The Lemon Index2016 Volkswagen Passat.
The 2016 Volkswagen Passat is better than average by owner complaints: 42 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 56, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 23 to 29 mpg combined. The best Volkswagen Passat year is 2020.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 106 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Volkswagen Passat year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 10K to 61K miles on the car (54 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 5
- unknown or other 2021
These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale.
- unknown or other 2020
These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale.
- lights 2019
The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed.
Show all 5 recalls
- fuel system, gasoline 2016
In the affected vehicles, the fuel rail may detach from the cylinder head and result in a fuel leak.
- engine 2015
In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Volkswagen told dealers about
Volkswagen sent dealers 834 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Tech Tips (Comfort Module (J393) or BCM (J519) Replacement): This document informs if a…
- Mil-on, fault p309f or p309d, no electric drive mode customer states crank no start and/or…
- Technical Bulletin informing that When applying brakes at highway speeds the following…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2200–2800 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 1.8L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
Takata recall- not sure if it is but my car has issue on the steering. Also my airbag light is on and along with that my horn is disabled. Not sure if its under recall but how do I get those repair
2016 Volkswagen Passat owner · NHTSA complaint 11109539
More owner reports
I often will be driving and car slams on brakes by itself causing me to nearly wreck and also twice I've had air bag lights appear and clicking steering wheel
NHTSA complaint 11099984
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Volkswagen Passat reliable?
Yes, better than average by government complaints. It drew 1.8× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 56; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Volkswagen Passat year by this measure is 2020.
What are the most common 2016 Volkswagen Passat problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (24%), steering (21%) and electrical (19%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Volkswagen Passat have?
5 safety recalls (latest: unknown or other). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Volkswagen Passat get?
23 to 29 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Volkswagen Passat safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2016 Volkswagen Passat problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 10,800 and 61,200 miles. The middle report was at 34,000 miles, from 54 complaints.
Does the 2016 Volkswagen Passat have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
How much does the 2016 Volkswagen Passat cost in fuel a year?
About $2200 to $2800 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Volkswagen Passat have?
1.8L 4-cyl, 3.6L 6-cyl.
What Volkswagen Passat year is better than the 2016?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2020, 2018 and 2021.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works