2013 Volkswagen Passat: problems, recalls and what it’s worth

Known problems on the 2013 Volkswagen Passat

Known patterns for this year and model, not findings about one car. A well-kept example may already have had the fix. Costs are rough US shop prices.

2013 Volkswagen Passat recalls

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2013 Volkswagen Passat. Repairs are free at a dealer for the brand, and a dealer can confirm by VIN which were already done.

• Engine & coolingFire risk

  If the leaking grease contacts a heated surface, such as the exhaust system and/or the diesel particulate filter (DPF), it could increase the risk of fire.

  Details 17V309000

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2014 Passat vehicles, equipped with diesel engines and Direct-Shift Transmissions (DSG). The vehicle's underbody heat shield may not be long enough to protect the right half-shaft grease boot from heat, potentially resulting in a grease leak.

  Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft heat shield, free of charge. The recall began on July 7, 2017. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23W5.

• ElectricalFire risk

  An electrical short can cause the electrical connectors of the sensor to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

  Details 16V171000

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Passat vehicles equipped with TDI engines. Due to improperly assembled wire seals in a connector for an underbody sensor, water may enter and corrode the electrical connectors of the sensor, causing an electrical short.

  Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the connector, replacing it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began in September. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 23T3.

• Airbags

  An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  Details 24V834000

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Beetle, Beetle Convertible, 2012-2014 Passat, 2017 Passat Wagon, and 2006-2007 Passat Sedan vehicles. The driver's side frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

  Fix: Dealers will replace the driver's side front air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2024. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69EG, 69GQ, and 69E6.

• Lights

  Without the blocking cap, the headlight aim can be adjusted out of specification, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

  Details 19V389000

  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."

  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.

• Airbags

  An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

  Details 19V862000

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2012-2015 Passat, 2011-2014 Golf A6, and 2011-2013 Audi A3 diesel vehicles, thought to have been previously repaired under one of the Takata air bag recalls. The driver's side air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

  Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's side air bag inflators, free of charge. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298 or Audi customer service at 1-800-253-2834. Volkswagen's numbers for this recall are 69R6, 69Q8, 69Q9, and 69Y5.

• Airbags

  In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could explode with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

  Details 18V148000

  Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Volkswagen CC, 2010-2014 Golf, 2010-2014 Eos, 2007-2010 Passat Sedan and Wagon, and 2012-2014 Passat vehicles. Upon deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, excessive internal pressure may cause the inflator to explode.

  Fix: Volkswagen will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver's frontal air bag inflator with an alternative inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2018. Owners may contact Volkswagen customer service at 1-800-893-5298. Volkswagen's number for this recall is 69Q9. Note: This recall partially supersedes recall 16V-078.

2013 Volkswagen Passat safety investigations and free repairs

Under investigation (not a recall):

• Air bag clockspring failure since Apr 2018

Ask the seller if the car has had this problem.

Free repairs to ask about (warranty extensions):

• Steering: The model year chat was removed for VWP-18-11 for the Steering Wheel Clock Spring Limited Warranty Extension
• Exhaust and emissions: This document informs dealers of an "Extended Emissions Warranty" Limited Warranty Extension for certain 2.0L TDI GEN 2 vehicles.
• Heat and A/C: Heater core warranty extension
• Turbocharger: Warranty Information (Turbocharger Limited Warranty Extension): Volkswagen has extended the Emissions Control Systems Warranty for the turbocharger…
• Fuel system: Volkwagen Note (Warranty Extension for Intake Manifold & Fuel Injectors Certain 2008-2011 Model Year Volkswagen Vehicles with 2.0 TFSI Engine (Engine…

A dealer for the brand can check these by VIN.

Source: NHTSA, Sep 24, 2026.

2013 Volkswagen Passat safety and fuel

From NHTSA’s crash tests and the EPA’s fueleconomy.gov.

What owners complain about

748 complaints filed with NHTSA for this year and model, which is a lot.

Other Volkswagen Passat years

2010 2011 2012 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022