2020 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — Owner-Reported Problems
Verdict & Safety Summary
- Crashes 1
- Fires 0
- Injuries 1
- Deaths 0
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Component Problem Distribution
Share of owner complaints filed for each vehicle system (unaffected by sales volume)
UNKNOWN OR OTHER is an NHTSA classification artifact and is always listed last.
View component data as a table
| System / Component | Complaints | Share of Reports | Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 3 | 20.0% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 3 | 20.0% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| FUEL SYSTEM | 1 | 6.7% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 | 6.7% | 1 crashes · 0 fires |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 | 6.7% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| STEERING | 1 | 6.7% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| WHEELS | 1 | 6.7% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 7 | 46.7% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Problem & Recall Timeline
Observed complaint volume and manufacturer recall actions over time
View timeline records as a table
| Date | Record type | Count | Record identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2021-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2022-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2023-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2024-Q2 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2026-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V218000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 19V389000 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 20V533000 |
Safety Recalls (3)
Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 19V218000
- Report date
- Component:
- AIR BAGS
- Consequence:
- In an event of a side impact crash, an incorrect side airbag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- Volkswagen has inspected and replaced the side air bags, free of charge. The recall was completed in April 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y8.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 19V389000
- Report date
- Component:
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING
- Consequence:
- Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, block the headlight horizontal adjustment, free of charge. The recall began July 16, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 94L9.
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 20V533000
- Report date
- Component:
- AIR BAGS
- Consequence:
- An incorrectly folded air bag can deploy with too much force, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy:
- Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69AY.
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Complaint Narrative Explorer
Verbatim owner-reported defect narratives from NHTSA public records
No complaints match the current filters.
Estimated Ownership Cost
EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates
Adjacent Model Years
Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records
Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.
Methodology & Data Integrity
Data sourced from NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Snapshot date: 2026-08-21.