Recall history
Volkswagen Passat Recalls by Year
This page groups every Volkswagen Passat safety-recall campaign in the connected NHTSA dataset by model year. Read the component, safety consequence and remedy, then use the exact VIN to confirm whether a specific car is affected and repaired.
Data updated July 2026
- Recall campaigns
- 7
- Latest affected year
- 2021
- Urgent instructions
- 1
- Years analyzed
- 5
4 affected model years
WHEELS, SUSPENSION
Park-it or park-outside flags
9 year-level recall count
1 campaign include a stop-driving or park-outside instruction. Do not assume the instruction applies to every Volkswagen Passat; check the VIN immediately.
Year directory
Volkswagen Passat recalls by model year
2021 Volkswagen Passat recalls
1 campaign on file
2020 Volkswagen Passat recalls
3 campaigns on file
2019 Volkswagen Passat recalls
1 campaign on file
2018 Volkswagen Passat recalls
4 campaigns on file
Campaign details
Volkswagen Passat recall campaigns
Duplicate campaign numbers across model years are combined below. Urgent stop-driving and park-outside instructions appear first, followed by the newest NHTSA reports.
Do not driveSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC18V369000
Affected model years
What can happen
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Recall summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas, Passat, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Golf, Golf SportWagen and GTI and Audi Q5 and SQ5 vehicles. The brake caliper pistons on these vehicles may have insufficient coating, potentially reducing the brake performance.
Remedy
Volkswagen and Audi will notify their owners. Audi dealers will bleed the rear brakes. Volkswagen dealers will bleed the front and rear brake calipers. Note: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the brake system has been checked. The recall began June 29, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 and Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 47N8, 47N9, and 47N6.
NHTSA report received 2018-06-01T00:00:00Z.
WHEELS, SUSPENSION21V812000
Affected model years
What can happen
The bolts may loosen and cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Recall summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Atlas, Atlas Cross Sport, and Passat vehicles. The front wheel bearing bolts may have been incorrectly tightened.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the tightness of the wheel bearing bolts and replace the bolts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 40R7.
NHTSA report received 2021-10-15T00:00:00Z.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER20V561000
Affected model years
What can happen
Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.
Recall summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Golf R and Atlas, 2017 Golf Alltrack and E-Golf and 2016-2018 Passat vehicles. These internal use vehicles were sold without confirmation that they were built to all applicable regulatory requirements and may have been modified prior to sale. As such, these vehicles may fail to comply with the requirements of various Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners and will repurchase the vehicles. The recall began October 6, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01E9.
NHTSA report received 2020-09-16T00:00:00Z.
AIR BAGS20V533000
Affected model years
What can happen
An incorrectly folded air bag can deploy with too much force, increasing the risk of injury.
Recall summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2020 Passat vehicles. The passenger frontal air bag may have been folded incorrectly affecting its deployment force. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag, free of charge. The recall began October 14, 2020. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-888-241-2289. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69AY.
NHTSA report received 2020-09-02T00:00:00Z.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING19V389000
Affected model years
What can happen
Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Recall summary
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."
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 report received 2019-05-22T00:00:00Z.
AIR BAGS19V218000
Affected model years
What can happen
In an event of a side impact crash, an incorrect side airbag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Recall summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2019 Atlas and 2020 Passat vehicles. An incorrect driver and/or front passenger side impact air bag may have been installed.
Remedy
Volkswagen has inspected and replaced the side air bags, free of charge. The recall was completed in April 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Y8.
NHTSA report received 2019-03-20T00:00:00Z.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC18V536000
Affected model years
What can happen
The loose brake bracket bolts can allow the caliper to move, reducing braking ability or causing a loss of vehicle control and increasing the risk of a crash.
Recall summary
Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2018 Volkswagen Atlas and 2017-2018 Volkswagen Passat vehicles. The brake caliper bracket mounting bolts on these vehicles may not have been tightened sufficiently.
Remedy
Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper bracket bolt tightness, replacing and re-torque the bolts as necessary, free of charge. Additionally brake caliper fasteners, bleeder valve, and brake hose bolts will be checked and torqued to the correct specification, if necessary, free of charge. For Passat vehicles, dealers will also inspect the parking brake cable for proper connection, free of charge. The recall began September 14, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 46H6.
NHTSA report received 2018-08-15T00:00:00Z.
Important limitation
A recall campaign is not the same as an open recall on one car
Campaigns are attached to production ranges, equipment and configurations. Some vehicles in the same model year are not covered; others have already received the repair. Only a VIN-level lookup can confirm applicability and completion.
Source trail
Where this Volkswagen Passat data comes from
VinExposed combines model-level research with the vehicle-specific history you get from a VIN. Reliability scores and complaint patterns come from Auto Reliability Index's Volkswagen Passat research, which analyzes NHTSA records and independent repair data.
Recall counts describe a model year, not the repair status of one car. Confirm the exact VIN with the official NHTSA recall lookup and a vehicle-history report before buying.
Buyer questions
Volkswagen Passat research FAQ
How many recalls does the Volkswagen Passat have?
The available NHTSA model-year records contain 7 unique recall campaigns across 4 Volkswagen Passat model years. A campaign can affect multiple years and only certain production dates or configurations.
How do I know whether my Volkswagen Passat recall was repaired?
Campaign data cannot show repair completion for one car. Enter the 17-character VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup or ask a franchised dealer to check the manufacturer system.
Can a Volkswagen Passat be sold with an open recall?
Used vehicles can be offered for sale with unrepaired recalls. Recall repairs are generally completed by an authorized dealer at no charge, but confirm eligibility and parts availability for the exact VIN.
Check the actual car
Model research narrows the list. The VIN confirms the car.
Check title brands, accidents, odometer history, auction records and recall status for the specific Volkswagen Passat you are considering.