The Lemon Index
Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.
What owners describe
Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.
Transmission and power train recalls
- 2014 2014
In the affected vehicles, the O-ring seals between the oil cooler and the transmission may leak fluid.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
In owners' words
My vehicle has a transmission coolant leak, which is common for some of the 2014 Passat. Not pretty sure if it is due to the faulty O-ring recalled for some of 2014 passats.
2014 Volkswagen Passat owner · NHTSA complaint
Transmission fluid cooler leakage dripping fluid where it might contact a hot surface and result in a vehicle fire. Allegedly according to vw this is not supposed to happen in vehicles with my vin, but my mechanic says it is happening.
2014 Volkswagen Passat owner · NHTSA complaint
Quick answers
Which Volkswagen Passat years have transmission problems?
By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Volkswagen Passat years are 2014, 2013, 2015.
What are common Volkswagen Passat transmission problems?
Owners most often describe lost power while driving, hard or jerky shifting, delay or hesitation.
Which Volkswagen Passat years have the fewest transmission complaints?
Since 2010, the Volkswagen Passat years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2018, 2016, 2017.
See every problem, not just the transmission: Volkswagen Passat reliability by year. How we count