Midsize sedans · NMS generation
Good choice About average
It scores 58 out of 100 for reliability compared with other midsize sedans. Over the next 5 years we expect it to cost about $11,984 to own, including $2,658 in repairs.
Early estimate: this rating uses our own sales estimate for the Volkswagen Passat.
Reliability
58/100
About average
Repairs, 5 years
$2,658
at 12,000 mi a year
Fuel, 5 years
$7,034
29 mpg, $3.40/gal
Price today
$8,843
$7,782 – $9,905, estimate
Recalls
5
on record
Owner complaints
106
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 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas vehicles. These internal-use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with t
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of var
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 model year 2016 Jetta vehicles manufactured October 31, 2015, to January 21, 2016, 2016 Passat vehicles, equipped with 1.8T engines manufactured November 13, 2015, to December 9, 2015, and 2016 Golf vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to November 11, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the fuel rail may detach from the cylinder h
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.
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 58 out of 100, about average for midsize sedans; the 2019, 2020 and 2021 scored better.
It scores 58 out of 100 against other midsize sedans from 2015 to 2024, which is about average. Based on 106 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, we expect about $2,658 in repairs over the next 5 years at 12,000 miles a year.
About $11,984 over 5 years: $2,292 in lost value, $2,658 in repairs and $7,034 in fuel at $3.40 a gallon. A typical one sells for about $8,843 today.
Of the years we rate, the 2020 scores best (88/100) and the 2015 worst (33/100).
5 recalls on record with NHTSA.