2013 Volkswagen Passat: recalls and complaints

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All updates to the register

• 24V83400030 Oct 2024Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
• 19V8620004 Dec 2019Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
• 19V38900022 May 2019Exterior Lighting / Headlights
• 18V1480006 Mar 2018Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
• 17V30900011 May 2017Power Train / Driveline / Driveshaft
• 16V17100024 Mar 2016Electrical System / Wiring
• 16V07800010 Feb 2016Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module
• 15V4830004 Aug 2015Air Bags / Frontal
• 14V12500017 Mar 2014Exterior Lighting / Headlights

1. 24V834000Received 30 Oct 2024. 248,330 units.

   Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.

   Report filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.. Manufacturer campaign number 69EG,69GQ,69E6. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 4 Dec 2024.

2. 19V862000Received 4 Dec 2019. 226 units.

   Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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 temperature cycling.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.

   Report filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.. Manufacturer campaign number 69R6,69Q8,69Q9,69Y5. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Dec 2019.

3. 19V389000Received 22 May 2019. 662,185 units.

   Exterior Lighting / Headlights

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   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."

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   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.

   Report filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.. Manufacturer campaign number 94L9. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 16 Jul 2019.

4. 18V148000Received 6 Mar 2018. 363,713 units.

   Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

   Report filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.. Manufacturer campaign number 69Q9. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 16 Mar 2018.

5. 17V309000Received 11 May 2017. 84,262 units.

   Power Train / Driveline / Driveshaft

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Passat vehicles, equipped with diesel engines and Direct-Shift Transmissions (DSG). The vehicle's underbody heat shield may not be long enough to protect the right half-shaft grease boot from heat, potentially resulting in a grease leak.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   If the leaking grease contacts a heated surface, such as the exhaust system and/or the diesel particulate filter (DPF), it could increase the risk of fire.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft heat shield, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23W5.

   Report filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.. Manufacturer campaign number 23W5. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 7 Jul 2017.

6. 16V171000Received 24 Mar 2016. 91,442 units.

   Electrical System / Wiring

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Passat vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Due to improperly assembled wire seals in a connector for an underbody sensor, water may enter and corrode the electrical connectors of the sensor, causing an electrical short.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   An electrical short can cause the electrical connectors of the sensor to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in September. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23T3.

   Report filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.. Manufacturer campaign number 23T3. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 Sep 2016.

7. 16V078000Received 10 Feb 2016. 659,493 units.

   Air Bags / Frontal / Driver Side / Inflator Module

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Golf, 2007-2010 Passat sedans and wagon, 2012-2014 Passat sedan and Eos, 2009-2014 CC, 2009-2012 Audi Q5, 2010-2012 S5 Cabriolet and 2010-2012 Audi A5 Cabriolet vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to rupture.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflators, free of charge. Volkswagen issued an interim notification to owners on April 12, 2016, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Volkswagen will notify owners again once parts are available. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Audi owners may contact Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.

   Report filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 10 Mar 2017.

8. 15V483000Received 4 Aug 2015. 415,825 units.

   Air Bags / Frontal

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 Volkswagen CC, and Passat, 2010-2013 Eos, 2011-2014 Golf, GTI, Jetta, and Tiguan, and 2012-2014 Jetta Sportwagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, debris may contaminate the air bag clock spring, a spiral wound, flat cable that keeps the air bag powered while the steering wheel is being turned. This contamination may tear the cable and result in a loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   A loss of electrical connection to the driver's frontal air bag will prevent the air bag from deploying in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will install a protective cover over the steering wheel clock spring if the air bag light is off. If the airbag light is on and the steering wheel clock spring requires replacement, dealers will install a new steering wheel clock spring. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on January 15, 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987.

   Report filed by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.. Manufacturer campaign number 69L2. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 Jan 2016.

9. 14V125000Received 17 Mar 2014. 150,201 units.

   Exterior Lighting / Headlights

   Defect, in the NHTSA record

   Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Passat vehicles manufactured January 2011 through November 2012. In the affected vehicles, the low beam headlight bulb may become loose and lose electrical contact.

   Consequence, in the NHTSA record

   A loss of low beam headlights may reduce the driver's visibility and increase the risk of a crash.

   Remedy, in the NHTSA record

   Volkswagen notified owners, and dealers will replace the bulb holder, free of charge. The recall began in May 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagens recall number associated with this campaign is 94G8/7V.

   Report filed by Volkswagen of America, Inc.. Manufacturer campaign number 94G8/7V. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 13 May 2014.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

• 2013 Volkswagen Passat
• All 2013 vehicles

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 28.

Complaints that report a crash

29

Complaints that report a fire

4

Injuries in the complaints

24

Deaths in the complaints

2

Date of the newest complaint

10 Aug 2026

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

1. 19881
2. 19891
3. 19902
4. 19911
5. 19921
6. 19933
7. 19941
8. 19951
9. 19961
10. 19970
11. 19984
12. 19995
13. 20003
14. 20013
15. 20023
16. 20036
17. 20043
18. 20053
19. 20067
20. 20077
21. 20084
22. 20094
23. 20104
24. 20110
25. 201211
26. 20139
27. 201410
28. 20157
29. 20165
30. 20177
31. 20184
32. 20191
33. 20203
34. 20211
35. 20220

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

• Volkswagen Passat: all model years
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• NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
• NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
• NHTSA page of the 2013 Volkswagen PassatThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 2013 Volkswagen Passat?

2,675,677 units in 9 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.

How many recall campaigns does the Volkswagen Passat have for all model years?

NHTSA lists 54 recall campaigns for the Volkswagen Passat, model years 1988 to 2022. 9 of them name the 2013 model year.

Which component do the complaints about the 2013 Volkswagen Passat name most often?

Air Bags: 382 of 1,027 component mentions, or 372 per 1,000. For all 2013 vehicles the figure is 75.3 per 1,000.

Is an NHTSA investigation of the 2013 Volkswagen Passat open?

1 investigation has no closing date in the NHTSA file, of 3 that name this model year.