2021 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT — Owner-Reported Problems
Verdict & Safety Summary
- Crashes 1
- Fires 1
- Injuries 0
- 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| LANE DEPARTURE | 4 | 22.2% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 3 | 16.7% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| ENGINE | 2 | 11.1% | 0 crashes · 1 fires |
| STEERING | 2 | 11.1% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| AIR BAGS | 1 | 5.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 | 5.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 | 5.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | 1 | 5.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| STRUCTURE | 1 | 5.6% | 0 crashes · 0 fires |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 9 | 50.0% | 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2021-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2021-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2022-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2023-Q3 | Owner reports | 3 | |
| 2023-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2024-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2024-Q3 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2024-Q4 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2025-Q1 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| 2025-Q3 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2025-Q4 | Owner reports | 2 | |
| 2026-Q2 | Owner reports | 1 | |
| Recall campaign | 1 | 21V812000 |
Safety Recalls (1)
Official safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA
-
Manufacturer action
Recall campaign 21V812000
- Report date
- Component:
- SUSPENSION
- Consequence:
- The bolts may loosen and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy:
- Dealers will inspect the tightness of the wheel bearing bolts and replace the bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40R7.
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.