2015 Volkswagen PASSAT: complaints, problems and recalls

VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING. SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS APPEAR. THIS OCCURRED THREE OTHER TIMES, EVEN AFTER THEY CAR HAD BEEN IN FOR REPAIR. VARIOUS ENGINE PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED, SUCH THE TURBO KIT, TURBO CHARGER, GLOW PLUGS. THE LAST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON DEC 5 AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE UP AND ASSURED THAT IT WAS FULLY REPAIRED. WHILE EXITING THE DEALERSHIP, THE CAR LOST POWER AND I WAS ALMOST T-BONED. THE DEALER CONTINUES TO REPLACE PARTS ON THE ADVICE OF THE VW REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER. YET WE HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT THE SAFE…

Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10663582 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING THE EPC LIGHT CAME ON AND 5 MINUTES LATER WHILE USING THE BRAKES THEY BECAME STIFFER AND THEN WITHIN 30 SECONDS LOCKED UP COMPLETELY SO THAT YOU COULD NOT PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKES AT ALL AND THEY WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. I HAD TO RUN THE STOP SIGN AND VEER OFF INTO THE GRASS TO SLOW CAR DOWN AND PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10702420 at NHTSA ↗

I WAS DRIVING DOWN I-20 TOWARDS SHREVEPORT AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN, MY SUNROOF GLASS SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED. THERE WERE NO CARS IN FRONT OF ME SO SLING AND ROCKS OR PROJECTILES. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 16,363 miles reported. Look up ODI 10712027 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE PERSONALLY INSPECTED MANY 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT'S AND FOUND AN ISSUE PERTAINING TO THE ALARM SYSTEM. WHEN THE VEHICLES ALARM IS SET OFF, THERE IS A SPLIT SECOND WAY TO BYPASS THIS AND AID MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT AS WELL AS THEFT OF PERSONAL ITEMS IN THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE ALARM HAS BEEN SOUNDED, AN INDIVIDUAL CAN DEPRESS THE FLASHER BUTTON IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH AND PRESS IT ONCE MORE TO SHUT THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS OFF, THIS WILL BYPASS AND DEACTIVATE THE VEHICLES FACTORY ALARM SYSTEM, THUS OPENING THE VEHICLE UP TO A HIGHER POTENTIAL OF …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10713741 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE EXITING HIGHWAY AND TRAVELING AT NEAR HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE EPC LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. SECONDS LATER THE BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED. I WAS FORCED TO VEER FROM CRASHING INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. I THEN PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND PULL ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HANDLE UNTIL I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A COMPLETE STOP.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,370 miles reported. Look up ODI 10731483 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED, THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SPUN AND THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE CONTACT WAS UNCONSCIOUS AT THE SCENE AND WAS UNABLE TO IDENTIFY THE INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE CONTACT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR CENTER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10744958 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING AT 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE ALIGNMENT WAS NOT PROPER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 380.

Owner-reported narrative. 380 miles reported. Look up ODI 10745924 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND AFTER THE ECP AND THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES IN ORDER FOR IT TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MAIN SHAFT WAS TWISTED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10748199 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2014-10-24 (October 24, 2014)

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.

Consequence: Unexpected movement of the driver's seatback may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the assembly of the seatback recliner retaining bracket, correcting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in October 2014. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 72F1.

Reported: 2015-01-23 (January 23, 2015)

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 27, 2014. A sealing cap at the fuel rail may fail, allowing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.

Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.

Remedy: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel rails with new parts, free of charge. The recall began February 6, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 24BL. Note: This recall expands and supersedes recall 14V-809 (Volkswagen recall number 24Bi) and only affects vehicles not previously repaired under that campaign.

Reported: 2015-06-15 (June 15, 2015)

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.

Consequence: If the brake line was not properly tightened, it may leak brake fluid, causing a reduction in braking performance, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen has notified owners, and dealers will tighten the brake line fitting, free of charge. The recall began on June 11, 2015. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 47M3.

Reported: 2015-10-26 (October 26, 2015)

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.

Consequence: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.

Reported: 2019-01-11 (January 11, 2019)

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.

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 4, 2019. Volkswagen owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298; Audi owners may contact Audi at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69S8 (Audi) and 69Y5 (Volkswagen).

Reported: 2019-05-22 (May 22, 2019)

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.

Reported: 2019-12-04 (December 4, 2019)

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

Remedy: 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.