2016 Volkswagen Passat problems and complaints
Owners have filed 106 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Volkswagen Passat. The most-reported areas: Air Bags (25), Electrical System (22), Steering (19).
Key takeaways
- 106 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 4 involve a crash, 0 a fire, 3 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 25 | 24% |
| Electrical System | 22 | 21% |
| Steering | 19 | 18% |
| Service Brakes | 17 | 16% |
| Engine | 17 | 16% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 15 | 14% |
| Unknown Or Other | 13 | 12% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 | 10% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 7 | 7% |
| Power Train | 5 | 5% |
| Exterior Lighting | 5 | 5% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 5 | 5% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Steering,electrical System,air Bags - filed 2026-05-03
The clock spring system failed, rendering all of the cars' steering wheel functions non-functional. The airbag light is on and the steering wheels airbag does not operate as well as the cars horn and auto cruise controls. The instrument cluster is malfunctioning as well. The safety risks associated with the malfunction...
Fuel/Propulsion System - filed 2026-04-21
currently leaking raw fuel under the hood (matching Recall 15F7) and stalling after fill-ups (matching Recall 24V110000). I am requesting a Specialized Safety Review and Goodwill Assistance to cover the repair because this is a documented manufacturing defect, not wear-and-tear." 2. Leverage the "Suction Jet Pump" Inve...
Fuel System, Gasoline - filed 2026-02-24
The contact owns a 2016 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, there was a strong gasoline odor inside the cabin. The contact immediately pulled over and exited the vehicle to inspect for visible fuel leaks, but found no leaks. While attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to ...
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More for the 2016 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.