2016 Volkswagen Passat recalls and problems
The 2016 Volkswagen Passat has 5 safety recalls and 106 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Volkswagen dealer.
Recalls may cover only some 2016 Volkswagen Passat vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.
2016 Volkswagen Passat recalls
Recall 21V-321: Unknown or Other
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017 Touareg GP, Tiguan, Golf A6, E-Golf GP, CCF, 2016-2017 Passat GP, 2018-2019 Golf R GP, and 2018 Atlas 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.
Risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of injury, crash, or fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will repurchase the vehicles. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2021. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 01F1.
Recall 20V-561: Unknown or Other
Problem: 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.
Risk: Vehicles that do not meet all regulatory requirements may have an increased risk of a crash or injury to vehicle occupants.
Fix: 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.
Recall 19V-389: Exterior Lighting
Problem: 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."
Risk: Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Recall 16V-403: Fuel System, Gasoline
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2016 Jetta vehicles manufactured October 31, 2015, to January 21, 2016, 2016 Passat vehicles, equipped with 1.8T engines manufactured November 13, 2015, to December 9, 2015, and 2016 Golf vehicles manufactured November 5, 2015, to November 11, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the fuel rail may detach from the cylinder head and result in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, can result in a vehicle fire.
Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the cylinder heads, free of charge. The manufacturer has not yet provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 15F7.
Recall 15V-705: Engine and Engine Cooling, Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Problem: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Jetta, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, Passat, Golf and Golf SportWagen vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the camshaft lobe that drives the brake vacuum pump may shear off, resulting in a loss of brake assist.
Risk: If the camshaft lobe shears off there would be a loss of brake assist, lengthening the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Volkswagen dealer will update the engine control module (ECM) software. The recall began March 2016. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-822-8987. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23R1.
2016 Volkswagen Passat problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 25 | |
| Electrical System | 22 | |
| Steering | 19 | |
| Engine | 17 | |
| Service Brakes | 15 | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 15 | |
| Unknown or Other | 13 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | |
| Power Train | 5 | |
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | 5 | |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 |
Most reported parts
- Structure › Body — 4
- Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 4
- Forward Collision Avoidance › Adaptive Cruise Control — 3
- Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette — 3
- Exterior Lighting › Brake Lights — 1
- Lane Departure › Assist — 1
- Service Brakes, Air › Antilock › Wheel Speed Sensor — 1
- Visibility › Windshield — 1
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 35,000 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2016 Volkswagen Passat complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Other Volkswagen Passat years
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2016 Volkswagen Passat have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 2016 Volkswagen Passat: 21V-321 (unknown or other), 20V-561 (unknown or other), 19V-389 (exterior lighting), 16V-403 (fuel system, gasoline), 15V-705 (engine and engine cooling, service brakes, hydraulic). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Volkswagen Passat?
Owners report air bags problems most often (25 reports), followed by electrical system (22). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 35,000 miles.
Are Volkswagen recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Volkswagen dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.