2017 Volkswagen PASSAT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
110 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
32,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2017 model year. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 27 of 110 complaints (24.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 32 | 29.1% |
| Steering behavior | 26 | 23.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 8.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 6.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.7% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 0.9% |
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 | 27 |
| Unknown Or Other | 21 |
| Electrical System | 18 |
| Steering | 16 |
| Service Brakes | 15 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | 7 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 6 |
Air Bags: 27; Unknown Or Other: 21; Electrical System: 18; Steering: 16; Service Brakes: 15; Engine: 7; Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings: 7; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 25 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 25; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (25). 59 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 | 8 |
| 2018 | 14 |
| 2019 | 11 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 21 |
| 2022 | 15 |
| 2023 | 11 |
| 2024 | 9 |
| 2025 | 7 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2017: 8; 2018: 14; 2019: 11; 2020: 10; 2021: 21; 2022: 15; 2023: 11; 2024: 9; 2025: 7; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 26 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 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 10980503 · 2017-04-25 (April 25, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL INDEPENDENTLY ENGAGED AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 400.
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10980503 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10994931 · 2017-06-13 (June 13, 2017)
I PREFACE THIS BY SAYING THIS IS MY FIRST KEYLESS CAR AND I DON'T LIKE IT. IT IS SOMETIMES CONFUSING AS TO WHETHER THE CAR IS RUNNING OR OFF AND THE IGNITION BUTTON LOOKS IDENTICAL IN BOTH SCENARIOS. ON JUNE 12, I PARKED MY CAR (IT WAS STATIONARY) AND TOOK MY DOG INTO HER DAY CARE CENTER. WHILE I WAS IN THERE, MY CAR APPARENTLY ROLLED OUT OF THE LOT AND CAME TO REST ON A SIDEWALK. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS INJURED AND ONLY THE BUMPER AND REAR LIGHT WERE IMPACTED. WHILE I THOUGHT I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, I MAY HAVE ACCIDENTALLY HAVE LEFT THE CAR I…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10994931 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11062894 · 2018-01-15 (January 15, 2018)
FAILED STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING ON A 2017 VEHICLE THAT HAS BEEN DRIVEN 20,000 MILES OVER 14 MONTHS. AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROX 40 MINS, PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT MY STEERING WHEEL MAKE POPPING/CLICKING SOUNDS AND IMMEDIATELY THE AIRBAG ERROR SENSORS WENT OFF ALONG WITH MY SERVICE VEHICLE WARNING. UPON TURNING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT THE STEERING WHEEL MADE A FEW ADDITIONAL POPS/CLICKS. IMMEDIATELY DROVE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE STEERING WHEEL CLOCK SPRING ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE A PART ON HAND AND H…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11062894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11348868 · 2020-08-12 (August 12, 2020)
AIRBAG LIGHT ON FOR DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG, HORN WILL NOT WORK, CRINKLE SOUND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL. NO POWER TO STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11348868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10984290 · 2017-05-08 (May 8, 2017)
I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW JAN 10 2017. I HAVE PUT 1500 MILES ON IT AS OF 5/8/17. TODAY AT A STOP LIGHT WHILE WAITING FOR THE LIGHT OR CHANGE, THE TIRE EXPLODED I FELT TH CAR MOVE OR WIGGLE, LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I WENT TO INSPECT TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO EXPLAIN THIS LOOKS LIKE A VOLCANO SPROUTED OUT OF THE TIRE. ITS NOT THE SIDEWALL THERE IS NO DAMAGE GOING INTO THE TIRE.. THE RUBBER HAS SPILT OUTWARD...THE METAL WIRING IN THE TIRE IS BENT OUTWARD. NOT INWARD. I HAVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THI…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10984290 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11012599 · 2017-08-03 (August 3, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT LEASES A 2017 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN REVERSE, THE REAR BACKUP CAMERA FAILED TO DISPLAY ON THE MONITOR. THE REARVIEW CAMERA SYSTEM WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ESSERMAN INTERNATIONAL (LOCATED ON 10455 NW 12TH ST, MIAMI, FL 33172) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE BACKUP CAMERA WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CASE WAS BEING REVIEWED AND AN UPDATE…
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11012599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11462484 · 2022-04-27 (April 27, 2022)
My seat belt unfastens whenever it wants and my cruise control doesn’t work any longer. I also have an issue with the 4th injector which causes the car to accelerate and I had to replace the transmission as well
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11462484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11473570 · 2022-07-12 (July 12, 2022)
Fuel pump under the rear passenger side is leaking large amounts of fuel allowing the fumes to build up in the cabin of the vehicle. No damage or accidents have occurred that would cause this and has made me sick while driving as well as paranoid as I am driving around a car with leaking gas in the interior cabin. 2017 Volkswagen Passet SE
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11473570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10983458 · 2017-05-04 (May 4, 2017)
LOUD AND ABRUPT THUD SOUND WHEN CHANGING GEARS IN 2017 VW PASSAT R-LINE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODEL. THIS LOUD THUD CAN BE HEARD EASILY WHEN CAR IS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND CAN EVEN BE FELT AT THE BASE OF THE GAS PEDAL. HAPPENS MORE NOTICEABLY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 20-40 MPH. MY CAR NOW HAS 5500 MILES ON IT BUT THIS LOUD THUD HAS BEEN HEARD SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO REYDEL VW IN NEW JERSEY TO GET CHECKED BUT THE TECHNICIANS SAY THERE ARE NO ISSUES, EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I AM NOT CRAZY. I HAVE DRIVEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 10983458 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11553274 · 2023-11-02 (November 2, 2023)
The Passat stalls when traveling at low speed and/or from a stop, battery light turns on and loses all engine power, and will not restart for a period of time (10mins to 2 hours). This has happened on a residental street and on the highway when merging onto an on-ramp. There is no loss of electrical power and the starter attempts to turn the engine over but the car will not start. After multiple starting attempts the cars ECP light will turn on. My safety was put at risk when this occured on the highway and I needed to be push the car to th…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11553274 at NHTSA ↗