Volkswagen Passat years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 26 model years of the Volkswagen Passat by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2013, 2014, 2012, 2006, 2003, 2002, 1999 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 13 | 3 | 0.2 | 0 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2020 | 18 | 3 | 0.2 | 3 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2019 | 12 | 2 | 0.1 | 1 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2018 | 46 | 5 | 0.4 | 4 | 5 | Fewest complaints |
| 2017 | 110 | 11 | 1.0 | 7 | 9 | Typical |
| 2016 | 106 | 10 | 0.8 | 5 | 4 | Typical |
| 2015 | 244 | 20 | 1.8 | 7 | 11 | Typical |
| 2014 | 594 | 46 | 4.0 | 10 | 19 | Most complaints |
| 2013 | 749 | 54 | 4.7 | 9 | 29 | Most complaints |
| 2012 | 484 | 32 | 2.8 | 11 | 14 | Most complaints |
| 2010 | 172 | 10 | 0.9 | 4 | 5 | Typical |
| 2009 | 152 | 8 | 0.7 | 4 | 5 | Typical |
| 2008 | 174 | 9 | 0.8 | 4 | 3 | Typical |
| 2007 | 273 | 14 | 1.2 | 7 | 4 | Typical |
| 2006 | 576 | 27 | 2.4 | 7 | 21 | Most complaints |
| 2005 | 148 | 7 | 0.6 | 4 | 7 | Typical |
| 2004 | 283 | 12 | 1.1 | 4 | 9 | Typical |
| 2003 | 641 | 27 | 2.3 | 7 | 14 | Most complaints |
| 2002 | 650 | 26 | 2.3 | 4 | 13 | Most complaints |
| 2001 | 441 | 17 | 1.5 | 4 | 16 | Typical |
| 2000 | 518 | 19 | 1.7 | 5 | 11 | Typical |
| 1999 | 664 | 24 | 2.1 | 6 | 11 | Most complaints |
| 1998 | 330 | 11 | 1.0 | 5 | 6 | Typical |
| 1997 | 76 | 3 | 0.2 | 1 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 1996 | 151 | 5 | 0.4 | 1 | 2 | Fewest complaints |
- 202213 complaints · 0 recallsFewest complaints
- 20212 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
- 202018 complaints · 3 recallsFewest complaints
- 201912 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
- 201846 complaints · 4 recallsFewest complaints
- 2017110 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 2016106 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2015244 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 2014594 complaints · 10 recallsMost complaints
- 2013749 complaints · 9 recallsMost complaints
- 2012484 complaints · 11 recallsMost complaints
- 2010172 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2009152 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2008174 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2007273 complaints · 7 recallsTypical
- 2006576 complaints · 7 recallsMost complaints
- 2005148 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2004283 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2003641 complaints · 7 recallsMost complaints
- 2002650 complaints · 4 recallsMost complaints
- 2001441 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2000518 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 1999664 complaints · 6 recallsMost complaints
- 1998330 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 199776 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
- 1996151 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
Fewest complaints for their age: 2021, 2019, 1997, 2020, 2022, 1996, 2018.
About this comparison
What Volkswagen Passat years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2013, 2014, 2012, 2006, 2003, 2002, 1999 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 26 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.