10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
26,102 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #13

Oct 142020

Passat

  • 33,000 miles
I was driving under an overpass on the far-right lane at 25 mph when the car's front assist system activated bringing the car to a full stop all of a sudden. There weren't any cars in front or next to me.

- Metairie, LA, USA

problem #12

Jan 152020

Passat 4-cyl

  • 52,000 miles
While driving and trying to stop it appears that brakes/ABS are not functioning properly. ABS, TPMS, traction control, SRS warning lights have come on for the second time in just a few months span. Dealer said it was faulty ABS wheel speed sensors both times (both rear). It appears that it is the same issue as NHTSA id number: 11265312.

- Davenport, FL, USA

problem #11

Feb 232020

Passat

  • miles
The brakes and rotors went to seen and the car is driving funny.

- Schenectady, NY, USA

problem #10

Sep 302019

Passat

  • 61,000 miles
The ABS sensor system has failed on our car for the 2nd time. The first time it occurred on the left rear wheel in 2019. When the system fails it triggers a multitude of dashboard alerts which are extremely distracting. Obviously the automatic braking will not function. The first occurrence was at 43, 705 miles. I was told by a VW dealer mechanic that this was likely to occur on the other wheels. Unfortunately he was right. The ABS sensor failed on the right rear wheel yesterday at approximately 61,000. Safety features that include blind side monitoring are adversely impacted. The sensor alert occurs when starting the car and stays on while operating the vehicle. The cost for the repair is in the neighborhood of $300

- Palm Coast, FL, USA

problem #9

Jun 182019

Passat

  • 46,000 miles
The car has autonomous braking issue. The system that brakes the car if another car is detected in front of you will brake even if no one is in front of you. The car was in at the dealer four different times for this same issue. The last time it happened I was injured as a result of the aburt stop. VW had my car for 7 weeks and all they could find was that the car was out of alignment and the sensor was not adjusted properly. The problem with this finding is that they had already performed that same exact fixed a year prior. They also stated one of the four times they had it in the shop that they replaced the radar unit. When the car does stop it gives no warning and the stop is was aburt and violent. I traded myself out the vehicle at great expense to myself because of this issue. VW offered no trade assistance on this known issue. Additionally, the vehicle I traded in hopes they'd send it back to germany to figure this out is actually for sale on the local dealer's lot. This car will serious injury someone and any who would travel around it if the vehicle stops suddenly again. The car and this known issue may even cause someone's death. I alerted VW of America of this issue and they are completely derelict in taking the safety of people who bought these vehicles.

- Boise, ID, USA

problem #8

Apr 252019

Passat

  • 23,000 miles
I have noticed that my Passat has brake issues that leads me to believe that my car is affected by the national recall on Volkswagen Passats. I have tried on numerous occasions to set appointments a dealership to have my car evaluated but to no avail. So as in a further attempt to protect the safety of me and my family I am filing this formal complaint to get some help before there are any issues with my car. This my everyday car my wife and children occupy this vehicle regularly, please if their any way for anyone who can look into my situation it will be greatly appreciated. Thank you

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #7

Apr 012019

Passat

  • 26,000 miles
Passat brakes started squealing at around 9000 miles. When serviced at dealer they stated brakes were fine. Squealing continued to 20K miles. Again serviced at dealer and said brakes were fine. Squeeling eventually stoped but after noticing severe vibration in steering wheel during freeway driving and when applying brakes, I stopped and took to nearby mechanic to inspect. He reported rotors are warped at 26K miles. This should not happen with a new car with light use. Since 3 years just passed car just exited warranty status. This problem might be due to the adaptive cruise control feature as it tends to apply the brakes hard during normal driving if set to setting number 1. to avoid hard braking, I have to keep the adaptive cruise at setting 3 which is what I've been doing when I do use it. Still, this seems to be a recurring issue in Passats as apparent on search boards online. VW should upgrade their adaptive cruise control firmware and replace impacted owners brakes, rotors and calipers. Brakes should not start going out a 9K miles and have warped rotors at 26K miles. The dealer should have caught this problem while I was still under warranty instead of reporting no issues and passing inspection reports falsely. Make people safe, recall this safety issue immediately.

- Ann Arbor, MI, USA

problem #6

Dec 132016

Passat

  • 35,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Passat. While driving 45 mph, without depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle began to brake independently and a wavy line warning indicator illuminated. In addition, the steering wheel started to vibrate violently without warning. The failure recurred twice. The vehicle was taken to South bay Volkswagen (located at 3131 national city blvd, national city, ca 91950, (619) 336- 4020) to be diagnosed, but a failure code could not be located. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided case number: 171672068. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.

- Alpine, CA, USA

problem #5

Feb 122018

Passat

  • 21,000 miles
At speed of 40-60 mph, with the adaptive cruise control engaged, the car will bring the car to 5-10 mph rapidly, by slamming on the brakes with no other vehicle in front of it. This has occurred multiple times, and has been reported, but not duplicated at the dealer. The car has also slowed itself, under the adaptive cruise control, in other situations where there was no vehicle in front of it.

- Hereford, AZ, USA

problem #4

Dec 052017

Passat

  • 25 miles
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

- San Francisco, CA, USA

problem #3

Jun 012017

Passat

  • 23,000 miles
I have a 2016 Volkswagen Passat SE that I leased about a year and a half ago. A little over a month ago the car braked on its own with myself, my mother, sister, and my 2 year old son in the car for absolutely no reason going 45 miles per hour. The next incident the car decided it was not going to brake and we had to step on the brakes so hard to get any kind of reaction, almost causing an accident. At this point we took it to VW and they are claiming there is no issues with the car; I beg to differ! yesterday again the car braked on its own going 30 miles an hour for absolutely no reason. Took the car to my personal mechanic prior to taking it to VW and a pic of what came up on their diagnostic computer is uploaded. The VW dealership I took it to after keeping it two weeks claim there is nothing wrong with the car; however, they reset my computer in the car and now the car is showing no codes. There was a similar incident reported on carcomplaint.com same year, model and trim as mine.

- Boynton Beach, FL, USA

problem #2

Feb 082017

Passat

  • 15,000 miles
Driving in freezing rain. Cruise control on. Front sensor iced up, car braked to signal it turned off adaptive cruise control due to front sensor icing up. I briefly lost control of car on icy roadway as it lost traction when it braked.

- Bloomington, IN, USA

problem #1

Dec 152015

Passat

  • 4,300 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at 25 mph, the power steering and the power brakes suddenly malfunctioned and the driver was unable to immediately steer or stop the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who replaced the camshaft. The vehicle later experienced the same failure and the dealer replaced the vacuum pump. No further information was available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 4,300.

- Douglasville, FL, USA