Reliable Auto DB

2019 Volkswagen Passat reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2019 Volkswagen Passat has 12 complaints with NHTSA after 8 years, or 3 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Passat years here — under the median of the other years, which is 10. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Headlights.

2012 Volkswagen Passat
Photo by Alexander-93, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

12

Per year

3

Recalls

1

Years on the road

8

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (4 of 12), then Service brakes (3) and Engine (2). The most filings arrived in 2019 (8 of 12).

Next to 2018 and 2020

The 2018 Passat has 45 complaints, 5 per year, and the 2020 has 18 complaints, 1 per year. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2020.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2019 Volkswagen Passat. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (1)

Recall exterior lighting, headlights 2019-05-22 · NHTSA campaign 19V389000
Summary Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
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.

Complaints by component (12 total)

Electrical system
4
Service brakes
3
Engine
2
Powertrain
2
Forward collision avoidance
1
Fuel and propulsion system
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Seats
1
Steering
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Show 2 more Show less
Crash-flagged

0

Fire-flagged

0

Injury reports

0

Death reports

0

Complaints filed per year

82019220201202212025
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "Brake issues that consist of brakes not engaging immediately as I press the brake pedal. Brake pedal also doesn't return as fast as my foot lets off of it. It could be inspected upon request. If the brakes dont engage…"
    Service brakes · filed 2025-03-16
  • "The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking and then lost motive power. The contact pushed the vehicle to an independent mechanic who…"
    Fuel system, gasoline · filed 2022-10-13
  • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY STOP EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE…"
    Electrical system, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2020-09-10
  • "TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE IDLED WITH THE EPC LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS…"
    Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2020-02-05
  • "VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH REMOTE START FEATURE. DEALER AND SALESMAN KNEW THE REMOTE START DID NOT WORK. THIS WAS A SELLING POINT ON THE CAR. THEY KEEP PUTTING OFF FIXING THE ISSUE WITH THE CAR."
    Electrical system, Unknown or other, Engine · filed 2019-12-17

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Passat 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (6-speed) Front-wheel drive 25 36 29 MPG $2250

Specs and fitment

B8 (NMS refresh), 2016–2022
Body styles Sedan
Oil VW 502.00/504.00 5W-30 or 0W-20 (engine dependent) , 4.8 qt capacity
Tire size 215/55R17

Known issues for this generation

NHTSA safety recall 19V389000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Volkswagen Passat and 2018-2019 Atlas vehicles. The blocking cap disabling the adjustment of the headlight's horizontal aim may not have been installed. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.". 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.

Compare

Previous year 2018 Volkswagen Passat Next year 2020 Volkswagen Passat See every Volkswagen Passat model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Volkswagen Passat reliable?

The 2019 Volkswagen Passat has 12 complaints with NHTSA after 8 years, or 3 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Passat years here — under the median of the other years, which is 10. NHTSA has 1 recall on file, including Headlights.

What are common problems with a 2019 Volkswagen Passat?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (4 of 12), then Service brakes (3) and Engine (2). The most filings arrived in 2019 (8 of 12).

Is the 2019 Volkswagen Passat more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2018 Passat has 45 complaints, 5 per year, and the 2020 has 18 complaints, 1 per year. The 2019 has fewer complaints per year than the 2018. The 2019 has more complaints per year than the 2020.

Has the 2019 Volkswagen Passat been recalled?

The 2019 Volkswagen Passat has 1 recall on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2019 Volkswagen Passat?

Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 2019 Volkswagen Passat with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2019 Volkswagen Passat get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2019 Volkswagen Passat is 29 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What engine oil does a Volkswagen Passat use?

VW 502.00 5W-30 or 5W-40 (engine dependent)

What does NHTSA recall 19V-014 cover on the Volkswagen Passat?

NHTSA safety recall 19V014000 covers affected vehicles after the agency found that volkswagen Group of America, Inc.

What generation is the 2013 Volkswagen Passat?

B7 (NMS) (2012-2015).