MYRModel Year Report

Volkswagen Passat — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

9 model years to avoid, 4 to watch and 13 best bets. Tap a year to see its problem areas, recalls and buy-smart checklist.

Avoid9 years

Caution4 years

Best bets13 years

Complaint history

1988: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1988 1989: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1990: 34 complaints, Recommended 1991: 24 complaints, Not enough data 1992: 40 complaints, Recommended 1993: 68 complaints, Recommended 1993 1994: 25 complaints, Not enough data 1995: 94 complaints, Recommended 1996: 142 complaints, Recommended 1997: 70 complaints, Recommended 1998: 331 complaints, Caution 1998 1999: 664 complaints, Avoid 2000: 507 complaints, Avoid 2001: 430 complaints, Avoid 2002: 636 complaints, Avoid 2003: 629 complaints, Avoid 2003 2004: 279 complaints, Caution 2005: 148 complaints, Recommended 2006: 576 complaints, Avoid 2007: 262 complaints, Caution 2008: 168 complaints, Recommended 2008 2009: 146 complaints, Recommended 2010: 163 complaints, Recommended 2011: 16 complaints, Not enough data 2012: 484 complaints, Avoid 2013: 748 complaints, Avoid 2013 2014: 594 complaints, Avoid 2015: 243 complaints, Caution 2016: 106 complaints, Recommended 2017: 110 complaints, Recommended 2018: 46 complaints, Recommended 2018 2019: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2020: 18 complaints, Not enough data 2021: 18 complaints, Not enough data 2022: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2013 · 748
1988: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1988 1989: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1990: 34 complaints, Recommended 1991: 24 complaints, Not enough data 1991 1992: 40 complaints, Recommended 1993: 68 complaints, Recommended 1994: 25 complaints, Not enough data 1994 1995: 94 complaints, Recommended 1996: 142 complaints, Recommended 1997: 70 complaints, Recommended 1997 1998: 331 complaints, Caution 1999: 664 complaints, Avoid 2000: 507 complaints, Avoid 2000 2001: 430 complaints, Avoid 2002: 636 complaints, Avoid 2003: 629 complaints, Avoid 2003 2004: 279 complaints, Caution 2005: 148 complaints, Recommended 2006: 576 complaints, Avoid 2006 2007: 262 complaints, Caution 2008: 168 complaints, Recommended 2009: 146 complaints, Recommended 2009 2010: 163 complaints, Recommended 2011: 16 complaints, Not enough data 2012: 484 complaints, Avoid 2013: 748 complaints, Avoid 2013 2014: 594 complaints, Avoid 2015: 243 complaints, Caution 2016: 106 complaints, Recommended 2017: 110 complaints, Recommended 2018: 46 complaints, Recommended 2018 2019: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2020: 18 complaints, Not enough data 2021: 18 complaints, Not enough data 2021 2022: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2013 · 748
1988: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1988 1989: 0 complaints, Not enough data 1990: 34 complaints, Recommended 1990 1991: 24 complaints, Not enough data 1992: 40 complaints, Recommended 1992 1993: 68 complaints, Recommended 1994: 25 complaints, Not enough data 1994 1995: 94 complaints, Recommended 1996: 142 complaints, Recommended 1996 1997: 70 complaints, Recommended 1998: 331 complaints, Caution 1998 1999: 664 complaints, Avoid 2000: 507 complaints, Avoid 2000 2001: 430 complaints, Avoid 2002: 636 complaints, Avoid 2002 2003: 629 complaints, Avoid 2004: 279 complaints, Caution 2004 2005: 148 complaints, Recommended 2006: 576 complaints, Avoid 2006 2007: 262 complaints, Caution 2008: 168 complaints, Recommended 2008 2009: 146 complaints, Recommended 2010: 163 complaints, Recommended 2010 2011: 16 complaints, Not enough data 2012: 484 complaints, Avoid 2013: 748 complaints, Avoid 2013 2014: 594 complaints, Avoid 2015: 243 complaints, Caution 2016: 106 complaints, Recommended 2016 2017: 110 complaints, Recommended 2018: 46 complaints, Recommended 2018 2019: 12 complaints, Not enough data 2020: 18 complaints, Not enough data 2020 2021: 18 complaints, Not enough data 2022: 13 complaints, Not enough data 2022 2013 · 748
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Recommended
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2022 ○ Not enough data 13 Only 13 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2021 ○ Not enough data 18 Only 18 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2020 ○ Not enough data 18 Only 18 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2019 ○ Not enough data 12 Only 12 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2018 ▲ Recommended 46 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2017 ▲ Recommended 110 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2016 ▲ Recommended 106 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2015 ◆ Caution 243 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2014 ■ Avoid 594 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2013 ■ Avoid 748 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2012 ■ Avoid 484 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2011 ○ Not enough data 16 Only 16 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2010 ▲ Recommended 163 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2009 ▲ Recommended 146 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2008 ▲ Recommended 168 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2007 ◆ Caution 262 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2006 ■ Avoid 576 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2005 ▲ Recommended 148 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2004 ◆ Caution 279 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2003 ■ Avoid 629 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2002 ■ Avoid 636 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2001 ■ Avoid 430 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2000 ■ Avoid 507 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1999 ■ Avoid 664 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
1998 ◆ Caution 331 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1997 ▲ Recommended 70 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1996 ▲ Recommended 142 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1995 ▲ Recommended 94 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1994 ○ Not enough data 25 Only 25 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1993 ▲ Recommended 68 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1992 ▲ Recommended 40 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1991 ○ Not enough data 24 Only 24 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1990 ▲ Recommended 34 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1989 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1988 ○ Not enough data 0 Only 0 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

56

recalls on file across every Volkswagen Passat model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other Volkswagen models