2010 Volkswagen PASSAT WAGON: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
76,052 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 9 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 22.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 22.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 11.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 11.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 1 |
Air Bags: 3; Electrical System: 3; Engine: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Steering: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
2017: 3; 2018: 4; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11035392 · 2017-10-21 (October 21, 2017)
TIMING CHAIN BROKE AT 69,000 MILES. OIL CHANGES WERE KEPT UP WITH CONSISTENTLY WITH CAR. ENGINE NOW HAS TO BE REPLACED IN ORDER FOR CAR TO DRIVE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN IT STOPPED WORKING.
Owner-reported narrative. 69,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11035392 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11046156 · 2017-11-14 (November 14, 2017)
PCV VALVE FAILED, AT SOME POINT PRIOR TO JAN 11, 2016 AND 77,748 MILES. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER INDICATION OF THE FAILURE EVER OCCURRED UNTIL THE PCV VALVE FAILURE CASCADED INTO FAILURE OF THE ENGINE REAR MAIN SEAL (BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION), RESULTING IN A MASSIVE OIL LEAK. BASED ON A WEB SEARCH, THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON SITUATION, NOT ONLY FOR THE VALVE FAILURE, BUT THE METHOD IN WHICH IT FIRST BECOMES APPARENT TO THE VEHICLE OWNER (REAR MAIN SEAL FAILURE). COST TO REPAIR WAS OVER $1900. PCV VALVE FAILED AGAIN AT SOME POI…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,748 miles reported. Look up ODI 11046156 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11046157 · 2017-11-14 (November 14, 2017)
STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEVICE FAILED. INSTRUMENT PANEL MESSAGE CENTER BEGAN DISPLAYING "STEERING COLUMN LOCK DEFECTIVE", WITH ILLUMINATION OF A WARNING LAMP, AND WOULD IMMEDIATELY SHUT DOWN ENGINE UPON INITIAL START-UP (OR ON OCCASION, WOULD NOT ALLOW VEHICLE TO EVEN BE STARTED). VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT ALL TIMES. ON A SECOND OR THIRD TRY, SOMETIMES WITH A SMALL TWIST OF THE STEERING WHEEL, THE VEHICLE WOULD START AS NORMAL AND WAS DRIVEABLE. VW RECALLED VEHICLES FOR THIS DEFECT, BUT IT APPEARS THE RECALL EXPIRED FEB 2013. THIS CONTINUES…
Owner-reported narrative. 116,102 miles reported. Look up ODI 11046157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11083491 · 2018-04-05 (April 5, 2018)
MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THE AIRBAG RECALL. AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED, THE CLOCKSPRING FAILED AND THE "AIRBAG ERROR" LIGHT CAME ON. THIS VEHICLE ISN'T PART OF THE EARLIER CLOCKSPRING RECALL, BUT IT SHOULD BE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11083491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11097100 · 2018-05-21 (May 21, 2018)
THERE WAS AN INTERRUPTION IN ELECTRICAL POWER FROM THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL MODULE. THIS RESULTED IN THE FUEL PUMP RUNNING CONTINUOUSLY, RESULTING IN A DRAINED BATTERY AND NO START CONDITION, OR CAUSE A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. TOOK THE CAR TO VW GARAGE WHO WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM SAID THERE WOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL SOON, BUT I SHOULD PAY FOR REPAIR AND CLAIM MONEY BACK ONCE RECALL WAS ACTIVE, WAS TOLD THIS WOULD BE EARLY PART OF 2018. STILL NO RECALL AND OVER $400 OUT OF POCKET. CAR STALLED AND CUT OUT …
Owner-reported narrative. 85,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11097100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11144113 · 2018-10-30 (October 30, 2018)
TAKATA RECALL I RECENTLY PURCHASED THIS VEHICE. I BRING IN TO THE KING VW TO HAVE IT DONE. BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN CLEARED BY NHTSA OR VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA. I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY PAPERWORK ABOUT THIS. I KNOW THIS FROM CARFAX. THERE WAS NO COLLISION, FIRE OR SUCH, SPEED WAS 0 MPH
Owner-reported narrative. 64,834 miles reported. Look up ODI 11144113 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11151418 · 2018-11-14 (November 14, 2018)
2010 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT WAGON. 88K MILES. CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AS I WAS DRIVING IT IN THE CITY. WITHIN ONE HOUR OF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARING I STOPPED THE CAR. WHEN I TRIED TO RESTART 30 MINUTES LATER IT REFUSED TO START. PROMPTLY HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER. VW DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SAYS: TIMING IN THE ENGINE SLIPPED DUE TO SLACK IN TIMING CHAIN. COMPRESSION MEASURED LOW TO NONE. INCORRECT TIMING HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO VALVES AND CAMSHAFT. VEHICLE WILL NEED A CYLINDER HEAD, CAMSHAFT, TIMING CHAIN & TENSIONER TO START. THEY SAY THIS PORTION WILL CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 88,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11151418 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11173682 · 2019-02-02 (February 2, 2019)
MANUFACTURER RECALL 20AE NHTSA RECALL 17V509
Owner-reported narrative. 74,355 miles reported. Look up ODI 11173682 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
17V509000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2017-08-16 (August 16, 2017)
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2016 Volkswagen CC, 2006-2010 Passat and Passat Wagon vehicles. Interruption of electrical power to the fuel pump control module may cause the fuel pump to fail.
Consequence: If the fuel pump fails, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump control module, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 20AE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V148000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2018-03-06 (March 6, 2018)
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 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗