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Model-year record

2019 Volkswagen Passat
Image: Wikimedia Commons contributor · See source file

2019 Volkswagen Passat

See the complaints, recalls, crash rating, and fuel economy in the public record. Then check the mileage and history of the car you found.

This page shows records, not a buy or avoid call.

The same model year can include a well-kept car and a neglected one. Use these records to plan what to check. Use the specific-car check when you know the mileage.

Complaints filed

12

Reports to NHTSA, 2019

Safety recalls

1

NHTSA campaigns on record

NHTSA crash test

Overall NCAP rating

Combined MPG

29

EPA estimate

Known issues

Electrical System issues lead owner complaints (33% of 12 reports), followed by service brakes (17%).

Electrical System33% · 4 reports
Service Brakes17% · 2 reports
Engine8% · 1 report
Fuel System8% · 1 report
Power Train8% · 1 report
Seats8% · 1 report
Steering8% · 1 report
Visibility/Wiper8% · 1 report

Share of all 12 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11354266, ODI 11289555, ODI 11282393, ODI 11228401.

Individual complaint reports(12)

Showing the 12 most recent reports
Service BrakesMar 2025 · ODI 11648532Details +

Brake issues that consist of brakes not engaging immediately as I press the brake pedal. Brake pedal also doesn't return as fast as my foot lets off of it. It could be inspected upon request. If the brakes dont engage immediately then there is a potential for an accident if I need to brake at a moments notice. Yes the problem has been confirmed. No it hasn't been inspected. No there isn't a warning.

Reported
Mar 2025
Incident date
Jan 2025
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11648532 at NHTSA →
Fuel SystemOct 2022 · ODI 11489175Details +

The contact owns a 2019 Volkswagen Passat. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking and then lost motive power. The contact pushed the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel injector needed to be replaced. The mechanic replaced the fuel injector. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Reported
Oct 2022
Incident date
Oct 2022
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11489175 at NHTSA →
Electrical SystemSep 2020 · ODI 11354266Details +

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SYSTEM INDEPENDENTLY ACTIVATED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY STOP EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO VEHICLES OR OBJECTS NEARBY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER FAIRFIELD VW LOCATED AT 5071 LYCOMING MALL DR, MONTOURSVILLE, PA 17754 HOWEVER, THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. ADDITIONALLY, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START WHEN PUSHING THE START/STOP BUTTON AND THE MESSAGE "NO KEY DETECTED" WAS SOMETIMES DISPLAYED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

Reported
Sep 2020
Incident date
Feb 2020
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11354266 at NHTSA →
EngineFeb 2020 · ODI 11307253Details +

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE IDLED WITH THE EPC LIGHT AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE WAS BELABORED WHILE SHIFTING GEARS AND AT LOW SPEEDS. THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (HERITAGE VOLKSWAGEN CATONSVILLE 6624 BALTIMORE NATIONAL PIKE, BALTIMORE, MD 21228) FOR DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE AND FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE OR RESOLUTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. *TP

Reported
Feb 2020
Incident date
Mar 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11307253 at NHTSA →
Electrical SystemDec 2019 · ODI 11289555Details +

VEHICLE WAS SOLD WITH REMOTE START FEATURE. DEALER AND SALESMAN KNEW THE REMOTE START DID NOT WORK. THIS WAS A SELLING POINT ON THE CAR. THEY KEEP PUTTING OFF FIXING THE ISSUE WITH THE CAR.

Reported
Dec 2019
Incident date
Feb 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11289555 at NHTSA →
Power TrainNov 2019 · ODI 11282392Details +

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT SLOWER SPEEDS, IT IS CONSTANTLY SHIFTING TO TRY AND SAVE ON FUEL. THIS RESULTS IN THE VEHICLE NOT PROVIDING A CONSISTENT RIDE. THE NOISE WHEN IT SHIFTS IS VERY LOUD AND CAN SOMETIMES BE FELT THROUGH A JERKING MOTION. BRINGING THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP RESULTED IN THEM SAYING THEY KNOW IT'S AN ISSUE AND HOPEFULLY VW COMES OUT WITH A SOFTWARE FIX. IT'S NOT COMFORTING KNOWING THAT THE DEALERSHIP KNOWS THERE'S AN ISSUE AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE.

Reported
Nov 2019
Incident date
Jul 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11282392 at NHTSA →
Electrical SystemNov 2019 · ODI 11282393Details +

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OFF, THE FACTORY REMOTE START DOES NOT FUNCTION. THE CAR WILL TURN OVER, BUT IMMEDIATELY DIE. VW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS SINCE LATE 2018, BUT HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THE ISSUE. I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN JUNE OF 2019, AND THE VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME WITHOUT THE DEALERSHIP LETTING ME KNOW THE REMOTE START WOULD NOT WORK. I HAD TO FIND OUT MYSELF ON A COLD MORNING. I EVEN CALLED TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON AND THEY HAD ME BRING IT IN EVEN THOUGH THEY ALREADY KNEW THERE WAS AN ISSUE. HOW CAN VW GET AWAY WITH SELLING A FEATURE ON A VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT WORK A YEAR AFTER THEY ARE AWARE OF IT?

Reported
Nov 2019
Incident date
Oct 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11282393 at NHTSA →
SeatsNov 2019 · ODI 11279616Details +

ON 11/10/2019 WHILE DRIVING I CONSTANTLY FELT BURNING SENSATION ON MY RIGHT THIGH WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS AROUND 70 MILES. THE NEXT DAY ON 11/11/2019 WITH THE FAMILY AND KIDS MY RIGHT THIGH STARTED FEELING LIKE ITS BURNING. SUBSEQUENTLY WE STARTED SMELLING SOMETHING BURN AND SWITCHED OFF ALL HEAT AND HEATED SEATS AND DROVE BACK HOME WITH OUT ANY HEAT IN 15 F . ON ARRIVAL WE NOTICED THAT THE HEATED SEAT GOT SO HOT THAT IT BURNT A HOLE IN THE DRIVER CAR SEAT AND MELTED THE LEATHER . WE ALL GOT EXTREMELY SCARED OF A POSSIBLE FIRE IN THE CAR AND COULD HAD GOT INJURED OR STRANDED ON A VERY COLD DAY. THERE ARE 100'S OF SIMILAR ISSUES POSTED ONLINE BUT I AM NOT SURE WHY THIS IS NOT BEING FIXED. IF THE CLOTHS FIRE CATCHES ON AND WE ARE ON A FREEWAY AT A HIGH SPEED THEN MY FAMILY'S LIFE COULD BE ENDANGERED IF I LOOSE CONTROL BECAUSE OF THIS BURN. THE CAR IS 2019 JANUARY VW PASSAT BOUGHT FROM VW AND IS ALMOST BRAND NEW . I HAVE TAKEN A DEALER APPOINTMENT AND WILL BE VISITING ON 11/16/2019 TO GET THIS CHECKED AND PROBABLY FIXED. BUT SHOULD I TRUST THAT THIS WONT HAPPEN AGAIN ?

Reported
Nov 2019
Incident date
Nov 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11279616 at NHTSA →
SteeringNov 2019 · ODI 11278248Details +

CAR HESITATES ERRATICALLY AND UNPREDICTABLY WHEN ACCELERATING MOST NOTICEABLY FROM A DEAD STOP, AND AT SLOW SPEEDS WHILE TURNING. ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP TO CROSS A STREET IN BUSY TRAFFIC THE CAR WILL JUST SIT UNRESPONSIVE FOR SECONDS AND BARELY ACCELERATE AND THEN UNPREDICTABLY ACCELERATE. DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING THE R-LINE, IT DRIFTS ALL OVER THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD 4 WHEEL ALIGNMENTS ON THE CAR WITH ONLY 6400 MILES ON IT.

Reported
Nov 2019
Incident date
Oct 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11278248 at NHTSA →
Visibility/WiperJul 2019 · ODI 11231408Details +

WINDSHIELD BEGAN CRACKING IN THE MIDDLE FROM PASSENGER SIDE TOWARD DRIVER SIDE. NO ROCK OR OTHER DEBRIS HIT WINDSHIELD. IT IS A CONTINUOUS CRACK THAT IS A FINE LINK CRACK THAT CONTINUES TO SPREAD.

Reported
Jul 2019
Incident date
Jul 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11231408 at NHTSA →
Electrical SystemJun 2019 · ODI 11228401Details +

SPEEDOMETER READS 2 MPH LOWER THAN ACTUAL SPEED AT 70 MPH AS MEASURED BY RADAR INSTRUMENTS ON ROAD AND MY GPS WHICH READS THE SAME AS THE RADAR. I ALSO AM DRINKING A LOANER VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND READS 1 MPH SLOWER AT 70 MPH. ALSO HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AIR CONDITIONING. THEY ALSO LIED ABOUT THE FUEL ECONOMY POSTED ON THE WINDSHIELD. IT IS CONSISTENTLY LOWER THAN THE MILEAGE LISTED BOTH FOR CITY, HIGHWAY, AND AVERAGE. THIS IS ALSO TRUE ON THE LOANER VEHICLE. ALMOST LIKE THE DIESEL EMISSIONS PROBLEM THEY HAD WITH MY 2015 PASSAT!

Reported
Jun 2019
Incident date
Jun 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11228401 at NHTSA →
Service BrakesApr 2019 · ODI 11196817Details +

NORMAL HEEL TOE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE IMPOSSIBLE. WHILE DRIVING, I WENT TO STEP ON BRAKE. POSITION OF PEDAL WAY AHEAD OF GAS PEDAL. RESULT I WAS PUSHING DOWN ON FIRE WALL. WHEN I TRIED TO STEP ON BRAKE, MY FOOT WAS TRAPPED BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Reported
Apr 2019
Incident date
Apr 2019
Mileage
Not provided
Outcome flags
None reported
Open ODI 11196817 at NHTSA →

Recalls(1)

Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.

Exterior Lighting · 19V389000Details +

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.

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.

Open full NHTSA recall record →

A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.

Investigations

0 NHTSA investigations on record

No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.

Crash-test ratings

2019 Volkswagen Passat 4 DR FWD NHTSA source

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).

Fuel economy by trim

TrimEngineDrivetrainCityHwyCombined
Passat2.0L 4-cylFront-Wheel Drive253629

EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.

Before you buy

Useful next checks

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2019 Volkswagen Passat: frequently asked

What does the complaint record show for the 2019 Volkswagen Passat?

Owners filed 12 NHTSA complaints about the 2019 Volkswagen Passat. This is raw owner-reported complaint volume with no production or exposure normalization, so it is not a reliability score or a best/worst-year ranking.

What are the most common problems on the 2019 Volkswagen Passat?

The most-reported problem areas are Electrical System (33% of complaints) and service brakes (17%).

How many recalls does the 2019 Volkswagen Passat have?

1 recall has been issued that affect the 2019 Volkswagen Passat, covering components such as exterior lighting. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.

What gas mileage does the 2019 Volkswagen Passat get?

The EPA rates the 2019 Volkswagen Passat at 29 mpg combined.