{"id":"2018_volkswagen_passat","make":"Volkswagen","make_slug":"volkswagen","model":"Passat","model_slug":"passat","year":2018,"url":"/volkswagen/passat/2018/","pts":["gas"],"configs":[{"id":38938,"model":"Passat","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (S6)","cyl":4,"displ":2.0,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":true,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":25,"hwy":36,"comb":29,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Midsize Cars","co2":302,"fe_score":6,"ghg_score":6,"fuel_cost":2150,"save_spend":500,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"VGA","modified":"Wed Dec 20 00:00:00 EST 2017"},{"id":39505,"model":"Passat","pt":"gas","drive":"Front-Wheel Drive","trany":"Automatic (AM-S6)","cyl":6,"displ":3.6,"eng":"SIDI","turbo":false,"super":false,"start_stop":false,"city":19,"hwy":28,"comb":22,"cityA":0,"hwyA":0,"combA":0,"kwh100":null,"range":null,"range_city":null,"range_hwy":null,"erange":null,"phev_comb":null,"charge240":null,"charge240b":null,"charger":"","charger_b":"","motor":"","fuel":"Regular","vclass":"Midsize Cars","co2":396,"fe_score":4,"ghg_score":4,"fuel_cost":2850,"save_spend":-3000,"guzzler":false,"mfr_code":"VGA","modified":"Wed Dec 20 00:00:00 EST 2017"}],"vclass":"Midsize Cars","segment":"Midsize car","recalls":[{"campaign":"20V561000","component":"UNKNOWN OR OTHER","mfr":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.","reported":"2020-09-16","owner_notified":"2020-10-06","units":23,"summary":"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 various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.","consequence":"Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.","remedy":"Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles.  The recall began October 6, 2020.  Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.  Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"01E9","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"19V389000","component":"EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS","mfr":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.","reported":"2019-05-22","owner_notified":"2019-07-16","units":662185,"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.\"","consequence":"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.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"94L9","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"18V536000","component":"SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER","mfr":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.","reported":"2018-08-15","owner_notified":"2018-09-13","units":8416,"summary":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2017-2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles.  The brake caliper bracket mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been tightened sufficiently.","consequence":"The loose brake bracket bolts can allow the caliper to move, reducing braking ability or causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.","remedy":"Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper bracket bolt tightness, replacing and re-torque the bolts as necessary, free of charge.  Additionally brake caliper fasteners, bleeder valve, and brake hose bolts will be checked and torqued to the correct specification, if necessary, free of charge.  For Passat vehicles, dealers will also inspect the parking brake cable for proper connection, free of charge.  The recall began September 14, 2018.  Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298.  Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46H6.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":false,"mfr_campaign":"46H6","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"high"},{"campaign":"18V369000","component":"SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER","mfr":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.","reported":"2018-06-01","owner_notified":"2018-06-29","units":10225,"summary":"Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles.  The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.","consequence":"A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.","remedy":"Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners.  Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes.  Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers.  Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked.  The recall began June 29, 2018.  Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834.  Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.","notes":"Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.","park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":true,"mfr_campaign":"47N8, 47N9, 47N6","initiated_by":"MFR","variants":[],"severity":"critical"}],"recall_count":4,"critical_count":1,"park_outside":false,"do_not_drive":true,"score":61,"grade":"D","complaints":{"count":45,"crash":5,"fire":0,"injured":2,"deaths":0,"comps":[["Service Brakes",12],["Engine",11],["Electrical System",10],["Fuel/Propulsion System",6],["Air Bags",5],["Vehicle Speed Control",4]],"by_year":{"2018":5,"2019":4,"2020":7,"2021":8,"2022":2,"2023":4,"2024":5,"2025":4,"2026":6},"excerpts":[["2025-11-25","Power Train","The catalytic converter on my 2018 Volkswagen Passat failed and the vehicle has been at an authorized Volkswagen dealership since May 16, 2025. The dealership confirmed that the catalytic converter is defective and must be replaced, but the part has been on national backorder with no estimated delivery date for several\u2026"],["2025-07-18","Air Bags","We have been having numerous sensor issues. Sensors showing air bag malfunction and with passenger side seat belt on the front right side. We bought the car in used condition from pat lobb toyota of mckinney less than a year ago. Constantly having sensor issues with it."],["2025-03-13","Fuel/Propulsion System","Car Fuel Pump Leaking. Fuel pump Module failure. There was a recall for this issue on other Volkswagens, but not on the Passat. There are hundreds of cars online with the same issue."]]},"investigations":[],"ncap":[{"desc":"4 DR FWD","overall":5,"frontal":4,"side":5,"rollover":4,"rollover_risk":0.107,"seats":5,"fcw":"Standard","ldw":"Optional","aeb":"No","esc":"","backup_cam":"","variant":null}],"popularity":999,"headline":{"range":null,"mpg":29,"ncap":5,"complaints":45},"presskit_trims":[],"generated_at":"2026-09-11 05:01 UTC","sources":["EPA fueleconomy.gov","NHTSA recalls","NHTSA complaints","NHTSA NCAP","NHTSA investigations"]}