Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

2013 vs 2014 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 155 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 18.8% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

2013 727 complaints 2014 590 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 2013 share 2014 share Share change
AIR BAGS 39.8% 47.6% ▲ 7.8 pts larger share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 7.7% 1.5% ▼ 6.2 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 9.6% 5.6% ▼ 4.0 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 2.8% 5.4% ▲ 2.6 pts larger share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6.1% 8.3% ▲ 2.2 pts larger share
STRUCTURE 2.6% 1.0% ▼ 1.5 pts smaller share
ENGINE 7.2% 8.5% ▲ 1.3 pts larger share
STEERING 5.3% 4.4% ▼ 0.9 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 1.1% 1.7% ▲ 0.6 pts larger share
SUSPENSION 1.5% 1.0% ▼ 0.5 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 2.4% 2.0% ▼ 0.4 pts smaller share
BACK OVER PREVENTION 0.3% not reported ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 0.9% 0.7% ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE not reported 0.2% ▲ 0.2 pts larger share
SEAT BELTS 0.4% 0.5% ▲ 0.1 pts larger share
WHEELS 0.9% 1.0% ▲ 0.1 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19.6% 14.8% ▼ 4.8 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

2013 9

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, and EXTERIOR LIGHTING

2014 10

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, and POWER TRAIN

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
4 → 3
◆ Injuries
24 → 14