The Lemon Index
Subscribe

All cars · Volkswagen · Car

Volkswagen Passat.

The best Volkswagen Passat years are 2020, 2018, 2021. Years to avoid: 2014, 2013. Across 2012-2021, it has a Lemon Index of 141, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2012 to 2021.

141Lemon Index · 100 = average car

Worse than average. Whole model, 2012-2021: 1.4× the average car's complaints.

Best year 2020 · Worst year 2014

Volkswagen Passat
Photo shows a 2016 Volkswagen Passat. Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

2012801.2× fewer complaints20132092.1× the complaints20142912.9× the complaints2015109about average2016561.8× fewer complaints2017631.6× fewer complaints2018492× fewer complaints2020333× fewer complaints2021512× fewer complaints

Best years to buy

2020.

2020333× fewer complaints than average2018492× fewer complaints than average2021512× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2014.

20142912.9× the average car's complaints20132092.1× the average car's complaints

Quick answers.

Is the Volkswagen Passat a good car?

Not overall: it draws more complaints than the average car, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2012-2021: Lemon Index 141; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2020 and the worst is 2014.

What are the best Volkswagen Passat years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2020, 2018, 2021.

What Volkswagen Passat years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2014, 2013.

How many recalls does the Volkswagen Passat have?

57 safety recalls across the 9 model years we track. Most: 2012 (11), 2014 (10), 2013 (9). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Volkswagen Passat problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name airbags, engine and electrical most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
2012801.2× fewer complaints than average126electrical (27%)11★★★★★23–34
20132092.1× the average car's complaints312airbags (44%)9★★★★★23–34
20142912.9× the average car's complaints327airbags (69%)10★★★★★23–34
2015109about average91airbags (33%)7★★★★★23–33
2016561.8× fewer complaints than average42brakes (24%)5★★★★★23–29
2017631.6× fewer complaints than average43brakes (23%)7★★★★★23–27
2018492× fewer complaints than average24brakes (42%)4★★★★★22–29
2020333× fewer complaints than average7automatic emergency braking (29%)3★★★★★27
2021512× fewer complaints than average12lane assist (42%)1★★★★★28

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Volkswagen Passat transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data