CSR

Volkswagen · NHTSA safety record

2020 Volkswagen Passat

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

15

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2020 Volkswagen Passat have filed 15 safety complaints with NHTSA between September 2020 and March 2026. The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 4 of them (27%). The typical failure was reported at 4,500 miles, the median across the 4 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

AIR BAGS:PASSENGER SIDE FRONTAL:CUSHION

20V533000 · September 2, 2020

The defect
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."
The risk
An incorrectly folded air bag can deploy with too much force, increasing the risk of injury.
The 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.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 1,829 vehicles across all model years covered

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

19V389000 · May 22, 2019

The defect
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."
The risk
Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
The 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.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 662,185 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

19V218000 · March 20, 2019

The defect
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.
The risk
In an event of a side impact crash, an incorrect side airbag may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
The 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.

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. · up to 3 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 15.

AIR BAGS 4 27%
ENGINE 4 27%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 27%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3 20%
STEERING 2 13%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 1 7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 7%
SEAT BELTS 1 7%
SERVICE BRAKES 1 7%
WHEELS 1 7%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2024 at 5.

2020 2024 2026
2020 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

HELLO MY DOUGHTER HAD A ACCIDENT CAR WAS TOTAL LOSS AND AIR BAGS DID NOT POP UP AND SEAT BELT WAS NOT TIGHT ENOUGH

NHTSA complaint 11522933. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
2020 Volkswagen Passat SE 2.0L VIN: [XXX] Complaint Summary: I am reporting a persistent and unresolved fault involving the secondary air injection system (DTC P0491 – insufficient airflow) that has resulted in repeated, conflicting diagnoses across multiple repair facilities. This raises concerns about a potential systemic defect affecting this vehicle model. Detailed Description: The issue began prior to March 2025 while the vehicle was still under warranty. The vehicle displayed a Check Engine Light associated with diagnostic trouble code P0491 (secondary air injection system insufficient airflow). On April 3, 2025, a repair facility diagnosed the issue as a failed secondary air

NHTSA complaint 11726512, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
Steering wheel controls stopped working, no horn either. Probably no airbag but haven't got into an accident. There was recall on the same part for the until 2018, but the new part I was going to install lists that if fits cars 2016-2022 Part # 5K0-953-569-BC Recall from VW. Number: VWP-18-11, Will replace part for my fiance,

NHTSA complaint 11705961. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Error message alerted to maintenance needed and the air bag light has turned on and remained on. Also said message that front assist inls unavailable.

NHTSA complaint 11648696. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Oil pressure sensor fails. Causing high oil pressure. Causing the valve cover to be destroyed and the oil pan to leak. Draining the car oil.

NHTSA complaint 11618293. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
VIN: [XXX] Dealership: Vanguard Volkswagen 6900 Burnet Rd Austin, TX 78757 I bought 2020 Passat back in Aug 2020 with CarNet included. It was showing that CarNet will be installed later when available at no cost. So in 2021 they installed carnet and everything was working fine up until 2024. The light turned off and no connection to the car. I called CarNet and they told me that most likely an issue with HW module and suggested to take to the dealer to get reset/replaced. Went to the dealer few days ago. Left them a car for 3 days for diag. No fault codes. So dealer sent a ticket to the Volkswagen to see how to proceed. I got a call from dealership today that Volkswagen responded to them

NHTSA complaint 11584569, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Bought car from dealer. Vw Manhattan. 42000miles. 8 months later at 53000 miles. Engine problems. Went to Vw service. Head gasket. Lemon car. Warranty till 50000 miles. Cost? 4800$ Worse car possible.

NHTSA complaint 11584129. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Volkswagen Passat

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2021 18 1
2019 12 1
2018 45 4
2017 109 7
2016 106 5
2015 243 7
2014 593 10
2013 748 9 2
2012 483 11
2011 16 0 1
2010 163 4

Other 2020 Volkswagen models

Every Volkswagen on this site — 152 vehicles, 256 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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