2019 Volkswagen PASSAT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
3,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 11 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 12 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 16.7% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 16.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 16.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Seats | 1 |
Electrical System: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Engine: 2; Power Train: 2; Forward Collision Avoidance: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Seats: 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 | 10 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 10; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2019: 8; 2020: 2; 2022: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 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 11196817 · 2019-04-16 (April 16, 2019)
NORMAL HEEL TOE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE IMPOSSIBLE. WHILE DRIVING, I WENT TO STEP ON BRAKE. POSITION OF PEDAL WAY AHEAD OF GAS PEDAL. RESULT I WAS PUSHING DOWN ON FIRE WALL. WHEN I TRIED TO STEP ON BRAKE, MY FOOT WAS TRAPPED BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11196817 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11228401 · 2019-06-29 (June 29, 2019)
SPEEDOMETER READS 2 MPH LOWER THAN ACTUAL SPEED AT 70 MPH AS MEASURED BY RADAR INSTRUMENTS ON ROAD AND MY GPS WHICH READS THE SAME AS THE RADAR. I ALSO AM DRINKING A LOANER VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND READS 1 MPH SLOWER AT 70 MPH. ALSO HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONING. THEY ALSO LIED ABOUT THE FUEL ECONOMY POSTED ON THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS CONSISTENTLY LOWER THAN THE MILEAGE LISTED BOTH FOR CITY, HIGHWAY, AND AVERAGE. THIS IS ALSO TRUE ON THE LOANER VEHICLE. ALMOST LIKE THE DIESEL EMISSIONS PROBLEM THEY HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,025 miles reported. Look up ODI 11228401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11231408 · 2019-07-12 (July 12, 2019)
WINDSHIELD BEGAN CRACKING IN THE MIDDLE FROM PASSENGER SIDE TOWARD DRIVER SIDE. NO ROCK OR OTHER DEBRIS HIT WINDSHIELD. IT IS A CONTINUOUS CRACK THAT IS A FINE LINK CRACK THAT CONTINUES TO SPREAD.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11231408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11278248 · 2019-11-05 (November 5, 2019)
CAR HESITATES ERRATICALLY AND UNPREDICTABLY WHEN ACCELERATING MOST NOTICEABLY FROM A DEAD STOP, AND AT SLOW SPEEDS WHILE TURNING. ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP TO CROSS A STREET IN BUSY TRAFFIC THE CAR WILL JUST SIT UNRESPONSIVE FOR SECONDS AND BARELY ACCELERATE AND THEN UNPREDICTABLY ACCELERATE. DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING THE R-LINE, IT DRIFTS ALL OVER THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENTS ON THE CAR WITH ONLY 6400 MILES ON IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11278248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11279616 · 2019-11-12 (November 12, 2019)
ON 11/10/2019 WHILE DRIVING I CONSTANTLY FELT BURNING SENSATION ON MY RIGHT THIGH WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS AROUND 70 MILES. THE NEXT DAY ON 11/11/2019 WITH THE FAMILY AND KIDS MY RIGHT THIGH STARTED FEELING LIKE ITS BURNING. SUBSEQUENTLY WE STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING BURN AND SWITCHED OFF ALL HEAT AND HEATED SEATS AND DROVE BACK HOME WITH OUT ANY HEAT IN 15 F . ON ARRIVAL WE NOTICED THAT THE HEATED SEAT GOT SO HOT THAT IT BURNT A HOLE IN THE DRIVER CAR SEAT AND MELTED THE LEATHER . WE ALL GOT EXTREMELY SCARED OF A POSSIBLE FIRE IN THE CA…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11279616 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11282392 · 2019-11-26 (November 26, 2019)
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT SLOWER SPEEDS, IT IS CONSTANTLY SHIFTING TO TRY AND SAVE ON FUEL. THIS RESULTS IN THE VEHICLE NOT PROVIDING A CONSISTENT RIDE. THE NOISE WHEN IT SHIFTS IS VERY LOUD AND CAN SOMETIMES BE FELT THROUGH A JERKING MOTION. BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP RESULTED IN THEM SAYING THEY KNOW IT'S AN ISSUE AND HOPEFULLY VW COMES OUT WITH A SOFTWARE FIX. IT'S NOT COMFORTING KNOWING THAT THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS THERE'S AN ISSUE AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE.
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11282392 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11282393 · 2019-11-26 (November 26, 2019)
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF, THE FACTORY REMOTE START DOES NOT FUNCTION. THE CAR WILL TURN OVER, BUT IMMEDIATELY DIE. VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS SINCE LATE 2018, BUT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE ISSUE. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2019, AND THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME WITHOUT THE DEALERSHIP LETTING ME KNOW THE REMOTE START WOULD NOT WORK. I HAD TO FIND OUT MYSELF ON A COLD MORNING. I EVEN CALLED TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THEY HAD ME BRING IT IN EVEN THOUGH THEY ALREADY KNEW THERE WAS AN ISSUE. HOW CAN VW GET AWAY WITH SELLING A FE…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11282393 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11289555 · 2019-12-17 (December 17, 2019)
VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH REMOTE START FEATURE. DEALER AND SALESMAN KNEW THE REMOTE START DID NOT WORK. THIS WAS A SELLING POINT ON THE CAR. THEY KEEP PUTTING OFF FIXING THE ISSUE WITH THE CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 9 miles reported. Look up ODI 11289555 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V389000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗