Midsize sedans · NMS generation
Fair Below average
It scores 33 out of 100 for reliability compared with other midsize sedans. Over the next 5 years we expect it to cost about $13,075 to own, including $3,693 in repairs.
Early estimate: this rating uses our own sales estimate for the Volkswagen Passat.
Reliability
33/100
Below average
Repairs, 5 years
$3,693
at 12,000 mi a year
Fuel, 5 years
$7,286
28 mpg, $3.40/gal
Price today
$8,086
$7,116 – $9,057, estimate
Recalls
7
on record
Owner complaints
243
filed with NHTSA
These are estimates, not guarantees. They come from public NHTSA complaint and recall data and EPA fuel economy, assuming 5 years of ownership and 12,000 miles a year. Change the assumptions or see how it works.
Expected over 5 years, by area of the car.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temper
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."
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2015 Passat, 2015-2016 Eos, 2015-2017 CC, 2016-2017 TT Roadster, TT Coupe, 2017 Audi R8 Coupe, and R8 Spyder vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Passat vehicles manufactured May 18, 2015, to May 21, 2015. The affected vehicles have a brake line at the left rear wheel area that may not have been properly tightened.
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Jetta vehicles manufactured March 28, 2014, to November 24, 2014, 2014-2015 Passat vehicles manufactured April 7, 2014, to November 18, 2014, 2015 Golf and GTI vehicles manufactured July 1, 2014, to November 20, 2014, and 2014-2015 Beetle and Beetle Convertible vehicles manufactured March 31, 2014, to November
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015 Volkswagen Jetta and Passat vehicles manufactured September 23, 2014, to October 9, 2014, and equipped with manual front seatback recliners. In the affected vehicles, the seatback recliner retaining bracket may not engage correctly, resulting in unexpected movement of the seatback.
Check whether a specific car still has open recalls with its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
These links go to independent sites. We don't earn anything from them.
Of the years we rate, the 2020 scores best (88/100) and the 2015 worst (33/100).
| Year | Reliability |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 80/100 |
| 2021 | 84/100 |
| 2020 | 88/100 |
| 2019 | 86/100 |
| 2018 | 71/100 |
| 2017 | 68/100 |
| 2016 | 58/100 |
| 2015 | 33/100 |
Not especially. It scores 33 out of 100, below average for midsize sedans; the 2019, 2020 and 2021 scored better.
It scores 33 out of 100 against other midsize sedans from 2015 to 2024, which is below average. Based on 243 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, we expect about $3,693 in repairs over the next 5 years at 12,000 miles a year.
About $13,075 over 5 years: $2,096 in lost value, $3,693 in repairs and $7,286 in fuel at $3.40 a gallon. A typical one sells for about $8,086 today.
Of the years we rate, the 2020 scores best (88/100) and the 2015 worst (33/100).
7 recalls on record with NHTSA.