5.3

fairly significant
Typical Repair Cost:
No data
Average Mileage:
45,000 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints

Most common solutions:

  1. replace A/C compressor (3 reports)
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

This problem may be covered under warranty. Ask your Volkswagen dealer.

problem #3

May 232021

Passat R-Line 1.8T

  • Automatic transmission
  • 55,000 miles

It happened on the road (traveling from CA to upstate NY) in El Paso, TX in high 90's temperature. My daughter and I had to travel without AC until we got to NY. There was smoke coming out from under the hood, intially, made me believe that we were stranded only in the 2nd day of the road travel. Horible feeling.... Smoke was from a lable that was on the AC clutch pulley that seized. Pulley got so hot, it completely burned off the lable.

- Wayne K., Torrance, CA, United States

problem #2

May 112019

Passat S 1.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 60,000 miles

2016 buy new car and one day I drive and turn on ac and is not working. Dealer says diagnostic for ac recharge $250 plus. I don't have too much money. I go for Firestone and they diagnose it as ac compressor.

- ayesha234, Boilingbrook, US

problem #1

Apr 012017

Passat 1.8L 4 CYL

  • Automatic transmission
  • 20,000 miles

delayed cooling

During the first start of the day, the temperature of the air coming out of the vents was the same as the cabin and was humid. It would stay like this for 5-10 minutes then suddenly would become very cold and dry. Some forum posts from 2009 mentioned similar symptoms indicating it is a chronic problem.

The dealership was able to replicate the problem after leaving it with them overnight so they could experience the first start of the day. They are doing additional tests for the engineers at VW and will replace the A/C compressor under warranty.

Vehicle currently has 25,000 miles on it and has been experiencing it for a few months.

- Aaron B., San Antonio, TX, US