2013 Volkswagen Passat problems and complaints
Owners have filed 749 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The most-reported areas: Air Bags (382), Engine (105), Electrical System (93).
Key takeaways
- 749 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 29 involve a crash, 4 a fire, 24 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 382 | 51% |
| Engine | 105 | 14% |
| Electrical System | 93 | 12% |
| Unknown Or Other | 77 | 10% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 66 | 9% |
| Exterior Lighting | 60 | 8% |
| Steering | 51 | 7% |
| Power Train | 33 | 4% |
| Structure | 31 | 4% |
| Fuel System | 22 | 3% |
| Diesel | 21 | 3% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 19 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2013 Volkswagen Passat
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine,fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-10-19
The vehicle was brought to Bill Jacobs Volkswagen in Naperville, IL to have three open, mandatory federal campaigns and emissions modifications completed. The dealership is actively practicing illegal 'recall steering' by holding the vehicle hostage. The service department refuses to perform the free federal campaigns ...
Air Bags - filed 2026-08-10
The contact owns a 2013 Volkswagen Passat. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V834000 (Air Bags). The contact called the three closest dealers but no assistance with transporting the vehicle or offering an alternative option for repair was provided. The manufacturer was also notified of the f...
Exterior Lighting - filed 2026-05-08
Passenger side headlight went out. The problem was not the bulb or fuse. This issue seems to perfectly match Safety Recall 94G8, but for some reason my car is not covered in that recall notice, even though safety recall 94G8 is for "some" 2012-2013 VW Passats, which is what I drive.
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More for the 2013 Volkswagen Passat
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.