JUST PURCHASED CAR FROM A DEALERSHIP A FEW MONTHS EARLIER. LATER I RESEARCHED ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE AND A RECALL DEALING WITH HEADLIGHT ISSUES AND THE HEADLIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE NOT BEING ABLE TO BE ADJUSTED PROPERLY, CAME UP. IF THIS ISSUE WAS FIXED BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR, MY FIANCE WOULD HAVE NOT CRASHED.”
“THE DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE OR INSIDE. THERE ARE MANY REPORTS THAT HIS OCCURS IN COLD CLIMATES DUE TO WATER GETTING INTO THE LOCK ACTUATOR MECHANISM. IF YOU CANNOT OPEN A DOOR TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THAT IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN.”
“I ATTEMPTED TO ENTER MY VEHICLE, BUT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY. THE TEMPERATURE WAS BELOW 30F. AFTER FINALLY GETTING IN THE CAR, I WAS NOT ABLE TO EXIT THE CAR THROUGH THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR BECAUSE IT WAS STILL STUCK. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN AROUND 40 MILES BEFORE GETTING TO MY DESTINATION. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY AND NOT RUNNING WHILE TRYING TO GET OUT. I COULD HAVE BECOME TRAPPED IN THIS VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. I AM NOT EXTREMELY MOBILE AND HAD A LOT OF ISSUES EXITING THE CAR.”
“DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FROZEN SHUT IN WINTER AND UPON OPENING HANDLE/LOCK BECAME INOPERABLE RESULTING IN FAILURE OF DOOR TO REMAIN CLOSED/LOCKED DURING OPERATION - DOOR WOULD SWING OPEN ON TURNS PRESENTING A SAFETY HAZARD. RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM.”
Showing 6 of 31 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.