2007 Volkswagen PASSAT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
262 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
71,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2007 model year. Data snapshot: . 166 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 104 of 262 complaints (39.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 22 | 8.4% |
| Engine operation | 21 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 21 | 8.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 19 | 7.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 19 | 7.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 2.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 104 |
| Electrical System | 32 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 31 |
| Engine | 28 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 16 |
| Steering | 15 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 10 |
Air Bags: 104; Electrical System: 32; Fuel/Propulsion System: 31; Engine: 28; Engine And Engine Cooling: 16; Steering: 15; Power Train: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 10
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 20 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 32 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 18 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 39 |
| 150,000 and above | 22 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 20; 50,000 to 74,999: 32; 75,000 to 99,999: 18; 100,000 to 149,999: 39; 150,000 and above: 22
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (39). 96 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 17 |
| 2008 | 12 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 18 |
| 2011 | 11 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 8 |
| 2014 | 20 |
| 2015 | 14 |
| 2016 | 44 |
| 2017 | 45 |
| 2018 | 36 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2006: 2; 2007: 17; 2008: 12; 2009: 10; 2010: 18; 2011: 11; 2012: 6; 2013: 8; 2014: 20; 2015: 14; 2016: 44; 2017: 45; 2018: 36; 2019: 6; 2020: 5; 2021: 1; 2022: 5; 2023: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 22 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 21 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 21 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10212271 · 2007-12-18 (December 18, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES SLIP AND GRIP RAPIDLY WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND BELOW. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER FOR THE THIRD TIME AND IS TAKING LONGER TO REPAIR THAN USUAL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 15,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10212271 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226687 · 2008-05-05 (May 5, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE APPROACHING A STOP, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV AND THE RPM NEEDLE INCREASED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN DRIVE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AT THE TIME. THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. WHEN HE RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, IT SEEMED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. AFTER A FEW DAYS, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A RECALL ON THE ENGINE FOR UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNSURE OF WHAT WAS…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,434 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226687 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10297185 · 2009-12-28 (December 28, 2009)
WHEN UNDER 5MPH THE CAR WILL STALL OR IT WILL NOT START. IT SOMETIMES RUNS ME LATE FOR AN EVENT DUE TO IT WILL NOT START. I'M NOT SURE WHY IT DOES IT I'VE NOT NOTICED THE PATTERN YET. THE LCD SCREEN WILL READ DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN. I'VE CALLED VW AND THEY WILL NOT REPLACE AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRES AND THEY WANT NEARLY 3K TO REPLACE THE PRODUCT OF THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND IMMOBILIZER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10297185 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10342977 · 2010-07-13 (July 13, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD CONTINUOUSLY STALL SPORADICALLY WITHOUT WARNING .THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS A FAULTY ALTERNATOR, BATTERY OR BOTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE BOTH THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 20,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342977 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10303388 · 2010-01-30 (January 30, 2010)
I HAVE A 2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT AND THE STEERING COLUMN LOCK IS NOW DEFECTIVE AND THE CAR WONT START THE CAR ONLY HAS 53000 MILES AND IT HAS ONLY BEEN OUT OF WARRANTY THREE THOUSAND MILES AND THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR ABOUT TWO THOUSAND QUOTED BY THE DEALER. DEALER ALSO SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THAT THEY HAD SEEN A FEW CARS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 53,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10303388 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10243901 · 2008-09-29 (September 29, 2008)
I STARTED MY VEHICLE, AND WITHIN 30 SECONDS I SMELLED BURNING. I SHUT DOWN ENGINE AND NOTICED SMOKE BELLOWING OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. I LIFTED HOOD AND FOUND AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS ON TOP OF ENGINE WAS ON FIRE AND MELTING. I WAS ABLE TO BORROW PLIERS FROM SOMEONE AND DISCONNECTED BATTERY CABLE. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND THEY CALLED ME THIS MORNING STATING THAT THE COIL HAD AN INTERNAL SHORT. I ASKED THEM HOW I CAN BE ASSURED THAT THIS WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN WHEN PARTS ARE REPLACED AND THERE REPLY WAS " THIS IS VERY RARE". I HAVE A BABY …
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10243901 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10281880 · 2009-08-26 (August 26, 2009)
ELECTRONIC PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT SET OR WILL NOT RELEASE. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, BUT PROGRESSIVE, BEGINNING WITH FAILURE TO SET AND CULMINATING WITH FAILURE TO RELEASE, IN ONE INSTANCE TRIGGERING MASTER BRAKE FAILURE WARNING. FAILURE TO SET MAKES CAR ILLEGAL TO DRIVE AND DANGEROUS WHEN PARKED AS THERE IS NO BACK UP SYSTEM TO SET PARKING BRAKE. FAILURE TO RELEASE STRANDS DRIVER IN POSSIBLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. VW SAYS IN THIS INSTANCE ONLY SOLUTION IS TO CALL FOR TOW. FAILURES MAY AT TIMES BE CLEARED BY RESTARTING ENGINE, BUT PROGRES…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281880 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191449 · 2007-05-22 (May 22, 2007)
MY CAR STOPPED WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH MY FIVE YEAR OLD SON. WE WERE LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, THE CAR WAS ONLY 4 MONTHS OLD AND HAS ONLY ABOUT 2500 MILES, AND APPARENTLY THEY INSTALLED IT INCORRECTLY OR ITWAS FAULTY. THEY CLAIMED THAT I RAN OUT OF GAS, ALTHOUGH THE GAUGE READ THAT I HAD HALF A TANK. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191449 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10260550 · 2009-03-03 (March 3, 2009)
2007 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING SO I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. IT ENDED UP NEEDING A NEW ENGINE BECAUSE THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP PLUNGER FAILED AND SENT METAL INTO THE ENGINE DESTROYING IT. VW REFUSES TO PAY FOR IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 62,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10260550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10596865 · 2014-06-07 (June 7, 2014)
I WAS DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON CONNECTICUT RTE 15 AT ABOUT 60 MPH ON THE AFTERNOON OF APRIL 8, 2014, WHEN MY ENGINE SUDDENLY RACED AND I LOST POWER TO THE DRIVE (FRONT) WHEELS. I COULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED OR ACCELERATE; I COULD ONLY COAST. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE TWO-LANE ROADWAY. I HAD TO COAST BETWEEN VEHICLES IN THE RIGHT LANE, OVER TO THE BREAKDOWN LANE. THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS, AND MY VEHICLE COULD HAVE BEEN STRUCK. ONCE I CAME TO A STOP IN THE BREAKDOWN LANE, THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP, WHERE I LEARNE…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,845 miles reported. Look up ODI 10596865 at NHTSA ↗