2017 Volkswagen Passat: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 173 complaints
173
Total Complaints
24,200mi
Median Mileage
AIR BAGS
Top Issue
13
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

11,750 25th Percentile
24,200 Median Mileage
47,500 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS
27
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
17
STEERING
16
SERVICE BRAKES
15
ENGINE
7
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
7
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
6
POWER TRAIN
5
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
5

Severity Assessment

13
Crashes
1
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"THE CAR MOVES FROM THE AUTOMATIC TO THE MANUAL MODE. THIS HAS OCCURRED 4 TO 6 TIMES IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AND JUST STARTING OUT IN LOW GEAR. IF I MOVE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER FROM AUTOMATIC TO MANUAL AND THEN BACK TO AUTOMATIC IT RESUMES..."
"SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WITH NO IMPACT WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. VW REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY, IT WAS EVEN DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME NEEDS TO BE REPLACED NOW."
"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 ..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28