2010 Volkswagen Passat problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (34) · Power Train (27) · Engine (24)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Volkswagen Passat model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
105 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2018-03-06 · campaign 18V148000 · 363,713 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump 2017-08-16 · campaign 17V509000 · 280,915 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AE.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2016-02-10 · campaign 16V078000 · 659,493 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.
Air Bags:frontal 2015-08-04 · campaign 15V483000 · 415,825 vehicles
Defect: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air
Risk: A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.
Service bulletins (836)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine 2026-09-17 · V0116152014815_20 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
suggested fuel additive
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-09 · SM 39-2026 · Other
this special notice is to inform dealers to return the parts listed if it meets the criteria provided.
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-06 · TT 00-13-04_7 · Other
permission to change daily order upgraded to red order
Unknown Or Other 2026-08-04 · V0026012081638_2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
differences between a leak and seepage
Electrical System 2026-07-15 · VOS-26-42 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this is a notice for software changes with the odis diagnostic program to correct the communication during vehicle programming function: a software fix is needed to correct the issue: da 0019 - hotfix 12-v battery test(s) – no battery diagnosis - inconclusive test result.
Engine 2026-07-09 · V1718062017813_24 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
oil consumption measurement and electronic oil consumption measurement
Showing the 6 most recent of 836 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-03-14 · Unknown Or Other“my 2010 volkswagen cc became completely inoperable because of the active fuel pump control module recall (nhtsa 17v509). the vehicle stalled and nearly caused an accident. the check engine light came on just before i noticed a burning smell coming from the backseat of my car immediately after smelling that the car suddenly stalled out in the middle…”
2024-10-23 · Unknown Or Other“i purchased a used vehicle but have found out the oxygen sensor is feeding false error codes to the main obc causing leaks into driver compartment causing engine to stall while auto in motion and most importantly causing steering wheel to lock, have spoken with vwoa but they have no direct influence with vw or dealerships even if a warranty issue b…”
2024-03-25 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 148,000 mi“the contact owns a 2010 volkswagen passat. the contact stated while driving at various speeds, there was a strong fuel odor inside and outside the vehicle. the contact stated that the failure persisted while the vehicle was parked and turned off. the check engine warning light was illuminated. the contact stated that the strong fuel odor had caused…”
2024-01-24 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 61,000 mi“the contact owns a 2010 volkswagen passat. the contact stated that while her son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. the driver was able to coast to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. the check engine warning light was illuminated. the vehicle was taken to an indepe…”
2023-08-02 · Fuel/Propulsion System“replaced cracked fuel pump 3 times. electrical problem to fuel pump ; also all were cracked from pressure. thx !! dr.…”
2023-08-01 · Visibility/Wiper“as the trunk hatch opens and closes, the wiring to the hatch wears down, frays, and then shorts or breaks. this killed our rear view camera, which is a safety issue. this also can cut off light to the license plate. the rear hatch also cannot then be opened from the rear of the car, as the handle is electrical and gets disconnected, possible cau…”
2023-07-24 · Engine“drove the car to and from work that day with no problems. also, went back to work a 2nd side job that evening with no issues. got home, shut the car off and when my wife and i went out to go to work the next morning at 5 a.m., the car wouldn't start at all. wouldn't even click. did a lot of research because i had the starter replaced about 2 weeks …”
2023-01-24 · Fuel/Propulsion System“i was in my car driving , as soon as i go for a turn my car stalled on me infront of everyone , almost causing a wreck.…”
2022-09-28 · Exterior Lighting“there is a short in the wiring for the tail lights the short in the wires also effects the trunk wiring. the design of the wiring in the trunk bends the tail light wires and wears them out so now there is a short in the tail light, reverse light , fog light and the trunk release. it is very unsafe to have these lights not work and to have a faulty…”
2021-11-15 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“the car was hit broadside on the passenger side front door, spun around and hit head in to a power pole. with all this happening none of the airbags deployed. …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.